Fact: I take the phrase “The Happiest Place on Earth” not as a slogan, but as the cold hard truth (second only to “wherever there are cupcakes”, but that would make an awkward amusement park theme). And I could argue the Disneyland skeptics til the end of time – that singing animatronic pirates and pastel-colored rides and bundles of balloons and yummy turkey legs (and snow at Christmastime, snow!) outweigh the crowded, expensive side of things. So I was more than a bit excited for Van & Hai’s engagement session at Disneyland! We traveled from land to land and I got to photograph an amazingly happy couple in a fantastically happy place.

I would say that the positive vibes of Disneyland are infectious and therefore brought joy into the photos, but the truth is that it was the other way around – Van and Hai are some of the sweetest, warmest people I have ever met and they bring the happy with them wherever they go :) I feel truly blessed to have met them and loved photographing them in a place that holds some of their favorite memories!

I really love the soft pastel colors we found in this little corner:

Really adored Van’s stylish outfits!

I leave you with a quick shot Hai took of Van & I. I generally like to stay on the other side of the lens, but when Hai asked to snap one of us together, I couldn’t miss an opportunity to pose with such a sweet client-turned-friend! :)

I know it’s not for everyone – many claim it’s too boring, or too kiddish, too crowded, too expensive, too colorful, too happy. But I’ve always been of the flowers/puppies/rainbows-loving variety, and Disneyland has always been fascinating to me. I don’t know if it’s indeed the Happiest Place on Earth, but it definitely ranks up there. Contending only against our comfy living room couch, the nook of Scott’s arm, and the backyard of my childhood home where my sister and I used to do cartwheels until our brains hurt.

And it’s not just because of the overabundant churro vendors and the pastel teacups (which somehow seem to get more and more nauseating every year) and the singing pirates, but more because of the 26 years of memories that all these things have created. I realized how immensely vital these memories were to me when Scott and I entered the park and I immediately demanded that we go to Tomorrowland first because “that’s where we always start!!!” Obviously. I believe the order goes Tomorrowland, followed by Fantasyland, followed by New Orleans Square and Adventureland, and ending at Splash Mountain, because there’s clearly no better time to get soaked than when it’s dark and cold out and you have a wet car ride home to look forward to.

The shots below were modified with the awesome Poladroid application (first introduced to me by Serena). You can watch the photos “develop” before your very eyes! You can even shake it, shake, shake it like a Polaroid picture! You have to try it!!

Edited to add:

Since we both hadn’t been to Disneyland in years, it was our first time going on the Buzz Lightyear ride. And here’s the shot they snapped midway through. Now I know it looks like I’m hiding. But let me assure you, those targets were DEFINITELY hiding from me and the wrath of my blaster gun. Hiding so well in fact that it um, sort of affected my score. It all makes sense now!!