We photographed Bobbie and Ken’s wedding on St. Patrick’s day last month. Those of you in Southern California can remember how the weather was that weekend – wet and windy! Bobbie and Ken were married at the beautiful Vineyards Simi Valley and it was a last minute decision to hold the ceremony outside despite the howling wind gusts and rain. Guests were huddled together with umbrellas waiting for the ceremony to start. Now – Bobbie who is Irish (hence a St. Paddy’s day wedding) definitely had some of that “Irish Luck” on her wedding. Just as the Groom appeared to signal the start of the ceremony – the skies parted and the sun came out. Everyone there was totally amazed that the sun could shine. Bobbie and Ken got married and then the rains returned.

Here are some of my favorite images from the day.

Special thanks to the other vendors that helped with this special day:

Floral Design: Charmaine’s Bouquet Canyon Florist

Cake: Jill’s Cake Creations

Entertainment: Joyfull Noise Entertainment

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work - www.innesphotography.com.

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work - www.innesphotography.com.

 
I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.

The wedding ceremony was held under a stunning fig tree by the hotel’s entrance and the reception was beautifully decorated and accented with hip lounge settings, a photo booth, a gourmet popcorn bar and stage – complete with a great band – The JB Project.

This was definitely a day to remember. Hope you enjoy the photos ~

Of course a wedding like this would not be possible with a great team of dedicated vendors. Special thanks to:

Erin Chaney and the staff of the Fairmont Hotel

Wedding Planner: Alli Simms Forstmann from Alli Simms Events and Designs

Floral Design: Ezai Floral Design

Videographer: Steve Dangcil from Vidicam

Cake: Vanilla Bake Shop

Music: The JB Project

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.

Here are some of my favorites.

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.

A beautiful dessert creation is the icing on the wedding cake. I’ve seen and photographed countless wedding cakes and they all have been great examples of the mix between artistry and confection. However, you don’t have to hire a master creator from Cake Boss to present and serve a beautiful and scrumptious wedding cake to your guests. With a little research and planning (and what could be a better job than researching dessert?) your wedding cake can be the delicious addition to your special day.

Begin by thinking about your ceremony and any themes or styles you are hoping to convey. If you are striving for a traditional wedding ceremony, you might want a more classic cake design. Themed weddings can make for some pretty unique and creative cakes, such as underwater themes, cowboy hat shapes, or towers of doughnuts. Collect any pictures you find in magazines or online that represent your style preferences.

The next part might be the most enjoyable part – meeting with pastry chefs to see their portfolios and taste test some wedding cake flavor possibilities. Bring along those photos that show the styles you prefer, and ask to see photos of the chef’s previous work. Classic cake flavors such as marble and white often serve most taste preferences of guests, but if you prefer a unique flavor such as red velvet, consider having two choices for guests. Some chefs specialize in other cake flavors such as cheesecake, great for a Philly style wedding, or all organic cake recipes.

When you find a pastry chef you think will be able to provide you with a wedding cake that will melt your mouth, but not your budget, consider the fine details. Some couples choose a smaller designed cake which is cut, but serve their guests from a sheet cake. Your cake design doesn’t have to fall prey to the plastic bridal party figurines of years past. You can add flair to your cake with real flowers, elegant tiers, and pastry paint designs that look like they belong in a museum. Don’t forget about the setting of your wedding reception – you don’t want to order a delicate chilled cake that will end up sitting in the sun on a patio for 3 hours. Make sure you also find out from your chef or bakery the deadlines for placing your initial order and your final orders after the RSVPs have been counted.

The time has come to have your cake and eat it too. Remember to have the official cake cutting announced at the reception so that guests know where and when you will be making the traditional first cut together. You can choose to cut the cake right away, or wait until after your meal, but remember to allow for time for the serving staff to finish cutting and serving the dessert. If you’re a couple who loves tradition, save the top tier of your wedding cake and have it frozen to share on your first wedding anniversary. And watch out for that groom who might “encourage” you to have a big first bite of cake!
I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.

Being a full-time wedding photographer I get to witness many ceremonies and receptions.  Wedding vows and toasts add a personal, intimate touch to a wedding day. While some ceremonies include traditional vows, couples may opt to write from their own hearts and share those words while exchanging rings. Often during the reception family and friends gather to celebrate with a meal, and personal words of affection and toasts can continue to bring memorable moments to the gathering.

Wedding Vows
It is the moment that will change your life forever, when you pledge yourself to your partner. If you are writing your own wedding vows, consider incorporating the following ideas into your promises.

• A reflective moment about what drew you to your partner
• A description of why you are happier or a better person because of your partner
• The characteristics of your partner which you value
• Your hopes and dreams for the future
• Promises such as vowing to support your partner’s dreams, work together to solve problems, or never ignore your partner’s needs

You don’t have to be a poet or a published author in order to write your own vows. Your partner knows your heart and will be forever touched by the effort you put into publically sharing your promises. You might want to consider giving the best man a copy of the vows, just in case the moment overwhelms you!

Wedding Toasts
Traditionally the wedding toast is given by the best man and the maid of honor. These can be toasts presented jointly or separately, and in honor of the happy couple. Funny stories, sweet memories, or personal anecdotes about the bride, groom, or couple are great ways to connect the guests with the wedding party and honor the bride and groom. If you are the best man you might share how your buddy told you he decided to propose, or if you are the maid of honor it might be a childhood memory of your best friend creating a backyard wedding with stuffed animals. These personal touches create a moment that will be memorable for everyone.

Wedding Reception Speeches
The bride and groom might choose to give a wedding speech at the reception as a way to thank all of the guests for sharing in the celebration. You can begin by sharing a special detail with the guests that they might not already know, such as where you were when he proposed, what you did on your first date, or about the first time you told him you loved him. If there are guests who helped in special ways to make this day possible, use the wedding speech as an opportunity to let everyone know how much you appreciate them.

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.

Ronnie and Anna were so easy going through out the whole day that it reminds me why I love my line of work.

Here are some of my favorites.

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.

They made the decision to proceed with the outdoor ceremony and sure enough along came the rain – including a very convincing thunder boom and lightening strike!

Even rain and umbrella’s could not put a damper on this great wedding. The bride was escorted down the aisle by her two beautiful daughters. Instead of a traditional first dance – Michelle and Justin performed a uber cool song and dance routine.

Here are some photos from the day:

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.