I let out an audible wow when Tania appeared from her childhood bedroom in her wedding gown. She looked so elegant in her exquisite, delicate backless dress – and then there was the mantilla veil which was stunning against her dark hair. Her mum, aunties, sister-in-law and makeup artist, Nora, all helped sew her into her dress!

Meanwhile Mark was photographing Daniel preparing for the day…

…And then he went to Kohl Mansion in Burlingame to capture the preparations. The elegant brick mansion is a Catholic college preparatory school as well as a beautiful wedding venue with a magnificent Great Hall – the perfect backdrop for the gorgeous flowers.

When Tania arrived at the mansion she was whisked up the back stairs to a room overlooking the ceremony area where she could peep out and see the guests arriving.

Now it was time to use the grand staircase, escorted by her dad!

I couldn’t stop smiling when the precessional music started – no Wagner’s Bridal Chorus for Tania – but probably my all time favorite Smiths’ song, There is a Light That Never Goes Out, performed orchestrally by the Vitamin String Quartet! DJ Henry Kim did a “live mix” of the song so that the high point of the song started just as Tania reached the top the aisle!

The ceremony was beautiful; Tania and Daniel looked so happy and kept bursting into giggles.

We managed to capture a few pictures of Tania and Daniel before we took the group photographs against the bougainvillea.

Best men, Mike and Jason enjoying a little Dutch courage before the speeches:-)

At the start of the reception the wedding party was introduced. This picture made me laugh; Tania and Daniel started strolling to the doorway and then burst into a sprint and then straight into a traditional Armenian dance!

Tania and Daniel met at Tania’s brother Sami’s, and Daniel’s sister Raluca’s, engagement party!

The first dance.

The truly sumptuous Great Hall.

Right at the end of the evening we got a few minutes to capture some romantic shots under the fairy lights. Then it was back to dancing for Tania and Daniel and home for Mark and I.

What an amazing day – the most adorable couple and lovely family, friends and venue…perfect!

Venue – Kohl Mansion
Floral design – Pacifico Soriano Designs
Wedding cake – Have Your Cake
Catering – Schumann’s Four Seasons Catering
Hairstylist and makeup artist – Nora Arechiga
DJ – Henry Kim @ Big Fun Disc Jockeys
Videography – Mirar Productions
Photo-booth – Denon and Doyle
Limousine – Lone Star Transportation
Pastor – Rev Balabanian
Wedding coordinator – Barbara Cleary

It doesn’t seem like two minutes since we were photographing Lauren and John’s Napa engagement session, and here we are now, 9 months later, at The Half Moon Bay Lodge ready to capture all the excitement of one of our favourite parts of the wedding day, the morning preparations…

A few miles down the coast in La Honda is the wedding venue, Chateau La Joye, sweet, rustic and perfect. The charming chalk board welcomed us in.

It was impossible to hold back the tears when Lauren’s dad saw her for the first time in her wedding dress. Lauren looked gorgeous; her Mum’s veil complementing her beautiful gown perfectly.

The wedding was conducted by Lauren’s Uncle and Jessica sang “When I Say I Do” beautifully throughout the wine ceremony.

During the cocktail hour we took a rather informal approach to the “formal” photography – encouraging laughter and relaxed poses; our goal – to keep things as fast and fun as possible.

This was such a laid back and relaxed wedding, our couple focused on being with family and friends and simply enjoying the day with a plentiful flow of wine and good food. The wedding was beautiful throughout. Here are some more of our favourites from the day…

Lauren’s Grandpa’s 1932 Ford Roadster whisked them away at the end of the evening.

Lauren and John, their family and friends, are the loveliest people, so a huge thank you to them all for making Mark and I feel so at home.

Why am I a wedding photographer…? Being in the presence of so much love – I just adore it!

Wedding venue and coordinator
Live Band
Wedding cake

The weather was absolutely perfect when we arrived in Half Moon Bay – beautifully warm with clear blue skies – the most fabulous day for Anna and Paul’s wedding on the cliff tops of the golf links.

Anna was being pampered at The Ritz Carlton’s beauty salon along with her big sister and dear friends from her home town of Chicago, and Paul was relaxing in their honeymoon suite, catching up with his Best Man who’d traveled from England along with Paul’s family.

Anna looked beautiful in her wedding gown of ivory lace, complemented perfectly with her late Mother’s pearls.

After the ceremony, where Anna was “given away” by her three brothers, we headed off in the decorated golf cart to picturesque locations for romantic photos. How we’d have loved to have whisked them away for an hour or so, as the evening light was just perfect, but back at Mullins Bar and Grill there were guests to be greeted, toasts to be made, speeches to be given, delicious food to be eaten and dancing to be done!

After the meal Anna’s sister, Christina, brought tears to our eyes when she spoke of their parents and performed a Polish-style offering of bread to the bride and groom. From Paul’s side the speeches were typical British style – lots of jokes, sentimental thoughts and gentle teasing of the groom – resulting in a wonderful blending of cultures.

And the celebrations will continue later in the year… with receptions at Lumley Castle, Chester-Le-Street in England and Lido in Chicago next year!

For Anna and Paul, their wedding day really was the start of the rest of their lives. With a move to the UK to join Paul, and new work opportunities for Anna, this lovely couple will no longer have that big pond separating them. We send you all our love for the most wonderful future together xxxx

Flowers by Alena Jean
Wedding officiant Terry plank
Wedding cake by Cakes by Maggie