Posts in Wedding
South Coast Botanic Garden Wedding - Rebecca + Mohsen
"I promise to bring you home Diet Coke every time I go grocery shopping and serve you dessert right after dinner."  - Rebecca

Rebecca is, by far, the most decisive and easygoing bride/friend/client I've ever encountered. People like her are a rare breed - ones who are confident and know themselves well on what they like and don't, yet have such a laid-back and loving personality; this was simply and personally amazing for me as I got to be trusted by those whom I try to be.

Rebecca and Mohsen (we call him "Mo") got married at the beautiful South Coast Botanic Garden last November on a sunny day, and it was one of those weddings where I was invited into be their photographer, a friend, and a family member. Rebecca's sweetest grandmother's name is Annie. Come on.

Rebecca and Mo have known each other over 15 years and their relationship grew even stronger while he was in the military (Marines) for 8 years. Mo was her sister's friend from high school, and he was "the first guy" Rebecca "liked a lot."

Their wedding was simple, nonchalant, and beautiful, overflowing with love and celebrations, and the weather couldn't be perfect for those two and the loved ones. My absolute favorite moment was when Mo decided to smash a piece of cake on Rebecca's face while nobody saw that coming.

"Months from now I won't remember the details of this wedding but what I will always remember is how beautiful you look and how happy you are and I will always try and make you this happy." - Mo
Molly + Michael
"I love how secure your love makes me. You make me feel like the best version of myself on steroids. You have a way of looking at me that makes me feel like everything is going to be ok." - Molly

Where do I start with these two...

I actually don't know.
My mind goes blank in a very good way when I think of them. Then I start seeing their pure joy, pure love, and simply the awesome life as it is.  My wonderful job allows me to meet so many kindred, compassionate and loving spirits like Molly and Michael and to see how they're experiencing this wild and beautiful world - their stories make me more aware of my own place in life and my own joy; then I think about where I am and where I will be, and how I want to be a little more like them.

Molly and Michael's wedding was too good to be true. I felt the genuine love from literally every single person at the wedding. And that's rare. And that simply showed how they were raised and who they are.

Michael had 18 groomsmen including the best man. Eighteen! Record-breaking for me! He is a person with full of love, which will make him "a fantastic dad" as Molly describes.

As the wedding day continued, it was complete with euphoria and laugh-until-you-cry moments and more tears of joy. There was also one big party at the Fox Theater in Salinas after the ceremony. About 350 people destroyed that theater with lots of great music, dancing, and singing. Ohhh.... the singing...

"Today in front of witnesses I want to say that I adore you for all your shennanigans, not despite them.  And I want to thank you for loving me so completely." - Molly


Brittany + Brendan

I didn't want to shoot this wedding.

I wanted to self-invite and enjoy the wedding as a guest. I knew I was going to love this couple after months of numerous e-mails and a Skype call, and Brittany and Brendan made that true when we first met in person a couple of days before their wedding at The 1909 in Topanga. They have a huge love affair with food (just like me!), and both of them are earnest and warmhearted people who could not take their eyes off of each other the entire emotion-filled day and night.

It was Brendan's first time EVER to wear a suit, and their first time to get any "professional" photos taken. It was certainly the most relaxing wedding I've ever been to and worked at, and was a wedding of how I would imagine for my own in the future - filled with love, celebration, good music and yummy food.

Brittany and Brendan met each other through a mutual friend about 4 years ago. On their first date, they had tacos and discussed the future of Facebook. (She works for Facebook and he is in the tech industry), then they did that on the second date as well and they seem to do that all the time. Then, two summers ago, he surprised her with a ring in Hawaii.

"I didn't say 'yes' at first, and I apologized for that," Brittany said. "We started a philosophical discussion about marriage, proposal, and engagement. And 10 minutes into it, I'm saying 'yes,'"

"We make each other better and more ourselves. I know I'm more honest, silly, vulnerable and confident because of Brittany," Brendan said.

I still can't forget those many moments when they stared at each other's eyes so lovingly and exchanged adorable smiles. I'm very lucky to have met kindred and loving spirits like Brittany and Brendan and to learn how to draw joy, hope and inspiration out of what I'm surrounded in most humble way. Thank you, again, and congratulations!! Yay!