I am doing some major blog catching up this week and no better way to keep moving than to post some pics and a slideshow from Ann and Paul’s fabulous wedding in Puerto Vallarta. (You may remember Ann and Paul from an engagement session in Chicago. Here’s their blog post and slideshow.)
Now before this trip the only thing I knew about Puerto Vallarta is that that’s where the Love Boat used to dock all the time. So it has to be a great place right? Well it is. So full of life and color. And Ann and Paul didn’t have their wedding at any old place. They had it in Las Caletas, the former hideaway for director John Huston. You can read more about that here. So the day of the wedding we headed over early in the morning, a 45 minute boat ride from the mainland, to our own little island wedding paradise :)
As you would imagine, the wedding was great! I’ve gotten to know Ann pretty well by now and it was a pleasure spending an entire weekend with her and Paul and their family and friends. Just a great bunch of people. Fun and sometimes a little wild! Just like I like them :) Congrats again Ann and Paul. Hang on to that dress. Looking forward to the trash the dress shoot.
Here are a few photos from the day and of course Ann and Paul’s Las Caletas slideshow. It’s a long one but fun. Firedancers towards the end!
Ann’s lovely Lazaro dress.
The flowers.
Look at Ann workin it!
Tying the knot.
Afterwards.
Ok, maybe not everyone was so happy!
ok, I will admit it. I’ve been putting off this post for some time now. And you might ask…why? Why in the world would you put off posting your best friend’s wedding? Well because there is so much I want to say and I’ve been swamped and thinking of what to post. What do you say about someone you’ve known for 20+ years? So here goes!
Some background. I basically grew up with Stephanie and her sister Stacey. Stacey and I became good friends a few years after I moved to KS as a teenager. (you may remember my trip to Chicago and Stacey, Eric, Nora and Spencer back in Feb) Stephanie and I of course always knew each other but became really close over the past 7 years or so. WOW has it been that long since we made that first trip out to CA? Stephanie was the only person I knew when the boys and I moved to CA in 2001 and helped me in every way you can imagine. She even helped me get a job and we worked in the same clinic together until she moved with Steve to VA a few years ago.
There were years of hanging around Stacey and Steph’s house growing up! Lots of parties – sorry Chuck and Cindy! Fun memories from college and it just goes on and on. Stephanie’s dad was even our family doctor when we lived in KS and treated my kids, set their broken bones, and saw them for all their illnesses and boo-boos!
So a great BIG congrats to Stephanie and Steve. I am so happy for you two and your families. Thank you for letting us all be a part of your wedding day and for trusting me with your wedding memories. We can’t wait for little Cash to get here. (disclaimer! Steph was my first barefoot and pregnant bride ;) but she and Steve actually had their legal ceremony over a year ago before Steve deployed for Iraq. This was their “wedding” but they’ve been married for sometime. Had to set that straight!)
Here are some pics. And of course Stephanie and Steve’s Slideshow. Love you guys!!!
Steph gets a little teary while getting ready.
Barkley’s all excited about the big day! Can’t you tell?
This will be quick. Today my oldest graduates from high school!!! Yippee. We have a house full of family and a great day planned. I’m so excited and so proud of him. More about that later.
So before everything starts today i just want to post a link to Leah and Jason’s slideshow. It was such a fun wedding and they are such a fun couple. I know they will have a long happy life together. And, guess what??? I’m not done with them yet. We have a fabulous trash the dress session planned later in the year. In Palm Springs. Could i be anymore excited? Such a great couple in one of my favorite places in the world :)
Congrats again guys. I will be in touch soon when your entire wedding is ready.
Marie and Jocelyn had an beautiful wedding at the El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya and I feel so blessed to have been their photographer. After months of communicating through email and a few phone calls, I finally got to meet them and their 8 wedding guests. (Yes a wedding doesn’t have to be big to be wonderful.) I know it seems like every time I post about a wedding on my blog I’m talking about how great the couple was, fun the wedding was, etc…. and I really do mean it. What makes my job so rewarding is not the fancy venues or expensive wedding gowns or even the shoes that I get all excited about, its the couples. And Marie and Jocelyn are one of those couples that you can’t help but love. They just ooze happiness and love for each other and their friends. This wedding was so touching and a joy to be a part of. Just a brief history of Marie and Jocelyn. They met a party and that night Marie went around telling everyone she was going to marry Jocelyn. And she gave him the nickname that she still calls him today – Minou.
From the moment I met them in Mexico they were asking about me! How was my trip? Is my room ok? Was I having fun? Such a thoughtful couple. And fun! I have to tell you I was a bit confused after being in Mexico with my French-Canadian wedding party and trying to communicate with everyone!!! (I did take some french in HS and college but I’m afraid most has left me!) I was Hola-ing and Bonjour-ing all over the place ;) During the reception every once in a while someone would yell out – only english for the next 5 minutes for Leigh, for la photographe! And what I wasn’t quick enough to get, Jocelyn’s gracious sister would translate for me. Also the entire wedding party got up and did a choreographed dance together! It was probably the first and last time that I will ever see that!!! Marie’s sister used to be in charge of entertainment on a cruise ship and apparently is very persuasive. Now you can see why I was having so much fun! Lastly I was floored when I told them all good-bye and they clapped and gave me a standing ovation!!! (and not BECAUSE i was leaving – haha!)
So enough chatter from me. On to the wedding day photographs! A few posted below and better yet a slideshow of Marie and Jocelyn’s Wonderful International Wedding!.
This is my favorite seashell. At my wedding I had tiger cowrie napkin rings! Just an FYI!
I love this photo of Marie. Can you tell she’s a little mischievious?
This is one of my favorite images of Jocelyn, while waiting for the ceremony to start and Marie. Watch the slideshow to see his reaction to her coming down the aisle.
The meeting.
The celebration.
Salut!!!
The world’s happiest couple.
A few reception details.
The wildest garter removal I’ve ever seen :)
Congrats again guys! I hope you are having an amazing time in Greece.
at the Darlington House in La Jolla. I have been looking forward to this wedding since I met Michelle and Brian for their engagement session in Balboa Park. We had such a good time and they were so fun, I knew the wedding day would be great! And with Michelle’s background in photography I knew they would have a special appreciation for my work on their wedding weekend! In fact they hired me to shoot the entire weekend, something I usually only do at destination weddings. I always enjoy being around for the entire weekend. I get to know everyone and by the end they’re so used to me they don’t pay any attention to me at all (and I mean that in a good way!). Both Michelle and Brian’s familes were so wonderful. During his toast Michelle’s dad took a moment and thanked by name every single person who was involved in the wedding day including the coordinator, the minister, videographer, and me. What a thoughtful person!
So here are a few pics from the day and a slideshow. These two were up for anything including letting me go back to the hotel with them. Hope you are having a great time in Spain. Wish I was there. Why am I not there again? ;)
Loved Michelle walking all over the place in jeans and her veil.
She definately got some interesting looks.
The guys getting ready. Really this is about all they do. Putting on the socks is about as exciting as it gets. Just kidding guys! You’re fun too but you’d be more fun if you put on lipstick or something.
Isn’t Michelle just beautiful? I loved her very simple and elegant J Crew wedding gown.
Michelle and Dad. All smiles before heading down the aisle.
Just a few tears of joy during the ceremony. This getting married is a big deal!
A quiet moment after the ceremony.
Michelle’s tulips were so elegant.
And this photo tells the true story of these two. They were really this happy to be getting married :)
So here it is! The real blog post for Sarah and Rudy, whom most of you know by now got married at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego. And I’m so happy to be posting it. Sarah and Rudy are the kind of couple that absolutely make me love what I do. I feel so lucky to have met them and been their wedding photographer. And so lucky to have them as my very own personal graphic designers. Ok, well maybe not just mine but they have designed some amazing things for me and I can’t wait send everything out the printer and start getting it out there!!!
But back to their wedding cause this IS their wedding blog post, right? What a fabulous wedding it was. And what made it even more fabulous was that Sarah and Rudy designed so many of their details – from the table cards, to the clay cake topper of themselves, and their own logo. So many awesome personal touches. And I can honestly say every single person they had working on their wedding did a great job and Melissa from I Do Weddings did a spectacular job keeping everything going, despite about 2,000 people at the Wild Animal Park! The ceremony was beautiful and in their vows they said something that I thought is really important to remember, “I promise to care more about your feelings than about being right.” Aren’t those great words to live by? I must admit there was some serious laughter when they each said that.
So enough of my blabbing, sometimes I do run on, here’s a slideshow of highlights from the wedding of sarah and rudy :) Congrats guys. Hope you are living it up in Hawaii!!! Talk to you both soon.
Melissa and Brian had the most beautiful wedding on St. Patrick’s Day! Everything was planned and carried off perfectly. What I love about Melissa and Brian is that they have so much energy and enthusiasm! You can tell they love each other so much. Everyone was happy just being around them.
The ceremony was at Grace Lutheran Church and the reception at the fabulous Prado in Balboa Park. The wedding was actually pretty late in the day but that made for some fun playing around with the bride and groom photos, some almost in the dark. So without further delay here are some pics from their wedding day! And to see their slideshow click here. Melissa and Brian thanks so much for letting me be a part of your wedding day :) Hope you guys are having a great time in New Zealand!
Melissa wore the most beautiful Pronovias dress.
And her equisite hair and make were done by Ellie at A New Twist. I’ve worked with Ellie many, many times and her work is amazing!
It would be hard for someone to take a bad pic of Melissa!
The wedding party travelled back and forth in a trolley.
Jenn Smith of Simply Savvy Events did an amazing job with the entire wedding.
It was so fun shooting some pics after dark. Melissa and Brian did a great job of planning their day and allowing plenty of time for the couple’s pics that are so much fun!
Hmmm….have I said I love first dance pics before?
There was lots of love for everyone at this wedding!
The cake cutting got a little messy.
What would a wedding be without the bride and bridesmaids doing shots?
almost 3 months later! Last week I shot Rhea and Tim’s day after shoot and it was a blast! (here’s a link to the wedding pics from November) Tim, I know you loved it :) What a trooper he was and I think he will be quite happy with the results. I mean really how many times in your life are you going to get all dressed up and look this good? Might as well take advantage of it and get all the photos you can! We went to downtown San Diego and the beach for these. I’m looking forward to doing more of these as the year goes on. Sometimes they are called day after sessions, sometimes trash the dress session, but whatever you want to call them, I love them. It creates a chance for some really fun, creative and sassy pics that there isn’t always time for on the wedding day. So if you’re on the fence about this, I say get off it and have some fun. Here’s a preview and of course a slideshow! I will be in touch in about a week with the rest. Thanks again guys!
