Dublin Wedding: Roselle + Andrew

      It only took a few days after Roselle and Andrew first met for them to realize they were going to spend the rest of their lives together.  However long you have to wait, your perfect soul mate is out there, and when you find him or her, it just feels right.  And so begins the "Happily Ever After" fairy tale.  Getting to know Roselle and Andrew, and hearing about the paths they took before they found each other, makes you believe in this kind of beautiful destiny.

       An excerpt of dialogue from their storybook romance went something like this:

       "Yeah, I'm all that and a bag of chips."  Andrew joked.

       "No you're not, you're wholesome like a bag of apples."  Roselle countered, and thereon nicknamed him "Fuji Apple."  

       Andrew is from Louisiana, and courteous with good southern manners, politely asked if she was sensitive about her height, and when she said "no," he made a request.

       "In that case, can I call you "My little one?"  

       Roselle sarcastically retorted, "Am I yours?"  

       Andrew simply said, "I hope so."

      Last weekend, Andrew and Roselle were married in a beautiful church ceremony in Dublin.  Their love is the type that's meant to be: kind, courageous, and joyful.  We feel privileged to have gotten to know Andrew and Roselle and document their special day.  One can't help but feel inspired by their love.

Roselle gets prepared for her wedding day, transforming like a butterfly into a gorgeous bride.  © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Andrew makes sure every detail for his bride is perfect. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

The wedding rings. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Roselle's mom ties the lace back of her beautiful wedding dress. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Andrew wears a special mother of pearl tie clasp in honor of his grandmother. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

The bride stops for a moment of prayer before the wedding ceremony. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

During the exchange of the rings, Andrew gets choked up in this heartfelt ceremony.© Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Lighting the unity candle. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

The bride and groom share a moment together and smile with joy.  They're married! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

The beautiful bride. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Roselle -- you are stunning! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Love it! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

First dance with bubbles -- such a sweet idea. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

The bouquet toss. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Totally dreamy. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

       Congratulations Roselle and Andrew!  May you live happily ever after.

xoxo,

Sam + Ariel

All The Pretty Details: Amanda + Mike's Wedding

       When Sam was in high school, Disneyland invited his band (he played piano and clarinet) and choir (he sang baritone) to play in the Magic Kingdom.  Being the curious kids they were, what interested them most were not the rides, but what this fantasy land looked like on the other side of the wall.  It was peopled with extraordinary individuals: Sam was coached by singers featured in the Disney movies, and got to swap stories with a hard-working actor carrying Mickey's head under his arm.  

       We don't have any backstage pass to Disney to give away, but we can take you on a little behind the scenes tour of Amanda and Mike's recent wedding.  They put on an incredible celebration in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains, and assembled a talented team of professionals that helped make the magic happen.  We want to give a shout-out to the vendors, and applaud them for the work they did.

       Libby Werba (Events by Libby) was the wedding planner, and we loved how organized and relaxed she was.  She skillfully managed the timeline when plans changed, and made sure everybody at the wedding enjoyed themselves.  

       We were so excited to work with Audrey from Honey Pear Designs again.  Audrey has an impeccable eye for style, and makes gorgeous flower arrangements - a real treat to photograph!  We also appreciate that she always tries to source sustainably-grown flowers.  

       Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyards was a beautiful location for the wedding.  It's a nice retreat in the mountains, without being too far a trek from San Francisco.  The view is stellar: green vineyards fill the foreground, with a view of the Bay stretching out into the horizon and the mountain ridge line providing a scenic vignette.  Unfortunately, we couldn't taste the wine because we were working, but heard from the guests that it was great.

       The hair and makeup was provided by Elizabeth Chang, Elizabeth Chang, Skyla Arts.  To attest to her skill, one only need to see photos of the bride and her bridesmaids: they looked absolutely stunning.

       The music was provided by Raffi, Raffi Nalvarian, Sound in Motion.  We've encountered many DJs and MCs, and he is clearly one of the best.  A veteran radio personality and DJ in the Bay Area, he has turned his enthusiasm to weddings, and knows how to get a party started, and rocking all night long.

       We've eaten our way through Paris, and through the countryside of Southern France.  But who needs to make the trip across the Atlantic, when here, in the Bay Area, Le Papillon provides the type of 5 star French cuisine that would otherwise justify the expense of an intercontinental plane ticket.  Yeah... it was good.

      Sweet Tooth Confections created the sweet spread, heaping with a variety of decadent confections and desserts.  The perfect portion sizes, from mini-cupcakes to flutes of mousse, justified repeated trips back for more.       

       More photos from the wedding featured in our earlier blog entry can be found here.

Flowers by Honey Pear Floral Design. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

Pomander, or kissing balls, add to the elegance of the wedding ceremony.  Flowers by Honey Pear Floral Design. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

Flowers by Honey Pear Floral Design. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

The Fogarty Winery makes a wonderful wedding venue, with sweeping views of the Bay. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

To start, smoked sturgeon salad with almonds, apples, and endives, and topped with crème fraîche.  Yum!  Catering by Le Papillon.  © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

Flowers by Honey Pear Floral Design. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

Sweet Tooth Confections with their irresistible table of treats.  © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

Look at all the layers of that chocolate mousse!  Does Sweet Tooth Confections do home deliveries?  © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

Raffi Nalvarian with Sound in Motion, brought the party together to watch the romantic first dance.  © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

The bride gets a dance with her dad.  Raffi Nalvarian puts on the music.  © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

Raffi Nalvarian with Sound in Motion, kept the dance floor hot all night long.  © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

You know it's a good party when things get a little wild :)  Let loose, we've got it all handled! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

       Amanda and Mike know how to throw an epic celebration, and all of us are so happy to have been able to contribute our talents to their special day.

xoxo,

Sam + Ariel

Fogarty Vineyards Wedding: Amanda + Mike

       Sometimes love is next door, and sometimes love is found over 7,000 miles away.  Little did Mike know that after stepping off the plane in Taiwan from America, he would go to a friend's birthday party the following night, and meet the love of his life, Amanda.  The story of love is so simple and beautiful: two people meet, and know they want to spend the rest of their lives together.

       Mike and Amanda tied the knot last Friday, surrounded by friends and family who traveled from Asia and all across America to celebrate the occasion.  The venue could not have been more perfect.  After a ramble through the forested hills of the Santa Cruz mountains, the guests arrived in private shuttles and a limo at Fogarty Vineyards, stepping out to a stunning panoramic view of the Bay and San Francisco twinkling in the horizon.

       Each element of the wedding was so beautiful, amounting to a truly breathtaking day.   We're excited to share photos telling the entire story of the wedding sometime soon, but as for now, we can't wait, and have to share some of our favorite moments - there were so many!  Here's a little sneak peek for your enjoyment.

Amanda's stunning wedding dress. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.
 

Amanda's gorgeous Badgley Mischka wedding shoes. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

The beautiful bride prepares for her big day! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

The handsome gents. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

The lovely ladies. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

Amanda with her beautiful flowers by Honey Pear Floral Design . © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

Wedding bling! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

Amanda and Mike tie the knot! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

And they are married :) © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

Such a perfect couple. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

The bride feeding her groom some juicy grapes fresh from the vine. Tooo cute! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

Happy love birds! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

A sweet kiss of wedded bliss. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Fogarty Vineyards, Woodside.

       Thank you Amanda + Mike for letting us take photos of your special day!  You are so perfect for each other and we're so happy that you found each other!  Congratulations!!!

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

p.s. More photos to come featuring the friends and family of the bride and groom as well as all the fabulous vendors.

Photography by: Bowerbird Photography

Venue: Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyards

Wedding Planner: Events by Libby

Flowers: Honey Pear Designs

Hair/Makeup: Elizabeth Chang, Skyla Arts

DJ and Music: Raffi Nazarian, Sound in Motion

Caterer: Le Papillon

Dessert: Sweet Tooth Confections

Our NEW LOOK, new blog, and new website! (with the same old lovebirds, Ariel + Sam)

       Spring is a time to clean, summer is a time for celebrations, and fall is a time for reinvention.  We've been inspired by all the new looks at New York's fall fashion week, and have toned our arms by flipping through Vogue's brick of a September issue.  Halloween is just around the corner, with the kids in costume, and adult masquerades being planned.  We'd like to say the trees are transforming and changing colors too, but in San Francisco, the most prominent colors that change each year is the palette of pastels that our neighborhood's Victorian houses spinwheel through each year.

       As the fog rolls back in from the Bay, forcing us to beat a retreat to our snug corner for hot cocoa, we've gotten a chance to look back and review all the wonderful assignments and weddings we've shot.  For the newspaper, we've interviewed and taken photos of some fantastic local songbirds like Kelly McFarling.  While on assignment to cover a skills exchange cooperative, we learned how to saber a champagne bottle (which Sam is still trying to convince Ariel to let him do at client meetings :)  We've also covered numerous, beautiful wedding celebrations and become good friends with so many brides and grooms.  Next year, we know, is already going to be a busy one for weddings, both in the Bay Area and abroad.  We are especially honored to fly to Texas next year to document the marriage of two women who we've became friends with after documenting their beautiful surprise proposal under a California Buckeye tree in Golden Gate Park.

       With our lives brimming with all this wonderfulness, we thought it the perfect time to launch our new look, new blog, and new website.  We thought we might put all our old stuff in a box in the closet - but we've seen Toy Story - and know how important for our old things to know they are appreciated - so we're keeping our old blog up here, just in case you want to check in on it and dust off the cobwebs once in a while.  We're already feeling a little nostalgic!

       There are so many exciting new projects, collaborations, and events on the horizon that we are eager to share with you.  For example, ever heard of a 3D fennel cocktail?  Oh... but we're getting ahead of ourselves already!  

xoxo,

Sam + Ariel