LMU Wedding | Kristina & Joe

Kristina and Joe met while attending Loyola Marymount University and to say they feel fondly about their alma mater is an understatement. So many of their relatives and friends attended LMU as well, that after the wedding, we rounded up nearly 60 LMU alumni for a big group photo outside the LMU chapel steps.
K&J wed on 7/11--with just a few days past the 4th of July, Kristina was still in a very patriotic mood earlier in the day, before she put on her wedding dress. But with an anniversary date they'll never be able to forget, we couldn't resist stopping by the 7/11 and taking along a cut to the wedding for a joint sip shot, post ceremony.
They look so cute, don't they?

Mary, Star of the Sea Wedding | Priceless Bridal Facial Expression

Catch this snippet from Annie and David's San Pedro wedding at the historic Mary, Star of the Sea church. We love watching Annie as she and David are introduced as "husband and wife," for the very first time.

San Pedro Wedding | Mary, Star of the Sea | Old Ranch Country Club

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."

Los Angeles Jewish Wedding | Los Angeles Athletic Club

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.

Palos Verdes Wedding | Elizabeth & Robert

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.

Walkin' Down the Aisle | Palos Verdes Wedding

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.

Torrance Beach Wedding by Graham & Graham | Los Angeles Beach Weddings

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!

Meet Southern California Bride Turned Wedding Planner Lidia Pareno

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