Archive for the ‘Weddings’ Category

This is probably going to be my longest post ever! I try to not to have a really long blog posts but I have so many great images to show you from this wedding and had trouble narrowing it down. Stephanie and Jason live got married at the amazingly beautiful Anthem Country Club. The views of the Strip from the reception are incredible, especially knowing that it’s half an hour away!

The story of how Stephanie and Jason met is one of the cutest stories I have ever heard. I think I may have already blogged it when I did their engagement session a few months ago, but I love it so much I am going to tell it again. In fact, Jason retold the story to everyone during the reception and I was tearing up because it was so touching and everyone could feel the love Jason has for Stephanie. They were both in Vegas for different reasons – Stephanie was in town for her friend’s bachelorette party and Jason was in town for a job interview. They didn’t meet until the end of their Vegas stay, when they both got stuck at the airport because their flight back to Ohio got canceled. Jason said as he was trying to rebook his flight, he noticed a beautiful girl in line talking on her pink Razr (Y’all still remember those? Those seem like ages ago now!). He said it was love at first sight and they spent the new several hours getting to know each other and the rest was history. Jason got the job he interviewed at, and then some months later, Stephanie decided to make the leap and move out to Vegas too. Isn’t that the cutest story you’ve ever heard?! It sounds like something straight out of a movie. :)

We started out getting ready at the Tropicana Hotel.
Getting ready at the bridal suite at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas

groom getting ready at Tropicana

This hallway of shops at the Tropicana is so cool and modern and I took a quick picture of the girls as we were walking to meet Jason.
Bride getting ready to meet groom at the Tropicana in Las Vegas

Stephanie and Jason’s first look. It was honestly the most heartwarming first look I’ve ever photographed! It was so full of emotion.
Bride and groom first look by Las Vegas wedding photographer

We stopped at the Las Vegas sign for a quick bridal party pic.
Bridal party at the Las Vegas sign

Stephanie and Jason invited me to their rehearsal dinner the night before, insisted that I don’t take any pictures (I couldn’t help myself but I did take just a few), so it was great to get to know their families beforehand. Stephanie’s dad is so funny and I love this picture because he was so calm and happy on their wedding day.
Anthem country club wedding in Henderson by Las Vegas wedding photographer

Stephanie and Jason had a Jewish wedding, so they had a ketubah signing before the ceremony, which is an intimate ritual before the wedding and only the closest friends and family attend.
Jewish ketubah ceremony by Las Vegas wedding photographer

One of my favorite parts of photographing the wedding day are these next two minutes: the father walking the bride down the aisle, the groom waiting patiently to see his bride, and the father giving away his daughter. This part gets me every time!
Las Vegas wedding at Anthem Country Club

Las Vegas wedding photography

Jewish ceremony at Anthem County Club in Las Vegas

And they’re married!
Jewish breaking of the glass at a Las Vegas wedding

Bride and groom processional at a Las Vegas country club

So by the time we got to the portraits, the sun had gone down already! Thankfully I brought along an assistant for this wedding and she held my lights for me.
Las Vegas wedding couple at Anthem Country Club

Bride looking at her flowers

The reception at Anthem Country Club is so pretty! I loved their choices of having a black, white, and red theme because the red really brightened up the reception. And I looooved their cake toppers! It is a custom cake topper that looks like them in their Ohio State jerseys, feature their two cute dogs, and it even has their last name on the back, just like a real jersey!
Reception hall at Anthem Country Club

Grand entrance at Anthem Country Club

Las Vegas wedding photography featuring the bride and groom first entrance

This is where Jason gave a speech of how they first met and they opened a present from Delta, which was the plane they were supposed to fly on!
Groom's speech by Vegas wedding photographer

First dance of bride and groom and father daughter dance by Las Vegas wedding photographer

So my favorite part of Jewish weddings is definitely the hora! It is so fun having all your friends and family come out to the dance floor. Also, the reactions of people’s faces when they are hoisted up in the air like that is priceless.
Hora traditional Jewish dance

I never know if my couples are going to smash each other with cake or not, but I am always ready to capture it if it does happen. :)
Cutting the cake by Las Vegas wedding photographer

Great candid shots are also impossible to time, but they are also my favs. I adore this picture of Stephanie and Jason having a great time at their wedding.
Candid photography by Las Vegas wedding photographer

Congrats again Stephanie and Jason! Mazel tov!

Vendors:
Getting ready: Tropicana Hotel
Ceremony and reception site: Anthem Country Club
Officiant: Rabbi Zukrow
DJ: Knight Sounds
Photobooth: Shutterbooth
Flowers: Flowers by Marisha
Cake: Tiers of Joy
Cake topper: Lynn’s Little Creations
Transportation: Earth Limos
Wedding dress: Private Label by G purchased at Bridal and Formal in Cincinnati
Bridesmaid dresses: David’s Bridal
Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Oh time has flown! I’ve been busy getting all my weddings and albums out the door for the holiday season, and I’m now finally able to blog now! You’ll be seeing a lot of blogposts in the next few days! This first wedding is one so dear to my heart because they are just one of the nicest couples I’ve ever talked to on the phone. I was so excited when Tammy and Ryan called me and told me they wanted to have a small intimate wedding at Red Rock Canyon. Tammy and Ryan are from Massachusetts, but they’ve traveled to Vegas before and fell in love with Red Rock and wanted to come back and get married there.

We started getting ready in a beautiful suite at Red Rock Casino. Tammy’s dress and bouquet were lovely!
getting ready at Red Rock Casino

This was such an adorable moment of Tammy getting her son ready.
Getting ready at Red Rock Casino by Las Vegas wedding photographer

Tammy was so nervous before the wedding but she managed to give me a few smiles before the ceremony. :)
bridal portraits at Red Rock Casino

I love this photo of Tammy! Sh looks so stunning here!
Las Vegas wedding portraits

Isn’t this the coolest background ever?!
wedding at Red Rock Canyon by Las Vegas wedding photographer

Pastor Pete did an amazing job and the whole crowd had the biggest smiles.
Las Vegas wedding at Red Rock Canyon

Their families were so sweet. I really felt the love that they had for Tammy and Ryan at this wedding and how close they are to their families.
Las Vegas wedding photography at Red Rock canyon

Wedding portraits at Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas

Congrats again Tammy and Ryan!
Las Vegas wedding photography

Vendors:
Hair and makeup: Daileny
Cupcakes: Retro Bakery
Getting ready and reception: Red Rock Casino
Ceremony: Red Rock Canyon
Officiant: Pastor Pete of Elegant Vegas Weddings
Floral arrangement: Rockin’ Rose

My good friends Jen and Bryan traveled from Boston to celebrate their 10 year anniversary in Vegas earlier this month. We have always talked about getting them in front of the camera because their wedding was back in the film days and the style of portraiture was much more traditional back then. So when they told me they were coming into town for their 10 year anniversary, I told them they need to do something really special to celebrate their day, and we decided that this would be the perfect time to do the session they’ve always wanted to do!

We had a lot of fun at this trash the dress session but we really didn’t get the dress dirty, just a little dusty, that’s all. Jen told me her dress took up practically her entire suitcase, but it was definitely worth it, because I absolutely loved this session!

Jennifer is an award-winning food blogger of Tiny Urban Kitchen, so it’s amazing with all the yummy food that you see on her blog that she can still fit into her dress after 10 years! Amazing!!
Red rock canyon anniversary shoot

This is one of my favorite images ever and a crowd favorite on my Facebook fan page. I just love the contrast of her dress against Red Rock Canyon, and I was so happy to catch this moment right as a small gust of wind caught the train of her dress.
Trash the dress session at Red Rock Canyon

Even though Jen had her dress shoes on, she climbed up on the rock no problem. I’m still amazed at how she got up there without any help.
Red Rock anniversary session by Las Vegas wedding photographer

This image made me laugh so much. Bryan really looks like he’s holding up the rock!
Groom lifting bride by Las Vegas wedding photographer

So peaceful.
Close up of bride and groom by Las Vegas wedding photographer

Jen’s fabulous hair and makeup was done by Daileny, who never ceases to amaze me with her talent. She is so easy to work with and started working around sunrise so we could shoot because the sun got too strong.
Las Vegas wedding photography at Red Rock Canyon

Another one of my favorites. I had so many favorites it was hard to choose! But I love the way they are looking at each other here, since I rarely ever see this side of them.
Bride and groom walking by Las Vegas wedding photographer

This is such a fun way to end the session!
Bride and groom chilin' during anniversary shoot

Sandy getting ready

September 27, 2011

This is part two of Sandy’s wedding day. Click here to see part one of her wedding day.

Here’s a few images I took of Sandy getting ready in her suite at the Hilton Costa Mesa.

I love LOVE Sandy’s dress! It was so flattering on her figure and made her look stunning on her wedding day. I can’t wait for her to visit me in Las Vegas for a trash the dress session!!
Hilton Costa Mesa wedding by Las Vegas wedding photographer

Oh yes, we finally found her robe towards the end of getting her makeup done!
Bride getting ready by Las Vegas wedding photographer

Orange County wedding by Las Vegas wedding photographer

Hair and makeup: Elaine Chou
Dress: Maggie Sottero

Yay I’m so excited to share these pictures with you because Sandy and Scott are very near and dear to my heart. A few weeks ago I drove down to Orange County to photograph my bestie’s wedding. I was her maid of honor so I could only photograph the morning festivities, and the fabulous Erich of Erich Chen Photography covered the rest of her day. You may remember their beautiful engagement pictures that we took in the cute oceanside town of Rockport, Massachusetts.

Sandy getting ready before the Chinese tea ceremony. Doesn’t she look gorgeous in her Chinese dress?
Bride getting ready before the Chinese wedding ceremony

Traditionally in Chinese culture, the groom and his family goes to the bride’s house bearing lots of gifts. But in order to enter the house, the groom and groomsmen have to pass a series of “tests” in order for the groom to see his bride. Scott has to “bribe” his way in and is trying to negotiate with the bridesmaids. These games are all done in good nature and is such a fun way to start the day!
Groom comes to pick up bride

Scott had to prove his love for Sandy by dancing to “Baby Got Back” that is playing on the laptop. Sort of a modern twist on the Chinese wedding door games. ;)
Chinese wedding games by Las Vegas wedding photographer

Then a brief Buddhist ceremony honoring the ancestors.
Chinese wedding ceremony by Las Vegas wedding photographer

We had a full house for the tea ceremony! It was very touching to see so many of their family members fly from far away to celebrate this occasion with them. The living room was quite packed with all the relatives that Sandy and Scott had to serve tea to. But on the plus side, they received lots of lucky red envelopes and gold jewelry.
Chinese tea ceremony wedding photography

Showing off all the bling! Congrats Sandy and Scott!
Orange County wedding photography

Featured on Scheme Events blog

September 9, 2011

I am so excited to be featured on the Scheme Events! They are one of Vegas’ premiere event planning companies, so rest assured that you will be in great hands if you choose them to plan your wedding. Not to mention they are some of the sweetest ladies you’ll ever meet!

Click here to read the interview at Scheme Events!Las Vegas wedding planner blog feature

I also had the opportunity to help out with the grand opening of their new studio by setting up a party photobooth. It was so much fun and they made it so chic with the background and custom signs! You can visit Scheme’s Facebook fan page to see all the photobooth craziness from the event.

Here’s me with the girls of Scheme Events. Special thanks to Adam Trujillo for grabbing this shot of us.
Scheme Events and Emily Ku Photography at a photobooth

They are so adorable!!
Las Vegas wedding photobooth pictures

Bridal portraits

August 28, 2011

My friend Erin of Erin Hatch Photography is so awesome! She put together another fabulous shoot for some local photographers (the last one she put together was the model shoot at the dry lake bed). This time, she gathered up some girls she knew to model for us in their wedding gowns. And they are all gorgeous!! One of the girls told me that it’s been 7 years since she last wore the dress, and it fit perfectly, even after having kids!! I hope that I am that lucky whenever I have kids. And one of the girls is actually getting married soon, so it was a real bridal session with her!

I had so much fun with these girls! Thanks Amanda, Jeravae, and Ashley!

These are my favorite kinds of roses, the two-toned ones. They are so colorful and really match her personality!
Las Vegas wedding photography

Happy, laughing bride. I don’t feel like I’m doing my job right if I don’t get some genuine smiles and laughter.
Bridal session in Las Vegas

So gorgeous, right? I was happy that the sun came out towards the end of the session so we could get some golden light in the images.
Las Vegas bridal session

We found an amazing patch of wildflowers that resembled sunflowers. When I saw them I was so giddy and jumping up and down because I never see these in Vegas! At least my excitement made the bride laugh. :)
Portrait of bride in her wedding gown near a sunflower field

Does the dress looks like it’s never ending? Yes, she’s about 6 feet tall, the tallest bride I’ve ever photographed! Poor girl, she said she couldn’t find a dress long enough for her! But I don’t think the dress is too short, and plus, she looks stunning!!
Las Vegas portrait photographer

I love the bride with the mountains in the background. It feels so serene.
Bride posing by the mountains near Las Vegas

Okay, who’s up for a real trash the dress session?! Contact me!