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.
by Evan Bishop
no comments
link to this post email a friend