night photography

Sakura & Nathan: Backyard Wedding

Sakura and Nathan’s wedding took place on Saturday afternoon at Nathan’s family’s home in Garden Grove.   The details of this wedding were planned to a T, with lots of bold style, handmade details, and cultural elements.IMG_2658x.jpg

The style of the wedding was BW stripes with red accents.  While some brides do a second dress for the reception, Sakura wore a white dress that showed her striped BW stockings and 3 different shoe changes (well, actually 4 if you count the ones she wore while getting ready).  Her first set was a fierce red high heel with deadly spikes!  Nathan wore a BW striped tie and red converse shoes.

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Sakura and Nathan chose not to see each other until the ceremony; however, beforehand they wanted to do some formal pictures with the bridal party.  Sakura had a mix of bridesmaids and bridesmen.

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Rambo and Halo the “kids” with handler Amber.  She brought them down the isle with her during the ceremony!

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Team Sakura’s Bridal Party Wars!  Guys: 0, Girls: 1

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Sakura waited with her father in a BW canopy tent as guests arrived.  I think everyone was pretty surprised when her sisters unzipped it and Sakura came walking out to a Muse song.  Guests were seated at their tables as they watched.

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More info about the wedding

  • Site: Nathan’s family home in Garden Grove
  • Desserts: A. Cake – Ebisu Roll
  • Make Up: Amy Tervis
  • DJ: Chirs Gagon
  • Photo Booth: Oh!Snap
  • Photography: SherriJ + Dawn Topete (thanks for the behind the scene shot below!)

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Christina and Jason: Culver City Engagement Session

Christina and Jason are an outgoing pair who love the theater (among many other things).   Christina is a real Opera singer and Jason is a graphic designer who love acting.  They met many years ago when they were both in their teens, during a stage performance of Guys and Dolls.  About 7 years ago they reconnected and have been inseparable ever since!  They’ve been spending the past few years in NYC and recently moved back to California.  Christina first contact me back at the beginning of this year saying “Yours are the first wedding photos that I have not rolled my eyes at! I love how they are candid, tasteful, and beautiful.”  I knew then she was Awesome, with a capitol A!  We soon met and they shared with me their plans of a beautiful November wedding.  This weekend, I had the great pleasure of capturing Christina and Jason’s engagement pictures at their old stomping grounds… The Pacific Theaters in Culver City!

culver city engagement photography

culver city engagement photography

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culver city engagement photography

Another fun fact about Christina, she is an avid knitter.  She made a jumbo red scarf just for her engagement session!

culver city engagement photography

culver city engagement photography

culver city engagement photography

I love when my couples make their photo shoots personal.  When Christina told me about her and Jason’s new “bat-mobile” purchase, we both agreed it would be awesome to have it as a prop for the session!  We took these last few images on a parking structure’s rooftop.  From there we had beautiful views of Culver City and a beautiful sunset.

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More to come of these two lovers on this date…

culver city engagement photography

Fleming + Samantha: Venice Engagement

Fleming and Samantha met back in 2005, on an elevator.  Their relationship grew after some dates, and now 6.5 years later they are planning a wedding in their favorite neighborhood!   These two love hanging out in the Venice/Santa Monica area, their pup Ruby, and exploring the world, and food.  For their engagement session, they wanted to stay close to home and visit some of their favorite spots!  First stop, the popular Binocular building, on Main Street.

venice beach engagement photography

venice beach engagement photography

venice beach engagement photography

The Rose Cafe on Main Street is the location of their rehearsal dinner.

venice beach engagement photography

venice beach engagement photography

venice beach engagement photography

Venice Beach, CA

venice beach engagement photography

venice beach engagement photography

*UPDATE* Fleming and Samantha chose their favorite 8×10″ to be displayed at the entrance of their wedding.  Here’s what it looked like!

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Sakura + Nathan: Movie Themed Engagement Session

Sakura and Nathan have been together for almost a decade…  They met while working at the same video game store way back when.  I actually met Sakura a couple of years ago at a wedding and was pretty stoked to hear she wanted to hire me for her own backyard wedding!  Sakura describes herself as “non-traditional” and creative, and their wedding will have a lot of fun alternative ideas with a great color scheme and details!  I can’t divulge too much right now, but maybe their engagement sessions has some hints for what’s to come?  Sakura and Nathan both share a passion for movies.  For their engagement session, they wanted to reenact some of their favorite movie scenes.  This first set is inspired by “Shaun of the Dead” zombie scene, riffling through some records.

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santa monica engagement photography

santa monica engagement photography

santa monica engagement photography

These two love their dogs Halo and Rambo!

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santa monica engagement photography

These two birds are from the movie Dumb and Dumber.

santa monica engagement photography

santa monica engagement photography

Can you guess what movie the last shot represents?

movie themed engagement photoshoot

Kristin and Jordan: Married at the Victorian, Santa Monica

Kristin and Jordan tied the knot this past weekend at the Victorian, Santa Monica.  I met them both back in June as they started the planning process; you might remember their fun engagement session at Manhattan Beach back in July.  Even then, they had a clear vision of what they wanted their wedding to be like: candlelit, romantic, and vintage were just some of the key words.  Jordan is really into football, so they actually chose their wedding date for late February so it wouldn’t conflict with the football season.   It was awesome seeing their vision come together in a celebration with their close friends and family.The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

The Victorian Santa Monica Wedding Photography

Vendors who made it all happen:
Photography: SherriJ Photography
Wedding Coordinator:  formmula Dina Morales C.W.C
Ceremony and Reception Location: The Victorian, Santa Monica
Ceremony and Reception Music: Good Times Entertainment
Officiant: Dr. Trott
Videographer:  New Classic Films
Florals: Flowers by Karen, Karen Donovan

UPDATE 5/8/12: Kristin + Jordan have been published on Project Wedding!