I spent the evening with Justin and Bryna, documenting their wedding day in Laguna Beach. There are a TON of amazing shots… so I wanted to share a few before I hit the sack for the night…. more to come.

For some reason, the term “vacation” has not had the magnitude it used to when I was younger. Growing up, vacation meant a week camping at the beach, Skippy Peanut Butter, Boogey Boards, and white bread. The anticipation of “vacation” set up shop in my young brain the second the weather got warmer… and for a week, the beach became my world.

I’m heading out to the beach once again with my family for “vacation.” But it’s different this time…. because my job goes with me wherever I go. It’s going to take effort to leave work at home and remember what it’s like to make the beach my world once again. So I’m off…. to read, sleep, eat, laugh, think, surf, get a tan…. and vacation…

And to tide you over until next week, here’s a shot from my recent Lubbock, TX trip to visit Betsy. This is my new friend Claire… she was gracious enough to model for a spur of the moment shoot…

She’s a fashionista from Orange County who’s the epitome of cuteness. He’s a musician through and through who’s got the tall dark and handsome thing going on. She went to a wedding with a friend one time. He was there. He ruled the dance floor. She noticed. He noticed too. He danced with some grandmas and then he got her number and asked her out on their first date to Japanese food. The rest is history… because now… they’re two peas in a pod… and engaged. Thank God for weddings!

John, Liz, and I had a BLAST hanging out and shooting their engagement pictures! Seriously…. Liz and I could chat for days and not get tired of each other… and John is SO FUNNY. Here’s some shots from the “urban-y” part of the shoot at Orange Circle….

Liz… you are just TOO CUTE…

Okay… and I have to tell you all. I have found a NEW favorite place to shoot at Orange Circle… this little back area was so PERFECT! The light bounced off of 3 different white walls… I’m pretty sure I jumped up and down with excitement like a little school girl.

John is a a reader of this blog…. and was quite inspired by Billy Jack’s model escapades…

After a quick wardrobe change, we made a beeline for Irvine Regional Park to take some shots as the sun was going down. John and Liz changed outfits while I scoped out the park… and I was surprised to find no one around. No joke… it was completely silent besides the sounds of nature…. soo peaceful! John brought out his baby…. his Martin Acoustic Guitar and strummed softly as the sun’s rays softened into yellow velvet across their faces….

After some shots in the park, we went exploring into the creek bed… and the light was GOOOOD.

Fact: John’s a quiet and reserved person… until he gets a guitar in his hands. I’m pretty sure at least a third of the shots I got of John rocking out on the guitar are blurry because I was laughing so hard…

I couldn’t help myself…

We ended the evening with some good old fashioned fun… and Jonas Brothers Jumps…

John and Liz. You rock my socks off. You’re so fun to be around, you’re both gorgeous people inside and out, and you like sushi. I’m glad we got to spend the evening together and I’m super excited to shoot your wedding next April.

I was always the sassy troublemaking staff member at Junior Winter Camp. Alissa was the sweet one whom everyone loved to pieces. Billy Jack was the boss man. Every year Billy Jack’s March birthday fell during Winter Camp season and every year we, as good staff peeps should, threw him a birthday celebration after all the campers went to sleep for the night. One year… I convinced my new friend Alissa that it was a good idea for both of us to smash cake in his face. I didn’t think she’d do it because she was such a nice person. I was wrong…. she totally did it… she shocked both Billy Jack and me…. and thus began our friendship. Haha. Really though…. it was that year that we became friends… and we never would have guessed back then, that a few years down the road, they would be  falling head over heels in love.

Not only was their wedding a beautiful and ridiculously fun day, but it was quite sentimental. Billy Jack and Alissa are the rare type of people who are DEEPLY vested in their relationships. They care about people. They thrive off people. Looking out into the faces of everyone at the ceremony, I saw family….. in the biggest sense of the word. And throughout the day, tears of immense joy and gratitude streamed down just about every face… including mine. And as we drove away from the reception, I heard Alissa say over and over…. “This was the best day of my life. Seriously.”

There’s so much I could say about these two… so many stories and fond memories of how they’ve touched my soul and helped mold me into the person I am today… but, for your sake… I’ll just stick with the pictures.

The day started at the Se San Diego Hotel… hands down the COOLEST hotel I’ve ever had the privilege of setting foot in. I LOVE that place! Alissa spent the morning getting all prettied up for the big day… and by the time she was done, I had to take deep breaths to keep from crying… she was so beautiful. Every detail was perfectly “her”… and they all came together to make one BEAUTIFUL bride!

As we waited for the car to arrive, Alissa and I spent some time taking these breath-taking bridal portraits… and they’re easily my absolute favorites from the day… I think you’ll agree…

While Alissa and the girls were getting ready, Billy Jack and his party were waiting at Presidio Park… eagerly awaiting his first look at his beautiful bride. Christopher and my good friend Regis hung out with these guys and took some sweet shots while they waited for us…

Alissa and I finally arrived at Presidio Park and he finally got to see his bride…. it was such a touching moment!

We took a few group shots and then made our way to the ceremony site– Solana Beach Presbyterian Church…

This look is one of the main reasons I do what I do…. I have the privilege of capturing the look on the grooms face when he sees his bride walking down the aisle on the day they promise forever to each other. This look is the one every girl dreams about her whole life… and, I’m not even kidding, I cry EVERY TIME. Billy Jack was sooooo happy…

During the lighting of the unity candle, their friend Molly Jenson performed a poignant rendition of Joshua Radin’s “Today”… Molly… you’re amazing!

This is another one of my favorites… they are SO HAPPY walking back down the aisle as newlyweds!!! Hooraaay!

This cracks me up every time…

At the end of the night, I rode with them downtown in Lance Haynes’ 1929 Deluxe 4-Door Durant… and we took some “vintage Las Vegas” style shots with the car. There are so many good ones, but they’ll have to share them with you

Boom.

Billy Jack…. Alissa…. you two rock my world. I’ve been so blessed working with you and being a part of your wedding day was a highlight of my career. I hope you’re having a blast in the Mediterranean and I can’t wait for some hang out time!! Many thanks go out to all the spectacular vendors who helped make their day perfect… and Regis… friend…. I LOVED having you along to shoot with me! Thank you so much!

Flowers: Diane Reichenbach of Whimsey Florals

Caterer: Ki’s Restaurant

Chauffeuring: Lance Haynes

Officiant: Greg Fields

Videography: Steven and Michael of Lomaland Productions

Cake: Grove Pastry Shop

Music: Molly Jenson

To View the Slideshow, Click Here.