I got to photograph Gina and her fiancée Brandon and the best part is that this is the third time I got to do so.  No, they didn’t have three engagement sessions, but Gina was a bridesmaid at two of the weddings I photographed before.

So here’s a little history for you:

Gina as a bridesmaid for Kristina and Brian back in 2009

Gina as a bridesmaid for Nicole and Adam in 2010:

And now Gina as a bride to be with her fiancée yesterday:

The full post is coming soon, but I just wanted to say how much I love seeing familiar faces and the relationships I’m lucky enough to build through my business.

P.S. If you haven’t clicked the Facebook like button above for my business before, you might want to go do that right now. Need a good reason? Because tomorrow I’ll be announcing a fun GIVEAWAY for a FREE SESSION + HIGH RES IMAGES. Stay tuned!

Adriana Fontes working her make-up magic. She never ceases to amaze me.

Some beautiful details against the desert landscape:

Bridesmaids gifts:

Love it when brides choose details unique to them. Ashton wore cowboy boots and her bouquet had a beautiful peacock feather for her something blue. Her gorgeous flowers are from Amy’s Floral Designs.Her bridesmaids were truly awesome and so supportive:Beautiful, beautiful Ashton:Right after their first look:Truly awesome groom’s details:

Yes, these girls watch America’s Next Top Model:Such a fun group!Watching his beautiful bride walk down the aisle…

Their ceremony was very touching.

Their reception had so many incredible details. Here are just a few:

Everyone should have a sushi bar at their wedding!

First dances:

By far the coolest cake cutting ever:Absolutely LOVE her fur stole:Cheers to a perfect wedding day and a long and happy marriage:Ashton and Patrick, it was so great to meet you both! Merry Christmas :)!

I started the day at Caitlin’s mom’s house where she started getting ready:

Brooke did an amazing job with her make-up and I’m completely obsessed with the bow on the back of Caitlin’s wedding dress:

Her gorgeous flowers were by the always amazing Petal Pusher.

Love it when guys have fun details and Adam’s guitar cuff links were super fun!

After their first look we took some time to walk around the Botanical Gardens and take some portraits of the gorgeous couple:

Caitlin belongs on a runway:

The girls dresses and the guys ties are from J.Crew

Love the fact that Caitlin’s bridal party included just her two sisters: Adam’s sister, Hannah and Caitlin’s brother fiancee, Sofia.

The guys looking super handsome:

I’ve shot four weddings at the Botanical Gardens and the ceremony took place in a different location each time. This gorgeous space is the Ullman Terrace:

Succulents are my favorites, so needless to stay I was in love with all their details.

Their super sweet desert table. The cake and cupcakes were by Butter & MeMike Mancini always knows how to get the party going:

And I will leave you with this image wondering what happened right after this moment::).

You may have read about Meg on my blog before here and here. Although I ran out of time to actually post Meg’s food diaries, our grocery store tour, and follow up meetings, I documented it all with photos and may someday backtrack it and blog it all. In the meantime, I just wanted to say how proud I am of her and all of her hard work.

As usual I started the day with the girls getting ready:

Annie was radiant:

And Josh didn’t dissapoint either:

After their first look, we got a chance to walk around The Arizona Biltmore for some portraits

And then it was off to the ceremony:

I think the horah should become a tradition for all weddings. SO.MUCH.FUN!

And what better way to end the night than with a sweet creation from Classic Cakes and Confections:And a big thank you to all the vendor who made their day so special:

Venue: Arizona Biltmore

Coordinator: A Day to Cherish

Make-Up: Sarah San Marco

Hair: Taryn Senseman

Flowers: Designs by Design

Videography: Legacy

DJ: Citron Entertainment

Cake: Classic Cakes and Confections

Here are some images from their day:Venue: KwaTaqNuk

Florist: St-Char-Ro (side note: LOVED her bouquet. The branch wrapped around the stems… Brilliant!)

DJ: O2 DJ Productions (side note: love these guys and they are actually here in AZ).

Bride’s dress: WTOO from I do I do Bridal

Paper Designs: Idieh Design (side note: she’s great and she’s here in AZ too).

Jackie and Luis, I hope you are having a blast in Colombia and happy birthday(s) to you both.

Photographing Lindsey and Ryan’s wedding was such a great experience. It all felt so calm and organized from beginning to end. And I love it how she made her entire wedding day very personalized to the things that really mattered to her.

As always, I started the day with the girls getting ready. Lindsey opted to have her closest friends there with her but didn’t have them as official bridesmaids. No matching dresses or bouquets, no walking down the aisle or standing during the ceremony. Just her favorite girls spending time together in preparation for Lindsey’s wedding day. As Lindsey said it herself: “This is like prom on crack”.

Their unofficial wedding party:

There were a few raindrops right before the ceremony for good luck and for Lindsey to be able to show off her fabulous Burberry umbrella and galoshes.

Once again proof that a first look prior to the ceremony does not take away from the moment the bride walks down the aisle:

L’Auberge de Sedona is such a beautiful venue. No decorations needed.

How adorable is Lindsey?! These Kate Spade toasting champagne flutes are my favorite ones to date. Love the modern simplistic look.

First Dance OutdoorsI posted many more images from their wedding day on my facebook page at: www.facebook.com/cristiowenphoto

Vendors:

Ceremony Site: L’Auberge de Sedona

Reception Site: Cucina Rustica

Florist: Bliss Floral

Bride’s Dress: BCBG

Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade

Groom’s Suit: Banana Republic

Videographer: Wam Weddings

As always, I started the day with the girls getting ready:A close up of the bands:

And the whole invitation suite:

Jessica was beaming with happiness and looked absolutely stunning:

Hunter’s dad gave him these super cool cuff links:

The breathtaking ceremony site:

I never post recessional photos but Jessica’s parents were too cute not to share. So happy! Love it!Such a fun and gorgeous group.

And a few of the newlyweds:

So many beautiful details:

What a great setting for cocktail hour:

Hunter’s brother gave a really touching and funny toast. I also love the apron Jessica had on during dinner. A great way to make sure the dress stays clean :).Jessica and Hunter I feel SO honored to have been a part of your day. Thank you!

A couple of my grooms were kind enough to take some time and share their thoughts on their own experience.

Tassie and TJ were married on July 11th, 2010

“The first look honestly wasn’t something that I had thought of before our wedding day but was all for it when I heard what was planned. It was one of my favorite moments on our wedding day and was very glad we did it. Seeing her in that moment and the excitement and love showing in her smile was one of the warmest feelings I’ve ever experienced. It was very similar to seeing her walk down the aisle but it was something that only Tassie and I share as opposed to sharing that moment with everyone else in the church.” T.J.

And here’s an image from Tassie and TJ’s first look:

Christen and Jason were married on November 6th, 2010

“At first I thought it was against tradition. We had some good advice to choose a photographer we really liked because in 20 years the pictures are what you are going to remember. Christen said it would give us more time for pictures, they would turn out better and we wouldn’t have to rush before the sun went down. Looking back at it now, I am so glad we did it the way we did. It was more personal and I truly got to see her before anyone else. I didn’t have to hold anything back because it was just us. I think there is something special about getting to express those feelings and not have to hold them in because you are in a ceremony. I honestly think seeing her before she walked down the aisle made the experience of her walking down the aisle better. I already knew she looked beautiful, my nerves were lowered and I was able to focus on her. I really thought the whole experience was awesome and the way to go.” Jason

And here’s an image from Christen and Jason’s first look:

Thank you both so so much and I hope this helps any of you trying to make a decision weather or not to have your own special moment prior to the ceremony or not.

Happy wedding planning :)

Wedding dress by Demetrios and Vince Camuto flats:

Love their reaction once Nikki got in her dress:

Nikki looked radiant. Make-up was done by Monica De La Cruz and hair by Joelene Cook.

A sweet moment from their first look:

Stationary detail… Save-the-date and invitation suite:

Jude with his grandmother right before the ceremony:

Love this shot Curtis got during the ceremony:

Their cake from Honeymoon Sweets was to die for. I got to eat a bite right before we left the reception and I swear I’m still thinking about it. Best cake ever.

Another shot by my talented husband. Any guesses on who caught the garter?

And because my clients are the coolest and I love them, we got in the photobooth for a few memories of my own. Photobooth by Memory Makers.Nikki and Jude, I hope you are having a blast in Maui. I loved being a part of your wedding day and I hope seeing these pictures brings back a little bit of the excitement of your wedding day.