Posts in Wedding
Chico Hot Springs Elopement in Pray, Montana
 

It poured rain all day, soaking everything and making you wonder if the sky would ever clear. But just as MacKenzie and Nate were about to get married, the clouds parted and two rainbows 🌈🌈 stretched across the sky.

Both of them have lost their mothers, and in that moment, it felt so clear. The rainbows were their moms, celebrating right alongside them. I had full body chills. I still have chills. I screamed. I was so touched. It was one of those moments that does not feel accidental.

And then, just like that, as soon as the ceremony ended, the sky closed back up and the heavy rain returned. The whole thing lasted only minutes. Fleeting. Extraordinary. Unforgettable. Like a whispered miracle meant only for them. Their day was magic in the purest form.

Their Chico Hot Springs elopement in Pray, Montana was so true to who they are. A quiet hike in the mountains. Vows spoken in their own words. Real moments that did not need staging to be beautiful. This is what made Montana mountain elopement so powerful. Nature leads, and love follows.

This is also the heart of documentary wedding photography. Telling the story exactly as it happened. Capturing what it felt like, not just what it looked like. So couples and their families can hold onto these moments forever.

📸 Photos by me and Brett

 
La Venta Inn Wedding in Palos Verdes Estates | Afton and Brandon
 

I’m still not over this morning’s wedding. Afton and Brandon started as coworkers, turned into best friends, and are now husband and wife. From zombie vs. sci-fi movie nights to road trips and inside jokes, their love feels steady, safe, and SO sweet. ❤️

What I loved most about their day was that it wasn’t about a big show. It was about real and quiet celebrations with people they love, which makes documentary wedding photography so special. The laughter. The soft hugs. The tiny details that make the day theirs.

Their wedding at La Venta Inn in Palos Verdes Estates was filled with morning light and smiles, and the way everyone felt present made every photo feel alive. It’s the moments in between the big events that tell the truest story, and we were so honored to capture all of it.

Thank you, Afton and Brandon, for letting us tell your story exactly as it happened. Every quiet moment, every laugh, every hug - it was all yours and so beautiful. 💫

As Los Angeles documentary wedding photographers and Southern California documentary wedding photojournalists, we love showing the real heartbeat of a wedding day.

📸 Photos by me & Brett


💌 Let’s Do This!
If you’re planning a wedding at La Venta Inn or anywhere in Los Angeles, California and want photos that feel authentic, alive, and full of heart, we would love to be your documentary wedding photographers. LET’S MAKE MAGIC TOGETHER ✨

 
 
Mater Dei Catholic Church Wedding and Big Private Backyard in San Diego | Documentary Wedding Photography
 

Ana and Jan Eric met at work in San Diego and built a love that feels easy, balanced, and full of laughter. She’s the organized one. He’s the adventurous one. Together, they make life ridiculously fun. 💚

When we first started planning their wedding a couple of years ago, all we really knew was the “when” and the “where.” Their ceremony would take place in a beautiful church, and the reception would transform Ana’s parents’ backyard in Jamul, California, into an unforgettable celebration. At the time, we thought maybe around 200 guests, five hours of photo and video coverage, and we would be set.

Fast forward to their wedding day, and their guest list had exploded to over 420 amazing people, with a waitlist to match 😱. Our team of six captured every single moment over 11 hours. From the heartfelt church ceremony at Mater Dei Catholic Church to Ana's parents’ backyard reception in Jamul, it was a day full of energy, laughter, and intimate moments that made documentary wedding photography and videography shine. It preserves the moments exactly as they happened and shows the true spirit of the couple and their families.

Contact Annie Bang for San Diego backyard weddings and authentic documentary wedding photography and documentary wedding videography.

📸 Photos by me, Brett, and Loren
🎥 Film by Ailin, Michael and Sharis

💌 Let’s Do This!
If you’re planning a church ceremony and backyard reception in Los Angeles, San Diego or Southern California and want photos that are real, playful, and full of heart, we would love to be your wedding photojournalists. LET’S MAKE MAGIC TOGETHER. ✨