(Stephanie, getting ready, above)
I am so behind in posting, because I've been editing and editing and editing weddings like a it's going out of style. So much editing, thaat I haven't had time to blog. And, I have so many weddings to show you all, and I've got three new wedding slideshows to show you (and more to come soon), but I want to give each couple their own post, so I decided to not just list each slideshow/wedding to check out, because these couples all deserve their own post!
(The photo above features bridesmaids out of the catalog, 'Beautiful Bridesmaids R Us.' If that makes no sense, keep reading below...)
So I'll start with Stephanie and Travis's wedding. I had the pleasure of meeting Stephanie and Travis through a dear friend from Santa Clara university (where I went to college) Eileen (who used to be a Briggs, and who's now a Brinker), who happens to be Stephanie's sister-in-law (or, Eileen is married to the brides brother, Aaron). So I knew Eileen, and Eileen told Stephanie about me. And, keeping it all in the family, Eileen's sister, Julie, who I've written about quite a bit on this blog (here, here , and here, to name a few times,) was the wedding coordinator (and I met Julie through Eileen, as well, first when I was her wedding photographer, and then later, we've worked together on a few weddings I shot and Julie coordinated. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, if you're getting married, I highly, HIGHLY encourage you to have a wedding coordinator, and if you're going to have a wedding coordinator, you should have Julie. But I'm digressing...
...but before I get back on the subject, another quick digression! Above is Eileen, with her daughter Mia, check out how much Mia's grown, here's a shot of Mia and Eileen, (that incidentally is almost the exact same pose), from when we did their family shoot last year, look at how big shes' gotten! And isn't she a gorgeous girl?
So I met Stephanie and Travis through Eileen, and I'm so glad she introduced me to them, as I really enjoyed getting to know both Stephanie and Travis, and their families. The ceremony was at the family church, and the reception was at the lovely Santa Rosa Golf club. I knew Stephanie and her mom Julie had worked together planning, and working really hard for months to make the room so gorgeous, and I figured it would be beautiful, but it was even more gorgeous than I expected. They really had thought of every detail. Everywhere I turned there were overflowing vases of fresh cut, white flowers, and glowing candles sparkled on every surface, and the smell of fresh flowers literally wafted through the air (and I'm not saying that to sound poetic, there was such a glorious abundance of flowers - they were so beautiful, and the scent was everywhere. I'm a total flower girl, and to be in a space that was not only beautiful to the eye, but to the nose also, only reinforced how much thought and consideration had gone into this day - they even took care of smell! The best word to describe it was elegant. I know I'm going on and on, but it really was lovely. If I've captured your attention, and you want to see for yourself, and you want to see Stephanie and Travis's wedding photo slideshow, you can do so by clicking here: Stephanie and Travis's pictures.
The shots above are just a few of the arrangements - they had different arrangements on every table, and like I said, there were flowers EVERYwhere, on every surface, even the gorgeous fireplaces in the room were bedecked with flowers, there's a shot of them (below) giving a toast where you can see what I"m talking about). But aren't the flowers so elegant?
So the room, like I said, was lovely, and Stephanie looked stunning, and Travis looked great, and it was one of those weddings where every member of the bridal party was pretty, you almost thought she'd picked them on prettiness alone, or ordered them out of a catalog. =) Anyhow, it was a beautiful day, and I really enjoyed getting to shoot this wedding. And completely aside from the divine wedding, I also have to say that Stephanie and Travis have both been great on a personal level -- they were incredibly patient with getting their photos. I've had a couple computer/software things go down in the last couple weeks (which I'm going to write about soon, so check back in a week or so to hear about the saga of my computer), that had made their photos take a lot longer than I (and they) would have liked, and while I know Stephanie was dying to see the photos, she was nothing but gracious and patient, and I am so grateful that she was so understanding. I feel like I get the best brides, (sometimes I wonder if they're choosing me, or I'm choosing them?),=) but when glitches happen, and they are still great, then I feel really incredibly blessed. So Stephanie, thank you, again, for being so wonderful about having to wait a little extra to get your photos. It was an honor to be asked to be included in your day.
If you'd like to see more of my favorite shots, you can do so by clicking, 'continue reading,' below, or if you'd rather just watch the slideshow, then click here instead, and go check out the slideshow. As always, the photos are clickable, if you want to see them larger...
(Above is a shot of me, shooting Stephanie and Eileen) I thought it was kinda fun, just because I'm usually the one behind the camera.)
Also, like I said, I've got a bunch of weddings to share with you, so I'm going to be posting more slideshows and talk about some of the weddings I've had this season in the next few days, so stay tuned...
Getting ready...
Stephanie and Mia...is Mia not the most gorgeous girl?
Eileen, during the ceremony...
You may kiss the bride...
I absolutely love this shot...it's the shot before 'the shot', or rather, it's a shot of the (massive) family getting all together before we take the 'formal' familly portrait. These are my favorite kinds of shots, unplanned, catching a moment. What I love about it is how everyone is doing something different, and there all these different things going on in the photo, but then, in the next moment, when I took the 'real' portrait, they're all doing the exact same thing; smiling and looking at the camera, but I love this moment before the moment...
...and this is what I got....isn't this such a fun shot? These girls were up for anything, which always makes it so fun for me...
The bride and groom - aren't they adorable?
Santa Rosa golf course...
Mia, and her grandpa. I love these shots, I came outside of the ballroom to get some detail shots, and it was totally quiet, and over in a corner I found them together, just quietly drawing. I love these photos (and yes, I posted a lot of Mia, what can I say, I'm smitten? She's a dolly).
And...yep...one more time, Mia and her daddy, Aaron the brides brother, (who, incidentally, I also went to college with)...
The room...
Toasting - of course, I had to get one laughing shot in, if you know me at all, you know I love the laughing shots...
Toasting (check out the gorgeous mantel behind them - flowers and candles - and if you look closely, you see the same thing in the foreground - flowers and candles - that room glowed).
First dance...(I love a good dip!)
I love these shots, this is Stephanie and here dad, during their dance together. Stephanie started crying right away, it was so sweet and tender.
We snuck out onto the golf course for a few last shots of Stephanie and Travis. Isn't it a gorgeous location?
I love this shot...
