A fun little tidbit about this day as well…Briana is wearing her moms wedding dress from when her mom got re-married (a wedding my mom photographed some years back..small world:)!!

Venue: Mountain Winery in Saratoga Ca./Makeup: Kristina Lima/Hair: Nicole Wasserman/ Desserts: Nikki Trevino/ Flowers: done by grooms mom, sister and aunts:)

I have come to fall  head over heels in love with our new little life in Sacramento this past year…I never thought I could ever feel more at home…or at peace with life, until we made this move. Everything from our new community, our amazing amazing little church, the incredible neighbors/friends that have become family to us…and…icing on the cake…the most BEAUTIFUL place to take photos within a 5 minute drive from my house, that is NOT private property….this has NEVER been the case for us!!:) We normally have to drive back to the Bay Area for all of our sessions, since most of our clients live there…but we totally lucked out that Erin and Dan are local…AND, to be paraphrased…. are completely captivating!!. Erin and I went to highschool together..she was in my little brothers grade..along with a handful of other girls that we have been so blessed to photograph over the years… I was SOO bummed that we were already booked for her wedding date…but our insanely talented friend Shanni will be shooting their wedding…they are SOO fortunate to have snagged her for their wedding..she it truly, truly killer at what she does.

Erin & Dan…thank you for venturing into my new favorite spot along the river with me!! Have an utterly incredible wedding!! XOXO

Jamie and Brandon have this adorable shy & bashful love…that is felt with force… but almost speaks with a whisper….I secretly loved seeing how shy and squirmy Jamie got when I would make them kiss..or when guests would clank their fork to their glasses at the reception. You can tell PDA is not easy for her…and there is nothing wrong with that…it is actually a bit refreshing and precious!:) There is a beautiful reverence they have for eachother..that I can only imagine stems from their amazing faith and love for God that comes first and foremost before anything else:)….Being married for 9 years so far…I have learned a thing or two about marriage…but still.., the BEST advice I can give you guys, as you are heading into a lifetime of new beginnings….and weathering day to day storms together…..is actually from one of my  favorite verses in Colosians 3 which says”

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues PUT ON LOVE, which binds them all together in perfect unity..”

Since I have only met Dan 2 times…this story is going to be a little bit more about my love story with Tracy…haha…Sorry Dan! You will get a whole paragraph after the wedding, I promise!!:)

When I was a senior in highschool..we were assigned to a “little sister” in the Freshmen class at the beginning of the year. A little sister we could somewhat “look out for”..take under our wing….send cute little notes to throughout the year..and overall…just “be” there for them if they ever needed anything. It was kind of a draw of a hat who you would get..you literally reached in….picked a scribbled name on a tiny piece of paper..and just HOPED that it wasnt an immensely awkward match..and that there was at least SOMETHING you could have in common with them. I remember so vividly that day. I drew a name…whispered it out loud, and within seconds, had other senior girls flock around me. We were suddenly in first grade again…they were like “ahhh..NO FAIR!!!!!” You got TRACY GEORGES!”…”LUCKY!”…. Had I just won the lottery?? At the time, I did not know who Tracy Georges was..but apparently she was the sweetest little freshmen girl on the block:) Other girls tried to “trade” me…but I clung tightly to my tiny 2 inch scrap of paper, like it was gold…and decided that I just landed  a gem. After meeting Tracy…I realized a gem was a a TOTAL understatement:)

Each freshmen girl had to write down what their favorite food or “snack” was, in their “little sister bio” that we were later given…Tracy said that hers was “graham crackers and frosting”…so the day we were grouped up at lunch to meet our “buddies”…I brought some graham crackers and frosting to feast on for lunch..and the second I saw her, I hugged her…like a ridiculously big hug….and instantly knew all the hype about little tracy was true:) She is, to this day…STILL the sweetest person I have ever met. Needless to say..it was such an honor being her “big” sister that year…and since in real life, I have only 3 brothers….I always secretly wished she would marry my little brother so we could have her in our family forever. But for REALS…my family plotted…and plotted about how we could make this happen:) Fast forward to present day…I have been so blessed to have seen Tracy grow up over the years..to photograph her as a bridesmaid in one of her BFF’s wedding…and or course….to finally meet the cute boy she met at Wheaton College….who officially took her off the market:)

Dan is such a good match for my little Tracy..he is kind of a “Tom Brady” to me. That all american guy that every mom hopes her daughter would marry:) He is incredible humorous and playful with Tracy…and makes her smile more than I though was remotely possible:) For those of you who know Tracy..you know..that her SMILE is her best feature. She doesnt ever stop smiling:) Trust me..I tried..I tried to make her do a serious face for the pics…and apparently that is actually how you MAKE her smile even more! Seriously just love these two..and cannot wait to see my little sis walk down that aisle!! XOXO

God is GOOD:)

From the moment  I nestled in my chair at Starbucks…spread out my albums…and met with Tina and her maid of honor..I knew her wedding would be simple and sweet…the best kind there is,in my book:) Tina and Marios wedding party certainly knew a thing or two about having a good time, and kind of made me want to put my camera down for a season and be a resident bridesmaid for any one who needed a fill in:) Mario and Tina…thank you for being my first official Sacramento wedding in our new season of life..and for showcasing the simple beauty of love:) XOXO

Scott met Jamie’s Dad 2 years prior to meeting Jamie. They crossed paths on a horse trail in Camp Pendleton, where Jamie’s dad invited Scott and his brother, Tim, on his annual horse drive. The invite came only after her dad saw Scott and Tim’s superb riding abilities (It was in fact, Scott’s first time on a horse). That year, Scott and Tim attended their first horse drive and luckily got the invite back for a second year. Unfortunately, Jamie  was unable to attend that first year. Little did she know…she was narrowly missing meeting her future husband.

The following year, at the the ritual stop on the way up to Bishop (In-N-Out burger in Rancho Cucamonga), Jamie first laid her eyes on Scott. She was of course fully done up in makeup, hair extensions and looking very stylish, which ultimately would be the last time she looked like that on the trip.

As the days wore on, and the bug bites accumulated, Jamie caught Scott staring at her from across the bonfire. Jamie made him a s’more. He was smitten.

On the last day, before leaving, Scott got up enough nerve to ask her out. Strategically (or not?) he forgot his cell phone and instead had to resort to giving her his number.

She called.

And here we are today:) We absolutely fell in love with Jamie and Scott..and were utterly THRILLED they live and breathe cowboy boots and countryside..cuz that is pretty much our love language when it comes to photos:) Big surprise, right?? We are shooting their wedding this summer at our favorite venue in California..(Santa Margarita Ranch)..and we feel soo blessed their amazing coordinator Jenn Hocker of Allure Events Design recommended us to them. Its was a match made in cowgirl heaven:)

Just wanted to say THANK YOU to all the darling girls who helped model for me…who endured outfit changes in the middle of fields…frolicking  around in the freezing cold..wearing heavy eyelashes….haha..

For Part 1…an immeasurable THANK YOU to Priscilla Francine Makeup, hair by Danielle Derskson of Salon Mona Lisa…bouquets by the genius hubby and wife duo at Asiel Design…and my sweet friend Jailyn Cannon for all your assistance with BOTH shoots!!

Part 2: Gorgeous Makeup by Kristina Lima….thank you my sweet friend!!!!

Jada wanted to make this sign for their next child they are going to adopt…as they are oh-so-lovingly-anxious to meet the 4th member of the Black family:)

As a mom….I think this next picture is one of my favorites in the world. 

It wasn’t just another wintery Wednesday in December…..It was my birthday…and the day that 12 people huddled in a cozy living room to witness 2 darling souls cling tightly under a mistletoe….to say some “I Do’s”. I have done quite a few “backyard” weddings…but this was definitely my first “front room” wedding:) Kelsey and Dan will be doing  a big reception this summer for the rest of their family and friends..but they chose to keep their nuptials simple and sweetly quaint in the comforts of her own home. We lucked out by having a beautiful property right down the street from her for pictures…that was somewhat of a winter wonderland of gorgeous light:) Kelsey reminded Jason and I of Snow White with her fair skin and dark black hair…and there were moments when her and Dan were playfully adoring another between the trees… in that hazy afternoon glow…that ironically, the word “Fairytale”….seemed to be the only word to rightfully captivate the essence of what we were watching behind our cameras:) It was all very fitting. Kelsey and Dan…it was a blessing to share part of my birthday with you…Thank you for letting me run around in my lime green birthday tights and be one the few to watch the moment a very beautiful marriage began…XOXO..

For their gifts to eachother…they both were surprised to know…they had each gotten eachother bikes. From the same shop. Now THATS love.

It was also Taylors birthday that day….such a sweet deal for a guy….never forget an anniversary:)