Monthly Archives: July 2012
It wasn’t that long ago that our Friend Atalanta Jackson of Camellia Wedding Flowers was telling us of this great 51 ford Pickup that a fella by the Name of Wayne kept bringing by her flower shop. She was DYING to incorporate it into a photo shoot so after a few planning meetings she came up with the Idea for a 4th of July patriotic themed celebration. Once she got the green light from Wayne to use the truck she assembled a crack team of some of the most creative vendors San Diego has to offer.
First things first we needed a location. Bo Beau Kitchen in Ocean Beach happily agreed to host our little party with its stylish decor. We couldn’t think of a better place, with its rustic heavy wooden tables, old doors, weathered metal accents and shaded quaint patio.
Maria our lovely bride was dressed Head to toe by Sparrow Bridal in a crushed silk gown, velvet blue sash, vintage red Broach, and very sexy red shoes! The bridesmaids were dressed in Tailored Sweets Boutique’s new collection, while Noon Designs provided their delicate jewelry.
Prior to the shoot Atalanta’s shop was converted into the perfect hair and makeup studio by Blush Makeup Artistry and Margeaux Weith of Beauty Carriage. They managed to get the girls ready in record time and with such timeless style and creativity.
Stephanie “Queen of Details” Darenkamp owner of Tiny Twig Creative, did her usual design magic and precision, making darling invitations, place cards, and menu cards. She also furnished perfect place card holders… vintage forks molded into card stands!
The sweetest part of the day, of course, was the dessert table. Teresa Johnson of Grove Pastry Shop made an incredible spread, complete with the most delicious cake! We freaked out over the idea of having a single American Flag hidden inside the cake and Teresa pulled it off seamlessly! It was difficult keeping our handsome male models, Sterling and Justin, away from the yummy desserts!
As you can see the day and the shoot turned out better than we all ever could have imagined. a special thanks to everybody involved. Thanks for bringing your a game and helping us to make something truly special!
VENDORS:
Flowers/Styling: Atalanta Jackson of Camellia Wedding Flowers. http://camelliaweddingflowers.com/
Venue: Bo beau Restaurant. www.bobeaukitchen.com
Photography: Bretty Siegel and Liz Thurston of Siegel Thurston Photography. http://siegelthurston.com/
Make Up: Laura Crivello of Blush Make up Artistry. http://blushmakeupsd.net/
Hair: Margeaux Weith of Beauty Carriage
Paper Goods: Stephanie Darenkamp of Tiny Twig Creative. http://tinytwig.com/
Wedding Dress/Hair Pieces: Laurie McDonald of Sparrow Bridal. http://sparrowbridal.com/
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Sarah Stuckenschneider and Cassandra Barlin of Tailored Sweets Boutique- http://www.tailorursweets.com/
Desserts/Cake: Teresa Johnson of Grove Pastry Shop http://www.grovepastryshop.com/weddings/
Jewelry: Noon Designs http://www.noondesignshop.com/
Truck Rental: Wayne Simnit: 1951 Ford Truck
Models: Maria Rosa Borges, Sterling Barkus, Giana Rodriguez, Justin Fortier, Kelly Gladstone, Cassandra Barlin, Camille Owen
Ok, so when Brett met me I had never really been camping before. I know, even I am kind of shocked by this revelation. I was never a girl scout and our family vacations were road trips from one bed and breakfast to the next. Honestly Brett was pretty floored that I was a camping virgin. It was quite the contrast from his boyscout summers spent backpacking for days, sleeping under the stars and foraging. Oh wait your not supposed to forage… oops.
He eased me into the campers lifestyle. On our first trip we car camped and slept on an air mattress in the bed of the truck. During our second camping trip he had me set up the tent. I think he spent a lot of time laughing while I tried to figure out where all the polls went and got tangled up in the rain fly. There was definitely some pouty lip and foot stomping the first couple times I set up the tent, it is so much easier to just blow up an the air mattress in the back of the truck and be done with it.
Brett is our master cooker because my camp cooking skills consist of roasting marshmallows and boiling water. He is also the official fire starter and he usually has to pick out where the tent is going to go. The few times he left if up to me we ended up on a hill or somewhere quite lumpy.
Well a year ago today we took our camping skills to the next level and hiked into Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon. To get down to the waterfalls and camp sites it’s a 13 mile, 3000 vertical foot hike down switchbacks, over rocky terrain and through the canyons. Due to the extreme Arizona heat our little group opted to make this hike in at night, beginning our descent at 2:30am.
Brett and I managed to bring all the wrong gear. Our camp stove was to big, our tent was heavy and leaked when we got a fluke rain storm, and our campers pot set got stuck inside of each other making it impossible to cook. But we had the time of our lives! The air was hot on our skin and the water chillingly perfect. We visited all of the waterfalls and wished we had more time to visit them all again.
When we decided to go with our friends to Havasupai we knew it would be the trip of a lifetime and we probably wouldn’t return. But I think back on our trip often and I’ll admit that I’m starting to get the itch to go back.
We wanted to post this to share what an amazing time we had.
We followed the tradition and placed rocks in the wall.The Pony Express still exists! We totally should have mailed a letter.Our first look at Havasu FallsWe saw quite a few wild horses (or somewhat wild) running around.Our camp site across the river.My green floaty! We found a rock to tie it to. But after the rain storm we came back to find a tree had fallen on it.Not our dog…
He liked hanging out in our camp site though.
The Gang!Airing out our sheets after the fluke rain storm that flooded our supposedly water proof tent.Come on guys can’t you see i’m trying to take a picture here.Exploring the old mines. It was a pretty creepy thing to do at night. But I can’t imagine that it would be much less creepy during the day.Mooney FallsTake a right down through the dark cave and then scale the cliff holding onto the chains as you go to get down to Mooney FallsCan you spot Brett, Ashley and Jenna?How about now?Yep sometimes we take ourselves a little to seriously.Lower Navajo FallsUpper Navajo Falls on our last day.Looking down at what we hiked out of.We left the camp sites at 1 am to make the hike back out of the canyon and this fella walked with us all night guiding us back to the cars. When we made it to the top he took a little nap, drank some of our water and then walked back down the trails with a new set of campers.It would be an understatement to say that we were all tired.More cute resi dogs
Nick and Sara picked a truly beautiful place to get married when they chose Lake Oak Meadows. The venu is nestled in the heart of Temecula’s wine country. We loved the visual variety that Lake Oak Meadows has to offer from their vineyard covered hillsides adorning the private lake, to the rose gardens that lead to a rustic bridal suite and honeymoon ranch house. Nick and his boys took over the ranch house to relax before the wedding and iron their suits while Sara and her ladies were pampered with hair and makeup in the adjourning bridal suite.
Nick and Sara planned their day around maximizing quality time with their family and guests. To do this they happily decided on incorporating a first look early in the day. We pre scouted with them a few days before the wedding and they decided the ceremony spot surrounded by the lake was also perfect for their first look. When it came time for Nick to turn around and see Sara in her beautiful dress for the first time, there were smiles and tears all around. The first look made it possible to photograph the wedding party and all the family portraits before the guests arrived and the ceremony started. There was even time for the boys to take their jackets off and relax for a bit.
Ok now what little girl doesn’t at some point or other dream of riding around in a white horse drawn carriage wearing a beautiful dress like cinderella? Well when two white horses came prancing up behind the ranch house pulling a matching white coach to pick up Sara and her uncle I felt like a giddy school girl. So I can only imagine how Sara was feeling. The carriage glided away and it was truly a picturesque moment as Sara made her way around the lake in style to her wedding. The ceremony was short. sweet, to the point and exactly what Nick and Sara wanted. Then it was off to the reception and time for dancing and lots of fun.
Venders,
Hair and Makup: Cole Preston, http://www.cpreston.com/
Flowers: Atalanta Jackson, Camillia wedding flowers http://camelliaweddingflowers.yolasite.com/
Venue: Lake Oak Meadows http://www.lakeoakmeadows.com/