I’m happy to have the busiest stretch of my year behind me and am so happy to be recharged for Megan and Kevin’s wedding this weekend. Been looking forward to this one for some time! I think I’ve seen Megan at least once a month on my porch for wedding planning therapy sessions since they booked and after Saturday I’m going to have to beg her to meet me for margaritas so she can help me through the next 4 months. Wedding planning is a lot of fun- but can also be a lot of stress. I go through waves of emotion about it-

“Let’s just ELOPE! Gasp! What are we going to do for menus? It has to be adorable! Oh screw menus- why do people need to know what they’re eating anyways? Oh it’s going to be so beautiful…. oh! I need to do research on *insert dumb detail that makes no difference in the quality of life Tim and I are going to have but will look so good in photos!*” Can anyone relate to the caring immensely and then not caring at all dichotomy of planning your wedding? I’m starting to feel like I am going to spend the entire month of October crying… or laughing! Here we go again…..

Alicia and Vlad tied the knot at one of my absolute favorite venues in Northern California- Holly Farm. I don’t just love this venue for it’s total charm though- I love it for the darling owner, Erin Moses. She is such a joy to work with, makes sure vendors are taken care of as well as the guests, and handles all sorts of wedding day shake-downs with a smile on her face! Alicia and Vlad’s wedding was full of laughter and lots and lots of vodka! It was such a joy to have been a part of their beautiful day!

Onward!

Decor by King Dahl
Event Panner-Tori Cooper
Catering Manager-Victoria Chivers

Thank you to Melissa and Matt for inviting me into your lives- this is one wedding I will never forget- you guys are THE BEST!

Check out the size of this bridal party…. to date, the largest one I’ve ever photographed!

This shot was caught by Regis, he snuck away during the ceremony to grab it and then got stuck up there, had to book it ALL the way back through the casino to catch the kiss. That’s dedication!

When Melissa and Matt came to our initial meeting they were surprised by the location of my apartment in Los Angeles- directly next door to their friends Ben (below) and Hutchie! I knew the universe was telling us something…..

melissa | matt from David Robin on Vimeo

I always hate talking about the weather because it seems so impersonal. That subject you broach when you’ve either run out of ideas or have absolutely nothing to say at all.

“It’s been warm, huh?” “How about that rain last week?” “Burrr (followed by awkward silence)………….”

The fact of the matter is, though, weather played a huge factor in Dan and Kim’s wedding day and I couldn’t write this post without mentioning it. During your planning process people tell you to be prepared for anything and everything. Brace yourself for things to go wrong so you can take it all in stride. DON’T FREAK OUT. The day before Kim and Dan were supposed to get married on the outdoor terrace at the beautiful Edgewood Golf Course in Tahoe the weather was crisp and clear. There was a chill in the air but that’s only to be expected for Tahoe in May but the sun was shining and there wasn’t a storm to be seen. We all crossed our fingers for the best up until we arrived- and saw the ceremony had been set for inside.  The windchill was rough and we were now expecting snow. My lovely assistant, Jennifer Hostler, and I had our fingers crossed: SNOW! How FUN!

Right smack in the middle of bridal portraits, just miles outside of the California border in May, it snowed! And Kim and Dan took it all in stride- with smiles and an acceptance that said, “It’s all good- we’re in love!” I had such a blast hanging out in Tahoe with their families and friends and can’t wait to get back there and shoot again! Thank you Kim and Dan for your absolute kindness and for welcoming Jennifer and I into your wedding day!

Onward!

Shout out to Alison – Dans sister and Maid of Honor …. I went to high school with her and didn’t know it until I arrived to the bridal suite!! No referral connection or anything- you crazy world you.

Kelsey and Jason got married early last month at the lovely Los Altos History Museum- Coordinated by Nicole Lisanne, it was a day full of love and laughter and having gone to kindergarten with Kelsey I couldn’t have felt more happy to be doing what I do that day. There were a lot of faces there that I recognized, a lot of people who watched me grow up and who grew up with me. Kelsey has a smile that could light up the darkest of nights and as you scroll down I’m pretty sure you’ll see where she gets it from.

Here’s to many more margie’s, Kels. LOVE YOU!

Thanks to Lili Durkin and Orbie Pullen for coming out to assist that day!

Courtney, me, Claire, and Kelsey – so good to see familiar faces!

This might sound strange to some, but I kind of fell in love with these two extraordinary people! Both of them are extremely talented and successful in their fields and exude the kind of elegance and kindness you really only think exists in the movies. They both held out for each other and I couldn’t be happier for them that they married the person of their dreams! Coordinated by the ever-fabulous Kimery Sherwood and held at The Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles this was, by far, the most elegant wedding I’ve ever witnessed. Thanks to Heather and Regis for being my right and left hands!

Stacy and Clark- thank you so much for inviting me into your story – I couldn’t feel luckier!

You guys must check out this trailer from film maker extraordinaire,  Isabel Gonzalez – Stacy surprised Clark and delivered her vows in french and had the whole room, including me, bawling.

stacy + clark | trailer from Isabel Gonzalez on Vimeo.

The Stylish Soiree | Pink Lincoln | Love Spun Films | Symmetry Beauty | Sand Rock Farm

We all wanted a chance to wear Amelie’s mask….

You’re married!!! A few things I want to say- first and foremost is that I love you guys and am so thankful that you both are in my life. I feel as though the last few years went by in a blink- Ro, I can see us now. Casual business attire-(most likely me in Anthro- you in JCrew) excited to have been given a project just for us to work on, sitting on the floor of the issue files room at the Architectural Digest offices combing through issue file after issue file looking for outtakes of designer child rooms. It was quiet at first- the both of us steadily looking through 4×5 film and photocopied submission sheets until I heard an exasperated sigh come from about two rows down.

“It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack!”

Oh thank god, I am not alone in feeling like we got dealt the short end of the stick here. I’m not sure who scooted to who but we soon found ourselves in the same row working closer together and sharing thoughts on relationships, clothes, school, other co-workers (in a hushed tone of course), and our hopes for the next page in both our personal and career lives. I am thankful for my time at AD for many reasons- and one of them is YOU.

Our shared love for Edward, our Little Dom dinners, our LOST conversations, our copier commissary, our love for Los Feliz, our honest conversations about what being married will mean, crying as Obama was announced President then celebrating his inauguration with you- shooting your wedding!

It has been such a blessing to watch you achieve such success, both at AD and now at Glamour, and I can’t wait to see what the years to come with bring both you and Chris- you know I’ll be there to document it all! Chris, you are a lucky guy- and I know you know it. I’ll never forget the look on your face when poor Ro passed out on my kitchen floor- beneath the worry, concern, and fright- there was pure love.

SO happy for you both- here’s to many more photographic memories!

Love,

Meg

Thank you to the ever-fab, Heather, for coming out with me and covering most of the reception so Tim and I could get our dance on!

AD Crew!

Can you find me?

So, all of my current clients can be rest assured that I am always prepared for emergency situations like that- When I meet with couples who are on more of a budget oftentimes the first thing people want to take out of the package is the 2nd shooter. “It’s a short day so I don’t think you’ll need an assistant.” or  “We’re only having 60 guests so I don’t think you’ll need an assistant.” My response is always the same, “I don’t shoot weddings alone- EVER.” Case in point!

Luckily for Elizabeth and Matt, I was feeling great on their wedding day! They had a beautiful wedding at The Mountain Winery in Saratoga – thanks to Lili Durkin for coming and shooting with me that day!

Siri and Jake were married at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu a few weeks back! Their wedding was full of so much joy and spirituality you couldn’t help come home from it feeling centered. They had a Buddhist ceremony, complete with chanting and sake and it was so enlightening (no pun intended) to witness. Being privy to so many different traditions, customs, and religions is one of my favorite parts of what I do- I joke about this all the time *but I am totally serious* I want Mazeltov! shouted in joy when Tim and I officially wed. I feel as though through experience I’ve become such a more rounded person and really enjoyed learning a little more about Siri and Jake’s Buddhist culture!

Not only did they make their ceremony meaningful to them spiritually but they also added some seriously fun elements- like dancing down the aisle Siri wore a vintage gown.. they had an insanely choreographed first dance … so many personal touches!

Anyways, they rock- onward!