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.

Family and friends can register at Pictage by clicking here to view all their wedding photos as soon as they’re online!

 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 Hines who 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, Eder who 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.

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

Vendors:

Photographers: Evan Bishop Photography

Wedding Coordinator: Weddings by Lindsy

Church: Corpus Christi Catholic Church

Reception: Marina Village

Preparations and Accomodations: Hyatt Mission Bay

Florist: Flowers by Erin

DJ: Mike Farmer

Cake: Flour Power

Makeup and Hair: Making Faces

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.

I am so excited to be photographing Joana + Roberts upcoming wedding in October.  I met with Joana and Robert to talk about their wedding plans after their wedding planner Lindsy Hines recommended me.  The first time I met with them, Robert did most of the talking and Joana was quiet and shy.  Before we had our engagement session they wanted to meet up again to talk about what to expect.  It seems they had lots of questions about what the engagement session would be like.  We met at Sogno Di Vino which is an annex of their favorite restaurant in Little Italy Bon Appetito for a glass of wine and to talk about the upcoming engagement photos.  A glass of wine turned into a bottle, and we talked for over an hour about their wedding plans, wine, work, how they met, and a little bit about the photo session.  We decided on shooting in Balboa Park which is very close to where Robert works, and he often runs through the park during the days.

We met up by the Prado, and walked over to Alcazar Garden to start their photos.  I love Alcazar Gardens because it seems to be off the radar for a lot of visitors to Balboa Park and is very beautiful.  It’s a small area, but includes some of the great architecture that Balboa Park offers and is a quiet place to start portraits without all the people that you’ll find throughout the rest of the park.

From the quiet of Alcazar Garden and the front of the Museum of Man, Joana and Robert got changed and we attended a rally at the Spreckels Organ Pavillion … this was the exact opposite of the garden, I mean, there were literally hundreds of people around the pipe organ with someone screaming into a microphone to the point of being distorted past comprehension.  Robert and Joana did great even though they couldn’t hear me, at this time, they were totally comfortable in front of the camera and gave me great looks for the photos.  

The arboretum is another great location in Balboa Park and a spot Robert was excited to photograph around.

As the light faded in the park we were sad that the cafe lights that line El Prado, but we still took advantage of the fading light and got some great twilight shots on the main boulevard that travels through Balboa Park. I’m so looking forward to Joana + Robert’s wedding after their engagement photos in Balboa Park, and it’s coming up fast!

Family and friends can go to Pictage to register to view the images from their engagement shoot as well as their wedding photos as soon as their 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.

Jessica and Chris held their wedding at the Herrington Harbor Marina about thirty miles south of Annapoils, Maryland and just north of Chesapeake Beach.  Located right on the Chesapeake Bay it’s a beautiful location with several lawns for weddings and I’ve had the pleasure photographing weddings here several times.  Since Jessica and Chris were planning their wedding from North Carolina, Jessica’s mother and father took leading roles in many of the plans and details for their Maryland which for Jessica and Chris as well as Chris’ family ended up being a destination wedding not just for me, coming from San Diego, but for them as well.  While I was in Maryland last year, I had the opportunity to meet Jessica’s parents in person, but hadn’t yet met Jessica or Chris. After arriving at Herrington Harbor  I dropped off some equipment at the Yacht Club and walked the short distance to the room where Jessica was getting ready.  I hadn’t been to Herrington on the Bay in a while, and they have totally redone the hotel portion of their property, and it not only looks great, it photographs so much better![blog post continued below]

While Jessica was finishing up getting ready, I went back to the yacht club where the guys were hanging out prior to the ceremony. It was a hot and humid August day, so everyone was taking shelter and getting a drink before heading to the bridal lawn for the ceremony. After the ceremony guests went to the yacht club for cocktail hour while we stayed behind taking portraits at the docks and on the beach.  After Jessica and Chris joined their guests for the end of cocktail hour they were invited upstairs to dinner, and to a welcome from Jessica’s father, as well as toasts by Chris’ best man, and Jessica’s maid of honor.  Not to be out done by a blessing from Jessica’s niece.  After dinner, Jessica and Chris went back downstairs for their first dance accompanied by a few guests, while others stayed upstairs to watch the dancing below.  One of the unique features of the yacht club is the open ceiling on the first floor which gives a great view of the dance floor as well as the second level.  After their dances and cake cutting, guests started moving to the dance floor, and before the end of the night, Chris and Jessica joined in and danced until the last song.

Click on the large image, or any of the thumbnails above to view a few images from Jessica and Chris’ wedding day!

Yesterday, I posted the first half of Paul and Lorena’s wedding at the historic Mission in San Diego.  After their ceremony and formal portraits with family and their bridal party, Paul and Lorena’s guests were welcomed to the reception at Candelas Restaurant on Coronado Island.  During cocktail hour a full mariachi band played for guests on the outside deck.  The mariachi then lead Paul and Lorena into the restaurant for their first dance.  I love to see the emotional moments of the day for newly wed couples, and for Lorena, it was when she entered the restaurant to the sounds of the mariachi with all her guests cheering and applauding.  After toasts and dinner, another emotional dance with her father followed and finally, dancing dancing dancing!!!  The restaurant was barely large enough for all of Paul and lorena’s guests, but tables were pushed out of the way, and everyone crammed the dance floor.  It was by all accounts a fantastic, emotional and fun night!

Click on the large image above, or any of the thumbnails below to view the images from Lorena and Paul’s reception, and to see the first half of the day, click here to jump to yesterday’s post!

Family and friends click here to view all the images from their wedding day.

I met up with Lorena and her girls at the beautiful Porto Vista Hotel in the Little Italy area of San Diego where they were getting ready.  Two floors up and on the opposite side of the hotel, Paul and his guys were finishing up their preparations for the day.  Lorena grew up in San Diego, but now lives in San Jose, so when Paul and Lorena were planning their wedding, they did most of their planning by surfing the internet.  They found my photographs of Jennifer and Doug’s wedding which was actually the first wedding the Porto Vista Hotel ever hosted.  After that we spoke on the phone, and then I flew to San Francisco to photograph their engagement photos at the incredible Palace of Fine Arts on what simply had to be the windiest day of the year! It was a great opportunity to meet them though and get to know them a bit in person before their wedding.  When I arrived and started to photograph Lorena and her girls getting ready, one of the things I always do is look for details.  Details at a wedding are so important because so much time and thought goes into the feel of the day, and what impression the couple wants their guests to have … whether elegant,sophisticated, rustic, or any other feel, the details are what sets the tone for the day, so when I saw Lorena’s beautiful flowers, Blue Manolo Blahnik shoes, and Vera Wang gown, I knew this was going to be a beautiful and elegant affair.

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While I was busy photographing Lorena and her girls preparations for the day, my good friend and fellow photographer Kevin was upstairs with Paul and his guys as they finished getting ready, and shot a few portraits around the hotel before heading out to the Mission.  After the girls were ready, and in the limo, Kristy and I headed out to the Mission to meet up with Kevin, and Paul.  As the guests arrived, we planned our strategy for photographing their ceremony.  With only one main aisle and limited access to the altar having three of us at the ceremony was almost critical.  Kristy took the snipers nest … umm … I mean the choir loft, while Kevin took the side of the altar and I roamed as much as I could around the rest of the Mission during the ceremony.  After their vows, we took some time with their bridal party around the grounds of the Mission, and then spent some time alone with just Paul and Lorena before heading to Coronado for their reception.   The first half of their day was amazing, and was just the prelude to the fun we had at their reception.  Tune in tomorrow for lots of dancing and emotion on the blog when I post part 2 of Lorena and Paul’s wedding!

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Click on any of the images above to view a handful of images from Lorena and Paul’s getting ready at the Porto Vista Hotel, and ceremony at the historic San Diego Mission.

Family and friends and visit Pictage to see all the images from their wedding by clicking here. 

Vendors:

Hotel: Porto Vista Hotel

Ceremony: The historic Mission in San Diego

Reception: Candelas Restaurant on Coronado Island

Flowers: Flora Glamor