Thank you Bay Area brides (and Knotties) for voting for us in the Knot’s “Best of Weddings.” It means a lot to us to know that we’ve made it to the top of your list!

Kathleen & Dave had a gorgeous new year’s eve wedding and Geoff & I had the honor of photographing every moment. We started off in Kathleen’s suite at the Omni Hotel in San Francisco. It was a perfectly elegant setting for a bride to get  ready, and I love the rich red wallpaper in the background. Her floral designer& event planner, Isabella of Florabella did a stunning white bouquet for Kathleen, it was so fragrant and I loved the textures. I’m not usually a fan of white bouquets, but this one was really spectacular!

Kathleen & Dave had a “first look” meeting in the bridal suite, and then we headed out to do portraits. With the wedding ceremony at 6pm, portraits beforehand was a great choice.

We went to Presideo Park, which is a great location for portraits. Kathleen went for classic tastes with pearl bridal set and white bouquet. She looks gorgeous!

Since it was a bit chilly on the last day of December, Kathleen’s mom made this FABULOUS wrap to go with Kathleen’s dress. It was ivory on the outside, and then a very soft beige on the inside, with a clever loophole to keep it from slipping off the shoulders.

The ceremony was held at Old Saint Mary’s in San Francisco. I love this church, it’s a great space to photograph in, and they are pretty lenient with photographers. We were able to photograph from the balcony as well, which gives a wonderful overall shot below.

And they are married!

After the ceremony, we headed to the Julia Morgan Ballroom, where Kathleen and Dave were able to enjoy a nice cocktail hour with their guests since we’d gotten all the portraits done beforehand. Julia Morgan ballroom can be very difficult to capture – it’s dark and the intricate ceiling and flooring can overpower the details. Kathleen and David chose good lighting, and the heavy cloths and the texture-heavy flowers and place settings really help counteract that. Instead of being lost in the room, the whole setting looks rich.

Cake is from Jen’s Cakes, and was perfectly suited to the theme of the evening.

The lighting, which is essential for a location like this, was done Everything Audio Visual and they did a fantastic job.

Kathleen and Dave had a surprise birthday cake brought out for this little guy, celebrating his new year’s eve birthday at the wedding.

At the stroke of midnight, the happy couple found each other for a New Year’s Eve midnight kiss. I got one from Geoff too. Sometimes I just get carried away by all the romance surrounding me! Congratulations to Kathleen & Dave!

Valerie and Leandro’s wedding was gorgeous. Kelvin and Sarah did an amazing job photographing this wedding, and I am so excited to be able to finally show it on the blog! The wedding took place at the Hotel Vitale in San Francisco. It was the perfect location for their New Year’s day wedding celebration. This is one of those weddings that just turned out perfectly. Every image is gorgeous. I’m so glad we got to be a part of it!

Simple, yet sophisticated white calla lily bouquet. And I LOVE the locket attached, what a perfect finishing touch. Floral perfection by Nancy Liu Chin of Nancy Liu Chin Designs

After getting gorgeous, Valerie and Leandro had a private meeting prior to the ceremony on the rooftop of Hotel Vitale. As I’ve said a thousand times before, I love private meetings before the ceremony. Love them! It’s very romantic. See that image above? What did Valerie want to do when she first laid eyes on her soon to be husband? She wanted to touch him, hold him and spend a few quiet moments enjoying one another. And they did just that. Kelvin and Sarah took them out and about to capture some beautiful images of the two of them prior to all the excitement of the day.

I just love how their portraits turned out. So relaxed, carefree, and full of joy. These images have that “editorial” look to them. Very nice! I’m giving a presentation at the Wedding University on Sunday, January 31st, and I’m using a number of their wedding images in my presentation.

I love Valerie’s expression on this one above. I just love it when a moment like this is captured that is so real and so strong, you almost feel as though you should turn away and give them some privacy. They are so perfect for each other these two!

Sarah caught this great image of them walking back to Hotel Vitale.  I really, really love this one. Just the feeling, the movement, the texture.

The wedding ceremony was held on the rooftop of the hotel, overlooking gorgeous views of the Bay.

This ring bearer got to hold the actual rings!

The pinstriping on Leandro’s tie adds a lot of character. It’s all in the little details…

And they are married!

Here’s a stunning indoor portrait of the bride. The lighting behind adds a nice touch of glamor!

The reception was held in a clear tent, with gorgeous branches & twinkle lights. What a great space!

Photo booths are such a fun way to get people loosened up. They had this great little setup on the cocktail table with a photo album, markers, glue sticks etc.

Congratulations to you both!

January 30th is the date for the 2010 Wedding University taking place at the Four Seasons in Palo Alto. This is a fantastic day of learning the inside secrets to wedding planning from the pros. You’ll be educated about selecting a menu, setting a budget, design and decor, dance instruction and of course photography! Kevin Chin and I will be presenting again this year and we’ll be explaining a lot of the terms and mysteries behind wedding photography. We’ll give lots of great tips on how to get the most from your photography regardless of who you have hired. There will also be a fashion show, table settings featuring the latest trends and incredibly decadent food all day long. Plus the best part is the prizes! tropical Four Seasons honeymoon, engagement sessions, etc.  It’s an amazing event, not to be missed! You can get all the details right here, and be sure to get your tickets before they sell out! I will be posting more info in the coming days, so check back frequently!

I was so excited recently to have an opportunity to photograph a stunning event at the California Academy of Sciences. This was actually my first time visiting the new building, and it was absolutely breath-taking! Morgan Doan, of Morgan Events, one of my favorite event planners, put together an extraordinary 50th birthday party in a matter of weeks. The party rented out the CA Academy of Sciences for their private event, and Morgan created some amazing spaces. The African Hall was the location for the dinner, set up with one king’s table running the length of the room. It was visually stunning, to say the least. The theme of the event was wine with an autumn color palate. Jerry, the birthday boy, was “aged to perfection” and this concept was used on the invitations and menu cards. Every detail was perfect, from the gorgeous cork invitations, the wines selected from Jerry’s private collection, the centerpieces, textured linens, to the band. It was truly one of those parties people will be talking about years later.

The lighting for the event was done by Got Light? and was done so beautifully, I was able to capture most of the gorgeous details without flash-I love my primes!

The centerpieces by Soulflower Floral Design were perfect-the height worked really well for the king’s table design, yet did not interfere with conversation. I loved the “runner” of wine corks. The textures and colors of the floral design was a gorgeous compliment to the space.

The cocktail hour started downstairs in the aquarium. The cocktail tables were set up in a little aquarium alcove, and the lighting was incredible. The lighting you see here is all part of the CA Academy of Sciences everyday! I’m definitely going to have to go back there when I have more time to just wander around and enjoy the space and exhibits. Guests seemed to really enjoy mingling with friends, enjoying wine, and wandering through the exhibits.

Taste Catering put together an amazing meal, working closely with a wine sommelier to pair each course with wines from Jerry’s private collection.

White leather couches created a warm ambiance in the after dinner lounge area. Guests enjoyed an amazing cheese and desserts spread, along with an espresso bar from Travelin’ Joe Espresso.

And here’s the two women responsible for this amazing event, Jerry’s lovely wife and Morgan Doan, one of the Bay Area’s best event planners.

Michelle and Henry chose the gorgeous setting of the Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay to celebrate their marriage. It was a crisp and clear morning, and Geoff and I were there to capture everything. We got to know this sweet couple a few months back at their engagement session at Stanford. Michelle and Henry are both very laid back and easy going.

Michelle chose very cute pewter cocktail dresses for her bridesmaids. The orange bouquets really pop against the dresses.

The florist lined the ceremony aisle with fresh rose petals and then finished the look with a circle of rose petals. Simple, yet adds a nice splash of color.

Michelle and Henry had a very brief ceremony in the late morning. While most of Henry’s family is from Saratoga, Michelle’s family traveled from overseas to be  with her on her wedding day. As always, Tony White was there to ensure everything ran smoothly!

Michelle has a great smile! So does Henry!

The decor was simple yet elegant. Red was the theme color, perfect for a fall wedding.

Look at the cute little crystal teddy bears Michelle and Henry used for their cake topper? The little wrapped package cake is a signature element of Elegant Cheesecakes. Yum!

After the toasts Michelle changed into a traditional red dress, which looked stunning on her. Congratulations Michelle & Henry!

Alison & David’s wedding at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay was magical. Everything was pretty much perfection. Their wedding was exactly the way a wedding should be: full of love, joy and family. Both Alison and David were just so happy all day. Their two families were so close, it was like they were blended into one big family. It was beautiful.

Here’s our gorgeous bride walking barefoot through the grass to get to various portrait locations. And yes, her dress did get dirty in service to a great cause! Don’t be afraid of a little dirt on your dress, it is meant to be enjoyed on one day only!

I love the side profile. Even the serious look on the upper right, she’s just stunning. I love the scalloped lace on the veil. Alison’s hair and makeup by Armando of Get Your Do Up

Ornamento provided the florals, soft yellows and peaches for the ceremony, and then darker reds and oranges for the reception. Ornamento also provided coordination for the day’s events, allowing the families to sit back and enjoy the day.

These great bridesmaids dresses will definitely have a life after the wedding.

These signature cocktails kept the guests occupied while we headed out for portraits. I love the names they came up with!

Alison removed her veil after the ceremony, and had flowers pinned in her hair which gave her a different look for the reception. As a photographer, I think the best portraits of the couple are created when the photographer finds a great spot with nice lighting, and then the couple just enjoys each other-you get real emotion and a real connection between the two of you. And the images will speak for themselves!

Since the ceremony ended close to sunset, we did Alison and David’s portraits before the family portraits, to ensure we used the best available lighting for the couple.

The reception decor featured autumn touches like fall leaves, candlelight, chocolate tablecloths, berries and rich autumn hues. The lighting accents really set the scene.

Shannie Cakes created the lovely stacked cake.

No explanation needed on Alison’s feelings about being lifted up in a chair for the hoorah dance.

And she survived!

Guests were treated to this gorgeous candy bar station with childhood favorites like jelly beans, sour patch kids and Bazooka bubble gum.

Congratulations to both Alison & David!

Congratulations to Lorri & Alex, and their caker baker Barbara Gardiner!!!! We are always thrilled and honored to see our images included in magazines!

Congratulations to Hilary & Jeff, their GORGEOUS wedding at  Villa Montalvo is featured in the newest issue of the Knot Northern California. Their wedding style was simple and elegant with fun twists that pulled everything together and made it personal. For example, they gave out little jars of honey to their guests as wedding favors, since Hilary’s grandparents were beekeepers. Instead of a cake, they opted for the most delicious cupcakes I’ve ever seen! Little things like a personalized aisle runner with their initials and date really added a splash of color without breaking the bank. Pick up an issue to read more!

Brides to be, this wedding soiree is not to be missed! This event is very swanky, and it’s a great way to enjoyably attend a bridal show and get a chance to meet with potential vendors, see their work on display and really see who is out there and what they are offering. It’s organized by  superb planner Michelle from MB Wedding Designs and Beverly Yip of Especially Yours Chair Covers. They’ve been putting this soiree (it’s not really a bridal show, it’s more like a really fun cocktail party) for several years, and it’s a really great event. You can register here: Promises and Pearls and I recommend you get your tickets before they reach capacity. There are going to be tons of great vendors there to check out, and Michelle is a fantastic planner that you should really talk to if you have the opportunity. Caterers, florists and designers will be showing off the latest trends, so it’s a great opportunity to get ideas for your own wedding and talk to professionals about how to translate your ideas. Make it a date night, you wont be disappointed!