J'adore Details

Arroyo Trabuco - DrewB

2008-06-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

I have always heard such amazing things about Arroyo Trabuco. So, I was excited when Jackie and Stephen booked me to shoot their June 14th wedding there. It was an absolutely gorgeous wedding! The ceremony garden is set amongst beautiful trees and rolling hills. And the ballroom is very rustic with exposed wood beams and chandeliers. I love that it's not just another boring ballroom. It really has character.

Besides being my new favorite venue in Orange County, Arroyo Trabuco also has one of the best coordinators I've ever worked with. Alyson was so awesome! She kept the day running so smoothly. From rounding up the bridal party to getting the bride tums, she did everything with a smile on her face and she was such a joy to work with. The whole bridal party was commenting on how awesome she is! You can just tell that Alyson loves her job! And those are the people that I like to work with because I love my job too :)

Below are some of the pictures from Jackie and Stephen's wedding. You can see more on my blog!

And here's Alyson with a smile on her face :)

Pink and Green : A tried and true favorite!

2008-05-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

Pink and Green is my favorite color combination...I had it for my own wedding and so have many other couples! Even though it's a widely used color combination, that doesn't mean every "pink and green" wedding has to look the same!

The key is to personalizing your details to your own tastes and creating something unique! Amy and Frank did just that at their wedding earlier this month. Here are some of my favorite details from their wedding!

The Getaway Car! - DrewB

2008-05-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing that wedding season is now upon us so we will have lots to blog. But, it's also bad because we are so busy shooting that we don't have time to blog :) I promise that we will get our butts in gear and start blogging here because I know we all have lots of great weddings to share!

I shot the wedding of Nikki and Jeff in April and there were so many great details to that day, but one detail that really stuck out was their getaway car. They sped away from the ceremony in Jeff's fathers antique Porsche convertible! It was absolutely gorgeous and complete with soda cans tied to the back.

Now, I realize not everyone has access to a vintage sports car, but dress up your own car. Tie a cool "Just Married!" sign to the back with some soda cans. Even your '89 Honda Civic can look cool. I promise! It makes for great pictures and guests love it. Or, if you really want to do something special, you can always rent a fancy car for your escape! Have fun with it! You only get married once, right?

Happy Friday!

Blue and Brown..a lovely combination! - Trista Lerit

2008-04-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

Caroline and Paul got married at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, CA. The club was the PERFECT backdrop for their afternoon wedding.

Their choices of Blue and Brown as their wedding colors couldn't have been more perfect..unique, modern and elegant all at the same time.

With the help of their amazing wedding coordinator, Michelle Tortuya of Charming Events, their wedding day went off without a hitch!

Here are some of my favorite details from the day. If you'd like to see more images from Caroline and Paul's wedding, click here.

Enjoy!!

Jane and Kevin : Wedding - Jasmine Star Photography

2008-03-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

Jane and Kevin closely sat next to each other as their Maid of Honor toasted their love. She made it a point to express she worried Kevin wouldn’t be able to handle Jane’s feisty demeanor upon first meeting him, but over the years noticed Kevin held Jane in the palm of his hand. Not gripped, nor clenched, but, rather, with his fingers loosely facing heavenward. Kevin loves Jane so evidently and knows she needs a lover who will surround her heart with devotion and support, not merely words. Their Maid of Honor acknowledged this, but it’s something everyone already knew.

Their wedding day was filled with fun, joy, and gorgeousness. Basically—as Jane so aptly described her wedding—it was feroche. Surrounded by their friends and family at Seven Degrees—one of Orange County’s most fabulous wedding venues—their special day was spectacular. The wedding was coordinated by Jeannie Le and her assistant, Nite, and nothing was left unbeautified…they were nothing short of amazing! The florals were designed by Flower Allie the event was captured by the ever amazing videographer Kyle of Elysium Productions. Every vendor was a dream to work with and I was truly honored to stand beside them and document this wedding.

Here's Jane looking gorgeous with makeup done by Sherry from On Location Beauty

To view more of their wedding, CLICK HERE to visit my blog and see a complete slideshow! :)

Seven Degrees - DrewB

2008-03-10T17:34:00.000-07:00

Venue: Seven Degrees
Florist: Del Langsdale 714-547-8237
DJ: Black Tie Events
Videographer: Mission Visual

Lauren and Robert were married at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach on Saturday. It was a gorgeous Southern California January day! I’ve been wanting to shoot at Seven Degrees for a long time and my expectations were exceeded. It’s an amazing venue with lots of great light and places to shoot. It's the perfect blend of nature and modern chic. The rooftop terrace has a hillside of cascading waterfalls and bridges and is the perfect ceremony site. The reception area is a blank canvas. The expert design team at Seven Degrees creates weddings as unique as you are. They are one of the only wedding venues in Orange County that has professional lighting on site. Any photographer will tell you that professional lighting at your reception makes such an amazing difference. If there is one thing that I think brides should splurge on it's professional lighting!!! They also have various multi media amenities including flat screens and little ornament balls with TV's inside of them they can play slide shows of the bride and groom playing (Lauren and Robert choose to have their engagement pictures in the slide show, which I, of course, thought was a great idea!).

A couple of other unique things about Lauren and Robert's wedding was that they had snow (okay, not real snow, but a snow machine!) in the main entryway as their guests walked in. And they also had a grand exit with sparklers! I love grand exits! Not very many of my couples do them, but sparklers, bubbles, and rose petals are all great ideas for grand exits. Grand exits make for great pictures!

Below are some of my favorite pictures from Lauren and Robert's wedding. And you can check out more on my blog!

And thanks to Jasmine for getting their grand exit. At 37 weeks pregnant my feet were way too swollen to stay until the end :)

Choosing the Best Engagement Shoot Location - Jasmine Star

2008-03-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

Finding the right spot for an engagement shoot is key. Plenty of times I have clients who want me to choose the location for them, but—to be totally honest—I don’t know where they feel pretty…where they feel fun…where they feel like themselves! It’s an unspoken rule here at Jasmine Star Photography that the clients must choose the location for the shoot and while it may seem like a daunting task, it’s totally rewarding!

Here are a few tips in choosing the right location:
1. Choose a spot that is indicative of your personality. Don’t simply choose the beach (and wear white shirts and jeans!) because everyone else is doing it…go to a place that blares YOU!
2. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. There is no such thing as ‘the perfect spot’…it’s the illusive White Unicorn of wedding forums nationwide! I’ve shot couples against dumpsters, on top of septic tanks, and in alleys. Beauty is everywhere…the photographer just has to find it!
3. Choose a location that offers landscape diversity. It’s totally awesome to shoot, say, at a local park, but all the pictures are going to be green and fresh. Which is fine, but if you think things through you can perhaps find a park that’s close to a downtown area for an urban option as well. This affords the luxury of having more options when choosing your engagement photos.

Here are a few images I particularly like because my clients thought about their engagement session location and planned accordingly…

Orange Coast Weddings Magazine Party - Jasmine Star

2008-02-28T11:57:00.001-08:00

Last night JD and I headed to The Montage Hotel Laguna Beach for the Orange Coast Weddings Magazine Party. I always enjoy going to industry parties because I see old friends, make new ones, and eat really good food! ;)

The party was so beautiful and opulent…and made me want to plan my own wedding all over again! Okay, not really, but it got me really, really close! The details was splendid, the food was delicious, and the entertainment superb…everything a wedding industry party should be!

The magazine just launched and I know it’s going to be an awesome resource for Orange County brides!

Here are a few pictures I snapped last night…

Holllla! This ice luge was a total winner! The bar tenders servers Passion Orange Martinis...this would be perfect for a large wedding reception! :)

Sweeeeeet! The Montage Hotel hosted a wedding cake taster bar and I could've spent the entire evening in a sugar bliss!

The floral decor was done by Square Root Designs...and everything looks truly stunning. I LOVE their work!

Jaime Snyder of Montage Hotel in Laguna Beach planned the entire event and not a single detail was overlooked. She and her crew worked tirelessly on this party and it was a complete success! Please note she was rockin' the cutest shoes...how she walked in them for hours is beyond me, but ya gotta give that girl serious props! ;)

Leila of Be Inspired Events, Jaime, me, and Carissa of JL Designs...

I'm still a kid...whenever I see a photobooth, I drag JD into it for some good old fashion fun! Red Cheese Photo Booth Rentals were on hand to document the night, so here we are livin' it up Orange Coast Style! :) By the way, if of my brides get a photobooth for their wedding reception, please note I'll take a few spins in it!

Some great advice from another pro in the industry...-Amelia Lyon

2008-02-27T15:47:00.002-08:00

This week the J'adore ladies were all featured on a blog. Christina, a wonderful wedding consultant from Simply Modern Weddings, did us the honors by showing off some of our work from engagement sessions. Christina suggests that now is a great time to book engagement sessions with your wedding photographers since this generally is our down time before wedding season hits, its also a great way to warm up to the camera and photographer before the big day arrives. She knows what she's talking about!

Christina writes, "Tis the season for engagement sessions! If there is one thing I recommend, it’s to schedule an engagement session with your wedding photographer. Not only is it a great time for you and your fiance to get to know your photographer, but also a chance for you both to let loose and get comfortable in front of the camera...." She also goes on to suggest some other good reasons for booking an engagement session with your wedding photographer and what to do with your engagement photos. To read more advice from Christina and from her most recent post visit her blog by clicking here.

Here's a sneak peek image from an engagement session I shot this last weekend in China Town. I had an awesome time photographing this couple, all the while getting to know them personally, which will in turn help us both feel more comfortable with each other on the wedding day. I will also be designing a custom sign in album with their favorite engagement images. Thanks to Gretta and Rob for a great session!

Shelley and Brett : Wedding - Jasmine Star

2008-02-26T17:34:00.000-08:00

She peered out of the passenger side window before exiting the car. Shelley carried a small box of bridal belongings as she stepped from the car and clutched it close to her chest, looking to the grey sky. Immediately, her bridesmaids positively chirped of a rainless day. What do clouds mean, anyway? At least it’s not hot. And if it does rain, it’s supposed to be good luck!

Shelley looked at the sky again and smiled. The day, regardless of the weather, was going to be beautiful. Afterall, she was marrying the man of her childhood daydreams.

A few years ago, Brett told his older brother he was done dating. Over it. The next girl he dated was going to be his wife. Little did Brett realize he was to find her at a friend’s wedding. He was finishing his residency in Oklahoma, but when he saw Shelley, he knew a part of his heart would remain in Orange County.

Last Saturday, Shelley and Brett promised their lives to each other where it all began: At a wedding. Their day was beautiful and the scattered showers didn’t drench the spirit of the day because it wasn’t about details of the wedding, it was about two amazing people committing their hearts to one another.

Shelley and Brett…I struggle to find the right words to tell you. From the moment we met, I knew we’d be friends. Your passion and sincerity for life and each other is contagious and I was extraordinarily honored to be a part of your wedding day. I wish you nothing but happiness, joy, and contentment for eternity! Have fun on your honeymoon and I can’t wait to hear about everything when you return! Much Love and Appreciation…J*

A special thanks to the lovely Courtney Toney of Joyful Weddings and Events and Kristin of The Treasured Petal for their amazing work!! I also want to express how much I loved the cupcakes from Vanilla Bake Shop...Amy always does an impeccable job and her cupcakes are divine! :)

To see more of the wedding, be sure to check out my blog by CLICKING HERE~

Shelley and Brett's wedding was held at one of my FAVORITE wedding venues: Rancho Las Lomas

Nothing screams ooh la la more than a Monique Lhuillier wedding gown...

What a Difference Professional Hair and Makeup Makes!!! - DrewB

2008-02-26T09:37:00.000-08:00

To tie in with Trista's recent post about what a difference an awesome bouquet makes in your pictures, I wanted to discuss how important professional hair and makeup are. Some of you are lucky and are naturally talented when it comes to doing your own hair and makeup. But, for those of you who are like me and don't know the first thing about applying eye liner, a professional makeup artist is a must for your photo shoot! They know how to make your assets pop and any little flaws you may have disappear.

Your engagement shoot is the perfect time to test your makeup for your wedding day. Most makeup artists will offer a free or discounted trial so take advantage of it for your engagement pictures!

For any photo shoot that I do, I always get my hair and makeup done. It makes me feel more confident when I'm in front of the camera (because I would much rather be behind it!) and what girl wouldn't pass up getting pampered for a couple of hours? This past weekend Jessica Claire took our family pictures with our brand new baby boy. The amazing Vivian Tran with All Made Up was kind enough to fit me in at the last minute and did an awesome job on my hair and makeup. She also did Trista's hair for her anniversary shoot (see post below). Not only is she very talented, but she's also one of the nicest people I've ever met. She's in very high demand for weddings so if you're interested book her early! Thanks Vivian!

This picture has nothing to do with hair or makeup. But, isn't Brayden cute???

What a difference an AWESOME bouquet makes!! - Trista Lerit

2008-02-20T10:23:00.000-08:00

To celebrate our 5 Years of being together, my hubby and I wanted to do something really special. I came up with an idea to do a super hot, sexy, and romantic photoshoot of just him and I. I wanted to it to be really special so I knew that he would be wearing a suit, I would be wearing a gown..but I also needed some accessories to pull everything together. One accessory I knew I was going to need would be a black birdcage veil because they are just so fashionable and so chic. But I need something else...something that would bring in some color.

That's were my ever so fabulous bouquet comes in!! I contacted one of my favorite florists, Kristin Brancaleone from The Treasured Petal, to create a haute couture bouquet to bring everything together. I sent her a couple of pictures of what I had in mind and she worked her little magic and designed the hottest bouquet ever! The beautiful hues of purple, black feathers, and twigs really added to the high-fashion look I was going for.

Looking at the pictures now, I realize just HOW IMPORTANT the little details are! Imagine if I didn't have my chic little veil or my sexy sexy bouquet...the horror!! So, when you're planning your engagement party and wedding...remember...it's all about the details! :-)

Here are a few highlights from the shoot. To read more about our anniversary shoot, click here: Best Anniversary Gift Ever!

To check out the rest of the super sexy pictures (in my oh-so-humble opinion) taken by the fabulous Jessica Claire, click here: Jessica Claire

Details, Details Open House - Jasmine Star

2008-01-31T11:58:00.000-08:00

A couple days ago, I had the pleasure of shooting Details, Details Wedding and Event Coordination as they hosted their first ever Open House. Jeannie Savage recently opened the doors to her new and beautiful studio in Irvine, California, so she asked if I’d be able to document a portion of the day.

Jeannie, Brooke, and Michelle are some of the hardest working women in the industry and they’ve carved a lovely niche for themselves. They attract fashion-forward and detail-oriented brides who want nothing but the absolute best from their wedding day…and it shows! Their work is constantly published, industry vendors turn to them in planning their own events, and they’re just so darn nice, you can’t help but love them!

For more information regarding their services, be sure to check out their website, and to see their most recent work, be sure to check out their blog!

The Details, Details studio...

To read more about the event, and to see more fun details, be sure to check out my blog by CLICKING HERE!

Helen and David Wedding - Jasmine Star

2008-01-25T12:21:00.000-08:00

Helen briskly walked across the terracotta tiles—passing the ceremony site covered with pink roses—and made her way into Rancho Las Lomas’ bridal cottage. The bright sun cast dark shadows through the opaque windows, illuminating her bridemaids’ feet as they cooed and doted on Helen’s every need. They laughed as they recounted stories from their days together in pharmacy school, all disputing who was Helen’s truest drinking buddy. Once the veil was placed on her midnight hair, Helen made her way back across the terracotta tiles to see David for the first time as his bride.

While the sun settled posterior to the Orange County canyons, David waited patiently for Helen to approach. When they saw each other, he laughed in shock. Once his student during her pharmaceutical residency, Helen stood and presented herself as David’s future wife. He hugged her tightly and then laughed some more. From a distance—perhaps even with one’s eyes closed tightly—a person could see the love they share. They seem to have the perfect prescription for love! ;)

Helen and David, thank you for starting my year of weddings off with a bang! I couldn’t think of a more amazing way to start the year and I appreciate the honor of being your photographer! I’m constantly awed by your love and I wish you the best in your lives together. Have fun in France and don’t forget to kiss under the Eiffel Tower! Much Love and Appreciation…J*

***

I have to give major props to Kristin from The Treasured Petal for her lovely work...the details (as you will later see) were simply amazing!! She and her rockin' team worked like busy bees to ensure everything was perfect!
Helen and David also chose 24 Carrots to cater their wedding and everything was top-notch and delicious!
Lastly, a special thanks must go to Kimberly Bradford--and Nichelle and Jemie- of Kimberly Bradford Events for their fabulous work. Kimberly is a phenomenal wedding coordinator and implored her expertise to handle the ebb and flow of the wedding amazingly well! :)
To see more of Helen and David's Wedding, be sure to CLICK HERE to view my blog or you can view their wedding slideshow by CLICKING HERE