JB and Kacy's Wedding

It's been a while since I've posted a wedding on here. Unfortunately Northern California is not quite as popular a winter wedding destination as somewhere like Hawaii. Something about the constant rain and freezing-but-not-quite-snowing temperatures seems to turn off most couples thinking of getting married during this half of the year :-) Luckily for us wedding photographer types, there are still a few couples out there who are willing to be the rebels and get married when no one else is. I've actually had three winter weddings recently, and I'm excited to share the first of those with you today.

When JB and Kacy told me they were planning a New Year's Eve wedding, I was admittedly surprised. I mean, most people would agree that planning the ultimate New Year's Eve party for 250 people is a little ambitious. I once tried throwing a sushi party for 15 people in the middle of January, and that was a lot of work :-) What I didn't know at the time was that JB and Kacy are not "most people." I was excited about the idea from the beginning, but as soon as some of my other brides started bringing up that they had heard I was shooting THE New Year's Eve wedding, I started feeling like I was a celebrity wedding photographer ;-)

Though they're not really celebrities, JB and Kacy did an amazing job with their wedding, and I am definitely a fan. I can honestly say that it was the most fabulous wedding I've ever photographed; something you'd expect to see in a magazine. Not only was it beautifully decorated, but it was enormously fun. From the sportscaster wedding party introductions to the champagne fountain; and the off-the-hook dance party (Deejayed by local celebrity Pete Meyer) to the boutique photo booth; JB and Kacy's wedding really was THE New Year's Eve wedding to end the decade. Anyway, it's time I stopped talking about it, and just let you see for yourself...








I'm so glad JB and Kacy opted to see each other before the ceremony! In this case it really made the most sense for their day, because the ceremony was scheduled about an hour after sunset, and having natural light can make all the difference for making beautiful, natural, relaxed portraits. Whenever a couple decides this is the best option for them, I never take their decision lightly, and I do my best to find a private place where they can interact and share a few romantic moments together, away from the craziness of the wedding. In this case, JB waited patiently near the entrance to the Scotia Inn, while we (the photographers) captured Kacy's approach, and JB's first look, from a distance.

One thing is for sure, whether a groom sees his bride for the first time in front of 250 guests, or in the privacy of a beautiful, quiet setting, it's going to be one of the single best moments of his day. What I love about being in the private setting is that not only does the bride get to see his reaction, but that he gets to respond to what he sees and feels without any inhibition. The photos from that time are always the most candid romantic photos of the day.






I owe a big thank you to Carol Niles for assisting me as my second photographer for the day... THANKS CAROL!






I thought it might be fun to share this photo that my assistant, Levi, took of me in action. I realized recently that I always seem to be smiling while taking portraits. It's completely subconscious, but I'm convinced it helps me get more natural smilies from my couples... even if it's just because they're laughing at me :-)









It started getting dark pretty quickly after the photos with JB & Kacy, but my off camera flashes added a nice effect to the portraits. Check out the beautiful bouquets by Sarah Abernathy...



Even though JB had already seen Kacy before the ceremony, I don't think it completely hit him until he saw her walking down the aisle.



Having the ceremony in the foyer was a great idea for a rainy night! It was amazing how many guests they were able to fit in, and there were even people in the balcony, where this photo was taken from.






The amount of detail that went into creating the reception was phenomenal...



Kacy's vision for the day was meticulous, artistic, and unique, and her wedding planner, Shirley Atkins, did an exceptional job seeing every detail through...



The kids' table was complete with cupcakes, and all of the supplies necessary to properly beautify and yummify them. It was a good thing I got this photo before the reception, because the cupcakes were gone within minutes :-)



Dorris & Daughter Catering did an AMAZING job with the food, as always... but really, this time they outdid themselves...



Then there were the desserts by Stephanie Baldwin: she never ceases to amaze me with her creations... every little sugary morsel was a work of art. I probably could have spent half the night taking pictures of them (don't worry, I didn't... but it was tempting).












No New Years wedding is complete without a photo booth...



... and some fun with sparklers.