Laguna Cliffs Marriott
25135 Park Lantern
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 661-5000

Melissa and Samid’s big day at the Cliffside Marriott in Dana Point! Not only was it ANOTHER perfect day in southern California, but this event was VERY well put together. DeNeitra Vincent with Savvy Events did a great job as “elements of Hamid’s Persian culture were infused into the event” with a Persian wedding spread at the altar (called the Sofreh Aghd) and also a belly dancer at the reception! Shazam! Let’s start with a few details I found in Melissa’s getting ready room . . .


Videographer for the day was Elysium Productions. They put together an incredible “same day edit,” which they presented at the reception! Wowzers!

A ‘finished’ Melissa looking magnificent and splendid . . .

Hamid and his crew . . .

Check out the exceptional ceremony set-up!! Flowers by Victoria’s Garden. Custom aisle runner by I Do Originals . . .

Some of the details of the Persian wedding spread at the altar . . .


All that warm sun makes a bride want to go for a little stroll in the park outside the Laguna Cliffs Marriott! Custom parasol with the wedding logo by I Do Originals . . .

Cake by It’s All About the Cake . . .

Some details from the immaculate reception set-up . . .

One more picture of Melissa and Samid before they leave for their honeymoon in Egypt!! So cool.

Surf and Sand Resort and Spa
1555 South Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(888) 869-7569

Occasions at Laguna Village
577 South Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 376-4536

This is what could happen if you date someone from work!! hahah . . . just joking . . .sort of . . . Well, Chris and Diane met at work and a couple years later made the move to marriage! Congratulations! They got ready at the beautiful Surf and Sand Resort and Spa in Laguna Beach and then had the ceremony and reception at the perfect Laguna Village just a short ride down the Pacifica Coast Highway. Both locations have stunning views overlooking the Pacific Ocean and are great for weddings. Here are the girls in the courtyard at the Surf and Sand . . .

The guys over at Laguna Village . . .

Ceremony!!

A walk on the beach . . .



By now you should be able to tell what Diane’s favorite color is! . . .

Hoffmann is a preferred vendor at the Laguna Village and has worked over 20 weddings there! Come in and check out his portfolio!

I met this fun family at a wedding a few years ago. They are actually from the East Coast, but they came to visit a family member in San Diego so they gave me a call for a photo session. Their kids were so well behaved, and also very funny. You can see in the progression of these pictures that the kids will actually have a great look for the first photo and then the mischief begins, hahahaa . . .


Thanks for giving me a call on your visit to San Diego! Hope to see you again sometime!

Cook’s Corner
19152 Santiago Canyon Rd
Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679
(949) 858-0266

Dustin and Stacy had one of their first dates in Silverado Canyon – a ride on Dustin’s Harley Davidson! And it was at Cook’s Corner in neighboring Trabuco Canyon where they held hands for the first time. Romantic adventures like this lead to an inevitable engagement and a call for engagement photos. I had fun going on an adventure with these two in Trabuco and Silverado Canyon, they are both very playful and they love the camera . . .












Dustin and Stacy will be getting married on January 23, 2010 at the Strawberry Farms Golf Club. See you then!

Hyatt Regency Irvine
17900 Jamboree Road,
Irvine, CA 92614
(949) 975-1234

The wedding is a perfect occasion to incorporate the culture and religion of the bride and groom. It is great time to let your family and guests know, “This is what we are about, this is what we believe!” Melody and Brian made no secret that she loves her identity as a Persian and they love their identity together as Christians. Coordinated by Adam and Eve Weddings, it was a beutiful day at the Irvine Hyatt Regency. Look at Melody, just floating on air . . .

Brian and the guys having a photo session . . .

Look at just a sampling of the elaborate details from the ceremony! B.B. Simon is the source for the beautiful Swarovski Crystal wedding decor . . .

Moms lighting the candles . . .

Melody and Brian sit before the Persian wedding spread (Sofra Aghd). . . so beautiful!! . . .

A couple Persian traditions . . . in this first image Melody and Brian sit beneath a shawl held by family members, all the while there is sugar that is being ground above their heads. This is to symbolize sweetness and happiness in marriage . . .

The sharing of honey, to sweeten the life . . .

The very happy wedding party! . . .

Melody and Brian . . .



Also part of the Persian tradition is to have an abundance of food for everyone (love it). The Irvine Hyatt Regency is one of the few local resorts that allow outside catering specifically for Persian weddings. This day was catered by the Hatam Restaurant in Mission Viejo . . .

One of my favorite events of this day was the first dance. Melody put together a beautiful story in the form of dance for her husband, she had the entire ballroom mesmerised! . . .


Additional vendors from Melody and Brian’s wedding:
DJ – Peter Wade
Videographer – Kevin Easterly, Pristine Videos
Bridal Gown – Mary Me Bridal
Thank you Melody and Brian for inviting me to your beautiful and culturally rich day! See you again soon!

I photographed Crystie and Mike ’s wedding a few years ago at the Bowers Museum. They must have liked their pictures because they keep coming back for more photos! Their daughter Emmie keeps getting cuter and cuter every single time. I photographed her just a few days she was born, so awesome (check out the pictures here). Well here they all are again, looking as good as ever in Huntington Beach for a family photo shoot . . .




Thanks for coming back, see you guys next year!!

S Vietnamese Fine Dining
545 Westminster Mall Drive
Westminster, CA 92683
(714) 898-5092

Ngoc Nguyen of Skybox Event Productions put together a fantastic bridal event last week at the S Vietnamese Fine Dining Restaurant in Westminster. Titled “Let’s Get Married,” there was a really GREAT turnout – awesome vendors, lots of brides, and amazing food. As far as my experience with bridal shows goes, this one ranks in my top 3! . . . Thank you for inviting me, Ngoc!

If you haven’t been to S Fine Dining yet, you will be in for a incredible sensuous food experience. I had one of the duck dishes, my neighbor ate the scallops, and I was an eye-witness to Tiffany from All-Made-Up consuming the “shaken beef.” All 5 stars.

Floral arrangements by The Flower Tray . . .


Never in my life have I seen a “floating cake.” The people at Final Touch Bakery know how to float one though! This is a real cake! . . .



Other contributing vendors at “Let’s Get Married:”
Platinum Peaks Productions – Event entertainment and lighting
Huey Bui – Photo booth
All Made Up – Make up artistry and hair
Muse – Make-up artistry

The Mirage Las Vegas
3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 791-7111

TPC Summerlin
1700 Village Center Cir
Las Vegas, NV 89134
(702) 256-0111

Welcome to Las Vegas, Nevada! You may never think of LV as having cold temperatures, but the weather outside was as cold as the slots on this winter day! I love Vegas as much as the next guy, but being born and raised in Huntington Beach, I was completely underprepared for 30 degrees F. BUT it didn’t matter anyway – the hot love was flowing as Laura and Steve got ready at the Mirage Resort and then exchanged vows at the TPC at Summerlin Golf Club. Stop #1 as you arrive to Vegas is always this great nostalgic sign . . .

If you can say “Reem Acra,” you have my attention. . .


Laura getting ready, thinking about her day and her man . . .

Laura getting ready, NOT thinking about her day and her man, hahah . . .



The guys got ready at the Mirage as well. I caught up with them in the casino . . .


We had to find a place for pictures that wasn’t perpetually misting with cold dew. The front entrance to the TPC Summerlin worked as good as ever, just throw down a little texture and we have ourselves a portrait . . .

This was actually the very first inside wedding that was ever held at the TPC Summerlin. Turned out to be very nice and cozy, a great celebration . . .

Good looking people, let me tell you . . .





A few details from the reception room . . .

First dance . . .

Father and daughter sharing a very special moment . . .

Thank you Laura and Steve for inviting me to your big day at the TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas! Beautiful!