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I posted Robert + Joana’s wedding at Mission Bay’s Marina Village in San Diego a while ago, but wanted to update the blog with a slideshow to share a few more images from their incredible day! This was a really fun and great wedding in San Diego, and I will be posting even more images from their day over on the galleries section as that will be updated soon with featured weddings and a whole new look. For now, enjoy the slideshow and remember you can always view it over on youtube, or download a copy from the podcast!
I went to the gym this morning, just before shooting Cindy and Gregg’s wedding at South Coast Winery and Resort in Temecula, CA. After I had finished working out I thought about the fact that I haven’t been as dedicated to getting to the gym as much as usual. There are tons of honest reasons and even more excuses why I haven’t been. But the point is I started admonishing myself for slacking off when I was reminded of the wise words of Buddy Wakefield: ”Forgiveness is the release of all hope for a better past.”
It’s an important thing to let yourself fail at anything and to move on, to right the ship if you will. I’m reminded about how heavily I can burden myself with what I should have done and what I didn’t do. I absolutely love that line by Buddy and need to hear it on occasion. Forgiveness is free … whatever you might be beating yourself up about I suggest you see if it’s possible to as Buddy says ‘release all hope for a better past’. I assure you, if you can, it feels pretty good, no matter how minor it may seem.
Last year in February I was planning on proposing to Kristy. A few days before I did, I went in to see Katelyn, my stylist for my haircut. While I was visiting, I told Katelyn how I was going to propose to Kristy before she and I left for Mexico. When I returned from Mexico, at my next haircut, I went in to see Katelyn who excitedly asked me about the proposal, how it went and how the Mexico trip was. She listened patiently and excitedly for me. After I told her all about my trip and Kristy and my proposal, I asked how she was doing … I was surprised that I hadn’t noticed the ring on her finger when she told me her boyfriend Dennis had proposed to her virtually at the same time I proposed to Kristy. Later as Katelyn and Dennis were planning their wedding, they came over to my house and we talked about their plans and about the possibility of me photographing their wedding. I was so excited when they decided they would like me to be there with them at their New Years Eve wedding at the Bristol Hotel in downtown San Diego. After that, every time I went in to get my hair cut, she and I both had a lot to catch up on with each of our wedding plans, so by the time the big day came, I knew more than I knew about most weddings I photograph as far as how the day was going to go.
The Bristol Hotel in downtown San Diego just outside of the gaslamp hosted Katelyn and Dennis’ New Years Eve wedding celebration. Katelyn and her girls got ready in the City Scene room at the Bristol while the top level was set up for their ceremony and dinner. The ceremony was a beautiful candlelit wedding and the open air of the retractable ceiling made the ceremony feel as if it was being held outside under the beautiful San Diego night sky. After the ceremony, while Katelyn and Dennis’ guests mingled during cocktail hour Kristy and I took Katelyn, Dennis and their families downstairs for family portraits in the lobby. We continued with some bridal party shots in the lobby as well as the bar, then ultimately took Katelyn and Dennis outside into downtown San Diego to photograph around the Spreckles theater, as well as in front of the beautiful and historic US Grant Hotel.
After portraits, we returned for their reception which was an absolute blast. One of my favorite moments of the night was when I asked Dennis what he thought of Katelyn’s dress. He said he was surprised that he kind of thought she wouldn’t have gone as traditional … he actually thought she might have a short dress for her wedding gown. Little did he know that Katelyn’s dress actually was designed to tear away and become a short dress. So after the Dennis removed her garter, her bridesmaids circled her and removed the bottom part of her dress. It was really a surprising and fun moment during the night. I honestly could go on for a long time about how much fun this wedding was, and how great it was for Kristy and I to spend our New Years documenting Katelyn and Dennis’ wedding … I mean … just the simple fact of having the wedding celebration on New Years, which is also Katelyn’s mother’s birthday, and just a great time to have everyone that you care about with you. It truly was a great way to both end 2011 and begin 2012.
Katelyn and Dennis, congratulations and thank you so much for allowing Kristy and I to be a part of this incredible day! To check out a few photos from their day, click on the large image above, or any of the thumbnails below.
OK … now that we’ve got that out of the way … on to part II of Robert + Joana’s fantastic wedding!
After the ceremony, Joana and Robert’s families met them back in the chapel of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Bonita, California. We then took them and their entire bridal party behind the church, where there’s a small garden area, but it photographs beautifully. I had the opportunity to photograph a wedding here before, and although it doesn’t look like much, there’s really a lot of beautiful little nooks around the church that make great images. Once we wrapped up with the bridal party, we still had nearly an hour before the cocktail hour was starting. We took that opportunity to head back to the Mission Bay Hyatt to make some images with just Robert and Joana. We met them in the lobby, and started on one of the cool couches.
Joana had told me at the beginning of the day that she hadn’t been able to sleep at all the night before their wedding, so when I asked her to lay down on the couch, I don’t think she could have been happier. I was almost afraid she might take a nap right there! Eder and I left Robert and Joana after making a few more images around the grounds of the Hyatt, and went over to Marina Village where they were holding their reception. As the guests started to arrive, a mariachi band played and took requests until Robert and Joana got there.
The rest of the night was filled with emotion with toasts given by Joana’s sister and father and Robert’s brother, as well as Robert and of course … dancing.
Click on the large image above, or any of the smaller thumbnails below to see photos from the second half of Joana and Roberts wedding in San Diego!
I have been so looking forward to Robert and Joana’s wedding since we met up for drinks before their engagement shoot in Balboa Park. We met initially through their wedding planner Lindsy Hineswho did an amazing job helping them to organize their entire day. When I arrived at the Mission Bay Hyatt, Joana was getting the final touches to her make-up done, while club music played on her iPad, and her ring bearer and flower girl watched cartoons. Just like the Saturday mornings I remember as a kid! While I was photographing with the girls, Ederwho was second shooting with me, was with Robert and his guys getting ready. After everyone was dressed, we spent some time at the Hyatt taking pictures around the grounds. There’s some great tropical landscaping at the Hyatt and we took advantage of that backdrop both before their ceremony as well as before their reception which happened right next door at the Marina Village.
After getting ready, and portraits at the Hyatt, we all drove over to Bonita to Corpus Christi Catholic Church for Robert and Joana’s wedding. Arriving early before guests, Joana and her girls as well as Robert’s mother were able to spend some time in the bridal suite at the church for last minute touch ups, and for Joana, mostly just to sit quietly and relax while everyone whirred around her. After the mothers had been walked down the aisle, and the bridesmaids and flower girls, Joana and her father stood in the hall just off of the sanctuary awaiting their cue. It was a quiet moment where Joana and as they walked down the aisle together, and Robert stood smiling Joanna found it difficult not to shed a tear as her father gave her away.
This was such an amazing wedding to be a part of, and one that I had a very difficult time selecting images to share on the blog since there were so many to choose from. To see a sample of some images from the first part of the day, click on the large image above, or any of the smaller thumbnails below. I will be posting part 2 of Robert and Joana’s wedding tomorrow, so check back to see their portraits and photos from their reception.
November 8, 2011 - 5:26 pmLindsy Hines - WOW! I am speechless. Tears are literally springing to my eyes. Evan you have captured not only moments, but emotions. What an amazing job and incredible memories you have created for Joana and Robert!
While I was photographing with the girls, 
by Evan Bishop
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