I spent a couple days photographing a line of custom bridal hair accessories from Chinnylulu Designs – custom birdcage veils with florals, lots of feathers, costume jewlery and more! Any brides out there going to wear a custom hair piece?!?! I know you are! Owner/designer Chin-Lu styled the photo shoots and brought in two great models, all I had to do was show up and start snapping. We ended up with some great shots to represent her goodies . . . take a peek!

Custom Hair Pieces/Birdcage Veils – Chinnylulu Designs
Models – Nicole Gormly and Stacy Megill
Dress – Monique Lhuillier

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Candy Table

Florist

Corona Yacht Club
46-600 Tyler Street
Coachella, CA 92236
760-398-0206

“Nestled in a Palm Tree Grove just east of Palm Springs, the Corona Yacht Club is an idyllic location for weddings. Blooming flowers, towering Palm Trees and flowing waterfalls create a magical setting unlike anything in the Coachella Valley.” (from their website)

The only thing I had ever associated with the Coachella desert was the sweet Coachella Music Festival that happens there once a year. Rock and roll! Much to my wonderful surprise, it is also the grounds of a beautiful wedding venue called the Corona Yacht Club! Behold . . . an oasis (literally!!)!! A small man-made lake is surrounded by fantastic groves of perfect palm trees and LOTS of character as well.

I met superstar coordinator Shelly Wakefield from Details Details just outside Palm Springs for the beautiful wedding of Monica and Timothy Bradley. This wonderful couple has known each other since grade school and they still like to giggle alot. Christopher Aldama (event designer extraordinaire) of Fiori Fresco Special Events wrapped this venue up in lovely shades of purple – butterflies, orchids, hydrangeas, roses – beautiful job Christopher.

These . . . are statement shoes. Monica wants us to know her color for the day and she is not backing down! Way to go Monica, love it!

Our playful bride . . .

Ladies and Gentleman, the legendary Timothy Bradley, current WBO World Light Welterweight Champion . . .




Palm treeees!!!





True infrared dream . . .


My 2nd shooter for the day, Jeffrey Neal, is a master and strong advocate of the tilt-shift lens. See the magic . . .




Here we get to see some of Christopher’s work, from the reception area . . .



More butterflies!! It’s a beautiful dream!!

Happily ever after in a grove of palm trees! Hey, it’s awesome!!

Coordinator – Shelly Wakefield, Details Details
Floral and Event Designer – Christopher, Fiori Fresco Special Events
2nd photographer – Jeffrey Neal, JNP Studios
Cake – Exquisite Desserts

Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
3800 S Fairview St
Santa Ana, CA 92704
(714) 979-4422

Seacliff Country Club
6501 Palm Ave
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 536-8866

Chalk another one up for dating website eHarmony! You know I get to meet alot of couples that are planning their weddings and many, many of them meet online. In fact, here are the results of my own personal survey: Most couples are still meeting socially through their friends, but DEFINITELY a close runner up is cyberspace dating. Clif and Amber!! Woooo Woooo!! Here we go . . .

Ceremony at the famous Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, which is actually in Santa Ana . . .

Fashionably late . . . hahah, j/k . . .

After the ceremony we scooted over to beautiful Seacliff Country Club for photos and reception. Lots of sunshine and smiles! Love California . . .

You know I am always up for a little cheese! Let’s GO FOR IT!!!

Clif is giving out golf lessons during the cocktail hour, hahah . . .

Here are a few details from the reception room, including chocolate cake . . .

Thank you Clif and Amber. You are a blessing.

2nd photographer – Brian Jost

Make up/Hair – Allison Escalante

Christ Episcopal Church
408 S. Broadway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 540-1722

Bluewater Grill
665 North Harbor Drive
Redondo Beach, CA 90277-2004
(310) 318-3474

Patti and Dirk LOVE Redondo Beach! When I had met them for their initial consultation they let me know straight up everything is going to be in Redondo – engagement pictures, ceremony, and reception! No problem, just tell me where to show up! They ended up having a wonderfully low-key wedding at the very quaint Christ Episcopal Church. This little chapel on a residential street in downtown Redondo honestly looks like it belongs on a midwest road with the wooden steeple, American flag, blue skies and sun pouring down. So perfect.

After the ceremony, Patti and Dirk seriously just wanted to go on a walk to their favorite places. This was great! I got to just follow them around downtown and document a series of romantic points from their relationship. The street where they go to church, their favorite restaurant (Chaba), and the beach! It was truly a fun and relaxing time . . .

The beach was awesome. There were TONS of people everywhere, lots of rubberneckers checking out the wedding couple, good fun.


The reception was at the popular Bluewater Grill on the marina. Great food, great location.

Here are a few details from the party. Beautiful hand painted wine glasses for everyone, lots of flowers of course. I purposely include a picture of the DJ table because the music was DEFINITELY a center point to the reception. Old school DJ spinning true vinyl, btw. Way to go you guys . . .

I wanted to share this final picture because I really, really liked this moment. It happened just before the grand entrance at the Bluewater Grill. Patti and Dirk were sitting together in the manager’s office, just finished a shot of tequila and were as relaxed and happy as ever. Documentary style, just chillin’, getting ready to have a CRAZY TIME!

Thank you Patti and Dirk! Best wishes, hope to see you again soon.

Ponte Winery
35053 Rancho California Road
Temecula, CA 92591
(951) 694-8855

A perfect place for an eco-friendly themed wedding is beautiful Ponte Winery in Temecula, CA. That’s just what Amy and Nick accomplished for their unique and wonderful day. From the hemp silk wedding dress to the bouquets and centerpieces filled with vegetables, to the cake and then all the way to the wedding album Amy and Nick will have spent meticulous time searching for “green” vendors to complete a dream. Shelly Wakefield and her event team from Details Details helped pull off this stress-free wedding. The complete list of vendors is at the bottom of this post.

Fitting the theme of the wedding day, Amy’s great dress was custom made hempsilk by Jessica Iverson Eco-Couture . . .

Wedding shoes by Stuart Weitzman . . .


Amy is wearing a custom hair piece from Amy Chou . . .

Take a close look at the bouquets in these next two shots! Notice heads of artichoke and kale mixed in with the florals . . .


Nick and his guys were good sports and lots of fun for the cameras . . .



Some details from the day including the wish tree and the ringbearers pillow made by florist Suzanne M. Smith Designs . . .


The beatiful view for the ceremony at the Ponte . . .




Busting out my infrared camera for this awesome shot . . .




The guests received found their name attached to a lime, which lead them to their reception seat . . .

Here is a collage of the candy table that the guests had to contend with during the cocktail hour!! Not bad!!

Take a look at these wonderfully unique centerpieces – potatoes, asparagus, kale, carrots, peppers, grapes, apples, etc! So wonderful . . .

The reception was pretty simple and centered around socializing. The extraordinary cake decorated with artichoke was definitely the talk of the barrel room . . .

All-in-all a VERY beautiful and unique day. It was really a pleasure to document this event as it was very well thought out and perfectly executed ! Amy and Nick will be putting together a 100% ‘green’ wedding album with help from Becca at Wild Magnolia Designs. Congratulations Amy and Nick, talk to you soon!

Private Coordinator – Shelly Wakefield, Details Details Wedding & Event Planning
Florist/Event Designer – Suzanne M. Smith Designs
2nd photographers – Jeffrey Neal and Mike Villa
Hair/Make-Up – Ivy Chou
Videographer – Elysium Productions
DJ – Jeff Holmes, Moondance Mobile Music
Cake – Let Them Eat Cake
White Dove Release – Joe Irwin, Feathers from Heaven

Click here to view another Ponte Winery Wedding photographed by Hoffmann.

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

If you make it to just ONE bridal show in south Orange County, this one should definitely be it. Held once per year, the Bridal Fair by the Sea is SO extravagant, and vendors galore!! At the Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point this year, the entrance to the fair was a colorful hallway packed with crazy exotic colors of foods and candies, flowers and linens, just beautful. Beyond this there were five hotel ballrooms to walk through, each themed by season and just loaded with vendors giving out FREE STUFF! Once you make it through the ballrooms, you can head down to the main Marriott lawn for more. To top it off, there were seemingly endless amount of raffle prizes and wedding giveaways. Truly overwhleming.

I arrived in the morning to meet my friend Annie Kim from La Tulipe Floral Designs. I have worked with Annie at over 10 separate weddings in Laguna Beach and she always brings the most exotic creations. Great work Annie! Her mega booth was located in the ’summer’ room, here are a few of her floral presentations . . .


Don’t just get flowers! They will be naked! Accessorize your flowers!!! . . .

Check out these fascinating blue-dyed roses on the right . . . maybe for a winter wedding??


I accidentally found a couple “sweets” tables, hahahah. This first table from Itty Bitty Sweets is more of a baking extravaganza, really delightful and yummy looking goodies . . . way to go ladies!

When I was a kid, one of my favorite candies to get while at the beach was the Abba-Zabba. It’s sort of a really chewy toffee bar with peanut butter in the middle. So good, and takes forever to chew it. It also turns out to be a perfect fit for this themed table from Candee by Sandee. All black and yellow treats . . .

It was a fun morning, I also ran into some other wedding industry buddies: Berit Digerud Make-up Artist, Denise Empey Accessories, and Russell Fowler Cinematographer.

Related Posts:

Laguna Cliffs Marriott Wedding.

Bridal Hair Accessories

St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church
2200 San Joaquin Hills Road
Newport Beach, CA. 92660
(949) 644-1341

Turnip Rose
1901 Newport Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 645-4114

Lakerrrrrrs!!!! You know that Tommy and Elizabeth are serious Los Angeles Lakers fans when they choose Gold and Purple for their wedding colors! Kobe was on the invite list, but I guess he was unavailable. Definitely one of the more chill couples that I have met, they helped keep a very relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere on their day by giving out lots of hugs, smiles and laughter (a little early morning Starbucks and McDonalds didn’t hurt either) . . .

Gold shoes required . . .

Elizabeth . . .

Shazam!!!

Ceremony in Newport Beach at the contemporary and beautiful St. Marks Presbyterian . . .

Photos and reception followed at the fantastic Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa . . .

Usually guys are a little conservative when I ask them to jump off of something. First time was the charm for this group . . .

Lakers in full effect . . . (flowers by Amanda Heer at Fantasy Floral Designs)

OK, let’s keep the Lakers color theme going!!! The Tunrip Rose Grand Ballroom . . .

Tommy and Elizabeth set the tone for the enitre reception with their awesome and loud grand entrance. They had the entire ballroom on their feet cheering and clapping as they danced in and just kept dancing and dancing and dancing. SO much fun!

Most of the reception was loaded with about a 100 song set chosen by Tommy himself – there was NO stopping.

Check out Orange County DJ Bruce Battleson shredding some beats . . .

If you went to this wedding you were definitely sore the next day and you won’t forget how much fun you had. You know who you are!

Thank you to all the vendors who participated in Elizabeth and Tommy’s wedding day:

Day of Coordinator – Lilly Tokuyama
2nd photographers – Jeffrey Neal and Greg Bumatay
DJ/MC – Bruce Battleson
Cake – Rockwell’s Creative Cakes
Florist – Fantasy Floral Designs, Amanda Heer
Hair – Christopher von Kolen from Paul Jean Salon and Tary Ho of The Thuy Project.
Photo Booth – Cheesy Photobooths

This wedding was recently featured at LA Style Unveiled.

To view other weddings photographed by Hoffmann at the Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa, follow these links:

Turnip Rose Wedding

Turnip Rose Wedding

The One and Only Palmilla
Km 7.5 Carretera Transpeninsular
San Jose Del Cabo
BCS, CP 23400 Mexico

Sunset da Mona Lisa Restaurant
Transpeninsular 6KM
Missiones Del Cabo
Cabo San Lucas
BCS, 23410 Mexico

I want to shout it at the top of my lungs, “I LOVE MEXICO!” Yes! I have photographed at least 10 weddings throughout Mexico and have had several vacations there myself. I find places like Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, and Cozumel to be so beautiful and fun. Smaller resort areas like San Jose and Zijuajtanejo are so peaceful and relaxing. White sand, dark blue water, stucco, fish tacos, oooooh I want to leave right now!

The wedding of Brycie and Ian was photographed in the wonderful los Cabos area. Anyone who has been to Cabo will really appreciate this first collage as it is made of little pieces that make up the whole. . .

Brycie and Ian invited me to join their entire weekend – poolside lunches, guys fishing (Ian caught a FAT dorado, way to go man), rehearsal dinner and wedding day. The rehearsal dinner took place at the beautiful Sunset da Mona Lisa (formerly called Da Giorgio) which sits on a cliff overlooking the entire Cabo area and sea. We had a great time there with a few casual portraits, Brycie and Ian are lots of fun and very playful . . .

This is what I am talking about when I say the Sunset da Mona Lisa is beautiful! . . . WOW . . .

At the beginning of the wedding day I met Brycie over at the spa where she was in a private room getting her pedi for the day . . .

Getting ready . . . shoes from Manolo Blanik, awesome designer wedding gown by Melissa Sweet . . .



It is pretty classy when the guys have to tie their own bow ties. It took Ian the boys a little bit of time to do this, and you can see they worked up a good thirst . . .


The chapel on the resort grounds of the One and Only Palmilla . . .

Is that Ian, or is it JFK Jr.?? Stud . . .


We spent a few minutes playing on the beach, too much fun. You just can’t beat it . . .

I decided to make another collage to represent the reception. We went WAY beyond cheese and crackers for this one . . .fresh clams, mangos, oysters, JUMBO prawns, wine and tequila galore. All of this cliffside at the One and Only Palmilla Resort . . .

I love it when a wedding comes together! Thank you Brycie and Ian for inviting me to your spectacular and fun weekend. You both were so generous and perfect. Hope to see you again sometime!