There are few young couples who know the depth of love Brian and Megan do. Something happens in a love story when hardships put mountains in the way… it refines things down to what really matters and forces you to find courage from beyond yourself to make the climb. If you didn’t get a chance to read their story, you can find it here… it’s pretty amazing. So on their wedding day, they celebrated a new chapter in their love story, but they also celebrated reaching the pinnacle of a mountain.  Their wedding day was a joyful triumph and such a stark reminder that love wins… always.

Just as Megan planned it, the details of the wedding day came together flawlessly to create wedding day perfection. I have to say how thoroughly impressed I was at her attention to detail and her overall vision. Cori from Events by Cori was the mastermind throughout the day, making sure that everything flowed peacefully and beautifully as Megan’s pieces came together. Here are my favorites from the day….

Brian was STOKED on his wedding day…. it was hard to keep this groom from smiling! And he was so sweet throughout the day as little moments here and there impressed their “realness” on his heart. He married the absolute woman of his dreams and he knew it! Look at that grin!

Casa Romantica was such a great place to have a wedding! Not only was it GORGEOUS, but it’s cool knowing it’s such a historic location in Southern Orange County. And the balcony where the ceremonies take place overlooked the San Clemente Pier… such a great view! I highly recommend this place…

This was such a beautiful, meaningful, and FUN wedding to be a part of… and I couldn’t have done it without my dream team, Christopher and Amanda! Thank you, with all my heart, for all your help and patience with me…. I couldn’t dream for a better team!

Also, many thanks go to all the wonderful vendors who came together to make Brian and Megan’s day a dream! Wedding Planning: Events by Cori, Venue: Casa Romantica, Catering: Iva Lee’s Catering, Hair: Salon Incognito, Makeup: Makeup by Berit, DJ: Essential Mobile Music, Florist: Flower Company of San Clemente, Custom Invitations: Li’K Designs, Cake: It’s All About the Cake

I don’t know about you, but winter is one of my favorite times of year…. there’s just something so romantic about it!  Winter’s a time when life slows down a little, cuddles by the fire are enjoyed, and the world looks a little different. Plus, all the cute jackets and accessories can be worn… like scarves, peacoats, and cute hats! Well, Brittany and Allie over at Rooted in Love Weddings are also big fans of winter…. so much so that we decided to put together a winter styled shoot up in Arrowhead area. The inspiration for the styling was the color combination of wood and wine, combining classic wedding details with woodsy elements and DIY charm. Those girls put a lot of time into creating some super cute DIY decor, and they did a great job on the design. Kathleen Bantad of The Paper Mint Press also joined our team to create some adorable letter press invitations and recipe cards. And to top it off, we had a ridiculously cute couple model for us! Scott and Claire are celebrating over 5 years of marriage this year and they are more in love than they were on their wedding day! Jaya Loo and Danyell Weinberg did Claire’s hair and makeup. Here are the highlights from the afternoon…

Event Design: Rooted in Love Weddings, Hair: Jaya Loo, Makeup: Danyell Weinberg, Invitations: The Paper Mint Press, Silverware: BHLDN, Lanterns: World Market Cost Plus, Venue: Private Estate

Last year, November marked the time of year when Christopher decided to sport a mustache. (You can view last year’s mustache here.) I thought maybe it had gotten out of his system, but one morning early in the month, I walked into the kitchen to find a mustached man eating Christopher’s breakfast. “Wonderful,” I thought. “Here we go again.”

Well, I’ll have you know that he was encouraged by our friends Jeff and Trevor, who spent the month of November “mustache-edly” clad in support of our dear friend John Riedl as he continues to battle cancer. “It’s for a good cause,” I told myself. And it was. These three endured many awkward stares, pesky leftover food crumbs, and repulsed wives…. and to celebrate the end, they decided to take some “gross mustache photos.” And they were indeed gross…. here’s the results of the shoot …. (Please Note: This is not normal attire for any of these men. They’re usually very respectable…..)

Once we were done with the gross mustache shots, we moved onto a more serious and pretty family photo of the Clinard Clan.

And then we got crazy again….

I’m sorry to see November already far past, but I’m glad to have a mustache-less husband for another year. Way to go boys… you did good.

The Maghy Family arrived full of energy and ready to go. It was…. awesome. There’s usually at least one person in every family that DREADS taking family portrait…. but THIS family was great! We smiled, laughed, talked, and had a great time shooting at Jeffrey Park in Irvine. And even though there were probably 10 other photo shoots going on around the park, I think we found some great spots. What do you think?

Sophia emailed me a little while ago asking if I’d be available to take some photos of her family for the holidays… and also to document the final months of their beloved dog Summer’s life. As every family who’s ever had a beloved pet for years and years knows it’s really hard to let go of them in the end…. because they’re part of the family. I couldn’t think of a better way to keep this holiday season with the WHOLE family more memorable, than to take some gorgeous family photos. Sophia and family, thanks for asking me to be a part of such a fun memory. And Summer…. you’re a REALLY good dog. Thanks for smiling for me! Here’s my favorites from the evening…