The Pines Wedding at Bass Lake in Autumn

I remember exactly how I felt when I saw Alexa + Sidney’s inquiry first come to my inbox. The Pines wedding? Intimate family only? Midweek celebration? Go with the flow kind of night? My photographer heart absolutely leapt, and I couldn’t wait to meet with the two of them. Their wedding day already sounded like an absolute dream to me.

Check out Alexa and Sidney’s wedding at the Pines

How did they meet?

Alexa and Sidney met in January 2019 on the first day of their Political Behaviors and Motivation class at CSUF. The two slowly started warming up to one another throughout the semester. They even worked on a group project together! By the end of the semester, they had grown feelings for one another and the rest was history.

*cue approximately a year-and-a-half later*

How did Sidney propose?

They moved into their first home together in November 2021. It was such a huge and special milestone for them. They absolutely love Christmas time, and had their home decorated from when they first moved in. On New Year’s Eve, Sidney finally popped the question after they got home from a romantic dinner date. He did it right in front of their first Christmas tree together. Alexa thought it was so special and absolutely perfect for the two of them.

Alexa and Sidney’s wedding day was an intimate celebration for close family. They opted out of having a wedding party due to the nature of their celebration. It was a perfect decision for the two of them. They were able to stay super flexible throughout the day. Alexa even saved some time for a First Look with her father.

I’ve said it before in previous blog posts, but it deserves to be said again. The Pines is one of my absolute favorite wedding venues in California.

The Pines Resort is located along Bass Lake, which can be found just 17 miles outside of the Southern Entrance to Yosemite National Park. You can choose to have your full wedding day outdoors on the Gazebo Lawn (see below), with the attached Gazebo Deck for the reception. If the weather is a bit too cold, you can opt for one of their indoor reception areas with breathtaking mountain and lake views. Lodging is available on the property, and range from lakeside Suites to two-story Chalet cabins. Alexa got ready in one of the cabins, and I was blown away by it’s beauty!

Alexa and Sidney were so excited for their sunset bride and groom portraits along Bass Lake!

We took a few portraits at the ceremony site to show off the incredible autumn colors along the lake. The pop of fall behind their arch paired incredibly well with Alexa’s bouquet!

One of Alexa and Sidney’s main reasons for choosing the Pines as their wedding venue was access to the boat docks along the shore of Bass Lake. Alexa even sent me a few inspiration photos of what she had in mind.

These ended up being some of my favorite portraits from their wedding day!

Alexa and Sidney had a few moments to prepare for their grand entrance once we finished their lakeside sunset portraits. While Alexa’s dress got bustled, I went to the reception to get some guest candids and detail photos.

We were all surprised when a family of black bears decided to stop by the parking lot and climb some trees in the late afternoon sun! Don’t worry – everyone stayed safety behind the glass windows of the reception hall to take their close-ups of the bear family.

It’s hard to pick my favorite dance from their reception. Alexa + Sidney’s first dance as husband and wife? Sidney and Alexa’s mother dance? Or the sweet Father/Daughter dance that turned into a surprise choreographed dance? I’ll let you decide.

Alexa + Sidney, it was an absolute honor to photograph such an incredible day in your lives. You two were a dream to work with, and your love was such a precious thing to capture. May you continue to love and selflessly serve one another as you did on your wedding day. Thank you for inviting me to document it.

Ready to book your Yosemite wedding photographer?

I’d love to work with you! If you enjoy my work and want more information about booking me as your wedding photographer, you can fill out my contact form and I’ll get back to you soon. In the meantime, check out my blog about what to do once you get engaged!

The Pines Wedding at Bass Lake Vendors

Venue: The Pines Resort
Photographer: Ashley Norton Photography
Florist: Flora Flower Co
Arch Florist: The Enchanted Florist & Whatnots
Hair + Make-Up: Bare Faced Beaute
DJ: ITC Entertainment
Dress: Styled by TC
Cupcakes: Frosted Cakery
Dessert: Sugar Bee Custom Bake Shop