Oh, the internet is an interesting thing. It is of course the way many couples find me, but I’ve found recently that it’s played a big part in the way our relationship unfolds after as well. There is of course email, but like in the case of Susan and Ken, we’re facebook friends and follow each other’s photo adventures on Instagram as well. And throughout the months between our initial meeting and their wedding day, I got to follow their love for food, their playdates with their two amazing beagles, their awesome bachelor/bachelorette parties (think New York and Hawaii!), their wedding planning, their memories together.

Because as much as I wish I could grab coffee and hang out with my couples all the time, getting to know them this way – through updates on events, snippets of daily life, comments of encouragement – is maybe the next best thing. And by the time their wedding day rolled around, I really felt I had gotten to know Susan and Ken. That we had learned that much more about each other. That perhaps I could appreciate the details they thoughtfully incorporated into their day that much more. That when they saw each other for the first time, or said their tearful vows, or watched their slideshow, I found myself in tears along with them – that in two amazing, kind, and fun-loving people like this, I had found not clients, but friends.

Susan & Ken – I can’t express how much your support and trust in my work means to me, and how much I appreciate you letting me capture this day. It was perfect :)

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!

I could see it from our first meeting over cucumber mint lemonades… the way Craig looks at Myesha. And Myesha looks at Craig. There is so much love between these two. Expressed in a bouquet of white roses delivered to Myesha that morning, a tearful first look, heartfelt vows (and a fist bump!) during the ceremony. They met 4 years ago while both working on the Obama campaign, and it seems to be fitting that they’re getting married just when elections are rolling around again :)

Both Myesha and Craig are full of style {as evidenced by their engagement session!} and I adored the urban elegance and bright colors that filled this day. They also incorporated bits of Myesha’s Jamaican heritage into the wedding, with little jars of rum as favors and a cake that was brought in straight from Jamaica!

A special thank you to Emily at Cafe Pinot and Alex of Sterling Engagements for taking such wonderful care of us and ensuring the day flowed perfectly – good coordinators make all the difference!