The last wedding of the year (2012) was simply phenomenal! It was the 1st of December and weather called for rain…lots of rain! Everyone was a little nervous about the that, but chose to be in good spirits anyway. Amy and Brandon were married at the elegant and beautiful Spanish Oaks Ranch in Santa Margarita. Amy and Brandon are very photogenic people, but they are both very genuine and kind people as well. To top it off their families were just the same! I can’t even really express properly how nice it was to see Amy and Brandon get married and the wonderful time that was had by family, friends and photographer alike. All I can really say in summary is – “It was epic!” I worked this wedding alone as I normally do, as the sole photographer.
The morning started with the ladies at Faces Alamode Salon in San Luis Obispo. This salon has some “personality”!
While the girls got ready, the guys had very important things to do. Important things like playing Jenga (the building block game) and a round or two of cards.
When all else fails, ask your buddies for assistance and they’ll make sure everything is just perfect!
A beautiful bouquet of wedding flowers is always a great pleasure to photograph! Normally white flowers don’t contrast with a white wedding dress with much “pop”. However, notice how Amy’s wedding bouquet has shades of green and yellow in it. That makes a huge difference. Amy’s bouquet was elegant, classy and beautiful, just like her.
Some might say on the wedding day we got lucky with the weather. I think it was nothing short of a miracle! All morning had been a complete down pour with the forecast being “rain all day”. Surely the ceremony would have to take place inside – we all thought. Then all of a sudden with 30 minutes to go before the ceremony, the skies above the Spanish Oaks Ranch begain to clear making way for white puffy clouds and blue skies! Not only was it not raining, but it was stunningly beautiful! The ceremony was readied for outside and the rest was history! I get goose bumps just thinking about it. Every day God smiles on us in so many different ways.
The Spanish Oaks Ranch is an amazing wedding venue! Less than 1 minute off the free way and yet you feel like you are out on a secluded Ranch dozens of miles from the city. It also has the feel of a more elegant and classy ranch. There are no old barns, rough bumpy dirt roads or endless flat ranch lands. To me it was more like a wonderland in the middle of a well groomed forest with rolling hills, pond and beautiful ranch house to top it off.
The second story of the Spanish Oaks wedding venue building has ample room for the bride and bridesmaids and groom and groomsmen to get ready while staying secluded from one another. What a view from upstairs too!
Children are just amazingly fun. I love the interesting expressions the give. Here’s a great example of the contrasts in personalities between children. One with an ever so serious look and the other one with his tongue hanging out of his mouth as he comes down the aisle. Just awesome!
Brandon awaits for his hearts desire to walk down the aisle! What a sweet moment!
The below shot took a little extra effort. However, extra effort is worth it in my book. Not much in life worth great value is obtained with little effort! This is the type of shot that Amy and Brandon will appreciate for the rest of their lives. How fun, to able to scan the whole crowd (even if it be with a magnifying glass) and see each and every person at their wedding!
Just as we finished the big group shot this little guy made a run for it – trying to escape. The crowd looked on with marvelous joy and laughter…while his parents and I dashed out in front of him to make sure his escape would not be successful.
Such a little girl and yet she’s already marveling at her own artistic gift for taking great pictures!
Wonderful and memorable speeches were make by best man, maid of honor and father of the bride!
Wonderful and special moments captured not only of Amy and Brandon, but also between bride and father, groom and father and both sets of parents dancing with their own spouses! Beautiful!
I was thinking: “don’t do it, no don’t do it Amy and Brandon, don’t put the cake in each other’s faces…it’s just way to messy”. They did it anyway!
Below, one groomsmen “spins” and the other gives me a look that says….well…?…..I don’t know what that look says?
This little flower girl is having a great time showing the bride her new favorite trick….dress over the face….yahoo!
Rock on my friends!
As the night neared a conclusion Amy and Brandon share a wonderful touching moment together, seconds before interrupted by a rowdy groomsman.
Thanks so much to Amy, Brandon and both of their families for entrusting me with the wonderful privilege and responsibility of capturing one of the most special days in all their lives. It was such an honor to be your wedding photographer as well as be able to experience the joy, celebration and love of your special day! There is no doubt you two have found a once in a lifetime love!
Kindly,
Trent
Check out Brandon and Amy’s Wedding Slide Show Below!
Spanish Oaks Ranch Weddings in Santa Margarita. Wedding Photography. Amy and Brandon. from ProImage Weddings Photography on Vimeo.