St. Ignatius Church Wedding: Natalie + Tyler

      We adore Natalie + Tyler! They had the most elegant and beautiful wedding last fall at St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco and we're so excited to be posting photos. Natalie + Tyler met at the USF law school and they decided to get married at SI church, the same lovely location as their law school graduation. Before the wedding ceremony, they started the day with a traditional Chinese wedding tea ceremony, a wonderful tradition to honor their elders and families. And it was especially adorable when the bridesmaids made Tyler play a little "door game" during the tea ceremony and try to read to Natalie in Cantonese. He later learned that he promised to do everthing Natalie tells him to do -- forever :) Nice one! Enjoy these photos from the wedding prep and ceremony!

The bride getting her makeup done. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The bride looks at herself in a small mirror. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The groom putting on his tie. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

 The groom's luxe silk wedding suit. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

 The bride getting her hair done. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

Their beautiful wedding bands. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The morning started with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, where the bride and groom were given little red envelopes. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The bride and groom serving tea to their families, during their Chinese tea ceremony. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The groom reading to the bride in Mandarin, during their traditional Chinese tea ceremony. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The bride listening to the groom, while he reads to her :) © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The bride in her gorgeous lace wedding dress. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The bow on the brides wedding dress. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The brides bottle of Bvlgari perfume. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The bride in her wedding pearls. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The groom, outside the church, minutes before the ceremony started. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The bride admiring her beautiful wedding bouquets. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

Th ceremony begins. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The bride and her father, walking down the aisle. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The minister reading a prayer during the wedding ceremony. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The bride and groom reading a poem together. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

And the kiss! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

They are married!! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

Couples photos outside the church. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The bride's lovely pink flowers. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

The brides veil plays in the breeze. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

So happy!! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

And off they go to their wedding reception! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; St. Ignatius Church Wedding, San Francisco.

       We'll put up a part two soon of their gorgeous wedding reception at the Marin Art & Garden Center, which included a surprise Chinese lion dance! 

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Vendors

Photography: Bowerbird Photography

Venue: St. Ignatius Church

Hair: Rebecca Beardsley

Makeup: Amy Lee

San Francisco Engagement Photography Session: Michelle + Greg

      Michelle used to drive her baby blue 1966 Ford Mustang to high school, which is pretty much the coolest car a girl could ever dream for! Heads turned then, and heads keep turning today. She sure got her fiancé Greg's attention. For their engagement photo session, the baby blue was washed, polished, and taken out for a whirl on the streets of San Francisco! We drove from Crissy Field to get some iconic shots on the beach with the Golden Gate Bridge, to the Palace of Fine Arts for photos by the pond.  There's nothing like driving with the top down and the wind whipping through our hair!  Michelle and Greg live it up with style. They even brought a bottle of pink champagne (Michelle ♥s all things pink!) to sip on while admiring our San Francisco Bay vista.

Michelle + Greg relaxing on the beach. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography at Crissy Field, San Francisco.

Engagement photos with the Golden Gate Bridge -- classic! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography at Crissy Field, San Francisco.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography at Crissy Field, San Francisco.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography at Crissy Field, San Francisco.

Off for a ride around San Francisco in the 1966 Mustang convertible! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography at Crissy Field, San Francisco.

Stopping at the Palace of Fine Arts in the '66 Mustang convertible. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography at Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco.

There's something so royal and fabulous about this photo! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography at Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco.

So many cool reflections :) © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography at Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco.

Love Michelle's pretty Chanel bracelet :) © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography with vintage 1966 Mustang convertible, San Francisco.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography with vintage 1966 Mustang convertible, San Francisco.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography with vintage 1966 Mustang convertible, San Francisco.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography at the Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography with vintage 1966 Mustang convertible, San Francisco.

Drove to the top of a hill -- time to pop a bottle of pink Veuve Clicquot champagne! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography with vintage 1966 Mustang convertible, San Francisco.

Opening the pink Veuve Clicquot champagne. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography with vintage 1966 Mustang convertible, San Francisco.

Two glasses of pink Veuve Clicquot champagne coming right up :) © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography with vintage 1966 Mustang convertible, San Francisco.

Clink! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography with vintage 1966 Mustang convertible, San Francisco.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography with vintage 1966 Mustang convertible, San Francisco.

Seriously hot legs and a bottle of pink Veuve Clicquot champagne! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Engagement Photography with vintage 1966 Mustang convertible, San Francisco.

      If you could take a day and wrap it in perfection, it would have to be this photo session! We're so happy for Michelle + Greg! Congratulations love birds!

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Vendors

Photography: Bowerbird Photography

Makeup: Talia Wright (taliawright@gmail.com)

Monday: Finding Focus

       We had two wonderful engagement photo sessions this weekend and we got to play outside with two beautiful couples. It's January, but the weather in San Francisco has been fabulous! It reminded us of how much we love being outside and that we are so fortunate to have a job that takes us out to so many gorgeous places. We hope you get a chance to play outside this week as well :) Get some sunshine!

Flowers in the garden. © Bowerbird Photography, 2013.

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Bowerbird Photography Featured on the Wedding Party Blog

      We're super excited that Amanda + Mike's wedding was featured on the Wedding Party blog! Check out the full feature here!

       Happy Friday!

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

San Francisco Family Photography Session: At the Park

       We met Phoebe a few days before Thanksgiving, in her warm, sunny San Francisco kitchen. Phoebe is a personal chef and cooking instructor at the Studio of Good Living and we documented one of her holiday cooking classes for an article for the San Francisco Bay Guardian (which you can read here). Phoebe's sweet personality speaks through the mouthwatering food she cooks, and it was easy to feel an instant connection with her. At the end of the class, she asked if we could take some family photos in the new year, and soon after, we met her beautiful family for a park day at the Aptos playground in San Francisco. Even though the clouds stretched across the horizon for a wintry cool day, we stayed plenty warm, playing on the swings, monkey bars and the slides. Sam, for one, will readily admit that he worked up a sweat keeping up with the two little runners. We are also excited for when baby three comes along, and to document when four becomes five. We're ready to lace up our track shoes :) We hope you enjoy these photographs, showcasing the happy, loving spirit of this family as they play together in the park.

A family portrait on the playground. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; San Francisco Family Photography.

An adorable smile! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; San Francisco Family Photography.

Perfect in pink! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; San Francisco Family Photography.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013; San Francisco Family Photography.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013; San Francisco Family Photography.

Mama and baby looking so happy! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; San Francisco Family Photography.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013; San Francisco Family Photography.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013; San Francisco Family Photography.

Running in socks -- too cute! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; San Francisco Family Photography.

One of our all time favorite family portraits! Everyone is so happy and having so much fun! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; San Francisco Family Photography.

       What a lovely family! And congratulations on the little bun in the oven! (We couldn't help ourselves... bun... oven... mommy chef - love it!).

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam