Penny + Nicholas :: A Classic & Romantic San Diego Wedding
Hello loves! Today we have some really beautiful photos to show you from Penny + Nicholas’s wedding in sunny California. P + N are just one of those couples who obviously brim with love for each other, seemingly nonstop(!), and who doesn’t love witnessing something as beautiful as that? The two met through friends in late 2008 and have been inseparable ever since. He’s a southern gentlemen and a hopeless romantic (their proposal = straight from a storybook, helicopter and all!), and she’s a sweet & smart midwestern gal with a deep love of planning and structure. He taught her how to eat spicy chile peppers and she taught him how to properly eat good ‘ol Iowa sweet corn. She likes to say that he continually has her view life in a whole new light (gush – love that). Our uber talented San Diego Photographer, Tracy, did an amazing job capturing every sweet and sentimental moment from P + N’s wedding day. Their wedding was classic, romantic, and all about spending cherished time with their friends & family. They’re both Catholic and so had a traditional mass at the ceremony, but made sure to make it as warm, fun and upbeat as possible! We think the photos are proof that they succeeded :) Penny chose gorgeous long charcoal bridesmaids dresses and pink and white flowers for the bouquets and overall wedding decor, and we all think it came together so beautifully.
Best friends. In love. Husband and Wife. Doesn’t get much better than that :)
p.s. look out for a quick appearance by Sadie, their little & much loved Pomeranian! x’s & o’s you two!
Photographer: Tracy; Ceremony Venue: St. Therese of Carmel Catholic Church; Reception Venue: Estancia Hotel & Spa; Florist: Tailored Florals and Events; Cake: Cute Cakes; Entertainment: Ultimate Events
Read MoreLauren + Peter :: California Wedding & Elegant Garden Party
We’ve got the most beautiful wedding to show you today and it couldn’t be more perfectly tailored to this gorgeous spring weather! While it may have actually been shot in July (and in sunny CA), we still feel it’s fitting because Californian’s have spring weather all year round don’t they? ;) Speaking of CA, our uber-talented SanFran photographer, Michael, was there to capture the whole day and he did such an incredible job. Lauren and Peter described their vision to us as a casually elegant, and very personal garden wedding. It was going to take place at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, which she described to be like a Spanish Mission with lots of unbelievably gorgeous gardens. We immediately thought – garden party! You know, the exquisite outdoor parties thrown by prestigious europeans at Buckingham Palace and the Palais de l’Elysée. Need we say more? AMAZING. Here are a few tips when planning your own Garden Party Wedding:
1. Garden Party ≠ Casual. Just because you’ve decided to throw an outdoor wedding, doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be casual! You better believe the garden parties thrown at the Palais de l’Elysée are formal. Lauren didn’t forgo the gorgeous long wedding dress just because she was going to be outside – she chose a beautifully beaded gown that worked perfectly with their exquisite outdoor surroundings & decor.
2. Choose colors that complement the gardens. L + P chose to use hydrangeas in the bouquets and centerpieces that worked beautifully with the many hydrangeas in the gardens at the venue. They also used a lot of royal blues (bridesmaids dresses, tablecloths, etc.), which made the perfect palette for all of the purples, pinks and greens of the flowers to lie next to.
3. Don’t skimp on the dinner! Have the formal, 3 course, plated meal you always dreamed of – just under a few crisp, white umbrellas for shade! Mixing the beauty of the outdoors with the beauty of some exquisite stemware and delicate china is the perfect way push your outdoor wedding from a rustic picnic to the elegant garden party you envisioned.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Thrilled to have you as part of our OLAS family L+P!
Photographer: Michael; Ceremony/Reception: Allied Arts Guild; Florist: Apis Floral; Cake: Jen’s Cakes; Caterer: Cafe Primavera; DJ: Elite Entertainment; Harpist: Michelle Sell; Dress: Casablanca; Shoes: Dessy; Hair: Christina Hair Artistry; Favor Tags: My Own Labels; Graham Cracker Cookies: Miette
Read MoreAaron + Marie CA Engagement :: Choose A Theme For Your E-Sesh
Y’all, get ready. This San Diego engagement session is crazy beautiful + fun. Seriously, we’re in love! Aaron + Marie did such a great job preparing for their shoot, and it reeeaaally shows. We think the way A + M made the most out of their session, was by picking a theme/overall feel for the day (and also by choosing our phenomenal photog Tracy, too of course!). Engagement sessions are the perfect place to really showcase you and your groom to be’s personality. Looking through Aaron + Marie’s photos gives us this wonderful glimpse into their sweet and playful personalities. Here’s how:
1. Choose a theme and dress the part. Aaron and Marie went for a really fun vibe for their engagement shoot. Remember that themes don’t have to be complicated, they just need to point you in some kind of direction. By dressing in casual and playful attire, this immediately comes across in their photos. Don’t forget to pay attention to the little details too – like a bright lipstick or nail color to enhance your overall look!
2. Pick a location that works with your theme. By choosing a location that had a TON of different backdrops and lots of bright colors, A + M got to play with plenty of different poses and ended up with a really great variety of fun-filled shots!
3. Bring fun props! We say it all the time, but this can REALLY make such a big difference! We just love that A + M brought their matching blue stuffed animals (so cute), paper flowers, chalk boards and vintage wooden blocks with them. Love love love.
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Natasha + Nathan :: CA Wedding Part 2 :: Choosing Your Venue
If you happened to miss Part 1 of Natasha + Nathan’s gorgeous California wedding , be sure to check that out now and then head back here for more. There’s so much we could say about these two and their wedding day, but when we looked back at the photos, we were quite literally stunned by the breathtakingly gorgeous winery and estate at Murietta’s Well in the San Franciso Bay Area, where N + N had their ceremony and reception. This got us thinking about venues and how integral they are to the entire wedding day experience (obvi). I don’t think anyone would argue the importance of choosing a fab wedding venue, but here are a few of our thoughts on the matter, coming from the photography side of things.
1. Think about your photos when choosing your venue, literally! Natasha and Nathan’s wedding photos are stunning, hands down. While you obviously have to have an amazing photographer to know how to capture them (ahem, like our San Fran photog, Michael), having a venue with an un-ending supply of photo op – worthy backdrops can really push your photos over the edge from just beautiful, to out.of.this.world.amazing. When you’re visiting different venues, think about all the different locals your photographer might be able to use and make sure you’re happy with the possibilities!
2. Don’t forget timing : Natasha and Nathan chose to have their wedding one evening in late June, when they knew the winery would be at its lushest. The rich greens and earthy tones of the vineyard made N + N’s couples shots pure magic. Don’t forget to factor in the time of year, time of day, etc., to get the absolute most out of your venue.
3. Choose a venue that stays true to your personal style : We all know they’re out there, those local venues everyone ooo’s and aahh’s over in wedding mags and during gal pal brunches on Sunday afternoons; but when making your final decision – make sure it’s really the best fit for you and your groom-to-be. Remember that the venue you choose will be the backdrop to every.single.wedding photo, and you want that to reflect beauty (of course!), but most importantly, you want that to reflect the two of you and the overall feel you’re hoping for on your day!
Thank you N + N for letting us be a part of such a beautifully, important day in your lives! We couldn’t be more happy to have gotten to share it with you :)
Venue: Murrietta’s Well; Florist: H&L Flowers; Dress: Mori Lee; Shoes: TopShop; Hair/Makeup: Ma Belle Salon; Wedding Planner: Tami Weis; DJ: Elite Entertainment;
Read MoreFEATURED::Sydney + Chris:: A Paper Proposal
Big thanks to A Paper Proposal for featuring Sydney + Chris’ Southern California wedding today!
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Natasha + Nathan :: CA Wedding Part 1 :: Little Pops Of Color
It’s been an unseasonably warm week in the DC/VA area, and for those of us OLAS-ers who live near enough to enjoy it, let’s just say we have definitely been trying to soak it up. It’s the beginning of March people! This is crazy weather! Crazy awesome weather, we might add. In keeping with the spring-like temperatures we’ve been so lucky to enjoy lately, we’ve decided to talk a little bit about the popular & upcoming new spring trend, pops of color! California couple Natasha and Nathan and their June wedding are the perfect example to demonstrate this fun new trend. Here are a few things to take away from their gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS wedding shot by our unbelievably talented California photographer, Michael.
1. Know when to use them :: Natasha + Nathan decided to have their wedding at a winery, and therefore knew that their surroundings were going to be absolutely stunning. Think about your location, if you’ve already got a really beautiful back drop, consider just using little pops of color to infuse in some fun and personality! If you need to jazz up your surroundings a little more, you may want to have a more bold/obvious approach when it comes to your color scheme.
2. Think about the littlest details :: N + N did such a great job infusing fun little pops of color into all the most unexpected places; from Natasha’s shoes to Nathan’s socks and pocket square, even their Champagne labels! Natasha’s cosmetician even joined in on the fun and wore yellow nail polish (which looks so gorgeous in the photos of N getting her makeup done!). Think about all the little, unexpected places you could add pops of color – it’s really amazing how the littlest details can make all.the.difference in your photos.
3. Go bright! Go bold! :: The really great thing about little pops of color… is that they are little! Don’t be afraid to choose really bold & fun colors like oranges, bright greens, reds & pinks. They’ll just add a little something extra to the decor, without dominating your entire look.
*Keep an eye out for more pops of color coming in Part 2 next week!
Venue: Murrietta’s Well; Florist: H&L Flowers; Dress: Mori Lee; Shoes: TopShop; Hair/Makeup: Ma Belle Salon; Wedding Planner: Tami Weis
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