Tex Kelly Productions
Wedding photography portfolio image from Arcata Community Forest in Arcata, California

Wedding Photographer & Filmmaker · Arcata, California

Wedding Photographer & Filmmaker in Arcata, California.

Cinematic films and editorial photography for weddings.

Inquire Call (707) 382-1108
Tex Kelly, weddings for Arcata, California

Hi. I'm Tex.

Welcome to wedding season, Arcata edition.

I'm a North Coast filmmaker and photographer, voted Humboldt County's Best. Wedding photography and film in Arcata is one of the things this studio does most, full-day photo and film coverage with FAA Part 107 drone aerial, delivered together so couples have one storyteller across every frame of the day.

My job is to make you, your families, and your guests feel completely comfortable so the day stays the day, not a photo shoot. No stiff poses. No staged-looking smiles. Just real, intentional, cinematic coverage of how the day actually unfolds in Arcata and across Humboldt County.

Now booking 2027 weddings in Arcata.

Book your Arcata wedding →
Weddings in Arcata, California. Tex Kelly Productions

A note from Arcata

Cinematic wedding films and editorial wedding photography in Arcata, California. Cal Poly Humboldt ceremonies, Arcata Community Forest redwood vows, and Plaza-area receptions. Full photo and film coverage with FAA Part 107 drone aerial.

The Approach

Weddings in Arcata. Made for this place.

The Arcata venue

Arcata venues, lit and scouted.

Arcata weddings often have a Cal Poly Humboldt connection, alumni couples returning to campus for their ceremony, faculty weddings at Founders Hall, redwood-grove ceremonies in the Arcata Community Forest. Plaza-area restaurants host receptions for smaller gatherings. The Community Forest's old-growth canopy delivers some of the best filtered ceremony light on the entire North Coast.

Weddings, Arcata, California
North Coast wedding in the redwoods, Humboldt County.
Weddings, Arcata, California
Real wedding-day moments, golden hour.

The Arcata day

Real moments, captured intentionally.

An Arcata wedding usually moves between the Community Forest and the Plaza. You say your vows under the redwoods, then head into town for the reception. That forest light is beautiful, but it's low, so we plan the day around it. We bring faster lenses, we get the drone up before the canopy swallows the sun, and we shoot portraits in the brightest part of the afternoon instead of waiting on a golden hour that comes early and dim under all those trees.

The Arcata hometown advantage

Local to Arcata. Scouted for years.

To a visitor the Community Forest looks like one place. After walking it for years, it's a dozen different ceremony spots. The upper grove that stays dry in a drizzle. The meadow edge that catches afternoon side-light. The trailhead that keeps a small group off the main path. Knowing which is which is the kind of scouting that's already done before you ever stand under those trees.

Weddings, Arcata, California
Hometown ceremony, Humboldt County.

2027 Weddings, Arcata

Now booking Arcata weddings for the year ahead.

Saturdays in Arcata fill first, venue holds, planner timelines, and golden-hour ceremony windows all stack on the same dates. Couples planning a year+ out get the cleanest weekends and the best honeymoon scheduling. Reserve early.

Reserve your Arcata wedding → or call (707) 382-1108

Recent Work

Wedding Photographer & Filmmaker in Arcata. A look at the work.

  • Newlyweds kissing in front of the Ferndale Ingomar Theatre. Humboldt County Victorian wedding photography
  • Wedding celebration with crowd. Trinidad, Humboldt County wedding photography
  • Bride and groom among the redwoods. Trinidad, California wedding photography
  • Editorial bride portrait. Arcata, Humboldt County wedding photographer
  • Bride portrait. Humboldt County wedding photography
  • Wedding moment captured in Old Town Eureka, California
  • Couple on the beach at Trinidad with the redwoods behind. North Coast destination wedding
  • Wedding moment in an old-growth redwood grove. Humboldt County wedding photography
  • Bride smiling at a Loleta elopement. Humboldt County wedding photographer
  • Beach ceremony at sunset with videographer in frame. North Coast wedding
  • Bridal portrait at a backyard ceremony. Humboldt County wedding photographer
  • Bride and groom walking the aisle under a redwood with celebrating guests
  • Outdoor ceremony under an oak tree with guests. Fortuna, California wedding
  • Bride raising her bouquet as guests celebrate. Fortuna wedding photography
  • Bride and groom first dance in a golden-hour field
  • Couple celebrating in a redwood forest. North Coast wedding photographer
  • Black-and-white first dance editorial. Northern California outdoor wedding
  • Bride walking the aisle with her father under the trees
  • Groom carrying bride at golden hour surrounded by Humboldt redwoods
  • Bride greeted by guests at an outdoor ceremony. McKinleyville wedding photographer
  • Bride at a wedding celebration moment. Humboldt County wedding photography
  • Sofia and Cam, elopement portrait on a fallen redwood, Humboldt County wedding photographer
  • Editorial bridal portrait with white-rose bouquet in a North Coast orchard at golden hour
  • Wide outdoor ceremony with floral aisle and pine-grove backdrop. North Coast wedding
  • Bride and groom kiss as confetti flies overhead. Monica + David wedding
  • Kendra and Gannon, full wedding party portrait in a redwood grove
  • Bethany and Chris ceremony portrait under a floral arch
  • Bride and groom on a North Coast small-town main street
  • Black-and-white editorial couple portrait at the coast
  • Rose and Charles, groom carrying bride at sunset
  • Couple in front of the Carson Mansion. Eureka wedding photography
  • Bride and groom kiss as guests dance behind, outdoor reception wedding
  • First-look moment between bride and groom in soft natural light
See full weddings portfolio →

Selected Wedding Films

Cinematic wedding films, documented in full.

Feature-length wedding documentaries and editorial wedding films, full coverage from getting-ready through last dance, edited for the way couples actually want to relive the day. Click any thumbnail to play in place. Click any thumbnail to play in place.

  • David & Monica's Wedding Documentary, 35 Years Before They Met, His Dad Saved Her Dad's Life

    Feature-length wedding documentary

  • Brunton Wedding Film

    Northern California wedding cinematography

  • Shane & Sofia Weekly. A 45-Minute Wedding Documentary

    Northern California long-form wedding film

  • Mrs. & Mrs. McClurg

    Cinematic wedding film

  • An Emotional, Romantic & Cinematic Wedding Film. Trinidad Elopement

    Trinidad, California elopement

DaVinci Resolve wedding-film edit in progress. Tex Kelly Productions editing suite

The Editing Process

Months in the edit suite, curating the story.

A wedding film isn't shot in a day, it's made over months. Hours of raw cinema footage, multi-camera audio, drone aerial, and second-shooter coverage get assembled, color-graded, and scored frame by frame in the edit suite.

Every transition is intentional. Every cut earns its keep. The goal is a film couples actually want to re-watch, not a montage of clips. That kind of editorial discipline is the difference between a wedding film and a wedding highlight reel, and it's why these turnarounds run weeks instead of days.

Venues + Locations

Where I shoot weddings in Arcata.

  • Arcata Community Forest

    Old-growth redwood ceremony venues. Filtered light, weather-resilient, intimate scale.

  • Cal Poly Humboldt Campus

    Founders Hall, redwood-canopy walkways, athletic-field venues for alumni ceremonies.

  • Arcata Plaza Receptions

    Plaza-side restaurants and event spaces for smaller reception gatherings.

What's Included

What's included with weddings in Arcata.

  • Full Photo + Film Coverage

    Cinematic motion and editorial stills delivered together so you don't sacrifice either side. Solo coverage available for smaller events.

  • Drone Aerial Coverage

    FAA Part 107 certified drone work integrated for outdoor ceremonies and sweeping reveal shots, included on most outdoor wedding packages.

  • Cinematic Highlight Film

    4–6 minute highlight reel cut to your story, broadcast-quality color grade, properly licensed music, broadcast-grade audio.

  • Feature Wedding Film

    15–30 minute full feature covering ceremony and reception in long form, for couples who want to relive the entire day.

  • Edited Photo Gallery

    Full-resolution edited photos delivered in 6–8 weeks. Print-ready files, web-ready exports, and a private online gallery for guests.

  • Engagement Session (optional)

    Most couples add a pre-wedding engagement session at a meaningful North Coast location, included in upgraded packages.

How It Works

How it works in Arcata.

  1. 01

    Initial Inquiry

    Send a note through the form or call (707) 382-1108. Share your wedding date, venue (or shortlist), and how you envision the day.

  2. 02

    Consultation Call

    30–45 minutes on the phone or at the Eureka studio. We talk through your story, your priorities, and what coverage levels make sense.

  3. 03

    Custom Proposal

    Within 24 hours of our call, I send a tailored quote with package options, timeline, and clear deliverables. No hidden fees.

  4. 04

    Booking

    Signed agreement and 25% deposit reserves your date. Remainder due before the wedding day.

  5. 05

    Pre-Wedding Planning

    Engagement session (if booked), timeline coordination with your planner, vendor introductions, and a final pre-shoot check-in.

  6. 06

    The Wedding Day

    Crew arrives 2 hours before ceremony. Full-day coverage from getting-ready through final dance. Drone aerials integrated as the day allows.

  7. 07

    Post-Production

    Edited photo gallery in 6–8 weeks. Highlight film + feature film delivered as broadcast-quality MP4s plus social-cut versions.

Investment

North Coast wedding packages start in the mid-four-figures and scale with scope (single shooter, full photo and film coverage, multi-day, destination travel). Send your date and venue and Tex will reply within 24 hours with availability and a tailored quote.

Wedding Photographer & Filmmaker in Arcata. FAQs

Frequently asked questions.

  • Can we get married in the Arcata Community Forest?
    Yes, the Arcata Community Forest hosts ceremonies under its old-growth redwood canopy. The City of Arcata requires a use permit for groups over 25 (around $50). Filtered light is reliable year-round, and the canopy provides natural rain protection.
  • Do you shoot Cal Poly Humboldt alumni weddings?
    Yes. Cal Poly Humboldt alumni often return to campus for ceremonies at Founders Hall, the redwood-canopy walkways, or the athletic fields. We coordinate with university scheduling for permits and access.
  • What does a wedding package include?
    Wedding coverage starts with photography or videography and scales up to full-day cinematic films. Most couples book the full photo and film package, cinematic motion plus editorial stills delivered together. Aerial drone coverage is available as an add-on for outdoor venues. Every package includes a planning consultation, day-of coverage, and a fully edited gallery delivered within 6–8 weeks.
  • Do you travel for destination weddings?
    Yes. Tex Kelly Productions covers weddings across Humboldt, Mendocino, and Del Norte Counties. Eureka, Arcata, Trinidad, Ferndale, Mendocino, Crescent City, the Avenue of the Giants, and beyond. Travel further into Northern California is regular. International destination weddings are considered case-by-case.
  • How far in advance should we book?
    Most North Coast wedding dates book 6–12 months out. Peak season (May through October) fills earliest. Reach out as soon as you have a date, even if the venue isn't locked in yet. Tex can often hold a tentative date for two weeks while you finalize.
  • What venues have you worked at?
    Many weddings across the North Coast, redwood-canopy ceremonies in the Avenue of the Giants and Founders Grove, coastal vows in Trinidad and Mendocino, Victorian elopements in Ferndale, ranch weddings across Humboldt, and barn-and-vineyard ceremonies further inland. Send your venue when you reach out and Tex will share work from there if available.
  • Do you do engagement sessions?
    Yes, engagement and proposal sessions are a separate service. Most couples who book the wedding film also do a pre-wedding engagement session at a meaningful North Coast location: the bluff where they got engaged, the redwood corridor where they had their first hike, or somewhere new together.
  • How do we book?
    Send an inquiry through the contact form or call (707) 382-1108. Tex replies within 24 hours with availability and a tailored quote. Once we lock details, a signed agreement and 25% deposit reserves your date. The remainder is due before the wedding day.

Nearby weddings cities

Weddings near Arcata, other locations I shoot.

Flexible on where you shoot? Many clients book a hometown location + a destination second location in the same day. Below are the other cities where I'm currently booking weddings, same playbook, same editorial eye, different backdrop.

Inquire

Wedding Photographer & Filmmaker in Arcata. Tell me about your wedding.

Every inquiry gets a personal reply within 24 hours.

Other Services in Arcata

Nine more services in Arcata.

Arcata Hub Humboldt County Hub Weddings (All Areas)