Posts tagged california wedding

The Wedding Bowl, Cuvier Club Wedding | Nina and Jonathan

The Wedding Bowl, Cuvier Club Wedding

As a wedding photojournalist, capturing Nina and Jonathan’s day meant preserving every laugh, every tear, and every beautifully unguarded moment. The kind you cannot plan. The kind you feel. Even a wild squirrel joined the celebration, running right through the ceremony like it had a front-row seat to love. Honestly, iconic. 🐿️

Their wedding ceremony at The Wedding Bowl and reception at Cuvier Club were filled with a burst of joy, colors, lots of tequila shots, and party; wrapped in orange 🧡🍊 and light blue 💙, and then, bright, calm, playful, and full of heart. Every detail felt intentional, but nothing felt forced. Just like documentary wedding photography which lets people be exactly who they are.

Their love story is just as sweet. Jonathan asked Nina to marry him during a boat ride when she caught a floating bottle drifting in the water. Inside was a note that said, “Will you marry me?” She said yes, and right after that, it started to rain. Like a movie scene. Nina’s mom believes the rain was a sign from her dad in heaven, showing his love and presence. I mean, C’mon. 😭

As a wedding photojournalist, these are the moments I live for. The laughter that sneaks up on you. The tears that come out of nowhere. The stories that hold so much meaning beneath the surface. A true reminder of why authentic and candid wedding photography matters so much.

📸 by me and Brett

Let's talk. Yay!

Riley and Mike’s Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Mike and Riley’s big day at The Grand Tradition in Fallbrook, California, was pure joy. 💛 From start to finish, it was all smiles, love, and fun. They know how to be fully present and to celebrate what is real. As their documentary wedding photographers in California, we were so thankful to capture a Great Gatsby-themed wedding that was filled with unique style, big emotions, and love that felt alive in every corner.

Mike, a Navy vet from Philly, is loyal, big-hearted, and so proud of where he comes from. Riley, raised in Silver Spring with Black Armenian roots, has a warm and grounding spirit that makes everyone around her feel at ease. When they are together, it just feels right. Their love showed up in every laugh, every hug, and every moment they shared.

What made this day so special was the mix of elegance and honesty. The Gatsby details were beautiful, and everyone followed the dress code!!!! And what really made the day shine were their wedding story. The wild laughs, Riley eating her favorite Wendy’s burger before her ceremony, her tears, the hugs, the wild dance floor, and the way family and friends poured out their love. This is what documentary wedding photography is all about. Authentic, raw, unscripted, and full of truth.

For us as Southern California wedding photojournalists, these are the best moments to capture. No awkward poses. No fake smiles. Just candid wedding photography that shows the true story of the couple.

If you are searching for The Grand Tradition wedding photography or dreaming of a San Diego documentary wedding photographer, Riley and Mike’s celebration is proof that the documentary style is the way to go. Their wedding was not just pretty; it was deeply genuine.

We feel so lucky to have been there, cameras in hand, while Riley and Mike celebrated with their whole hearts.

📸: by me, Brett, and Lucca

💌 Let’s Do This!
If you are planning a wedding at The Grand Tradition, in San Diego, Los Angeles, or anywhere in Southern California, and you want photos that feel real, raw, and full of life, I would love to be your documentary wedding photographer. LET’S MAKE MAGIC TOGETHER ✨ Click the button below and let’s start planning your story!

Let's go! Yay!

VALENTINE DTLA WEDDING PHOTOS - AKIKO + SEBASTIAN - LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN WEDDING

“I knew to expect something special when we hired two former news photographers for ur day - but I’m seriously blown away by their work! Thank you Annie and Brett for documenting this day as only you two can.” - Akiko

Akiko and Sebastian’s wedding at Valentine DTLA was filled with love and celebrations with people who hadn’t been able to see one another since the pandemic started.

Akiko is a TV journalist - sounds familiar? yes, I was a journalist too! hehe, and Sebastian is a DP (director of photography). They met online back in 2015, when they were both living in LA. Akiko didn't have a profile photo set up - so Sebastian took a leap of faith in reaching out. They met up for lunch in downtown first and spent the first 6 months of our relationship in LA. Then, Akiko decided to take a job in Singapore, and they began a near 4 year long, long-distance journey. Sebastian works freelance as a DP, he was able to fly in for several weeks to a month at a time. He also took up some jobs in Southeast Asia so they could be in the same city for longer. After 2.5 years in Singapore, Akiko decided to move to Hong Kong with the same company (the opportunity was just too good to pass up!). So they spent another year of long distance, this time between Hong Kong and LA. The plan was to eventually move back to LA (where Sebastian is based), but when another job opportunity popped up in New York in 2019, he encouraged her to take it. For the last 2+ years, he has been splitting time between LA and New York, where Akiko is currently based.

“Put simply, our relationship has been all about managing different cities and travel, and finding a way to stay in the same city.”