Lauren + JD | California Wedding Preview

– Posted by Leah

I haven’t been shooting as many weddings lately… I can’t get into all the positions I normally get in to take the kinds of shots I want to take, thanks to the ever-growing bump that is BabyRox. And since I’ll soon be in my third trimester and not flying anymore, and we have mostly out-of-state weddings coming up, I won’t be shooting many more weddings until after Jonah has made the great trek from womb to world. But I’m so glad one of the few weddings I’ll have shot this year was Lauren and J.D.’s. Getting to know this couple was one of the highlights of our CA trip.

These are two people who have really touched the lives of those around them, as was apparent by the love, support, and heartfelt toasts on their wedding day. One of the things I love about photographing weddings is learning about each couple as individuals and as a family.

I love people’s stories. I read biographies and memoirs. I watch documentaries. So when it comes to photography, it’s so important to me to get a good sense of WHO I’m photographing. You might think that’s difficult when you are photographing a couple you only meet a day or two before their wedding, which is often the case with our out-of-town clients. But getting to know someone is like peeling back the layers of an onion… you learn a little here, and a little there, and it starts from the first communication, and a willingness to reveal yourself – to let these strange photographers on the other side of the country get to know you. And Lauren and J.D. gave us that opportunity, from our first few emails to their spoken-from-the-heart vows. Lauren and J.D. are quite awesome. I think I was most impressed and touched by their genuine kindness and concern for others, including one another.

Some weddings are hectic – a flurry of activity – in the hours before the ceremony. Lauren and J.D.’s wedding day was spent enjoying time together and getting ready at their house – the house Lauren lived in as a child – before walking to the florist to pick up the flowers. There was something powerful about the simplicity of the day – all the layers were stripped away and what was left was what really mattered. Lauren and J.D., in a place they are connected to, getting ready to make a lifelong commitment to one another. It was a great start to a great wedding day, and set the tone for the rest of afternoon and evening.

The venue was pretty awesome. It’s definitely the first wedding we’ve shot with dinosaurs! The ceremony itself overlooked the bay, and the reception was in the science hall, filled with fun exhibits and activities for the guests – from a puppet theater to animated prehistoric creatures. It was the perfect mix of beautiful scenery and quirky fun. The evening was filled with dinner, toasts, truffles, and dancing. All in all, a lovely day with a host of lovely people who clearly care deeply about Lauren and J.D.

Lauren and J.D. – thank you for letting us be a part of your wedding, for giving us a glimpse into your life, and for being the awesome people you are! We wish you all the happiness in the world. And dinosaurs.