I resisted it for the longest time, I really did. Because I knew – I knew once I joined, I’d be so captivated by all the pretty images on there, and be incessantly posting my own photos of food, and tea cups, and my feet, and sunsets, and food, and my boyfriend, and trees, and travels, and food, and everything & anything I found beautiful and/or inspirational (read: most things).

If this {and the below peek} seems like fun to you, you can follow me at @adriennegunde :)

Liz and Kyle are seriously cool. For starters, they are constantly chill and happy and loving towards everyone around them. They also gave us a ton of time for portraits, which included a moment when Liz asked (THE BRIDE ASKED!) if she could lay down on the ground, in her dress, all for the sake of an awesome shot. They’re also both all sorts of talented, and put on a guitar performance for all their guests at the reception, followed by a surprise song Kyle performed for Liz :)

I was also especially excited to shoot their wedding because it took place at the Higashi Honganji Temple in Little Tokyo, a place I used to frequent twice a week for taiko practice. It was so wonderful witnessing a beautiful Buddhist ceremony inside the gold-laden temple, and seeing so many of the other cultural elements Liz & Kyle tied into their wedding!

Mara & John wanted to throw a “last hurrah” type engagement party before their intimate wedding next year, and invited their closest family and friends out for a mini-retreat to celebrate. It was all held at the most beautiful Parker Palm Springs – a brightly-colored oasis in the middle of the desert, a place that has long been on my must-shoot-there! list, with lush gardens that calm your soul & the most stunning modern decor. (Added bonus – bougainvillea everywhere!! I could shoot those pretty little blooms all day long.) Mara & John made full use of the gorgeous property, with cocktails in the lobby, mingling on the lawn, an indoor reception, and portraits around the gardens.

A little peek into the lovely evening…