San Francisco City Hall is just so breath-taking … if you are going the city hall route (which I *love* ! ) – this is definitely the place to be! They were able to get married in the rotunda area and spend lots of time roaming the building taking pictures afterwards… it was a really fun and inspiring morning and I was honored to have been there to share it with them!

Melody and Steve tied the knot last summer at The Fairmont in downtown San Jose and were such a joy to work with. Coordinated by Irene Ibidapo, despite the crazy jazz festival going on outside, this day went off without a hitch! Jessica at Love Spun whipped up some amazing video footage and Amy from Amy Burke Designs designed some gorgeous orchid arrangements for both the ceremony and the beautiful ballroom. I’m not gonna lie …. it was nice to shoot so close to home! Only about a 10 minute commute

Onward!

Flowers : Studio Choo | Cake : Fox and Fawn | From a vingette styled by Esla Events | Confetti Banner : Everylane

One of my favorites images I’ve ever taken. I shoot the majority of weddings on my 50 1.2 but occasionally throwing on the 35mm pays off. The bridesmaid loosing it on the right completes this moment and I could never have seen it from that distance with my 50mm. A reminder not to get too comfortable!

Honestly, you can’t go wrong with The Holly Farm.

Coming from all over the world, Martin, Kelly, and their families all met up in sunny Carmel to celebrate their marriage destination style. I’ve written about The Holly Farm many times before but I have a hard time not continuing to rave about it. The property is nestled in the hills of the Carmel Valley and is truly a hidden oasis… By the time I arrive for the wedding on Saturday afternoon guests have already been on the property for a few days and have always made themselves comfortable in the adorable little bungalows.. playing bocce ball or horse shoes on the lawn or smoking cigars in the garden… employees follow you around, raking meticulous circles and figure 8’s into the crushed granite (or something like that … I know for sure that is isn’t sand because I made that mistake once ) and even though you know behind the scenes people are bustling around to make everything about the days event perfect, every encounter is met with a smile.

Martin and Kelly couldn’t have fit into the Holly Farm vibe any better. Their laid-back style and ease was intoxicating to be around and the amount of laughter and shared glances these two shared throughout the day just melted my heart.

A lot of times, when I am booking clients, I hear people tell me that it’s my candids that really draw them into my work. I am sneaky like a ninja (did I just say that? yes. yes I did) … and over the years have learned just the right moment to click my shutter (some call it intuition) but I have a hard time being critical or praising my own images. Usually when clients tell me what they love about my work, I just smile and say, “Thank You..” but in looking through Martin and Kelly’s images I was really struck by the many candids I managed to catch this day. You see, for me, weddings aren’t just about the bride and groom. Of course, they are the stars… but what I truly love about weddings is the sometimes once in a lifetime opportunity to have all of the people who you love the most and who love you together in one place. It’s so important for me to turn my camera on them and document their presence just as much as it’s important for me to capture that first kiss.

It was such a pleasure to have documented not only Martin and Kelly’s love but all the love that surrounded them that day…isn’t love really all we need?

Onward!

DJ-  Antonio Diaz/Soundshine Entertainment

Floral- Kate Healey/Big Sur Flowers

Dessert-  Freeport Bakery

Oh what a year it’s been! I’ve been doing some reflecting lately… a lot of reflecting, in fact, on every blessing, surprise, triumph, failure, beginning, and end that this year has brought me. Like any other year, I have learned many lessons about my business and myself and am looking forward to opening the door on 2012 with new schemes and goals in mind for the next 365 days. I casually remarked to a friend at my wedding last year that we never know what a year can bring and I am not sure I have ever been more right. In the middle of purchasing and moving into our very own new home, I shot more weddings this year than I ever have in a year and found myself documenting love all over the map. I will not sugar coat it, while being your own boss can be incredibly rewarding it is also oftentimes an all-consuming emotional roller coaster. Creativity can run dry and when you are stretched thin already can almost disappear all together- but I would never have made it through this year without the help of my most cherished clients- my brides and grooms.

You understand me. You see the world the way I see the world and appreciate and trust me with your most cherished memories. No matter how behind I am on album designs, print orders, or the million other tasks it takes to run a business (and attempt to have a personal life) every Saturday your smiles and excitement and love remind me why it is I do what I do. You all hold so much beauty inside of you and, in hopes that I do not sound as if I am a poet, it was truly an honor to find your souls through my lens.

You are all my favorites and without you, this year, truly, would not have even begun to have been this astounding.

I have never been very good at choosing “best” images so I took a couple of hours and chose some at random from all of the wedding galleries from 2011. I tried to grab images that might not have been posted yet but know that each and every one of you provided me so much inspiration that this task felt almost impossible. Some of these weddings I have not even blogged yet so look for those to come. I also shot so many beautiful families, portraits, engagements, and babies and want to thanks those clients as well.

Have a wonderful New Years Eve and Day… rest and relax.. regroup and make lists of all of the things you want to do this year. Leave room for error, leave room for the multitude of tasks that follow success, leave room for sleep and lots of room for love…. I LOVE YOU ALL and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hey all!

Going to take a moment to encourage all of my present and potential 2012 brides to join me at The Lab Event in Sonoma this coming January 14th. It’s going to be a seriously fun event and one not to be missed if you want to hob-nob with a selection of the very best wedding vendors in the bay!

This event is not only going to be an opportunity to meet up with some great wedding resources but there are also a lot of really fun things planned from a runway show showcasing some seriously gorgeous wedding day fashions to a Q&A with one of my favorites, Miss Emarie, from The Collection. Here’s where I come in … Sometimes in this big bad world of weddings things can get a little tricky. Emarie is going to be chatting with all of the guests about hiring vendors.. what you should ask for, look for, watch out for, etc. and we want to hear from you, brides! What do you most want to know? Have you run into any snags with vendors that you need a little help understanding?

SO the good news…I am giving away two free passes to this epic bridal experience .. all you have to do to enter is:

- submit your question in the comments below- be sure to include your name and email address

and for extra chances at winning:

{tweet this}

I want to go to The Lab Event: an epic bridal experience ! @megperotti #thelab

and/or

{like me} and {facebook this}

I want to go to The Lab Event: an epic bridal experience ! @Meg Perotti : Photographer #thelab

Make sure I am tagged on both of those or you’ll get lost in the web shuffle…..

Ready.. set….. GO!

Wedding Photography: Meg Perotti / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: The Julia Morgan Ballroom in The Merchants Exchange / Floral Design: Chestnut & Vine / Wedding Dress: Vwidon / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Hair + Make-up: The Makeup Dolls / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: JoS. A Bank / Ties: Brooks Brothers / Wedding Cake: Beaux Gateaux Wedding Cakes, / Catering: Union Street Catering / Wedding Videography: On Bended Knee Films / DJ: Denon & Doyle / Programs, Place Cards + Invitations: Hello! Lucky / Save the Date + Table Numbers: Photographed by Jay Tsai Photography, Designed by The Groom / Styling + Planning: Bride and Groom