Just a couple of fun images from Grace and Michael's amazing adventure wedding in San Francisco. I'll post the whole wedding soon!
Beth's Bridal Shower
Here are a few images from my dear friend Beth's 1920s vintage tea bridal shower! It was hosted by another bridesmaid (also named Beth), whose gorgeous home was the perfect setting. Beth's mother and aunt decorated the place with tons of antique china, doilies and linens, many that belong to Beth's grandmother. All of us bridesmaids pitched in with the food, and Beth found adorable vintage white gloves on eBay to hand out as party favors. I thought I'd share the shower since is was completely DIY.
Beth flanked by her mama and sister!
Look mom, I made the scones and cookies! Aren't you proud?!
Beth's fiancee Dan did a surprise pop-in with a bouquet of red roses!
Favorites of 2011!
Sometime back in October, when we were photographing back to back to back weddings, all I could think about was January and having a weekend off. Now that January is here and things are slowing down, all I can think about are this coming year's weddings. For me, photography is truly a way of life - it's always on my mind, whether I'm taking pictures or not. I can't help but see the world through that camera frame, and when I enter new spaces, the first thing I notice is the quality of light. In looking back at all of our work this past year, I am reminded of how lucky Adm and I are to be able to share our love for photography with others. We are so lucky to work with each other doing something we love. It is not lost on us that this would not be possible without our amazing couples who let us into their lives and trust us to capture some of their most treasured moments. Thank you.
Adm and I didn't bicker at all while putting together this best of gallery... No really, really we didn't. Okay I'm lying. But in our defense, it is HARD to whittle down thousands of images that we made over the course of this year to just our very favorites. It's even harder to do this with another person because photography is so personal and subjective. When we look at pictures that we made, we don't just see the actual image, we feel everything that was a part of what went into taking that picture in that moment, and sometimes it's baffling why others can't see and feel what you remember. We each have images that we're attached to and in the photo world, it's not uncommon for editors to tell you "it's time to kill your baby," meaning, it's time to let go of some of those favorites. So, in a task where Adm and I are killing our babies left and right, it's easy to see how things can get a little heated. Not to worry though, in the end, we smoothed things over with some hot fudge sundaes and came up with 67 of what we think are our best images from 2011.
All photos by Alison Yin, Adm Golub or Brad Zweerink.
Marian + Michael in Oakland, CA
Being a part of Marian and Michael's wedding was like stepping into another era. For starters, their ceremony and reception took place at Preservation Park in Oakland, which is a beautiful block of restored and well-maintained Victorian homes. Marian also had an a distinct vision for her December wedding: Christmas in the 1950s. The amount of detail and decorating that went into creating "the look" not only for their venue but for Marian and her bridesmaids was truly astonishing. Marian and her sister Sarah, an extraordinary event coordinator and designer, have been decorating Preservation Park every Christmas for years. Every wreath, garland, bow, tree, really anything Christmas-related, transpired from their lovely handiwork. Furthermore all of the ladies, Marian and her eight bridesmaids, looked as if they had stepped right off the set of Madmen. Actually, they stepped out of a 1939 Rolls Royce for their grand entrance. The Rolls served as a backdrop for a series of pin-up pictures that our good friend Brad made of all of the women (see a couple below).
Despite the amazing scene that Marian and Michael created, the best part of their wedding was truly how happy and excited these two were to be marrying one another. They both had perma-grins the entire night, and with all that smiling how could they not have the foundation for a beautiful and happy life together? Congratulations, you two!!!
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Ngoc + Steve in San Francisco, CA
We ended up having a later season this year, and so we still have one more wedding to share after this one! But, I am getting ahead of myself...
Remember Ngoc and Steve's engagement session in Berkeley just a couple of months ago? Well, these two brought everything together, with the help of their family, to throw an amazing December wedding at San Francisco's iconic Yank Sing Restaurant in The Rincon Plaza. Their wedding was definitely a family affair as Ngoc and Steve are super close with their siblings: Steve's brother officiated over the ceremony and almost all of the bridal party were family members, which led to some pretty sweet toasts.
We brought along our friend Brad Zweerink to help us photograph the wedding, and it was so much fun to be a part of a celebration for two people who were so obviously in love: Steve couldn't keep his hands off his beautiful bride as he kept wrapping her up in his arms and kissing her all night long. Ngoc and Steve, thanks so much for having us, we think you two are an amazing couple!
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Stacey + Rob in Livermore, CA
I hit it off with Stacey and Rob right from the beginning, and we ended up going out for dinner at one of their favorite places in Oakland, Cafe Biere, where I was thoroughly impressed with Rob's taste in beer and drinking skills.
Unfortunately for Stacey and Rob, rain had dampened their rehearsal the night before at Murrieta's Well, but luckily for us, that same rain made their wedding day clean, crisp and beautiful. The gorgeous light, puffy clouds, green vineyards and the thousand folded cranes made for a very fun day of shooting.
Both Rob's and Stacey's families are very musically talented. Rob's sister and some of her children had a special waltz composed for their wedding march, and they played it as Stacey walked down the aisle. Later, in lieu of her maid of honor toast, Stacey's little sister Jessica sang "Grow Old With You," of Wedding Singer fame.
Stacey and Rob ended their evening in Murrieta's Well barrel room, surrounded by family as they danced among the twinkling lights.
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I loved this series of Stacey walking down the aisle, flanked by her mother and sister.
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