Mark and I were thrilled when Aline and Todd chose us to shoot their wedding on September 18th, as that was also our anniversary. Aline told me that in Chinese tradition 9-18 is a very lucky day…

Their wedding ceremony was held at the Presbyterian Church in Sunnyvale. Aline looked gorgeous in her wedding gown and the birdcage veil gave that oh so vintage look.

They chose a very different venue for their wedding reception. For these two technology fans the Computer History Museum in Mountain View was the perfect location. After the couple had pictures taken with the Cisco display (their employer, where they met, and where Todd proposed!) they were greeted by their 160 guests, who had traveled from far and wide. The seating plan was created using 5 1/4″ floppy discs and every dining table was named after a Bay Area technology company! The room had a sumptuous pink glow with binary numbers and circuit board lighting effects projected onto banners – all created by Aline’s friend.

The evening’s music was a mix of American and Armenian and certainly filled the floor with colorful dancing and lots of fun.

We had a wonderful day shooting your wedding Aline and Todd and wish you much love and happiness for your future together.

When Mark and I arrived at Sunny Cove Beach in Santa Cruz it was shrouded in the typical coastal mist you get here on a Summer’s day…and it was cold! We were about to photograph Jeannie and John’s Wiccan wedding, usually referred to as Handfasting. This is where the couple’s hands are tied together signifying their union.

The circle was being cast on the beach and a candle would be placed in each of the four quarters – north to represent Earth, east to represent Air, south represents Fire, and Water to the west.

Inside the beach house, preparations were in full swing, and things were rather more familiar!

We were so pleased Jeannie and John decided to have a ‘first look’. The emotion was quite overwhelming, and of course we get some time to capture their joy at seeing each other for the first time that day.

We walked to the beach, now bathed in warm sunshine, where the attendants entered the circle to stand at the points followed by Jeannie and John. The ceremony included John offering his sword to Jeannie and in exchange she offered her treasure. After the vows, the Priestess tied their hands together to celebrate their commitment and love for a lifetime.

Handfasting comes from a Scottish custom, where, in a simple ceremony a couple would have their hands tied together; they were accepted as man and wife, if after a year they were still together!

The formal photographs were anything but! The wedding party was such good fun and and their photographs are just filled with laughter. And because Jeannie and John were tied together, this added to the merriment, each taking turns to duck down behind the group when they weren’t needed in the photograph!

From the beach we went to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk for rides on the merry-go-round and the pirates’ ship. A bride and groom tied together – not something you see everyday at the fairground!

As the sun went down, guests enjoyed a barbecue and dancing back at the beach house, ending a perfect day.

Jeannie and John, it was an absolute joy photographing your wedding, sharing your passion and love for each other, family and dear friends.

Our love and best wishes for the future, Mark and Maria xx

We were honored when our friend Sheila asked us to photograph the wedding celebration for her and new husband John at the Family Bible Fellowship in Newark. They’d married in a private ceremony at the end of last year in John’s hometown of Bakersfield.

They first met, and were friends, years ago at school and until recently had lost contact. Their celebration day brought family and many friends together for the first time and saw old school friends reunited.

We wish you a wonderful and happy life together John and Sheila!

Little Jordyn loved being in front of the camera -

- she looked so cute with her angel wings and bell, introducing Sheila and John to their guests.