Ridiculous light, a super fun couple, and a pair of red shoes… what more could you ask for? Once again I have the interwebs to thank for connecting me to an amazing couple – our first meeting was via video chat, but I swear it felt like talking to old friends. Christina & Mark are the kinds of people who bring the happy with them wherever they go {my favorite kind!} and I was so excited to finally meet them in person & explore Laguna together. If this session is any indication of what their wedding might be like? It’s going to be awesome.

I feel like this wedding was such a perfect blend of elegant + casual, with a brilliant dash of east coast charm thrown in {carried over by Dana & Brandon from NYC}. And the Hartley Botanica? With its lush gardens, sun-dappled lawns, quiet tucked-away location, it has officially been added to my list of super-duper-swoonworthy venues. I seriously fell in love with the location just from the ceremony area alone!

And while pretty green willows, cute jam favors, and whimsical bouquets all can add to the loveliness of a day, none of it quite compares to the emotion. The laughter, the tears, the love in this wedding was what really made the photos :)

A relaxed session around Griffith Park. Urban landscapes can really be fun, but there’s something about the quiet of a backdrop like this – just the couple and my camera, taking our time without the worry of crowds or noise or distractions. The recent showers also created the prettiest green landscape.. I seriously could have shot here all day!

I love that Cynthia & Tim let their personalities show and interacted in ways that were both silly & sweet. Also adoring the pops of color from her super cute shirt & the simple bouquet of daisies…