Andrea & Taro are the type of couple that makes me want to pinch myself to see if I really get to work with such amazing people – they are all kinds of sweet, fun, kind, and totally-and-madly-in-love! I loved getting to know them throughout their whole wedding experience, from our initial meeting, to their personalized & memorable engagement session, to the beautiful and heartfelt wedding. Their wedding day at The Prado in San Diego was my most very favorite kind – the kind that told their story and showcased their personalities at every turn. During the ceremony, they shared the most beautiful vows, blending little inside jokes, loving memories, and honest promises into phrases that reminded everyone how precious it is to be marrying your very best friend.

At the reception, they incorporated a travel theme and filled the room with details of their journey as a couple and the places where they created their fondest memories. And since we were already in San Diego the night before their wedding, Andrea & Taro kindly invited us to join them in their rehearsal dinner, which gave us the opportunity to share in even more of their wonderful wedding experience.

Andrea & Taro – thank you for inviting us to document your wedding and for treating us with warmth and kindness every step of the way. Your wedding day was the most beautiful celebration of love & joy and we are honored to have been a part of it!

Andrea’s mother helping with the finishing touches…

Andrea & Taro had the sweetest first look:

I loved the light we had in the Alcazar Garden:

Their wedding was coordinated beautifully by Jenn & Kristie of Evenity, Inc who ensured all the details were taken care of. Like these AMAZING miniatures! I could have taken photos of these all day:

Each table had a different color arrangement and featured photos & a story from a location that they had visited together:

As Jaenee and I drove to the lake by her home, where she would be meeting A for their very first look on their wedding day, she smiled and explained to me how she wasn’t feeling as nervous as she expected. She said, “the fact that I’m so calm makes me realize how excited I am for the marriage – that it’s the marriage, not the wedding, that is so important to me.”

I photograph amazing weddings of all shapes and sizes, and Jaenee & A’s wedding was a perfect reminder that you don’t need to spend lavishly to make a wedding wonderful – it is the moments that fill the day and the fact that you make it yours. Their backyard wedding was low-key and intimate, but was unbelievably rich with beautiful, warm, and emotion-filled moments (not to mention stunning personal details that Jaenee lovingly crafted by hand). From the first time I met with Jaenee, she explained the importance of family to her and A, and their wedding was indeed a collection of efforts from all of their family members. The happiness and love exuded by everyone that day was overwhelming and it was an incredible experience to be a part of such an event. I believe I was the only vendor there that day; everything else – the location, the flowers, the centerpieces, the food & drinks, the music – was a collaboration of Jaenee & A’s efforts and the work of their family members. At the end of the night, Jaenee and A walked us to the door and we exchanged hugs – my heart was brimming with joy as we left as I truly felt we had witnessed the wedding of not clients, but friends.

Jaenee & A – Thank you so much for welcoming us so warmly into your home and giving us the opportunity to be a part of your incredible wedding. We feel so blessed to have gotten to know you and share in your celebration and to witness your amazing and inspirational love. I know you will have a lifetime of happiness to come! :)

The lovely bouquets, all assembled by Jaenee herself…

Her veil was adorned with lace from her mother’s wedding dress:

Jaenee’s bridesmaids were her sister and her cousins, her best friends since childhood…

A first glance in the mirror and writing down the last of her vows…

Their first look was so touching. I often recommend first looks to couples and Jaenee & A really showed how special that time together can be…

Love these identical childhood photos of them!

The programs were again works of art by Jaenee:

After the ceremony, we walked right across the street for some more photos…

The centerpieces continued with the tissue flower motif and were beautiful! I can’t imagine how long it must have taken Jaenee to put together each one:

A lovely alternative to paper place cards…

The night ended with tons of dancing!

And a quick shot with the happy couple! Congrats Jaenee & A and thank you so much for the chance to share in your special day with you!

After Gloria & Ed’s beautiful morning wedding, we headed just minutes down the road for photos at the school where they had met and fallen in love. Although it was a scorching hot afternoon and they had already had a morning full of excitement, Ed & Gloria happily showed us around the Cal State Fullerton campus and maintained a contagiously fun energy. We circled many spots on campus – including an air-conditioned building every now and then :) – and although we generally do bride & groom portraits during the wedding, I loved this unique post-wedding setup, being able to work without the constraints of time, and getting to know this fantastic couple better!

Enjoy our little tour!

I was so excited when they suggested the library! Love the rows of colorful books set in those perfect yellow shelves. Gloria & Ed informed us that this section is said to be haunted.. I haven’t spotted any ghosts, but do you see any looming around in the photos?

As we were walking back to the car, I turned and spotted this nook with the most perfect light…