Tag Archives: intimate weddings

December 12, 2018

Allegretto Vineyard Resort Wedding – Lauren & Will

And just like that, my 2018 wedding season comes to a sweet and beautiful close.

Will & Lauren were married in front of two dozen people closest to them on a brisk, sunny day at Allegretto Vineyard Resort. Even though I only met them for the first time that day, I knew instantly that they were my kind of people — a pair of quirky lovebirds with a raw sense of humor who love love LOVE to laugh together.

September 20, 2018

California Elopement – Emily & Brandon

When I first started my business 10 years ago, my husband spent one year as my 2nd shooter before he finally broke down and told me he just couldn’t do it any more. (Apparently long days photographing weddings and being ON non-stop isn’t for everyone? Who knew). The hunt for a new partner in crime was short — because THIS girl. Emily and I have known each other since we were emo little middle schoolers at the church youth group, and we were the perfect fit. A LOT has happened since our time slinging cameras every weekend (stories which demand bottles of wine and a blog post novel — so I will keep it short), but I am SO grateful that I still get to count her among my friends. She is a fellow badass mom boss who works a day job, runs her own photography business, has two beautiful daughters, and inspires me to no end.

And then there’s Brandon. This guy is full of humor, laughter, and adoration for his beautiful bride. These two have been together over 5 years, and finally decided to make it official in front of their 5 closest friends… and me 🙂 Intimate little elopements like these fill my heart to the brim. The wind was blowing, the sun was moving through the clouds with feline stealth, and the energy between these two lovebirds was thick with emotion and commitment. I could not be more honored to have been a witness and documenter of such a glorious moment in history.

May 10, 2018

The Grace Maralyn Wedding | Gina & Garred

Fourteen years. That’s how long these two darlings have been together. Which means they’ve been doing life and love together for nearly half my lifetime. So it’s safe to say that every person at their wedding was over the moon to see this day finally happen.

I’d like to go on record and say that The Grace Maralyn Estate & Gardens wins all of the sunset prizes. Just as the sun started to sink into the hills, we were joined by two powerfully beautiful horses. They worked the camera, messed up Gina’s hair, and even tried to eat her dress once or twice — and it was MAGICAL. See for yourself.

>> check out Garred & Gina’s engagement photos <<

May 8, 2018

The Culver Hotel Wedding | Ryan & Carl

I first met Carl 10 years ago, when I photographed his band as they opened for Sean Kingston in Morro Bay, CA. You see, Carl is my cousin by marriage, and naturally we got along because us artsy fartsy types gotta stick together. Fast forward to 2014, when Carl’s mom (my husband’s aunt) starts to tell us about Carl’s new lady friend (“she’s got tattoos! you’re gonna love her”). So obviously we have to get the ENTIRE Leader clan (14+ people) together for breakfast when the two of them come to town. I remember my husband remarking on how she looked exactly like one of his video game avatars, and I developed the fastest girl crush of all time. Needless to say, we immediately started hoping and praying that she would become part of the family and that this wedding would happen someday.

And it did.

Ryan got ready amidst her girl gang at The Culver Hotel, where they departed in her Sweet Beats DJ truck (because she’s a DJ, thus 1000x rad points) and drove to a sun drenched park where she married Carl under a California oak tree in the presence of their closest peeps. After we wrung the last drop of sunlight from the sky taking photos, I saw them safely to their reception at the Blind Barber (an LA speakeasy — 1000x extra rad points) where we danced the night away. Ryan even spun her “vows part II” to Carl with a DJ set dedicated to her new hubs. I mean COME ON. And I get to be related to these people. FOR LIFE.