Now, you must remember Kaori and Alex from their super stylish Los Angeles Engagement session (seen here and here), remember Kaori’s super cute heart shoes? I thought so :) After shooting their downtown engagement session I was even more excited for their wedding. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. They had a small wedding with close family and friends from all around the world. Their ceremony was located at Griffith Park right near the Old LA Zoo area. It was intimate and oh so beautiful. After the ceremony Alex and Kaori left a 2 1/2 hour gap so that their guests could rest before the reception and so that the three of us could drive all around LA for their portraits together. It was so great to have all that time with them and get some rockin portraits around downtown. After we shot we headed to their reception at Senor Fish . It was such a blessing to experience all the different cultures they incorporated into their ceremony and reception! Not to mention all the amazing details they put together themselves (with the help of their creative group of friends).

Almost forgot to add my favorite comment from a groom ever (posted on my facebook wall):

“Marianne, little did I know you attended Hogwarts for Photographic Wizardry. I mean…you must have because you made us look SO beautiful in our wedding photos, it’s beyond a muggle’s explanation. Thank you again for the photos we received in the mail yesterday – they’re stellar!” – Alex

So here are my favorites from their totally rad wedding (Caution: many photos to follow):

More Details about their wedding:

Ceremony Venue: Old Zoo in Griffith Park, Los Angeles
Reception Venue:  Señor Fish, LA
Bride’s Dress: J Crew
Bride’s Shoes: Charles David
Bride’s Pin (on dress): Sweetpea & Fawn on Etsy
Bride’s Hair Piece: Prim and Posies on Etsy
Groom’s Shirt: Club Monaco
Groom’s Bowtie: High Cotton Ties
Groom’s Trousers: J Crew
Groom’s Hat: Jaxon Hat
Groom’s Suspenders: Ben Sherman
Groom’s Shoes: Vintage Italian leather shoes from Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market
Cake: Made by a friend
Flowers: Made by a friend
Hair/Make Up: Mieko of Kelly Zhang

This wedding was full of family, friends and love (not to mention tons of gorgeous details!). Melissa and Jonathan took on tons of DIY (or DIT, as they call it) projects that came out perfectly! The wedding looked like it was styled by a designer.

We started the day getting ready with Melissa at their Santa Barbara hotel followed by a First Look with her and Jonathan on the premises. Melissa and Jon rented a party bus to then take us to the Santa Barbara courthouse for some gorgeous locations to shoot at, they even got in a tree for me! After their bridal party photos we took advantage of their guests arriving to Elings Park/Godric Grove early and did their family formals just before the ceremony, leaving us tons of time for their photos afterwards and letting them enjoy their cocktail party to it’s fullest. The day truly flowed perfectly and I am so happy to have gotten to share it with them.

So here are a few of my personal favorites from their stunning Santa Barbara wedding.

Flowers: Gelson’s

Event Planning: Christina Molina (info@tinamolinaevents.com)

Caterer: Dj’s Catering

Ceremony and Reception Location: Godric Grove Elings Park

Dress: Maggie Sottero “Madison”

Here are a few of my favorites from their recent engagement session.

I am especially fond of this photos. Melissa, Eric, and myself headed over to their new house for a few photos between locations. It’s still in the works but here is one of the first photos in front of their new home.

Not gonna lie, I may have decided to add this next photos solely because I make a cameo (and Melissa and Eric are adorable in it):