call it fate, destiny, or dumb luck. whatever it is, it has a funny way of finding us, no matter how hard we try to avoid it. take our beautiful young couple here for example. colleen and john had it all figured out. they were single, successful, and dead sexy.
what more could they want?
someone else to care for? (insert snickering chuckles from both john and colleen here.) they’d seen those “couples.” you know the ones. they sit on the same side of the booth at restaurants and play footsy under the table. they hold hands in public and call each other schmoopy. if you look in their cube on valentine’s day you can’t see them because they’re hidden behind a wall of 2 dozen long-stem roses, a teddy bear holding a heart, and a card so big you could swear it took a minimum of three giant sequoia redwood trees to make it.
with lines like “hey, the carlsbad flower fields called and asked you for some flowers”  and “eww, get a room mom and dad” it was pretty clear that neither john or colleen wanted any part of that whole “couple” thing.
now picture in your mind a split screen with john in his room on one side and colleen in her room on the other (a la freaky friday). i’m not sure if this is exactly what happened, but i think i’m pretty close. at the same time, john and colleen look into their mirror and say “i am so going to rock this outfit at tonight’s non-lame anti-valentine’s day party!”
ring, ring. who is it? destiny. i’ve been expecting your call.
seconds after walking into the anti-valentine’s day party colleen saw john and did a bugs bunny double take. it was some time shortly after that when john and colleen sat on the same side of the booth, held hands in public, called each other schmoopy, and had their parents tell them to get a room.
we have enjoyed every minute with you two colleen and john. your engagement session at balboa park (that included the infamous cop car kissing shot), wedding at torrey pines christian church, and reception at orfila vineyard have warmed our hearts and shown us what love looks like. you are a wonderful couple and your families are just plain awesome.
colleen, your dad and i were talking before your wedding and he eloquently put into words the exact reason why we love what we do. i’m paraphrasing here, but he told me that the photos we make today are more than images. they are the memories that will bring a smile to your face when you sit down with your spouse and open your wedding album on your 44th wedding anniversary (coincidentally the same number of years he has been married to your mom this year). he added that these photographs are your legacy. they will be the windows that your descendants peer through to see into their past as they trace their roots back through their family tree. the conversation with your dad lasted less than 10 minutes, but his words will be with me forever. that is just one reason (of many) that i am grateful we met you and john. thank you both so much for allowing us to document these beautiful moments in the history of your ohana. God bless you and keep you safe colleen and john. may all the days you share together be happy ones.
colleen’s gorgeous wedding dress was by a designer in barcelona spain named rosa clara. her garter was hand made in nottingham england and was a gift from her cousins that live there. the veil was her “something borrowed” item. thanks heather! colleen’s exquisite jewelry was by nardi at nordstrom and she scored her shoes at my bridal shop (david’s bridal). no, i don’t own it. they just used my name so i consider it mine. colleen’s hair was done at buddy farnsworth hair nouveaux in la jolla and her makeup was done by kim cruise at bobbi brown. john’s cuff links belonged to his grandfather, gordon, before he passed. thank you grandpa!
while i’m thanking people i have to send a huge mahalo to catherine bachelier smith at cbs weddings for coordinating all the details and keeping everything on track. she gets an extra gold star for being extra fun to work with.
john was looking sharp, even if those weren’t real estrada sunglasses
april told me she thought she heard john whisper “i am so gonna rock this tux at my wedding today” but that is unconfirmed at this time.
colleen looked absolutely ah-mazing in her wedding dress. i caught this as she walked downstairs to see her mom and dad.
hey john, i hope you’re ready to see the most stunning bride on the planet. she’s headed to the church to meet you.
dad helped colleen keep her train on track.
quick quiz. is this the best looking couple you’ve ever seen? (the answer is yes)
colleen and john departed the church in style via a classic rolls royce and guests rode in comfort aboard a bus from goldfield stage.
i think this is my favorite shot of the day. i just love how happy they look.
floralworks made everything pretty with their incredible floral arrangements.
i have seen a lot of cake toppers. a lot. this one makes my top ten list not only because it’s vintage, but because of it’s family history. it sat atop colleen’s parent’s wedding cake 44 years ago. how cool is that?! so glad they saved it. it was perfect for colleen and john’s delicious wedding cake from vg donuts.
anyone ever had these white cookie looking things? they’re not cookies at all. they are the marshmallows in lucky charms, on steroids! i’m hungry for cereal now.
colleen put theses cute candy boxes together for all the guests. she even hand stamped the wax on all of them. nice work colleen.
the cigar bar stocked with padron cigars was a big hit.
coast catering eliminated all growling stomachs with food, food, and more food. their butternut squash raviolis are all alone on their own level of insane deliciousness. so good!
colleen’s grandma, at 95 years young mind you, got the party jumpin. her smile and genuine happiness reminded me a lot of my own grandma. i hope we all get to laugh and enjoy life for as many years.
when she got on the dance floor there was instantly a crowd of cameras around her that would rival the pod of paparazzi that follow kim kardashian everywhere she goes.
go grandma! go grandma!
it’s a dance off!
manwich? at a wedding?
i’ll take two.
the nrg band kept the dance floor packed all night.
that’s love right there.
p.d.a. at it’s finest.
in the words of dr. dre… ring ding dong, ringa ding ding ding dong.
and now our p.s.a. for the day.
support your police everyone. you might need their support some day, or maybe just their car.
love you two!
thank you for visiting our wedding photography blog
check out our portfolio.
contact us by phone at 858.663.3283
or email: david@ohanaphotographers.com
ohana photographers |Â ohana photographers blog |Â hawaii wedding photography |Â san diego wedding photography |Â orange county wedding photography |Â los angeles wedding photography |Â san francisco wedding photography |Â wedding photographers |Â san diego family photographer |Â hawaii family photographer |Â orange county family photographer |Â los angeles family photographer
oh my…what a fun and beautiful wedding! you guys are amazing as usual, and boy do i always look forward to your ring shots =) i love grandma, and that last one too