Photo Diary: Once Upon a Time in Tahoe

Bowerbird Photography November 10, 2014

A few weekends back, getting lost in the beautiful California Sierra mountains with dear friends :)

Tahoe National Forest. © Bowerbird Photography 2014 — Tahoe National Forest. © Bowerbird Photography 2014

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Red Mass for the St. Thomas More Society Of San Francisco at Saints Peter & Paul Church

Bowerbird Photography November 7, 2014

Red Mass is a special Catholic ceremony conducted for lawyers, judges, and government officials. We are asked to photograph the St. Thomas More Society of San Francisco's annual Red Mass at Saints Peter & Paul Church in North Beach, attended by various judges and justices from California, and wanted to share a few photos to celebrate their ongoing contributions to our justice system.

Red Mass for the St. Thomas More Society Of San Francisco at Saints Peter & Paul Church. © Bowerbird Photography 2014

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Meredith + Andrew: Wedding Photography at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco, Pt. 2

Bowerbird Photography November 5, 2014

After Meredith + Andrew's wonderful wedding ceremony at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco, it was time to get down and party! One of our favorite aspects of Jewish wedding ceremonies is the hora dance. Guests line up and then link arms to create rotating dance circles around the bride and groom, who are lifted into the air on chairs (note their "roller-coaster faces!"). It's extremely energetic, playful and definitely make fun photos :) M + A totally embraced the whole evening, getting swept up in the wonderful spirit of love and jubilation.

A very happy marriage to this wonderful couple! Mazel tov and best wishes Meredith + Andrew!!

Wedding Photography at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco. © Bowerbird Photography 2014

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Wedding Vendors

Wedding Venue: InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco

Wedding Planner: Chrissy Wolfman

Wedding Photography: Bowerbird Photography

Flowers: Branch Out Floral

Cake: InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco

Make-up + Hair: Meaganne Mccandess

Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo

Suit: Men’s Wearhouse

Band: Lucky Devils Band

Caterer + Linens: InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco

Meredith + Andrew: Wedding Photography at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco, Pt. 1

Bowerbird Photography November 3, 2014

As the groom waited outside the InterContinental Mark Hopkins for the "first look," the Blue Angels boomed overhead, adding to the atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. Actually, the roar of the planes bore a type of resemblance to the peal of wedding bells, seeming to herald Meredith + Andrew's wedding all over the city. It also meant that moments later, as the two held each other in their arms, we got several cute photos of the bride and groom spinning around simultaneously to gaze up and point at the sky, the bride's veil lifting in the wind, with the happiest expressions on their faces. The bridal party soon joined, decked out in fall-y colors with orange bouquets for the bridesmaids and orange boutonnieres for the groomsmen (perhaps an auger of the upcoming Giants win!). These two definitely had their dream team with them, and it was wonderful to see them all get in action, organizing in seconds to hail a cable car and pose in front of it for photos. Their wedding venue, the historic Mark Hopkins Hotel, was also done up for the occasion with beautiful blossoms in hues of red, yellow and orange.

They had a moving interfaith wedding ceremony, first with a ketubah signing during an intimate gathering of close friends and family in their hotel suite, followed by their larger wedding celebration in the the Room of the Dons, which included both Jewish and Christian traditions.

Meredith + Andrew are the sweetest, and they surround themselves with equally dear and wonderful people. Their wedding was not only a celebration of their love for each other, but also a fantastic party assembling the communities they love from the span of their lifetimes and the country.

We are soooo happy you are married M + A! We wish you much joy and love in your partnership!

Check back soon for more photos from their festive wedding reception :)

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Wedding Vendors

Wedding Venue: InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco

Wedding Planner: Chrissy Wolfman

Wedding Photography: Bowerbird Photography

Flowers: Branch Out Floral

Cake: InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco

Make-up + Hair: Meaganne Mccandess

Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo

Suit: Men’s Wearhouse

Band: Lucky Devils Band

Caterer + Linens: InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco

Merritt + Brian: Lake Tahoe Engagement Photo Session

Bowerbird Photography October 28, 2014

When our friends, Brian and Merritt, discussed their dream for their engagement session, Brian (the naturalist) saw a scene in nature, and Merritt (the romantic) pictured plenty of PDA. Their combined, binocular vision materialized in 3D up in the mountains of Tahoe for a playful photo shoot with bushels of smooches in the most gorgeous of alpine locations, along a trail featuring trees that were not only just tall and beautiful, but, according to Brian, could be identified by cone, bark, or leaf as Ponderosa Pines, Douglass Firs, or Pacific Dogwoods. Not only did we learn plenty of tree names, but also came to recognize the Juncos, Steller's Jays, and other birds that occupied them.

The photo session started in the morning with an impromptu jam session at the cabin, with Brian strumming his banjo and Merritt banging on a Peruvian jawbone. Meanwhile, our friends, Maya + Liam prepared breakfast, the bouquet of smoky bacon wafting out of the kitchen and creating smoke tails in the window's morning light. With filled bellies, we headed out on a hike to a high sierra alpine lake, getting a little lost on the way, but finding beautiful fall leaves for a perfect yellow and orange photo backdrop. After jumping some train tracks, we finally reached the lake, glacier cold and burnished a rippling blue by the sun and wind. Merritt + Brian were adorable, cuddling along the banks and practicing their rock-skipping skills. Back at the cabin, they threw together a gourmet pizza dinner (including a heart-shaped pizza pie!) and we all gathered around the kitchen table, relaxed and refreshed after our day soaking up nature.

We adore Merritt + Brian and they complement each other so wonderfully -- Merritt is always quick with her wit and full of laughter, and Brian is such a sweetheart, full of wood lore, and completely head-over-heels for his lovely lady. We are elated that Merritt + Brian are getting married and we are so happy to be able to document their engagement with these photos, that show all the ways the have fun and celebrate life together.

Congratulations M + B!!!! Lots of love.

Lake Tahoe Engagement Photo Session. © Bowerbird Photography 2014

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam