To start, I want to apologize for the delay in updating my blog lately.  Since the start of wedding season, I’m happy to have been quite busy with LOTS of fun-filled weddings every weekend.  Although having cake at every wedding I photograph is not gonna be so fun when I have to get into my wedding dress for my OWN wedding this coming December.  It seems like only yesterday that I was planning my destination wedding in Vietnam… and now I’m running around planning for our “American” wedding.  I’ll have to admit… wedding planning is fun but it can be a bit stressful at times… especially when I keep getting new ideas from each and every wedding that I photograph.  My goal is finish everything by the end of October so that I can spend the last two months relaxing (at a spa… getting a massage), but more important spend a healthy holiday season with family and friends. What that said… I’ll try to have at least one posting per a week.  Oh… and not to mention, my website is gonna undergo a MAJOR change!!!  I can’t wait to launch the new website…and share the new layout.

I did forget to mention that time goes by sooooo fast!!! It was only a few blog entries ago that I posted Yajahira and Guillermo’s engagement pictures at the Huntington Library… and with a blink of an eye, their wedding is here!  This day has been totally overdue… for they have been together for almost a decade.

The nude-natural eye shadow color Yajahira picked out compliments her beautiful skin…

No false lashes either…

One of my favorite shots from Church…

After their wedding ceremony, we headed over to the Gamble House in Pasadena for their bride and groom portrait session.

Yajahira and Guillermo hosted their wedding reception at Almansor Court in Alhambra!!

This little girl is SO cute…

dancing… dancing… and more dancing….

Their wedding festivities wound down to the money dance…

Congratulations Yajahira and Guillermo!!!  It was a long time coming… Best wishes to you both!!

Also, thank you Steve Hoffmann for coming along as my second photographer.

Dorothy and Chee’s wedding was a day filled with LOTS of fun!!  From start to finish… laughter all around!!  You’ll see what I mean as you go further into the blog entry.

But first… let’s start from the beginning.  Dorothy and her girls got two rooms at the beautiful Westin Hotel in Pasadena for their preparation.  The dress was very simple in the front, but had lots of layers in the back.  And her shoes… super cute!!!

It was such a challenge for me to get this picture (without being killed)!!  You see… in the Asian culture, before the groom is able to see his bride and seek her hand in marriage,  the bridesmaids have to put him through a series of tests.  This tradition is to test the groom’s perseverance, sincerity and love for his soon-to-be wife.  The groom will try to buy his way in by presenting “Li Shi”, money wrapped in a red envelope (for good luck).  The entire “bargain” process is joyous and good-natured.

Anyways… I was almost stampeded on when the door cracked open (to initiate the “bargaining process”).  Chee and his boys tried to cheat and pushed their way in.  After a few unsuccessful attempts, the finally gave up and handed over the required red envelope with the money!!  LOL… little did Dorothy’s girls know… the red envelope was stuffed with foreign money.  hahahaaaa… good job guys!!

Because Chee and his boys tried to pull a fast one… they ended up paying for it at the end!!  Here are some challenges they ALL had to go through in order to get to see Dorothy.

First, all the groomsmen each chewed a piece to gum.  You know… to freshen up their breathe for this activity.  Then, a piece of thin… I mean… THIN seaweed got placed on the Chee’s lips and from there it is transfer from one groomsmen to another!! WOW… I’m sure the game brought their friendship to a whole new level.. LOL…

For the second challenge, Chee had to take off his sock and place his foot into a bucket of water full with ice to retrieve ping-pong balls.  The catch is… some ping-pong balls have a Chinese character and some are blank.  Chee has to one by one fetch each ping-pong ball until he has enough characters to make a sentence.

And here’s the end result!!  A sentence that reads: ” Dor, I will love you for a lifetime”  That just tooooo tooo sweet!!!

Challenge number 3  requires all groomsmen to take off one of their socks.  From there, the socks are hung on the outer rim while fruit snacks are hung on the inner rim.  Chee (who is blind folded) has to go through the small circle of wore socks and eat the fruit snacks.  Ewwww…

Creating poems, singing, begging… Chee did it all!! And finally… Dorothy’s bridesmaid allowed Chee to finally see his beautiful bride!!!  WOW…

After a quick tea ceremony in the hotel room, we hopped over to Pasadena City Hall for pictures.

Dorothy and Chee had their engagement session done in Hong Kong… and now… they are Pros in front of the camera. =)

Dorothy and Chee’s church is probably the most strictest church that I’ve ever shot at.  I was not allowed to move around or stand on either sides of the church.  I had to be seated with the guests and pictures are to be taken from there only.  Luckily, I had Gavin there as my assistant photographer (who was also bound by the same restriction), but at least there are two camera angles.  For this reason, I highly recommend a second photographer for weddings at restricted venues…venues that do not the photographer to move around often (i.e. churches, yachts,etc.)

Some quick pictures in church before we head over to the Granada for their dinner reception.

I love the lighting on this one!

The dinner reception was hosted at The Granada (off main street) in Alhambra.

At the reception, the bridesmaids and groomsmen joined forces and played silly games/pranks on the bride and groom.

Their night ended with dancing… and more dancing!!!

What a fun-filled day!!  Thanks Dorothy and Chee for having me be a part of it!!  Congratulations and best wishes…

It felt like only weeks ago when I photographed Miranda and Jordan’s engagement session (in Redlands) and you may also recall how excited I was to have their engagement session  featured on LA Style Unveiled.  Since then, I’ve been looking forward to documenting their big day (AND their delicious Lucille’s BBQ reception dinner)!!  Yes… they catered Lucille’s BBQ (hence the blog title… “Marriage is Messy”).

After 9 nine years of dating, Miranda and Jordan finally tied the knot  at The Burrage Mansion in Redlands.  This place is very special to them in that it’s family owned.  The beautiful 107-year-old and 16,000 square-foot mansion is owned by Tim Rochford (Jordan’s cousin).  Because of his love for children, Mr. Rochford has dedicated his mansion to nurturing underprivileged children, providing them with a place to stay and a place to have fun.  I admire Mr. Rochford for his kind heart and philanthropic efforts.  It was an honored to have personally met Mr. Rochford and his lovely wife!  I am so happy that Miranda and Jordan have chosen me to be their wedding photographer and introducing me to such an amazing place.

Having said the history of their wedding venue, I can’t think of a better idea to do their ring shots than on a statue of two happy children hand-in-hand.  Miranda and Jordan are such a sweet and kind couple.  I wish you both a happy and fruitful marriage…  ;-)

And now… some of my favorites from their big day!!

After we did some pictures around the house, we went outside hoping to take some outdoor pictures.  However, the guests started arriving so we had to quickly detoured back inside.  We opened up one of the side doors to the house which lead to the basement.  It was an amazing discovery because as a result we got the following pictures.

Awwww…. this is so adorable!!

ahhhhh… Yes….!!! Lucille’s BBQ!!!  That’s all I have to say….

Lucille’s baby back ribs, chicken, sauages, mac & cheese, bbq baked beans, mashed potatoes, corn, etc.  My mouth waters just thinking about it!!!

Miranda and Jordan were so thoughtful that they made each and every guest an apron (as party favors) as well as for use during the messy Lucille’s BBQ dinner reception!

“Marriage is Messy”  LOL that’s awesome guys!!!