Because I am near Temecula, CA, I tend to shoot at a lot of wineries. I can’t complain much because wineries and Southern California in general are very picturesque. But it’s nice to get a change of scenery and The Twin Oaks House & Garden did not disappoint. It was a unique venue to start with and had so many great period details. Also, it was outside and allowed the wedding party to enjoy the beautiful grounds.

One thing that Maggie really went all out on was the flowers. They were beautiful and abundant, incorporated into every aspect of the decor. Another really neat feature was a dessert buffet where all sorts of delectable pastries awaited the incoming guests. It was a great way to welcome everyone!

One thing that really impressed me about this wedding was the emphasis placed on the guests. For the children, there was a clown who did face painting and balloon animals. There was the dessert buffet. There was dancing and delicious cake. The venue was open to everyone so that people could walk around and explore. There were ice water stations and fans to help their guests combat the heat. It was really awesome and everyone – especially the kids – really enjoyed themselves. After talking with some of the guests, I was told that Chris and Maggie are always like that – always thinking of their friends and family.

Looking back on this wedding, what I remember most was the close-knit sense of family in this group. Chris and Maggie took pains to take care of everybody’s comfort, so that all the guests could have a wonderful time. And not only did those details serve their main purpose, but they also looked great in the process!

After we wrapped up the family pictures and shooed everyone but the bride and groom into the cocktail hour, we lingered a bit in the same spot because the light was just so perfect.

And then, just as we were starting to lose light, we headed into the vineyard…

The reception was awesome… every guest was having a blast and the dance floor was packed. I heard some of the most amazing toasts to the couple, “oohed and awwwed” over their slideshow (I am a sucker for slideshows) and had a great time along with everyone else who was lucky enough to be there!

Kim & Morty, thank you so much for letting me be a part of your big night. I loved every minute of it! Best wishes to you both for a long and happy future!

Remember Morty & Kim? They had an awesome engagement session at the beach last fall and I was really looking forward to their wedding in October. When I got to Ponte Winery and saw her getting ready and then saw The Shoes – well, I knew I was in for a fabulous day! I second shot for Honey Stetson and between getting to hang out with her (she lives in Canada!) and Morty & Kim again, I had such a fun time. I can’t wait to hear how the honeymoon went!

I went a little bit crazy when photographing The Shoes. Let me tell you it was difficult picking just two of my favorites…

The details were stunning….

… as was Kim! She is seriously gorgeous!

Wedding Time!

Although Kim & Morty opted for a first look before the wedding to give more time over for photographs, we ended up shooting family photos before and after the ceremony. I’ve grouped them all together anyway, just because I can.Â

Don’t miss out on Part II tomorrow!

Happy Holidays! Here’s to slowing down, enjoying the moment, and being with the ones you love.

Bonnie & Sean’s wedding was an amazing dinner party in Phoenix, AZ. They gathered their closest family and friends and then went to town with the venue and details and food. The ceremony was one of the sweetest and most heartfelt I’ve ever witnessed. And in spite of a dust storm, high chance of rain, and a last-minute change of location (from outdoors to indoors) they never once lost their sense of humor or their cool. They were so excited to get married, I don’t think anything could’ve happened that would have made them less excited about the day.

I have to give a shout-out to Andy DeLisle, my second-shooter. He’s a fantastic photographer and is great to be around. Working with him for several hours feels a lot more like hanging out with a good friend.

First, I dropped by Sean & Bonnie’s house to hang out with the guys for a bit and watch them get purty…

Then I was off to the ceremony/reception site – The Farm at South Mountain. Since I was unfamiliar with Phoenix, I figured our destination would feature a lot of cacti, succulents, and other dry-climate vegetation. But this place was incongruous to the rest of the Arizona landscape. It was a farm in every sense of the word, with chickens and livestock and lush flower beds and beautiful trees. It was an ideal place to have a unique wedding.

Some detail shots…

The lovely flowers were done by Kristi Pohly at Fleur Decor. I especially loved the velvety green leaves and those fiddleheads!

Then it was Bonnie’s turn to get ready. Can you believe her mom made her dress?!!

Bonnie and Sean decided to do a “first look” before the wedding to take advantage of the natural light for portraits. (Too bad Mother Nature didn’t stick with that plan and sent a dust storm our way when we got everyone together!)

A few of the bridal party, who escaped most of the dust storm…

Then it was the moment we all were waiting for… time to get married!

If you remember how awesome Bonnie and Sean’s engagement session was, then you KNOW I was excited to get some shots of them as giddy newlyweds…

The rest of the evening, as described by the bride, was a “sexy dinner party,” with a little bit of dancing, lots of laughing, and close friends and family. I’ll let the rest of these images speak for themselves…

Thank you, Bonnie & Sean for letting me be a part of this wedding. It was intimate and unique and so very special… just like the two of you. Much love and happiness to you always!