Helvin + Ang | Nostalgic Love Story (Engagement) Session | Coronado Island, CA
Helvin + Ang weren't necessarily looking for love when Helvin got clocked in the back of the head by a piece of ice thrown by a pretty girl at the bar. But eyes locked and love was born that evening. Below are a few more details from H + A’s love story and why they chose Coronado Island for the backdrop of their engagement / love story session.
We met on Coronado Island. I was visiting on a girls weekend and Helvin was there on the island to depart. We randomly met at a bar, I was talking to someone else when my friends were trying to grab my attention throwing ice cubes. Those same ice cubes hit Helvin and his friends and we all ended up having breakfast together at the Night and Day Cafe just down the road. Long story short, we became pen pals and our relationship blossomed from there. …Coronado fits us best and reminds us of the beginning of our love story. It has most things we love, the beach, the Navy, the nightlife and quaint feels. We like the mix of scenery and relaxed vibes from being there. We envision this session will capture us relaxing in Coronado whether that’s downtown or on the beach. Coronado is a special place for us as our meeting spot and a place we frequent often as Helvin comes and goes from there often and I am usually there on the pier the day he leaves.
We LOVE to be together! Our favorite pastime is golfing together and being active. When we aren't working out together, we like to drink coffee, drink wine and many other adult beverages. We love to be silly together, just goofing around. AND we love holding hands, catching hugs, kisses and any type of snuggles.
What was she like as a little girl? Angie comes from a family of 4 children, 3 boys and her. She is the princess. She was quiet but fierce and adventurous. She loved fairytales and still does. A true sucker for a love story. Angie was always involved in school and extra curricular activities.
What was he like as a little boy? Helvin was brought up to be a strong, independent little man. He was always getting into mischief and looking for adventure. He grew up with a younger sister and his parents in Long Beach, Ca. Helvin was often playing in the neighborhood, riding bikes, skate boards, dirt bikes and trying to stay out of trouble.
Helvin + Angela, you guys are crazy fun! What a treasure to be part of this season of your life and trusted to capture this sliver of your love story! | LKM
John + Allie | Culinary Institute of America | Napa Destination Wedding
John + Allie were SUCH a fun couple. With a long history of napa-wandering, wine-loving tribe excursions it was not a hard decision to stage their glamorous castle-like , color-exploding, wine-flowing wedding in Napa at the Culinary Institute of America. Here are a few highlights!
VENDORS
Venue: CIA Greystone // Photographer: Laura K Moore Photography // Gown: Luv Bridal // Bridesmaids Dresses: Levkoff // Gifts for Wedding Party: Louis Vuitton + Pretty Plum Sugar // Makeup Artist: Taryn Passifione // Hair Stylist Studio 55 - Samantha garcia Carden // Florist: Melissa Lewis w/ Table Tops Etc // Caterer CIA Greystone // Cake Artist CIA Greystone // Musician/DJ Extreme ProDjs // Videographer Yours Truly Media //
As the flowers arrived and the colors popped against the bridesmaid's dresses, we just started to drool over the corners of the venue that all seemed to pop with elegance as the designers pulled the nuances together. Here are a few thoughts and highlights from the bride:
What was the style/mood that you were going for from your wedding? What were your highest priorities?
I was going for very classic and natural. Our venue and location was naturally incredibly beautiful so for the style we really just wanted to highlight the beauty of wine country. I wanted LOTS of beautiful flowers and Table Tops Etc. did not disappoint! Melissa (from Table Tops Etc) did all the decor and flowers. She did amazing!! I had the best dress experience I could have ever imagined at Luv Bridal. Taryn Passifione Makeup and Samantha Garcia Carden made all of us ladies look naturally gorgeous! The Culinary Institute did an amazing job with catering, particularly with the beautiful cake
One of the sweetest ways to fully enjoy the WHOLE wedding day is to enjoy family pictures before the ceremony. There is less rush, less crazy, less herding of cats and nobody is waiting on you. While i wrapped up family pictures Makayla swooped over to grab details of the ceremony. Check out that rose-laced cobblestone aesthetic. Wine tones agains rustic wood textures… florist designer from Phoenix (Table Tops Etc) made the trek to Napa to deck out Greystone’s Culinary Institute and didn’t hold back.
The space to enjoy fine art portraiture was delightful. John and Allie relaxed and leaned into eachother. Meanwhile the cocktail started up and the wine began to flow. the rest of the evening was “let down you hair and dance with all you’ve got” kind of atmosphere. It was a thrill to capture and the details and joys in all friends and family were ON FIRE. :)
Why did you initially hire Laura K Moore Photography? What were some of the key highlights and memories of having LKM shoot your wedding?
I was looking for a photographer with very natural, vibrant photos that captured the story and emotion of the day. I came across LKM's Instagram and fell in love. Even once I decided to get married out of state, I knew LKM was who I wanted there to do my photos. Laura and Makayla's attention to detail combine with their professionalism, kindness and fun personalities made everything about our wedding day photos amazing. Once we got our pictures back, we couldn't believe how many great shots there were capturing every detail of the day!! Scrolling through all the shots is like reliving the moment every time - exactly what we were looking for!! Choosing LKM as your wedding photographer is the best decision you can make. Not only the team amazing on the day of, but the photos will turn out better than I could have every imagined! LKM is simply amazing!
John & Allie, you were a joy to work with and a delight to capture! Your family is crazy….awesome :) Blessings! | LKM
VENDORS
Venue: CIA Greystone // Photographer: Laura K Moore Photography // Gown: Luv Bridal // Bridesmaids Dresses: Levkoff // Gifts for Wedding Party: Louis Vuitton + Pretty Plum Sugar // Makeup Artist: Taryn Passifione // Hair Stylist Studio 55 - Samantha garcia Carden // Florist: Melissa Lewis w/ Table Tops Etc // Caterer CIA Greystone // Cake Artist CIA Greystone // Musician/DJ Extreme ProDjs // Videographer Yours Truly Media //
Balboa Inn Newport Beach California Wedding | Rainbow Ambrosia Dress + Birds of Paradise
Joshua & Joyce knew that wrangling family for their wedding was going to be tricky. So they hijacked an evening during their family reunion this summer and made sure it happened. The day was low key and casual with a few sprinkles that made it special. Her dress was handmade by a dear friend with dye-tipped ends and led lights sewn in to surprise guests as the sunset. Balboa Inn was the historical venue where all pre-gaming and prep happened. The gazebo across the street had been reserved and up until ceremony time, guests were welcome to lounge on the beach, enjoy barbecue and leisurely engage till vow time. Here are a few highlights from the day :)
Nathan + Emily | Childhood Friends get Married | Navy Blue + Silver | Upland California Wedding Photographer
When I heard Nathan smiling through the phone I wanted to squeal. But I knew that'd probably embarasse him.....so I did.
He was calling to tell me he talked to Emily's dad and that they were courting. My brother had watched and waited for this little lady for a million years --a good long enough time to have his eyes fixed and his heart hopeful. Who would have thought that back then on the tire swing and in the sandboxes and Awanas and clown parties, they'd have their future hearts align and fall in love. Gaining Emily as a sister is...just so crazy beautiful! :) Here are a few highlights from the Bugbee's winter wedding in Upland, Southern California :)
Guys started off getting ready at Foothill Bible Church. Super casual at a place the Bugbees call home... Nathan found these sweet 'wallet ninjas' as gifts for his men...
We were able to jot down the road a bit to the Claremont Hills Wilderness Trail where Emily snuck up to have their first moment together... by far, one of my most favorite moments of a wedding day is the First Look. The emotions are all just so raw. And there is no pressure, no weird audience oggling, just pure nervousness and crazy beautiful excitement for each other.
Nathan's groomsmen....were on par. (note: the picture below with emily and her brothers...was NOT posed. Her brothers had never seen her kiss before and were legitimately shocked and flipped out a little.)
Mr. Nakamaura is a long-time friend and notorious for his tears...we joked about what he would be like throughout the day. We were surprised and tickeld to see both he and mother of the bride so so joyful....it was the aisle, however, that broke him. When he saw Nathan's face perhaps. Or realized he was giving away his only daughter... it was a sweet, sweet thing to see. Giving her to this man that waited for her. And would strive to lead her...the whole ceremony was full of celebration and worship!
At some point during the ceremony it rained hard. And before preparing for the couple's reception grand entrance, we grabbed a few sweetheart spins together in the puddles outside of the church.
And then it was time to dine...speeches were raw and the theme was deep deep gratitude. It was casual and large and hugs and 'yehaws' resounded in the church gym topped off with a surprise groomsmen dance for Emily.
Congrats you two!! It was such a treasure to be part of your wedding day! I hope these moments and this full full day is such a treasure-trove of memories for years to come! Welcome to the family Emily! | LKM
P.S And also....super important to name a few key partners for this particular wedding... Emily Rickard & Elyse Defoe came to join the LKM team and capture this story! They took the reigns whenever I (Laura) could be IN family pictures and also be part of the story too! So so thankful for their precious spirits and creative eyeballs!
Luke + Juliette | Corn Fields, Rock Quarrys + Shire-Like Hillsides | Engagement Session
I get another sister folks. Lets start with that. and this is her. and my brother. on their engagement session last weekend in the foothills of Mt. Baldy, Southern California. My brother is a prodigy of an artist. It's kinda rediculous. The things that he makes out of nothing (beat). They were highschool sweethearts and part of Luke's proposal included a series of paintings that told their love story as missionary kids in the Philippines, love birds and college students and now soon to be weds this summer. This is a snippet of some of their affection...
Andrew + Jen's DIY Backyard Wedding | San Jose, CA
Andrew & Jen had an incredible backyard wedding in San Jose this summer. (You might remember their faces from their Manhattan Beach Engagement Session in the spring). It was small, intimate, relaxed, full of laughter and brightly lit with warm sunshine bursting through garden roses and all sorts of DIY details.
The ladies got ready at a good friend's salon, ate In-N-Out and caught up on memories and "remember-whens"...
Andrew + Jen chose to have FIRST LOOK moment primarily to make sure they could truly enjoy each other for some private time...and THEN take a lot of relaxed pictures with wedding party, family...
Wedding Party caught up with them at the park and the timing was perfect. There was a breeze, their was leisure, there were picnic blankets and grown men playing on swings and see saws. Just couldn't have been better.
While the rest of the wedding party made way to Jen's aunts house where the festivities were being hosted, Andrew & Jen stayed behind for a few sweetheart portraits...
We were able to snag a few more relaxed family portraits pre-ceremony with Jen's fam...
And then the bride hid with dad while guests trickled in to sit on fold up chair under a picnic awning laced with branches and burlap, hemp string and garden flowers...The ceremony began and...I am again so tickled by how no FIRST LOOK or anything can take away from a groom watching his bride come down the aisle. It is special in and of itself... They incorporated several special jewish traditions into the ceremony, the audience participated, bride giggled, groom beamed, they stomped on glass and everybody cheered!
Conveniently aunt owns two homes side by side. A garden door leads from one ceremony backyard straight into a stunning modernized bohemian / understated alice-in-wonderland kind of patio. They hired a catering company to serve and keep the wine flowing. It was a simple sort of family affair. The perfect kind. Where laughter meets dancing at the intersection of newlywed.
While guests partied freely, A + J skipped out for a few minutes to grab some casual neighborhood sweetheart shots. We captured them on the sidewalk where sunbeams were sending their fareawells. We walked down the street that they'd remember as their wedding day street. They kissed fiercely. Loved exhuberantly...and then went back to join in on more dancing. Happy Wedding Day folks. This one was a favorite. | lkm
VENDORS
....while most all details seen and captured were DIY or borrowed from friends and family, here is a working list of some of the paces and resources for A + J's detai
Location: Aunt's Backyard // Flowers: Costco // Bride's Shoes: Toms & Ross // MakeUp: Paizleys Salon & Spa // Bridesmaids Dress: Davids Bridal
DIY Backyard Wedding Details {teaser} | Texture Tuesday
This DIY Backyard San Jose wedding is about to hit the blog :) There were SO many DIY details, textures, colors and awesome garden plants at this wedding. I figured it only appropriate to release a few as part of "texture tuesday." Check back shortly for the whole wedding story! | LKM
PT 3: Kris + Kristen | Miss USA Celebrity Garden Wedding | Simi Valley, CA
"Whenever people see our wedding pictures they always say what fun it was.
While Kris & Kristen wrapped up their sunset portraits (See Here), cocktail hour was filled with sparkling champagne and excited chatter of friends and family from all over the country. The doors opened to a glittering dance hall where the wedding party performed their choreographed dance collection ending with Kris & Kristen folded into each other. People danced and laughed late into the night until sparkles guided their grand getaway.
Below is the finale of Kris+ Kristen's wedding day. If you missed part one or part two, go quick and oggle and then return for the final installment.
And for again, because these people were huge proponents in the beauty and details of their wedding day, here is the vendor list:
VENDORS:
Venue: The Vineyards // Hair: Emily Dawn Artistry // Make Up: Katarina Van Derham // Flowers: Laura Williams of PoppyHill Flowers // Cake: Delicious Bakery // Bridesmaid's Jewelry: Marrin Costello // Bridesmaid's Dresses: Alfred Angelo // Photographer: Laura K Moore Photography // Videographer: Janelle Perusi // Lighting & Sound: Diversity Sounds DJ Services by DJ Christopher Tandy // Musical Performers: Cameron & Kelly Brier // Wedding Coordinator: Alice Issac: 00aliceissac00@gmail.com
PT 2: Kris + Kristen | Miss USA's Enchanted Garden Wedding | The Vineyards, Simi Valley, CA
"Seeing her walk down the aisle... it was like seeing her for the first time all over again." - Kris
If you didn't catch PART ONE of Kris & Kristen's wedding day, you probably should. Between the girl's giddiness and a super special first moment together, there was an immense amount of anticipation hanging in the air! Again, shout out to The Vineyards for being one of the most beautiful posh little garden venues I've ever seen. There is this brick path all the way down to the garden area looking up into this lush weeping willow cluster of green and life where Kristen was to meet her groom. The moments down this pathway were some of my favorites. The way the girls straightened up and walked carefully, perfectly. The way the guys stood tall. The way her mom laughed with her son and how the ring bearers were so, so very good at their job. :) And then Kristen's moments with her dad. The way his eyes glistened, the way you could audibly hear her heart pounding....and then he saw her...
Check out the PARTAY that followed the sunbeams!
SEE PT 3 HERE