Cardas Photography {PhotoBlog}

Belen and Steven - Monterey Memory Garden Wedding

Monterey is definitely at the top of my list for favorite locations for weddings. The weather is calm and cool - and so are the people. Belen and Steven put on a fantastic wedding from beginning to end at The Memory Garden. Their family and friends were out on the dance floor until the bitter end! Thank you Belen and Steven for having Amy and I as part of your big day.

The couple got ready at The Portola Hotel. I always love shooting here, the light, the location, the sea air through the blinds... I can't get enough! Not to mention the beautiful elevators!

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Monterey CA, Memory Garden Wedding

Wedding season is in full swing! I'm back from a whirlwind trip to Monterey Bay California for Belen and Steven's wedding at the Memory Garden, one of my absolute favorite venues. I love walking to the waterfront and having the beautiful colors of the boardwalk and the bay as the backdrop. Tons more to share - but I just love this one, taken right before sunset. 

 

{Family Beach Photos} Bandon, Oregon

It's my favorite time of the year! The sun comes out and families start heading from all corners of the world to the Oregon Coast. We may not have the warmest beaches in the world - but they are arguably amongst the most beautiful. And when families are together and having fun, being a little cold and not having perfect hair don't seem to matter anymore. Thanks to this awesome family for having me capture their connections on the beach in Bandon.

{Julie and David} Wedding - Memory Garden, Monterey California

Julie and David's wedding was held at the Memory Garden, just steps away from the Portola Hotel  I have admired from afar in the past - but was lucky enough to be able to stay at this time. Can you believe this place is pet friendly?? Yup - I got to have not only my husband and son along with me for this trip - but our two weinerdogs - Mike and Cooper too! But back to work... :)

Julie and David chose not to see each other before the ceremony - so I got some extra time with David and his guys.

Their wedding was not too long after the Royal wedding of Will and Kate - so Julie encouraged her guests to wear the most fabulous "Fascinators" they could find. I totally wish I could have found one in time!! 

The lovely bridesmaids before the ceremony began.

David's first glimpse of his beautiful bride.

One of Julie's cousins arranged for a Mariachi band to be waiting for them after they left the garden.  They were SO much fun to have playing for the cocktail hour!

Since they chose not to see each other prior to the ceremony, we used this time to get all the family and bridal party shots done - and then we snuck away for just a few minutes before the reception began.

I tell brides that if there is ever a time that you want to do something - do it in a wedding dress. Most people will happily do whatever it takes to make you happy. Including a couple of tourists who were more than willing to give up their adorable two person bike/cart thing so we could borrow it for a few pictures :O)

 

 

Then it was back to the festivities!

The "ask and you shall receive" rule applies to the photographer sometimes too. Case in point: "May I borrow your fascinator for a photo with the rings?" - "SURE!!"

Seriously a fantastic weekend, with a fabulous group of family and friends. So lucky to be a part of it! :) 

I know it's hard to believe, but there are more of my favorites from the day >>> HERE <<<

Enjoy!  And as always - keep up on the latest from all of my sessions and musings on my Facebook page >>> Cardas Photography on Facebook <<<

{Julie and David} Rehearsal and Engagement - Monterey, CA

About once a year or so I am asked to shoot a wedding in Monterey. It is easily one of my top ten favorite places in the world. I love the wharfs, the aquarium, the shops and the history of this beautiful place. As is often the case when I travel for a wedding, I met up with Julie and David the evening before their wedding for double duty of the wedding rehearsal and their engagement session. It's fun for me to meet all the friends and family before the hubbub of the big day.

The ceremony location was the beautiful and historic Memory Garden, located within the walls of the Pacific house in the heart of Monterey's Custom House plaza. 

 

After Rehearsal and before dinner we headed out for a quick Engagement session. I like to shoot these images even if the couple doesn't use them for "official" purposes. It's a chance for me to get to know the couple and how they are in front of the camera, and for them to get to know me and how I work before the big day. Plus - these are usually some of the only "nice" photos some couples have of themselves that weren't taken by themselves with their cameras at arms length. :)   

Then it was off to Julie's parents house for family pictures and dinner. Yum! 

Next up - their beautiful wedding day!