…”There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.” – Sarah Dressen….

And sometimes, it can happen at a punk rock show.  Jessica and Joe met at a punk show.  Somehow, after I found this out, I totally understood it.  Jessica and Joe are perfect for each other.   Jessica and Joe balance each other perfectly – Jessica is an extrovert and Joe is subtle…and together, they are perfect.  Jessica likes a bit of a bad boy and I think Joe fit the ticket too…(he’s in a band! Jessica couldn’t resist!)

I couldn’t have had more fun with one group of people ever!…The day was fantastic planned with bagpipes accompanying the bride and her father down the aisle, to the fun trip to the old-school Las Vegas sign on Las Vegas Boulevard, to the Go-Go dancers Joe and Jessica hired to escort them into their grande entrance to the tune of “Girls, Girls, Girls” playing in the background.  (The girls stuck around for the entire reception so that made a few people very very happy)….there was a tall guy in a little coat, there was a Dance-off (that the Bride and Groom judged)….and even more than a few games of Twister.  And it I swear, it was perfect….I had so much fun that even I was too tired to do anything else that night.  Jessica and Joe – living proof that sometimes what happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay in Vegas…..Here is a sneak peek and a few from the day….Thank you, Jessica and Joe, I had so much fun!!  XOXOXO

“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride; so I love you because I know no other way.” — Pablo Neruda

It was a beautiful fall day  and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect in Pismo Beach, California as family and friends came together to witness the very intimate and beautiful wedding of Michelle and Vincent at Guiseppe’s garden.   I have never had a bride who was so calm and collected all day….like she knew this was her destiny and she was going forward with all the confidence in the world.  And I have to say Vincent was the same way.  It was a beautiful peaceful synergy and it was incredible to see.  And an absolute dream to shoot.  Their happiness shows…

Michelle’s best girlfriends (who were an absolute riot) from grade-school did not miss the event and we even took a few fun photos of these childhood friends.  Michelle and Vince’s family and friends were gracious.  The night flowed perfectly.  I can’t really  explain the peace, love, happiness and absolute joy that enveloped these two all day long except in these 5 words:  there was no other way.

And at the end of this night when I was putting away my gear and I began to feel tired, I took a deep breath and thought to myself, ” Wow. I really am a lucky girl.”  It never ceases to amaze me at that I get to be a part of the beginning of a couple’s life together.  This day was not an exception….Thank you, Michelle and Vincent.  It truly was an honor.   Here are a few from the day….

There isn’t much I can’t say about Megan and Jared….wonderful, beautiful, sweet, in love, and most importantly – MARRIED!  Finally…Megan and Jared met at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California and I had the pleasure of being a part of memorializing the most important day in this couple’s life.  If you remember, I shot Megan and Jared’s engagement last year in San Diego at Point Loma and Coronado.   After their wedding, they will call Florida home as Jared is a professional baseball player playing for the Marlins.

Nothing but love all day long flowed…from the moment I showed up at the hotel room that morning and Megan sweetly did her mother’s make-up; to the tears in her father’s eyes as he danced his dance with his daughter; to the way all the children just flocked to both Megan and Jared; the way Jared’s brothers looked at their girlfriends; the way Jared’s dad held Jared’s Mom; the way a small, cute guest pointed out that he and I were wearing the same shoes….I was just overwhelmed by all the love – which is exactly what every wedding should feel like.

Megan looked absolutely stunning, and Jared looked gorgeous.  I know this is going to sound cliche but these two really did glow all day. Maybe “glow” isn’t the right word.  They radiated.  And never left each other’s side.  Like two little dancing fireflies.  These two had the most perfect day….and then flew off into the evening, just the two of them, still glowing,  with the light of each other to help them guide their way….

Another instant where I’m reminded how lucky I am to be a part of all it.  Thanks to Kenny Hyatt and Marsha Zepeda Walker for their help that beautiful day…Here are a few from the day…

“It is in love that religion exists and not in ceremony-in the pure and sincere love in the heart.” – Vivekananda

It was a beautiful fall day.  It couldn’t have been a more breathtaking setting.  And it couldn’t have been a more beautiful ceremony… Seema and Raghav, surrounded by hundreds of family and friends, married each other and received blessings from all who attended this incredible Hindu ceremony.  Many, many blessings.   Even I was blessed – blessed to have been a part of their day and honored as well.  Their families and friends were so gracious that it really was hard to remember that I actually was working that day….The ceremony was incredible and finished with songs of the Beatles, starting with ‘Here Comes the Sun’, playing in the background as Seema and Raghav were greeted and blessed by every single person who attended.

The day started with the gorgeous ceremony, and ended with a western reception at Bakersfield Country Club.  The crowd was unsurpassed when it came to celebrating their marriage.  And all that set aside, watching ( as I usually do from the dark corners of the reception venue) Seema and Raghav look at each other and hold each other, I was reminded that pure and sincere love does exist.  And I was reminded about how blessed I was to be there to witness it.

Here are a few from that unforgettable day…

“Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone-we find it with another” – Thomas Merton

Chris and Katie.  Destiny.  If you ask their parents and all their friends, they will tell you that these two were always supposed to be together.   And one beautiful fall day, they lived their destiny and married each other in front all those people who knew it was their destiny to do so…  I’ve always been a believer in destiny.  You can try avoid it or try to outrun it,  but Life eventually takes you exactly where it should.  And there’s comfort in knowing that on our journey through this life, with all the twists and turns and upheavals, that no matter what  you do, Life will make sure that you end up exactly where you meant to be.   Which makes me think of a time a few years back when I took a long drive up Highway 1 to Monterey and listened to a CD that I fell in love with by the band, Lost Ocean, as I pondered my own destiny.  Chris happens to be the drummer for this great band.  Little did I know or imagine that I’d be photographing their wedding and becoming a small part of their destiny…

I always feel honored to be a part of all that – destiny and watching two people end up exactly where God and Life wanted them – with each other.    …Here’s a few pictures from their day…

“After all these years, I see that I was mistaken about Eve in the beginning; it is better to live outside the Garden with her than inside it without her.” – Mark Twain, Adam’s Diary.  I had the honor of photographing Cate and Amy’s wedding on a beautiful day in Soquel, California.  If you remember, I also had the honor of photographing their engagement last spring in New York city.   I only have one word to describe these two :  LOVE.    And believe me, Love is an amazing thing. Love constantly amazes me.  Moving mountains, breaking barriers, healing wounds, manifesting miracles, giving courage, and surpassing all other things.  Love.  These two epitomize it.   Even in a Garden that sometimes hosts the opposite of love- these two have found each other and found love.   I continue to be inspired by their love.  And continue to wish for more love in the Garden – my Garden,  and everyone else’s Garden.  Even outside everyone else’s Garden.  Here are a few pics from their day…

To see their slideshow,

Click HERE

What can I say about my good friends, Shannon and Rob?  Well, they are beautiful people on the inside and out.  And two of the most generous people you’ll ever meet.  And two of the most fun people you’ll ever meet.  They share the same birthday. And now they share the same last name too!  Their wedding day was perfect.  An afternoon wedding in the rose garden at the Seven Oaks Country Club followed by a reception at their residence.   With all their closest family and friends to witness, they gave themselves to each other this particular day.  And counted their blessings for second chances at happiness.  We all deserve a second chance (sometimes we deserve more than a second chance).  Some of us never get it.  And some of us do.  They leave for Italy and Greece today and I didn’t want them flying away without a peak of my gift to them…..

…Heather and Brent are two of the sweetest people I know.  And they after spending time with them during their engagement session in the spring, it was so apparent how sweet the love actually was between them.  They absolutely adore each other and their family and friends absolutely adore them.  With all this Adoration and Love floating all around, I could do no wrong in trying to capture it.  Heather and Brent were so happy to be married by the time the ceremony was over, they almost forgot to kiss!  But they managed to get in a passionate one before their stroll back down the aisle as husband and wife…The Junior League building in downtown was the setting for their vows and the day could not have been more beautiful with clear blue skies and puffy, white marshmallowy clouds floating around everywhere (yeah…I know I said, “marshmallowy”  but the clouds really were “marshmallowy”).  God was definitely smiling down on these two this day.  And I’m sure he continues to smile, and probably get a toothache from all the sweetness from this Sweet Love…(Hey, God! – I know a good dentist….)   Here are a few pics from their beautiful day….

…Love is All You Need….Chelsea wore her red shoes and Pedro wore his black chucks…..and two people, completely and utterly meant for each other exchanged wedding vows and began their happily ever after.  I met Chelsea and Pedro last year and instantly connected with this unique, creative and talented couple.  And after a very fun engagement session at the Santa Monica Pier, I knew that Chelsea and Pedro couldn’t have been more perfectly paired.  Not only do they look beautiful together (see below), but they share creative interests and are some of the most gracious and good-hearted people that I’ve come across. They are also very big Beatles fans (as I am) and had a gorgeous Beatles-esque reception.  We even recreated Abbey Road – Bakersfield style of course.  They wrote and recorded their first dance song which also was sent out on CD with a slideshow for their Save-the-Dates.   Everything about the day was unique…Chelsea’s sister , brother and Pedro’s brother played a touching Beatles tribute in lieu of a toast for Chelsea and Pedro. Chelsea and Pedro wrote and recorded their first dance song which also was sent out on CD with a slideshow for their Save-the-Dates.  Chelsea’s dad waltzed Chelsea effortlessly to a song that he wrote for her when she was a toddler.  They engaged their guests to a  fun lip synced Beatles version of “I want to Hold Your Hand” where the groomsmen served as mock Beatles  with blow-up instruments and the guests were encouraged (but needed no encouragement) to cheer and frenzy over them.  They treated the guests to a dessert bar with a real cotton candy machine and snickerdoodles.  If you ask me, I say the day was perfect.  If you ask them, I’m sure they’d say it was beyond perfect…because it was… Special thanks to Curtis Nemetz, another talented and creative mind, and videographer extraordinaire who was an absolute pleasure to work alongside…And to Jenny Barker, of Little White Dress for use of the gorgeous loft that houses some of the most gorgeous dresses around. Check their slideshow out by clicking HERE.

Jason married his sweetheart, Morgan on the ranch outside of Bakersfield where Morgan spent many days as a child, riding horses and dreaming of her wedding day (as many little girls do)….it only seemed  appropriate that this would be the perfect setting for her dream wedding.  It was beautiful and sunny day and the ranch couldn’t have been more gorgeous.   Jason and Morgan couldn’t have been more happy.   The afternoon wedding turned into the perfect evening with dancing underneath the California stars until the wee hours of the morning.  There was laughter mixed with happy and sweet tears (that we all held back) as Morgan’s sister, her maid of honor,  wrote an absolutely beautiful poem for her sister and Jason…..With fun, happiness and more love than they could possibly ever use, these two set forth into the future with all they would ever need – each other.