Since the holidays, I feel my pace hasn’t slowed one bit.. in fact, I’m charged up… ready to go! I’m excited for 2012. But in planning for this next year, I had to look back at what we’ve done.  And in doing so, I can’t help but smile. Sam and I met the most amazing couples and were able to be a part of their magical day, which is more than an honor..its a blessing. Sam and I leave every wedding more in love with each other and this crazy life!

So here’s a look back at our favorite photos from all of our weddings in 2011.. starting with getting ready photos.

Of course, I just had to make a slideshow… hehehe
Enjoy!

Earlier this week, my mother in law had surgery on her shoulder. First the surgery was cancelled. Then back on again, then off and finally, at the last minute, back on. So my week has been a little off and everything I had scheduled got pushed to today. My calendar for today looks like a big mess, with new additions scribbled in and others scratched out. So I woke up extra early to tackle the day.

But then something happened. I started to feel ick. resentful. tired. bitter.

I just felt overwhelmed.

So I decided to steal an hour for myself this morning to make something that would take away those icky feelings. Pretty things make me happy and I need more pretty things around my house, so I decided to make an art piece.

Just for me.

I love it and it makes me smile, from the inside out. And I’m NOW in the right frame of mind to take on the day!

What are you going to do for yourself today?

Jonathan and Melissa are two of my favorite people on the planet. Their love and devotion to each other is inspiring. And they might actually like Disney as much as I do, which is always a plus. Their wedding last weekend at Etiwanda Gardens marks the beginning of a beautiful love story for Jonathan and Melissa and Sam and I wish nothing but happiness and laughter…and a happily ever after…for them.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from their love story…starting at Melissa’s parents’ house where she had her hair and makeup done. This was the first time Sam joined me while shooting the bride getting ready and, it might be selfish on my part but I LOVED having him there. He kept the ladies laughing the entire time, while capturing some awesome photos like the two below.

Melissa is a fabulously fun bride to photograph!

Moving on to Etiwanda Gardens where Melissa dressed and Jonathan put on the finishing touches…

totally digging these Mickey Mouse cufflinks.. a perfect gift to the groom!


Melissa’s Maid of Honor reminded her that she still had gum in her mouth moments before we were heading out for the first look.. and quickly put forth her hand.. Melissa’s reaction was priceless! Please don’t hate me, Melissa, but I adore this shot!

Time for my favorite…the first look!! Light dictates where we shoot these photos and it was a miracle that earlier in the day, the clouds rolled in and gave us the most beautiful diffused light. Normally at this time of day, this scenic area in Etiwanda Gardens would be under direct sun and would not have been chosen. But the heavens were smiling down on Jonathan and Melissa and this turned out even better than we had imagined!

First Looks give the bride and groom a much needed moment to connect, a moment just for themselves.

However, Melissa’s mother had forewarned me that she was going to peek in during the first look. So while the above moment was happening, I turned around and was pleasantly surprised to see this..

…while Sam caught THE moment. LOVE this!!

With thoughtful planning, there was enough time after the first look for some more portraits…another plus for having a first look!

Melissa, you. are. stunning.

and Jonathan….dang! You clean up nicely. *wink*

More favorite moments…

As wedding photographers, its so important to get those quintessential wedding moments, but its moment like this next shot that I love capturing. This was Melissa’s reaction near the end of the ceremony when the officiant announced it was almost time for the kiss.

Sam’s view of the perfect wedding kiss…

Married!! Onto Happily Ever After…

Purple.. another love we have in common! Throw in some Disney inspired touches and I’m all over it!



First Dance..

At some point during the reception, when the outside light is sweet, we always sneak our bride and groom outside for a few more portraits.

You’re killing me Melissa! Seriously…

The rest of the evening was filled with love and laughter, with everyone dancing the night away!

So, yeah. this post was epic.. but I was so excited to share that I might have gotten a little carried away…it happens!
Etiwanda Gardens, Rancho Cucamonga, Disney theme, Mickey Mouse, wedding photographer, Claremont, Redlands, Family, Baby, Photographer
Jonathan and Melissa, Sam and I  can’t wait to hear about your honeymoon trip to Disneyland and your dinner at the Napa Rose. And we can’t wait to watch as you two grow deeper in love with each passing year. Hugs to you both!
Enjoy the slideshow!

Sorry for the delay.. this post was hijacked by the start of school in my house. More on that in another post.. Let’s get back to celebrating Christi and Anthony. Click the links for part 1 and part 2 if you need to catch up!

Christi and Anthony’s reception was just a hop, skip and a jump from the sandy beach and every detail was brilliantly attended to by the awesome staff at the Monterey Beach Party.  I loved the casual beach theme, especially Christi and Anthony’s cake topper.

Christi and Anthony, you are some of the funniest, most caring, beautiful people Sam and I have had the pleasure of photographing and I know our paths will cross again. 300+ miles may separate us physically, but you’ll always be close to my heart! Cheers to a wonderful future together!
Monterey_Beach_Wedding_Photographer_Engagement_Theme_Photography
Enjoy your slideshow!

Christi and Anthony were married at the Monterey Beach Party, an event facility right on the sands next to Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, California. The folks there made us feel so welcomed… I was ready to pack up and move my business to their front door!

The ceremony was just feet away from the shore and even though the guests were sitting under the bright blue sky, the aisle lined with palm trees provided a more intimate, cozy feeling.  And the buckets filled with bottles of icy cold water and fans were welcomed by all….

Stay tuned for the 3rd and final installment… time to partay!!
Destination_wedding_photographer_Monterey_Beach_Party_Ceremony_engagement_Family_Baby_photography

You know how when you click with someone everything just falls into place.  That was my first encounter with Christi.  She lived in Northern California, but gave me a call after her friend had hired us to shoot their wedding.  And we clicked.  Right there on the phone. It was easy talking to Christi.. hearing about her plans, her poor foot and how she was missing out on soccer… the beach wedding she had always dreamed of.. and I couldn’t believe that Sam and I were going to be a part of it!

Christi and Anthony stayed at The Clement on Cannery Row in Monterey.  I loved this hotel… the location, the style, the staff!  Sam and I arrived a day early, which is normal for destination weddings, so we could have time with the location, check out the light, look for first look locations, etc…and The Clement had plenty of good stuff to offer.

The view from Christi’s room where she and her friends were getting ready.

Loved this tiara, which belonged to Christi’s mom. 2 generations wearing the same tiara….adore!!

Christi, uber-creative, talented woman that she is, made her own jewelry, garters, bridesmaid dresses, reception linens…. I’m sure I’ve forgotten other things. I’m ashamed to admit that I’m always a little jealous of those who can sew.

While Christi was getting ready, Sam caught up with Anthony, who after getting ready, was getting some sage advice and good laughs from his best man at the bar.

the groom…Anthony’s smile makes me smile. Every time.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.. having a first look session before the wedding is one of my favorite times during the wedding day. It just makes the day flow so much better. Sam and I had picked a colorful location outside behind The Clement, but when we had originally selected the location.. the day was overcast, as was the case with all the days leading up to the wedding. Christi and Anthony were blessed with the most glorious blue skies.. the first seen in weeks, but that made our original location no longer suitable in the bright overhead sun. Luckily, we had a back up location already chosen and it was perfection!

After a few moments of just breathing and smiling and being close, Christi and Anthony headed around the hotel for a few more portraits before hopping into the limo for a quick trip around the scenic city of Monterey for even more photos! I’m honored that Christi trusted me to help her with her wedding timeline  to ensure enough time for some beautiful, relaxed portraits. Luuuurrvve the results!!

the bride.. really, Christi.. you’re gorgeous!!

Destination_Wedding_Monterey_The Clement_Riverside_Engagement_Redlands_Claremont_Family_Baby_Photographer_Photography

Next up.. ceremony and reception at The Monterey Beach Party. Hurry back!
]]> http://www.carrievines.com/2011/08/christi-and-anthony-wedding-the-clement-hotel-monterey/feed/ 1 http://www.carrievines.com/2011/08/paula-and-patrick-part-2-hilton-papagayo-resort-wedding-costa-rica/ http://www.carrievines.com/2011/08/paula-and-patrick-part-2-hilton-papagayo-resort-wedding-costa-rica/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:17:12 +0000 Carrie http://www.carrievines.com/?p=4365 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

We left Paula and Patrick kissing under the arch in yesterday’s post.. but I feel I need to rewind the story just a bit…you see, Paula’s dream was to be married on the beach with her toes in the sand. But it was monsoon season in Costa Rica, so every afternoon, for several hours, the clouds would roll in and the rain would start to fall. While scouting for a location on the beach for their ceremony,  Paula had to choose a back up location near the Hilton Papagayo Resort Spa Bar …just in case.

Of course, as expected, it started raining early in the afternoon and the wedding set up had to be moved from the beach to the back up location. But about 15 minutes before the ceremony was to begin, the clouds parted and the rain stopped. And the decision was made to move the chairs and the arch back to the favored spot. Sam, the groom, the groom’s friends, the officiant, and everyone else standing around grabbed what they could and headed back to the beach, just in time for the ceremony to begin. Paula, escorted by her father and brother, made her way down the grassy steps to the man of her dreams.. to have the wedding of her dreams…toes in the sand.

And I’m not exaggerating when I say that as Paula and Patrick finished their first kiss as man and wife.. the rain started up again. But there was one final ceremonious act that involved all the guests sharing their wedding wishes on a shell and tossing it to the sea. So that is where we pick up with photos.. everyone running around the small grove of trees on the beach to the shore to toss in their shells and set their wish free. It was a mad dash…

And this is where Sam captured one of my all time favorite photos to date!

Paula wanted a trash the dress session the following morning. In case you’ve never heard of trashing the dress, its a more relaxed portrait session after the wedding for the bride and groom. Not all the trash the dress sessions require actually trashing the dress, but in Paula’s case, she wanted in that water! But we didn’t start there.. we cruised all over the resort looking for awesome light  shade.. it was a hot, sticky morning.

Paula had the most amazing cathedral veil I’d ever seen and I wanted nothing more for the wind to pick up that veil.. but the wind never came. We had to fake it. Paula even got tangled up in it!

We wrapped up our session with Patrick’s son and headed back to the beach where Paula and Patrick were married. Time for the first family portrait!

Oh this little guy was a cutie!!


Paula wasn’t joking about wanting to get in the water, but jumping in the pool was sort of a last minute idea… I absolutely love this couple!! Any couple willing to be this playful with their wedding photos are my kind of peeps! Did I just say peeps? ….ugh. I better wrap this up before I embarrass myself some more.

Paula and Patrick.. we wish you lifetime of happiness and hot, sticky fun in the sun and surf days! Love you, guys!!

We shared the video, but not photos from Paula and Patrick’s wedding at the Hilton Papagayo Resort in Costa Rica. So here are some of our favorites.

hanging out with the girls in Coco Beach, Costa Rica…

The beautiful Hilton Papagayo Resort..

Love these relaxed portraits of the bride and groom.. Aren’t they a gorgeous couple?

We have much more to share.. stay tuned for part two.
wedding photographer_riverside_engagement_rancho cucamonga_family_baby_destination_costa rica

Love is its own language. And its a good thing, too, because Eva and Ramon’s Wedding Mass was entirely in spanish. And I don’t speak spanish. I can barely remember the 2 years of french I took in high school.  *blushing*

You know what… it didn’t matter… love has its own language and that I DO understand!

Eva and Ramon’s wedding day was simply beautiful, with Eva getting ready at her parents’ house in Grand Terrace. When I arrived, the getting ready was in full swing with lots of people moving around. In my attempts to move out of the way, I knocked a canvas off its nail (my apoloigies again, mom!) and yet, both Eva and her mom stayed so calm and collected. If Eva was feeling any nerves, she didn’t show it…

Instead, Eva sat there looking rather radiant!

Eva’s Alfred Angelo dress was simply breathtaking!

The bride getting her dress on are some of my favorite moments to photograph because the moment she steps into her dress, the day becomes very real for her and those around her. Case in point… dad and his priceless expression when he turned around and noticed his daughter.

Sometimes I think the grooms have it too easy… most of our grooms get ready in just a matter of minutes… except for that wicked tie! Bet you didn’t know that Sam is a master at the double windsor and ends up helping out about 80% of our grooms with their ties. We’re all about the service!

The ceremony took place at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, a hidden gem nestled among a quiet neighborhood in San Bernardino. Father Alan was welcoming to our crew, which increased by one. We are so pleased to have Jared Rosenthal join us as an associate photographer for this wedding. He did a superb job and we were blessed to have him on board.

Love these next two images by Jared!


Eva and Ramon scheduled plenty of time between their ceremony and reception for photos. I don’t have to tell you that having more time for photos means more amazing photos… and we have a good time at it, too!

I absolutely adore Ramon in this shot! I can see why Eva is staring into his eyes… they’re captivating!

Eva… Love looks good on you, girl!! You’re gorgous!!


I’m a little jealous of this shot by Jared. Ok, a lot jealous!!

The reception was held in the Renaissance Banquet Hall in historic downtown Redlands… awesomeness!!

Eva and Ramon’s first dance….

The first part of the evening was graced with the music of Mariachi Lepe and later, Michael Garcia from Bizarre Entertainment.

Fun dancing shots by Jared!!


This next shot is literally my last shot of the night. We snuck out for some night portraits and this was as we were coming up in the industrial elevator. LOVE!!

Wedding Photographer – Redlands – San Bernardino – Rancho Cucamonga – Claremont – Baby – Family – Engagement

I’m particularly excited about their slideshow.. Ramon and Eva had shared with us Mariachi Lebe was playing a special song that was very dear to their families.  We were able to record it and include it in their slideshow. Enjoy!

Their love for each and for life is infectious…

That’s what Sam whispered to me while sitting in the back seat of the car on our way to San Diego’s Balboa Park for Melissa and Jonathan’s engagement session.  I have to agree wholeheartedly! I could think of a few other words to describe them as well: kind, generous, thoughtful, helpful, absolutely lovely. During the 3 hour trip, I couldn’t help but smile every time I caught Jonathan stealing glances of his beautiful fiance while keeping his hands on the 10 and 2 position. He might try to say he was watching the GPS system, but I suspect otherwise.

Sam and feel so blessed to be shooting Melissa and Jonathan’s wedding in September, but even more honored to be calling them friends…forever.

Wedding Photographer – Riverside – Engagement – San Diego – Balboa Park – Claremont – Family – Baby – Photography
Check out their slideshow!!