Monday: Finding Focus

Bowerbird Photography October 7, 2013

"You never need an excuse to go out for ice cream." - Sam

Eat ice cream in Cuzco, Peru. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Savanna + Eli: Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding

Bowerbird Photography October 3, 2013

So. Much. Joy.

Savanna + Eli are joy magnets. They surround themselves with the most beautiful and caring people we've ever met. Their wedding was a celebration of this pure joy, and also an articulate expression of their unique personalities and extraordinary love for one another.

Their ceremony was a thoughtful, curated experience. It included, sharing silence and offering spontaneous words and blessings in the Quaker tradition; comedic and heartwarming readings; a mini-census tracking the data points for when each guest first met the couple to provide a visual chronology of their community; a ring warming; and, under a tartan chuppa (symbolic for the lives, families, and traditions they were threading together), the couple shared personalized vows and speeches of such tender power that they emotionally wrenched the knobs off the faucets of our collective tear ducts and the whole gathering was just awash in overwhelming feelings of love. The couple included all their friends and family in every part of their ceremony, so guests were not just witnesses to their love, they got to participate in the day as well. It was a perfect expression of their values, demonstrated what we love so much about Savanna + Eli: their thoughtfulness, creativity, and yes, joy!

Later in the night, Savanna + Eli whirled on the dance floor to Kelly McFarling's banjo-plucking rendition of "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." Undoubtedly, in their field of vision, the friends and families watching them became a blur to them, the watercolor wash of their Milky Way. Their laughter-crinkled eyes were locked together; and so, even among all the spectators, there was intimacy in the invisible tug of gravity that kept them focused on each other. Like a binary star system, these two shining souls orbited each other, their warmth and radiance broadcasting into the crowd. We sunned in their happiness, celebrating their fortune, grateful for the gift of companionship that they share. And also, we couldn't help but shed a few tears of joy, because they are SO DARN CUTE!!!

The bride's dress! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — The bride's dress! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

The Groom is all prepared to start the day. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — The Groom is all prepared to start the day. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

Lacing them tight, because Eli loves to dance, and will show off all his great moves later in the night :) Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — Lacing them tight, because Eli loves to dance, and will show off all his great moves later in the night :) Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

What a dapper fellow! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — What a dapper fellow! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

The beautiful bride. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — The beautiful bride. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

Eeep. Swoon! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — Eeep. Swoon! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

The couple's wedding bands on their ketubah. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — The couple's wedding bands on their ketubah. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

The ring bearer proudly sports his kilt, carrying the rings on custom, tartan pillows. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — The ring bearer proudly sports his kilt, carrying the rings on custom, tartan pillows. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

The ceremony was filled with laughter. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — The ceremony was filled with laughter. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

The bride and groom's grand entrance, includes some high-fives. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — The bride and groom's grand entrance, includes some high-fives. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

Check out the bride and groom's expressions! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — Check out the bride and groom's expressions! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

The groom's brother's epic, awesome toast concluded with the gift of a special edition New Yorker magazine. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — The groom's brother's epic, awesome toast concluded with the gift of a special edition New Yorker magazine. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

The bride and groom's first dance! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — The bride and groom's first dance! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

First dance. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — First dance. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

The Hora! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — The Hora! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

Up the bride and groom go in chairs carried by friends, in the Jewish tradition. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — Up the bride and groom go in chairs carried by friends, in the Jewish tradition. Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

Yea!!! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013 — Yea!!! Lucie Stern Community Center Wedding Photos. © Bowerbird Photography 2013

So happy for you two!! Congratulations Savanna + Eli!

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Wedding Vendors

Venue: Lucie Stern Community Center

Wedding Photography: Bowerbird Photography

Flowers: Molly Nakahara

Dessert: Noe Valley Bakery

Hair: Ingenious Salon

DJ: Sound in Motion

Caterer: Feel Good Foods

Annie + Mike: San Francisco Engagement Photo Session at Ocean Beach

Bowerbird Photography October 3, 2013

Summer has arrived in San Francisco, so when Annie + Mike suggested we take their engagement photos on Ocean Beach, where Mike proposed, we couldn't wait to spend a day in the sunshine with them!

We hadn't met Annie + Mike before their photo session, and we felt an instant warmth from them both. They brought along their darling pup, Dusty, and off we went to play in the waves. Annie + Mike weren't planning on getting into the water, but the ocean has a way of just showing up, especially when these two were lost in some serious smooching ;)

Hope you enjoy the photos, commemorating their engagement. Don't they look like movie stars?!

It was an perfect afternoon and we wish Annie + Mike so much happiness together!

San Francisco Engagement Photos at Ocean Beach. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Congratulations Annie + Mike!!

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Maya + Liam: Point Reyes Wedding, Pt. 2

Bowerbird Photography October 2, 2013

After a perfect wedding ceremony on the top of Mt. Vision, in Point Reyes, Maya + Liam hopped into the limo to wind their way down the mountain to their wedding reception at Toby's Feed Barn in the adorable town of Point Reyes Station.

These two are all about the party, good food, dear friends and fantastic music! The evening included live performances by Liam's cousins, tear-jerking toasts and a super silly conga line!

We hope you enjoy these photos from their lovely wedding reception :)

Point Reyes Wedding Photography at Toby's Feed Barn. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Congratulations darlings!!

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Wedding Vendors

Venue: Toby's Feed Barn

Wedding Photography: Bowerbird Photography

Day of coordinator: Alex Barranco

Caterer: Out to Lunch Catering

All ceramics/decor/flowers: Maya, the bride :)

Rentals: Encore Events Rentals

Cakes/Sweets: Bovine Bakery

Hair: Ruthie Grayson

Ceremony Venue: Mt. Vision, run by the Point Reyes National Seashore

Music at ceremony: Suzanne Schwind and Ashley Devine

Limo: Mt. Tam Limousine

Leora + Josh: San Francisco Engagement Photo Session on Bernal Hill

Bowerbird Photography September 30, 2013

Windy would be an understatement. When we arrived on Bernal Hill at sunset to take our friends, Leora + Josh's, engagement photos, it was hard enough to keep standing! But we love wind: for a photo session, it's like having an on-site wind machine and Leora, who has some of the most gorgeous locks ever, embraced the breeze and let her hair whip in the wind. Glamo-rama!

Leora + Josh had their first date on Bernal Hill, writing songs and playing guitar together on the top of the mountain. Therefore it was so fitting that they brought a guitar and serenaded each other once again, their voices blending together like warm milk and honey, creating a perfect duet.

We had the best time on this crisp, fall evening, commemorating their engagement and are so happy for Leora + Josh!

San Francisco Engagement Photography. © Bowerbird Photography 2013. — San Francisco Engagement Photography. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.

Congratulations Leora + Josh! Much love!

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam