My Turn to be the Bride!

That's right...no longer am I just the wedding photographer, I'm a future bride too!

It was my birthday and we were in the middle of the Pacific ocean on a fishing diving trip with friends. Everyone sat and watched a gorgeous sunset. Then Gabe asks for everyones attention, turns to me and asks me to spend the rest of his life with him! I was so surprised! I was laughing and crying and shaking, but I finally managed to say yes. Then it took about 15 more minutes until I could breath!

So I'm engaged! All of you brides out there feel free to send your advice for the big day!

Here's a couple of shots that friends took...




Gabe has his own take on the event plus some other highlights from the amazing trip on his blog... http://kaimanadivers.blogspot.com/

Masami and Isaac!

Masami and Isaac are good friends and although they didn't have an official photographer, of course I brought my gear along. And am I glad I did because A) the officiant conducting the ceremony pictured below is the love of my life, that's fun. 2) Masami and Isaac are GORGEOUS. And C) It was on a boat in the middle of the ocean! How cool! Masami's procession was actually riding on a speed boat to the larger boat where Isaac and all us guests waited. Take note that the wedding ceremony took place upon the boat where they first met :) Aaaaahh. After the good reverend used the power vested in him to pronounce them husband and wife, the happy couple hopped back into the speed boat and cruised off into the sunset together! Very cool way to get married.

So Many Little Ones!

Wow! That's the only word that comes to mind when I think of the swarms of beautifully dolled up flowergirls and ringbearers traipsing through the Waikiki Marriot last week. Six flowergirls and four ringbearers! There was cuteness everywhere I turned. Phoebe and Lem were looking gorgeous, the wedding party was huge and tons of fun and the wedding was beautiful, but I must say, the little girls and boys were showstoppers!

Okay, there were some adults around too...but they were sillier then the kids! Here's two groomsmen practicing their dancing skills pre-reception!

And of course the main event...

A Veil of a Tale

Marty and Elsie had a lovely church wedding followed by some fun at Kapiolani Park.... and yes, a veil big enough for the entire wedding party!

A Simple Beach Wedding

Okay, I am well behind on my blogging...just been so busy taking pictures! So this is a wedding I shot back in December. Yamiler and Alvaro were a gorgeous couple and I just have to share some of my favorites:

They brought all the family and friends over from California and yeah, they're here to party.

Yamiler looking GORGEOUS!

Alvaro showing off his ring.

The sun was a bit too much for the flower girl

The Bouquet toss... she was just going to hand it too her but I thought she might as well toss it! Staged to say the least, but it was fun :)

The happy couple had a great time doing romantic pictures

A Cultural Experience

I had the honor of taking part in a Hindu wedding ceremony and what a new experience it was! Splashes of color and ancient traditions combined with a friendly and very outspoken family and a bit more rain than we had hoped for! The wedding took place under a giant banyan tree (and a tent due to the rainy conditions). The ceremony was the shortened version...only 3 hours long instead of the traditional three days! So many interestiing things to see. Everyone looked gorgeous and had a great time while I got to learn about the beautiful ceremonies of an interesting culture!

Vaishali Looking lovely...

The colorful flower girls
When the bride comes in she is hidden from the groom. A cloth is held between them by close relatives. This is the moment when the cloth is dropped and Vaishali and Dale see each other for the first time.
Vaishali's Mother and Father joining hands with the couple. A beautiful moment of union.
Bride and groom walk around the fire four times, alternating in who leads.

A private ceremonial moment between husband and sister.

Vaishali and Dale face look out towards the sun.

When the ceremony was over I stole them away for a bit of fun!

All the Beautiful People

I've been meaning to write about a great wedding I participated in. Now every wedding that I attend I am surrounded by so much beauty, but this one was just exceptional. There was something like 600 guests so perhaps it was just the enormous amount of beautiful people around me that made it so overwhelming. Or maybe it was the locations... the ceremony was held at the chapel at Iolani school, I'd never been here before and in case you are wondering it is GORGEOUS, and the reception in the Grand Ballroom at the Hyatt in Waikiki. Whatever the case I felt I just had to show off some of the pictures from the beautiful wedding of Ruthie and Kevin.

Ruthie had to hide behind a sheet because the chapel is all windows. It was very cute.












Did I mention that there cake was made of Krispy Cremes?!