Sydney and Dawson Hayre, October 14, 2023

Photographers Sydney (nee Spurgeon) and Dawson Hayre met through a mutual friend who thought they would be a great match. That friend’s hunch was right. The couple hit it off immediately, and it wasn’t long before Dawson was rounding out his work schedule by making time to help Sydney with her photography jobs such as family photos, graduation shoots and other special events.

Both Stockton and Lodi have many beautiful outdoor settings for photos but one place in particular became special to them. Whenever Lodi Lake was the location for a late-afternoon photo shoot, they often found themselves lingering afterwards so they could watch the sunset together. It was during one of these magical moments when Dawson proposed. Sydney had imagined they might marry one day but was caught completely by surprise by his gesture. He even hired a photographer to capture the memory as it unfolded.

Thanks to her experience photographing numerous other weddings, Sydney was well equipped when it came to planning her own. She had witnessed plenty of popular traditions and knew what to expect, but she and Dawson also knew they wanted to create a wedding day uniquely their own, very small, intimate and special.

On October 14, 2023, at a private residence in Lodi, they were married, accompanied by Sydney’s sister Mandy as her Maid of Honor, and Dawson’s brother Haydon Wilcox as his Best Man. No fewer than three ring bearers bore witness to the nuptials, Sydney’s six-year-old nephew Vincent and two boys for whom she is the nanny, Jett and Jack, ages three and two, respectively. Sydney’s niece, Emmery, age two, was their flower girl.

Sydney was stunning in an elegant tank-style white satin dress with a lovely train. The dress featured a soft bow delicately placed at the small of her back, a detail which reminded her, with some amusement, of the ever-present and oversized hair bows she and her sister wore daily throughout their childhood. She carried a bouquet of white roses, chrysanthemums, sweet pea flowers and fragrant stock, all perfectly coordinated and accented with ornamental berries.

After the ceremony, guests mingled poolside, enjoying a cocktail hour set to the music of two flutists before dancing and dining in the warm night air. The meal included pasta with creamy pesto, chicken piccata, sliced beef with tomato parsley sauce, Delmonico potatoes, roasted vegetables and a crisp green salad. For the grand finale, a lemon olive oil wedding cake was served, a bright and flavorful family recipe baked by the bride’s cousin, Megan Snow. In honor of Sydney’s late maternal grandmother, Gwen, and the lifetime of wonderful homemade pies she baked, guests were also treated to a pie bar as part of the joyful celebration.

Dawson and Sydney had originally planned to spend their honeymoon in historic Lahaina on the island of Maui but due to the devastating fires that leveled the town, they had to make other plans. Since they had always wanted to tour the beautiful Oregon coast and photograph the famous Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, that became their destination. There they enjoyed one another’s company while hiking, taking photos and relaxing.

The newlyweds reside in Lodi and are the owners of Hayre Photography. Dawson umpires college baseball, works at Trail Coffee in Lodi and is on the board of Lodi BOBS. Sydney’s parents are Steve and Mary Spurgeon of Stockton. Dawson’s mother and stepfather are Diane and Greg Wilcox of Lodi; his father and stepmother are Dennis and Cindy Hayre, also of Lodi.

Photography
Kali Matthews

Bridal Gown
Miosa Bride

Bridesmaid’s Gowns
Nordstrom

Grooms Suit/Tux
Men’s Wearhouse

Groomsmen’s attire
Tuxedos of Lodi

DJ
Bryan Mero, DJB

Florist
Linda King and Denise Combs

Caterer
Morada Eats Catering

Cake
Megan Snow

Jeweler
DeVon’s