Dark clouds loomed over the temple. It was a cold morning & the clouds threatened rain. But as Mallory & Jordan walked out of the Oakland Temple, hand in hand…they could have cared less about the weather! Rain or shine-they were ready for the best day of their lives! The clouds eventually parted & there was hardly any rain for the whole day (until the reception started!). Mallory & Jordan spent the entire day simply beaming. It was evident that they had found their other half, their missing piece & their forever best friend. Mallory & Jordan are the kind of people whose relaxed nature puts others at ease. They just want everyone around them to be happy & to have fun. And that’s exactly how they were on their wedding day-Mallory was the most laid back, easy going bride ever & Jordan made sure that everyone around was having fun. I had never met either of them until they walked out of the temple, but we had a blast taking photos & it felt like we had been friends for a long time!
I LOVE how so many weddings now are DIY weddings-it makes weddings more creative, it makes a wedding more personal & much more fun! I learned very quickly that Mallory’s mother & her sister Whitney are like Martha Stewart (but much nicer!!!)-they handled everything from the beautiful invitations, the decor at the reception, down to the perfectly tied platinum bow tied around Mallory’s wedding gown. Both of their families worked hard & made their reception look incredible. Painted strips of butcher paper hanged from the walls & the ceiling. Guests enjoyed homemade ice cream sandwiches for dessert…Twinkle lights were everywhere (which always makes for fab photographs), the darling cake topper was made by Whitney & each guest took home a little envelope filled with yummy lemon drops. Their hard work paid off because the reception was downright GORGEOUS. Guests spent the evening dining & mingling as Mallory & Jordan smiled all the way down to their toes.
Mallory & Jordan-I LOVED shooting your wedding! You guys were amazing to work with…thank you for trusting me & for choosing me to photograph your perfect wedding. I loved seeing how you guys just light up when you are together…wishing you both all the love & happiness that this beautiful world has to offer-you deserve all of it & more! XOXO, marielle.
Sooooooooo my favorite from their wedding…
Mallory-you are stunning!
The one on the right is one of my favorites!
Yes…that IS the cutest little wedding cake I’ve ever seen….
I always have so much fun doing ring shots-I love how this one turned out!
And a special thanks to my friend Melinda who was my second shooter for the day!
He writes the music. She paints the pictures. Together, they make the world around them more colorful, more beautiful & soooooooo much more fun. Brent & Kristin are THE dream team-a couple who makes every moment funny & a couple who invites everyone around them to share in their happiness & joy. On a lovely September day under a gauzy chuppa, the sun shined on Kristin & Brent’s smiling faces as they said their vows. In front of their friends & family, Brent vowed that he would write the incredible music. And Kristin vowed that she would paint the amazing pictures. And they vowed to make the world around them more beautiful. Together.
Kristin & Brent are one of the most talented & incredible couples I’ve had the pleasure of working with. The wedding was held in their beautiful home where everyone was surrounded by the incredible paintings that Kristin made. Their driveway was converted into the reception area & a lovely white tent they set up became one huge party room! They had the most fabulous food-palella that was made on site & even an ICE CREAM TRUCK. It should be a requirement for all weddings to have an ice cream truck! Their flowers were bursts of vivid color-from deep purples to bright pinks…with thistles & even peppers in the mix. The flowers were fabulous! Kristin’s niece who is a fashion designer designed & made her perfect turquoise wedding dress. Guests spent the evening laughing, laughing some more & having the time of their lives. Kristin & Brent sure know how to throw a party!
I know I always talk about how lucky I am to have such amazing clients..and I probably sound like a broken record but it’s TRUE!!! Kristin & Brent-you are such a fun, funny, talented & kind couple. I feel beyond honored to have been able to document your wedding & to witness the excitement you have for your new lives together! I wish you all the happiness, love & laughter in the world. With love & appreciation, XOXO, marielle.
The answer is yes if you are wondering if I DIED when I saw Kristin’s shoes. Turquoise.Betsy.Johnsons.with.leopard.print. I DIED.
Kristin was so excited to be married to Brent!
There was a private road right behind the house where we did the bride & groom portraits. The light was lovely…
I love these two photographs because you can see just how fun their personalities are!
This could possibly be my favorite ring shot of all time. LOVE!!!
Each guest took home a jar of locally grown honey, some delicious nuts & a locally grown apple…
I love how sweet they always are to each other…
She was the girl who would wear the silly argyle knee socks to school with him every Friday. She was the girl who was his best friend. He was the one who played practical jokes & made her laugh. He was the one who made her happy every.single.day. Together, their love is a love that is pure…sweet…a love that has grown deeper over time. They grew up as neighbors, less than two blocks away & began dating in High School. Over the years, they maintained a relationship that somehow remained uncomplicated-even though they dated long distance after High School. They made it work because they knew that something about their relationship would last-despite the miles between them.As they joined hands in a church at Lake Tahoe, it all became REAL. They had been together for years & years and suddenly it was their wedding day-the day that they had waited patiently for…the day that would be more incredible & more amazing than every adventure they had been on together. On a beautiful, warm August afternoon they were joined as husband & wife…and they spent the rest of the day celebrating the love that they had felt for as long as they had known each other.
They were married in a beautiful cathedral at Incline & they spent the night celebrating atop Heavenly Ski Resort-at an elevation of 10,100 feet! Guests rode a gondola to the top of the mountain & enjoyed stunning views of Lake Tahoe as they danced the night away. The night was a perfect, starry night & was a perfect venue for Heather & David’s reception! I loved the pink paper lanterns, the pale pink accents, the pink argyle socks that the groomsmen wore, the pinecone details & the classically beautiful decor everywhere. The evening was flawless & a perfect reflection of Heather & David’s love for each other!
Heather & David-thank you so much for having me photograph your incredible day! Wishing you love, laughter & lots of practical jokes in your new life together! XOXO, marielle.
Lake Tahoe is a PERFECT place for a wedding…it’s always beautiful!
Love when my couples choose to see each other before the ceremony…their nerves dissipate & it’s always a beautiful moment…
LOVE this one!
Heather…you are beautiful!
Favorite…
I LOVE this shot! We were really lucky to get this shot because the light was thisclose to being gone…love how this turned out!
The fog clung to the rocks at Half Moon Bay on a beautiful, overcast Saturday afternoon. The sailboats were anchored…the waves quietly lapped onto the shore & the sweet smell of salt water filled the air. In a room overlooking the ocean, Vanessa’s ivory dress hanged on the door as she got ready for her big day. After she slipped into her gorgeous gown, she waited quietly on the beach for her First Look with Silvio. As they saw each other for the first time, it was once again sooooooooo obvious why they are together-they make each other beam with joy, they make each other laugh & because their love is stronger & more beautiful than ever.
They were married on the beach behind Sam’s Chowder House as their families & friends looked on. And after they were pronounced husband & wife, Vanessa & Silvio walked excitedly down the aisle, threw their heads back with laughter & wept tears of sheer joy. It was a day that they had both waited so long for…and they were both overcome with such joy that their day had finally arrived! Vanessa & Silvio started their day with a First Look (which I always, always LOVE because it gives us tons of time for relaxed photographs before the ceremony). I loved working with them because they gave me tons of time for photographs both before & after the ceremony. We had a blast walking up & down the beach for photos. Their reception was held at Sam’s Chowder House & guests feasted on clams, lobster, clam chowder & more delicious sea food than you can imagine. The setting was a perfect place for their celebration & guests spent the night enjoying the ocean view & dancing. I loved so many details about their wedding…their bright purple & orange color scheme, their cupcake tower, the food, Vanessa’s stunning gown & the perfect setting. From start to finish, it was a perfect day for two people who are perfectly in love.
Vanessa & Silvio…I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! Thank you for choosing me to photograph your amazing day-and for being yourselves. I love working with the two of you because you make everything so.much.fun! Thank you for your kindness, your friendship & for being the funnest (yes-I know that’s not a real word) couple on the planet. I know you guys had an awesome Honeymoon in Tahiti so here’s wishing you a fantastic, fun & amazing life together…knowing the two of you, I know that your married life together will be nothing short of incredible. With much love, XOXO, marielle.
Vanessa waiting for her First Look with Silvio…one of my favorites from the day…
Seriously-how cute are they? They were SO excited to see each other!
Love this shot of this woman…she came early & looked so amazing with her fancy hat that I just had to grab a photo of her!
Love these two…they were so overcome with joy!
Favorite…
What a yummy feast!!
She laughed & joked with her friends as she got ready for the biggest day of her life. At the Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco, Erika was helped into her beautifully beaded wedding gown & before she knew it, she was ready to see Brian for the first time. As Brian saw Erika for the first time, Erika buried her head in her chest & was overcome with pure joy. Erika & Brian spent the day in each other’s arms, laughing & grinning ear to ear. They were married under the dome at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco & the day was just like Erika & Brian-fun, fun, FUN!
I knew when I met Erika & Brian for the first time that their wedding would be amazing & a TON of fun. Before the wedding, they opted to do a First Look which I always love! It gave us enough time to drive around San Francisco to places that were meaningful to them-I was so glad we were able to get photographs with so many different backgrounds. After their beautiful wedding, their reception was held at the Exploratorium-it was amazing because all of the guests were able to play with all the exhibits during the reception…so much FUN! Guests feasted on pulled pork sandwiches & delicious cupcakes as they danced the night away. Their flowers were perfectly whimsical-I loved the use of succulents & pods in Erika’s bouquet. Each guest spent the evening exploring one of San Francisco’s most famous museums. It was a night to remember & everyone there had such a wonderful time!
Erika & Brian-I know you are enjoying your three week long honeymoon to Bali & Thailand (seriously EVERYONE wants to be you right now!). I am so lucky to do what I do because I meet amazing people like the two of you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for having me photograph your wedding-it means the world to me to know that you trust me with your memories & it means even more to me that I have two new friends. Wishing you both the very best in this exciting new adventure! XOXO, marielle.
Loved the decor at the hotel-it made for some fun photographs…
Erika was SO excited to see Brian!
Dear San Francisco, I LOVE YOU.
I always love this moment when the bride is being walked down the aisle. Such a sweet moment with her dad.
LOVE this one…
It was soooooo windy at the beach but I love how these photographs turned out…and I LOVE how Erika’s dress swooshes in the wind…
One of my favorites…
When I first met Erika, she went on & on about how she’s not photogenic. I told her that she would have no problem in front of the camera. This is when I say, “I TOLD YOU SO!” Seriously, Erika. You are gorgeous.
Cutest.Kids.EVER.
Awesome place for a wedding reception, right?
