Emma + Adam // Timber Cove Wedding

Never could I have imagined that after a totally cancelled wedding season, I'd be having my favorite "work" year, and amid (a very relentless) global pandemic. Not only has this year brought me beautiful venues, scenic road trips, and very impressive vendor food, but there has been such a refreshing sense of, "we're in this together" energy with all of these wonderful couples, and their rescheduling loyalty really got me through a "zero out of 10, do NOT recommend" kind of year last year.

I may have only met Adam and Emma ON the day of their absolutely stunning Timber Cove wedding, but they were quick to treat me like an old friend and their warm presence was palpable. To know them for any length of time is to be mystified by their generosity and to love them completely. Their laid back, fun-loving attitude made it easy for me to get into my creative zone, and it meant the world to me that they gave me their trust without knowing me at all before this day. It's couples like Adam and Emma that keep me wondering how I got so lucky, and help to fuel my passion of being a wedding photographer.

Congratulations to these two, and thank you so incredibly much for letting me be a part of your unforgettable wedding. I have still not come down from the high of this perfect day.

Special thanks to all the incredible vendors I got to work with on this day:

@maryhuynhphoto

@sharkpigweddings

@w_i_n_k_a_r_t

@timbercoveresort

@bloomgeneration

@soundselevated

@sogoodphotobooth

@beauty_on_set

@butter_and

@encoreeventsrentals

@foundrentalco

@thevesselrentalco

@jennigrubbaevents

@taylorkimiko

Jessica + Chris // The Olympic Club, SF

Classic, timeless, and "quintessentially San Francisco" best describes Jessica and Chris's wedding at the Olympic Club, and I've been missing this day, this couple, and those burger dogs ever since (if you know, you know)...

It has been awhile since I've shot an indoor wedding, and this particular venue boasted ceiling to floor windows, offering the best San Francisco views that showcased the familiar, beloved fog we have all grown to love. The venue, as objectively striking as it is, is not what I'm excited about on this day. It's getting to tell the story of Chris and Jessica through my lens, a couple who I have loved and admired since the day I got their first email (which naturally feels like forever ago because Covid+rescheduled weddings).

I have been doing this long enough to know that you can learn so much about a couple through the speeches of friends and family members at these weddings. It comes as no surprise, but it was unanimous that this couple is so loved beyond measure by their community and every speech was testimony to their thoughtful, selfless, and loving personalities. From beginning to end, these two were so amazing to work with, ending every email and tackling every "covid wedding planning" obstacle by saying, "thank you for sticking with us through this mess". I'm definitely the lucky one though.

Cheers to such a lovely, special couple who I missed immediately after this day was over.

Lily + Alex // Timber Cove Micro Wedding

I'll never stop saying it: I love micro weddings. I hope they never go away and I hope people continue to ask me to shoot them in stunning locations and I hope I get to continue pretending I'm the quirky/odd cousin out of the tight knit family that is in attendance.

If you haven't been to Timber Cove Resort, think: absurdly beautiful coastal views with cozy cabin vibes, modern amenities and legit food options, and a bed so comfy that you can trust fall safely and fall asleep immediately. Lily and Alex's micro wedding here knocked my Blundstone boots right off, and I've been wondering if I should uproot my entire life and move to Jenner, California, ever since.

I loved the way these two approached their wedding day. They did away many wedding traditions, and unanimously decided that if they were going to keep it small, they wanted to do things in a way that would speak to who they are, and how they love. What was especially refreshing was hearing the guest speeches during the ceremony, and everyone had prepared something deeply genuine for the couple during this time. Post-ceremony, they shared a toast with these friends and family, and I watched as they remained hyper-present for their guests and each other, for the entire day.

I experienced IMMEDIATE post-wedding blues the day after this wedding, as this was a couple I had such a wonderful, instant connection with from the very beginning, and it made me so happy to see the way they changed their big wedding plans into something intimate, and deeply personal. It feels impossible to feel nostalgia for a day that only just passed, but micro weddings BE like that...

Cheers to this lovely, outrageously fun+ funny couple. Please accept me as your life photographer??

Sarah + Luke // Sea Ranch Elopement

I have been LOVING all these deeply personal ways in which my couples are choosing to get married these days. With all of the 2020 rescheduled weddings, so many of my clients have pivoted to change not only the headcount, but their entire wedding vision altogether this year, and many of them have opted for small, intimate gatherings and elopements, like this breathtaking one at Sea Ranch from last month.

Sarah and Luke's Sea Ranch elopement was an absolute dream to capture, and I am still daydreaming about it even a month later. Known for its objective beauty and specific, unique architecture, this was my first time visiting the town of Sea Ranch, and the coastal road trip alone left me breathless and overjoyed with the quintessential Northern California landscape that is not (too) far from home. If the feeling of wanderlust was a place, Sea Ranch unanimously embodies it.

My jaw dropped the second I showed up to this pristine, mid-century inspired Airbnb to greet Sarah and Luke for their elopement. Normally I get work day jitters that dissipate within 10 minutes, but I knew the story I wanted to tell immediately, and I got right into my vision's mind and got to work. The day unfolded so perfectly, with a backyard ceremony in the meadow with the ocean as our backdrop, and I weeped from behind my camera during their vows as they perfectly articulated their first date, but from their own perspective. We then gallivanted around as many places that would speak to the true uniqueness of Sea Ranch and that two hours of coverage would allow, and stopped when we were windblown and satisfied with the adventure we chose on that day.

Special thanks to this outrageously kind, and open-hearted couple for letting me do my thing on this day, and for giving me a front row seat into such an unforgettable day.

Lianne + Nik // Paros, Greece Wedding

In the depths of my 2020 Covid stress, I often wandered over and through the thought of, "Can my photography business can come back from this?", and while I braced myself for a possibly wonky 2021 wedding season and potentially more rescheduled weddings, I pleaded with the universe to let this wedding that has been on my calendar for what feels like forever remain unscathed. Greece opened its borders to tourism only a few weeks before this wedding was scheduled (not stressy at ALL), and it was the biggest Christmas miracle (in July), and wiped away all residual Covid-blues from the moment we landed.

Every once in awhile, I get to shoot not only incredible destination weddings, but I also get to shoot weddings for very special, dear people in my life. This wedding was a combination of both, and I have known the bride, Lianne, and her family for what feels like a lifetime, and they have been such amazing supporters of me/my entire family for as long as I can remember. It felt only natural to volunteer myself for the role of Lianne and Nik's wedding photographer, and I was really excited when they didn't reject this offer/me. :)

Lianne and Nik have one of those love stories that feels too "The Notebook" to be real, but truly and wholeheartedly, they were meant to find each other again in this exact season of life. Their story is not mine to share, but it's a heartmelter, and it made this wedding day so special to document. I have never seen such a bright, permanent smile on Lianne, and it brings me such friend-peace to know that she found her person, and to meet Nik even just once, is to love him forever.

Cheers this couple that made this trip possible, and also ruined me on international vacations. I really can't understand why i'd ever-ever go anywhere else.

Jessie + Mike // Bodega Los Alamos Wedding

I think a large majority of people might loathe a solo 5+ hour car ride, but not this mom of two who (barely) survived the pandemic, and is forever enjoying every.bit. of solo time that (hardly ever) exists. All this is to say that when Jessie and Mike had to move their Aptos wedding to Los Alamos, I was ALL FOR IT, especially when they revealed that Bodega Los Alamos was their new venue...

Beyond the beautiful drive and the 10 podcast episodes I was able to get in, driving through the itty bitty town of Los Alamos made me feel like I was instantly on vacation. The town itself was both quirky and vibrant, and I got strong Marfa vibes as I drove through the town "strip" and pulled into the venue parking lot. I had been dying to see this venue in person, and if you're wondering if it's cute enough to plan an entire road trip around, it is, and you should.

I had already anticipated easy-going and kind clients based on all of our email exchanges, but Jessie and Mike were BEYOND LOVELY, and so my kind of people. Mike gave me a big hug upon arrival and Jessie and I said at the exact same time, "It's so nice to finally meet you!", and it set the easy-going vibes for the whole day. I must have said to myself, "I love my job so damn much" about 25 times on this day, and it was such a privilege to get the opportunity to travel to such a lovely location, be all the way back at work, and surrounded by the good energy that Jessie and Mike and their wedding guests exuded all day long. Don't even get me started on seeing people on the dancefloor again...

Cheers to one of the sweetest couples who somehow made me feel like a wedding guest on this day (and let me take home the fanciest beer!).

Special thanks to the following vendors who were extra amazing to work with on this day:

Venue: Bodega Los Alamos

Planning: Wunderland & Co.

Florals: Fluid Bloom

Catering: Lucca WoodFired

Hair & makeup: The Queens Bees

DJ: DJ Curly

Photo bus: Bessy The Foto Bus

Rentals: Amigo Party Rentals

Cake: Solvang Bakery

Hailey + Alex // Santa Rosa Airbnb Wedding

You know you're getting old when some of the client inquiries that show up in your inbox are from kids that you used to babysit, and now they are full blown ENGAGED adults, asking if you will be their wedding photographer. This was absolutely the case with this outrageously stunning microwedding I recently shot for Hailey and Alex, and I may or may not have seen Hailey since she was an actual child who was begging to stay up past her bedtime.

Nothing could have prepared me for how beautiful this day was. Hailey had previously sent me the address to this airbnb they were getting married at, and while the pictures were stunning, seeing it in person was an entirely different experience. It was dream home status. And in so many ways, it felt like my dream venue to shoot a wedding in. I walked in that house, and truly felt like I knew exactly what story I wanted to tell, and got straight to work on capturing such a gorgeous, unforgettable wedding day.

Not only did I get a "unicorn venue" opportunity on this day, but I also had the BEST, "do your thing, we trust you!" kind of clients on this day. Hailey and Alex were so warm and inviting, and they were completely comfortable with taking direction and they really just let me geek out in that house and with that light, and with all the shadows and textures we found along the way. They booked me for two hours on this day, and I feel like we made some real 'team magic', and in record time.

With things opening back up and full weddings starting to resume, I sure hope these microweddings stick. I have come to love these intimate gatherings and the stress-free vibes that follow, and the timeline feels so organic on these days. Cheers to these two for creating a dream wedding under some not-so-ideal conditions, and to Hailey for remembering that her vintage babysitter is a wedding photographer.

Cameron + Matt // SF Micro Wedding

Never could I have imagined that weddings would continue to be impacted in 2021, but here we are. Still pivoting, still doing our best, and taking it all one day at time. Luckily, I've been more than blessed with amazing couples who have worked so hard to ensure that I am still a part of their future wedding date, and if we're looking for silver linings, it's that I am getting more opportunities to connect with these couples, and it truly feels like we're all in this together.

Cameron and Matt had an original wedding date set in March 2021, but due to continued uncertainty, they pushed their wedding to Fall 2021 and opted for a small, four person wedding ceremony in San Francisco to officially seal the deal, and dare I say that I love shooting these micro-weddings and I will miss them once we can gather again? While large gatherings are ideal for the typical client, being forced into creativity and developing new ideas for how to marry your favorite person safely has been the infamous challenge for my 2020 couples, yet these microweddings have been the saving grace for many of them. With gatherings as low as four people, there are infinite forms of flexibility, and I especially love how Cameron and Matt walked by this location a few days before, and decided this was the spot they loved, and sent me an address to meet them at. It was all planned and put together within a week, and it was such an easy, breezy wedding day that left me so excited for the other few I have on the calendar this year.

Congratulations to this couple who feels like old friends at this point. Definitely going to be a loud ceremony crier at this Fall wedding.

Emily + Ryan // Oakland Micro Wedding

Oh, weddings, how I've missed you so. I've been a wedding photographer for the last seven years, and while I've been madly in love with my job and the opportunities and people it has brought into my life since the very beginning, I never knew I would miss it THIS MUCH after just six months of not being able to do it. We are all more than our jobs, but for me, photography has always been my outlet, and a way for me to still tap into who I am as a creative, and let's be honest...a break from stay at home mom life.

While 99% of my weddings have been rescheduled for next year, a few clients have been interested in keeping their wedding date, but pivoting from "large gathering" to a small, intimate ceremony with just family and a few friends. I've been calling these "micro weddings", and Ryan and Emily were the first of my clients to plan one, and it definitely brought on all the feels. If this is what weddings will look like for the unforeseeable future, I. AM. HERE. FOR. IT.

You may remember Ryan and Emily from this forest engagement session. This was the first time I had met them in person, and they felt like old friends by the end of the session. On the day of their Oakland micro wedding, we laughed (cried?) about how much life has changed since we last saw each other, only six months prior, and then focused on the beautiful day they planned, with 13 of their closest supporters as witnesses. While everyone was wearing masks and remaining six feet apart, it held just as much meaning as any large wedding I've shot in the past, and for a moment in time, or rather, for a moment in the last six months, I temporarily forgot about the pandemic, and felt like my old self, doing what I love: documenting love.

Thank you to this couple for still figuring out a way to let me tell a REALLY INTERESTING part of your story that none of us will ever forget (and thank you for giving me a reason to wear an actual outfit for the third time in 2020).

Jess + Doug // Pelican Inn Wedding

In January of 2018, my family and I said goodbye to our favorite little beach town that we called home for the last four years, Half Moon Bay. While we weren't moving far, Marin felt like a different universe, and not one that we were certain we'd fit into. It took a handful of months to settle in, and while we were beginning to feel a bit at home in our new neighborhood, we had wondered if/when we'd ever find a community of our own. Cue somewhere in the middle of 2018, and the universe decided to gift us two of the greatest humans for friends, Doug and Jess.

Getting to know-then-love Doug and Jess has been the absolute highlight of our new-ish Marin life, and I have loved getting to know them as a couple, and also as two completely separate individuals. They are the most gracious and accommodating human beings, and they're just as down to go out to dinner with my husband and I as they are to hang out with our two kids and our massive (and often gassy) dog, and we have never felt anything but completely loved and supported by them. It is no surprise that I nearly starting crying when they asked me to be their wedding photographer, and the extra special bonus was getting to shoot this wedding with my husband on our 6th wedding anniversary. Creating art for the people that you love and with the people you love is absolutely how I prefer to spend my time, and it was truly the least we could do for two people who have been in our corner since day one.

This day was just as magical as it looked, and yielded a true depiction of some of Marin's finest landscapes, while also incorporating so much of Doug and Jess's history. An private hilltop ceremony followed by a small reception at the rustic Pelican Inn made for a truly intimate day, and allowed both Doug and Jess to be present and in the moment with all of their biggest supporters. My husband and I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend our 6th wedding anniversary, and we smiled the whole way home when reflecting on Doug and Jess's wedding day.

Cheers to these two beautiful humans, thank you for having us! (p.s. we ate your entire grazing table that night. It was us. )

Larissa & Eric // Sonoma Wedding

If there is any piece of advice I would ever give an aspiring wedding photographer, it would be to find the clients who get you. Who without any hesitation, see something in your work that speaks to them, and choose you to tell their story. In that same breath, I would also tell said hypothetical-aspiring-photographer to choose clients that you really "get" as well, and that the mutual understanding and relationship building between those two parties is what will ultimately make you LOVE your job, then forget that it's a job, and leave you feeling nostalgic for every wedding day and couple that passes.

Beyond Larissa and Eric being two of the nicest human beings I've ever met in my line of work, they are also excellent human beings to each other, and that was immediately apparent when I documented Eric's proposal to Larissa nearly two years ago. I was elated to work with them again for their wedding day, and I felt an instant-ease the moment I greeted them on their wedding day, like we had worked together hundreds of times. Like we were old friends.

This day was absolutely stunning and chock full of gorgeous details, but what I'll remember the most vividly is how wonderful they were (are) to each other and their crew of closest supporters. I felt myself beaming with joy FOR them as they walked down the aisle hand in hand, and then loved them 1,000 times more when I saw them look over at heard them fully admit to having "swamp ass", moments after the (brutally hot) ceremony. And that's kind of how you know you've found your people in the wild world of the wedding industry, and how you know you're exactly where you're supposed to be.

Cheers to these great humans and thank you for sharing a bit of your hearts and this day with me.

Al + Antrom // The Assembly, San Francisco

Every once in awhile, a dream wedding comes into my peripheral, and if I plead with the universe long enough, it quite magically becomes my reality. It's a very unreliable superpower of mine, but happens frequently enough to make me think I'm a pretty lucky person. This was the case for my good friend, Aleksandra's wedding at the highly sought after and buzzworthy co-working space for women, The Assembly. I knew this would be a beautiful opportunity for a beautiful friend, and I think I said, "Yes, PLEASE!" even before she officially asked me to be her wedding photographer (oops?). The only small (massive) caveat was that it took place 9 days after my scheduled C-Section...but spoiler alert: I survived (and so did my super supportive husband and super chill baby boy).

Known for her jaw-dropping, original woodwork, Aleksandra is a prestigious artist based in the Bay Area, and she brought this same originality and artistry to her wedding day. Al (as we like to call her), and fellow artist friend, Katie Gong, collaborated on the wedding backdrop, and the two created the centerpiece stage that left us all in a state of AWE. Al even created the massive pieces behind the bride and groom table, serving as the most stunning focal point of the room. But beyond this wedding looking like an actual dream, the most memorable visual from this day was seeing these two people smiling with their whole bodies, knowing they found their person, and being able to share their happiness with their closest friends and supporters.

Cheers to these two on what ended up being one of the sweetest days I have ever documented. Thank you for putting your trust in me to tell your story.

Special thanks to all the lovely vendors that worked their butts off to make this day look as good as you see in the pictures!

Venue: The Assembly

Backdrop: Katie Gong

Florals: Siren Floral Co.

Dress: Loho Bride

Hair: Population Salon

Catering: Stag Dining

Sky & Liz // Outdoor Art Club Wedding

When some of your sweetest friends ask you to be their wedding photographer, and you're 8 months pregnant, you still say, "Hell yeah"...but then have to warn them about your full-on pregnant waddle for the entirety of their wedding day. Luckily, these friends of mine both understood and encouraged the "pregnancy waddle", and luckily this didn't hold me back from telling their love story.

Sky and Liz are old friends back from when my boyfriend-now-husband and I moved to San Francisco, and we used to hang out at "The Warehouse", a type of friend compound (not really a compound, but we called it that anyway) that our mutual friends had rented out. It was a special time in our lives with limited amount of responsibilities, and we enjoyed the creative energies of these friends who lived here. Sky and Liz were fast friends of ours, and while our 'parents of two' life absorbs much of our social calendar, we love having these two over for dinner and watching our dogs play until they pass out.

Sky and Liz's wedding day was absolute perfection from beginning to end, and there is nothing more heartwarming than to see these old friends make a lifelong commitment to each other. Cheers to these two on such an incredible day, and THANK YOU for trusting that I could keep this baby in long enough to be able capture your day exactly as I saw it.

Kelly & CJ // Yosemite Wedding

About two months before this wedding took place, I received an email from the bride, telling me in the world's most casual way that her wedding venue has basically flooded, and that they were no longer able to have their wedding at said location. Instead of panicking or even being 2% upset, she ended the email with, "Can you shoot our wedding in Yosemite by chance? ". Uh, DONE AND DONE.

Beyond being the most excited wedding photographer in the world to shoot my first wedding in Yosemite, I was also so excited to work with this couple, and nothing could have prepared me for HOW.MUCH.FUN. they were to work with. I think they laughed/smiled for 8 hours straight on this day, and I can't say I've ever seen clients HANDLE a zipline with such coordination before (and in heels+stunning wedding garb?). Even though the bi-polar forecast kept us on our toes and almost had us moving a fully outdoor wedding to all indoors, it stayed put long enough for us to capture the breathtaking nature that Yosemite has to offer, and it was honestly the most remarkable natural light I've ever worked with (that cloud cover!!!).

I loved the natural story that unfolded on this day, and I am so freaking grateful for clients like Kelly and CJ who let me "my thing" and trusted me completely. Cheers to this incredible couple who I am absolutely obsessed with...you guys are the real deal. <3

Venue+Catering: Rush Creek Lodge

Hair: Gia Tummillo

Makeup: Sara Chestnutt-Fry

Florals: Whitney Hanson

Lea & Max // Deer Park Villa Wedding

You know you really love your job when you always show up at least one hour early, even if it means you just sit in your car for awhile, and repeat your, "You've got this " mantra, over and over again. As fun and exhilarating as being a wedding photographer might be, there is always that looming thought of, "I have one chance to capture this day perfectly", and I definitely have to practice ALL of the positive self-talk prior to any big wedding day. This is the kind of neurosis I endure as a wedding photographer, simply because all of my couples are so unique and special to me, and I'm diehard about capturing their (very important) day in the most genuine way possible.

I met Lea and Max for the first time at their engagement session, and beyond their easygoing, up-for-anything attitude, they were (ARE) among the kindest people I've ever met. Their "spark" was so easy to capture on this day, and that general ease they had with each other translated so effortlessly on camera. Seeing them again for the second time on their wedding day was another honorable opportunity to document their realness, and I truly felt like I was there to capture friends who I've known for years and years.

Just as I anticipated, their circle of supporters were equally as enamored and in love with this couple as I was (AM). Through the heartfelt speeches, never-ending hugs, and "happy tears" from just about every witness on this day, it was clear that Lea and Max have positively impacted everyone's lives, and the general feeling of gratitude was shared among every person there.

Congratulations to this gorgeous and genuine couple, and thank you for trusting me to tell your story. 100% cried during your entire vows??

Venue:Deer Park Villa

Hair & Makeup: Whimsy Bridal

Florals+Coordinating: Tango & Foxtrot

Donuts: Johnny's Donuts

Videography: Yukio Studios

D.Lillian Photography Associate Shooter

Meet my beautiful, kind-hearted, insanely talented partner photographer, Greer Rivera. She is not only a dear friend, but truly one of the most talented photographers I am so lucky to know, and my number one resource for all of my photography-related conundrums. Beyond our personal friendship, we have worked alongside of each other for a handful of weddings, and I love our intuitive workflow that we bring with us to every wedding.

No photographer has the same, identical vision, yet, our photography styles have a certain cohesion, and both of our passions are aimed at telling personal love stories through a photojournalist lens. And perhaps the best part beyond her sheer talent? She's really, reeeeally fun and brings ALL the good energy with her, everywhere she goes. Greer and I are excited to announce that we have decided to join forces to better accommodate our growing list of amazing clients. By virtue of bringing Greer on as my partner photographer, she will be working under my brand, and has been trained to represent D. Lillian Photography.  In other words, you can expect to get the same quality of work, aesthetic, and overall experience from Greer, as if you were working with me. All pre-wedding consulting and preparation will be done by me, as well as all the editing, so your wedding day images will have the D. Lillian Photography aesthetic you see in my portfolio.

To see samples of Greer's work, check out her portfolio, HERE. You can also check out a full wedding album, HERE.

A personal note from Greer:

Hi I’m Greer,

I’m a fun-loving, adventure seeking, outdoorsy, chai drinking island girl. I’m mama to a spunky and fearless 3 year old little girl named Tanzin, and I live in Mill Valley, CA with my boyfriend, Travis and our dog, Lucca.

I love to travel, and I have a deep love and respect for the ocean. My favorite weekend activity is packing up our little family and spending the day at the beach. I love hiking, being outdoors, 90’s music, reggae, a really good lemonade and a home filled with music. I’m definitely a dog person and I’m always up for a good adventure, especially a spontaneous one. My favorite smell is a wood fire burning and my favorite sound is my daughter’s laugh.

I’m a romantic at heart and I love islands. I was raised on Martha’s Vineyard and lived on St.John in the Caribbean for ten winters, that's where I started my business in 2007, adopted Lucca, lived on a sailboat, swam everyday, and danced to a little too much reggae!

I love natural light, real and authentic emotion, playful images and for people to be themselves and let their true love shine through. I am inspired by people in love and who live life to the fullest, I love hearing people's life stories and hope to hear yours!

Pierre & Juliette // Stable Cafe Wedding

February is historically a slow time for me as a wedding photographer, and also right around the time I start missing the madness that my previous wedding season brought. I was pleasantly surprised when I received an inquiry from Pierre and Juliette, a French couple living in San Francisco, regarding both a newborn session and wedding photography coverage for their upcoming wedding. We hopped on a call to discuss the details, and I learned that they just had a baby ONE DAY AGO, and that their wedding was in just a few weeks. I'm not even sure where they got the energy for that phone call on that day, but I'm so thankful they reached out and I heard their warmth and calm energy through the phone only a few moments into out conversation. I couldn't wait to document their newborn session and wedding all in the span of a few days and I was honored to witness such monumental moments in their lives.

I arrived at Pierre and Juliette's house on a Thursday, with their Stable Cafe wedding taking place on Saturday. I know firsthand how those first few days as new parents is especially sacred, and I didn't want my presence to overwhelm them, so I explained that my style of newborn sessions is really just documenting that special time, rather than fixing anyone into specific poses. Leo, their newest addition, gave me baby fever from the moment I walked in, and I couldn't help but fall instantly in love with the entire family at that point. In between cuddles, new baby smiles, finger and toe examinations, I watched as their bond as a new family formed.

Fast forward to a couple of days later, and it's storming in the city, and I show up at Stable Cafe a bit drenched, but so elated to see this family again for their intimate wedding. Their families are in town from France, and everyone shows up, ready to help in any way they can. They immediately get the centerpieces and table decorations on the table and the speakers set up, and it was especially heartwarming to see their family and community support these new parents throughout every step of their big day. The phrase, "it takes a village" was played out in front of me, and I was so proud of Pierre and Juliette for designing a wedding day that spoke to them and their laid back nature, and for inviting their family and closest friends to join in on their village.

Congratulations to this sincerely wonderful, kind, and amazing couple, and thank you for letting me tell your story.

Lyndsey & Jeff // Foreign Cinema Wedding

It has been a wonderfully crazy wedding season that has included four international trips and oodles of road trips up and down California, however, I was elated to be home and settled for Jeff and Lyndsey's San Francisco wedding, and I've been nostalgic for this day and this wedding venue, ever since. While I'm probably biased due to my own blissful,  past experience of living in the city, I've always had an affinity for San Francisco weddings, and I was reeling with excitement and gratefulness when Jeff and Lyndsey asked me to be their wedding photographer. I knew it was important to them to incorporate elements of their daily lives together into their wedding photography, and I loved starting my work day inside their home, where so much of who they are and how they love permeates from every corner. We had a plethora of different first look locations and ideas on the table, but opted for the street right outside of their home that naturally boasts stunning views of the city they met in, and aligned with our mutual vision that these images should reflect their relationship. Jeff and Lyndsey's wedding venue, Foreign Cinema, was especially unique, and beautifully encompassed the intersection between phenomenal food, artisanal wine, handcrafted cocktails, film, and art gallery. The urban vibe of their venue and its location felt quintessential to that of San Francisco, and I loved having the rare opportunity to incorporate some street photography into their wedding day, while simultaneously navigating around the local bystanders. This wedding day left me asking the universe for more San Francisco weddings, and left me feeling grateful for the opportunity to capture this day exactly how I saw it. Congratulations to this (absolutely stunning) couple, and thank you for letting me tell a part of your (wedding) story. Planning: Lisa BravoFlorals:Bewilder FloralVenue: Foreign Cinema

Nika & Patrick // Preservation Park Wedding

Back when I first spoke with Nika on the phone about wedding photography, she casually mentioned that their wedding theme was basically Coachella. "Uh, CONTINUE", I remember saying, feeling instantly excited about the prospect of shooting something eclectic, and opposite of traditional. As Nika and I continued to gush about her and Patrick's wedding, I learned that they had first met at Coachella, "back before it got popular", and that they wanted to emulate a festival vibe with wide-ranging food and drink vendors, and for it to a completely interactive experience with all of their favorite people. That was the vision I heard back during our phone call over a year ago, and what actually transpired on Nika and Patrick's wedding day far exceeded my already-high expectations. Their wedding "venue", Preservation Park, was a recreation of an old, Victorian neighborhood, and yielded the absolute best space when pulling off a festival-themed wedding. I was especially impressed with how they nailed the "interactive" part of their wedding vision, and I loved watching their wedding guests drift from the food trucks, to the bar cart featuring handcrafted cocktails, to the flower crown bar, to the photobooth, and to the merch and swag tent, and not ever really sitting down because there was so much fun to be had. Both Patrick and Nika were so completely calm throughout this entire day, and I loved that by virtue of having a laid back, easy-going wedding, they got to be present for each other, and enjoy every single minute with their greatest supporters. I'm still wide-eyed and smiling from this day, and grateful to have been trusted to document the true uniqueness of this wedding. Congratulations to this amazing couple who gave me one of the best work days I've ever known.Venue: Preservation ParkPlanning: Make It MarikoFlorals: Juna AlineaFood Trucks: Senor Sisig,Taqueria Angelicas,Lil Green CycloDessert: Boba Guys, Hookt DonutsBar: Bar Car SfLighting: Gatsby ENT GroupPhotobooth: Say Ya PhotoboothRentals: Bright Event Rentals

Ryan & Lev // Felton Guild Wedding

From lavish castle weddings in Sweden, to art warehouses in San Francisco, to intimate backyard weddings in the middle of nowhere, I am game for IT ALL and I'm continually impressed with how my couples piece together the most exquisite day that is unique to them, and how flawlessly they make it their very own. Ryan and Lev's forest wedding is no exception to this, and their friend/family reunion+backyard brunch theme immediately spoke to me the second I got their inquiry. Coming from a not-totally-structured person, I always feel so creatively empowered when I come across clients like Ryan and Lev who just gift me their trust, and completely let me do my thing in the background. They asked what time I'd like show up, they gave me a family shot list, and the rest we winged as a team (which included trampling through the back area of this forest and finding some sort of slightlllllllly creepy yurt). I left this wedding day and thought to myself, "I wish I could stay longer and eat pie all night with this couple and all of their guests". This wedding especially highlighted how important it is for me to have a connection with my couples, and I feel so grateful to still be doing my "thing" in a way that continues to feel authentic and genuine. Watching these two take a laid back approach to wedding planning was so inspiring, and truly yielded the kind of day where they got to hang out and be present for all of their biggest supporters. Cheers to these two lovely human beings, and thank you for having me (and being A-OKAY with that creep-tastic forest session).