The Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay does weddings like no one else. There is simply no other venue that can compare to the breathtaking beauty and flawless service experienced with a Ritz Carlton wedding. Geoff and I love to photograph weddings at the Ritz Carlton HMB location because it is so beautiful, we know a couple will have gorgeous wedding photography when they have chosen such a perfect place for their wedding celebration. It’s ideal for a weekend wedding, with rehearsal dinner, golf and spa day for the guys and girls, the wedding and of course the day after brunch! There are numerous locations on the property that take advantage of that gorgeous view-who wouldn’t want to get married with the ocean view and bluffs as the backdrop?  Here are a few of the different ceremony location options you have when holding your wedding ceremony outdoors at the Ritz Carlton HMB:

This is the gazebo and probably the most popular ceremony location. The Gazebo makes a great focal point for the ceremony, and you can see in this image that there is a table set up for the candle lighting inside the gazebo.

For Jewish ceremonies, there is often a chuppah placed in front of the gazebo just like this: 

This location works wonderfully for smaller groups, and has the advantage of a very dramatic entrance for the bride, who walks down the hillside, and the guests will see her appear at the peak of the hill as she makes her way down. It’s gorgeous!!

Finally, here is a third location The Ritz Carlton offers for ceremonies, again, this allows the guests a gorgeous view of the ocean and bluffs during the wedding ceremony, and can be especially dramatic near sunset when the lighting is golden.

The Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay has the tradition of a bagpiper ushering in, or announcing the arrival of sunset (just like at St. Andrew’s in Scotland!). Sometimes couple will add this to their ceremony, with the bagpiper playing just before the groom’s arrival. This really sets the mood and is a wonderful and exciting way to start the wedding ceremony.

There are so many fabulous locations for wedding portraits all around the Ritz Carlton property and at the bluffs. Geoff and I have literally spent hours finding all the great little spots all around from various bridal sessions, so we are intimately familiar with the best spots. The bluffs are great, you get a great view of the property and have the option of going down to the beach below (if you aren’t afraid of a little sand on your dress!)

This is at noon, which means the lighting is not ideal, but we can work with it!

Sun just setting below the horizon. As you can imagine, Rachel and Michael are not “stiffly posed” but are actually enjoying a quiet moment together. How many people can say they spent a moment enjoying the sunset on their wedding day? Actually, many of our clients can, and almost all our couples from the Ritz Carlton can!

This is my favorite one taken on the beach. The couple definitely have that “wedding glow” about them:

Now on to bridal portraits!  We love doing a bridal session for our Ritz Carlton brides at the property prior to the wedding day. It gives us an hour or more to create some fun, top model worthy images for you that you will cherish. It’s also a great opportunity to see how the dress fits (and photographs) prior to the big day, kind a dress rehearsal, if you will. Depending on how much time you have (and the lighting at the time) the Ritz Carlton has many options for great bridal portraits. It can be just a few minutes outside your suite, or 45 minutes set aside to go to the bluffs, whatever you prefer. There’s no other venue in the Bay Area that offers these kinds of dramatic backdrops that you can so quickly and easily get to. Pretty much every direction you turn, we can find some great spots.

Now on to the reception! One of the many reasons the Ritz Carlton is such an outstanding location for weddings is the patios offered outside of the rooms. The ballroom has a patio area just outside with a fireplace, and makes a great place to relax for your guests. I’ve seen cigar bars and wine and cheese displays set up and guests really enjoy relaxing outside. The West Wing area also has a patio and fire pit, and you can hear the ocean waves crashing from there. I’ve seen wedding guests sitting out and making s mores at the fire pit after a wedding, it is just lovely. Here are a few examples of rooms set up for wedding receptions:

Above and below are of the main ballroom, which is used for larger groups and is typically set with a dance floor in the middle.

Here is the Miramontes room, which is great for smaller groups, and after dinner is served the wedding party typically moves into the Observatory next door, where cake and dancing take place. It’s a really lovely and intimate setting.

Ignoring the absolute gorgeous-ness of the location (and the joy of your guests who experience a weekend there) you will find that what really sets apart the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay is the staff. You simply will not find service like this anywhere else. Everyone works together from beginning to end as a team to present a flawless experience for you and your guests. We work in partnership with numerous people including Sunni, Tony, Leslie, Kenneth, Melissa, Cee Y and many others. We are in contact with them in the months prior to make sure that all needs are met, and they go above and beyond every time to make sure it is the wedding of a lifetime. I could not more highly recommend the Ritz Carlton as a venue for your dream wedding ceremony and reception, which is why this is the very first venue spotlight in the series!

Brittainie turns 17 today. Isn’t she gorgeous???!??  Look at those eyes. She is so much fun to photograph, as she has that special ability to flirt with the camera. These were taken about a year ago, I think it’s high time we created some new portraits for her. We’ll be going out in a few weeks for her official “senior session.”

She’s 17 today. As you can see, purple is definitely her color. Happy Birthday Baby!

Lorena and Jaime chose the city backdrop as the location for their recent engagement session, photographed by Geoff. They started off around Ghirardelli Square, then headed over to Baker Beach. Geoff had a lot of fun getting to know these two and just hanging out in the City. We are SO EXCITED for their wedding this May! They are throwing the party of the year (maybe the decade?) and we get to photograph it, which we are super excited about. I won’t reveal the details, but let’s just say their guests are in for the party of their lives, it’s going to be so cool. Here is a sneak peak at a few highlights from their session, we are working on putting together a Signature album for them. Enjoy!

We are thrilled to see one of our images was selected for the cover of Wedding Cakes: A Design Source. It’s always an honor to have our images published, and for this issue they choose to feature 3 different cakes that we have photographed. The cover image is from Kristie & Jason’s wedding at the Palo Alto Country Club, which was planned by Morgan Doan. The wedding cake was designed by Nancy’s Fancies in San Carlos, which sadly is now closed. The image on the right is the wedding cake from Katalina & Joe’s wedding, created by Creative International Pastries, and then below, on the left is the wedding cake of Ruby & Glenn at the Julia Morgan Ballroom. Their wedding cake was designed by Sweet Passions Bakery. I love the lilac and chocolate circles design they incorporated, it was very playful. And delicious too, as I recall (that was back when I was eating a lot of wedding cake for those of you still following my road to sugar addiction recovery!).

Moran Doan of Events By Morgan is one of the first planners we ever worked with, and she certainly set the bar high as far as planners go. We have worked with Morgan on a number of weddings throughout the years, and one of her strongest qualities as a planner is her logistical expertise. Because of her background in corporate events, Morgan has a very professional demeanor, and can handle everything from start to finish. She’s also very design savvy and works with the best in the industry to create the most innovative, stunning event designs you’ve ever seen, creating the ultimate look for your wedding. Morgan is both a leader and an innovator in the industry, and if you are thinking about hiring a planner for your wedding, she’s one of the best!  Here are some highlights from past weddings:

These images are from Mychael & Tiffany’s wedding at the Silver Creek Country Club The bride walked down this gorgeous path of a rose petal carpet, designed by Flower Divas It was absolutely stunning. This wedding has actually been published many times (even in China!) so you might recognize some of the images. The ceremony details were pink and green and the evening reception had a different theme of chocolate and green, with some deep red accents. I loved the presentation of these favors, and the couple used their monogram throughout the event.

These are a few highlights from Cyndie & Willie’s wedding at San Francisco City Hall. This wedding was recently published in Bride & Bloom. Morgan’s weddings tend to be published frequently as she is often creating stunning design concepts that are so extravagant, you can find a lot of inspiration in them even if you don’t have the budget to go all out. For this City Hall wedding, Morgan orchestrated the ceremony  and then moved the guests into another room for cocktail hour and Chinese dragon dancers while the main room was switched over from ceremony to reception. That takes a real coordinated plan carried out to precision.

The favors are actually playing cards, as the groom loves poker. It was a surprise to him, along with the cake below:

This wedding took place at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay and was a destination wedding for Cristy & Charles, both from New York. The bride envisioned a seaside theme, and chose colors to reflect that.

Morgan used crystal trees to hang the escort cards from. It was glorious! The entrance into the ballroom was very dramatic, with the curtains and lighting. That is another signature Morgan element, the guests always get that “wow factor” upon entering the reception.

At the last dance, the crowd was showered with confetti, which made a great ending for the reception. Morgan always has a few surprises lined up for her weddings, to ensure they are unique and reflect the bride’s taste and style.

Overall, Morgan is one of the best wedding planners you could find. Her attention to detail, perfect timing, industry contact and innovative design concepts are just a few of the reasons she is at the top of the industry.

Engagement sessions are one of my favorite things to photograph because it is all about getting to know the couple and capturing their relationship. With the weather clearing up soon, we’ll be starting our engagement sessions for our summer wedding couples in the next couple of weeks. Engagement sessions are great because you get a chance to get comfortable in front of the camera while also getting to know your photographer. It takes a lot of pressure off the wedding day, and allows your wedding photographer to hit the ground running, as you have already established that comfort level.

When it comes to the engagement session, it’s a good idea to put some thought & planning into it. You want to show off your relationship and also your personality. One of the best ways to do that is through your clothing and accessories. Don’t be afraid of a little flair! Scarves, belts, hats, shoes, jewelry, etc all add to your look & will help create some amazing images for you. From a creative standpoint, your wedding photographer is going to be a lot more creatively inspired if you bring some personal style to the session! If you have the ability to schedule your hair & makeup trial on the same day as the engagement session, you ensure you’ll look your very best in the engagement photos. I also recommend coordinating the two outfits together. When choosing clothing for the two of you, I recommend thinking of the different pieces as one outfit, so that everything works well together and has a pulled together look. Here are some great examples of that:

See how those red shoes just add a certain hotness to the image above? One the one below, we did that engagement session at Baker Beach. See how all those accessories-the hat, the tie, and flower in her hair, those little details add a lot of visual interest to the image. It’s one of my favorites from their engagement session.

Notice how the pattern on the dress is repeated in the shoes? Subtle, but definitely noticed.

This couple Jen & Travis brought a lot of style to the session, and that definately inspired us creatively, which led to us using this cool car as a prop for the couple.

Another big way to really make the most of your session is to play up your relationship to the camera. At first you might feel a little nervous and shy, that’s very typical. In fact, we usually don’t get many great photos during the first 20 minutes or so, as the couple gets warmed up to the camera. So don’t worry if you feel nervous at first, but do try to have fun and relax. The idea is to capture the real relationship between the two of you, and the best way to do that is to act naturally with each other, but in a way that reflects your relationship. If you are typically goofy with each other, then show that to the camera. If the two of you tend to be more intimate, then go ahead and snuggle up, hold hands, embrace, look into each other’s eyes. If you are very romantic and tend to be more on the sensual side, then don’t be afraid to show it! I’m a big fan of making out on camera:

Another way to create some great images is to bring some attitude, be it flirting with the camera or showing your sassy side:

A few final pointers for engagement sessions, be sure to be on time, because when you are late, your engagement session is going to be shorter, and sometimes it’s at the very end that we get the best shots! We always schedule the session an hour before sunset, as that is the very best lighting. Once the sun goes down, that’s it, so don’t miss anything! If you think a glass of wine might help you to relax, by all means, go ahead!  If you’d like to see more ideas for engagement sessions, please check out our website gallery of engagement photos. If you are interested in having us photograph your engagement session, give us a call!

One of the most often overlooked parts of the wedding plans is the rehearsal dinner. Don’t wait until the last minute to plan this great party, it’s such a wonderful opportunity for the groom’s family to shine, and it really sets the tone for the overall event. Sometimes we get to photograph these events for our clients, and it’s really wonderful to see a well planned celebration as part of the overall experience. There’s a company called Well Rehearsed by Kathy Goodman, and she only does rehearsal dinners, so you are getting a specialist! I highly recommend for brides & grooms to start thinking about the rehearsal dinner & how to really make it a special event. For brides, this is a great way to really connect with your mother-in-law and make sure his side of the family feels included in the wedding planning process. It’s also a way to really connect with your inner circle and the out of town guests that you won’t get to spend more than a few moments with on the wedding day. Kathy recommends choosing a theme that reflects the groom (woodworking is the theme below) and really letting his passions and personality take the center stage. Below, Kathy gives a few more reasons why it is important to plan a great rehearsal dinner:

#1 – This is the first event that kicks off your wedding celebration weekend                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           This is when your closest friends and family come together. Families may be meeting for the first time, you may be meeting some extended family for the first time. There are out-of-town guests and your bridal parties are getting to know each other. This is all so important because it helps everyone bond and have a fantastic time the next day. This is an event where you are hosting the most important people in your lives and saying “thank you for coming.” So many people have put time and energy in helping you create the perfect wedding day that this is really the time to say thank you through a well thought-out rehearsal dinner.

 #2 – The rehearsal dinner extends your wedding celebration.

The rehearsal dinner is an extension of the quality time you get to spend with your friend and family. The wedding day will definitely be a full day of activities and celebration. I can’t explain how this happens on your wedding day but time speeds up and in a blink of an eye it’s over. But your reception is typically 5-6 hours of that day. So think of your rehearsal dinner as adding 50% more time – QUALITY TIME – to spend with the people you love the most. It’s a great night because nerves haven’t hit, you are relaxed and can really enjoy everything and soak up the evening.

#3 – Finally this is a night you can be creative and tell your story as a couple.

Your wedding day you are celebrating your commitment to each other and your future together as a married couple. I like to think of the rehearsal dinner as the time to remember your past, where you came from individually and then how you became a couple. And trust me your family and friends will help you remember. There will be heartfelt toasts and maybe some roasts… but it’s a night that you can really tell your story as couple.

If you decide to have Well Rehearsed plan your event, you HAVE to order these cupcake pops (just work them into the theme somehow!) These are so good, I swear, it’s like crack for the sugar addict. Of course, I’m a recovering addict, as loyal blog readers know, but if I were to have a relapse, it would be with a batch of these I promise you.

As promised, here are some of the most memorable exits we’ve seen. Great entrances and exits are a great way to amp up the excitement level, and it is usually something guests really remember, just because it can be so exciting. Catherine & Rico planned this great exit form the church. Since they knew they wanted a great exit from the church, they took care of all their family portraits prior to the ceremony, so as soon as the wedding ended, they signed the marriage certificate with the priest while the guests exited. A family member organized the guests and handed out bubbles. Since they had all their portraits taken care of, the couple went straight to their cocktail hour from here.

This is Cindy & Chris, getting into Chris’s classic porsche. His family has a porsche “habit” so this was a very personal & memorable way to leave the church. Plus it’s so classic! Amanda & Phil also left their ceremony in a classic car.

Daphnie & Zohar & Tarah & Eric both went with rose petal exits. For Daphnie & Zohar, the guests had little cones filled with rose petals, and the key people sitting at the front were reminded to start tossing rose petals which let the other guests know what to do. Tarah & Eric had a big basket of roses in the front row which was tossed at them as they started down the aisle.

Su-May & Ulas were showered with bubbles during their exit, as well as Julie & Robbie. The guest love this, and it’s a fun way to keep the excitement level going.

Anna and Pete had a dove release for their exit, and while Amy & Dan didn’t have anything special planned for their exit, after a few feet they felt the need to stop in their tracks and enjoy the moment a bit, while their guests cheered them on.

Here are the pictures I promised on the beach house in Pacific Grove. It was super cute (for 2 people) & very affordable. It would make a perfect little mini honeymoon getaway.  Here’s the front, the street was quiet, perfect for sitting on the porch and just hanging out. The owner took a lot of care in decorating for a getaway.

There were 2 bedrooms, but it felt more suitable for 1 couple. The bathroom is amazing, with a super luxury tub with a great backyard view, lights under water, music, etc.

And look at the cute little welcome basket that was waiting for us!

I found this place on VRBO which stands for vacation rental by owner. I’d love to hear some of your favorite spots to get away in the Bay Area!

Entrances and exits are an often overlooked, but fantastic way to make your wedding very memorable. Here’s a collection of some of my favorite entrances for both brides and grooms. Here’s Shomit arriving on a white horse. Can’t beat that for drama!

Here’s Amanda and her posse arriving & walking down a long driveway to the church. This wasn’t anything particularly planned (and I’m the only one who saw it) but I’ve always loved this image. I think it speaks to the mood of the day-relaxed, casual & surrounded by family & friends.

Tiffany’s entrance was so memorable because of the shape her dress gave her. Mimi walked down the long path at Villa Montalvo while Sade’s “By Your Side” played. For some reason, all the guests (and myself) were bawling. It was a great entrance.

This is my favorite shot from the Turks and Caicos wedding. Piper (the groom) is surrounded by his best friends & groomsmen, and they are literally singing and dancing their way to the ceremony.

This is Desrene’s entrance (from Turks and Caicos) equally impressive. The pool was covered in plexiglass for the bridal party’s dramatic entrance. Cyndie had to walk down all those stairs in heels (kind of terrifying) but she did it perfectly, and that was an amazing entrance.

Kirtee was carried to her ceremony like a princess.

Both of these weddings took place at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay. Nancy’s arrival was so beautiful, with the bright blue sky behind her, and the ocean bluffs in front of her. Michael was escorted down the aisle by his parents, to wild cheering and applause, which was so cool.

Next week I’ll post about great exits. Rose petals, bubbles, bagpipers, dove releases and cool getaway cars.