California Wedding Day featured these two in all of their awesome glory!
Kassidy and Andrew were married at the Carondelet House in Los Angeles, Ca, and the whole night was full of beautiful unique details that I swoon over every time I think about it. To start with, Kassidy and Andrew decided to have an evening wedding, starting the actual celebration just as the sun was setting. Their ceremony also started and ended with readings from "The Awesome Book of Love," which mentions dinosaurs, which I am an absolute sucker for. I had to look it up after the fact just to be sure the amazingness I though I had heard. The whole things was also Spanish inspired, a theme that expanded into the Cuatro Caminos Arts & Flamenco group that entertained both the wedding guests during the ceremony and cocktail hour, but also taught dances. The whole evening also had a giant focus on food, with not only a pizza truck arriving at the end of the night, but homemade salsa as their wedding favors. I scattered quotes from the amazing Kassidy throughout this blog, and you’re going to love her as much as I do after you read it all!
Jacob and Chris had an incredible, glamorous wedding and I love that it was featured on Equally Wed!
Photographing Jacob and Chris’s elegant and fashion forward wedding at the Westlake Village Inn in Westlake Village, Ca was pretty much what every photographer dreams a wedding will be like! From their Gucci suits to their unique ceremony at the Lakeside Arbor, their dark green and white wedding palette even matched the Provence Reception Room lake.
Read MoreSamantha and Sam knew they wanted to get married at the Circle Bar B Guest Ranch in Goleta, Ca for not only it’s natural beauty, but so all of their families could spend the weekend together for this rustic destination wedding in the hills. Surrounded by 1100 acres of beautiful land, this coastal mountain location is complete with horseback riding and local magnificent views.
Read MoreCalamigos Ranch in Malibu, Ca is such an incredible place for a wedding, and their Birchwood Room is no exception to the rule! Dasha and James had an intimate blush and navy wedding, complete with a band and donuts for dessert; fulfilling all of their dreams for one incredible Southern California day. When I asked these two what their dreams for their wedding day was, they simply said that they wanted it to feel like they were in California, surrounded by their family, friends, but most especially their children.
Read MoreI’m not surprised to say that these two and their dog Snacks was featured on Rock n Roll Bride!
Words don’t even get close to describing how amazing Ali and Mike’s wedding at The Saguaro Palm Springs in Palm Springs, Ca was, but I’ll try and give it a shot! First off, this venue is rainbow colored- you heard me, rainbow. The carpeting, the windows, the poles, and all the fencing around this desert venue are painted different colors. You can only imagine how exciting this is for a photographer that loves color! On top of that, Palm Springs, Ca never fails to be awesome, with it’s ubiquitous palm trees and bright blue sky. Pair that with a couple who loves having fun, their dog name Snacks, and some tiki themed shoes; and you have a party waiting to happen.
Read MoreThere is so much I love about Katelyn and Jake’s wedding at the Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara, Ca, that it is hard to choose just one thing to talk about! Katelyn and Jake had to switch wedding venues the week before the big day, after meticulously picking Elings Park in Santa Barbara, Ca because it “truly felt like home'“. With rain on the horizon, Chase Palm Park came to the rescue, and they were able to quickly relocate to a venue that had indoor opportunities. Having met in the entertainment world, these two paired their love of movies with their religions- creating an absolutely unique Mennonite / Jewish / Movie Lovers smorgasbord of a wedding day.
Read MoreHangar 21 South, a wedding venue in Fullerton, Ca opened January 2019, and when Eugenie and Justin booked me for their wedding they were absolutely ecstatic to know that they were going to be one of the first weddings at this beautiful and unique venue. Defining the vibe that they wanted to create, Eugenie said she was aiming for ‘Industrial Chic’, and Grace from Unveiled By Grace did an incredible job of making their dream come true. Pairing navy wraps with an abundance of greenery and white florals, Hangar 21 South and their industrial airplane hangar allowed for a beautiful but modern vibe.
Read MoreI’m not going to lie, I spent way too much time loving every single moment of this entire wedding day at the Sheraton Agoura Hills Hotel, in Agoura Hill, Ca! From my very first meeting with the couple, I was beyond stoked to hear that their wedding was not only on May the 4th, (ahem, may the force be with you, ahem), but it was going to include some incredibly classy Star Wars elements. I honestly do not think I’ve seen so many light-sabers in one location, and I also don’t think I’ll ever see a dance floor conga line while simultaneously battling each other.
Read MoreI occasionally get the chance to participate in a beautiful wedding photo shoot with other photographers at venues like City View Loft in Chicago, Illinois! For this particular day, we went for an industrial chic vibe, with pink and blush accents. City View Loft provided the perfect urban backdrop with their warm brick walls, and wrap around windows for a great view of downtown Chicago. We did not shoot into the night, but I can only imagine what those twinkling lights would look like when photographing a wedding reception!
Read MoreAlex and Ricky had an amazing wedding day around Denver, Colorado, exploring some beautiful places along the way. Starting at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco to get ready, we then traveled to the St. Cajetan's Catholic Church where these two officially got married! We ended the evening at the McNichols Civic Center Building in downtown Denver, Co for not only incredible reception, but some fun portraits in the Civic Center Park!
Read MoreI love this rustic ranch wedding, and love even more that Gina and Jordan were featured on Rustic Wedding Chic!
Gina and Jordan’s wedding at Triple S Ranch Napa in Napa, Ca (otherwise known as SSS Ranch Napa) was the definition of rustic, with vintage elements. Triple S Ranch is from 1860, and the tree they were married under was 175 years old! My favorite part of the wedding though had to be that Gina wore a necklace that had been passed down through generations in her family, being worn by every woman to get married. There is a picture of it below that documents all of the women family members! Gina and Jordan met when they were 8 years old through their families, and played together on the very same ranch that Jordan proposed on 20 years later! Gina says that, “We were maybe 8 when we first started having crushes on each other.”
Elizabeth and Aaron toured a ton of local wineries for their wedding this spring, but they knew that Sanford Winery in Lompoc, California was it when they just kept going back.
The wedding day of Elizabeth and Aaron was a whirlwind of friends from around the world, complete with jokes, perfect weather and of course delicious wine. It was exactly how the two wanted it to be and even unknowingly described it “Definitely a natural, seamless, and joyous mood filled with happiness and love.”
I wish I had the officiant’s speech to pull from, because not only did it have everyone in giggles, but it also had everyone in tears. But what warmed my hoarder heart, was the fact that he still had the cork from a bottle of wine the couple drank years before, and unknowingly to Aaron and Elizabeth, pulled it out during his speech. Sometimes things truly do come full circle, including that cork being brought to their vineyard wedding years later.
La Casa del Camino in Laguna Beach, California is the perfect setting for two beach lovers like these, and it definitely did not disappoint with it’s sprawling ocean views. But what no one could have predicted was a sweet couple walking our way on the beach.
”Okay guys, now let's look as cute as these two do!", I shouted, above the crashing waves. The couple stopped, and looked at Trisha and Matthias on their wedding day, and said, "Do you know why we look this cute? Because it is our 45th year anniversary. It must be a lucky day."
Sometimes you just get that perfect moment, of two people walking hand in hand 45 years later, and two people walking hand in hand; on the first day of the start of the rest of their lives.
Stephanie and Eddie had an absolutely incredible Southern California wedding day. Starting at the Westlake Village Inn in Westlake Village, Ca for their first look, they moved to the Oak Room at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, Ca for their ceremony and reception. The extra special part of the day though was driving down to El Matador Beach in Malibu, Ca for their portraits. El Matador Beach is not only where Eddie proposed, but where they took their engagement portraits before the wedding day. We were blessed with blue Southern California skies on their wedding day, so it was quite the beautiful experience to get to photograph them in their wedding attire with the ocean behind.
Read MoreWhether your destination wedding is big or small, 2400 On The River in Ranger, Georgia provides the perfect backdrop for a couple in love! For this blush and gold summer wedding next to the Coosawattee River, these two prioritized elaborate floral design for their gazebo ceremony and outdoor reception. Utilizing the unique architecture throughout the venue, the hints of gold in their decor balanced the epic natural backdrop of northwest Georgia!
Read MoreBrenna and Justice traveled from Oklahoma all the way to Los Angeles, California to elope. They knew they wanted a location that would show the beauty that is Southern California, so they chose Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, Ca. Griffith Observatory is an incredible location to take some elopement pictures, especially when you arrive at sunrise!
Read MoreApril showers bring May flowers, and luckily for Jeremy and Allison, it also brings beautiful light in Chicago, IL. It really does not matter where you are when it starts to rain, but the rain in Chicago truly lights up everything it touches! Including Buckingham Fountain, the Lakefront trail, and all the way over to Olive Park. It was just a matter of Chicago spring luck that the day Allison & Jeremy's 4 year anniversary shoot was planned that it called for torrential downpour. This in no way hindered our plans, and encouraged the tourists to stay inside; allowing us free reign of several popular destinations that would otherwise be quite crowded.
Read MoreJayna and Daniel planned their destination wedding in California from Washington, DC, flying out to Los Angeles on the regular to meet with vendors and make sure all of the details were perfect. After viewing Santa Margarita Ranch, they knew they had found the right place. “The greenery and florals in the garden coupled with the stone walls in the barn created such a romantic and unique ambiance - we knew we found a gem.” What they definitely didn’t know was how beautifully green their venue would be, after what some are calling the wettest winter in Southern California in decades. This fact didn’t fail to disappoint, when it started to sprinkle on their wedding day.
”When we saw each other for the first time it was truly "love at first sight". He introduced himself and handed me a bottle of wine he brought as a dinner party gift. We ended up opening the bottle of wine and sitting by the fireplace talking all night - and the rest is history.” - Jayna
I absolutely loved photographing the wedding of Julie and Jon, partly for their beautiful locations, but mostly for their beautiful personalities! Their first date was on 12/13/14, and that’s a pretty incredible start to any relationship if you ask me. I had the pleasure of meeting these two before their wedding for their Lincoln Park, Chicago, Il engagement session, and I’m so glad I did. Nothing is better than arriving to a wedding and already knowing the couple, before getting to see them tie the knot.
We started their wedding at the St. Katherine Drexel Catholic Church in Sugar Grove, Il, and their ceremony was tear-worthy- at least that’s what the guests and Jon thought. With their love story, I wouldn’t have expected anything less, “Jon says it was truly love at first sight,” the bride Julie says.
Intimate weddings come in all shapes and sizes, and for Takesha and Vincent’s they chose one with a small group of their friends and family in Chicago, IL. Held at the First Baptist Congregational Church (otherwise known as the Union Park Congregational Church) in Chicago, IL, these two had a short religious ceremony before a quick first dance and dinner. Before parting ways with their small group, they went and around the room and each attendee gave the couple their well wishes!
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