Intimate Restaurant Wedding at Dunsmoor
Julie and Adam’s wedding celebration felt less like a traditional wedding and more like an elevated dinner party with all the people they care about most. A year prior, I photographed their civil ceremony at the Beverly Hills Courthouse on a rainy afternoon. After signing their marriage license, they celebrated with Jenni’s ice cream and cocktails, a small personal moment that set the tone for how they approach celebrations: relaxed, intentional, and full of things they genuinely enjoy.
For their official wedding reception, they wanted to keep that same spirit. Their venue of choice was Dunsmoor in Eagle Rock, a restaurant known for its seasonal menu, intimate dining spaces, and an atmosphere that makes you feel like you are at a private dinner rather than a formal event. Dunsmoor hosts just two weddings each year, which made the evening feel even more special - a rare opportunity to mark a milestone surrounded by close family and friends in a place that reflects the couple’s personality and love of food.
Guests started the night in the wine bar, sipping carefully chosen wines and enjoying fresh oysters amongst other Dunsmoor specialties. Then they moved into the main dining room for a multi-course tasting of the restaurant’s menu, designed to showcase the best of what Dunsmoor offers. Before the first course, Julie and Adam exchanged personal vows right at their table. Because their courthouse ceremony did not include vows, this intimate moment felt both meaningful and spontaneous, with everyone present witnessing the commitment in a way that was heartfelt.
The rest of the evening unfolded with the rhythm of a dinner party, laughter, conversation, shared plates, and glasses passed around the table. Wine flowed freely and heartfelt speeches were shared from friends and family who came from near and far. For me, it felt especially personal because my own wedding had a similar dinner-focused format. There is something about a micro wedding, a wine bar wedding, or any casual restaurant celebration that allows for real connection and genuine energy that surrounds a shared meal, and this night embodied that completely.
Photographed in my hybrid style on both film and digital, the images capture the warmth, texture, and movement of the evening. Film brings out the soft, tactile qualities of candlelight and the subtle glow of the restaurant, while digital captures the detail and interaction across the room, from the passing of plates to the clinking of glasses. The result is a set of photos that feel cinematic yet grounded, intentional but effortless, highlighting the untraditional nature of the event, the intimacy of the dinner, and the simple joy of good food shared with family and friends.
Julie and Adam’s wedding at Dunsmoor is a reminder that weddings do not need to follow a formula to feel meaningful. Sometimes, quiet, intentional celebrations, the ones built around food, connection, and community, leave the strongest impression. Every detail of the night, from the wine bar start to the family-style dinner, was considered yet unforced, creating a casual, intimate experience that everyone in attendance will remember for years.
What an honor to capture not one, but two weddings for Julie and Adam! My well wishes go out to them forever!
Shot primarily on film (35mm and 120mm) and digital
