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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!
I recently posted some of my favorite photos from Bunmi + Livaughn’s Washington, D.C. wedding at the Colonnade in Washington, D.C., and wanted to also share their video slideshow from the wedding. Here I get to share some more fantastic images, as well as put them to the incredible music from Ólafur Arnalds. If you’re not familiar with his music he makes fantastic moody songs and is definitely someone to check out!
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.
October 28, 2011 - 10:51 amBetsy McCue - Lovely, Evan!! Gorgeous images and she is stunning! The sepia closeup bridal portrait is so timeless and perfect. I also really love the big first dance image. It's great!
October 27, 2011 - 8:15 amKristy - What a beautiful wedding! And fantastic job on the photos! You really ARE fantastic!
While I was photographing with the girls, 
by Evan Bishop
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