I wondered if there would be that moment.  The moment when the groom looks up at his bride, the bride clutching her father’s arm in both joy and nervous fervor as she walks down the aisle looking at her groom, and the groom radiating with nothing but love and happiness.  I wondered if this would be that kind of wedding. I wondered if you would be able to feel the adoration and respect and passion and pure love between the two of them.  I wondered if  there would be all that, with only 7 people present standing on the cliffs of La Jolla to witness Lisa and Aaron joined as one. 

There was.  It was all there.  Every moment.

It turns out you don’t need the church or the hundred people or the elaborate candles and flowers and bridesmaids dresses to have a wedding that is exquisite.  To have a wedding that is brimming over with love and happiness and perfection.

When we met Lisa and Aaron for the first time, she told me that they were not those kind of people.  The kind of people who want a big wedding.  The kind of people who are stressed about every little detail.  “We are casual, relaxed people.  We just want a small wedding.”  And it was. And they were casual and relaxed people even on their wedding day.  And I cannot begin to tell you how honored we were to be there, to witness it, to be a part of such an amazing day and to be able to capture it for them. 

Aaron and Lisa, your day was just as flawless as I could have ever imagined it to be.  Your wedding was small, but it was lacking in nothing.   Your reception was filled with everything a reception should be filled with:  love of your families, excitement of friends, scrumptious and delectable food, glorious and stunning flower arrangements, laughter, hugs, tears of joy, and just a genuine warmth that filled the room. I now know how and why you are such warm, relaxed and casual people, because you are reflections of your families and your friends, all of whom made us feel so loved and welcome. Thank you for letting us be a part of that and giving us the honor of trying to capture it all for you. Many hugs…much appreciation…Ginette and Daniel.

Look how proud Lisa’s dad looks! I love that.

I can just feel the excitement and emotion here as Lisa hugs her sister and looks at her dad. I love that Daniel got this shot.

The “officiant” was John, Aaron’s best friend. Everything in this wedding felt so personal and intimate like that. It was incredible.

The glowing moms.

I love wedding details. Like that Lisa’s bouquet (as well as ALL the flower arrangements) was made my Aaron’s sister Trina. And that her shoes were pink. A-MAZING.

After the wedding we did the usual “formal” portraits…

Then we got to sneak away for some portraits of just the stunning bride and handsome groom. Those were the ones I treasured most from my own wedding and I was so excited to give that to them. First portraits as husband and wife!

After the ceremony Aaron’s mom opened up her home, the home Aaron grew up in, to host a slightly larger but still perfectly intimate reception for more family and friends. Every corner and detail in her home was the epitome of fabulous. LOVED IT ALL. Aaron’s family owns a floral company (Juniper’s  They do interior plantscaping services if you are in the need, and they are amazing people!) and you could tell, for the flower arrangements were simply gorgeous! Flowers graced every corner of the home, bringing warmth and joy to everything you saw. And like Daniel and I, Aaron and Lisa have a heart for great food. Lisa told us before the wedding that they were “foodies” and would love for us to take as many pictures of the food as we could. Since we also LOVE food and happen to LOVE food photography…this was a dream assignment. We were in heaven documenting all the DIVINE culinary display and heavenly floral arrangements. We snapped some shots other fun details too.

And instead of a fancy smancy wedding cake, Aaron and Lisa surprised all their guests with a doughnut vendor!! That is the best thing I have ever heard of! SO FUN!

I will end our post with a couple ring shots. I am not usually a wedding photographer, but I love when wedding photographers do the “ring shot”, so I thought I would try my hand at it. What better setting for the rings then food and flowers!

Thanks again guys! I hope you are having nothing but fun on your honeymoon!