Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer: Four Seasons Biltmore, Sunny & Jon

Sunny & Jonathan know how to be good hosts.  My mom always says – if you are going to do something, do it right – and that includes throwing a party.  You know sometimes when you attend a party and the food is janky or there isn’t enough for everyone?  Or better yet, when they don’t even provide food?  Ok, I don’t think anyone would throw a wedding without providing food but don’t you hate it when you go to any other party and there is no food?  Hosting 101, people!

I haven’t had a grumpy blog post in a while.  Good to get it out once in a while.  Plus, apparently I’m funnier when I’m grumpy (so I’ve been told).  Haha.

When Sunny & Jon planned their wedding, they took their experience from attending weddings to decide what to provide to make guests extra comfortable (So smart!  That’s why I love them).  That included:

~ opening the bar and having tray passed champagne BEFORE the ceremony (because people are just sitting there, waiting to start drinking anyway).

~a cracker/hummus station during cocktail hour because if you only have tray passed hoerderves, they usually don’t disperse fast enough because people standing right by the kitchen as the waiters come out take them all (like me).

~a late night pizza station, because even if everyone already ate dinner, they like to eat when they drink . . . and what sounds better than pizza?!

~an awesome brunch the next morning for all their guests who stayed in Santa Barbara for the evening.

Classy.  I heart them.

Sunny’s reaction to reading a card from Jonathan was hilarious.  She chuckled.  Not like a “hee hee I’m so in love” kind of chuckle, but more like a “this is cute but pretty corny” chuckle.

This girl is on top of it.  I could learn a lot from her.

Good help on the day of is very important.

Sunny got eyelash extensions done by Mai Yamada.  She has done them for me too.  They look really good and natural if you aren’t into the drag queen look.

First look.

Jazz hands.

It rained, but that didn’t ruin the day at all!

Room service is delivered using these bikes.  Aren’t they cute?  I would get a job there just so I could deliver food on these things.

“Oo oo oo ahh AHHH.”

Blue Steel.

Thanks to Carla for getting all the great guy shots.

I wish I had video of how they were running.  I could barely keep my camera still from the laughter.

Tea Ceremony.

Ketubah Signing.  I love when there is a mix of culture/tradition.

Ceremony.

For those who think doing a first look ruins the ceremony, it totally doesn’t!  For every wedding I’ve done where the couple has seen each other before the ceremony, the ceremony is still just as emotional/wonderful.  Maybe even better because the nerves aren’t there and therefore the true emotions come out.  This was a great moment.  Her dad broke down and wouldn’t let go of her.  Can you imagine?  I would lose it.

Confetti = awesomeness!  There was so much that in my shots before this, you couldn’t even see them.

Confetti fight = even awesomer.  These two are hilarious.

SO happy they agreed to take some pics on the beach.  Might as well take advantage of it while in SB, right?

Dolphins.  Magical.

Look of death.

Highlight of my night.

I love little moments and gestures.

With pops.  I love this look.

10 piece band.

Loving moments between older couples. . . Sigh.

Late night pizza.

Sunny and I have a tradition that every time we go out to eat (we are good friends now, obviously), we go to Real Food Daily.  If you live in LA and have never been there, you have to try it like, NOW.  It’s vegan and some of the most delicious food you’ll ever have even if you aren’t vegan.  I’m not and it’s my favorite restaurant in LA.  So good!

Vendors for this wedding:

Event Coordinator: Maren Parsons – Best coordinator I have ever worked with.

Videographer: Cinevent Productions – Amazing work, and we work great together. 

Make-up: Nicole DeAnne

Flowers: Modern Day Design

Band:  That Vibe

Vegan cake: Unique Pastry

Dress: Carolina Herrera