A couple weeks ago I drove down to sunny San Diego for a fun shoot with this super sweet couple! I love shooting in San Diego.. the drive down is so gorgeous and relaxing, with the sparkly sea lining the left side of the highway, and as I enter the city, I automatically feel a couple ounces of stress magically float away (I also feel an immediate craving for carne asada fries, but that’s a whole other blog post).

N & T were married a couple years ago (they’ve been together for over 10 years!) but didn’t do an engagement session then, and decided to set up a similar session now :) I am a huge fan of “just because” sessions and believe that any time is the perfect time to get lovely photos of yourself! A cheery bunch of balloons & their adorable pup {and the amazing amazing light} added an extra dose of fun into the session.. :)

One of my most favorite part of weddings are the emotions. I feel like a wedding day, aside from being many things, is a big permission slip to shout from the rooftops exactly how you feel. Emotions that are intimate and quiet and perhaps even overlooked on a day-to-day basis, are allowed to roam publicly, perhaps for one of the few times in your life, big & loud & free. That people actually get to proclaim in wide halls and giant courtyards in front of hundreds of people, that yes, I love you and I will always love you. That feelings of joy & gratitude are expressed explicitly among family and friends, hugs are given liberally, thoughts are shared without hesitation.

Angela & Fong’s wedding was just this, laden with beautiful emotion. It was not just a joining of two people who are obviously so so in love, but was the creation of a new family, of Angela’s son gaining a father and Fong gaining a son. Every moment was so beautiful and real and it was an amazing day to document!

The gorgeous flowers were done by Kim Sanders of Art with Nature.. I always love LOVE working with her!

A beautiful first look…

Love this moment of Angela’s dad sending them off lovingly right after he handed her off…

And this one where the officiant asked Angela & Fong to look over at their parents.. her dad was just so full of excitement & joy for his little girl! :)

Below has to be one of my very favorite wedding moments ever.. it was right after the recessional when everyone was giving hugs and sharing words of congrats. In the midst of the excitement & unbeknownst to the wedding party, Angela’s son had started shedding tears of happiness for his mother & new family. When Angela caught him, she looked down in surprise and said “are you crying..?” and gave him the sweetest embrace. It literally had everyone in tears, including yours truly and each & every groomsman :)

Zena + Dennis + fishies + neon lights + parks + sandy shores = fun! I was excited to shoot at the Long Beach Aquarium for the first time, but found I was almost even more excited about the highly underrated beach we found after. A lovely long expanse of sand with the calmest smoothest waves at the horizon.. between shots I kept telling them how “IT LOOKS LIKE THAILAND!”

Zena and Dennis are so laidback, so down to earth, and just the kinds of wonderful people you’d want to surround yourself with.. I’m so excited for their perfect 10/10/10 wedding!