When we fly or drive out for destination weddings, our couples often ask us to come and photograph the rehearsal dinner. We truly enjoy this part of the wedding weekend and the opportunity it affords us to get to know the family and wedding party better. This makes everyone more comfortable infront of the camera come wedding day.
Well Jeff and Kelsey had one fun rehearsal dinner. They rented out the dance hall at the Ice House bar and Jeff’s parents surprised everyone with a dance instructor. This was perfect giving Jeff and Kelsey the opportunity to practice for their first dance and everyone else got to learn a few new steps. It was good old country barbecue for dinner and a beautiful sunset to kick of the night.
It wasn’t that long ago that our Friend Atalanta Jackson of Camellia Wedding Flowers was telling us of this great 51 ford Pickup that a fella by the Name of Wayne kept bringing by her flower shop. She was DYING to incorporate it into a photo shoot so after a few planning meetings she came up with the Idea for a 4th of July patriotic themed celebration. Once she got the green light from Wayne to use the truck she assembled a crack team of some of the most creative vendors San Diego has to offer.
First things first we needed a location. Bo Beau Kitchen in Ocean Beach happily agreed to host our little party with its stylish decor. We couldn’t think of a better place, with its rustic heavy wooden tables, old doors, weathered metal accents and shaded quaint patio.
Maria our lovely bride was dressed Head to toe by Sparrow Bridal in a crushed silk gown, velvet blue sash, vintage red Broach, and very sexy red shoes! The bridesmaids were dressed in Tailored Sweets Boutique’s new collection, while Noon Designs provided their delicate jewelry.
Prior to the shoot Atalanta’s shop was converted into the perfect hair and makeup studio by Blush Makeup Artistry and Margeaux Weith of Beauty Carriage. They managed to get the girls ready in record time and with such timeless style and creativity.
Stephanie “Queen of Details” Darenkamp owner of Tiny Twig Creative, did her usual design magic and precision, making darling invitations, place cards, and menu cards. She also furnished perfect place card holders… vintage forks molded into card stands!
The sweetest part of the day, of course, was the dessert table. Teresa Johnson of Grove Pastry Shop made an incredible spread, complete with the most delicious cake! We freaked out over the idea of having a single American Flag hidden inside the cake and Teresa pulled it off seamlessly! It was difficult keeping our handsome male models, Sterling and Justin, away from the yummy desserts!
As you can see the day and the shoot turned out better than we all ever could have imagined. a special thanks to everybody involved. Thanks for bringing your a game and helping us to make something truly special!
Nick and Sara picked a truly beautiful place to get married when they chose Lake Oak Meadows. The venu is nestled in the heart of Temecula’s wine country. We loved the visual variety that Lake Oak Meadows has to offer from their vineyard covered hillsides adorning the private lake, to the rose gardens that lead to a rustic bridal suite and honeymoon ranch house. Nick and his boys took over the ranch house to relax before the wedding and iron their suits while Sara and her ladies were pampered with hair and makeup in the adjourning bridal suite.
Nick and Sara planned their day around maximizing quality time with their family and guests. To do this they happily decided on incorporating a first look early in the day. We pre scouted with them a few days before the wedding and they decided the ceremony spot surrounded by the lake was also perfect for their first look. When it came time for Nick to turn around and see Sara in her beautiful dress for the first time, there were smiles and tears all around. The first look made it possible to photograph the wedding party and all the family portraits before the guests arrived and the ceremony started. There was even time for the boys to take their jackets off and relax for a bit.
Ok now what little girl doesn’t at some point or other dream of riding around in a white horse drawn carriage wearing a beautiful dress like cinderella? Well when two white horses came prancing up behind the ranch house pulling a matching white coach to pick up Sara and her uncle I felt like a giddy school girl. So I can only imagine how Sara was feeling. The carriage glided away and it was truly a picturesque moment as Sara made her way around the lake in style to her wedding. The ceremony was short. sweet, to the point and exactly what Nick and Sara wanted. Then it was off to the reception and time for dancing and lots of fun.
Venders,
Hair and Makup: Cole Preston, http://www.cpreston.com/
Anthony and Cassie fell in love in Santa Barbara so it only seemed appropriate that they also tie the knot there as well. It was the perfect destination wedding, just far enough from home that the weekend was a vacation but still close enough that they could still use some of their favorite LA vendors. The Lion’s Club located just outside of Santa Barbara in the beautiful hills of Carpinteria served as their wedding and reception location. The lush grass fields of the Lion’s Park worked well for Anthony and Cassie’s classic out door ceremony, while the rustic interior of the club was warm and enviting for their fun sit down reception. The wedding party arrived a couple days early to make pretty DIY Martha Stewart pom poms and set up all the decorations Cassie had spent months hand making. On the day of the wedding Cassie and her bridesmaids were given access to a charming rustic bridal suite at the Lion’s Club equipped with a kitchen for their champaign and full length mirrors to properly get ready in front of. The sun came out burning away the costal fog and brought a light breeze with it. A perfect day for a perfect couple.DIY chalk boards are so much fun. And I just love the old fashioned striped straws. The Gazebo in the park was perfect to keep the pre ceremony refreshments cool.
DIY paper tags as table cards. I thought it was so cute that Cassie found yellow pins to organize the place cards on cork board, that way the guests could easily pull theirs off.Recipe for a lasting relationship. Grab a colored pencil and write the love birds a bit of advice and place it in their recipe box.Gotta love the mini chalkboard table numbers in the floral arrangements.Cassie hand made all of the crochet floral decor.
The Martha Stewart DIY pom poms are so simple yet add an elegant touch to the room. The burlap Just Married sign on the head table was one of my favorite decorations.
