Alicia and Vlad : A wedding at Holly Farm, Carmel

It's amazing what a good solid week of work from home followed by a weekend off will do for me. I haven't had a case of the Mondays in a long time but having a weekend to actually enjoy myself (not that I don't enjoy myself at weddings, but you know) made me crave a real vacation. Honeymoon anyone?

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!

Melissa and Matt : A wedding at the Bellagio : Las Vegas, NV

I hopped on a plane from San Jose, Heather hopped on a plane from Burbank, and Regis hopped on a plane from Orange County and we all met in Vegas to document Melissa and Matt's day- and let me tell you, a wedding in Las Vegas never looked so good! Melissa and Matt tied the knot at the beautiful Bellagio Hotel back in the middle of May - they put together a stellar event with some fabulous vendors and I'm so happy to share these images with you!  I had the lovely opportunity to meet and work with film-maker extraordinaire David Robin and his "team" :)- check out his teaser video at the end of this post- not to be missed! Heather, Regis, and I got about 3 hours of sleep and then had to hop back on a plane to LA to shoot a Sunday wedding but on our way out of the Bellagio, at 5:30AM, while we were rubbing sleep out of our eyes, we passed one of Melissa and Matt's wedding guests, "Have a good night!!" he called. Oh Vegas.

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

Kim and Dan : A wedding at Edgewood, Tahoe

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 : A Wedding at the Los Altos History Museum

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend! Wedding photographers don't get weekends and most of the time don't get holiday weekends off so I extended my 4th of July into the 5th and I took a much needed day off yesterday- The busiest part of my travel season is over now though so I feel content knowing I'll be shooting in the general vicinity of my home for the next couple of months. :)

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!

Stacy and Clark : An elegant wedding at the Jonathan Club : Downtown Los Angeles

These are the kind of clients photographers dream about- Stacy and Clark not only trusted in my abilities but they challenged them. Every photographer will know what I mean when I say this wedding rattled my nerves- gave me butterflies, caused me to plan my photo attack then re-plan it. As photographers who photograph weddings Saturday after Saturday you know you have certain comfort zones- back light, open shade, f2.0- etc. etc. so when Stacy and Clark described to me the kind of Vanity Fair style portraiture they wanted I knew this would be a challenge that I couldn't wait to accept! Every time I release a gallery it's like sending my grown up babies out into the world to fend for themselves. I think they are great but will everyone else?

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.