The forecast called for a 40% chance of rain for the upcoming Saturday. The next day it had increased to 60%. The following day, 80. And two days before their wedding, I received a call from Toshi. Because Toshi & Hana are genius, awesome, and held their wedding photos in high esteem, they came up with the idea of perhaps meeting up the day before their wedding, before the storms set in, to do portraits. I wanted to do a bit of a happy dance when I realized I was free, and thus we met up for an impromptu “day-before” session at their venue, the Neighborhood Church in PV.

I LOVE photographing in Palos Verdes, but it was my first time visiting the sweet Neighborhood Church. To sum it up, it would have been utter blasphemy if we had not been able to get photos around its grounds – the church is beautiful with stunning views of the sea, lush greenery, & lovely architecture. I loved hanging out with Toshi & Hana and exploring the grounds without the time constraints of a wedding day. I highly recommend similar day-after sessions to any couples looking for a way to get fun & relaxed photos in your wedding threads; if anyone is interested, I’d love to chat with you more! :)

It did end up raining the following day, but thanks to their quick thinking & the stars aligning, Hana & Toshi have more than a few portraits around their stunning venue. Stay tuned for their beautiful wedding next!

Love this the dreaminess of this one despite (or because of?) it being out of focus…

I first met with Sharon & Roger over Pinkberry (mine with strawberries + tons of mochi!), introduced by my friend & amazing coordinator Uyen. As in all initial meetings, I’m always looking for that “click” that makes for an awesome photographer-client relationship, and Sharon & Roger knocked me off my feet! They were so fun-loving, silly, laidback & sweet, so it was no wonder that when their wedding day called for rain, they remained completely happy & calm. Seven Degrees has an unmatched artsy & modern vibe both inside and out, so we were still able to get some stunning indoor portraits, and the tent set-up, even if it wasn’t part of the initial plan, was breathtaking! The pastel lanterns made my heart skip a beat!

A fun midday moment was when one of the groomsmen asked how we met Sharon & Roger. When we explained that we were introduced by Uyen, he said he had thought we were all friends from way before :) That completely warmed my heart as it means the world to me when clients become friends!

Enjoy this peek into their beautiful wedding day, starting with Sharon’s three swoonworthy dresses…

Venue: Seven Degrees
Coordinator: Sassy Girl Weddings
Florals: Commerce Flowers
Videographer: Alumiq Productions

It was an especially sunny & warm day in February. Christina, accompanied by her mother & her two “BSF”s (that would be, Best Sisters Forever), prepped in a pink-walled room at the beautiful French Estate, a cozy venue that doubles as a bed & breakfast in the heart of Old Town Orange. The estate {which stole my heart the moment we stepped in} provided the perfect backdrop for their intimate yet lively affair, a day that effortlessly reflected who Christina & Rick are – warm, amiable, down-to-earth, & a little bookish :) They portrayed their love for books with a stack of a certain genre upon each table – philosophy, mystery, science fiction, children’s books – I loved the creativity & execution of the idea and the fact that it was so them! And of course the day went off without a hitch thanks to superwoman Uyen of Sassy Girl Weddings!

Christina & Rick – thank you so much for inviting us to document your wedding. From the moment we’ve met, I’ve been pinching myself silly to make sure we’re really lucky enough to meet & work with such a sweet & loving couple :) Thank you for your kindness & trust in us every step of the way. Hope you had an utterly amazing time in Scotland!

I LOVED the combo of her red nails with the bright blue palette:

Love this hug between Rick & Christina’s grandfather:

During the mother-son dance, Rick & his mother walked over to his father mid-song for an embrace. I love the joy on all their faces:

Venue: French Estate
Coordinator: Sassy Girl Weddings
Florals: Creative Force Floral