Francesca & Joseph , known as Ches & JJ to their friends, were married a few weeks ago on the bluff at the Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay and we were there to capture every moment. This couple is so in love!!!! All day they just couldn’t keep their eyes off each other. So sweet! This was a destination wedding, as most of the family lives in Guam and the couple currently lives in LA. What a perfect place for a destination wedding. While the Ritz is a 5 star property, it’s not stuffy at all. The Ritz Carlton has a very relaxed, casual resort feeling to it, and destination wedding guests have a wonderful weekend experience relaxing outdoors by the firepit, enjoying a glass of wine and watching the sunset. There are wonderful pathways to enjoy walks, golfing, spa treatments, and a world class restaurant. And I haven’t even mentioned the views!
Francesca choose this gorgeous Spanish lace veil to complete her bridal look. Doesn’t she look stunning? Makeup thanks to Jim Avila and what a stunning job.
The flowers were done by Laura Little of Floramor. The deep red roses were simple and oh so elegant. A real classic!
The ceremony took place on the bluff, which gives a fantastic view of the ocean for the guests. The ceremony decor really adds a lot to the look and feel of the ceremony. I would not recommend cutting ceremony decor out of the budget. Look at how the color just pops. The vibrancy of the red looks fantastic here against the white chairs and green grass. Bright colors are the way to go if you enjoy vibrant color like I do!
The pew decor consisted of paper cones filled with red rose petals, and this led to an amazing exit shot later…
The couple chose a monogram for their programs, which adds a personal touch. It was our first time working with Ritz wedding specialist Amy Monroe, and she did a great job, making sure everything ran smoothly. It was a little chilly that day, and Amy made sure the heaters were positioned to take the chill off during the ceremony and cocktail hour.
During the ceremony, Ches & JJ were so focused on each other, they seemed to be barely aware of what else was going on around them. Those two are so sweet together! They kept whispering and giggling to each other throughout the ceremony, it was the cutest, sweetest thing I’ve ever seen!
They’re married! This is one of my favorites of the day, I love the vibrant reds and the joy on their faces.
Here’s a bridal portrait of Ches on the bridge. Color or black and white, which do you like best?
The escort cards were simple, but doing them in red instead of white adds that visual punch. The cake was by Cake Expressions and they did a lovely job. The rose on the top was made with frosting but it looked so real!
Francesca’s mom Janet put together this basket for guests to drop their gift cards on. Very nice idea!
The reception decor was timeless and elegant. The tall centerpieces allowed guests to be able to see each other at the tables, and each place setting had an individual rose. Roses are really hot right now, I’m seeing them a lot more than in the past. Make sure the florist you work with uses fresh roses or flowers. I cannot tell you how important that is! When shopping around, and you get a few of those super low quotes on your wedding florals, there is a reason for that-dead flowers. You know what they say, you get what you pay for? Well it couldn’t be more true than in wedding florals. We’ve seen it so many times, the couple got a “great rate” on their flowers, but on the day of, the centerpieces are wilted, the bouquet is falling apart, and it’s gross. Better to have more simple arrangements that are done right, rather than brown, wilted flowers on the table. That’s why it is important to work with a reputable florist like Floramor. They will work with your budget to create something just right for you, whether it is simple and budget friendly, or drop dead gorgeous in every direction.
What a wonderful day. It was such a pleasure photographing such a sweet, in love couple. Congratulations Ches & JJ!
