A Carmel Valley Wedding

At Bernardus Lodge couples get married in a rose garden setting with a view of the mountains.  It's a great country walk for the bride to walk from the resort down to the ceremony site.  Another great wedding to shoot...Mark, the father of the bride was very involved in the wedding planning, and I tried to capture his moment walking his daughter to her groom.

The shoes,  the brides jewelry and bouquet create a still life.  For me, it's like painting with my camera.

I always say a bride is not a bride until she puts on her wedding dress.  To me, it's a significant part of the wedding.  

The groomsmen's shoes- I am always looking for these detail shots.....

Carmel Valley weddings are a great setting for an elegant wedding.  The Father of the bride making "the walk"....

During the ceremony we had 2 photographers.  I always like to have 2 angles of view, and especially  during the ceremony.  One view of the groom, and one photographing the bride. 

The guests threw rose petals to the happy couple.

This is one of my favorite bridal party groups shots- weddings should have moments of fun - like this!

Another favorite group shot.

Carmel Valley Wedding First Look

The reveal or first look is becoming extremely popular.  There are so many reasons to seriously consider having a reveal.  We like to place the bride in a place with a background that her groom will always remember.  Remember in a traditional setting the groom is in front of 100+ people and to see his bride for the first time it is an emotuiopai experience.  The shots we get the groom at that time he often has a look of overwhelming nervousness we call it “the deer in the headlights” expression.  The reveal offers several advantages; the groom sees the bride like a painting hence a visual moment never to be forgotten, we can capture this intimate and emotional moment where as in a traditional setting the aisle makes this difficult,  the couple has a moment to connect, and the bride and groom shots that come from this are incredible.  With a first look or reveal the couples also less nervous and more present during the ceremony. 

In some instances the family and/or bridal party is off to the side watching.  Following the reveal we can do the  family/bridal party shots, which mean following the ceremony the bride and groom can enjoy their party.  We always tell our couples that a reveal does not weaken the wonderful drama of the bride walking down the aisle….with a reveal the bride has 2 entrances for her groom.  

These are shots form Chelsea and Matt’s reveal.  She is wearing tennis shoes under her dress and we have place a sheet under her so she will not tarnish the dress on th beach….you can see from their reveal what it meat to them.  After this Chelsea freshen up at her hotel and was driven to her ceremony in Carmel Valley.