Haunted Victorian Micro Wedding at Heritage Park. San Diego, CA | Katherine & Caleb

There’s something really special about getting to photograph a family more than once.

A few years ago, I photographed Katherine’s sister’s wedding, and when Katherine reached out for her own wedding day, she mentioned that she and Caleb had loved those photos and experience so much that they knew they wanted me to be part of their story too.

Honestly, that is one of the best compliments.

Not just because they liked the images, but because they remembered how the day felt and trusted me to capture that same feeling for them.

Katherine and Caleb were planning an intimate ceremony at Heritage Park in Old Town San Diego, surrounded by the colorful Victorian homes that make the whole place feel like you accidentally stepped into another time period. They also told me they loved a good spooky, vintage vibe, which is pretty much the easiest way to get me excited about a wedding. Fun fact, I once photographed a Hocus Pocus shoot in the same spot!

A historic Victorian village?

Rumored to be haunted?

In San Diego?

Say less.

There is something so special about smaller celebrations because every person there has a reason for being there. Nobody is just another name on a seating chart. Everyone has a connection to the couple, and you can feel that throughout the entire day.

Katherine told me that the part she was looking forward to most was the ceremony because she got to marry her best friend. Which sounds simple, but honestly, that's the whole point..

Their ceremony was made even more meaningful because Caleb’s mom was the one who married them. There is something really special about having a family member guide you through such a huge moment. It made the ceremony feel less like a performance and more like what it actually was—a family gathering to celebrate two people they love.

They also included a "tie the knot" ceremony, which felt like the perfect little detail for a couple getting married in a historic Victorian village. It’s one of those phrases we say all the time without really thinking about it, so getting to actually incorporate it into their wedding day was such a fun and fitting touch.

At the end of the ceremony, they drew names to see who would get to be the witnesses to sign the marriage certificate. This was such a fun way to pick who got to sign, while also acknowledging that they would of been confident with anyone present doing so.

Heritage Park was the perfect backdrop for them. The Victorian homes already have so much personality that we didn't need to add much. The bright colors, old architecture, winding paths, and little details around the property gave everything this slightly mysterious, nostalgic feeling.

And yes, I fully appreciated that the homes are rumored to be haunted.Would I expect anything less from a couple who told me they loved spooky vibes?

One of the reasons I love photographing elopements is because they give everyone permission to slow down. There isn't a giant timeline pulling everyone in twelve different directions. There is time to actually notice what is happening and be present in the moment. Those are always the images that end up meaning the most.

Katherine and Caleb chose a wedding day that felt completely like them. A little vintage, a little spooky, but mostly, it was just two people who were excited to marry their best friend.