Nov
30
Twelve years ago, Tyler met Amber. He knew she was the one. And last month they were married.
For their the quintessential San Francisco wedding, Amber and Tyler chose the venerable Westin St. Francis Hotel which was built before the 1906 Earthquake. This historic Union Square hotel has hosted presidents and movie stars alike. It was the perfect backdrop for Amber and Tyler’s elegant city wedding.
For this wedding, I teamed up with our associate, Christine, and we started the day with Amber as she was completing the final touches to her look.
I set up a few photos of the shoes and the dress.
Love the light.
Making sure everything is just right.
We had a little time before the ceremony so we took the opportunity to take some portraits of Amber. She was simply striking.
She looked so glamorous; we had to capture her amazing fashion and style.
Then off to the ceremony, where Amber and Tyler said their "I do’s." and then this image which comes from the end of the ceremony would be the “We did’s”.
The portraits are often the first alone time our couples have on their wedding day. We were happy to step back and let them enjoy the moment.
Tyler with the bouquet in one hand and the new ring on the other. Definitely a married man. Welcome to the club, Tyler!
Such a touching and romantic first dance…
The night just got better and better as Tyler surprised Amber by serenading her with a red rose in hand.
Amber’s reaction.
Then a passionate embrace.
I have many favorite images from the day, but this is Jo’s favorite. It pretty much sums up their passion, their tenderness, their class, their glamorous hollywood style, and the feel of the whole wedding.
Thank you, Amber and Tyler, for inviting Christine and I into your most amazing day. We are so glad we could be a part of it.
Also many thanks to the pros who helped Amber and Tyler make their wedding a beautiful reality!
The team at the Westin was fabulous! It was wonderful to work with you.
Ceremony Venue: Borgia Room at The Westin St. Francis
Reception Venue: Alexandra’s at The Westin St. Francis
Hair: Antonio Cabral
Make-up: Aida Morano from Aida’s Custom Cosmetics
Gown Designer: Romona Keveza
Bridesmaid dresses: Siri
Groom’s tux: Canali
Groomsmen’s tuxes: Selix Rentals
Cake: Shinmin from I Dream of Cake
Floral Design: Jeffrey from J Floral Art
Band: Keith Johnson and AM Radio
Ceremony Musician: Amber’s stepfather, Carl Weimer
Invitations: William Arthur
If you would like to see more from Amber and Tyler’s city soiree, definitely check out their slideshow.
Nov
27
Fall in New England is a truly stunning time of year. When Pamela and Albert chose the season for their engagement session, we were happy to accommodate. The next step was choosing the location. We couldn’t imagine a more perfect option than the bridge in Cambridge where they got engaged. We love this bridge and have wanted to shoot there for a while now. Plus the trees and surrounding areas are so pretty- great views of both Boston and Cambridge. We completed our portraits in Beacon Hill, another favorite area of theirs and ours.
This is the actual spot where Albert proposed- literally on the bridge. He woke up Pamela before sunrise to take her to this spot near her apartment. What a way to start the day- a beautiful view and a very happy "Yes!"
More smiles and fun in and among the leaves.
The Charles River makes a gorgeous backdrop for this moment.
This path was so pretty with gorgeous trees on both sides. It felt magical.
In Beacon Hill, we avoided the busiest alley ways and found this stunning wall. It was like a rainbow of leaves.
One of my favorites from the portrait session. It’s amazing how such a busy city (and it was really busy that day) can feel so private.
And I am really excited to share their PicFlick. They sent us the romantic Chinese song as the background music. You can check it out here.
Nov
19
It’s time. That’s right, Angie and Mike are back. That means transformers and dancing, but first a bit more from the earlier part of the day.
These two have a million ways to smile.
Angie taking a moment with her dad.
I love this photo for lots of reasons. Partially because the couple on the right, Hilary and Scott, are a past bride and groom of ours; it was really fun to see them at Angie and Mike’s wedding. Also all of these guests are so engaged in what they are doing. And what they are doing is looking at photos. Angie spent hours and hours and hours putting together boxes of family photos. She printed them all in black and white, set each box (all were different) on a table for guests to enjoy. It was so much fun!
One such photo of Mike and his sister made the rounds because it was hilarious. A moment in history that I had never expected. Of course, that meant we had to re-enact the photo. Kind of reminds me of a recent Modern Family episode.
Mike’s transformative nature…??? According to his best man, it appears that Mike can go to dichotomous extremes. For one, he is not fond of hippies, but he himself is a vegan. In a similar vein, he was a self-confirmed bachelor, but found the love of his life and went in the other direction with full force, completely committing to Angie.
And then of course, there are the actual transformers. Every single speech alluded to his special collection of Transformers, a full wall in his man cave devoted to them. Dave, of course, took this as a sign that we needed to purchase a Transformer as a prop for their ring shot. (Dave was absolutely giddy as we were shopping in the toy aisle.)
Mike wasn’t the only kid who enjoyed himself at his wedding. The chocolate cupcakes were a huge hit with the youngin’s.
We took a break from the laughter to smile at the sweetness of Angie and Mike’s first dance.
And then more laughter and cheers ensued. Angie had a special surprise in store for Mike. At this point, he had no idea what was ahead for him. So he apparently needed to steel his nerves.
And what was in store for him? A fabulous dance number choreographed by Angie and her friends. A little background… Several months before their wedding, Angie and Mike had arranged a little dance-off competition for their wedding- Angie & her friends vs. Mike & his friends. It seems that Mike allowed things to fall by the way side, but in secret Angie was masterminding her routine. And not only was it a complete surprise to Mike, Angie put in a special tribute to her mom, selecting a song that Angie had won a talent competition with when she was in elementary school, a song her mom would know and appreciate.
Mike’s dance number? Maybe it wasn’t choreographed but it sure was cute.
And a little movie in celebration of Angie and Mike…
Special thanks go out to the professionals who made Angie and Mike’s day so amazing:
Venue: Fort Mason Officers Club at 1 Fort Mason
Catering: Eden B. at Organic Chef Catering
Floral Design: Lidia Sadoun at la fleuriste
Ceremony Musician: Guitarist Kenneth Schwartzman
Lighting: Hayley Bramble at Got Light
Dance Floor: Jeff Bickner- Bickner Dance Floor Rental
And of course, many many thanks to Angie and Mike for including us in your most wonderful day. We had such a great time with you guys- and kept laughing and smiling while working on the images. Thank you!
If you would like to see more from Angie and Mike, check out their engagement session, sneak preview, rehearsal dinner, and slideshow.
Nov
16
Angie and Mike are such a completely fun couple; their wedding day was all about enthusiasm, joy, wit and playfulness. We had a great time getting to know them during their engagement session and couldn’t wait to meet their family and friends. We were so lucky to be able to join them for their Bonfire and Burritos Fiesta/Rehearsal Dinner on Ocean Beach. What a great way to set the tone for the next day’s celebration!
When I arrived at Angie’s hotel room to photograph her getting ready, I felt right at home with her crew. They were so warm and welcoming the day before; and the wedding day was no different. Not to mention that they were great about taking care of Angie- getting her whatever she needed (aka champagne) as well as helping her finish up and getting Angie and her dress to the ceremony site.
While Angie’s stylist worked on her hair, Angie put on her own make-up. Multi-tasking at its best.
Did I mention champagne?
While the girls were hard at work (and play) over at the hotel, Mike and the boys arrived at the Fort Mason Officer’s Club with some necessities- a few decor items to complete the look for the welcome tables and beer.
The florist had already done her part for the ceremony. I absolutely love these bright orange ribbons with citrus orange and yellow orchids lining the aisle. So fresh and cheerful.
Mike still had lots to do to get things ready. He must have needed a quiet place to organize things- what better spot than the closet?!!
Angie’s flower girl was adorable- she looks like a purple fairy princess. She took to the part with ease and got some practice walking (okay so maybe she was running) on the lawn before the ceremony started.
This was such a funny moment. When our purple princess made it down the aisle, she wanted to stay with Mike as Angie entered. I don’t blame her, that’s the best view in the house.
Smiles all around as Angie walked down the aisle with her mom and dad.
Some smiles were accompanied by tears.
Angie and Mike chose to personalize their ceremony by having their dear friends as the officiants- one officiant for each of them.
I have to close with this wide view of their ceremony because it was simply gorgeous. Autumn in San Francisco is definitely the nicest time of year, and it absolutely does not get better than this. They had perfect weather- warm and sunny- and this stunning view of the San Francisco Bay.
Stay tuned for more- because I haven’t even touched on Mike’s transformative personality or Angie’s surprise dance number. These two will keep you smiling all day long!
Nov
13
Jilanne and Doug’s wedding reception at Leal Vineyards was gorgeous, emotional, and downright fun. The skies were crystal clear, no fog in sight; the cool air moved in as the day progressed. The warmth of family and friends kept the party going until the very end, with a vibrant spirit of celebration.
After their wedding at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista, we took portraits on the grounds in and around the mission church.
Then everyone returned to the vineyard for cocktail hour outside on the patio and dinner under the tent. We captured a few more with the vineyard backdrop.
The tables were all set up for dinner. The grounds at Leal are gorgeous- and smell good too- the yummy scent of heather is so welcoming..
Jilanne and Doug opened up the dance floor.
Followed by Jilanne and her dad. So sweet.
Doug escorted his mom to the dance floor, and they were soon joined by his siblings in a dance/hug. Doug is so close with his family. I was truly touched in the ways they supported each other.
With dance floor open, the party really got underway. There were some mighty exuberant guests.
The money dance kicked things up a notch.
Energetic dancing galore.
Jilanne and Doug closed the dance floor with a tango. We had seen them practice during their engagement session, and this was even better. They are simply stunning dancers.
Many, many thanks to Jilanne and Doug, and both your families for welcoming us into your wedding day celebration. We have so enjoyed getting to know you and it was such a pleasure to meet all the people you hold dear.
We would also like to thank the professionals who contributed to your special day.
Ceremony Venue: Rosie at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista
Organist: Edward from the Old Mission San Juan Bautista
Reception Venue: Andrew at Léal Vineyards
Wedding cake: Just Cake
Floral Design: Poppy’s Petalworks
Lighting Design: Hartmann Studios
DJ: Prosound Entertainment
Hair and Make-up Stylist: Athena
Our bride’s dress: Alvina Valenta, from the Bridal Galleria
The bridesmaids dresses: J. Crew
Groom’s suit: Hugo Boss
Groomsmen’s attire: Alfani Red
If you would like to see more of Jilanne and Doug, definitely check out their engagement session, sneak preview, and slideshow.
Nov
11
We have had the great pleasure of watching Duke’s family grow- I say it that way because first Duke had Maya, then he added Drew and, most recently, Mason to his family. And we knew Duke first, as he is our boy Max’s brother. We have enjoyed getting to know the whole family and have had the opportunity to photograph them from Maya and Drew’s engagement session to their wedding to their first family portrait to this most recent session with Mason. In preparation for the holidays, we captured these portraits of Maya, Drew, Mason and Duke at Piedmont Park.
From Duke’s perspective.
A better look at the humans in the family.
Mason just happens to be absolutely adorable, no suprise given his genes, and a lovely little guy to boot. He offers huge smiles for his mom. Maya’s entertaining Mason and Drew behind our cameras.
Kisses.
The pensive boys.
Maya taught me a few of her tricks to get Mason to smile for me. He did so a couple of times, but it is clear he loves his mom’s version of the ABC’s best.
The weather had been a little iffy so we wanted to keep Mason warm. We decided to head back home for a few with Mason having the spotlight all to himself.
Duke is such a good protector and big brother. He is so calm and is happy to allow Mason to sit cradled in his lap. So precious.
Then one final image with Maya and her first boy.
It is always a pleasure getting together with Maya, Drew, Mason and Duke. Thank you so much for inviting us into your lives.
If you would like to see more, check out their slideshow.
Nov
09
Sammy is a super great young lady whose bat mitzvah we photographed this fall. This was so different from my bat mitzvah and so much fun. Not only did she showcase her knowledge and talent during the morning service at the synagogue, she performed two dance routines during the reception and gave a speech about her family and friends during the candlelighting ceremony. Sammy is definitively gifted- full of spark, energy, intelligence and thoughtfulness. We had a wonderful time working with her.
We started our day with family portraits before her bat mitzvah ceremony in Needham.
After the service, Sammy’s guests had lunch at the synagogue. Everyone reconvened that evening at the Blue Hill Country Club in Canton. A few more portraits before the reception….
The party got underway after a fabulous cocktail hour for the adults and mocktail hour for the kids. Then dancing, dancing and more dancing. Sammy’s brother kicked it all off.
Then Sammy made her grand entrance and did her first dance routine with these two professionals. Her theme for the evening was based on Tiffany and Co, so she surprised all of her guests by popping out of a huge Tiffany’s box. And then going right into the dance. Of course the song she danced to was Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend. She looked amazing.
The hora followed. Everyone in the family had a turn in the chair, but Sammy was first.
Sammy and her dad had a special dance all to themselves….
Well, almost. Some of Sammy’s friends busted in about half way through and they kicked it up a notch- this was planned, of course, but a surprise for the guests. Sammy did her second dance number during this portion of the evening.
The end of the evening came faster than anyone could say "Sammy & Company." But it was clear that all of the kids had a great time.
If you would like to see more from Sammy’s amazing day, you can view her mitzvah PicFlick here.
Nov
06
A lady and a gentleman, through and through, Jilanne and Doug have old world sophistication, style, generosity and kindness right to their core. I have so enjoyed getting to know them over the past year and a bit. We had a blast on their engagement session playing at the Presidio and Fort Point. Then after checking out their wedding venues, the Old Mission San Juan Bautista and Leal Vineyard, and chatting with Doug about all of their plans, we really couldn’t wait for the big day.
So today I get to share just a little snippet of what’s to come.
Jilanne and Doug started their day at Leal, where they both got ready in the guest houses. Jilanne was practically all set when we arrived. Just a few finishing touches like the veil. I love the softness of this image; it matches Jilanne’s gentle side (mind you she also has a very spunky side, like when she told me about the prank she and Doug had thought about pulling on Dave and I for their engagement session- too funny!) but this one is all about her femininity.
And Doug was already hanging out with his friends in the wine tasting room. Smart thinking.
The girls and I hopped in the limo for our trip to the Mission. When we arrived, we made sure the coast was clear as Jilanne and her ladies walked to the church.
Doug was just around the corner at the entrance to the church with his groomsmen, all of the sponsors and the ring bearer.
The ceremony was so beautiful; the back drop of this historic mission was a perfect setting.
Another perspective…
I love the way Jilanne and Doug enjoyed themselves during the Catholic ceremony. They were totally in tune with each other.
And they were certainly not alone in being affected by the momentousness of the day.
When I first saw this image Dave captured, I fell in love with it. It feels to me exactly how it feels to be leaving the wedding ceremony- like you are embarking on something big and exciting and bathed in sunshine and warmth. I can feel Jilanne and Doug’s smiles even though I can’t see them in this image.
More to come next week. Can’t wait to share the rest!
Nov
02
Last night, we invited Andrea and Eric over for their wedding premiere. They had just returned from their amazing honeymoon in Greece- which sounded out of this world. We had a truly great evening hearing about the highlights from their trip- great food, stunning sunsets, and really friendly people- and reliving their wedding day with them through the photos. And now I am excited to share a few more with you.
I wanted to start with the portraits today because I felt like there were a few more fun ones I had to share from this part of the day. I love the old stone walls you find in New England. And The Harding Allen Estate definitely has some pretty ones.
The Estate has amazing gardens, complete with little hideways, pretty paths, a pergola, statues and this reflecting glass orb.
Catching the highlights from the setting sun and the resulting shadow.
The bustle on Andrea’s dress took a bit of time, but I love this image of her surrounded by the lace of her dress. And don’t her arms look amazing?
Off to the reception….
The speeches were great all around, but my personal favorite was the musical toast to Andrea, sung by her bridesmaids. They took the song "Agony" (which is actually a love song) from Into the Woods, the play Andrea and Eric were working on when they first met, and turned it into a tribute to Andrea. It was beautiful, witty, touching, perfect.
They were rewarded by a huge hug from Andrea and Eric.
Last night, we also learned a bit more about some of the preparation and thoughts that had gone into their planning. One of the things that stuck with me was that Andrea hadn’t planned on wearing a veil. But then when she tried it on, she just felt like a bride. I know exactly what she means. It didn’t feel real to me, when I was trying on dresses, unless I had a veil on. So then on Andrea’s wedding day, it became an important part of her look. I love the way Dave captured this image that shows off the veil in such a beautiful way.
And something a bit more amusing…
The young boys were outside playing with Eric’s brother’s dog. He was quite an athelete and the kids were highly entertained.
Back inside the dancing got kicked off by Andrea and Eric. If you haven’t checked out the PicFlick of them dancing, you should definitely do that. Here’s one of my absolute favorite still images from their first dance.
I love that Andrea took this moment to dance with her mom. They are clearly so close; it seemed only right that her mom should get a chance to dance with the bride.
And then the real party got underway. Some seriously crazy fun dancing, complete with handstands, kids on shoulders, two Conga lines, and even a dance routine led by one of Andrea’s bridesmaids. Good times were had!
The last dance slowed things down a bit, a chance for Andrea and Eric to embrace and take in the moment.
If you would like to see a larger set from their wedding, please enjoy this PicFlick…
Special thanks to all of the professionals who helped to make Andrea and Eric’s day so special:
To Grace and Leslie at The Harding Allen Estate, the grounds and service were amazing.
To Lisa at the Blessed Sacrament Parish, what a stunning New England Church!
Judy from Fulgere Salon and Spa, for Andrea’s hair and make-up
Andrea’s stunning wedding gown from Casablanca Bridal
The coordinated bridesmaid dresses from Jasmine Bridal
Eric and his groomsmen’s tux’s from Men’s Wearhouse, with special ties to match the ladies; gowns from The Tie Bar
Floral Design by Danielson Flowers
Revel Video captured the moments of their ceremony
Music was so important to Andrea and Eric and their musicians and DJ did an outstanding job fulfilling their dreams:
Arioso Chamber Players, lead by Brenda van der Merwe, and Elizabeth Noone, their organist provided the ceremony music
Roberta from Music Sensations kept the dancing going during their reception
For their invitations and paper products, friends Molly and Jon created the design. They also utilized a Rita Renning collection through Papyrus and created super cool save the date magnets through Magnet Street.
If you would like to see a few more of Andrea and Eric, definitely check out their engagement session, their sneak peek, and their slideshow.
26
Thank You!
We feel truly fortunate to be able to do what we love and we know we are exceptionally lucky to be able to work with the amazing people we get to work with. So on this day of thanksgiving, we would like to extend a huge Thank You! to all of our clients, our friends, our family, our peers. You have made our lives rich beyond compare.
A few weeks ago, we asked you to help us give back to our community. By making comments on our blog in celebration of our 200th blog post, you have supported us. In turn, we are donating cans for each comment made during that time. We now have 49 cans (21 pictured- the rest are still in the big box) to give to our Food Bank. These will help people who have had a rough time of it, neighbors who are in need. Thank you so much for helping us help them.
Here’s to a healthy and happy holiday season!
Much love,
Jo & Dave