Amy & Chris: Little Italy Engagement Session

I just love going to new spots for my engagement sessions!!  And yes, shooting in Little Italy has been done over and over again...but just not by me.  So when Amy and Chris suggested doing their session down there, I was so happy to try out something new and exciting.

There are some great buildings, murals, a fire station, and of course a host of restaurants to work with.  Amy and Chris happened to meet at the Mona Lisa Italian Restaurant, so we definitely had to capture a few in front of that building.  And of course with all those amazing planes flying overhead as they approach Lindberg Field, I had to snap a few shots of that also.

We spent almost 3 hours walking around finding some great spots, but I happened to bring along a box of sparklers and we ended our evening under the Little Italy sign with the two of them kissing and holding these cute little fireworks ablaze.  You can definitely say there were more fireworks in my photo than just the two sparklers!!  Definitely one of my top favorite sessions in a long time.  Thanks Amy and Chris for getting me outside my box and introducing me to a new area!

William and Noriko - Hotel Del Coronado

This was one of my favorite weddings for a long time.  Not only is the couple so amazing and fun to work with, but I knew just about every vendor they selected, and they were San Diego's Best of the Best!  Their wedding co-ordinator was Julie of The Best Wedding for You, their minister was Rev. Christopher Tuttle from Vows From The Heart, their DJ was Bob of Artistic Productions, the cake made by Shirley The Cake Lady, and video by Darryl of Epic Affair.

It was an early ceremony starting at 11am, which meant I had to get up at 6am to be there by 8am.  But alas, when we were done by 4:15pm, it was really nice to still have time left that day to do whatever.  Plus, I really like working with more available light at the receptions unlike evening weddings where flash is a necessity, not an option.  Of course that also meant no sunset photos at the beach...but with all that cloud cover coming in, I doubt there would have been a sunset we could have seen.

I think the highlight of the day was when William and Noriko did their first dance as Husband & Wife.  It started with a traditional slow song, the record "screeched," and then they went into 17 different songs with different dance styles -- one after the other.  It included disco, gangnam style, hip hop, swing, country, "Thriller," just to name a few.  Awesome you two!!

Samantha and Aaron - Rancho Bernardo Inn

Have you ever met a couple and just knew it had to be?  That's how I feel about Samantha and Aaron!  I think that Samantha's love story tells it best...

"Aaron and I knew we wanted to marry one another about a year into dating. We had been very intentional right from the start about figuring out if we were in fact “the one” for one another and sure enough everything we learned about one another only made it more clear that it was meant to be. He was still in school and I had only been out for a short time, just trying to get by in the world, post college. So we decided to wait until Aaron was done with school and had a job. Unfortunately it took longer than we’d hoped for Aaron to find a job with the economy in its current state, so it was a year and half later that we were finally engaged! And boy, did it seem like forever!

We’d been best friends and dating for almost two and a half years when Aaron asked me to be his wife. He disguised the moment by making me believe that we were headed to the Jonathan Club in Santa Monica for a friend’s engagement party. Knowing the little detective in me, Aaron even created a false invitation to the “engagement party” just in case I asked, and I did. When we arrive to the beach, it was just before sunset. He had coordinated the whole things with management at the club so that even the valets directed us to where the “party” was being held. Following the signs that pointed in the direction of the party, we made our way to the upper floor of one of the restaurants. We walked through the door toward an empty balcony overlooking the ocean. There was only one table though… a party for two, to my surprise. Red roses, candle light, and the sun setting on the horizon –before I could even turn to Aaron and mutter anything, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Shaking with nervousness, still trying to wrap my mind around what was actually happening, I just grabbed him and hugged him for the longest and tightest hug we’ve ever had. THEN I looked at this fiery, gorgeous ring, he put it on my, still, trembling hand and then I believe we hugged again.  Who knows how long it lasted.  A waiter came, sat us at the table, brought our each of the three courses Aaron had already ordered and were ready for us. We ate our dinner. Smiling and giggling, reeling in the feeling that this moment was actually happening. We finished our meal and headed out.

I thought that we were headed to his brother’s house to share the exciting news and show them the lovely ring, but there were more surprises waiting. When we entered the house, there stood all of our closest friends and some family! I was so shocked –my reaction was first that of surprise followed by an overwhelming amount happiness with a few tears of joy. We visited with everyone, ate some dessert and shared what had unfolded in the hours before.

It was truly something out of a fairytale. He did such a wonderful job. Lord knows I did not make it easy as I had been on the lookout for quite some time, wanting to be engaged for a year and a half can really make a lady nutty… cut me some slack! All I know, is that right now, days away from marrying my best friend in the world, is that it was WELL worth the wait!!"

ENGAGEMENT SPOTLIGHT: Deanna and Rich

Some 5 years ago, Deanna started work at John Lenore & Co.  She quickly moved up and became the Executive Sales Assistant, where she got to be closer with Rich.  They worked hours upon hours next to each other and always joked about ordering in for the long haul.  They were quickly labeled as the "work husband and wife."   They became great friends.

Deanna always had a secret crush on Rich.  She always dreamed of being with a red head.  After 2 years, they finally decided to try it out as a couple.  She took him on an interview and told him he did alright, but he was on a 90 day probation.  Obviously he passed with flying colors and Deanna landed her "ginger."  And as a couple, they decided they were the "Essence of Awesome."  After a few months, they introduced the pups.  To their disbelief, Leona and Oreo actually got along.  They knew it was meant to be!  Their motto was to always have fun.  They loved being in public together.  They enjoyed several epic trips to Vegas with friends and family.  A trip to Puerto Vallarta, that became Deanna's first stamp on a passport!  Great concerts!  Long hikes with the girls on the weekend!  They realized a great life is all about the experiences and the ones you get to share them with.  And they were thrilled to have found each other.

In January 2012 they decided to move to Arizona to start a new life, new careers, and start to plan for a better future.   After 2 weeks of settling in AZ, Deanna and Rich did a typical weekend hike with the pups.   They got to the halfway mark, as far as the dogs could go, and took a breather.   Rich kept saying Oreo had something stuck on her paw.  As Deanna kneeled down to where Rich was "checking Oreo out" Rich looked at Deanna and asked if she wanted to get married.  She laughed hysterically and started to walk away as she said, "Haha real funny, liar."  As he called her back, and she turned around, there he was on one knee with the most perfect ring she had ever seen.  As she could barely get yes out of her mouth, she jumped on him and hugged him and went from laughing hysterically to crying.  She couldn't believe it.   She had never been more surprised or happier in her life. And on May 17, 2013 they will be husband and wife.

ENGAGEMENT SPOTLIGHT: Danielle & David

David and I do not have a fairy tale story.  It's pretty obvious that when you find out we met last June and then you meet our handsome 8 month old son and then start subtracting gestational dates for a female and then plus or minus a few days and add a full moon cycle......  You get the picture lol..  But we have a happy, busy life where we are always kept on our toes by our little guy Mason and our very playful Golden Retriever Shock Top aka Shockey. 

 

We met through mutual roommates.  His roommate was dating mine at the time and all four of us were in the Navy.  I'm the only one who is currently out of the Navy actually.  David and I had an instant connection that was almost ruined by a falling beer but I'm sure he'd tell the story differently.  We didn't get too much time together as just an "us" couple before we became the "pregnant" couple and then that pretty much sums up our dating experience.  You want to know if you can live with someone the rest of your life?  Survive a very hormonal pregnancy with them lol!  I knew he had to be the one if he could stand me by the end of it.  That or he was legally insane.  

 

Having our son was the big coming together moment for us.  There's no question about that.   On Feb 20th, 2012 at midnight of all times my water broke.  I knocked Dave on the arm to tell him and he said, "that's nice."  Men....  He was quickly redirected and we started the labor process and 11 and a half hours later my son was born all natural at Best Start Birth Center.  It was a tiring, grueling, mentally draining, beautiful, challening, bonding, greatest thing I ever did experience!!  And I had David right there to stare at as they put Mason on my chest for the first time and we both just cried like babies.  Mason sealed the deal for us.  We were instantly a family and I knew then that I wanted to be with him for forever.  It was so cute watching Dave take Mason around the Birth Center showing him off to everyone.  There were appointments going on downstairs and he was showing him off to all the pregnant moms and staff. 

 

The day Dave proposed......  Gosh I'm still surprised that he got me.  We went on our first night out after having Mason to my favorite restaurant, The Melting Pot.  Mason was 6 weeks old at this point so it had been awhile but I was still so nervous about leaving him with someone.  I almost ruined the proposal so many times and frankly I kind of did.  The camera ended up not being there because he was unable to sneak it into the car because I decided to make us take pictures.  I kept asking him why was he rubbing his leg.  He kept wanting to go to the bar to get another drink when I told him to just wait for the waitor.  I should have just relaxed lol.  Finally he told me he was going to the bathroom.  When he came back from the restroom he sat back in the booth across from me and the waitor sat another drink in front of me.  I started to say something and then I noticed a bright shiny thing sitting on top of the fruit of the drink.  I was shocked at first that there was a ring but then I realized that it was my dream ring.  And then I started to panic.  How did he pull this off?  I'm coming up with every scenario in my head of how he paid for this and I just can't imagine how he remembered this exact ring.  I barely hear him say, "Will you marry me?"  The whole time I'm saying, "How did you do this? How did you know?"  lol.  Again, I need to learn how to relax.  The whole time our waitor is videoing with his phone cause he couldn't sneak the camera.  I of course said yes and the rest is history. 

 

Oh, P.S. he knew which ring was my dream ring because he snuck into my phone one day after I had shown him as a joke and he emailed it to himself.  So he got MAJOR brownie points for thats!

 

Dustin & Caroline: Scripps Seaside Forum

Talk about a long distance romance!  Dustin & Caroline met while Caroline was visiting in the USA to learn English.  Through a bible study group, they met and soon were best of friends.  Their friendship turned to love and then it was time for Caroline to return to her home in Switzerland.  But with the sheer force of love and a modern convenience called Skype, they stayed in touch and visited each other as often as they could.

On Sunday, July 29th, Dustin and Caroline finally tied the knot and started their life as newlyweds, never to be parted by oceans and continents again.  About 30 family members and friends flew in from Switzerland, many making a one or two week vacation out of the journey to San Diego.

The wedding took place at Scripp's Seaside Forum in La Jolla.  It was a gorgeous day and the wedding colors of turquoise and white looked stunning in this venue.  And I have to say the cupcakes were just divine!!  I couldn't believe all the flavors and colors.  Hey, the bakery even competed (and won!) in Cupcake Wars on The Food Network.  Click on any of the images to view them larger.

Catering:  Continental Catering
Cake/Cupcakes:  Little Cakes Cupcake Kitchen
Flowers:  Bride's Mom
DJ/Entertainment:  Techturret Productions

Colette and Shane: Vista Valley Country Club

It was about one year ago that I got a phone call from Colette.  I had photographed her sister's wedding a few years ago and Colette called to let me know that she was engaged and was super excited to have me be her wedding photographer too!  Awwwwww!  (my heart just started melting right then and there!)

Her fiance, Shane, is a super fun and funny guy and I just fell in love with him when they came in to meet me.  He and Colette make such a great couple and I was counting down the days till their wedding on June 30th, 2012.  They chose the Vista Valley Country Club in Vista, California, as their venue.  VVCC was doing some major renovations and theirs was the first official wedding to showcase all their hard (and expensive) work.  The wedding site is just incredible and I really do love everything that they upgraded for future couples.

Oh, and did I mention that Shane's groomsmen were just a hoot?  OMG, one came dressed with a top hat and cane (paging Mr. Peanut) and another with a multi colored spiked hair.  Hey, the colors matched the wedding!  I just loved it and had so much fun with these guys.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Andrews!!!