Sometimes destination weddings for me are not destinations for my couples.  Such is the case for Bunmi and Livaughn, who live outside of Washington, DC and chose to hold their wedding at the beautiful Colonnade within the Fairmont Hotel.  It wasn’t just a destination for me, but for many of their friends and family as well who came from all over the US and as far away as Africa to attend this amazing wedding.

I had the honor of photographing Bunmi’s sister’s wedding as one of my first weddings over six years ago and was so thrilled when Bunmi contacted me after Livaughn proposed.  We spoke over the phone and were able to meet once before their wedding to go over details and their timeline.  They chose not to see each other before the ceremony, but the timeline allowed for us to photograph both the girls and guys around the Colonnade prior to the ceremony.  The grounds at the Fairmont Hotel are beautiful, and although there wasn’t a lot of Washington, DC architecture, there were some beautiful spots within walking distance from the hotel, and we managed to take advantage of those both before and after the ceremony.  Their cocktail hour was held in the courtyard outside of the Colonnade where the ceremony was held as well as the reception and as the sun went down we managed to get a few beautiful twilight photos before they danced the night away.

Bunmi and Livaughn, thank you so much for inviting me out to celebrate, and document your wedding with you.  It was a truly beautiful and elegant affair!

To see a few of my favorite images from their wedding, click on the large image above, or any of the thumbnails below.

Friends and Family members can register to view all their images at Pictage by clicking here.

Melissa and Craig are getting married in November at the Temecula Creek Inn and contacted me after seeing another wedding I had photographed at the Temecula Creek Inn on my blog.  After chatting about their wedding plans over the phone, we decided to meet up the next time they came to Temecula to visit the Temecula Creek Inn.  We met up at Leonesse Cellars, which is one of my favorite wineries in Temecula and grabbed a glass of wine, sat on the back patio over looking the beautiful vineyard, barrel room and rolling hills of the Temecula Valley.  They mentioned how they had originally planned to hold their wedding in Paso Robles, but that the Temecula Creek Inn made it so much easier for them … rather than figuring out how to bring in a tent, and chairs, and linens, and catering, Temecula Creek Inn offered all of that in their package.  As we talked more I found out that Craig and Melissa were members at Tablas Creek Vineyard … my absolute favorite winery in Paso Robles.  Which got us talking more about wine than their wedding, but eventually we made it back to wedding plans and details!

For Melissa and Craig’s engagement session I drove up from San Diego to Rancho Palos Verdes to meet up with them.  They live right outside of Palos Verdes, and wanted to incorporate some of the feel of that area, since they’re wedding will be in Temecula.  I had a great time exploring the beautiful communities around Palos Verdes before we started the shoot.  Ultimately we decided to start at the historic Malaga Cove Library and the shops nearby.

After photographing around the library we wandered down to the shops.  I absolutely loved all the mixed design of the buildings in the Malaga Cove shops, the old fig and eucalyptus trees, and as Melissa and I would agree, there was a lot of great texture down there!

Like any good relationship, Melissa and Craig have their rivalries … namely Arizona v. UCLA.  When we first met in Temecula, one of their musts for the engagement photos was to incorporate their favorite teams.  They even have a doormat for each team, and whichever team wins that year their doormat gets displayed out front until the following season.  I think Craig is supposed to be enjoying coming home to his team’s name on the front step at this point!

After photographing around Malaga Cove and a quick wardrobe change, we drove over to the incredible Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes.  This place is fantastic, and we had such a blast, although, I think we all felt like we were going to get kicked out at any moment.  The landscaping and buildings around Terranea as well as the views of the cliffs, and Pacific ocean are incredible.  There’s a beautiful cove below the resort, as well as a public walking path that goes around the outside.  We, however, drove right up to the front gates, parked and wandered all through the resort.

Melissa and Craig, I had a great time hanging out with you guys in Palos Verdes, and am really looking forward to your wedding!  Thanks for making the session so fun, and for the delicious fish tacos afterwards!

Friends and Family members can register at Pictage to view the images from their engagement as well as their wedding photos as soon as they’re available by clicking here.

If you didn’t see Part I of Elise and Dave’s wedding hop back there now to check out the getting ready and ceremony photos as well as the details of their day.  After the ceremony, Elise and Dave and family gathered around the fountain while guests headed to the Yacht Club at Herrington Harbor for cocktails hour.  Elise was super thrilled about portraits with Dave, and as we finished up family and then bridal party photos, and they returned to the cocktail hour, Elise and Dave stayed behind, on the docks, on the beach, throughout the hotel grounds and working our way back to the Yacht Club.

After arriving to the Yacht Club Elise and Dave and their bridal party were announced upstairs to dinner followed by toasts and a welcome from Elise’s father.  Their first dance was held downstairs while guests looked on and after that the dance floor was rocking all night long until the very end, when under increasing clouds, and dense humidity as Hurricane Irene approached Elise and Dave were sent with to a sparkler exit.

Click on the large image above or any of the small thumbnails below to view a few images from the second half of Elise and Dave’s wedding.  Friends and family members can register at Pictage to view all the images from their fantastic wedding by clicking here!

Elise and Dave are rockstars! Seriously! And I don’t mean, they were rockstars posing it up in front of the camera. I mean, Elise and David met when David was auditioning for the band that Elise sings in.  Like “ROCK AND ROLL!!!!!!” (I”m doing my best Rob Halford here)  So it should be no surprise that music would play a huge part in their wedding day, from the names of their tables, the decorations around the reception, the string quartet that played prior to the ceremony to the musical interlude generously provided by the ice cream truck traveling through Herrington Harbor Marina in the middle of their ceremony their day was filled with music from beginning to end.

When Elise and Dave planned their wedding for a Friday afternoon, they had no idea how fortuitous their decision would be.  By Saturday afternoon most weddings up and down the Atlantic coast had been cancelled, as  hurricane Irene made landfall, and traveled up the Chesapeake Bay area.  I was on one of the last flights out of BWI on my way back to San Diego, passing through the clouds that preceded the coming storm.  But on Friday, the weather was perfect and Elise and Dave celebrated with friends and family under light clouds that barely hinted at the coming storm. [continued below]

Elise and her girls got ready at the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa and we had time to shoot some portraits there out at the docks before heading to the ceremony site at Herrington Harbor.   They held their ceremony on the bridal lawn overlooking the Chesapeake Bay, with high white puffy clouds and cerulean skies.  Elise’s father walked her down the aisle as Dave and his groomsmen waited.  The ceremony was fantastic with readings by friends, and of course the music of the ice cream truck.  After the vows, the ring exchange and the kiss, Elise and Dave recessed down the aisle past their guests, and as they reached the end of the aisle Dave let out a huge breath that it seems he must have been holding for the entire ceremony.

Click on the large image or any of the thumbnails above to see a few of the images from the first half of Elise and Dave’s wedding. Stay tuned! More images from the second half of Elise and Dave’s fantastic day coming tomorrow!

Friends and family can go to Pictage to register to see all the images from Elise and Dave’s wedding as soon as they’re released by clicking here.

On the beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Delaware, just across the boardwalk, with wind and gathering clouds, Justin and Kim were married among friends and family members.  I met Justin and Kim at Justin’s brother’s wedding, Alix and Nate at the Valley Country Club last year in Maryland.  Justin and Kim decided to have their wedding as a destination, and have their guests travel to Rehoboth Delaware for their destination beach wedding on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, right next to Delaware State Beach.  I traveled from San Diego to Baltimore, then drove the two hour drive I had made so many times growing up in Maryland to get to the beach with my good friend and fellow photographer Wendy to help document their day.  The whole trip Wendy and I were watching the skies and taking back roads to avoid the traffic heading to Ocean City.  Driving through the open fields of corn on the Eastern Shore, then eventually smelling the salt air as we neared the Atlantic.

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Once we arrived, Wendy and I quickly scouted out locations, and worked on getting our bearings.  One of the exciting things about destination weddings for me as a photographer is photographing at new locations and looking for unique perspectives where I’ve never shot before.  After a quick lunch on the boardwalk,  Wendy and I went to meet Kim and her girls at Bad Hair Day salon in Rehoboth.  After a short while, Wendy drove back to the Henlopen Inn to photograph the Salero Restaurant at the top of the hotel where they would be holding their reception.  The room had been beautifully set up including shells and sand from the beach, and Crab and Sandle Cupcakes.  The weather still held as guests gathered on the beach for their wedding.  While Kim’s girls processed down the beach, Kim waited with her father then made the long walk down the boardwalk and onto the beach for their wedding as onlookers from the beach and hotel watched.  After the ceremony, we gathered Kim and Justin and their bridesmaids and groomsmen on the beach with just enough time (less than five minutes) to grab a few portraits before the rain came.  After that we were inside the rest of the evening as the storm that had been gathering all day, and thankfully held off until after the ceremony, poured down outside.  After a fantastic entrance and first dance, toasts and dinner the rest of the night gave way to dancing dancing dancing!

To see a handful of images from Justin and Kim’s wedding click here, or on any of the images above. 

Friends and family members can register at Pictage to view all the images from their wedding by clicking here.

Location and vendors:

Henlopen Inn

Salero Restaurant

Bad Hair Day Salon

Bayberry Rehoboth Flowers 

If you didn’t see the first half of Frank and Jean’s wedding at the Johns Hopkins, University Baptist Church on the blog yesterday, hop on back there to take a look at their ceremony and portraits at the church before we all headed to the Valley Country Club for their reception.  I’ve photographed several weddings at the Valley Country Club and it really has a unique feel to it.  The front porch is a beautiful location to take in the evening air, the main floor and ballroom have a great charm and the bar filled with dark wood and Art Donovan’s sports memorabilia is pure man cave! It’s got something for everyone is what I’m trying to say!

Jean and Frank were introduced into their reception straight into their first dance.  I was lucky enough to see a few of their dance moves during our engagement session together, so I knew they were not going to simply rock back and forth on the dance floor.   Following their first dance, a close family friend provided a blessing for dinner then toasts.   As the daylight faded outside and just before cake cutting I took Frank and Jean out in front of the mansion for some beautiful twilight shots.  After cutting the cake, the rest of the night was filled with dancing by Frank and Jean and family and friends.  My good friend and outstanding videographer, Matt Buerhaus was there through it all to document the video of their whole day.  Check his page out for their upcoming video spotlight!

Jean and Frank, I had a great time meeting you at your engagement shoot and was so thrilled to be a part of your wedding day!   Thank you for including me in your plans!

If you haven’t yet registered to see all of the photos from Frank and Jean’s wedding and engagement photos on Pictage, click here.

You’ll remember Frank and Jean from their  in Fells Point and at the Cylburn Arboretum engagement session.  I met with them for the first time at their engagement session, just before hopping on a plane to San Juan for Valerie and Ray’s destination wedding in Puerto Rico.  After their wedding, I flew back to Baltimore for Frank and Jean’s wedding at the University Baptist Church in Baltimore.  Traveling so much for weddings can be exhausting, but it can also be exhilarating, this two week span was exhilerating!!!

I had spoken with Jean over the phone while I was in San Diego about her and Frank’s upcoming wedding.  She had been referred to me by Bridget and Matt … I shot their wedding so long ago, I can’t even provide a link to their blog post because, well, back then I didn’t have a blog! (I love my couples, and I love that even years later, they’re still referring me … even after I moved across the country!) Any way, I spoke with Jean on the phone about their plans, and even though their wedding was coming up so soon, it worked out perfectly as my travel plans were taking me back East just before their wedding anyway.  Since, they wanted to have an engagement session, we scheduled to meet in person the day before I left for Old San Juan, then fly back from Puerto Rico to document their wedding in Baltimore. Again, it can be exhausting, but so much fun to travel this much!!!

Jean and Frank chose the University Baptist Church, just across from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore as it was her childhood church, and even she had moved out of the city, many of her family still lived in Baltimore, and went to the church.  Jean got ready in the back of the church right next to the small chapel.  After the ceremony, I took Frank and Jean back to the chapel to get some quiet portraits of the two of them.  It’s such a beautiful little area in the church with fantastic light!

To see  a few images from the first part of their day click on the large image or any of the thumbnails above.  I’ll be posting the second half of their wedding day including their reception at the Valley Country Club tomorrow!

Friends and family members can log onto to see all their wedding photos as well as their engagement photos at pictage.

Yesterday I posted the  first half of the photos from Valerie and Ray’s awesome destination wedding in Old San Juan Puerto Rico at the historic El Convento hotel.   Even though their ceremony was moved inside because of the weather, the small, but beautiful Oller Salon provided an intimate setting for their wedding ceremony.  After which guests mingled in the courtyard before heading inside to the Salón Campeche for the dinner and reception.  Valerie and Ray were introduced and went right into their first dance, then dinner and dancing for the rest of the night.  Since it was a destination wedding, after the night was over the party took to the streets of Old San Juan and whatever bars were still open were filled with Valerie and Ray’s guests.  The next evening Valerie and Ray returned to the El Convento Hotel to take advantage of the fading evening light and make some dramatic images in Old San Juan without the rain from the night before.

Click on the image above or any of the thumbnails below to view the second half of Valerie and Ray’s wedding at the El Convento hotel in San Juan.

Family and Friends, if you haven’t yet, you can view all their images by registering on Pictage.

I had the absolute pleasure recently to travel from San Diego to Old San Juan, Puerto Rico in the Caribbean for Ray and Valerie’s destination wedding at the beautiful El Convento Hotel.  The historic El Convento hotel is located right in downtown Old San Juan, and is a beautiful location for a destination wedding.  Ray’s mother and father grew up in Old San Juan so in addition to having an incredible location to shoot, I had Ray’s father helping me scout locations around town.  In the four days I spent in Puerto Rico, I fell in love with Old San Juan … from the cobblestone streets, to the beautifully painted buildings and architecture, to the fantastic food, to the walkable nature of the city (I spent most mornings running around the town which both served as my morning workout as well as familiarizing myself with the city’s layout).

Valerie and Ray’s wedding day started beautifully, and I walked to La Bombonera for my morning Mallorca … I used my morning runs as an excuse to be able to eat these delicious but most definitely OFF the diet treat! If you’ve never had one, think of it as a Puerto Rican McGriddle mixed with a New Orleans Beignet … like I said, off the diet!  Valerie and her girls got ready in the Gloria Vanderbilt suite at the Hotel El Convento, and it is a fantastic suite.  beautiful colors, beautiful light and plenty of room for all the girls, the makeup artist and stylist!  Just as Valerie was finishing getting ready, the Puerto Rican rainy season reared it’s head and started to rain.  We spent the next two hours shooting family portraits, the bridal party and Valerie and Ray around the El Convento, while watching the skies and hoping for the rain to move out for the afternoon.  Shortly before the ceremony was to start the skies cleared long enough for the chairs to be set up in the courtyard only to open up again.  Gladly the chairs were still set up in the Oller Salon just off the main ballroom where the reception would be.  Since Valerie and Ray had a fairly intimate group of friends and family, the Salon was just large enough to fit all their guests and create an intimate feel.  We’ll get to the ceremony and reception next, but in the meantime I wanted to share some of the photos from the early part of the day.

To see a few images from Valerie and Ray’s wedding, click on the large image above, or any of the thumbnails below.

Continue reading for more of  Valerie and Ray’s destination wedding to Old San Juan Puerto Rico!

Family and Friends can register to view all their images on Pictage.