This amazing wedding, in Irvine, that we photographed was so simply beautiful, it was a perfect ending to an amazing year of weddings. The simple details, the beautiful dress, the amazing flowers and backyard, the family, all together made a completely beautifulyl told love story. I want to thank this family for including me in their day! It was filled with sentiment and special moments that I was honored to experience and photograph. And although it has been raining for about 3 days straight, during this couple’s vows, not one drop fell, surely a sign, from above that this couple is truly blessed and being watched over by many who love them both!

Recenty, a very fabulous group of vendors got together to create an amazing photo shoot. Viviana Salvia with Bella Notte Events pulled together an absolutely fun group to create her vision of a Christmas Wedding. The theme was created by Viviana and with the help of all the vendors involved, I was able to capture some of my favorite images ever! I just loved this shoot and please visit the sites and blogs of all the vendors involved below, they are linked at the end of the post and they are AMAZING!!!

{Event Coordination} Viviana Salvia of Bella Notte Weddings & Events
{Photography} Christine Bentley Photography
{Location} City of San Juan Capistrano
{Floral Design} emporaflora
{Linens} Fusion Linens
{Rentals} AFR Events
{Invitations, Stationery} Social Savvy Invitations & Fine Stationery
{Favors, Gifts} Dough a Deer
{Gown Designer} Enzoani
{Bridal Salon} Blush Bridal Couture
{Jewelry} Green Light Jewelry
{Hair Stylist} Shampoo Cocktails
{Formal Wear} Calvin Klein

Shhh!!! It’s a secret!!!! Well….not really…..it is for HIM, but not for you! I am offering a limited number of amazing Valentine Boudoir Sessions in my Irvine Studio this January, just in time for Valentine’s Day! It was such a hit last year, and with all the requests, how could I NOT! The sessions will be only January 8th, 15th and 22nd! No more dates will be added! Each session includes makeup and hair by Ashley & Ashlee as well as photography exclusively by Christine Bentley, yep, the all girl team! Please send your inquiries to info@christinebentley.com, or call 949-521-4764 to book your session. No dates will be held for you unless the full session fee amount has been paid. The session fee in NONREFUNDABLE as we are so limited on space, once you book your time, it reserved JUST for you and others will be turned down! The following specials are for these 3 dates ONLY! See you soon!!!!!

Weddings in Orange County. Are. Pretty. Amazing. Especially the ones that start with an engagement session like this one today on Balboa Island in Newport Beach. This AMAZING couple will be tying the knot in December and happen to be my very last wedding of 2010, well that is unless anyone out there wants a last minute wedding. So I have to say it’s NOT normal for me to NOT meet my couples before booking, but through phone conversations and emails, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to be a part of this couple’s day. We had an engagement session scheduled for last weekend, but it rained, so this weekend, we needed mother nature to cooperate. She did, but, there is a lot going on for this couple, so it was a little quick (they had plans already), and they are only about 3 weeks away from their wedding, and with that, this engagement session not only needed to be this weekend, but turned around fast~ Seeing they need their photos, like yesterday!

Have you ever decided to meet someone, in a public place, and then realize once you are there, you have no idea what the other person looks like? Well, when we arrived at Starbucks I got a text message that read, “We are walking up the street, I have blonde hair and I am wearing a blue shirt.” I had to laugh, we’re in Newport Beach, California, I think that may have described every girl on the street minus the blue shirt, maybe. I saw this amazing looking couple walking through the crowded sidewalk and thought, “oh please let that be them!” As they both walked up, and said “are you Christine?” I thought …..HOW LUCKY ARE WE??? To have this chance to photograph this great looking couple! BUT the best part, I will be photographing their wedding, with Marc, in a few weeks and I can only imagine how stunning they are going to look. They are so incredibly sweet…I loved meeting you both, photographing you for what only seemed like minutes, and can’t wait to see you soon! I totally lucked out, your wedding day is going to be amazing, mostly because you guys are so wonderful!

This session was also so fun for me in another way, that I got to work again with my husband Marc. They are mostly his shots, I only stepped in a few times to grab a few cause I couldn’t help myself. It was great, I posed, he shot, I posed, he shot, he posed, I shot, the couple laughed and our kids had fun too (attempted Christmas photos after, yeah didn’t work but that’s another story)…..awesome. I love working as a team with Marc, and baby, you did a great job, these images are amazing. I can’t wait until you decide that you wanna do the editing and bloggin’ part too…….love you!

I love flowers, what girl doesn’t…hint hint Marc…well wedding bouquets are so amazing because these days florists get so creative. It’s amazing to me that succulents, wire, crystals, feathers and pins are being used to make some of the most beautiful wedding bouquets I have ever seen. For so many reasons, including flowers….I so want a redo of my wedding. I mean I love it, but it was dated…almost 10 years ago. The flowers were pretty but everytime I photograph a bride, I get more ideas! I have seen simple elegant and I think I LOVE that, just to turn around and see something so over the top, I love that more….it’s hard…am I right? So many vendors, so many choices. I know when I talk to brides, rarely do they have a florist in mind. And then there is this overwhelming sense of what to do? To go loud colors, to go soft tones, to go roses or not. It seems with so many choices I would almost want to have like 5 different bouquets..not practical but since when is decor supposed to be practical! I love for brides to post here what they like, or just think about it…..I am pretty sure we are going to have a 10 year renewal of our vows and every wedding I get new ideas…I do have to say that feathers are becoming a fav of all time….but then again, how simple and beautiful are the solid orange roses….oh so many decisions help me out here!!!!!