19Dec

Kate & Eric | Bali Hai Wedding

By, December 19, 2016

Kate and Eric reside in Washington D.C., and absolutely love the city of San Diego. They have visited multiple times, and have discussed moving here in the future. So it was only fitting that their destination wedding was held in ‘America’s Finest City’.

For the wedding venue, Kate and Eric chose the picturesque Bali Hai Restaurant, an enchanting Polynesian eatery. With its tropical elements, and sweeping views of San Diego’s harbor, this location made for a very vibrant day! Grab a Mai Tai and enjoy our selection of images :)

Wedding kiss on a dock

Beautiful bride make-up

Kate and Eric got ready at Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn, a beachy resort within walking distance of the Bali Hai.

Bride and Groom stylized portraits

During the “getting ready” portion, we captured stylized solo portraits of Eric and Kate.

Wedding shoe detail photo

We also made sure to capture fun details, such as Kate’s colorful kicks.

Getting ready at Humphry's Resort

We love finding intriguing angles to capture getting ready shots.

Getting ready at a destination wedding

To get this clean shot of Eric, we used a special lens to bring extra attention to him.

Wedding kiss on a dock

Groom shoes, bowtie and bouttonierre

Mother and Sister with Bride at Humphry's

tropical wedding ceremony site

Fun Bridal Party

Colorful and Tropical bridesmaid bouquet

We love these super cool florals by Moments in Bloom.

Colorful wedding at San Diego harbor

To achieve this high-angle shot, we mounted our camera on a tripod, and used a wide-angle lens.

Bride and Groom Kiss under and arbor with flower petals

For this romantic photo, we asked guests to shower the newlyweds with flower petals. Everyone was happy to take part!

Romantic wedding photo on a pier

To achieve candid photos, like this one, we initially posed Kate and Eric in a specific way. Then we let their personalities take over :)

Bride and groom tropical destination wedding

In order to highlight the beautiful location, we made use of a wide-angle shot. The pier, and its leading lines, helped draw focus to this dynamic duo!

Wedding love in San Diego harbor

After the ceremony, there was scheduled time for us to photograph around the Bali Hai. The time was put to good use, as there are so many great spots!

Bali Hai San Diego Wedding

In the spirit of their venue and theme, Kate and Eric gave out Polynesian mugs as party favors (above left).

Wedding kiss at the ceremony

Happy Bride at destination wedding

Wedding Party and groom style at the Bali Hai

Wide angle San Diego Wedding hot

Bride and groom seaside portrait

Wedding Venue

Bride and Groom at the Bali Hai

Lovely wedding photo at San Diego Harbor

It’s awesome when time can be blocked out for sunset photos. The quality of light is very pretty (above).

Table decor at a wedding

High angle wedding table photo

Close up shot of diamond ring and wedding bands

For the macro ring shot above, we placed the rings (by Mark Broumand) on Kate’s mother’s clutch. This brought out their true brilliance.

First Dance at Bali Hai Restaurant

Photo of guests dancing at Bali Hai

Candid wedding dancing photo

For this action dance shot, we used a shutter drag technique.

Night photography of bride and groom on a pier

In the photo above, we used creative lighting to illuminate the Kate and Eric. We love sneaking out during the reception for night shots like these!

Night wedding photo in front of San Diego skyline

Congrats to Kate and Eric… We hope to see you both in SD soon!!

Wedding Day Vendors

Venue: Bali Hai
Gifts and Favors: Bali Hai
Hair & Makeup: Beauty by Stacey
Disc Jockey: Bill Calhoun Mobile Music
Lighting and Decor: Brilliant Event Lighting
Bakery: Extraordinary Desserts
Jeweler: Mark Broumand
Arch and Arbor: Moments in Bloom
Florist: Moments in Bloom
Wedding Dress: Pronovias
Coordinator: Serendipity Events
Officiant: Two Rings Wedding Officiant

29Mar

Turn Down for What!? | Fun Wedding Receptions

By, March 29, 2016

After you’ve exchanged rings, and sealed the deal with a first kiss, it’s time to party! The guests have been well fed, perhaps with a cocktail (or two) and are ready to cut loose. At this point in the evening, there are many ways to get everyone in a festive mood.

For a little inspiration, we have pulled some of our favorite reception photos from recent weddings. There is a little something for everyone, including a high-energy live band, spontaneous breakdancing, and a grand sparkler exit. So let’s get this party started!

Bride and Groom stand in crowd and kiss during wedding reception

At Alison and Kevin’s wedding (above) at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, the couple surprised their guests with an all-out performance. Backed by a full band, their show-stopping routine featured go-go dancers, dramatic lighting, and bursts of confetti. Within seconds, the party came alive, and guests got on their feet to join the excitement. In moments like this, we love being in the middle of the action, capturing all the energy in the room.

Guests are entertained during wedding reception with grand exit and live performancesGroom takes shot and has money throw at him during wedding reception

We also love when couples throw a few personal twists into their day. For example, the photo above shows our own staff photographer, Billy, during his reception at the Ultimate Skybox in Downtown San Diego. Paying homage to his Greek roots, Billy performed a traditional Zeibekiko dance for guests, and finished with a shot of ouzo. Adding special moments like this keeps the reception festive, while also paying homage to centuries of family tradition. Opa!

DJ plays music and performs for guests at wedding receptionWedding Guests form dance circle during wedding receptionFun, live band perform for guests during wedding receptionAerial view of outdoor reception overlooking city lights

While covering the must-have photos, we also like to explore creative angles and views of the reception area. For example, we captured the photo above by hiking to the roof of the O’Donnell House in Palm Springs, CA. From that vantage point, we were able to achieve this aerial shot of guests at Chelsey and John’s wedding, as they enjoyed the beautiful evening and dinner.

Bride serenaded by band of musicians during wedding receptionWedding Couple have fun posing with photobooth propsWedding guests being entertained by live band performanceBride and Groom celebrate during new year's eve wedding

Planning to have a photo booth during your reception? Borrow a few props and get your groove on! You just can’t beat a dance floor populated with captain hats, oversized glasses and fake mustaches, like at Courtney and Andrew’s New Year’s Eve wedding at Sunset Temple.

Close-up of DJ's hands using digital padLive band with guitarist playing during wedding receptionBride and Groom pose and have fun in photobooth Experimental photo of DJ playing during reception

We wanted to show the DJs some love too! To capture this photo from Jennifer and Jason’s wedding at Hotel del Coronado (see above), we used an experimental technique of slowing down our shutter speed and dragging the image. This allowed the natural light of the equipment and market lighting to take on new form, creating a cool frame around this mixmaster.

Wedding Guests jump into pool during wedding reception

Working up a sweat from all those fresh dance moves? Cool off with a jump in the pool! When we saw these fellas at Arianne and Julien’s wedding inching towards the water for an epic set of cannonballs (see above), our photographers were quick on their toes to freeze the action.

Colorful dancers perform dance at wedding receptionPerformer plays guitar while guests party at wedding receptionGroom prepares to throw garter during wedding reception

Hut, hut…hike! Get a little creative with your garter toss and throw something the guys will want to catch! At Darlene and Jeremy’s wedding at Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa, the groom had fun putting a modern spin on this old tradition. By wrapping the garter around a football (go Chargers!), the groom prepared to hike the ball to this buddies for an epic garter catch showdown.

Groom is lifted in air by guests for hora dance

End the night on a high-note…literally! As Ashley and Tyler celebrated their reception at Park Hyatt Aviara, a few close friends swept Tyler off his feet for a fun surprise Hora towards the end of the night. The Hora dance, originating from the Balkans, comes from the words “round (dance)” and “celebration,” and is usually spontaneously prompted by guests. Because we had positioned ourselves in the middle of the excitement, we were able to capture this up-close angle, including Tyler’s priceless reaction.

Couple make grand exit using glowsticksLive performers throw performer in air as confetti goes off

Looking to get your own party started? Click here for more unforgettable moments and reception ideas :)

26Feb

Dancing Photos | Let the Good Times Roll

By, February 26, 2015

Weddings and dancing go hand in hand. Get a room full of friends and family, fill them with love for the happy couple, and start up the music. Sure enough, dancing is sure to break out! We’ve captured many unforgettable moments when spirits are high, smiles are wide, and everyone is letting loose to their favorite songs. Whether it’s a live band or DJ, cultural dancing or an old-school “running man”, we’re right there to photograph the fancy footwork.

After your last major reception event, like the cake cutting or garter/bouquet toss, we recommend having us photograph the dance floor action for a half hour. This will ensure a great variety of dancing photos, and give everyone time to bust their favorite (or only) move :) Raise your hands in the air for this megamix of upbeat wedding dance photos.

001Dancing 002Dancing 003Dancing 004Dancing 005Dancing 006Dancing 007Dancing 008Dancing 009Dancing 010Dancing 011Dancing 013Dancing 014Dancing 015Dancing 016Dancing 017Dancing 018Dancing 019Dancing 020Dancing 021Dancing 022Dancing 023Dancing 024Dancing 025Dancing 026Dancing 027Dancing 028Dancing

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