southern california wedding photographer

Calamigos Ranch Wedding: Matthew & Hollie

Photography, Photos, Weddings

Matt & Hollie have known each other for nearly 20 years. Their first meeting was a memorable one, in kindergarten. That’s right, they first laid eyes on each other in kindergarten. Matt knew she was something special so he offered her his gushers at lunch, which Hollie refused to accept. So how does a 5 year old boy in love react to that? Matt took the class picture and drew horns over Hollie’s face and wrote “looser” under her name. Not exactly M+H=Love. They continued to go to the same grade school, middle school, and even high school. As college came they went their separate ways and lost touch. But Matt never forgot her. After much determination of finding her again, Matt again followed the path of the typical (modern) romance and tracked her down on Facebook to Biola University in LA. Not wanting to loose her again, he sent her a message and made up an accuse to be “in the neighborhood.” He said the reason he was there was for a surfing trip in Orange County, false. And that he had to be there for at least a day, false. He just really wanted to see her again. With the intention of only being there for a day he didn’t leave for 4 days. Hollie even wondered if this guy was ever going home! On the last day Hollie went clubbing with her roommates for a birthday celebration and Matt came along. It was that fateful night that they would have their first kiss. That 4 days sealed the deal and they have been in love every since.

On a personal note, I didn’t realize that when Matt, who is my youngest cousin, drew over this poor girl’s face in kindergarten that he would meet his wife. Matt I have seen you grow into such a fantastic and caring man. Hollie has got to be one of the sweetest people I have ever met and you two are the perfect match for each other. She is so beautiful, inside and out. I don’t know if I have met another person with a heart as kind and sweet as hers. She is such a great addition to our crazy family.

Miramonte Resort Wedding: Ian & Melissa

Photography, Photos, Weddings

Music Licensed from The Music Bed

Our final wedding of the year! We could not be more thankful to finish our busy and eventful season with Ian and Melissa. I have known Melissa for years. Back in my previous life as an actor, Melissa and I did summer stock up in scenic Coeur d’Alene, ID. Summers at CDA were amazing. I made some wonderful (and talented) friends up there and Melissa was one of them. I looked up to Melissa so much with her talent, her professionalism, and her gut busting humor. She’s basically awesomely brilliant in a tiny package. So when Melissa got engaged to Ian I was over the moon for her. I hadn’t met Ian, but I had a hunch that he was a good guy just based on his name. Then when we met each other over Skype a little over a year ago, my suspicions that he was cool were confirmed. (I mean how can you not love a guy whose love of Christmas goes so far that he decorates his bike with Christmas lights and hangs it on the wall?)

Their wedding day was particularly special. The thrill of this union spread beyond Ian and Melissa. It should be mentioned that Ian and Melissa’s parents have known each other for forever. Seriously. They live just blocks a part from one another up in Washington. Despite their parents’ decades of friendship, Ian and Melissa had never met each other. It was one fateful day at Sea Fair in Seattle where they met. So on the wedding day it felt like family reunion. Even I felt like part of the family! The love and support that Ian and Melissa had coming at them from their friends and family was overwhelming. It even reached as far as London when Melissa Facetimed with a friend of hers who is performing in Chicago on the West End while she was getting into her dress.

The love that Ian and Melissa have for each other was undeniable. I think the words spoken at the end of their film say it all. We were so honored to document this day from start to finish.

Backyard Bakersfield Wedding: Mitchell & Jayme

Photography, Photos, Weddings

Their wedding day could not have been more perfect. Leslie, Jayme’s mom, worked tirelessly on the effortless design of the event which was held on the front lawns of a private property. It added a perfect personal touch and that carried on through the entire wedding. Another personal touch? Brad, Jayme’s father, married Jayme and Mitchell. It was so overwhelming to witness what could be considered the ultimate ‘blessing’ that a father could have on his daughter’s marriage. As for Jayme and Mitchell on the day, they could not have looked more gorgeous. I’m not kidding. Just so freakin’ gorgeous. But more than that, it was amazing to see these two as a unit. When Jayme and Mitchell saw each other for the first look, they came alive! They are a perfect example of the sum is greater than the parts. These two sparkle when they are together.

On a personal note, this was the first wedding that Ian and I did both the photography & videography. I photographed the wedding (with help from Hailey Golich) and Ian filmed the wedding (with help from John Williford). We have a lot of experience filming weddings, but just started photographing them. So I must thank Jayme and Mitchell for allowing me to photograph their wedding. They put their trust and faith in me and that means the world to me. Congrats you two! We love you!!!

To see Jayme + Mitchell’s engagement photos, click HERE.

{wedding day details}
Couture Motion: photography & videography
Romona Keveza: bride’s dress
Ana Elyse: bridesmaids’ dresses
Mr. Tuxedo: guy’s suits
Spill the Wine: dj
Shades of Gray: band
Walker Lewis: rentals
Mossman’s: catering
Moo Creamery: dessert bar & cake
Kim Kranyak, Yvonne Cason, Leslie DeWitt: flowers

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