Then Comes Marriage

The day of Amy and Louis’ wedding clouds loomed overhead.  And they looked like they really wanted to rain.  I kept my fingers crossed all day and luckily there was no rain.  Still cloudy, but no rain.  And then, as we started to take Amy and Louis’ pictures, the sun miraculously appeared.  It was like someone was watching over them and knew just when to call in that special favor.  It was perfect.

Amy and Louis are so much fun to be around.  They are fun and silly and just so in love.  They made my job easy!  And their coordinator, Nellie from Pleasant Surprise Events, also made my job easy.  The weddings that I’ve worked with Nellie are always so calm and pleasant.  I like that.  And I love when my couples have great coordinators because that means I don’t have to be the coordinator too!

Congratulations to Amy and Louis!  I wish you many, many years of happiness together!  Here’s your slideshow!

Amy and Louis were married at Crossline Community Church in Laguna Hills.  They have the prettiest church grounds I have ever photographed.  Plus, they also have the nicest and most accomodating staff I have worked with.

Have I mentioned that I love when couples have first looks?  Since Louis walked Amy down the aisle and it was dark after their ceremony ended they opted for a first look.

This is right when the sun started peeking out.  Perfect timing!

This is why I love Amy and Louis so much!

Reception was held at Pacific Hills Banquet and Catering

Amy and Louis love the Lakers and it’s conveniently their initials as well!

Louis and his friends serendanded Amy to Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars.  So sweet and so funny at the same time!

When Erin orginally contacted me in early September for their October wedding, I thought she might be a little crazy.  Planning a wedding in just two months is, well, crazy!  But, the more I got to know her the more I realized that it was actually smart.  Instead of waiting until the following October and drawing out the planning process they just got it all done.  Besides that, Erin is super laid back.  Probably has something to do with the fact that she grew up in South Dakota.

Erin and Stu picked The Shade Hotel for their wedding.  The hotel is just a few blocks from their house and is beautiful.  It’s a small hotel, but it was fun because all of their out of town guests stayed there and basically filled up the whole hotel.  Erin and her “Cuzins” even did all the flowers!  First, the flowers.  They were gorgeous and I love that Erin took the time to do them herself.  Second, the Cuzins.  I don’t have any cousins.  I always wanted them and was jealous of all of my friends who had them.  I just wish I had cousins like Jaymee and Heather!  The three of them have such an awesome relationship and are so close.  It was fun group of girls to work with!  The guys were fun too.  I even got a groomsmen to slide down a pole at a fire station!  Stu opted to not try it.  I don’t blame him.  It was high!

Thank you Erin and Stu for including me in your wedding day!  Your love for one another is so evident!  It was such an honor to be able to capture it!  Here’s your slideshow!

Erin’s BCBG gown was a steal on Ebay!  $200!

Erin’s father passed away two and a half years ago.  She wore this necklace in memory of him.  It’s his favorite color – Kansas Sate purple.

Love that Erin did her own flowers… in her wedding gown!

Love this shot of Stu checking out his wedding ring.  All night he kept touching it and looking at it.  It was really sweet.

We RAN down to the beach to grab these shots!

Allison and Ryan were married on September 25.  Which also happened to be one of the hottest days of the year.  Good thing they were married in Laguna Beach.  It was only in the low nineties there.  They were married at the Surf and Sand Resort.  It was fun taking their pictures there because that happens to be the hotel where I got ready and took my pictures on my wedding day.  We’ve spent a lot of our anniversaries there and even our babymoon

Besides all the beautiful details of the day, I loved the emotions.  Allison was a little nervous before the ceremony.  But, it was a good nervous.  I just love when you can feel how excited a bride is to see her groom for the first time.  When you can sense that this is the day she’s been waiting for her entire life.  I love when the groom is just as nervous as the bride.  And I love it when they see each other for the first time and all the nerves go out the window and you can sense their relief that they are so happy to be together.

Allison picked so many of my favorite vendors for her wedding day!  I was so very excited to finally get a chance to work with Treasured Petal.  Their flowers are amazing!

Allison’s niece was the cutest.  Their relationship is really special.  You can just tell she adores Allison!  She was probably the most excited flower girl I’ve ever seen.

Carina from Flawless Faces made sure Allison and all of her girls looked amazing!

Allison had her grandmother’s ring tied to her bouquet.

Love what Treasured Petal did with the flower girl basket and the ring bearer “pillow”

Both Allison’s dad and Ryan were in the Marines.  They wore their Marine Corps dress blues and I love how the colors pop!

I started tearing up when Alison’s father and Ryan saluted each other.  It was an awesome moment.

Both Allison and Ryan were very emotional before and during the ceremony.  Ryan was trying so hard not to cry  It was very sweet.

A surprise military sword arch!  So fun!

Yes.  Ryan cut the cake with his sword!  And it’s a real sword.  I asked.  It could cut you.

Jason from Visions Entertainment kept the party rocking!

I’m super excited to see the wedding day video from Epoch Productions!

Lots, lots, lots more pictures on the slideshow!