Christy + Nils – Wedding
Happy Monday OLAS fam! I know it’s the Monday after Halloween, and you’d all probably rather be sitting in bed watching scary movies and eating bagfuls of candy, but since that is most likely not the case, I thought I’d share some OLAS lovin’ to brighten your Monday 
This has to be one of my favorite weddings by far! Shot by our super talented California photographer, Michael, the wedding of Christy and Nils is nothing short of spectacular. Filled with epic couples and bridal party shots and really sweet, meaningful moments, this couple’s big day was simply beautiful. Here are just a very few of my favorites (and by a very few, I mean about 30), and it was definitely not easy to narrow these down! We hope you love these as much as we do, and be sure to check out their full slideshow at http://oncelikeaspark.com!
And now to start, the beautiful Christy…
Love this one of Christy unveiling herself to family and friends:
What a great shot of Christy’s dad reading a note from his daughter.
So, so beautiful!
And here’s one of the cutest first glances we have EVER seen!
Love Nil’s face
The pink bridesmaids dresses add such a great pop of color to these really wonderful bridal party pictures, not to mention the dashing groomsmen and beautiful bride and groom!
This one is just beyond cute.
And now for some really phenomenal couples shots. I love the brick as their background!
The arches in these next couple of shots make for such a great natural frame on these pictures:
Love these next two!
Don’t they just look so happy, relaxed, and ready to get hitched?!
So handsome, these guys…
And such beautiful girls!
How can you not help but smile at that face?? How moving and wonderful…
And how proud her dad must be of his gorgeous little girl. You know how much I love these shots!
First kiss as man and wife!
How amazing are these exit shots?? They are SO happy, and I LOVE the rose petals.
Ok, EPIC couples shots alert!
Oh, the light! Shining literally right down on them. We love!
Adorable umbrellas and adorable couple!
Those flowers are such a great backdrop to this precious shot of Christy and Nils at their reception.
Love this one of Christy’s sweet mom and dad
And adore this one of one of her bridesmaids!
And I just had to end with these ultra adorable shots of Christy and Nils in their photobooth. Congrats, you two! Thank you so much for letting Michael and (once like a spark) capture your special day!
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Kirstin + Dave – Wedding
Kirstin and Dave wanted a wedding where the beauty, splendor, amazing food and wine, and spirit of California could be shared with their closest family and friends. Shot by our incredible California photog Michael, we absolutely think they exceeded every expectation. Kirstin is originally from Canada, so it was wonderful to be able to share their special day with so many close family and friends. We love the absolutely rustic feel of this whole wedding–from the place where the gals got ready, to the scenic landscape of the couples shots to the great venue. So many of our favorite shots are filled with such emotion, and we absolutely love them! We hope you do too, and be sure to check out the full slideshow at http://california.oncelikeaspark.com!
And, as an added bonus, here’s a track from our OLAS spotlight, Henry Wolfe, singing a song of his own California. Enjoy!
So now, for our gorgeous bride and her friends getting ready:
Now for the handsome groomsmen…
We LOVE this one of Kirstin and her dad. Moments like this are so special, and, thanks to Michael, one that Kirstin and Dave (and her dad) can have forever
The beautiful venue, and stunning bride and groom:
LOVE these next couple shots–filled with such love and light. Now THOSE are some a cutie groomsmen if we’ve ever seen them!
The knot…has been tied!
And now for some beyond awesome couples shots. Kirstin, Dave and Michael clearly took a little journey through the beautiful California landscape. Oh man, oh man, this one is so romantic and we love the light, airy feel…
And this one is just as spectacular…
In the words of John Lennon…the long and winding road, that leads to your door…
We love these detail shots for several reasons: 1. Anything in a canning jar is awesome. 2. Dave BREWED HIS OWN “nuptial beer” for the occasion 3. Kirstin’s uncle is a former morning radio personality, and thus was the perfect choice for spinning those SIMON looking turntables (remember Simon??) 4. Whatever is on that grill looks amazingly delicious.
I would love to know the words that lead to that amazing look:
Some future little grooms chillin’ with this handsome guy. LOVE the suspenders!!
Can’t you just hear Kirstin laughing in these pictures??
Congratulations, Kirstin and Dave!!! Thank you so much for letting Michael and (once like a spark) capture your special day! We wouldn’t be surprised if some of Kirstin’s Northern relatives moved a little farther south after this amazing experience
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Heather + Stuart – Engagement
Some of our favorite engagement sessions are just a couple exploring a city together (albeit with an OLAS photographer tagging along), and that’s just what Heather and Stuart, an adorable San Fran couple, did. Shot by our stellar CA photographer, Michael, these shots are both personal, but also highlight the beautiful city where they roamed for the day. We love how this couple (and Michael!) got creative with their shots–from riding on a city bus, to climbing a huge, gorgeous tree, to checking out some really amazing local art in an alleyway. We’re shooting Heather and Stuart’s wedding, so we can’t wait to see what unique shots will turn up there. Be on the lookout! Congratulations, you two, and thanks for letting Michael and (once like a spark) come along for your adventure in the city!
As always, check out Heather and Stuart’s full slideshow on our California site!
It’s amazing how the most hidden and unconventionally beautiful places make the most beautiful pictures:
Love these:
What a cool looking bus! Just the perfect little spot to stop for an amazing picture…
No matter how old we get, I still think we all have the hidden desire to go climb a tree. Especially a tree like this!
This is one phenomenal shot, if I do say so myself. Congrats again, Heather and Stuart! Can’t wait to capture what promises to be an amazing day of “I Do’s”!
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Crystal + Nick – Wedding
Michael, one of our KILLER California photographers, shot Crystal and Nick’s wedding in Sunnyvale, CA at the end of May, and we’ve been swooning at the photos ever since. Michael is an acclaimed social photojournalist, and spends much of his time “in the trenches” on assignment with some of the nation’s largest newspapers and media outlets. He has been sent to cover everything from the devastation in Haiti to the riots in Oakland, and the photojournalistic perspective that he brings to each and every wedding that he is shoots leaves us breathless. He has an amazing well of telling a complex story with photos, and all of his images relate so many levels of what he is capturing, and Crystal and Nick’s wedding was no exception. Crystal and Nick got married on his birthday (what an amazing bday gift!), and they celebrated with only their very closest friends and family. The story begins.
Michael spent some time with the guys as they wrapped up their final touches. A last quick look in the mirror, and they’re good to go.
A few more last minute details, with lots of joking around in-bewteen.
The ladies were just down the road, getting ready at Crystal’s parents house. We love witnessing all of the love and care that goes into getting the bride and groom ready for their big day. We heart these shots of Crystal getting into her dress, and Nick’s dad making sure his collar is just right.These next three black and white shots are some of our absolute favorite shots of the day, and I think they speak for themselves. Absolutely beautiful.Favorite!!And yet another fav. Sigh.The ceremony begins! Crystal and Nick got married at St. Joseph’s in Mountain View – an old mission church. We love, love, love this light as the doors open and Crystal begins her walk down the aisle.The ceremony is over and Crystal and Nick are MARRIED! I know we’ve said this before, but shots of the joy on the face of the couple after the ceremony has ended are always some of our favs.Just a few details….The schedule for the day allowed for TWO HOURS between the ceremony and reception, which naturally leads to amazing couples portraits! Michael, Crystal, and Nick spent this time all over Sunnyville, utilizing everything from the nature to the small town cityscape. We love the unique, geometric feel of these next few shots…
Crystal and Nick knew they wanted shots in the streets of downtown Sunnyvale, and we’re glad they did. We love these!More downtown shots…LOVE this of the entire bridal party!
The reception begins at a local restaurant in Sunnyvale. This is yet another favorite photo of the day – the groomsmen chilling as it all begins.Michael got some amazing shots of Crystal and Nick dancing, and you can tell they are totally in their own world. Love the light in these….
Surrounded by their closest friends and family, their reception was filled with lots of dancing, and lots of laughter. Check out the sweet shots below, and mad props to Crystal and her dad for the dance coordination!
Congrats Crystal and Nick, and we are so blessed to be a part of your wedding day!
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Elina + Kosta – Wedding
Get ready for this, friends of OLAS: this wedding of the beautiful Elina and Kosta comes straight to us from Mexico!! The couple chose a spectacular location for their destination wedding, and we are so glad they chose our super talented photographer Michael (http://california.oncelikeaspark.com) to capture their special day (and a few days surrounding their big day, too!).
Elina and Kosta were surrounded by their family and friends for days (and nights!) of celebration. We love how the whole event just seemed like a conglomeration of amazing food, wine, beaches, good conversation, some crazy dancing (wait until you see the second to last post!), and of course, a wedding! Michael did such a phenomenal job of capturing the emotion and intimacy of these incredibly special days. We hope you agree, and don’t forget to check out the whole slideshow at http://california.oncelikeaspark.com!
Isn’t Elina stunning? We love the orchid, and the exquisite “something blue” earrings:
A few shots of the bridesmaids looking beautiful and the groomsmen looking dashing, and a couple of Elina and Kosta seeing each other for the first time on their big day!:
We’re all about the color, don’t get us wrong, but sometimes a black and white photograph (or two) can be so so beautiful:
Just look at that stunning backdrop for their beautiful wedding:
Probably one of the cutest kids we’ve ever seen:
Allow us to repeat ourselves: probably one of the cutest kids we’ve ever seen:
Isn’t this such a fun shot?:
Congratulations, Elina and Kosta!! Thank you so much for letting Michael and (once like a spark) capture your wedding day!
Read MoreKatie + Karsten
I just CANNOT stop looking at this latest, gorgeous engagement session from our seriously talented California photographer, Michael (california.oncelikeaspark.com). After working with this beautiful couple, we’re all kind of in love with Katie and Karsten. These pictures match their awesome styles perfectly, with just the right amount of class and quirky attitude.
Karsten popped the question in Alamo Park, which provided an ideal location to kick off their sesh with Michael. Check out all of their pictures below.
Congrats Katie and Karsten! Looking forward to your wedding in August.
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