Riki and Nick's Wedding

Today I went to Tiburon to photograph the wedding of Riki and Nick who chose this city as it was where they first met and fell in love.

A closeup of the detail's on Riki's custom sash:


Here was the gorgeous view outside the Corinthian Yacht club that was the setting for both their ceremony and reception.


During this solemn moment of prayer one of the flower girls, Kennedy, at the left, was instead peeking out into the audience.


Enjoying their first dances as husband and wife, in both serious and fun moments.

A Bride and Groom Visit JJ's

Since I've been working at JJ's Blues, there have been several occasions where I photographed a wedding then the second music set at the club. Before today, I'd never photographed a couple on their wedding day at the club.

Tonight Rachel and Pete walked into our club for a post-reception party, so I photographed a few of them, and their maid of honor and best man as well.

Kristen and John's Reception, Part Two

Both John and Kristen wore green to compliment their lush surroundings. When I approached John to take a quick portrait he was already watching Kristen mesmerized, so my first shot of him looked like this:



After that I took a more formal portrait of him. He has a great smile.



As does his new wife of a little under two months, Kristen.



With matching smiles, and outfits, they really just went well together. They even had matching flowers to celebrate the event.



Their first reception kiss.



Though they didn't have a formal cake cutting, they did bring along the knives from the cake cutting at their first formal reception, and had the flowers on the cake match them.

Kristen and John's Reception Part One

When I was a student at San Jose State University I got to watch a love story in progress unfold. Two of my friends, John and Kristen, found friendship, then love, a relationship that lasted beyond college and culminated in a wedding this June in Illinois.

As they had a lot of friends and family in San Jose, they had today a semi-formal wedding reception at Family Circle Park. It was beautiful and I was honored to have a part in it.

I remember Kristen and John and both do-it-yourself types. Here she is working on some of her decorations.



Inside the basic were the sweet and practical tape measures, in two types so people could choose a circle or heart for themselves. On it the message really says it all.



Not wanting any of their guests to have nothing to do, they even brought this dart set for young tykes and had an arts and crafts and games table.



Another detail shot with some of the lovely flowers they brought with them.



Kristen and John had both cooked and baked for the occassion, some of their handiwork, complete with handmade signs with food descriptions:

Gia and Alec's Reception, Part Two

During the slideshow, Alec and Gia stole a moment to themselves, almost unaware anyone else was around them.


During the cake cutting they were surrounded by their own four daughters, as well as a few more little girls.



Gia and Alec had black and white disposable cameras at each table. Their daughters must have just learned this right before the garter removal, as they came up and made sure to capture their own moments of the day.



They were also up close and personal for the garter toss.


Sunday's reception was a beautiful all family event, and I'm happy Amoreena and I were on hnd to capture all these special memories.

Gia and Alec's Reception, Part One

Gia and Alec made their grand entrance after their four daughters ran in before them. Here is the happy couple.




The daughters ran fast, here are three of them who rushed in before Gia and Alec.




With having four little girls in their family already, the wedding was a family affair with daughters near and on them through much of it including the toasts.



They did get some time alone to dance as a couple for their first dance.



Then it was time to dance with their new blended family.



The best man even found his inner rock star with some help from an air guitar from the DJ.

Toasting at Weddings

At Marisa and Bradley's wedding this month the best man and maid of honor gave toasts. The bride and groom were expecting that.





Then the groom made up a tradition that I'd love to see in more weddings, he had the microphone passed so each person at the head table made a toast (some short, some long, some funny, some sappy, and though none were prepared to do it, it was great).





Bradley then asked if anyone else had anything to say, and it turned out that the flower girl, the bride's second cousin did have something to say.




I really like the idea of opening up the toasting floor to anyone, it was a great showing on all parts and made some special unique memories.

Marisa and Bradley's Wedding Part Three

Bradley danced the Mother-Son dance with one of the songs that was playing at the concert the night he told her he was proposing to Marisa. Here they share a heartfelt hug during the song.


With many ways to remove a garter, Bradley opts for a classy, gentle way with his hand.



Here you can see the garter going right to the boy who caught it.



Marisa's bouquet toss caused a bit more of a scramble.



Sharing their first bites of wedding cake as the evening draws to a close.

Marisa and Bradley's Wedding Part Two

I love the relaxed, "hey we did it," expressions on both of their faces in this photo.



Here they are greeted by their friends and family for the first time as a married couple.




One of the coolest things about doing weddings is capturing the unexpected moments. The flower girl gave her own toast which was a great highlight of the evening.



Bradley and Marisa looked so natural on the dance floor. They spent many songs slow dancing with one another.

Marisa and Bradley's Wedding Part One

Marisa and Bradley were married on a gorgeous, sunny day at the Santa Teresa Country Club. After taking preparation photos, there was still time to get quick posed photos of all of the guests with who they came with.



The ring bearer, being only two wasn't quite sure where to go as he walked down the aisle. Here he gets smiles from the bridesmaids, and a helpful pointer from the flower girl (his cousin).



This is Bradley's reaction to seeing Marisa for the first time in her wedding dress. He later told me he was thinking, "She's so beautiful, I'm so lucky," at this moment.



Their smiles during the ring exchange were prominent even to the last row of guests.


Their first kiss as husband and wife.