24Jan

Bahia Hotel Wedding | Alaina and Stephen

By, January 24, 2017

Alaina and Stephen recently held their wedding at the Bahia Hotel in Mission Bay. We loved Alaina and Stephen’s fun personalities, and had a blast scouting locations that complemented their playful spirits. We hope you enjoy our selection of images from their special day!

Bride and Groom look at one another in marina

Alaina was stylish in her stunning two-piece dress from Here Comes the Bride, while Stephen sported a classic Navy suit.

Bridesmaids in two-piece dresses with Bride Groomsmen walking in marina at Bahia Resort wearing sunglasses Bride smiles with bouquetBridesmaids in Robes Celebrate with Champagne Toast Bridesmaid helps Bride put on shoesBridesmaids laugh and smile Groom prepares for wedding dayGroomsmen Standing with Matching blue suits and brown shoes Groom Reacts to Bride's First Look Groom reacts to seeing Bride during First Look at Bahia Resort

Arch made of eucalyptus garlands at unplugged wedding

The couple opted for an “unplugged” ceremony, requesting that guests put away phones and cameras. That way, everyone was able relax and enjoy the occasion :)

Cute flowergirls throw flowers down aisle at weddingGroom smiles as he sees Bride walk down aisle in dress designed by Here Comes the Bride Bride places wedding ring on groom's hand

Bride and Groom share first kiss during wedding ceremony

Alaina and Stephen exchanged vows under an arch of eucalyptus garlands, which was decorated by Moments in Bloom.

Bride and Groom cheer as they walk down aisle after wedding ceremonyBride and Groom hold hands on bridge at Bahia ResortWedding Couple and their DogFunny Bride and Groom hold tropical flowers in front of facesGroom wraps arms around Bride

Bride and Groom with cute dog on wedding day

Because Bahia Hotel is a pet friendly venue, we were able to incorporate the couple’s furry sidekick Khloe for a cameo appearance :) 

Bride and Groom have fun at marina in Bahia ResortWedding bridal party cheer in front of sign at Bahia ResortWedding Couple PortraitBride with bridesmaids in 2-piece dresses at marinaGroomsmen hug groom for funny photoBride and Groom face opposite directions and look into camera Creative and colorful reception lighting at sunset Grand chandelier below sweetheart table at reception in Bahia ResortGroom twirls Bride during couple's first dance at receptionGrooms embraces Bride as they smile during First DanceMr. and Mrs. signs with flowers decorate sweetheart table chairFather smiles while dancing during father and daughter dance at wedding reception Groom and Mother smile during Mother and Son dance at wedding reception 4-tier wedding cake and cupcakes by Flour Power Bride and Groom hold hands and cut cake together during reception in Mission Ballroom at Bahia Resort Bride and Groom's gold band and yellow diamond wedding rings

Check out more romantic memories from Alaina and Stephen’s Bahia Hotel wedding.

Venue: Bahia Resort
Coordinator: Bahia Hotel

Officiant: 2Wed4Life – Pastor Carlos
Hair/Make-up Stylist: Belli Belli Hair & Skin Salon
Wedding Dress: Here Comes the Bride
Bridesmaid Dresses: BHLDN
Wedding Shoes: BP Shoes
Florist: Moments in Bloom

Arch and Arbor: Moments in Bloom
Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Catering: Bahia Hotel
Bakery: Flour Power
Disc Jockey: So Cal Wedding Music

19Dec

Kate & Eric | Bali Hai Wedding

By, December 19, 2016

Kate and Eric reside in Washington D.C., and absolutely love the city of San Diego. They have visited multiple times, and have discussed moving here in the future. So it was only fitting that their destination wedding was held in ‘America’s Finest City’.

For the wedding venue, Kate and Eric chose the picturesque Bali Hai Restaurant, an enchanting Polynesian eatery. With its tropical elements, and sweeping views of San Diego’s harbor, this location made for a very vibrant day! Grab a Mai Tai and enjoy our selection of images :)

Wedding kiss on a dock

Beautiful bride make-up

Kate and Eric got ready at Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn, a beachy resort within walking distance of the Bali Hai.

Bride and Groom stylized portraits

During the “getting ready” portion, we captured stylized solo portraits of Eric and Kate.

Wedding shoe detail photo

We also made sure to capture fun details, such as Kate’s colorful kicks.

Getting ready at Humphry's Resort

We love finding intriguing angles to capture getting ready shots.

Getting ready at a destination wedding

To get this clean shot of Eric, we used a special lens to bring extra attention to him.

Wedding kiss on a dock

Groom shoes, bowtie and bouttonierre

Mother and Sister with Bride at Humphry's

tropical wedding ceremony site

Fun Bridal Party

Colorful and Tropical bridesmaid bouquet

We love these super cool florals by Moments in Bloom.

Colorful wedding at San Diego harbor

To achieve this high-angle shot, we mounted our camera on a tripod, and used a wide-angle lens.

Bride and Groom Kiss under and arbor with flower petals

For this romantic photo, we asked guests to shower the newlyweds with flower petals. Everyone was happy to take part!

Romantic wedding photo on a pier

To achieve candid photos, like this one, we initially posed Kate and Eric in a specific way. Then we let their personalities take over :)

Bride and groom tropical destination wedding

In order to highlight the beautiful location, we made use of a wide-angle shot. The pier, and its leading lines, helped draw focus to this dynamic duo!

Wedding love in San Diego harbor

After the ceremony, there was scheduled time for us to photograph around the Bali Hai. The time was put to good use, as there are so many great spots!

Bali Hai San Diego Wedding

In the spirit of their venue and theme, Kate and Eric gave out Polynesian mugs as party favors (above left).

Wedding kiss at the ceremony

Happy Bride at destination wedding

Wedding Party and groom style at the Bali Hai

Wide angle San Diego Wedding hot

Bride and groom seaside portrait

Wedding Venue

Bride and Groom at the Bali Hai

Lovely wedding photo at San Diego Harbor

It’s awesome when time can be blocked out for sunset photos. The quality of light is very pretty (above).

Table decor at a wedding

High angle wedding table photo

Close up shot of diamond ring and wedding bands

For the macro ring shot above, we placed the rings (by Mark Broumand) on Kate’s mother’s clutch. This brought out their true brilliance.

First Dance at Bali Hai Restaurant

Photo of guests dancing at Bali Hai

Candid wedding dancing photo

For this action dance shot, we used a shutter drag technique.

Night photography of bride and groom on a pier

In the photo above, we used creative lighting to illuminate the Kate and Eric. We love sneaking out during the reception for night shots like these!

Night wedding photo in front of San Diego skyline

Congrats to Kate and Eric… We hope to see you both in SD soon!!

Wedding Day Vendors

Venue: Bali Hai
Gifts and Favors: Bali Hai
Hair & Makeup: Beauty by Stacey
Disc Jockey: Bill Calhoun Mobile Music
Lighting and Decor: Brilliant Event Lighting
Bakery: Extraordinary Desserts
Jeweler: Mark Broumand
Arch and Arbor: Moments in Bloom
Florist: Moments in Bloom
Wedding Dress: Pronovias
Coordinator: Serendipity Events
Officiant: Two Rings Wedding Officiant

08Dec

Stylish So-Cal Destination Wedding | Karla and Jaime

By, December 08, 2016

Today’s post features our neighbors to the North, Canadians Karla and Jaime :) This Vancouver duo traded parkas for flip flops, and headed to sunny San Diego for a stylish destination wedding. Fortunately, our city came through with bright blue skies, and an all-around amazing day for the happy couple!

Bride and Groom embrace on rock during Sunset

The ceremony was a traditional Catholic mass, and was held at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Chula Vista.

Exterior of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Chula Vista, California
Father's candid reaction to walking bride down aisle during church ceremony
Bird's eye view of church wedding ceremony from balcony
As photographers, we are always thinking on our feet, and looking for new perspectives. For example, during Karla and Jaime’s ceremony, we wanted to show the immense ceilings and scale of the church (above). We spotted an elevated area in the back of the room, and this gave us a unique bird’s eye view. From this vantage point, we were able to pull back, and capture the ceremony in its entirety.

Bride and Groom laughing during church ceremonyBride and Groom share romantic First Kiss during Catholic church ceremony at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Chula VistaBride and Groom's candid smiles as they walk down aisle after first kiss at Our Lady of Guadalupe church
Bride and Groom embrace one another under wedding veilGroom dips Bride for kiss in front of Hotel Del Coronado
We loved the timelessness of Karla’s traditional cathedral veil, and Jaime’s distinguished bowtie. So after the ceremony, we set the couple in front of the Hotel Del Coronado and used the wind to our advantage (above). With a natural breeze, and friend nearby to help, we were able to incorporate a bit of motion, and bring life to the fabric.
Groom's fun reaction to playing with Bride at Hotel Del Coronado
Then, because every San Diego adventure needs a beach, we headed to Coronado! We couldn’t help but throw in a few twists, such as surprising the couple with a game of Smash Ball (above). This impromptu competition brought motion and playfulness into a relaxed environment.

Bridal Party pulling apart wedding couple for fun portraitFor a bit of fun, we invited Karla and Jaime’s bridal party along for a game of tug of war (above). We love how committed everyone was to the moment!Bridesmaid have fun showing off legs in pink dresses by David's BridalGroom and Groomsmen stand on sea wall at Hotel Del CoronadoBride and Groom smile candidly as they run on Coronado BeachBridal party with wedding couple on rocks at Coronado BeachSide profile of Bride looking away as Groom looks at her from background

For a unique portrait (above), we placed Karla in the foreground, and focused on her profile. Then, we asked Jamie to fix his eyes on Karla, which he was happy to do! We love the energy of the leading lines, and how they draw you into the image.

Bride and Groom hold hands on rocks at beach

As the sun began to set (above), we used a nearby seawall as a backdrop, and showed off Karla’s stunning Romona Keveza mermaid dress. With so many vivid colors in the sky, the natural light illuminated the couple with a radiant glow.

Bride and Groom hold hands in front of Hotel Del Coronado
Individual portraits of bride and groom on wedding day at Hotel Del CoronadoBridal Party cheers in front of vintage taxiOur very own CEO Aaron Feldman acted as ambassador, and escorted the wedding party around San Diego (above). Riding in style, the group went in his vintage 1977 Brooklyn Checker Cab Limo. By converting the image into black-and-white, we gave the photo a classic look that matched its old-school style.

Black and white photo of bride and groom embracing in vintage limo

On the way to the reception at the Star of the Sea Event Center in downtown San Diego, we noticed Karla and Jaime enjoying a sweet moment together (above). By remaining unobtrusive, we were able to freeze time and preserve the subtlety of the moment.

Bride and Groom cheer and dance during Grand EntranceGuests cheer on as Bride and Groom celebrate their First DanceGroom kisses Bride at Sweetheart TableCute flowergirls on Dancefloor

These two adorable flower girls literally got on the dance floor! (above)

Bride and Groom smile at camera for champagne toast during reception

Because there were so many guests traveling from all over the world, we pulled everyone together for a photo (below). With the couple leaning in for a kiss, we had the crowd gather around and cheer, for an unforgettable finale to the night!

Guests join wedding couple on dance floor for group photo

Ceremony Venue: Our Lady of  Guadalupe 
Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza
Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal
Makeup: King Cardoza Studio –  Makeup by Christina
Disc Jockey: DJ Frank Pompeo
Photobooth: Pixel Photo Booth
Bakery: Sweet as Bliss
Lighting and Decor: San Diego Party Rentals
Linens and Rental: San Diego Party Rentals
Reception Venue: Star of the Sea Event Center

Check out more classic moments from Karla and Jaime’s stylish destination wedding!

San Diego Wedding Photographer

Wedding Photography San Diego

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