Cathy & Kory, A Breezy Beach Wedding

06 Monday May 2013

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Beach Wedding, DIY Wedding, Portofino, Redondo Beach Wedding

The theme of the day turned out to be blue. The sky, the surf, and Cathy’s amazing eyes. Blue.

What a treat it was for Cathy and Kory’s out-of-state families to come together and experience a classic Southern Californian beach wedding. Cathy reminded me of a mermaid, with her tiered wedding gown that would flutter with the littlest breezes, complimented perfectly by her loose ringlets and her modernist bouquet. The sand, surf and sky was the perfect backdrop for their heartfelt vows.

The Bluewater Grill received its guests for the reception gracefully, the sea-worn wood feel settling in comfortably like an old pair of jeans. Framed pictures of their beloved golden retriever, Dudley, greeted family and friends. The windows provided panoramic views of the marina. As the sun set over the Pacific, Cathy and Kory were presented as husband and wife to the singing of Blaine Long. Turns out the biggest surprise of the happy day was Cathy had invited Blaine, Kory’s long time favorite singer, to make a special appearance at their wedding. Blaine had driven all the way from Arizona, and had even written a song just for the their special occasion!

Cathy and Kory were incredibly fun to work with, a very easy-going and down to earth couple. It was an honor to photograph their day, capturing the exuberance and energy of such an endearing bride and groom!

Marcus and Sally, a Joyous Malibu Wedding

22 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by genkiviv in Weddings

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Bernhard Mairinger, Donald Wressell, Hotel Bel Air, Malibu Wedding, Marcus Mueller, Sally Camacho

Weddings reflect the personalities of the couple getting married, and Marcus and Sally’s big day resonated with charm, intimacy, and class. We loved capturing the sheer joy Marcus and Sally exuded whenever they were near each other, his eyes crinkling with glee and her eyes open and expressive with love.

When a hotelier and an executive chef get married, you know you’re in for a day where every detail lives up to the highest of standards. Marcus and Sally chose the enchanting Hotel Bel Air for their first look. Not only do the grounds remind me of a secret garden, but it’s all the more endearing since this is where they first met. They treated their guests to a stunning ocean view ceremony. Afterwards, dear friends and family enjoyed a lounge style reception and were offered a sumptuous feast that included hand made German sausages by the acclaimed Chef Bernhard Mairinger (in honor of Marcus’s native homeland), an avant-garde cake made by Sally’s award winning mentor, Donald Wressell, just to name a few of the culinary delights.

Congratulations to Sally and Marcus! Your love is inspiring!

Cuisine_VivianLinPHOTO

Special thanks to Eva Lagudi for keeping the day running smoothly and Devin Espinosa for guiding the evening of merriment!

First Look: Hotel Bel Air, http://www.hotelbelair.com

Venue: Bel Air Bay Club, http://www.belairbayclub.com

Gown: Manuel Mota

Shoes: Stuart Weitzman

Florist: Lilit Khatchaturian, http://www.skyeventsandproduction.com

Wedding Cake: Donald Wressell

German Food Station: Bernhard Mairinger

Pastry Station: Carlos Enriquez, http://www.chefcarlosenriquez.blogspot.com

DJ: Shawn Carter, http://www.beautyofthebeats.com

Elaine and Jay, Fun Filled Chinese Wedding

24 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by genkiviv in Weddings

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Chinese Wedding, Chinese Wedding Door Games, New Capital Seafood, San Gabriel Hilton

Genuinely good-natured people affect those around them, lifting spirits especially in times of celebration. Elaine and Jay exactly those kind of people, focusing their incredibly fun and energetic love for each other. Downright silly, Jay never failed to make Elaine giggle, yet he was completely nurturing and deep down an eternal romantic. Cool as a cucumber, Jay braved an egg down his pants during the reception, with Elaine laughing raucously all the while trying to gingerly guide the egg out with a pair of chopsticks.

When prompted to agree that his wife looked beautiful, Jay would reply with a flippant “Eh” and proceed to strike his own pose. Yet, we all knew he was completely head over heels for his equally fun loving Elaine. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were equally down to enjoy the moment, aggressively haggling during the hilarious and epic Chinese Wedding Door Games. Jay braved crazy sushi, an ice cold bucket of scrabble letters from which he had to pick out Elaine’s name with his foot, and some gangnum style dance moves, always with a goofy grin on his face and his goal in mind: to see his soon-to-be-wife on the other side of the door.

This was how Door Games should be played, with both sides in a see-saw to test how far one would go for the other, as in a real relationship. And one could see that this relationship was real, that it will endure through thick and thin, because Elaine and Jay have found their common happiness in their humor.

Venue: San Gabriel Hilton

Reception: New Capital Seafood Restaurant

Makeup Artist: Amy Tevis www.amysbeautydesign.com

Videography: RS Productions http://www.rspvideo.com

DJ: Jacky’s Entertainment

Lovely Afternoon Wedding, Calamigos Equestrian Center

21 Friday Sep 2012

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Calamigos Equestrian Center, Canada Please, Little White House

I wish I had time to reflect more eloquently on this fabulous wedding, but I’m heading out for a weekend shoot in San Diego. The deepest impression I had was this: Jaimie was radiant (I mean, she was so radiant, I couldn’t take a bad picture of her, radiant). Her sheer joy at marrying Jonathon, shone throughout the day. He reciprocated back, stealing quick kisses every chance he got. Their robot cake topper was the perfect choice, indicative of their quirky and distinct personalities, along with the amazing robot socks he had on.

“Canadian, Please” is still in my head! Their wedding party coordinated a flashmob with some participating guests as a surprise to Jonathan, paying homage to the couples’ soon-to-be-home. Jon and Jaimie soon found themselves wrapped not only in the love of their friends, but also in giant Canadian flags, enjoying the warm sendoff.

We loved every aspect of this wedding! The vendors that came together for this were exceptional. Virginia, Steve and his staff at Calamigos Equestrian Center are awesome, expertly orchestrating everything from the set up to the ceremony dinner, equal parts great leadership and tireless hard work. The service was superior, and we were touched Steve looked out for us to the same degree he took care of the guests. The DJ, Matt Gudis, paced everything perfectly and played such well chosen sets, I couldn’t stop tapping my feet!

This was a very touching and real wedding to shoot. A close friend of theirs (and a bridesmaid!) was their officiant. Their parents upheld a red checkered chuppah, under which Jonathan and Jaimie exchanged their own vows. We loved working with both of them and every member of their vibrant wedding party. We wish Jonathon and Jaimie a smooth transition to their new home!

And in case you’re wondering, here are the steps they had to follow to move to Canada.

So you’re thinking to yourself,
“How do I live in this beautiful country?”
Well we’ve got some steps for you to follow…

STEP 1: Lose the gun
STEP 2: Buy a canoe
STEP 3: Live multiculturally
STEP 4: You’re ready, there is no more!

Venue: Calamigos Equestrian Center, Burbank http://www.calamigosequestrain.com

DJ: Matt Gudis of “Who’s That DJ?” http://www.whosthatdj.com

Florist: Kerim at My Wedding Blooms http://www.myweddingblooms.com

Makeup Artist: Karen Lee http://makeupbykarenlee.com

April and Eiman, a Luxe Persian Wedding

10 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by genkiviv in Weddings

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Afsneh Sargodian, Feathered Dress, Golden Sofreh, Persian Wedding

April and Eiman had the casual ease of life-long friends, and they treated everyone with that same disarming warmth. We had such a good time shooting the stunning April (there’s a tomboy hidden under that feathered dress!) and the charming and romantic rascal, Eiman. Both inclined to play the gracious host, we were touched it seemed they genuinely wanted us to be a part of their celebration. It could be daunting to cover 400 merry guests, but this welcome extended throughout the wedding as we were constantly given way to get closer and better shots, invited to eat, drink and dance (only one of which we participated in, liberally). Each and every guest was not only glamorous, matching the lavishness of the reception, but incredibly elegant and polite, matching the classiness of their hosts. Catered by Eiman’s legendary father, the food was unparalleled, made with the same loving care and attention as one would expect from an intimate family gathering.

We are so far blessed with a fantastic wedding season. To have worked with such accommodating and hospitable people, from the bride and groom to the vendors, is one reason we love the work we do. April and Eiman, a toast to you and your exciting future together!

This fantastic wedding came together with the hard work of all these vendors:

Venue: Westin LAX

Planner: Beverly Harris Weddings & Events http://beverlyharrisweddings.com

Bridal Gown: Penache Bridal Salon Beverly Hills http://www.panachebridalbeverlyhills.com/

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Videography: Eric Films http://blog.ericfilm.com/

Catering: Shekarchi http://www.shekarchirestaurant.com

Sofreh: Afsneh Sargordian

Rentals: Mellanie Party Design http://mellaniedesign.com/

Lighting: OCAVS Lighting http://ocavs.com

Performers: Andy & Shani http://andymusic.com/

Florist: Tinaflowers tinaflowers.com

Cake: Pastries by Edie http://www.pastriesbyedieinc.com/

Lindsey and Steve, a Classy Langham Wedding

28 Thursday Jun 2012

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fairy tale weddings, inspiring weddings, Pasadena, the Langham Hotel

The sunlight filtered in with a certain lacy laziness over the Langham, hazing over the harsh, raw midday tone like the warm, familiar embrace from an old friend. Most little girls dream of such a day for having their fairy tale wedding, an entire day to be cherished and remembered. Lindsey and Steve had that one perfect day, their infectious smiles and laughter permeating to the guests and amongst the space. It was a day where everything fell magically into place. Starting with the gorgeous backdrop of the classic Langham Hotel, from the pink ribbon snug around the waist of Lindsey’s petal-inspired gown, to Steve’s charming bow tie, one could tell that they were planners and they had left no detail overlooked, which was all vibrantly captured by Agnes Csiszar’s on-site painting during their reception. But there was so much more than just the tangible objects that made Lindsey and Steve’s wedding a fairy tale. The moment Lindsey and Steve’s eyes met for the first look in the Horseshoe Garden, we could all tell their love is the real thing. Her elated, excited eyes proclaimed a love of having won her devoted prince. Steve’s lovesick smile equally told the story of a relationship culminating in an exclamation point on this day. Their love was not just real, but in that precious state of love where they couldn’t pull their eyes away from each other, and where they were overflowing with giddiness from the excitement of getting married. Time glided and dipped gracefully, like their first dance, waltzing to the rhythm of smiles and hugs, threading through the moments of the day. We loved every moment, and the moments were generous, just like Lindsey and Steve. Thank you for inspiring us, and for letting us be a part of your memories.

For this wedding, I was lucky enough to assemble my dream team: Raymond Lo and Haeran Kang, thanks a million!

Agnes Csiszar

16 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by genkiviv in Extraordinary Vendors, Weddings

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Agnes Csiszar, Georgian Ballroom, Langham, Live Event Paintings, Pasadena, Steve and Lindsey's Wedding

Several weeks ago, I was lucky enough to cover a wedding of fantastical grandeur (which I’ll post in a couple of weeks). One of Lindsey and Steve’s amazing ideas (actually, the brilliant idea belonged to Lindsey’s mother, Linda) was to commission Agnes Csiszar to paint their wedding reception as it was taking place. YES! How amazing is that?!

Several hours prior to the reception, Csiszar starts with a sketch of the room. As the evening unfolds, she incorporates the scenes and events she sees, working them into her composition.

In spite of being stationed in the corner of the Georgian ballroom, Csiszar somehow managed to capture all the nuances of the celebration. She got Lindsey and Steve’s posture, the petal-like layers of Lindsey’s gown, and their overflowing love and happiness.

This is the final version of Csiszar’s painting that Lindsey and Steve will have as a keepsake of their wedding.

Agnes, it was wonderful and inspiring to work with you! If anybody is interested in finding out more about Agnes Csiszar, her website is http://www.eventpaintingsbyagnes.com

Leila and Jesus, a Retro Long Beach Wedding

27 Tuesday Mar 2012

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Korean Bell, Long Beach, retro wedding, the Reef

Leila and Jesus recently tied the knot in a fun, retro styled wedding at the Reef in Long Beach! In spite of the windiest day of 2012 redirecting the outdoor ceremony at the Korean Friendship Bell to the lovely Reef Restaurant, Leila and Jesus kept their cool.

I was in awe as I saw Leila’s look come together for the day. She has impeccable taste: deep red lips, raven black curls, topped with a hair net that framed her face perfectly.

Jesus looked just as fly, with his white tux and bow tie.

Leila lit up when Jesus’s wedding day present arrived at the girls’ room. He had cut out heart shaped photos if themselves and placed them within an engraved locket.