Candlelit Ceremony at Chapel at Union Hill in Sonora, California

A severe snowstorm the day before the wedding resulted in a citywide power outage that left Bess and Austin’s ceremony space in the dark. The couple, however, averted crisis, lighting dozens of pillar candles that bathed the chapel interiors with a warm, romantic light. “My favorite part of Christmas Eve church service growing up was the candlelighting ceremony,” Bess says. “We decided to re-­create this at our wedding, which ended up being the perfect solution to our power outage. Everyone kept their lanterns lit even after the song had finished, using them for heat and to light the way to cocktails. What an unforgettable view we had from the altar.”