Drew Roy & Renee’s Wedding at Higuera Ranch

I’m delighted to share the lovely wedding of American actor Drew Roy and his partner Renee who got married at Higuera Ranch. Their special day was captured by Wedding Photographer Sarah Kathleen. Drew Roy is an American actor and known recently for his part in the TV series Falling Skies where he plays Hal Mason as well as Jesse off Hannah Montana.

A little something from the couple:

“Our inspiration for the day was to stay true to our roots—country and rustic, yet simple and elegant. We also wanted to keep it very personal and intimate by inviting only 30 guests. Since everyone was travelling from all corners of the country, we aimed to make it a nice little vacation for them as well, which led us to the perfect place: Higuera Ranch.

My favourite moment was our first look. Seeing Drew for the first time that day and him seeing me was a feeling I’ll never forget. Drew’s favourite moment was right before the sparkler send-off, when we were alone in the barn, taking each other in for the first time as husband and wife.

My advice: Wedding planning can be incredibly stressful, especially with the short three months we had to plan it. It’s important not to lose sight of what the day is truly about. It’s not about the dress or the cake; it’s about marrying your best friend and the man of your dreams. Those minor wedding planning details don’t matter in the grand scheme of things.”

About the day:

Drew and Renee’s wedding was my last of 2015, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the wedding season. The weather was PERFECT (a real gamble when planning a wedding in December), the people were GORGEOUS, and the party was OFF THE HOOK. I loved that Drew and Renee kept their guest list minimal, creating a very intimate celebration with only their nearest and dearest. I am honoured to have met this lovely couple (who might just be the most photogenic I’ve ever encountered) and to have documented this epic chapter of their love story.

A bit about me and how I got started:

I’ve been fascinated by people and the magic of documenting life from a very young age. My parents gave me a 35mm film camera for my 8th birthday, with which I filled countless shoeboxes and photo albums with my quirky view of the world. By age 16, I had saved all my coffee house tips and birthday money to buy my first digital SLR camera—the very first digital Canon Rebel (ohhhh yeah). Being quite the introvert, I found solace behind the lens—a place where I could observe and document from a distance.

I hadn’t considered wedding photography as a career until I got married at 19. My wedding photographer looked at my work and said, “Sarah, you have to do this. I don’t care how or where or what you photograph, but you HAVE to do this.” And so I did. As my childhood friends got married, they asked me to take their wedding photos, and I just DID. Back when I was holding that film camera in my 8-year-old hands, I could never have imagined a life like this. I couldn’t have dreamed that a camera would take me all over the country and the world, documenting the happiest days of people’s lives. It just goes to show that life seldom goes “according to plan,” but it’s really not so bad.

I am obsessed with stories—life stories, love stories, and stories that may only exist in my own imagination. People fascinate me: who they are, what they’re battling, what they’re thinking, where they’re going, and what their dreams are. I am obsessed with the fleeting moments, the stolen glances, and the in-between moments that you might not even notice. I LIVE FOR THEM. I’m inspired by both movement and stillness, light and shadow, pretty things and their dark underbelly.

A bit about my style and what sets me apart:

I think being an introvert in an extroverted industry sets me apart. Instead of being up in people’s business, I prefer to stand back and document whatever unfolds before me. There’s something magical that happens when people are given the space to just BE. I don’t want to interfere with that. I am a storyteller first, and a wedding photographer second. I want a perfect stranger to look at my work and FEEL the subject’s story. To capture those moments, one must have two things: patience and the trust of the person on the other side of the lens.

Though I may be a business owner, there is nothing business-like about me. I am who I am, and you can take me or leave me. The way I see it is this: if I can create a space where I am free to be myself around them, they can feel just as free to be themselves around me. My ultimate goal is to feel more like a friend photographing them—someone they would have invited to their wedding anyway.

What I love about a wedding day:

SO MANY THINGS. But one of my absolute favourite moments is when the couple has just been announced as Mr and Mrs and they walk back down the aisle with their loved ones cheering for them. There is NOTHING like that joy. Nothing.

My advice for couples?

Be true to yourselves. Don’t do anything just because “that’s the way weddings are” or “that’s what Pinterest tells you to do.” The most important part of your wedding day is that you will be married at the end of it. So make sure your day is what YOU want, celebrating with the people who YOU love.