Gerardo & Catherine Zúñiga {Wedding}

Head over heels.  That's the phrase that runs through my head as I think back over Cat and Lalo's wedding day, and look through their photographs. These two love big and vibrantly, and you can just feel it when you're around them for any length of time.  And you can see it... in the way that Lalo's face lights up when he looks at Cat... and in the way Cat throws her head back in laughter and has this big smile on her face when she is with Lalo.
It was such a joy to shoot this wedding, to see Cat and Lalo surrounded by family and friends who love them so dearly, and to witness another example of God's faithfulness in bringing these two together.


The day started off at the Embassy Suites in Glendale, where Cat was getting ready with her bridesmaids.  She had booked one of the suites, so all the girls where there together, chatting, sipping mimosas, and getting their hair and makeup done.
The suite had this really cool window in one of the rooms, it was perfect for getting the dress shots.

Lisa Martin, from Violet Opus {www.violetopus.com} brought the flowers shortly after I arrived.  They were simply beautiful! And check out the green wicker basket she brought the flowers in...  so creative, and cute too!

Some of my favorite shots of the day are Cat's bridal portraits.  This girl is gorgeous!  Her dark hair and eyes just pop in photographs.

After her portraits, we packed up and drive to First United Methodist Church in North Hollywood.  This venue is so pretty!  There is a courtyard in the middle of the church with a fountain and blooming trees, and the sanctuary has these amazing stained glass windows.  Breathtaking!

When we got Cat safely hidden in the bridal room, I went to get Lalo to do some groom's portraits before the couple's first look. I asked him how he was doing, and he laughed a little and said he was anxious to see Cat.  So I snapped a few photos of him, then went to go bring out his bride.

Before the ceremony started, I was able to get the groom/smen pictures, as well as some detail shots of Cat and Lalo's programs. 

How cute are these? They were strung up all over a mini tree with branches on a table in the foyer.  So unique!

After the ceremony, we went to Pasadena City Hall to get a few pictures with the bridal party and newly wed Mr. and Mrs. Zúñiga before going to Noor Restaurant in Pasadena for the reception.

Noor Restaurant was such a great place to have the reception.  Each table was beautifully decorated, and the food was amazing.

I loved the wedding favors... from the Taverdi family, bottles of olive oil from olives handpicked and pressed by the family, and from the Zúñigas, bottles of homemade chili sauce that is the family's own recipe. 

Cat and Lalo both have very large and vivacious families.  When the bridal party was announced, all the family gathered around the bride and groom clapping and waving hip scarves and partaking in a middle eastern dance out on the floor.  It was awesome!

There was much dancing, laughter, cheers, good food, and dancing, and dancing, and dancing for the rest of the evening.  

Cat and Lalo, you two are such a wonderful couple! Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your wedding day.

John & Sarah Shores {Wedding}

One of the things I love most about photographing weddings is seeing first-hand how the Lord brings couples together who are so perfect for one another, and how He brings them together.  Sometimes two people meet years before and reconnect at the right time,  or meet and are immediately swept away, or in this case, were living in different parts of the country and found each other through similar interests online.  Praise God for the internet, amen amen? =)
John and Sarah were married on August 6th up in Boise, Idaho at Whitney Baptist Church.  This wedding was so fun for me, because I got to go home and be a part of this wedding along with all the friends and family that I miss so dearly. My mom came along with me to the church in the early afternoon and we met John and his family for the first time.
On the invitations, John and Sarah wrote "cowboy attire welcome," so when the men showed up with their hats, boots and spurs, and pistols holstered on their hips, I just had to smile.  Sarah even wore a pair of white cowboys boots under her dress!
The ceremony was so sweet, and afterwards the guests headed over to the church's activity center for a reception.
As John and Sarah drove away with guest cheering after them, mom and I packed up the car and followed them over to the Boise Train Depot, where we took a few couples portraits.  These two really are such a sweet pair, and I'm so happy for them!