Behinds the Scenes with Marc and Brenda from Bergreen Photography
When I first met Marc and Brenda from Bergreen Photography, I knew they were absolute mountain people. They’re laid-back, thoughtful and LOVE adventurous brides. In fact, they live adventure. In between photographing and editing weddings, they go rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, and skiing. They also recently climb Mount Whitney (the tallest peak in the contiguous United States). I LOVE following all of their adventures on Facebook.
Welcome Marc and Brenda!
MSB: Tell us a bit about yourself
We are husband and wife, adventure partners, and business partners. We love to climb, hike, ski, and play together in the mountains. Brenda grew up in Colorado and Marc grew up in California. We met at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo while studying engineering and working as trip leaders at the outdoor adventure program. After college we moved to Seattle to play in the Cascades. Now we are back in CA pursuing our passion for a flexible lifestyle and a successful photography business. We live at the base of the Sierras with our dog Riley and embrace the work hard play hard mentality. Between weddings and outdoor adventures, we stay busy!
MSB: Does your business have a tagline?
love. adventurously.
MSB: What’s your favorite quote?
We love to read and we love to be inspired. Therefore we have many favorite quotes. A lot of them are from John Muir and when it comes down to it they express one familiar feeling: “The mountains are calling and I must go.”
MSB: What’s your favorite thing to do in the mountains?
Climb. Just being in the mountains is often enough. Sitting, breathing, watching sunrises and sunsets. Climbing however is both challenging and freeing. It’s a path to great heights, inconceivable views, and personal growth. Also, it’s an activity we love to do together. We’ve been climbing partners for a long time and it has most certainly strengthened our bond.
MSB: What are 3 things you can’t leave home without?
hammock, pillows, audiobook/podcasts
MSB:What’s your guilty pleasure?
Pitch Perfect
MSB: What’s your best accessory?
our matching wedding bands
MSB What’s your best shortcut?
It’s a toss up between command+C and command+V
MSB What’s your best mistake?
We didn’t hire the wedding photographer we wanted. It’s disappointing that our pictures didn’t turn out like we wanted, but in the end, that experience is what led us to become wedding photographers.
MSB What’s your favorite wedding trend this season?
Family style dinners! Yum and fun!
MSB OK, be honest… is there a wedding trend you’d like to see disappear forever?
The money dance… We are all about giving money and all about dancing but no one wants to wait in line! We’ve seen some cute alternatives that make it fun for everyone.
MSB What’s your best advice for destination brides planning a mountain wedding?
Discover Skype, FaceTime, or Google Hangout. Phone and e-mail work but we have come to love meeting with couples via video chat when we can’t meet in person. It makes it fun and interactive. We can see each other smiles and share our excitement, which is part of why weddings are so fun. In general, doing simple things like that to remember that the wedding is a celebration and not a business exchange will help keep things in perspective.
Check out Bergreen’s Work:
Click here for their Real Weddings.
Have a Question?
Are you planning a mountain wedding in the Sierra, and have a question for Brenda and Marc? Ask your question in comment section below and we will answer it right here on the blog!