The first part of the wedding day started with photographing Roger in the lovely light in their apartment.

We then headed to The Fairmont in San Jose, to capture Tara and her bridesmaids in the final stages of preparation, get the ring shots and of course the shoes.

Tara looked so elegant in her classic bridal gown.

It was sweltering hot when we arrived at Cinnabar Hills – I’m talking 90 degrees hot! So we headed straight for the shade for some pre-wedding group photos. The red dresses and flowers, arranged by Tara’s friend Klaudia, really popped. Mark’s our man at the front getting the classic line up and I like to get round the side for a totally different look of the exact same shot. I think the laughing ones are always the best:-)

I love this capture of Tara and her parents – they just look so proud.

Next up, the guys. Thank you Paul for being the funny man, nearly all our shots are laughing ones except when you all thought you were in the Reservoir Dogs…

Tara’s best friend Heather was the officiant, which added a really personal touch.

This shot was just before the introduction of Mr. and Mrs. Fortier at the reception. Flower girl Avery is very ready to do the walk!

I always love the father and daughter dance…

…But it doesn’t get better than the first dance!

The dancing and fun continued as Mark and I headed home. What a great day – a lovely relaxed feel to the whole event and super nice people!

Venue – Cinnabar Hills Golf Club
Wedding coordinator – Kim Thomas at Cinnabar Hills
Make-up artist – Julianne Chai
Floral design – Klaudia Splane
Wedding Cake – Cake Expressions
Wedding dress – David’s Bridal
Catering – Cinnabar Hills
D.J. – Sound in Motion
Videography – Fish Eye Wedding Videos
Limo and Transportation – LeGrande Affaire

Clients today seem obsessed with getting their high res. wedding images on a disc, which I agree is great to have as a backup, but really, how often are you likely to scroll through the hundreds of photographs on a computer monitor? Not quite the same as holding a big tactile book filled with wedding day memories and the story unfolding before your eyes…

So today I’m really excited, as always, when a package from Finao, our wedding book supplier, arrives. As I carefully unwrap two huge beautiful albums, a smile spreads across my face as I take in their gorgeousness. They’re certainly eye-catchers, one bound in saffron leather and a sumptuous fabric, picking out the accent colors from the wedding and the other a lush silver and black. As I slowly turn the pages I’m transported back to our couple’s happy day and feel contented and so pleased they decided to chose a wedding album!

Tara and I had chatted about having to resort to wellies and a brolly in the event of bad weather – it is February after all – but the day was lovely and warm and strolling through the vines and meadows photographing a couple so in love was an absolute pleasure.

Here are some of our favorite shoots from the day…

Also a big thanks to Peter and Paul Bargetto for giving us free rein amongst the vines!

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

With Lauren’s love of dance it wasn’t hard to get her feet moving and twirling her dress. This is something we like to ask a bride to do, it makes for a bit of fun and lovely dynamic images.

I really like the result Mark got when he started shooting with a slow shutter speed. When processed in black and white a gorgeous piece of art transpired.

I adore shooting into bright sunlight; it gives everything a dreamy look and the sunflowers I picked up from our local florist Flower Flour in Willow Glen look so gorgeous and romantic.

Every bride should have a Trash the Dress session; what better excuse to spend a little extra carefree time in your beautiful gown?!

We met at our favorite beach on Lake Tahoe, Sand Harbor. Blimey it was busy and hot, but Kendall was very cool and unfazed by all the attention she was attracting.

A couple of weeks later Kendall and her mum travelled to San Jose for some more urban-style shots. Downtown on a Sunday morning is lovely and quiet and we found lots of interesting spots to photograph in.

I really like these murals on First Street…

Our last stop was at Santana Row using their rustic Mediterranean style walls as a great backdrop. Don’t you just love that red wall of lanterns?

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

We had a wonderful time bombing around San Francisco, taking in the amazing versatility the city has to offer on one of those rare summer days where the sun was out in all its glory. It was a pleasure to capture this couple’s love for one another, so apparent in their interaction with each other on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

We met in Mission Dolores park, along with a thousand other people; Tania and Daniel each carrying a big red balloon! Not wanting to seek attention (ha ha) they joked and shared some intimate moments on a bench with probably one of the best views in the city.

Next stop was a tranquil corner of the Golden Gate Park – not a soul to be seen, just a crazy couple with their balloons!

By the time we reached The Palace of Fine Arts, we were a balloon down, (it escaped to balloon heaven) so we ended the session with romantic shoots amongst a backdrop of grandiose columns and domes and those magnificant green doors.

This lovely couple will be getting married in September at Kohl Mansion, so be sure to check back for a posting on what is going to be an amazing wedding.

We travelled to Lake Tahoe, meeting our couple at beautiful Sand Harbor where we spent a couple of hours clambering over huge granite rocks, paddling in gently lapping water, and generally having fun.
Trashed dress? No – it’s safe and clean back in its protective layers… But it did get worn again!

Here are a few of our favorite images from the day…

Mid working, we took a week out to take an intense course with Jerry Ghionis and we are still reeling from the experience. Jerry is one of our all-time favorite wedding photographers – up there with Yervant and Marcus Bell.

We’re excited that the second half of this year is full of wonderful people at wonderful venues. Bliss for us to photograph!!!
Recent engagement and portraiture shoots have been super-fun, and we will share as soon as we can.
Love, M&M