Emily and Michael’s Rustic wedding at Circle Oak Ranch was a perfect June wedding! The weather was warm but not enough to get us all sweaty, breezy, sunny and bright and full of sweet family moments. The bridal party was so fun and honestly just ready to support these two and have a good time! Surrounded by the love of their family and friends, these two said I do underneath a grand old oak tree, and the ceremony was full of laughter and happy tears. There was time for little moments with parents where they got to hug and appreciate the journey that got these two to this day, and big moments with all the guests cheering and participating in the fun.

Jeff and Lara’s wedding yesterday was so beautiful! Because of covid, these two actually got married in a small ceremony last year and rescheduled the bigger wedding day, but we made it! I started the day in Solana Beach with Lara as she got ready and got all her beautiful details. After that we headed to the church in Del Mar, St. Therese of Carmel, were we did their sweet first look. Jeff and Lara’s nieces were the flower girls and stole the show for a minute with their sweet little dresses and smiles.

On Sunday, I traveled to Kendall’s family home in Oceanside for their quick and sweet little backyard elopement. This small little event was just their close family, and with 8 people it had all the best parts a wedding can have. The person you love and the family who surround you. Melanie and Kendall made a pretty little backyard dinner setting and ceremony space, and spent all their energy on the things that mattered to them most. The ceremony was short and sweet and full of happy tears. We finished up with family pictures after the ceremony and headed out front to get a few quick just married shots. They even brought a basketball, since that was key to their meeting and connecting. IT was all kinds of wonderful and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for these two.

Yesterday was warm, clear, bright and so so sweet. Jessica and Josh’s families came together to celebrate these two and it was so beautiful. The home they rented in Rancho Santa Fe was full of beautiful Spanish style and their decor was so lovely. We voomed through the day and I made sure to get every moment captured. I especially loved all the sweet moments with Jessica’s sisters and new niece. I am all about the cuddles!

his morning’s session with Jordan and Elizabeth was so fun! I loved getting to take these two visitors around to some of my favorite spots in La Jolla and we had a blast chatting and running around and celebrating their engagement. These two came into town a few days ago, and got engaged at Sunset Cliffs and I was so excited to be the one to capture their engagement pictures. There was so much love and excitement during this session it is hard not to see that in the images. They held hands the whole time, making sure that they both were safe climbing all over the rocks I asked them to climb, even in high heels.

Yesterday’s morning Elopement with Ronaldo and Emily was so sweet, it was the perfect start to the weekend. We began the day with romantic portraits, in San Marcos’s rolling hills and big moody skies as our back drop. And these two brought the romance and excitement. And they were down for a little adventure, tromping through rough terrain and grasses that love to stick to lace dressed in their wedding best. After our beautiful portraits we headed to the San Marcos Courthouse to meet family and to start the ceremony. Emily’s little niece was the cutest, and did some super cute twirls for the camera.

Yesterday’s surprise elopement was so sweet and lovely. I got to be sneaky and hang out on a bench by the beach waiting for for Kendall and Melanie to arrive, and once they did the magic started. To be a fly on the wall for anyone’s proposal story is magical, but this one was particularly sweet. I never can tell what’s being said during the proposal but the reactions to the words of love and commitment is always excitement, joy and happiness! And even without hearing the words I tear up.

Saturday’s Elopement with Ami and Nicole was so sweet and intimate. They gathered some of the most important people in their lives, and had a lovely little party. The day was beautiful and warm, and the rental house was right on the cliffs in Encinitas with stunning views and beach access. After all the getting ready we all headed down to the beach for a quick little ceremony where their friend Brooke officiated a tear and laughter filled ceremony. After the ceremony we frolicked around on the beach and the couple shared a sweet little first dance. I am obsessed with all their beautiful portraits!

This Sunday was a stunning day for a wedding at Rancho Valencia, not a cloud in the sky! We started the day with the beautiful bride Arvie getting ready and all her gorgeous details. And took a moment for a sweet first look out on the veranda, and their enthusiasm and excitement was palpable. The couple, Arvie and Christian, were so amazing and so ready for an adventure! SO we grabbed the whole immediate family (22 PEOPLE!)and hopped in a party bus and headed over to La Jolla. The bus was filled with laughter and drinks and made the drive super fun! The day was so bright a beautiful everyone was out enjoying the day at the beach, including us.

This Saturday’s elopement in Temecula was magical. With all the rain we’ve recently had the temperature was perfect, sunny and cool. The hills were green and rolling and everything was in bloom, including Kai and Stacey’s love. This may not have been their first choice for wedding plans with their parents far away in other countries, but these two had a perfect day. They were both so attentive and in tune with each other, and made this weekend really all about their friends and family who could come. They integrated Chinese cultural aspects with western traditions in such a beautiful way. Stacey’s white chines style wedding dress was perfection and she even changed into a beautiful red dress later in the day as nod to a traditional Chinese wedding dress.

Yesterday’s session in Carlsbad at the beach with Anthony’s family was so so sweet! When Anthony reached out over a month ago about wanting to plan a surprise proposal session disguised as a family session I was so excited! He said Rhonnel, his girlfriend, had been begging for a family session since their son was born and the fact that he was about to turn one would be a perfect way to do a session at the beach and half way through get down on his knee and propose. She would never expect it. So after lots of planning and scheming, and conversations with Rhonnel about outfits for the family, the day was planned! And it worked perfectly! She was so surprised and her tears of joys even got me going a little.

This morning’s elopement may have been a foggy affair blocking the sun, but nothing shined brighter than Josh and Arturo’s smiles. We arrived at the gliderport and even though we were a bit disappointed that the fog was there we all agreed even with the fog this spot in La Jolla is so beautiful. We could hear the waves crashing on the beach below, and the excitement was building as we got closer and closer to go time.

Yesterdays sweet proposal was such a spirit lifter! I love the holidays usually but being in a full lock down has been tough and running around on the beach with Christian and Abby was magical. I loved that Christian involved his sweet family in the surprise, they waited down the beach with champagne and hugs to celebrate! Abby’s was so excited and surprised and the delight on both of their faces was so evident. I loved their story as well, as a Navy Vet’s wife, I loved that these two navy Pilots meet and fell in love! This fun loving couple and family lifted my spirits and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for these two! Congratulations Abby and Christian! I hope you love these sneak peaks and I can’t wait to share the rest with you soon! :)

Baby Theo is a little angel!! I feel so lucky to call his parents my dear friends and got to spend time with them in their home yesterday. It was christmas-y and was so fun to meet this sweet boy. I love that I have grown and evolved with Jen and to see her now become a mom is so magical. I love you all and I love these sweet pictures so much! :)

Yesterdays surprise proposal in La Jolla was so so sweet! Kristian’s plan to propose to his girlfriend Mary was originally going to involve the gliders, with him landing before her and being on his knee as she landed. But as we all know by now this year just isn’t going to let us have it the way we want. The winds were too strong so he and I spent the afternoon texting and calling each other coming up with another beautiful plan. Back on the same cliffs, as the sun set, this sweet man got on his knees and asked her to be his wife. And she said yes!

When Kathleen approached me about her mountain top elopement basically in my backyard my answer was a resounding yes! This sweet couples original plans had to be changed just like everyone living in this covid world. So instead of their Hawaiian elopement they picked a beautiful and convenient spot where their family could be solidified and celebrated. I loved that their ceremony really focused on them and their adorable kids. So congratulations and I hope you love these sweet sneak peaks! Cannot wait to share more. :)

This early morning session with Michelle and her husband made me fall in love with Balboa Park all over again. While it was tough for all of us to be up that early and be happy about it, it really is the best time to be in the park. Especially this time of year. We did see some early risers out doing yoga or on walks but for the most part we got to run around the park together, alone with wide open spaces behind us. Michelle and her husband celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary together this year and I feel so lucky to have been chosen to be the photographer to capture this sweet couple. Their Christmas cards this year are going to be extra cute. ;)

Yesterday’s surprise proposal at Sunset Cliffs was so exciting! I had anxiety all day leading up to it, just like Drew did I’m sure. I think with everything going on in the world it felt so good to take a minute to focus on nothing but excitement and love. Jess and Drew arrived a little later than I was expecting because everyone and their mother was trying to get to sunset cliffs for the sunset. Once they arrived I moved into position trying to be a sneaky sneak and not draw attention to myself.

Yesterdays early morning session with Monique and her sweet family was so much fun! We got there early early morning at 7am, which thanks to the time change didn’t feel quite so early. And we ran through the dunes, and Ellie (monique’s daughter) told us all about her new baby brother and hunted for birds and beautiful shells. Monique and I actually used to work together many moons ago, so it was amazing getting to see a friend. I loved getting to hang out with the whole family while we just got to chat and pretend for just one minute that things are sort of normal, or maybe we’re just all doing our best and adjusting to this new normal.

Yesterdays moody skies made for an amazing backdrop for Megan’s surprise proposal to her girlfriend Katie at Coronado Beach. This year has presented its challenges for all of us but for Megan (and I’m sure Katie) it’s been lots of obstacles in the way of her proposal plans. This was the third iteration of planning for Megan’s proposal (her original plan was to propose on a trip to Maui this spring which got cancelled because of Covid). But with the help of her friend Ryan, Megan was able to execute this final plan, and luckily for me I was chosen to capture the surprise. Even with the rain clouds nothing was going to stop this day from happening. And the joy of a proposal is always contagious! Everyone walking by cheered congratulations and I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time we hung out!