Sam waited in the car with Hadley while I went in to the 7-11 to buy some lottery tickets. Playing the lottery wasn’t something we normally did but a couple years ago we decided to play because the amount was up to $300-somthing million. I walked up to the cashier & said, “I’d like to buy a lottery ticket.” He looked at me as if I had just told him I was the Queen of England. He blinked a few times, looked me straight in the eye & said,
“You have to be 18 years old to buy a lottery ticket.”
“Uhhhhhh….I know that. I am WELL over 18.”
“No you aren’t.”
“Um. Yes. Yes I am. I’m WELL into my 20′s. I have a husband and a child forcryingoutloud.”
“I’m pretty sure you are NOT over 18.”
So I pulled my drivers license out, proudly displaying to the cashier that indeed, I was well into my 20′s (actually more like almost in my 30′s!) and that indeed, I could purchase a lottery ticket. Ahhhhh, the blessings of looking like I’m STILL a teenager! We didn’t win the lottery that day but the whole idea of winning the lottery is something that certainly has been crossing everyone’s minds this week. What would you do if you won the lottery? Would it make you a happier person?
Yesterday I spent the day with my sweet four year old daughter. We went to the library, window shopped for fancy dresses, galloped like ponies through the city streets, shared a gelato & threw pennies into a fountain as we made wishes. She kept on saying proudly, “Today is MY day.” I loved every second of it.
I have yet to purchase a lottery ticket this time around…but when I look at my life…my wonderful husband…my sweetheart daughter…I KNOW that I’ve most certainly lucked out & won the lottery.
Wedding season is in full swing! I love this time of year when I am busy with engagement sessions & weddings because I love being able to document the happiest day of people’s lives. It just never, ever has gotten old to me-even though I’ve now shot over 100 weddings, it just has NEVER gotten old. There is something so different about how each couple interacts with one another…how each couple talks to each other & how each couple loves each other. I am beyond grateful to have a job where I can see happiness & joy simply RADIATING from people because they have found the person who they know will make them the happiest.
Crystal & Chris hired me for a few hours at their Oakland Temple Wedding…the tulips were in full bloom & it was a lovely day. Crystal & Chris are darling together-the happiness that they radiate was a joy for me to capture. Here are my favorites from their special day…
“I‘ve had a lot of luck in my life. But I don’t know how I lucked out with Trina. I am SO lucky to have her,” Anthony said to me as we were walking to see Trina for the first time on that cold, snowy day. He’s right…he & Trina are soooooooo lucky to have found each other…lucky to have such a wonderful love & lucky to be married to their very best friend. They celebrated their wedding on one of the snowiest days of 2012 at the Hyatt at Lake Tahoe. And no amount of snow could have dampened their spirits-becuase they were so excited, so happy to finally become husband & wife. Perhaps the reason why they chose St.Patrick’s day to be married was because they realized how incredibly lucky they are to have such an incredible love. Their wedding was a perfect reflection of their personalities & they made sure that everyone had a blast celebrating their love story.
I loved shooting this wedding because Trina & AJ are simply awesome-they want everyone around them to be comfortable & to have fun. As AJ & Trina saw each other the first time on their wedding day, they laughed & their smiles were as big as the Mississippi river. It was an incredible moment & I was so glad that they saw each other before the ceremony (especially since it was snowing like crazy after the ceremony!) As Trina walked down the arm with her sweet father, she sweetly said hello to each guest she walked by-it was obvious that each person at the wedding had played a huge part in her & AJ’s lives. As they danced inside, quiet snowflakes fell from the sky, creating a perfect blanket of winter white outside. All in all, it was a lovely day celebrating the love of two people who recognize how lucky they are to have found each other.
Trina & AJ-thank you sooooooo much for giving me the chance to photograph your incredible, beautiful wedding. I feel lucky to have been a part of your day & I loved being there to celebrate in your joy together. Wishing you all the joy, happiness & luck that you both deserve. With love, XOXO marielle.
I LOVED Trina’s bedazzled Converse shoes…she was smart to wear tennis shoes with all the snow on the ground!
This is why I LOVE when couples choose to do a First Look…it can’t get any better than their excited expressions!
I’m pretty sure this cutie was stealing the show right…about…here…
During the reception, I looked outside & the sky was the most amazing blue with huge clouds rolling in. I grabbed Trina & Anthony and we went outside for a few minutes. I was SO glad we did! This is what it looked like outside…
For those of you who have seen how blue Lake Tahoe is in the summertime, the blue is so much more intense in the winter!
They met in school & they were friends in passing. On a whim they decided to have breakfast together & their friendship quickly grew from there. On a restless, hot summer night in Los Angeles, they both decided to head to deserted Malibu beach, armed with snacks, drinks, & blankets. As the ocean waves crashed on the shore, there they were…sharing their life stories until the sun rose. And it was on that deserted beach that Maggie & Shaun realized that they were more than friends…they realized that they were truly soul mates. Just two months later, they were backpacking across Europe together…riding moto-scooters through France, braving thunderstorms in Switzerland & dodging killer mosquitoes in Italy. They spent every waking moment together—frequently lost, hungry & broke—but their adventures were incredible & they had the time of their lives. And they just so happened to be falling in love along the journey together.
After their trip to Europe, Shaun returned to Los Angeles & Maggie stayed in Ireland to work on a dairy farm (so cool, right!) They spent three months writing letters to each other & coordinating phone calls with an eight hour time difference. When Maggie arrived back in the United States, they reunited…and their adventures kept going & kept getting better from there. On a work trip to Las Vegas in December, they took an unplanned trip to City Hall where Reverend Jim made official what they already knew was true in their hearts-that they would stand by each others sides-no matter what the journey was ahead.
Maggie & Shaun are seriously adorable together-they make each other so happy! Since their wedding was impromptu, they are planning a celebration this summer & I can’t wait to be a part of it. We had a fabulous time together in San Francisco on one of the most gorgeous days I can remember in the city. I loved hearing their amazing stories & getting to know them better….and now I really can’t wait for their amazing wedding celebration this summer! Here are my favorites (I had a tough time narrowing them down!)
LOVE THIS.
Maggie & Shaun can attest to the fact that I was literally obsessed with this pink tree. Isn’t it beautiful?
When my mom was in High School, she wore a pair of Levi’s jeans to school. Surrounded by her classmates who were wearing dresses & skirts, there she was in all of her 1970′s glory: bellbottom jeans, most likely a flowered, ruffly shirt & Farrah Fawcett hair. I’m positive she looked amazing. The only problem was that jeans weren’t allowed at school. The principal called her to his office, DROVE HER to her house & waited in his car while she changed out of her jeans. I always loved hearing that story from my mom…I remember thinking, “What a rebel! Wearing JEANS to school!”
Flash forward to a few years ago when I worked in the Marketing Department for a residential Real Estate company. The company has a no jeans policy for their employees. BUT they never had a no tie-dye pant policy!! I have this darling pair of pale green & white tie-dye pants. They sound ugly but I promise they are totally adorable. One Monday morning I decided to wear my darling pale green tie-dye pants to work (with a white blazer & heels so it seemed more professional, obviously). My boss called me on the phone & asked me to see him in his office. I knew I was in trouble. We stood in front of a floor length mirror, side by side. He said to me, “What’s the difference between what I’m wearing & what you are wearing?” I replied, “You are wearing a business suit & I am wearing something with more…texture & color.” He explained that he looked like he was going to work in a professional office & that I looked like I was going to a rock concert. And just like my mom back in the 70′s, I was asked to go home & change.
Flash forward a few years…I am working from home at my dream job. Photographing engagements, weddings & people’s lives. I am sitting in my home office with the windows open while I work & once again I am wearing my pale green tie-dye pants. Unapologetically. While I won’t be wearing my tie dye pants to any weddings, I will be wearing them in my office…listening to the Led Zeppelin & Aerosmith all day while I work. It’s a simple pleasure, but a pleasure nonetheless. And while this photograph has nothing to do with pants, it has me looking forward to a fun weekend with my two favorite people, my wonderful husband & darling daughter. Both of whom LOVE my tie-dye pants.
