I almost don’t want to write anything for this post. And just let the images speak for themselves. Because the day was filled with such an overabundance of love, such an overwhelming sense of joy – that I’d like to leave the words behind in hopes that these images do the day justice and that you can get a sense of how amazing it was just through the photos.

But I keep feeling compelled to tell you about certain things. Like how Ann and Connie designed and handmade almost all of the colorful and happy details you see below – the beautiful pillows, the adorable pom-poms that were thrown at the end of the ceremony, as well as of course the amazing invitations and programs. And how Ann’s mother and sister came for the wedding all the way from Thailand. And how Connie’s father learned and practiced a lengthy toast in Thai to welcome them. And how Connie wore her late mother’s beautiful green ring, how rather than doing a bouquet toss each presented their bouquets to their sisters as a sign of love and gratitude, how they did a casual lounge style reception rather than the more traditional dinner. And how when we snuck away to do portraits at the beach and we found that the tide was higher than expected, both Connie and Ann happily gathered up their dresses, braved the waves, and ran around barefoot on the sand.

Can you feel the love in these photos? Because it filled up every corner of this little beachside inn. Connie and Ann have been together for years, which has led to a beautiful deep comfort and understanding that’s so wonderful to witness. But there is also a way that they interact, that they look at each other, where it’s like they just met and are still giddy with excitement and falling in love at this very moment.

This combined with an intimate gathering of their closest family and friends created a very special day. I feel so beyond blessed to have been able to document it.

I’m not sure how to even begin to describe this wedding to do it justice.

Eileen and Gray contacted me to photograph their intimate Thursday wedding. In attendance would be just their immediate families – Eileen’s side from so cal and Gray’s from Hawaii. Unfortunately leading up to the wedding, they found that due to health issues, Gray’s mother wouldn’t be able to fly over and attend. A few days before the wedding, they called to tell me that Eileen’s sister needed to be on bed rest due to her pregnancy and also wouldn’t be able to be there.

Now let me tell you the part that despite these developments, this was one of the happiest and most joy-filled weddings I have ever photographed. Gray’s father and brother flew in and thanks to technology, were able to Skype in her mother for not just the ceremony, but for the getting ready parts, after they got their make-up done, and put on their dresses. Eileen and Gray decided to get ready at her sister’s place, so she was able to be a part of that portion of the day as well, and send her sister off with a hug before also being able to watch the ceremony via Skype. Every photo you see below with a person holding up a phone or an iPad means that on the other side of it was a loved one who could be a part of the day. It was literally one of the most wonderful things I’ve witnessed.

As if all of that wasn’t special enough, during their portraits, Eileen and Gray asked me if they could climb a tree, and quietly sang to each other as they just enjoyed each other’s presence. Then they walked back to their where their families were and in a small quiet clearing, did their first dance, to a song that Gray’s brother had sang and recorded. Gray told me that it was the song her grandfather used to sing to her grandmother every year.

I could seriously go on and on about this day, but again I feel I can’t even begin to describe the love that was there filling up every moment, in every corner. Thankfully there are photos to help :)

The streets were still empty at the time I was driving, the sky was a shade of dark grey. When we all congregated at the observatory around 6am, it was still quiet, the sidewalks vacant if not for the occasional runner. We walked to the lawn, and as the sun peeked over the Hollywood hills, surrounded by just their closest family & friends, Ashley & Erika exchanged vows.

I had someone ask me once about the future success of my wedding photography business – based upon the kind of fancy venues I could hope to shoot at, or the kind of high-end expensive weddings I could “grow” to shoot. And I was confused about their question at first, and then surprisingly overjoyed as I realized I consider myself immensely successful already, because I get to shoot weddings like this, this very one you see below. That somehow in the past few years I’ve been drawn to and gotten to be a part of these types of days – the ones that have their sights constantly set on the right thing, the ones that are all about the love. These days have been both big and small, short and long, filled with details ranging from just a bouquet to quite a bit of lovely decor – but they are all the same in that the couples are warm, and the emotions are open and real, and there is just so much love in every corner.

I teared up more than a few times while editing these photos, and I feel very very fortunate to have been able to document this day.