Are you a believer? Do you believe that fate and God bring people together purposefully. Notice that I didn’t end that last sentence with a question mark. Mostly because I was telling, and sharing….not wanting an answer…..with my demanding, “do YOU”, I am telling you….you should or may, already, believe that is a truth…fate and God. I’ve known Julie for years. We danced in a high school musical together, which can forever connect you ( i hope you don;t see pics of me!). We hadn’t spoken in years, life as we know it does this to us. But our paths would once again cross. Friends on facebook, and then friends of those who remained on facebook. It was this that was to blame, well besides God and fate. Because yes, things are meant to be.

Julie’s MOH, sent me a Facebook message, asking if I’d like to photograph Julie and Art’s wedding if I was available. This message got to me about 11:00pm and being awake, I asked Carmen to call me. She called back within seconds and we talked about Julie, her wedding and my availability, since is was about 3 weeks away! I was available and was honored to be considered for this day. Talk about last minute, but truly…meant to be. Investing a little more than my time is what I demand for myself at any wedding I shoot, and taking photos at this wedding was going to make this emotional attachment super easy….knowing the family, knowing some history and sharing life….this is what I get to do. Any photographer would have been super excited to photograph such an amazing couple, with amazing friends and family as well as work with the incredible team of professionals who worked tireless to make this day amazing.

The ceremony began at the Sacred Heart Chapel at Loyola Marymount, where Julie and I, as well as her brother went to college. How amazing! I have always wanted to shoot a wedding across from my old dorm room window (seriously…it was my way of asking for forgiveness from cursing the bell that woke me up every morning at 8am!) Then The happily married couple sported their way up Pacific Coast Highway in a classic car to celebrate an amazing evening at the Church Estate Vineyard in Malibu….seriously, can this have been more amazing? Yes….thanks to Kevin Covey and his amazing talent, this wedding was truly spectacular for Julie and Art and I am very thankful to have been chosen as the one to make their memories of this very perfect day last forever! Hugs all around! Thank you Maggie Ford and Steven Reynolds for your assistance with shooting this gorgeous wedding. I couldn’t have done it without you!

Wedding Planner: Kevin Covey Weddings And Events
Ceremony: Sacred Heart Chapel Loyola Marymount
Reception Venue: Church Estate Vineyards
Catering: Room Forty
Wedding Cake: Cake Goodness
Hair: Isaak’s Salon
Make Up: Flawless Faces
Florist: Bloombox
Linens: Fusion Linens
Lighting: Amber Lighting
Cocktail Music: WIT Entertainment
Reception Music: Visions Entertainment
Photo Booth Rental: Visions Entertainment
Valet: Andy Gump
Late Night Snack: In-n-Out Truck

A little ocean breeze, the perfect amount of warmth from the sun, a clear day, nothing more to ask for really on your wedding day. Wendi and Rick had everything they needed, including everyone. Small weddings are some of the most intimate events (not just because of size) but when you take the time to invite just those who are close to you, everyone who celebrates with you are your most important friends and family. Wendi and Rick, had just this…an intimate wedding, with all the closeness.

Wendi’s Ian Stuart gown was hanging in her suite at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel. It took my breath away, I mean, it is and was just stunning…I had to touch it, look it up and down, and spend yet another moment being envious of what my bride was about to wear….then followed quickly by the notion that I needed/wanted/get to photograph it, and Wendi in it…all day long…thankful…A room full of beautiful girls with their hair done up, pale green bridesmaid dresses hanging on soft padded hangers, and Design Visage finishing up all the beauty. I also have to say that working with wedding coordinator Jill Watson with The Pampered Bride (also creator of Save The Veil), is always a treat. Her and I both like to arrive early, but she is first for the best reasons. When I arrive, everything is ready for me, the dress, the shoes, the jewelry and all the info I need to know…it’s as though she is there for me to make my job easier…but truly this makes for a very relaxed bride and bridal party with everything in order. The rest of the day, the same, on time, in order and a breeze thanks to Jill. She created an amazing team for Wendi and Rick with the spot light going to Square Root for their breathtaking designs! The size of the roses on Wendi’s bouquet (which actually was a hand created assemble of several roses to make one rose), was stunning. The soft orange, pale green and pastel yellows spoke of romance with a spice of fun and a prefect combination for an amazing couple. The reception room just stunning, gorgeous menu and place cards created by talented Jill Parkin with just the right amount of bling…details everywhere and loved the Blinged out Cake Stand created by Raise the Cake!

Congratulations to Wendi and Rick. Your love for each other glowed on the dance floor as the two of your were caught often with your eyes closed embracing each other, as though time was still….I could feel your emotion as I watched you two waltz around. You have an amazing family, and you are both very blessed. Thank you for allowing me to witness in your celebration! Special Thanks to my dear friend and second shooter Maggie Ford for being so wonderful, again!

Event Venue and Caterer: Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel
Wedding Coordinator: Jill Watson With The Pampered Bride
Florals and Design: Square Root Designs
Entertainment: Mark Wood Entertainment
Hair and Makeup: Design Visage
Dress: Ian Stuart
Cake Stand: Raise The Cake
Invites and Menu Cards: Jill Parkin, Jill Parkin Designs

Yesterday was an amazing day. The weather was perfect, the wedding was perfect, the couple was perfect and I’m once again fully obsessed with the images from the day. I have these to share with you before the big post later tonight. In the meantime please be patient as I try and choose a small amount of photos to blog…there are, like all of my weddings, amazing photos that truly depict the beauty of today. Although I can not promise when, please continue to check on my site for the entire post later this evening….you will fall in love!

Orange County Weddings are the best, great locations make them even better. Rancho Las Lomas is one of those great locations, animals to shoot, places to go, the possibilities are endless. Every now and then, for various reasons across the board, weddings do not run on time. Time is one of those things that photographers need in order to take great photos. We don’t need an eternity but when it’s limited, your photos are limited. Careful planning is a must, here is where the wedding planner comes in, keeping things moving, on track, and for the most part on time. Wedding Planners are the bomb! Yet, because things always come up, even with a great planner weddings may not go as planned! Ashley and Jared were married on April Fool’s Day about a month ago! Lets just say the wedding was running behind schedule! So the time to use this property was very limited. We didn’t get to take advantage of all the great locations to shoot, and I love to shoot. This happened once with another couple, we just ran out of time. So because I love my clients, and I want them to have every possible image for their Fine Art Book, I let them know that there should be no stress, we would come back, more relaxed and not rushed and finish and add images, we weren’t able to get!

So on Ashley’s birthday, we did the shoot and it was not only fun to see this wonderful couple again, but Ashley brought out a little fun fashion and made the shoot truly wonderful! Here are a few images! It was so fun you guys! Now lets get that Fine Art Book Design together! XXOO Happy Birthday Ashley!

If I had a choice in life. I would have a sister. (I’ll try and not tear up as I write this, as if you would know, but my spelling and typing is already bad). I don’t, I have a brother, grew up with 3 older brothers, included was 2 step brothers, one of which is no longer with us. I have no sister and I always wanted one. It’s like girl power, kind of, or maybe more like, copying? What does that mean? It means I thought and still think the world of my Mom, her long gorgeous brown hair, her amazing smile, the way we couldn’t go anywhere without her getting attention, she was truly stunning and I wanted to be her. And, she also, had a sister, my aunt. They were 10 years apart and best of friends. Went on adventures I wasn’t able to hear until I was older, because although it was good trouble, it was trouble making, and now when I hear pretty funny….But they looked like sisters, and acted so much like it. I know my aunt misses her too.

My aunt, just as beautiful, had a little girl, when I was 10. She was named Traci and her Mom and Dad, were to most proud parents. But this baby was amazing in many ways, big brown eyes, perfect little ringlet curls, and totally stunning from the day she was born. I was thrilled, at 10, to have a cousin, who actually looked like me as a baby, she did, in fact my Dad couldn’t tell our baby pictures apart. I pretended that she was mine when I babysat her as we both got older, but that was just silly child’s play. It was more real for me to think of her as my sister. We’re 10 years apart, we resemble each other, and act so much like it.

We lost touch for a few years, college, life, divorces….but I found her, on Facebook…ha ha. Of all places. Thanks to that black hole of wasted time, and hours of endless networking, I can honestly say that personally the greatest thing about FB was finding my cousin again. I remember her in my living room with her friend seeing her after years apart, it was kind of awkward. It was sad….what the hell happened to our family? But I think the effort on both our ends, made us, close and very much family, again.

If I had a choice in sisters it would be Traci. I know she’s already blood, but sisters would be ideal. I am proud of her. We all deal with a lot, and we all have a choice in how we handle it. I am proud of her, how she handles everything. She may have looked like me as a baby, but lets just say she has become the most beautiful person, I’m proud of that. Not only is she gorgeous on the outside, but her heart and personality make this girl even more beautiful, and I’m proud of that. I’m proud to show her off as if I had something to do with it. I’m humbled she listens to me about boys and life and family, I love when she’s around and I just really wanted to say to the world that if I could have a sister it would be Traci. I love you.

and i think it’s pretty cool she lets me photograph her whenever i want ~