Annie + Cesar's San Francisco Wedding: Ceremony at Mission Dolores Basilica in SF and Reception at Terra Gallery

Bowerbird Photography July 24, 2013

Annie + Cesar met in high school (yep, that's adorable!) . They did theater together and hung out with a mutual group of friends. Eventually friendship turned into true romantic love and the rest is history! Both Bay Area natives, they decided to have their wedding ceremony at an iconic San Francisco location, the Mission Dolores Basilica. Surrounded by dear friends and family, they exchanged their vows in a full Catholic ceremony, with the angelic accompaniment of a children's choir. Afterwards, the wedding party hopped into an a fleet of retro low-riders (with hydraulics!) and made their way (music blasting) to the Terra Gallery for an evening of dancing.

We can't express how happy we are for Annie + Cesar. They are so relaxed with each other and just shine with happiness. Having grown up together, their love is rooted in years of history and friendship. After the tear-jerking toasts, their families also bonded, making this union truly perfect.

Enjoy this sneak peek from their lovely wedding day :)

Mission Dolores Basilica Wedding, San Francisco. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Terra Gallery Wedding, San Francisco. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Congratulations love birds! We are so happy for you both!

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Wedding Vendors

Day of Coordination: Erin Donoghue, Your Event by Erin

Venue: Mission Dolores Basiliace + Terra Gallery & Event Space

Caterer: Caterman’s

Photography: Bowerbird Photography

DJ: TJ Estandian

Flowers: Angela Dorantes + Molly Sealund

Cake: Gretchen Sullivan

Monday: Finding Focus

Bowerbird Photography July 22, 2013

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Travels in Pennsylvania: Part 2

Bowerbird Photography July 19, 2013

Here is the second half of our trip to the east coast this summer :) Enjoy!

In downtown Philly. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Dinner with darling Addie + Paul, celebrating Addie's first year of med school! This was right after her last exam -- she was super sleepy! © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Delicious Korean food! © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

The next day Addie + Paul took us swimming at French Creek. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Swim to your lover... © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Then kiss! © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Paul on the rope swing! © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

And Sam swinging :) © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Buying farm fresh eggs. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Have a lovely weekend!

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Travels in Pennsylvania: Part 1

Bowerbird Photography July 17, 2013

We recently got back from a trip to Pennsylvania, to photograph Sunisa + Nat's destination wedding and visit some very dear friends. There was berry picking, swimming holes and long walks through beautiful botanical gardens. We hope you enjoy this little photo diary of our trip :)

Flying from SF to Philly. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Pallea in Philly with Marika + Jess. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Berry picking in the countryside. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Fresh raspberries! © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Pickin' peaches. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

That is summer! © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Hand-in-hand! © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Jess was so happy about the hayride :) © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

We rented a house in the country for the weekend. This was our gorgeous view! © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

We spent every afternoon on that veranda. It was perfection. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

We did a photo session with Marika + Jess in Longwood Gardens too :) © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Longwood Gardens - a truly magical place! © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Being silly :) © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Part 2 will be up on Friday :)

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Sunisa + Nat's Destination Wedding Celebration in Pennsylvania

Bowerbird Photography July 15, 2013

The amazing journey to Sunisa + Nat's wedding celebration in Pennsylvania took us leaping across the sleepy, long caress of the Brandywine River, sauntering through perfumed woods of pine and oak, and loping across a wide clearing with a vista of the green valley below, to encounter the sound of laughter drifting from a white pavilion pitched near the groom's childhood home. Although the magical last leg of the journey was experienced by all, guests came from the most diverse corners of the world: hailing taxis below the looming high-rises of NYC to join southbound carpools with friends, escaping the swampy glades of Florida for the dappled shade of the woods, and leaving the waterway canals of Bangkok for the hills and hidden swimming holes of the East Coast.

After an epic, fairy-tale wedding in Thailand (where a long saber was needed to cut the cake), the rural Pennsylvania setting provided the perfect destination for an intimate, encore celebration for even more dancing, drinking, and rejoicing. With the formal solemnities of the wedding out of the way, all that was left to do was to have fun! Family friends swapped stories of when Nat + Sunisa were toddlers, the bride's brothers played piano in the parlor, the children staked out the territory of their own personal kingdoms on the large lawn, and old friends sat on hay bales and caught up on stories that hadn't made it on Facebook.

When the encircling wood retired into cozy darkness, and the guests tucked under the pavilion and into the feast, the fireflies awoke, gawking with blinking eyes at the edges of the party like flitting fairies.

Soon, the music, like a rising tide, washed over the party, bringing everyone to the dance floor. Cousins rocked out together; the groom's family took the arms of the bride's family in theirs, singing aloud; and Grandma gave a dervish spin exhausting her partners. All the while, the family dog weaved its way between the legs of couples adding his own rhythmic paw-steps to the party.

So engrossed in the delights of the celebration, every time we stepped out to take a breath, the moon seemed to have hiccuped further up the sky. Yet, when looking at it, it stood stock-still like a yellow toad on a dark pond: lazy, full, and contented.

As if to provide the lonely moon some company, guests lit paper lanterns, sailing their wishes like a fleet of ships on the night sky. Such was the wonder and beauty that imbued and kissed each detail of the gathering for Sunisa + Nat: a testament to the love they have for each other, and that their friends and families have for them.

Sunisa getting her makeup done. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

The brides gorgeous dress. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Lovely little details. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

The bride's hair clips. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

The groom looking at his pocket watch, a gift from his bride. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Nat, just before guests start to arrive. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Sunisa helping her new sister get ready. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Nat in the garden. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Table details at the wedding. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Sunisa's dad and brothers relaxing in the garden. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Nat's mom, looking fabulous :) © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

The party starts! © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

With grandma on the porch. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Sunisa's brother playing the piano during the party. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

So talented! © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.. — So talented! © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.
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Cocktail hour begins. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Guests at the wedding. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Such a sweetie :) © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Sunisa + Nat, you two are perfect together! © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Everyone was enjoying themselves on this lovely evening. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Serious sweethearts. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Sharing a laugh together. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Relaxing on the lawn before dinner. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

This is truly a musical family. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Skip to malou! © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania. — Skip to malou! © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Nom nom nom! © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

The bros getting dinner. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Mom + Dad, so happy! © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

The sun starting to go down for the evening. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

The bride and groom get ready for their first dance together. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

The first dance :) © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

The couple watching everyone else on the dance floor. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Heading outside to send lanterns up into the night sky. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

Up up and away! © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

A full moon as guests light lanterns. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

One last dance before the band heads home. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Destination Wedding Photography in the Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania.

We send our most heartfelt wishes for a lifetime of joy to our dear friends, Sunisa + Nat! We are so happy for you both :)

xoxo,

Sam + Ariel