Posts Tagged ‘natural light photography’
Scripps Seaside Forum Wedding, La Jolla
The Scripps Seaside Forum in La Jolla is such a beautiful place to get married, especially if you want to have your wedding right on the beach! Its modern architecture, incredible textures, and unobstructed ocean views make it the perfect spot for a San Diego Destination Wedding. This was definitely the case for Lindsay & Luke, who actually live in the bay area, but wanted to have their wedding in San Diego where Lindsay grew up! We really loved the bright colors of the bouquets paired with perfect pink bridesmaids dresses. Luke’s khaki suit really made him stand out among his groomsmen.
We started out with getting ready shots at the Empress Hotel in La Jolla Cove before heading over to the Scripps Seaside Forum. This is the kind of inspiring location that we could photograph a hundred times and still have new options for portraits! The grassy ceremony area overlooks the ocean and is backed by a row of giant palm trees, all of which gave it a perfect relaxed San Diego feel.
After the ceremony, we had the opportunity to take them down the beach to the Scripps Pier, which is famous among landscape photographers for it’s clean, symmetrical concrete columns that seem to disappear into an infinity of white over the ocean. We love shooting romantic portraits with couples like Lindsay & Luke… it was so easy to tell that the rest of the world just drops away when they look into each other’s eyes!
One of our favorite wedding trends is when couples incorporate elements from their culture into the details of the day. To celebrate Lindsay’s Japanese heritage, they had 1000 colorful origami cranes (for good luck) hanging on a tree, a Banzai to represent her brother who was there in spirit, and an awesome authentic japanese steel drum performance.
Location: Scripps Seaside Forum
Coordinator: Bliss Events
Catering: Crown Point Catering
Officiant: Bethel Nathan
Ceremony Musician/Reception DJ: Michael Tiernan
Hair & Makeup: Flora Wade
Limo: LJ Transportation
Catamaran Resort Wedding, Bahia Belle Reception
We love being able to give the gift of gorgeous images to our clients, especially when our clients also happen to be friends! Kevin and I have known each other since the very first day we moved into “Camp Snoopy” as freshman at UCSD. We were instant friends and he quickly became someone that I could rely on to help me study, make me laugh, and be there as a shoulder to cry on. When he called me up to say that he had met the woman of his dreams, I was so happy! Ashley is absolutely beautiful, incredibly sweet, and they compliment each other perfectly.
Kevin & Ashley put a lot of hard work wedding, planning the whole thing together and finding ways to compromise along the way. They wanted to stay true to their personalities– classic, and elegant with a casual feel. at the Catamaran couldn’t have been more picture perfect. The morning clouds broke to reveal stunning turquoise skies and azul water, making Ashley’s colorful bouquet even more vibrant. Every detail radiated a sense of carefree elegance – Ashley looked lovely as she tiptoed barefoot down the steps to the ceremony, her lace train trailing behind. After the ceremony and taking photos around the Catamaran, we all boarded the Bahia Belle for a romantic reception on the water!
For these guys, the past year was not what you would expect a typical first year for newlyweds to be like. Kevin was deployed to Iraq while Ashley has been pregnant! They have had to rely on email, skype, and phone calls to be together. We want to thank them and all of our service men/women who sacrifice so much everyday so that we can enjoy our liberties and freedom! We hope to see Kevin come home safely, and can’t wait to meet their baby when the little one arrives!
Dress – Alfred Angelo
Bridesmaid dresses – J crew
Ceremony flowers – Jennifer Bennett My Fair Lady’s Flowers
Cake – Sweet Cheeks
Reception – Bahia Belle
Ceremony – Catamaran Resort
Hair & Make-up – Flora Wade
Coronado Tidelands Park, Star of the Sea Event Center Wedding
One of the best outdoor ceremony locations in San Diego to take advantage of the amazing cityscape is Tidelands Park on Coronado Island. Located a short walk away from the ferry landing, this park is a little oasis of greenery, blue skies, and uninterrupted city views! Bre’s mom also happens to be a planner, and we were blown away by the gorgeous details awaiting us at the Star of the Sea reception. We especially loved the delectable sweets in blue and green, accents of sparkly gems, and the uber-creative custom seating chart featuring images from our Engagement Session!
Congrats Bre and Eddy and thank you to the fantastic vendors who made this wedding such a treat!
Vendors:
Encinitas Engagement Session
From the first moment we sat down to coffee with Heather and Nick, we just clicked. It felt like we were hanging out with long time friends who totally got our photography style, love for funky Leucadia (turns out they lived a few blocks away from us), and even were planning their wedding to be on the same day that Shane and I got married!
Heather envisioned a sun-washed, anthropologie style e-session to compliment the vintage theme of their upcoming wedding. I especially loved when she surprised Nick with a page from her diary that she wrote the night after their first date…No doubt in my mind that these two are soul mates.
Watch for pics from their amazing vintage Italian inspired wedding coming very soon!
La Quinta Resort, Palm Desert Destination Wedding
In the foothills of the picture perfect Santa Rosa mountains outside of Palm Springs is a a hideaway resort called La Quinta. Perfectly manicured gardens, lush palm trees, and a hacienda-style charm welcome visitors as an oasis in the middle of the arid, desert landscape. Famed as a refuge for Old Hollywood luminaries for decades past, the resort is at the same time luxurious as it is utterly charming and relaxing.
With their impeccable style and steamy chemistry, it’s easy to imagine Michelle and Joe as silver screen stars escaping to the desert for a weekend getaway!
Thank you to the amazing vendors we worked with!
Dress: Matthew Christopher
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Jewelry & Accessories: Custom designed by Seattle Diamond
Hair and Makeup: The A List Makeup Studio
Bridesmaid Gowns: Bill Levkoff
Tuxedos: La Strada
Caterer: La Quinta Resort & Club
Linens/Decor: Arrangements Floral Designs
Cocktail Entertainment: Mike O’Bryan
Reception Entertainment: A Musical Affair
Videographer: Moonstone Pictures
Wedding Cake: Juliette’s Bakery
Rentals: Signature Party Rentals
Limousine: Phat Daddy’z Limousine Service
Wedding Ceremony: Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church
Reception: La Quinta Resort & Club – La Casa
Torrey Pines Gliderport Engagement Session
We love shooting engagement sessions in new or different places, so we decided to go to a somewhat hidden spot called Torrey Pines Gliderport in La Jolla. It’s an excellent alternative to shooting at the much more popular (read: crowded) Torrey Pines State Reserve, especially on weekends. There is a really cute grassy hill behind the glider launch that overlooks the cliffs and is perfect for photos with lots of blue skies and simple green grass… it reminds me of warm summer days, flying a kite, or running through the sprinklers as a child. After shooting some playful photos on the hill, we made our way down the path to the beach for more romantic images as the sun set.
Rachel is a fantastic wedding coordinator with AR Affairs, and we’ve had the pleasure of working with her on quite a few weddings. She is always hard-working, very professional, and extremely organized. We quickly realized that she was head over heels in love with Tyler, as he definitely brings out a whole new side of her! She was constantly giggling, smiling ear to ear, and couldn’t take her hands of that tall, dark, and handsome man of hers! Although being a male model wasn’t exactly on Tyler’s list of hobbies, he totally worked it for the camera!!!
Keep an eye out for the upcoming blog post about their beautiful wedding at the Catamaran Resort in Mission Bay!
Wayfarer’s Chapel Wedding, Rancho Palos Verdes & Hotel Portofino Yacht Club
As you drive toward Rancho Palos Verdes, the tension of the larger cities gives way to a relaxed, almost magically natural environment. Thanks to Lillian & Mike, we were able to discover the beauty that exists at the Wayfarer’s Chapel by the sea. It was designed in the early 1970′s by Lloyd Wright (Frank Lloyd Wright’s son) to be a natural sanctuary in the midst of a beautiful forest, allowing visitors to be closely connected to the trees, sky, and surrounding environment. What a perfect location to hold a wedding for such a down-to-earth couple!
From the moment that Mike first saw Lillian, he was head-over-heels in love with her. He was totally blown away by how gorgeous she was!!! They had originally planned to hang out for a couple hours on their first date, but it turned into an all-day event and they couldn’t get enough of one another! From that day forward, they’ve been completely inseparable. It is so cool to see a couple that is always on the same wave-length, and so lovingly supportive of one another. We really look forward to hanging out with them as both our families grow! ;)
On the wedding day, Lillian just glowed– the sunlight illuminated her bird cage veil as she posed for bridal photos in the lush gardens outside the Chapel. Mike was nervous, but that gave way to pure joy the moment he saw Lillian arrive and walk down the aisle toward him! We especially love the zen-like feel of the trees rising above the altar, framed perfectly by the glass windows of the chapel. The dappled light coming through the trees made exposures very contrasty, but the shadows served to make our wide shots even more dramatic. It would be so fun to shoot weddings here at various times of day, as there would be a completely different feel depending on where the sun/moon are! One of my very favorite shots was the moment after they were married when Mike stopped to wipe is forehead as if to say “whew, I am glad that is over!” Classic.
We wish Lillian & Mike our best as they embark on adventures in parenthood with their new little boy!
Locations:
Tulum, Mexico Destination Wedding – Traditional Mayan Ceremony
We first met Ashley and Travis while shooting their engagement session here in San Diego. They hadn’t decided on a location for their destination wedding yet, but really loved their engagement photos and wanted us to photograph it wherever they decided to go. Fortunately for us, they chose Tulum, Mexico!
Tulum is a short 2 hr drive south of Cancun, but worlds away from the crazy Spring Break vibe found there. Beyond the tropical foliage that lines the coast are stunning warm turquoise waters, white sand beaches dappled with occasional sunbathers, surfers, yoga retreats and the breathtakingly beautiful Tulum ruins. The whole area evokes a calming peacefulness and spiritual draw that makes it stand out as one of our favorite places in the world.
Ashley and Travis scored a gorgeous private villa large enough to house all of their closest friends and family in one location! They embraced the local culture and traditions of the Mayan Riviera by having an actual Shaman marry them in a traditional Mayan ceremony, emphasizing harmonious interaction with mother nature. Our favorite part of the ceremony was when everyone raised their hands over the couple to signify their support and blessings as the Shaman blew a conch shell invoking the gods to bear witness to the couple’s eternal union. The ceremony built to a crescendo as strong winds mysteriously rose around us. Our senses were overwhelmed by the touch of sand, wind, and waves crashing as we watched the couple seal their union with a kiss punctuated by the resounding call of the conch shell. SUPER-ROMANTIC, right?!?
Following the ceremony was an awesome outdoor reception that featured some of the most incredible entertainment we have ever seen at a wedding! A local world-beat fusion band played an eclectic mix of exotic instruments and songs so energetic that everyone (including grandma) couldn’t resist dancing their butts off! As they played, various band members jumped out on the dance floor to perform… at one point the lead singer (a dutch expatriate) rocked a traditional African dance to perfection. It was WILD! The crowd parted as fire dancers, stilt walkers, and capoeira dancers emerged to perform… it was like being on stage at a private showing of Cirque du Soleil! I remember walking over to Jen and saying “Can you believe we are getting to photograph THIS?!?”
Special thanks to Ashley & Travis for planning such an incredibly unique wedding and having us come along to capture all the fun!
Estancia Hotel, La Jolla Wedding
Estancia La Jolla is definitely one of our favorite locations to photograph a wedding in San Diego. It has a timeless feel that reflects casual elegance in such a seemingly effortless way that you can’t help but get caught up in its beauty. The grounds are perfectly designed with weddings in mind, as there are many hallways with columns that create dramatic natural light, wonderfully landscaped gardens, and beautiful mission styled architecture. In short, it is a photographer’s dream!
Not that any of this was necessary to make our awesome couple Ala & Uly look good- they certainly do that all on their own! They really worked it for the camera and had a great sense of humor, too. With help from their very talented wedding planner/coordinator Alexandra (from AR Affairs), they created a unique nature theme with bird’s nest accents, moss and twig center pieces, and excellent uplighting. They were able to turn what would have been a somewhat non-descript wall into a stunning backdrop that created a very romantic ambiance for their reception. Another fun detail that really stood out to us was the ice cream bar – JUST LIKE COLD STONE (!) – where guests picked their flavor and toppings and had their tasty treat blended on a stone slab as they watched. We’d also like to give a shout out to Pink Star Design for their perfectly elegant menus and place cards which added a very stylish touch!
It truly was a pleasure to shoot for Ala & Uly and to work with all of their excellent vendors!!!
Coordinator: AR Affairs
Cake: Sweet Cheeks Baking Company
Menus/Place Cards: Pink Star Design
Flowers: Artistic Florals
DJ: DJ Cito C
Linens: Concept Event Design
Catering & Venue: Estancia Hotel, La Jolla
The Westgate Hotel, El Cortez Reception, and Grace Lutheran
If you’ve spent any amount of time in San Diego, you will have heard about what locals call “June Gloom.” Basically there is a time period right around June when you would think that the weather would be absolutely perfect in San Diego… however, it actually tends to be overcast and cloudy! This was the case for Katie & Tim’s wedding, but with good planning, we were able to shoot in locations that worked really well with the weather.
We started out at The Westgate Hotel for getting ready, bridal party photos, and romantic portraits. The Westgate is a luxurious hotel decorated in 18th century style — it has a refined elegance that is perfectly suited for weddings! Shane took the guys down to the USS Midway for groomsmen portraits (the guys are almost all in the Navy- thanks for your service!). After that, we all met up at Grace Lutheran Church for the beautiful ceremony. One of the things we love about shooting with the Canon 5D MKII in conjunction with fast L-series Canon prime lenses is that we were able to shoot 90% of the ceremony with no flash at all!
The reception was held at the El Cortez Hotel. I absolutely love the intricate ceiling detail and polished black floors in the Don Room. The light was just gorgeous coming in through the windows, creating reflections across the floor for the first dance. It’s a very beautiful venue at night, but we really loved how the light filled the room in the afternoon, creating a truly romantic ambiance.
Rock the Dress – Destination Wedding Moab UT & Arches
One of the most beautiful and otherworldly places in the United States is Arches National Park located near Moab, UT. Incredible rock formations soar thousands of feet out of the ground forming natural towers, bridges, and arches — a landscape that is truly awe inspiring. Years ago, Shane and I camped and hiked throughout the park and always hoped for an opportunity to come back and photograph it with clients. When Lynn and Peter contacted us and asked us to travel to photograph both their destination wedding AND a Rock the Dress Session here, we were floored!
The day after their amazing wedding was held in a natural canyon just outside Moab, we headed back out with the goal of creating some incredibly unique bridal images in Arches National Park. Weather moves quickly across this state, and the perfect blue sky day quickly became tumultuous and stormy as we drove through the entrance gates. We had originally envisioned landscapes with full sun and vivid colors, but the soft light and cloud cover revealed a romantic and unexpected glow that we find to be captivating.
Hotel Del Coronado & Breakers Beach San Diego Wedding
You know that feeling when you first dating someone that you really like? You get butterflies in your stomach, you light up when you hear their voice on the phone, and you just can’t wait see them again… Well, that is what Tiffany & Alan are like ALL THE TIME! They have this fresh, sweet, joyful way about their affection toward one another… you can’t help but get caught up in the romance of it!
We started out at the Hotel Del Coronado for getting ready, family, and romantic portraits. After that, the bridal party hopped in a classic Old Town Wedding Trolley and rode over to Breaker’s Beach for the ceremony and reception. We loved how (instead of holding the ceremony on the deck) they invited guests to kick off their shoes and relax so-cal style for the gorgeous beach ceremony– now that’s how we do it in San Diego! Subtle details like the seashell lined aisle, beautiful candy bar, and bright color palette all came together so well to perfectly match the light breeze coming off the ocean.
Special thanks to all the vendors who made this beautiful wedding happen:
- Wedding coordinator: Yvonne Prout with California Party Divas
- Minister: Rev. Alan Ernst
- Ceremony Music: Russ Zinser
- Florist: Haydee’s Creative Flowers
- Reception Music: Primo DJs
- Catering: Navy Catering
- Cake: Sylvia’s Cakes
- Hair & make-up: Flora Wade
- Videographer: Jensen Studios
- Dress: The Bustle
La Jolla Shores Engagement Session
The most beautiful natural light for photo sessions is usually 2 hours before sunset or early morning just as the sun is rising. As it can be a bit challenging for most non models to get up and ready for their close-up before 7 am in the morning, engagement sessions are typically shot in the afternoon! Lucky for us, early birds Katie and Tim were up for the challenge!!! We envisioned a shoot at La Jolla Shores with bright blue skies, deep turquoise water, and the gorgeous couple perfectly lit by the rising sun. Thank you Katie and Tim for being fabulous models while most love birds are still snuggling in bed :)
Rock the Dress at Huntington Botanical Gardens & Leo Carrillo State Park
In the last ten or so years, there has been an awesome phenomenon in wedding photography called a “trash the dress” photo shoot. Brides all over the world have donned their wedding dress for a second time and modeled for a photographer while literally destroying their dresses. The theory behind this type of a shoot is that the wedding is over and the bride won’t ever wear the dress again. So why not trash it while making beautiful images instead of letting it collect moths in a closet? We think it is a fantastic idea, but what about all the brides who aren’t so eager to part with their most cherished of keepsakes?!?
We present to you: the Rock the Dress session! Rather than going for the shock value of a trash the dress session, give your (likely expensive) dress the respect it deserves by modeling it in a full-fledged fashion shoot. This is your opportunity to get breath-taking shots in incredible locations that would otherwise be difficult to achieve within the constraints of a wedding day. Afterward, you might need to get the dress dry-cleaned, which you should plan on doing after the wedding anyway! Who says you can’t have your wedding cake and eat it too?
This Rock the Dress session was sooooo much fun! We started out at the historic Huntington Botanical Gardens, where a kind groundskeeper drove us around on a golf cart so we could shoot in all of the best spots. For the second location, we drove out to Leo Carillo State Park (where the groom originally proposed to the bride), and were able to capture some really romantic moments during sunset.
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Banyon Court Wedding & Regatta Pavillion Reception
We had so much fun shooting Jen & Brian’s wedding!!! These guys have great style and weren’t afraid to break a couple “rules” at their wedding! Brian and his groomsmen wore teal and purple Nike kicks along with their tuxes to match the wedding colors while Jen’s wedding dress was downright glamorous. They knew when to keep it simple, and when to add a little something extra. For example, they kept the bridesmaids’ dresses a chic gun-metal gray while having the girls wear bright purple heels– elegant, yet sassy! Throughout the wedding decor, they incorporated a mix of modern luxury with a hint of casual fun to compliment their personalities.
We were amazed at the sheer number of friends and family who absolutely adore Jen & Brian. How on earth anyone can make the time to be such good friends with so many people is somewhat mind boggling, and very inspiring to see!
The Mission Bay Hyatt is a great location to have your wedding, especially if you have a lot of people arriving from out of town. They have beautiful rooms, pristine grounds, and the location on Mission Bay couldn’t be better. We loved how the sunset light came through the trees at the Banyon Court during the ceremony, and the luxurious white fabric ceiling & lighting in the Regatta Pavillion created a romantic setting for the reception.
We also had the pleasure of working with the guys from 4120 Weddings… they are very professional and super-creative!
Anyway, thanks to Jen & Brian for being such wonderful clients! You can add us to the long list of people who adore you ;)
Location & Catering: Hyatt Regency Mission Bay
Videographers: 4120 Weddings
Officiant: Jelynn Rodriguez (check out her new music video!)
Dress: St. Patrick Babieca from Bridal and Veil Mission Valley
Hair: Erin Fong
Make-Up: Jenny Cortez
Cake: The French Gourmet Wedding Cakes
Summer Fashion, Fitness, and Beauty Editorials Published!
Summer is my favorite time of year! Gorgeous weather, lots of fun weddings to shoot, and new tear sheets to share. Check out the latest Reinventing Beauty Magazine in CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens nationwide. Thanks so much to our amazing team of models and stylists who made these shoots a success!
Our fashion story was shot deep in an abandoned rock quarry. Our fearless ladies hiked, scrambled up rocks, and jumped across streams to get to the perfect locations!
Model: Niki Huey, Next Models LA
Makeup & Hair: Flora Wade
Wardrobe: Linda Varol
Photography: Acqua Photo
Our beauty story was shot at the incredible Grand Del Mar Resort. Everyone enjoyed a picture-perfect pool side day – what a life!
Models: Yuki Matsumara and Francesca Pittaluga
Makeup: FloraWade
Hair: Gwendolyn Sneed
Wardrobe: Francesca Pittaluga
Location: The Grand Del Mar
Photography: Acqua Photo
Last, we headed down to Moonlight Beach to demonstrate a fab outdoor fitness regime. Who wants to be stuck in a gym when the sun is shining and the waves are calling?
Model: Ashley Valenzuela
Makeup & Hair: FloraWade
Wardrobe: Chesley Tolentino
Photography: Acqua Photo
The Littlest Supermodel
A couple of weeks ago we shot with America’s Next Supermodel! She’s not on any reality shows or runways yet, but give her time – she’s only 5!!!
Paige loves being in front of the camera and already has moves to rival most adult models. We were enchanted by her gorgeous personality and electric smile. I couldn’t wait to share a few of our favorite images from her fabulous model portfolio session.
Good luck Paige as you make your modeling debut!
Rock’n'Roll Wedding at Marvimon in Los Angeles
In this business, there is no doubt that we get the pleasure of meeting some really amazing and interesting people. I can say unequivocally that Johnnie and Ralf are some of the most talented and inspiring people we have ever met! They are both rock musicians who have had successful careers following their passion and traveling all over the world to perform. When the rest of us are just going to bed, these guys are just getting started!
Johnnie & Ralf knew that their timeline was going to be long, and they wanted to be sure that they had photography coverage for the whole wedding. So they decided to book us for the unlimited coverage. It’s a good thing they did because we started shooting at about 11:30 am and continued until after their exit at about 1:30 am!!! We love unlimited weddings because it gives us the flexibility to actually cover everything start to finish.
Marvimon is a truly unique space that can be transformed to accommodate various types of events. They have a gorgeous outdoor vertical garden area where the plants literally climb to the top of the old brick walls, creating an intimate yet lush natural setting. The interior is a completely remodeled loft that started as a race car showroom in the 1920′s. It is the perfect artistic blend of modern design mixed with vintage furnishings and distressed materials.
The ceremony was beautiful, the dinner was delicious, and the evening was going perfectly. Suddenly, the house lights went dark. The stage lit up and a band appeared on stage! The tables were pulled away to clear room for a dance floor. Naturally, the Bride picked up a baby blue Les Paul signature electric guitar and hung it over her shoulder before adjusting the mic, the Groom sat down behind the drum set. Jen and I turned to each other- was this really happening?!?!? Before we could answer, a resounding guitar chord filled the air as the band started their first song. It was such an incredible experience watching Johnnie command the stage, singing and playing guitar in her wedding dress while Ralf wailed away on the drums in the background. His face contorted into the best expressions I’ve ever seen as he thrashed to the music, sweat flying from his hair. Check out the band website here! http://www.johnnieburton.com/
We were truly humbled by how kind, gracious, and welcoming Johnnie & Ralf and their families and friends were. Thanks for such an amazing day.
Stay tuned for their Rock the Dress session!!!
Special thanks to:
Wedding Coordinator: Jeff Fleming, TACT Event Management
Location: Marvimon
Pismo Beach Engagement Session
“Playful” is the first word that comes to my mind when I think of Rachel & Omar. The joy they have when they are together is just so infectious!!!
For anyone who feels a little camera shy, or unsure how to pose during their engagement session, I think this is such a perfect example of what we strive to capture: Couples just being themselves and having fun together as if the whole world around them has disappeared. Kick off your shoes and run barefoot in the waves. Be silly, get a little dirty, roll around in the grass. Flirt. Laugh. Enjoy each other’s company. Play like today is the first day you fell in love!
We would like to thank Rachel & Omar for inviting us to shoot at their home in Pismo Beach, a beautiful little haven by the sea. We wish you the very best with your elopement and can’t wait for the Rock the Dress Session!
Live It Up! Acqua Photo featured in Latter Day Bride Magazine 2010
We are excited to be included in the 2010 Latter Day Bride Magazine, in bookstores now! The theme of this year’s magazine is “Live It Up! Celebrate For Life” and our images were chosen as the main feature to help illustrate the overall spirit throughout the issue. We couldn’t think of a better couple to embody the joy and excitement of marriage than Jen & Rhett Walker. We had such an amazing time shooting their Rock the Dress session in La Jolla. To see more images from the session, click here. See below for tear sheets!
Special thanks to Jennifer Oldroyd & Emma Freeman at Latter Day Bride Magazine .
San Francisco Destination Wedding Part 2- Dunsmuir Estate
After a fun filled morning of shooting in San Francisco, we rode with Christina & Brian out to the Dunsmuir Estate. This historic house was built in 1878 and is a gorgeous example of Neoclassical-Revival architecture. It felt like a fairy tale walking down the long dirt road lined with lush trees and gardens to the ceremony site overlooking the pond.
Christina’s Chinese heritage is very special to her and she incorporated the traditional Chinese wedding color, red, beautifully into the attire and decor. We loved all of the fantastic details; the red and orange parasols available to guests, her beautiful bright red shoes, and the elegant, whimsical red and orange cake! As the sun went down, their guests listened to the live blue grass band, played croquet on the lawn, and sipped wine beneath the stars. In the darkness, the tent glowed with the view of the mansion in the distance. A perfect ending to a perfect day.
To see part 1 of this blog click here: Romance in The City
Special thanks to the amazing vendors:
Wedding Coordinator: Grace Lee Gleevents.com
Florist: Spiral Hand SpiralHand.com
Catering: Miraglia Catering CateringandMore.com
Musicians: Angel Mountain Strings
DJ: AEC Marin AECMarin.com
Makeup & Hair: WowPretty.com
Officiant: Gerry Murphy
Canopy & Rentals: WineCountryParty.com
Breakers Beach Destination Wedding – Coronado, CA
On this cold and stormy winter day, it’s fun to revisit one of our favorite summer time weddings from this past season. Looking at these images, I can almost hear the ocean waves and feel the sun on my face – San Diego in the summer is truly paradise!
Sunshine & Eric were married at Breaker’s Beach on Coronado last August. The inspiration for their laid back beach wedding was a blending between ocean inspired colors and textures with a Zen feel. We fell in love with the bright turquoise ties, bamboo trimmed cake, and white parasols that shaded their guests.
True to her name, Sunshine is one of those rare people who can literally light up a room with her smile. One of the funniest moments of the day happened as Sunni began her walk down the aisle. Just as she rounded the corner and came into view of the audience (and her future husband!), someone accidentally stepped on her veil from behind, unexpectedly yanking her head back. Sunshine burst out laughing as she spun back to see what had happened, and Eric said this was the best thing that could’ve happened. He had felt himself suddenly overcome with emotion and beginning to tear up as he first saw her…as she laughed his face broke into a huge grin. He knew then and there that nothing could be more perfect- and that his fiance not only had a good sense of humor, but could handle all life’s little “accidents” in stride, with a beaming smile and a laugh. Apparently their guests agreed, as roaring laughs and cheers emitted from the entire crowd!
Colorado Mountain Wedding at the Silverthorne Pavilion
Shane and I love to travel for weddings and shooting in Colorado is an extra special treat. Each season brings an entirely new landscape of color and weather. Summertime weddings can be risky because most afternoons feature a thunderstorm (and at the higher elevations, occasionally snow!) The fun is that you never know what you’re going to get – only that the light and sky will be dramatic!
When we first arrived at the Silverthorne Pavilion to do some pre-wedding portraits with Teresa & Steve, the sky was perfectly blue, the air soft and warm. Without warning, though, the wind began to pick up and a flurry of storm clouds overtook the sun. Being the fabulously adventuresome couple that they are, these two had no intention of letting a bit of wind and drizzle get in the way of us shooting outside! They ran out into the storm hand in hand, laughing as the wind whipped through their hair.
I love how the diffused light gave a brilliance and depth to the greens and reds and how Teresa’s turquoise feathers and shoes perfectly matched the sky. Teresa designed every bit of the style, from her fabulous 50′s inspired dress, to the creative bouquets, and flirty peacock feathers that topped her birdcage veil.
We hope you enjoy these images as much as we enjoyed creating them! Congratulations to Teresa & Steve – you two are so full of joy and personality. It was inspiring to be a part of your wedding!
Our Beautiful Niece
Our very first niece was born last September and Shane and I are completely enamored with her. London Raine spent the whole afternoon with us today!!! What a treat! She just sparkles. This little girl isn’t just beautiful, she is joyful, sweet, and so fun to be around. Of course, the camera came out while we were playing and I am in love with these pictures of her. Hope you enjoy!
