On a sunny Saturday last month, I returned to Pointe Vicente to photograph yet another beautiful wedding along the coast. Danielle & Oren were celebrating their special day and it was a feast for the senses – beautiful details, amazing food, but most of all, absolute top-notch entertainment. Oren & Danielle run Listen Entertainment, a music marketing & event production company, which resulted in a day infused with wonderful tunes and amazing performances. They both come from such musically talented families, with Danielle’s sisters and Oren’s brother participating in both the ceremony and reception music. As a special treat, Oren himself jumped on the drums towards the end of the night which had the crowd in cheers (and my camera all happy and clicking away). The whole reception had an awesome casual jam-session feel that was so perfect for an outdoor gathering on a warm summer night!

Danielle & Oren – thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to share in your day and document your beautiful summer wedding!

A sweet first look…

Danielle’s aunt did all of the bouquets… stunning!

I was in love with the soft light we had that day!

As a wonderful personal touch, Danielle’s sister sang as she walked down the aisle…

A quick cake cutting and some sweet toasts were interspersed with lots and lots of DANCING!

And great musical performances, including Oren rocking on the drums:

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Venue: Pointe Vicente Interpretive Center
Caterer & centerpieces: Critic’s Choice
Cake: Torrance Bakery
Lights, sound, live music: Listen Entertainment

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Even before ever meeting Grant, I imagined him and Amy to be the perfect couple. They both shared a love for horses and were working to be veterinarians – while Amy finished up her degree here, Grant was pursuing his in Australia. In the few times I met with Amy before the wedding, Grant would call and I would catch snippets of their quietly joyful conversations. And though I was only hearing one side, I could just imagine their relationship – sweet, so down-to-earth, and madly in love. As they laughed and shared “I love yours” through the miles of ocean and land between them, I imagined Grant being the perfect counterpart to Amy’s consistently cheerful and laidback personality.

Their wedding day, set atop a cliff in beautiful Palos Verdes, proved all of this to be true. The way Grant looked at Amy could melt the hardest of hearts (and turned my silly soft one into a pile of mush), and the way Amy laughed in his presence filled the entire day with an air of joy. It was an honor to witness such an amazing love and I was reminded of why I so SO love what I do – thank you Amy and Grant for the opportunity to capture your perfect day!

A huge thank you as well to Jennifer Yamauchi (jennifer.yamauchi@gmail.com) who coordinated the whole occasion. Jenn is a dear friend of mine who is working her way into the wedding & event planning world and is beyond amazing at what she does!

Amy’s bouquet along with the rest of the florals were beautifully designed by Isabel of Rancho Palos Verdes Florist:

A couple miles away, Scott captured Grant at his grandparents’ home:

And this is where – much to my delight! – they decided to have their first look. We had lots of time to roam around the absolutely amazing grounds of their home, where Amy and Grant also lived for a period of time. They showed me the garden, the corral where they cared for their horses, the guest home where they lived – every corner was so scenic and meaningful to them, and it was the PERFECT location for their photos!

Then it was off to Pointe Vicente for the ceremony!

After the ceremony we retreated to a shady nook for some family photos and then some more portraits of Amy and Grant..

This one might be one of my most favorite shots ever…

Much of the reception was held outdoors on the patio. Andy and Renee provided the upbeat tunes and bride and groom, family and friends, danced the night away…

As the slideshow images flashed across the screen, you could hear the oohs, the aahs, the laughter spread across the room. Baby pictures, pictures with family, with friends, pictures of them together. At the end of the last section, there were photos of Peggy & Ben in Guatemala, working alongside one another and using their medical and optometry skills to do their part in making this world a better place. Those photos seemed to give such a deep glimpse into who Peggy & Ben are and what their relationship is like – warm, giving, and working as the most perfectly-paired team. As the day unfolded, it was strikingly evident that there could not be a more perfect counterpart to Peggy’s warm laughter than Ben. Or a sweeter complement to Ben’s caring persona than Peggy. It’s always such a pleasure to witness the union of two people who are just so perfect for each other!

Peggy & Ben – it was such an honor sharing in the joy of your day with your family and friends. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to get to know you these past few months and to document your beautiful wedding! Also, a big thanks to Ayumi Pantell for coming along and shooting with us that day!

Peggy’s dresses (she had two more she wore during the reception) were all lovingly handmade by her mother. They were all amazing!

Love these final moments Scott captured of Ben & his groomsmen before the ceremony:

Peggy & Ben had allotted plenty of time for portraits which really allowed us to make use of the gorgeous grounds of the Pacific Palms Hotel!

The guys got quite a bit of air…

But the girls were not to be beat!

As the bridal party headed back to the cocktail hour we spent some more time with Peggy & Ben as they soaked in some quiet moments together…

Quite possibly my favorite image from the day…

When I saw the jacarandas I just knew we had to make use of the perfect purple blooms!

Fresh and elegant details at the reception. Kim of Papeterie did an amazing job with all of the table numbers, placecards, and programs!

Love the expression on Ben’s father’s face as he looked on during the first dance…