I do my best to blog most of what I shoot, but I sadly find there are busy times when it’s impossible to post everything, especially since my priority is always to deliver the images to my clients on time :) This is one of those such cases – a most beautiful wedding that somehow never saw the blog-light of day. I happened across these images the other day and seriously couldn’t believe I had never shared them! A vintage-inspired wedding set perfectly against the backdrop of the historical Oviatt Penthouse & Cicada Restaurant in downtown, adorned with art deco accents. A fabulously stylish couple. Sweet personal touches like a brisk swing dance in place of a more traditional first dance, and a painting (see the final photo!) created by the bride’s sister that was displayed at the reception and adorned their programs.

The portraits we did on the rooftop of the building are perhaps some of my most favorite portraits to this day. Thank you for taking a peek into this wedding that I’ve been wanting to share from the moment I photographed it :)

(I believe this was also the first wedding I worked with Shana and Kelly Zhang, both amazing girls & wedding professionals I’ve since formed friendships with and had the opportunity to work with lots :) )

During a client meeting once, there was a groom who told me he enjoyed my photos because they made him like the people in them. Something about the way the people were photographed made him see them as fun, as kind, as people he’d want to be friends with. It was a wonderful compliment and the words warmed my heart, but the truth is, the people I photograph really are that wonderful. And Jenny and Randall are one of the very first couples who come to mind when I say this.

Their wedding day was 12 hours long from beginning to end, but I can tell you that I literally stood there at the end of the reception wondering how it flew by so quickly. Part of it is of course the gorgeous Happy Trails ceremony (is it not everyone’s dream to get married under a giant tree?), the fantastic DIY details, the lively reception… but what really made it so special was just the two of them being them. It is not everyday you come across such kind, down to earth, funny, generous, creative and wonderful people. Their trust in my work and general support (not just in business, but in life!) has meant the world to me. In just one example, literally a week before their wedding (when I knew they were running around with a million last minute wedding-y things to do) they secretly messaged my boyfriend to ask him what kind of gift I might like. !!! Their thoughtfulness is seriously mindblowing. In their vows to one another they spoke heartfelt words, of how beautiful, warm-hearted, selfless the other was, and I couldn’t help but tear up, because every line rang so true.

And on top of all that, please see Exhibit ALL THE PHOTOS BELOW, for just how creative this couple is. They are both graphic designers and came up with a colorful bird + birdhouse themed wedding – as you scroll down through the images, you will see literally hundreds of handpainted birdhouses, beautiful cloth pennants, sweet fabric bird favors, each and every one created lovingly by them.

This was my first wedding of 2013, and I couldn’t imagine a better way to start the year.

Liz and Kyle are seriously cool. For starters, they are constantly chill and happy and loving towards everyone around them. They also gave us a ton of time for portraits, which included a moment when Liz asked (THE BRIDE ASKED!) if she could lay down on the ground, in her dress, all for the sake of an awesome shot. They’re also both all sorts of talented, and put on a guitar performance for all their guests at the reception, followed by a surprise song Kyle performed for Liz :)

I was also especially excited to shoot their wedding because it took place at the Higashi Honganji Temple in Little Tokyo, a place I used to frequent twice a week for taiko practice. It was so wonderful witnessing a beautiful Buddhist ceremony inside the gold-laden temple, and seeing so many of the other cultural elements Liz & Kyle tied into their wedding!