I would like to say that the reason Jess & Rich‘s wedding was amazing in so many ways, the reason it had me tearing up in the middle of a cafe {good lawd} as I was editing the images, was because I’ve known Jess for years and that they are a couple that is so close to my heart. But the reality of it is that even if I hadn’t know Jess and her family for years, and hadn’t had such a close association to them – I would still have been a teary mess because the wedding was just. that. amazing. in and of itself. It was a true expression of who they are, and love seriously poured out of each and every moment. Like when Jess gifted necklaces to Rich’s daughters during the ceremony, and shakily expressed, “you are my heart”. Or when her sister Nikki gave her speech and Jess stood to embrace her when she found it hard to go on. Her mother helping her put on the very veil she wore for her own wedding day. Or the way Rich and Jess looked at each other during their first look, and couldn’t stop smiling. Love, everywhere, all day, and it was wonderful.

When Jess first called me years ago to tell me about this man she had just met, we were 23 year old kids, and I couldn’t have imagined what an amazing thing that relationship would blossom into. It is a wonderful happiness to see two people who are pretty much perfect for each other, who shine in each other’s presence, and it’s even more wonderful when that person is a dear friend.

Jess & Rich – I’m so happy for you and feel so honored and blessed to have been the one to document your special day. There was so much prettiness to capture in every corner, and I hope these images do justice for just how amazing your day was :)

Venue: Brookside Equestrian Center
Coordinator: Lauren Kadowaki
Florals: Bunch Studio (always my fave! :)
Make-up/Hair: Theresa Huang

You may remember Sandy & Eric from their did-you-just-walk-off-the-pages-of-a-magazine?? engagement session in Venice. Their wedding was just as stunning – with portraits at the swanky and light-filled London West Hollywood and the ceremony and reception at the modern Skirball Center, and lots of DIY goodness and personal touches sprinkled in between. Eric is an amazing artist and created the super sweet illustration that made appearances on their invite, favors, and thumbprint tree, and Sandy handcrafted some fantastic paper fans {to accompany the dessert table} and a ton of pretty paper hearts :)

I was also SO excited to reunite and work with some of my all time favorite vendors, including the amazing coordinator Jenn Yamauchi and the lovely girls of Fleuretica (as well as meeting new faces like Mandie of Blu Couture!) They really helped bring Sandy & Eric’s visions for this ultra-posh wedding to life!

This is one of those weddings {there are more than a few of them}, where I’m sitting there editing the images late in the evening, the computer monitor glowing brightly, with maybe a snack (aka THIRD DINNER) on my desk, and I find that suddenly, I’m misty-eyed. Because how crazy beautiful are these moments? The moment of joy as Christina sees her aunts walk in to congratulate her as she’s getting ready, or the excitement Mark has when he presents Christina with a wedding gift (a ukelele, and she gave him a surfboard!) Or the significance of a rose placed gently on a chair saved for Mark’s mother, who had passed away earlier that year.

Christina and Mark are both the kinds of people who will greet you with the warmest hugs, and laugh unabashedly, and constantly radiate love in every which-what direction, and the fact that they found each other & ended up together is something pretty wonderful. Their wedding day was a string of beautiful and joyous moments and it was such an honor to be there to capture them!