I started the day with Sarah and her girls at the Clubhouse.

Sarah walked down the aisle with her mom and dad on each arm, and tears of joy in her eyes.

This image says it all. Sarah’s dad gave Bryan a warm welcome into the family, before the ceremony even got underway.

Check out their ceremony site. So beautiful among the trees.

Watching.

Under the chuppah, sealed with a kiss.

Then they took a few moments for their portraits and to enjoy their newlywed status.

Let the party begin. Friends and family got things started with some music.

Sarah and Bryan kicked off the dancing with their first dance.

Did I mentioned laughter? Because there was tons of it. I am still laughing over the toast by Sarah’s cousin in which she explained the origins of the Jewish tradition of breaking the glass. Her explanation was one I had not heard before, and it had everyone reeling from laughter.

More dancing followed dinner.

Shosh and Jon, who introduced us to Sarah and Bryan, took a spin on the dancefloor.

The guests definitely enjoyed themselves.

And for that matter so did Sarah.

Thank you so much, Sarah and Bryan, for inviting me to be a part of your wedding day. I had such a great time working with you and am thrilled to share the rest of your photos with you. But first, a little PicFlick….

For more of Sarah and Bryan, check out their slideshow.

Here’s my favorite humorous moment from the bedecken. Sara’s checking out Mike to make sure he’s the right guy. Turns out he is.

What I didn’t count on, was the tears they would bring to my eyes.

During their ketubah signing ceremony, the Rabbi allowed for them to share some thoughts with each other. They were so tender and honest with each other.

And the way Mike looks at Sara simply melts my heart.

Here Mike is ensuring that Sara is indeed Sara. When I look at this image, I somehow make the same expression that Sara does. I can’t help it. Quivery happiness all over.

Alas, I have gotten ahead of myself. So allow me to take a step back.

I have known Mike for several years; we met while performing in a comedy improv group- Blue Blanket Improv- in California. Mike has since moved on and even started his own- Chicken Scratch Improv. And Dave knew Mike from their swing dancing days. We met Sara (and puppy Oscar) last fall and were instantly enamored. Mike and Sara are absolutely perfect together, and perfect parents for Oscar. When they chose us to photograph their wedding at Kennolyn near Santa Cruz, we started counting down the days.

We started off – me with Sara as she and her bridesmaids were getting ready and Dave with the handsome groom…

and his Entourage,

which included his adorable nephew. Precious missing teeth!

The guys have it a lot easier. Here, the women getting ready…Sara almost in her dress.

And a nod to Sara’s fabulous shoulders and back. She is a triathelete and spends tons of time in the pool. The pay-off is clear.

Just before the boys joined the girls for the ketubah signing, Sara and her beautiful little flower girl compared dresses.

Mike arrives. And Sara welcomes him in.

The Rabbi in the background. Flower girl, apparently, not so interested in that.

Then we head over for the ceremony under the huppah.

And Sara walks down the aisle with her mom…

I can’t wait to share more and there will definitely be lots, lots more. Of course, more from the reception, but I will also be sharing about the flowers. They were amazing! Bouquets and bouttonieres galore by Laughin’ Gal Floral. Definitely check back soon!

First mini-fam:

Sepi and Homan traveled from New York to get married at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco. They had an amazing Persian wedding ceremony followed by great food and endless dancing. We definitely wanted to capture their city sensibilities during the portrait session.

Homan’s mom, Golie married Nader the following year. And we were able to photograph the intimate ceremony at their home in Los Altos Hills as well as the reception at the Four Seasons in San Francisco.

Second mini-fam:

Mark and Julie celebrated their wedding at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia.

They brought us Tricia and Paul who had their reception at the Fairview Park Marriott Hotel in Falls Church.

Third mini-fam:

Judie and Luen were married at Tilden Park‘s Brazilian Room in Berkeley, California.

They brought us Sau-Lai and Keith, who had a Chinese Tea Ceremony at their family homes and then a Chinese Banquet at the ABC Seafood Restaurant in Foster City, California.

Fourth mini-fam:

Augie and Lisa got married in Tahiti and came home for a Chinese Banquet at Yank Sing in San Francisco. After the wedding, we had the good fortune to photographer their friend Sofia and Adil’s wedding at the Alta Mira Hotel in Sausalito.

Fifth mini-fam:

Hilary and Scott married at the Los Altos History Museum in Los Altos Hills.

They shared our info with Arianna and Jesse who held their Jewish wedding ceremony in the redwood grove of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden and then the rest of their wedding celebrations at the Brazilian Room in Tilden Park.

Check out more from Ariana and Jesse’s wedding: Engagement Session, Sneak Peak, The Scoop, and Slideshow.

Sixth mini-fam:

This one is a little hard to say who came first. Perhaps they are more like twins as both couples found us around the same time.

Teresa and Kyle were married at the Mission Santa Clara de Asis at Santa Clara University and then celebrated their reception at the Hotel DeAnza in San Jose.

Angela and Michael celebrated their wedding at The Lodge at Sonoma and followed with a private portrait session at Chateau St. Jean.

Check out more from Angela and Mike’s wedding: Sneak Peak, The Scoop, and Slideshow.

Seventh and final mini-fam:

Another mini-fam of twins. I believe Elsa and Tim found us. When Elsa came in to meet with us, she brought Emily along. So we actually met them both at the same time.

Elsa and Tim held their wedding ceremony at The Palmdale Estates, in their lovely gardens. They followed this with a lovely Chinese Banquet at the ABC Seafood Restaurant in Foster City.

Check out more from Elsa and Tim’s wedding: Engagement Session, Sneak Peak, The Scoop, and Slideshow.

Emily and Erik were married at the Mad Art Gallery in St. Louis Missouri. This totally hip art space is a converted jail designed in art deco style.

Check out more from Emily and Erik’s wedding: Engagement Session, Dress Fitting at Vera Wang, Sneak Peak, The Scoop, and Slideshow.

I am thrilled to share the reception portion of Jesse and Ariana’s wedding day. As you may recall, they held their ketubah and bedeken ceremonies in the Berkeley Botanic Garden and then celebrated their huppah ceremony on the Brazilian Room patio, all in Tilden Park. The reception continued immediately following the ceremony. Because we took the formal portraits down in the Botanic Gardens, Ariana and Jesse were able to kick-back and enjoy the cocktail hour.

The fun really got started once everyone headed inside. I so love the Israeli dancing. They kicked off several of my favorites with the Horah. I think this series of images totally captures their experience from before they get lifted through the dance to the relief when they are once again safely on the ground.

First, the look- “Oh my, what are we in for? Well whatever it is, we are in it together.”

Togetherness- “Hey, we got this covered! No problem.”

The relief- “We’re alive! Wasn’t that fun? Let’s do it again.”

Perhaps it is a bit like a roller coaster. And Ariana and Jesse added an extra element of the unpredictable. They were sitting in foldable chairs. Their friends were great, though, and totally kept them safe and secure.

After dinner we were serenaded by some very talented friends and family. What a treat!

Ariana and Jesse’s love was certainly infectious. And this couple has the distinct honor of having introduced Ariana and Jesse on the fateful Alaska backpacking trip.

Ariana’s dad was quite the dancer. He took her out for a turn on the dance floor.

And later enjoyed a dance with Ariana’s mom.

The evening closed with the traditional prayer after the meal. A group gathered around the candle-lit table to chant together.

The Brazilian Room is such a gorgeous venue. It looks beautiful at any time of day or night.

Congrats again to Ariana and Jesse and huge thank you’s! You had a super amazing, beautiful and fun wedding day- we are so glad we could be a part of it.

Check out more of Ariana and Jesse’s photos: engagement session, sneak preview, and wedding slideshow.