Fireworks were in the air--literally, after Annie and David tied the knot last Saturday--7/4/09. Annie--she of the most expressive face we've ever had the good fortune of photographing--and David, wed at the historic Mary, Star of the Sea church in San Pedro--where we shot our very first paid wedding back in 2003! The reception afterwards was at the lovely Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. Let's talk about the pictures: We can't get enough of the opening shot of Annie, lit like a movie star, holding her flowers in the church. Next up: Annie and David enjoying the fireworks display at Old Ranch with a heartfelt embrace and kiss, and the couple, earlier in the day, on the same spot, out on the golf course. For "wedding prep" days, we absolutely love photographing the bride in her home. There's just something so much more personal and loving there than in a hotel room. Love this moment with Mary and her mom in the living room of their Rancho Palos Verdes abode. More shots at the country club, golf course and church, followed by another all-time favorite. Annie's dad is taking one last week at his daughter, before giving her away to David. The expressions are priceless. Look for more here in the coming weeks--one highlight is a video clip of the couple cutting the cake--and the guests all serenading them with "Volare."
There's nothing like a Jewish wedding. A couple under a Hoopa, reciting the Ani l'dodi v'dodi li ("I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine") saying, gets us every time. We were honored to document Jade and Brett's traditional Jewish wedding at the Los Angeles Athletic Club over the weekend, officiated by Rabbi Issac Jeret of Palos Verdes' Congregation Ner Tamid. The chuppah was put in the main ballroom, overlooking the 7th Street diamond district. We had fun with the happy couple afterwards by taking some shots on the roof, and then slipping into the basketball court. (Who needs to throw a bouquet when you can toss a basketball?) Terrific music at the reception by the insanely talented Dwight Kennedy band. A hearty mazel tov to the couple from Graham & Graham.
Here's more from our fabulous Monday wedding shoot with Elizabeth and Robert at the "glass church," the Wayfarers Chapel in Palos Verdes. Along the way, we stopped in beautiful Malaga Cove for some cliff-side shots, the Malaga Cove Ranch Market for some snacks (love what happened to the veil when Liz took a sip of her Coke) and then the Ayers Hotel in Hawthorne for the reception.
We thoroughly enjoyed our first Monday wedding today with Elizabeth and Robert at the Wayfarers Chapel in Palos Verdes. We'll be posting more shots throughout the week--there were so many great ones--but this one stands out--Elizabeth and Rob walking down the aisle at our all-time favorite Palos Verdes hangout--the Malaga Cove Verdes Ranch Market. We made a brief stop there in-between photo shoots by the water, before heading over to the reception at the Ayers Hotel in Lawndale.
Ana and Marco wanted a small, beach wedding, and Mother Nature helped out with a great day.
Saturday was on the verge of rain, and it was really cloudy and yucky most of the day. Then, around 4 p.m., about an hour before the ceremony, the sun came out and warmed us up.
This was one of our "beach wedding specials," which we do with our friends at http://cherishedvows.com and Rev. David Nixon. They provide the wedding license and service, and we do the pics!
We love the big group, post-wed shot, which if you look closely, even includes a surfer, in perfect position, minding his own business in the background. That's a beach wedding!
We first met Lidia Pareno when we signed up to document her Queen Mary Long Beach wedding to Clarence. She loved the experience of planning her wedding so much, she decided to become a full-fledged wedding planner. Lidia's just formed By Your Side Events a Temecula based wedding and corporate event planning service. She's already got three weddings in the works for 2009--in Puerto Vallerta, San Diego and Temecula, and is looking forward to meeting with Southern California brides to help them put their dream weddings together. "With most hotels, they have so many events going on, they can only give you just a few minutes of time each day, if that," she says. "I called my company By Your Side, because that's what I am. I am there for you." Lidia is a former hotel event planner, so she knows of what she speaks. She worked at La Costa in Carlsbad and the Temecula Winery and Hotel before striking out on her own. With the average California wedding topping out at between $40,000 and $60,000, Lidia specializes in helping to dramatically cut costs. "I can work with any budget and show brides how to really save money." E-mail Lidia at byyoursideevents@live.com or call her at 951-219-3984
Some memorable moments from 2008 weddings. We begin with Miranda and Patrick's Torrance beach sunset wedding. Afterwards, we asked Mom to pose by the water, and her kids picked up on it. Look below to see the shape of one child immediately afterwards. And they were all going out to a fine Mexican restaurant to celebrate. Luckily, they brought along a change of clothes.
For Nisa and Jeremy's wedding in Venice, California, they wanted to get a nice shot of them with the dogs. The pups didn't really want to cooperate here!
Back to the kids.Below is the moment when the DJ calls all the single ladies to the dance floor to catch the bouquet. Someone neglected to tell the little boy at Toni-Lynne and Robin's Long Beach wedding, who was having too good a time to stay away.
Cathy wanted to reward husband Earl with a rendition of "I'm So Sexy," at their reception, complete with a lineup of ladies who agreed 100% with her. Folks, you just don't see stuff like this every day. Earl was in heaven....
The dance of the year. At Gaby and Dave's July wedding, there was a Mother/Son dance like we'd never ever seen before. Mo (mom) was just the happiest mother of the groom of all time--and quite a dancer--as you can see below!
Favorite location: the amazing Malaga Cove section of Palos Verdes. Cathy and Earl live in Northern California, and wanted to wed down South, near the parents, at a church in Carson, with reception in Torrance. We had a two-hour block for photography in-between, and offered a few of our favorite nearby spots. "I want to go to the prettiest spot in Southern California, Palos Verdes," Earl said. Not a problem! We used to ride our bike to P.V. every Saturday for several years before wedding photography entered our lives and know it well.
We stopped by the gazebo, which has a killer P.V. to Malibu view, and asked the happy couple to do a dip for us. Then we turned to Photoshop afterwards to enhance what was already a dynamo sunset. When they make a movie about Cathy and Earl, I hope they use the picture for the movie poster!
Bridesmaids Just Want to Have Fun: Toni-Lynne and the Gals @ Queen Mary This is our "Sex and the City," shot, one we always opt for at weddings, the girls linking arms and having the time of their lives. This is our best ever, thanks to the priceless expressions of the ladies on the deck of the stately Queen Mary. We visited the old ship three times in 2008, and look forward to returning in 2009.
Best Dress: Amy and her three gowns!
Amy put on a real show at her Palos Verdes Trump National Golf Course wedding with three wedding dresses. One for the ceremony, another for the grand entrance, and a third for the wedding cake and bouquet shots.
Most Romantic Venue: Mary & Steve @ La Venta Inn Back to idyllic Palos Verdes again, to the quaint, hideaway charm of the La Venta Inn. Mary and Steve wed on Labor Day, in a gazebo overlooking the Pacific Ocean, again, from P.V. to Malibu, with family and friends looking on. After the wedding, we stole the couple for a quick kiss shot at the other gazebo, on the other side of the property.
Best Surprise: Gaby & Dave and the Bruins.
Gaby and Dave didn't meet @ UCLA, but they're both Bruins, and love the school sooooo much. Dave and Gaby call each other on the phone--their ringtones play the Bruin fight song. So they insisted we do their engagement session at UCLA. And after the wedding at St. Timothy's in Los Angeles, they wanted to stop by UCLA for couple shots. Like it's not one of the greatest backdrops in the world? We were thrilled to be there with them. For their reception at Mountaingate Country Club in Los Angeles, they made their grand entrance with the Bruins themselves. Go UCLA!
One of the great things about being a Manhattan Beach based photo team is running down to the sand and surf for engagement sessions. Susan and Benjamin wanted to be photographed at first on a bike together. Fantastic--bring it along. Then, when sunset wrapped around, we dipped by the Hermosa Beach Pier, and asked her to jump into Ben's arms. Lucky for us. We got one of our favorite iconic images, by Sam Graham for Los Angeles Wedding Photo.com
Dampest Location: Palos Verdes Wedding
Jenna and John wanted to have their wedding party photographed on the steps of the Malaga Cove library in Palos Verdes. But it was raining, and everyone was going to get wet. Luckily, we had umbrellas in the car. Let's face it--the umbrellas bring the shot to life, doesn't it? Jenna @ Malaga Cove
Simple solution to the rain: move under a covered roof. That's exactly where we brought Jenna afterwards, to the beautiful, European style Malaga Cove shopping center. Best Cake:
We spent a lot of time with happy same-sex couples in 2008 in the pre-Prop. 8 good times. Let's hear it for Max and Paul, Lissa and Marty and all the other happy couples who were able to tie the knot in 2008. Our best wishes for 2009.
We joined forces with our friends at Cherished Vows last weekend for a Los Angeles beach wedding on the sands of Torrance Beach. Miranda and Patrick tied the knot, and Rev. David Nixon performed the beach wedding ceremony. We were lucky to have a beautiful, classic Southern California late afternoon and a hint of sunset to go with the service.
