One (out of the bajillion) reasons I so love what I do is that it’s reconnected me with so many old friends. Somehow {perhaps mainly through the magic that is facebook} people I haven’t spoken to in months, or years, have figured out that I make pictures, and so wonderfully passed my name along to the happy couples they know who are planning their weddings.

Zena lived in Japan during the same time I did, also teaching on the JET program, but for some reason our paths never crossed. We did however have a mutual friend in Joslyn, who caught wind of my photography and kindly referred me to Zena. Zena & I met over coffee on a sunny morning and immediately jumped into sharing stories of our time in Japan (seriously, I can talk for HOURS UPON HOURS with other people who have lived in Japan, even with total strangers I’ve met 8 seconds ago, it’s bizarre.) I was so excited when she & Dennis chose me as the photographer for their beautiful rooftop wedding at the Kyoto Grand in downtown LA! The day was absolutely gorgeous and I was so happy to be there to capture it.

A cute beta fish was swimming around in each centerpiece as a tribute to Dennis’s love for fish/coral tanks, and their aquarium-themed engagement session…

During the reception, Zena and Dennis shared their gratitude towards their parents and relatives. I especially loved the moment Dennis thanked his grandmother for helping to raise him and being such a large part of his life…

There are many many parts of Carrie & Matt’s day that stole my heart.

There was the warm & homey Senshin Temple, where they had an intimate Japanese Buddhist ceremony set against a breathtakingly ornate altar.
There were the elegantly clean & modern chrysanthemum arrangements & bouquets.
Then there were the millions of white pom-poms, lovingly created by hand and strung above the courtyard for the reception. {I could have seriously spent all day just photographing those alone – it was such a simple concept, yet resulted in some of the most amazing reception decor I’ve seen!}
And then – then there was the In N Out truck they brought in, wafting delicious smells across the entire temple & resulting in happy tummies among all the guests. (And photographers.)

But the kicker, the big thing that made their day so special & pulled so earnestly at my heartstrings, was Carrie & Matt themselves and the amazing, genuine, uplifting love they share. I truly believe that somehow, someway, I have completely lucked out and get to work with some of the kindest & sweetest couples that walk this earth, and it brings me so much joy to see these coules on one of their happiest days, having found the one person that truly completes them. Carrie & Matt of course were no exception, and it was truly inspiring watching how happy they are together.

Do enjoy the photos of the poofs, and the burgers, and the flowers, but ultimately I hope these images reflect the love that filled every moment of this special day :)

Loved this moment post-ceremony – Carrie & Matt embraced right after their exit and held each other for a few minutes… even as guests were exiting and milling around the area. It was such a sweet intimate moment…

Love these mixed CDs Carrie & Matt made as fun & personalized favors!

The paper lanterns below all had unique designs created by Carrie’s friend!

Sometimes, I think my clients just might be superheroes. Take Sarah & Brad for instance – in the span of 2 months, they finished up law school on the east coast, graduated, flew back to LA, studied for and took the bar, and got married. It was a beautiful Jewish ceremony at what is now one of my most favorite venues ever – Cafe Pinot in downtown LA. I am a true LA girl down to my very core, and I fell immediately in love with the little tree-laden park, nestled in the middle of the cafe and the Los Angeles Central Library. Something about the contrast of the calm, green courtyard against the tall skyscrapers that surround it makes it the perfect city venue. And at night, it becomes a spectacle of city lights and such a fresh and classy spot for an outdoor reception!

We also had the honor of photographing the rehearsal (+ a mini engagement session) the night before and it was great so great to getting to know Sarah & Brad at such an exciting time in their lives. Thank you so much for giving us the honor of documenting your wedding!

After a sweet First Look in the lobby of the Biltmore, we headed to Cafe Pinot for portraits…

I LOVE the blue tones Sarah chose for the wedding! It was such a unique choice and was applied so beautifully!

Everyone gathered for the signing of the marriage contract:

More blue tones were incorporated into the petite varied arrangements at the reception – they were so creative and perfect for the long tables!