February 17, 2013 –  The 2013 wedding season started off with a bang! I had the honor of shooting the wedding of Jessica and Sasada at the Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier, CA. It was a perfect Sunday afternoon at the Friendly Hills Country Club as friends and family of Jessica and Sasada gathered from all around the globe to attend their majestic wedding. I loved being part of their wedding as they are sweetest couple you will meet.  The ceremony was elegant but at times very entertaining as the officiant did a great job entertaining the guests. The wedding continued into the night as guests were treated to a delicious dinner along with great entertainment.

The best part of the wedding to me was how much fun I was having working for their wedding. I love hanging out with Jessica and Sasada as they are two of the coolest people around. You just get this sense of comfort when you are around them, I’m sure those that know them will testify to that. Congratulations Jessica and Sasada! Thanks for letting me part of your wedding!! It was a blast!

Dec 22, 2012 – The last wedding of 2012 was one for the books. My good friend Sam and his wife Gie had a wedding reception for their friends and family in the United States. Earlier last year they held a wedding out in the Philippines but many did not have the opportunity to attend, so they decided to have a wedding reception out in Los Angeles. It was a night of celebrities, with the talented Arden Cho (www.ardencho.com) mc-ing the reception. Performances by Gerald Ko, Arden Cho, Jason Chen (www.jasondchen.com), and Paul Kim (www.paulkimmusic.com) entertained the guests all throughout the night. It’s always a bonus when I get to document the wedding day of a friend as there is nothing more special than being able to be their photographer.

Congratulations Gie & Sam! Thank you for allowing me to be part of this fantastic day. It was a blast seeing you once again!

Check out all the artists on their You Tube Page:

Arden Cho: http://www.youtube.com/user/ardenBcho

Gerald Ko: http://www.youtube.com/user/singindork888

Jason Chen: http://www.youtube.com/user/miniachilles

Paul Kim: http://www.youtube.com/user/PaulKimMusic

November 17th, 2012 – For those that have had the opportunity to meet Kathy & Aaron, you would understand when I say they are two of the nicest, chillest, most sincere people you will ever meet. How awesome are they? It was cloudy and drizzling on their wedding day but not once were they stressing about the weather. Rather they were all smiles throughout the whole day and nothing was going to stop them from having the time of their lives on this very special day.

The day started early for the bride as Kathy and her 8 bridesmaids got ready bright and early for the big day. While Kathy was getting ready, Aaron was across town with the guys getting ready himself at his grandma’s house. The ground was a little wet from the sporadic rain that was coming down but that didn’t stop guests from attending the ceremony of Kathy and Aaron at the beautiful picturesque Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes, Ca. Family and friends then headed down the street to Norris Pavilion for a night of great food, entertainment, and drinks. Guests were treated to an evening that included heartwarming and funny speeches by the best man and maid of honor, fun dances, a photo booth and a special Lion Dance performance.

It was one of those weddings where everyone including the vendors all had a great time. Congratulations Kathy & Aaron. Hope you guys are having the time of your life on your honeymoon.

Vendors:

The day started out with Cheryl waking up early and getting her makeup done at Hair Day in Koreatown.  Eddie arrived at the Marriott Hotel at Woodland Hills to get prepared for for his big day. After getting ready, the whole bridal party headed down the street to Woodland Hills Korean United Methodist Church. They were greeted by friends and family for a wonderful ceremony. From there we moved to the Marriott Hotel for a night of great food, music, and dancing.

It was so great seeing so many familiar faces throughout the night. It was fun sharing stories and hanging out with friends that we hadn’t seen in a while. Congratulations Cheryl & Eddie. It was a beautiful wedding and an epic night.

August 18th 2012 – I had the priviledge of shooting the wedding reception of Sam & Nich at the Sheraton Hotel in Garden Grove, CA. Sam and Nich met overseas while Sam was traveling across Asia. One night he bumped into Nich and kept in contact. He told me his best friend that he met this wonderful girl across seas and couldn’t wait to see her again. He went back to see her and as time went on, they decided to tie the knot.

Sam and Nich wanted to have a wedding reception along with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony here in the states for his family and friends. A couple of months prior, he had a grand wedding in a traditional Cambodian ceremony. Friends and family had gathered for a day that started with a traditional tea ceremony where family members gave words of blessing and gifts. We then headed over the Sheraton Hotel in Garden Grove for the wedding reception. The night truly belonged to Sam and Nich, as all eyes were on them. With guests enjoying their 7 course meal and a night full of dancing, it was truly a night to remember. Congratulations Sam and Nich!

July 1st, 2012 – I had the opportunity to meet Tera and David through a co-worker of mine. David is the brother of my coworker and was looking for a photographer to capture their magical wedding. It was a small intimate wedding gathered by close friends and family. They didn’t want anything fancy but rather be surrounded by those that were the closest to them. It was a beautiful day at Rancho Santa Margarita Lake for two people to share their vows and confess their love for one another. After the ceremony, everyone took a walk along the lake to the clubhouse where guests were treated to delicious food and refreshing drinks.

Thank you Tera & David for allowing me to be able to capture your amazing wedding. I wish you a life filled with happiness, joy, and love!

June 30th, 2012 – One of the biggest perks of being a wedding photographer is that I have the opportunity to meet people from all backgrounds and ethnicity. I love listening on how the couple first met, what they thought of each other when they first saw each other, and how the proposal went down. With that being said, I feel so fortunate and honored to have met Josh and Vanessa. They are truly two of the nicest, most genuine people I have come across. Just being around them brings this sense of calmness and happiness, thus why so many family and friends came out to their wedding.

The wedding took place at the beautiful Crossline Community Church in Laguna Hills. The ceremony started off with everyone singing “Amazing Grace” and was followed by a very motivating sermon by the officiant. The reception was filled with heartwarming stories by the maid of honor and the best man. Then they were off to another reception at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Hills hosted by Vanessa’s mom and stepdad. Vanessa and Josh were treated to a banquet room over looking the beach on a nice Saturday afternoon. Vanessa’s mom had asked each guest to give an advice to the newlyweds. I was lucky enough to listen in and basically learned, “Happy Wife = Happy Life” . To show you how much people loved being around Josh and Vanessa, they weren’t done for the day. They had yet another reception to attend to later that evening. When you’re just that lovable, everybody wants to hang out with you and that was especially true on their wedding day.

Congratulations Josh and Vanessa! Hope you had a blast on your honeymoon in the Carribbeans!

June 28, 2012 – There is something about small intimate weddings that make the wedding day so memorable.  The wedding of Christina & Sean was filled with so much joy and love, as friends and family gathered to witness a beautiful ceremony at the La Venta Inn in Palos Verdes, CA. Earlier in the morning, a thick marine layer fogged up the venue but by the time it came for Christina & Sean to walk down the isle, the weather cleared up and showed us the bright sun that we all know too well in Southern California.

The ceremony was followed by a traditional Chinese banquet dinner at the Szechwan Chinese Restaurant in Lomita, CA. Guests were treated to what seemed like a 10 course dinner meal, where there was a new dish being brought out every 10 minutes that just never ended.

Congratulations Christine & Sean on your beautiful wedding. Thank you for letting me be part of your amazing day. Hope you have a blast on your honeymoon!

June 9, 2012 – Laughter, tears, hugs, and a lot of kisses were just some of the emotions that were radiated at Liz & Mark’s wedding at the Smog Shoppe. Liz & Mark are those type of people who are always jolly and in an upbeat mood. On the day of the wedding, it was much of the same as the bride and groom had smiles all day long. It was a joyous day at the very intricate and unique Smog Shoppe. The venue itself is covered by plush organic succulents and a lot of greenery. It was the perfect location and backdrop for Mark & Liz’s wedding. Guests from all over the world, including Australia, Korea, and Brazil were in attendance for a touching ceremony that also included touching vows for each other.

The day proceeded with a dinner that was catered by Tender Greens, an open bar, and even a late night taco bar. With speeches that brought tears and laughter, to dancing with the Karate Kid playing in the background, it was a night to remember. The team at Mele Amore did a fantastic job not only with coordinating the day but also transforming the Smog Shoppe into an amazing wedding venue. I believe Mark & Liz are currently in the beautiful island of Bali on their honeymoon! Hope your having the time of your lives! Congratulations once gain Liz & Mark!!

Vendors:

Venue: Smog Shoppe

Makeup: Chiali Meng Wedding Makeup

Catering: Tender Greens

Wedding Coordinator: Michelle Groom – Mele Amore (http://meleamore.com)

Associate Photographer: Joel Arellano (http://www.getjoel.com)

May 27, 2012 – Long Beach, CA – A couple of weekends ago, I had the opportunity to photograph the wedding of Kelly & Thomas Sullens out at the beautiful Shoreline Yacht Club in Long Beach, CA. Kelly and Thomas were dating for a while and were finally ready to settle down and make it official. It’s a unique story on how I came about meeting Kelly & Thomas. My wife had called our insurance company to see what it would take to get her engagement ring insured, only to hear that Kelly had just got engaged. My wife asked her if she needed a photographer, she said she was looking, and a year later, here I was shooting the wedding of Kelly & Thomas.

Kelly and her bridesmaids started the day at the Hotel Maya in Long Beach, CA getting ready while the guys boarded a yacht in anticipation of their grand entrance. The weather was perfect for a wedding right next to the beach overlooking the Long Beach Harbor. It started with an intimate ceremony that was followed by a one of a kind reception. With good food, friends and family around, the night was filled with a lot of laughter, love, and happiness. The wedding exemplified the type of people Kelly & Thomas are, a couple that is filled with a lot of love and happiness for one another. Thanks Kelly and Thomas for such an amazing day! It was so much fun capturing your special day!

Vendors:

Wedding Coordinator: Sophia Carmanoff – Les Belles Affaires (www.lesbellesaffaires.net)

Flowers: Peony and Plum Florals

Hair and Makeup: Amanda White

DJ: DJ Luke Sensebe – President Event Group

Transportation: Southbay Transportatin

Photobooth: Pacific Photobooth

2nd Photographer: Jared Crawford (http://www.jaredcrawfordphotography.com)