08.25.2007: Justin and Serrai

Ceremony: St. Timothy's Catholic Church (Laguna Nigel)
Venue: Hilton at Costa Mesa

Welcome to the family Serrai! This past Saturday we welcomed a new FIRST cousin into our family. I was in Southern California as an invited guest with a super fancy camera. :) Which meant EXPERIMENTATION time and I get to blog from a guest's point of view!! And what a beautiful wedding! The morning started with an early morning drive for me from San Diego to Laguna Nigel (in my convertible! Can't be in Southern California without one!) where Serrai was getting hair and makeup done by Tiffany (update: she cut my hair by the way!). Three limos came to take the bridal party and family to the church. I really just took it easy and sat with my family. The advantage - an awesome unobstructed view of the bride and groom! A rare glimpse into the wedding ceremony (instead of from my usual stance in the back of the church!). After that (since I didn't have to direct formal pictures) I got a chance to just hang around and enjoy everything! I did get in a few shots of the bridal party - hard to resist when Serrai had parasols and everyone looked soooooooooo gorgeous (and no, I'm not biased because I have cousins in the wedding party!) Okay, onto the notables. After about 30 straight weddings, I finally had a cocktail - a yummy pomegranate signature drink. I got to dance - without a camera! I wore a DRESS to a wedding - AND it wasn't black! And most importantly, I got to shoot whatever I wanted, however I wanted, without worry that I was missing a shot! (Okay, those notables were all about me!) But really, you could tell how well loved Justin and Serrai was. The turnout for the wedding was amazing. The guests danced all night. There were about 5 last dance songs and countless friendship circles. Serrai and Justin, congratulations - we are seriously, seriously sooooooooooo happy for you guys :) Serrai, what a wonderful addition you make to our family :) (~Mariae)

Pink Posh Girls: Tiffany and Elizabeth

Today I headed over to the canyons up near Irvine, CA to shoot a Senior/Teen Session. These girls are uber special to me since I'm their aunty. :) I know, they take after me. HA HA. j/k. Initially, I had all these plans for them, but you know sometimes you just got to scrap all the plans and just follow the K.I.S.S. rule. We just hung around the house and just had a quick down and dirty session. Liz is going to be a H.S. Senior and Tiffany is starting Fashion school. Tiffany did the makeup for the both of them (she studied hair/makeup) and I have decided that before I leave California and head to Denver next week, I'm getting her to chop off my hair. :oP Tif&Liz, I hope you girls like the pictures. (If you don't - just pretend you do) :oP

08.18.2007: Justin and Serrai's Engagement

Congratulations to Justin and Serrai!! They are getting married (after a longggggggggg time of dating) this coming Saturday in Laguna Nigel, California. (Yes, that means I am in California right now :oP Yay! I escaped the Texas heat for a bit.) I flew into San Diego on Friday and met with Justin and Serrai Saturday morning for their e-session. We started at San Juan Capistrano (which incidentally, looked a lot like the Main Street of a small Texas city). I actually wanted something a little more "Californian" so we headed out to Laguna Beach! It was a gorgeous, gorgeous day - which meant TONS of beachgoers. But we found a semi-isolated spot -where I somehow convinced Justin and Serrai to frolick in the water and sand - until a huge wave crashed into them. Whoops. Hopefully, it was worth it! Justin and Serrai, congrats and see you guys in a few days! Yay!

08.11.2007: Alice and Long

Ceremony: Christ of the Incarnate Word
Venue: The Junior League of Houston

It is super super late (or early in the morning) now but I couldn't wait to write about Alice and Long's wedding last night!!! They exchanged vows yesterday in a church that the bride's dad architected! The day started at Hotel Icon where the girls were getting ready and also where I got to meet my first blog stalker of the day :) She and I share the same birthday - YAY for July 6th (in case anyone wanted to send me a late present...I'm still accepting :oP). Anyways, the girls were sooooo cute decked in pearls, matching monogrammed PJs and embroidered overnight bags that Alice got for them. (I know I mention this at every wedding - but I really, really, really do want to be a bridesmaid!!!) Alice looked absolutely fabulous - starting from top to bottom -she wore a delicate, spidery-weblike and crazy long Reem Acra veil, a gorgeous beaded Amsale wedding gown and Christian LaCroix shoes. AND this was just outfit 1 of 3. And what can I say about Long...he's one lucky guy :oP So onto the day's notables. Wedding colors: Salmon, Blue and Pink. I have to admit when Alice first mentioned this, I think I said "interesting." But it looked fabu!! Instant Photo Favors (which meant we got a break while watching others work!!) Details, details, details!!! Gobo on the dance floor! Bridesmaids' bouquets with crystal monograms. A caricature artist - a Pink Posh first! Karaoke - which meant an "awesome" Backstreet Boys performance. Even the groom got in on the karaoke action and serenaded his bride! And last but not least, my favorite part of the evening - meeting my blog stalkers! Normally, I meet one or two at a wedding (who admits to stalking the blog)...but I think at this wedding, I had at least 5 guests who came up to me tonight to let me know they stalk my blog. Is it wrong of me to heart my stalkers?! Because I do! Anyways, Alice and Long, you guys threw a beautiful, beautiful wedding and enjoy Egypt :) P.S. : To all my blog stalkers : Did I mention yet that I HEART you ladies?! (~Mariae & Vince)