Jenell and Jeff were married!

Jenell and Jeff were married recently at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Costa Mesa and held their reception at the beautiful Newport Beach Marriott. I feel so honored that Jenell and Jeff took advantage of just about everything I offer to my couples... I got to do their e-session, Jenell's b-session (boudoir session), their rehearsal dinner and their wedding.... and we had so much fun during every session and event! Seriously, they are one of the sweetest most unassuming couples that I've had the pleasure to get to know. It's funny how we end up like friends by the time the wedding comes along... I love my job!

Jenell was beautiful and Jeff was so nervous and excited... it was so sweet. Not only was it a great ceremony but also a lovely and VERY fun reception. Everyone was so great to me, too... I felt so blessed to be a part of everything. I wish you guys all the best in your marriage and in your life. And, as Jeff said to me at the reception... I plan on photographing your grandchildren. :) Enough of my jibber-jabbering... on to the pics below and to a slideshow here.

Jenell's dress was a Rivini design... and it was stunning.

I loved the car!!! Jeff's dad brought this very cool old Chevy.

Don't you just want to squeeze his cheeks?

The happy couple in front of the very cool car.

If you can't read it... it says Jenell Gray (No more Jenell Vaccarro!)

They were "pretty" sweet to each other during the cake cutting... but... Jenell had to get in a little bit of trouble. :)

Jenell and Jeff's Rehearsal Dinner

It was a beautiful night in Newport Beach... I had the pleasure of capturing Jenell and Jeff's rehearsal dinner at the Cannery Restaurant. They thought of all the details. Make sure you check out the silver dolphin bottle opener... so cute! Check out the ribbon on the dolphin... personalized with Jenell and Jeff's nick names... Nellie and Jeffro. :) Both families were fantastic, as was the bridal party. I'm so excited to post the wedding... stay tuned... it's coming soon!

Note... not all of my couples choose to add this option on to their collection, but I think it's a great addition and truly helps capture the entire wedding celebration. Fun! :)

Jeff's dad gave a great toast and quoted some Irish sayings and sage advice for the happy couple.

Jeff and Jenell gave everyone in their bridal party gifts (check out the hand strung pearls a few pics below this one). There were lots of hugs and love going around.

Some final words from Jeff's dad...

Shannon and Darin were married!

The lovely (and very fun) couple, Shannon and Darin, were married last weekend at Saint Bonaventure Church in Huntington Beach (where I went to elementary school... if you were interested :) ) and had their beautiful... and VERY fun... reception at Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. As you'll see in the pictures... the dance floor was hoppin'!

Shan and Darin- I wish you all the best... many happy years together and many laughs and memories to come! Let me know when you want to go out for that margarita! (I'm just sayin') :) Now... let's get on to the pictures below and a slideshow here. There's a ton more on their way very soon! Best- Natalie

Shannon's daughter, Bailey... so cute...

How about that silhouette above? And on to quite a few portraits of the happy couple... :)

One in front of the Prowler...

Darin checking to make sure that everything was in its place... :)

One of my favorites...

It was a beautiful sunset...

Make sure you check out the cake topper...

Darin's daughter Rachel... look at the way she's looking at him... priceless...

There's one of these guys at every wedding, isn't there? Just kidding Gianfranco! Congrats on your wedding (he and his fiance were married yesterday and are off to Italy on their honeymoon!)

So... everybody wanted Shannon to shove the cake in Darin's face... did she do it?

DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!!!

She did it!! :)

Uncle Pauley rocked the dance floor all night long... love that head band/neck tie!

Mena and AJ's e-session...

was so much fun! We headed down to Orange Circle, had a bite to eat and then headed off exploring in the stairwells and alley ways. These two were up for anything and were lots of fun. Once we had finished up in the Circle, we headed back to Huntington Beach to a "really cool" desolate field. Yes, I know that "desolate" and "really cool" don't typically go hand in hand... but come on... don't you agree in this case? :) I had a vision and Mena and AJ were up to helping me make it a reality.

Don't the two of them look amazing? Both of them commented how much fun the e-session was and how they couldn't wait to see the pictures. I really felt that this session captured not only the fun moments and Mena and AJ's personalities but also some cool editorial or magazine style of images. It's awesome to be able to get all of that in one session! Here's a preview of some of my favorites. More will be up on your online gallery soon, guys... enjoy! :) PS- I can't wait for your wedding in August!

Like the sign says... these two are "hot!"

I love how the light lit Mena's face.

One of my favorite pics... a very simple and cool wall.

I really liked the lines and colors in this picture.

Funny... a bit of an inside joke... let's just say that somebody might have been having a bad hair day when we started the morning... it shaped up as you can see, though. :) Thanks for the use of the sign, Hank!

We saw this really cool area that almost looked like a carnival... it said it was private... oh well... ;)

And, on to that cool field... these are those magazine shots I was talking about... don't Mena and AJ look like they're in a commercial? Mena joked that she felt like somebody was going to whisper "obsession"... you know... from the commercials... :)

One last moody shot.

Nicole and Dave were married...

at the Ponte Family Estate Winery in Temecula last weekend. The location, the couple and the families were beautiful. Let me just say that this couple is amazing... beautiful both inside and out... and that they are exceedingly strong and brave. They should be very proud of the way that they approached their day. I love you guys and I wish for you a bright future filled with love and life and many happy memories yet to be made. I'm going to primarily post their pre-ceremony portraits... because Nicole and Dave just looked so incredible and in love. All my best... talk to you very soon.

Wendy and Daniel were married...

This past weekend I had the great fortune to be a part of Wendy and Daniel's wedding on Electra Cruises' "Destiny" ship on Lido Island. This (like all of my couples :)) is one sweet couple. Something that stands out for me though, is the emotion that was flowing among everyone at the wedding. You might notice that Wendy has some unique shots below... that's because she has been successfully and bravely battling breast cancer. This girl is amazing (as is Daniel and their families... so supportive of one another).

I have to admit that I'm an emotional person... I try not to tear up too much behind the lens... but... they got me on this one. During the toasts/dances I might have shed a tear... or two (or three)... you caught me!

Thank you Wendy and Daniel for letting me be a part of your very special day and for reminding me what's important in life. Best wishes for a long and very happy marriage. Enjoy some favorites below and check out some more images in the slideshow here... Talk to you soon!

The ones right above and below were taken by the awesome Dru Chen who shot with me at Wendy and Daniel's wedding. He hung out with the guys most of the day.

I love the shots of Wendy above and below... we got to shoot these at the Huntington Beach Hyatt where Wendy and Daniel got ready.

Seriously... these toasts (especially Wendy's dad's) were tear jerkers...

...so were the dances... there were wet eyes everywhere...

Dru shot the one above of me shooting from the middle of the dancin' action... the one below shows a little bit of what I captured when I was down there (boy oh boy... yoga definitely pays off when I'm squatting down in the middle of a rockin' circle like this one!)

And they finished with some more dancing with great friends and family.

Desiree and Steve's e-session

Desiree, Steve, and I headed down to the Montage earlier this week for some fun photos. Oh... I forgot to mention that they brought their dog, Spirit (and carried him in a bag!). My dogs won't fit in a bag (they're big labs!) so it's always a crack up for me to see a dog in a bag. Anyways... Des, Steve, Spirit and I had a great time and got some really fun pictures. Des and Steve were so nice and after we were all done they brought me to dinner at the Montage... so sweet guys. Thank you so much. I really enjoyed hanging out! The conversation and food were both fabulous!

I can't wait for your wedding in July! Enjoy your preview below...

Nicole and Tommy's e-session

First in the many upcoming posts is an e-session with Nicole and Tommy. All I can say is... WOW. A beautiful couple inside and out, Nicole and Tommy are getting married next month in a Greek Orthodox church and will then be heading off to the amazing [seven-degrees] for their reception celebration.

First, we met at Zinc cafe in Corona Del Mar for a glass of wine and coffee... and a few pictures. We then headed off to the beach... and... what an amazing day. This kind of day reminds me (like I needed reminding) why this is such an extraordinary place to live. Nicole and Tommy were great... adventurous, super relaxed, fun, and... well... I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Oh... and there's one in there with their best friend Marco who joined us for part of the session. He and Tommy have been friends for over 2 decades and we had to get a shot or two of them, as well. Pretty cool. I hope you guys enjoy some of my favorites below and I can't wait for your wedding next month. All my best... Natalie :)

Stay tuned...

WOW... I've been busy! :) Multiple posts are on their way... stay tuned!

Bryan and Noah for Mom's Day

I met up with Bryan and Noah over the weekend at Roger's Gardens for some "boys" pictures to give to Noah's mommy for Mother's Day. Bryan was really sweet... he sooo wants these pictures to be beautiful and special for his wife on her first Mother's Day. I hope she likes them, Bryan ;)... here 's a little preview with more to come.