I have to start this post by admitting that this was the first surprise wedding. Amanda and Jeff decided that they didn’t want to make a big deal of their wedding so they had a New Year’s Eve party at their home in South Pasadena, invited their closest friends and family, and then in the middle of the party announced that they were getting married–right then and there. Except for those few folks who knew about it, everyone was blown away when it happened. After the wedding and then celebrating the new year at midnight at their South Pasadena home, everyone took a limo ride to Orange Grove Blvd. in Pasadena to view the floats lining up for the Rose Parade. You’ll note that we started the day at the Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena and then moved to downtown Los Angeles for some photographs at the Disney Concert Hall. Click here to see all of the wedding photographs from Amanda and Jeff’s awesome evening!

Jeff and Amanda wanted to see each other before the wedding so I arranged this
"first look" where Jeff saw Amanda in her wedding dress for the first time.

Amanda rented the marquee at the Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena to announce
to the world that the were getting married. And of course it made for a nice photo as well.

After taking just a few photos at the Rialto in South Pasadena, we headed over to
the Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles for more wedding photographs.

I really liked how the dissipating jet contrail in the sky drew a line down to Jeff and Amanda.

The sunset light was really working for us at Disney Hall.

Nice dress. Nice suit. Nice flowers.

As you can see here, sometimes I appreciate more subtle reflections.

My signature wedding bouquet photograph.

Just because …

Smoochy Smoochy

Jeff’s office building wasn’t in sight of Disney Hall so I used some other skyscrapers instead.

Jeff and Amanda’s home in South Pasadena, California

"Hey. Don’t tell anyone but Amanda and Jeff are getting married tonight!"

"Ok folks. This is more than just a swinging New Year’s Eve party. Amanda and I are getting married. Right now."

Some people were more surprised than others …

Jeff’s grandfather, a retired minister, performed the ceremony.

Then Amanda and Jeff enjoyed their cupcakes. Please note that no cupcake smashing was involved.

Happy New Year!

On the way to the floats, we stopped the limo at the Rialto Theatre in
South Pasadena for a few night photographs under the marquee.

The organizers of the Rose Parade set up these HUGE lights above the street that lit up everything
almost bright as day. I used those lights to backlight Jeff and Amanda as they walked up
Orange Grove Boulevard on their way to view the Rose Parade floats.

Amanda and Jeff in silhouette. One of my favorite photos from their wedding day.

Susan and Roberto contacted me many months ago inquiring about their then upcoming wedding at the Mission Inn Hotel in Riverside, California. They are from Canada so at the time they were busy planning their own destination wedding. I was super stoked that they selected me as their wedding photographer from my web site portfolio alone! Anyway, this wedding was a private affair with only Roberto’s mom and dad, Susan’s mom, sister, brother-in-law and nephew in attendance–and me of course. The ceremony was in the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel which boasts treasures including Tiffany stained glass panels and an 18-karat-gold leafed altar that dates back to the mid-eighteenth century. After the ceremony, we spent about 30 minutes taking a few photos around the hotel and then I finished up the day photographing everyone at their special dinner. Click here to view the complete wedding photo gallery!

This ornate stained glass window was right down the hall from the bridal
getting ready room. I thought the colors set off Susan’s dress quite nicely.

I really wish I had time to admire this altar at Mission Inn but everything went by so crazy
fast it was all I could do to simply photograph the wedding (the service was less than
ten minutes long). I’m promising myself that the next time I visit Riverside, I’m going to
spend some time studying and photographing the altar.

I loved quite a few of the recessional photos after the wedding ceremony but this one
made the cut because of the joy seen on Susan and Roberto’s faces.

And my signature wedding bouquet shot. I don’t always post these to my
blog but I’m particularly fond of how this one turned out.

At the entrance to the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel
at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California.

You’ve gotta love the "flying buttresses" in the background.

Susan’s floor length veil wasn’t cooperating with the wind–even
when we were able assisted by the Mission Inn’s fabulous wedding
coordinator. Just so you know, a veil doesn’t always fly effortlessly in the wind.

Oh Roberto, you say the funniest things!

Oh Susan, you’re so cute you make me want to pick you up
just so I can see you throw your head back and giggle!

I kind of wish I had a wider lens on my camera for this photo, but the rotunda
still looks pretty darn awesome. And Susan and Roberto aren’t half bad either!

So we were walking by the gym and Susan mentioned that she loved the treadmills in there (and she’s a runner)
so she dragged me inside (well, dragged might be a strong term) and then she jumped on a treadmill. I’ll admit
that I was kind of skeptical about this photo at first, but after taking the shot and seeing it on the back of
my camera, it made me chuckle a bit. By the way, just so you know, Roberto isn’t a runner. But you wouldn’t
know it from the intense expression on his face now would you?

Here’s a bit of trivia, Theodore Roosevelt spent the night not 30 feet from
where Susan and Roberto are sitting. And Richard Nixon was married not 20 feet
away from that very spot. Lots of cool stuff has happened at the Mission Inn!

The sunset was a grand thing on their wedding day!

Instead of a reception, Susan and Roberto had a small intimate dinner with their
family. Here Roberto greets his new mother-in-law while Susan looks on in contentment.

This photo needs a bit of explanation. Apparently Susan never, ever eats bread. And this this photo may be the only
photo in all of her life that shows her eating bread. As you can see, Roberto was a bit surprised at her action.