Wedding Photos - highlights

I have finally sorted through all the seven hundred plus photos and love every single one. If people's attention span could actually filter through all the images, I would have posted them for our family and friends but instead, I found all the favorites the represented our wedding day and uploaded them.

Calamigos Ranch in Malibu was the perfect place for our wedding but what made it more memorable were all the unique locations that we had as our playground for our photos: ferris wheel, red barn (interior and exterior), old bridge, old log cabin, big green field, the giant oak tree from the ceremony and of course, the yellow school bus that was the best rental we could have done. I love all the photos and looking back, it would have been pretty cool to have some cotton candy as a prop to use instead of the bouquet :)

Of all the wedding costs that we had to deal with, the most important for us was the photographer budget and am so happy that this was one area that we didn't hold back on. We loved working with Joy of Wildflowers Photos and her husband, Donny, they made us so comfortable in front of the camera although most of the time, we didn't even realize that they were there. The final photos are truly magical and memorable for us and having these to look back on definitely gives me the warm and fuzzies!

Wedding Ceremony Reflection

*i thought that i was done with any reflection on the whole wedding process but we just received all of our photos (700+) and going through them, i'm getting waves of emotions/thoughts/feelings that i forgot all about. since i didn't do too much writing during the whole process, i guess it's time for me to release a few more wedding reflections blog. hope you don't mind? :)

Back in the days of the wedding planning, Marijn and I discussed having my childhood pastor marry us off. It was a very brief idea that was quickly shut down when we realized that neither of us are religious but the most important part was that my childhood pastor was just that: a person from my past who knew nothing of Marijn and I. We wanted to have someone marry us that knew both of us as a couple as well as an individual. We thought of our friends and realized that the best person would be our friend, Matt (the State of California allows for someone to get officiated for a day). We asked him early on and after thinking long and hard about it, he agreed! It was so wonderful knowing that we all worked together on putting together a ceremony that was meaningful and special not only for us but for our family and friends that sat through the ceremony.

Besides our individual vows to each other, we also included vows for us as a married couple and said "we do" instead of the standard "I do." The vows that we wrote were touching, heartwarming and even silly since some of them caused laughter from our families.

•will you make sure to never waste an opportunity to say I love you, never forget to ask "what can I do to help?"

• because conversation is always better with sand between your toes, will you take time to walk on the beach together?

• getting out of the house will always be frantic in the morning. It will only get more crazy. Don't leave without a hug and a kiss. The world will wait those five seconds. The same is true when going to bed. Always kiss goodnight. Even when you're so exhausted you can barely lift your head. Will you promise to hug and kiss?

• the days are long but the years are short. Will you promise to appreciate what you have today because it all goes by so fast?

• a bottle of wine at sunset is a true pleasure in life, don't sour it by talking about work. Will you promise to talk about something important and enjoy these moments?

• will you go on date nights together and remember why you fell head-over-heels in love with each other in the first place?

• will you remember that the money you make apart is not nearly as important as the time you spend together?

• will you promise to care for and support each other in the joys and sorrow of life and to share the responsibility for growth and enrichment in your life together?

We also included my grandfather into the ceremony as he was the only person to do a reading. It was so touching to have my grandfather, who has been happily married for over 61 years read for us this quote from "Union" by Robert Fulgham:

"...You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world – This is my husband. This is my wife."

Lake Lopez Camping Weekend

Getting away for the weekend is one of my favorite things to do. As much as I love exploring the Bay Area, it is quite nice to get in the car and discover somewhere new. This past weekend was a trip to Lake Lopez in Arroyo Grande which is right next to San Luis Obispo. It is such a perfect destination for anyone trying to get out of the Northern or Southern California area. It's about a four hour drive from either L.A. or Santa Clara which is the perfect distance for a camping weekend. The lake is beautiful, isolated and in order to get to it, you have to drive through dozens of wineries (I drove alone so wine-tasting hopping wasn't possible to do). It was a perfect weekend of boating, hiking, campfire games, drinking and enjoying the company of friends and family.

If any one ever does find themselves looking to camp at Lake Lopez, highly suggest staying at Grizzly Camp - sites 5,6 or 7. It is the best location with an incredible view (plus it's a short walking distance to the Marina and the Water park - yes, there is a water park in their campground!)

• view from my tent •

• sunset from our campsite - so perfect •

• love the way the campfire makes the trees look •

• boating •

• I think I can do this most weekends •

Music gives me the warm and fuzzies

There aren't too many things that I miss about living in L.A., however this past weekend, I realized how much I miss the Hollywood Bowl and their summer music series (actually, the music scene in general I also miss)! An evening out with friends, picnicking while watching the sun set and listening to some wonderful music was one of my favorite pastimes of L.A. (the only other event that can compare is Cinespia - watching classic movies in the Hollywood Cemetery).

I am happy to have found a place for me to get the warm and fuzzies over with excellent music. The Montalvo Arts Center is such a unique and incredible venue for music and arts. The venue was built in 1912 by Senator Phelan and is a center for creativity that offers art courses, gallery exhibits and concerts. Another trip just to stroll the grounds is highly needed. It's an intimate center where every seat is a good seat (general admission tickets are the way to go, we had nice seats but didn't need to pay the extra money for it) with acoustics that make it feel like they are playing just for you. My favorite was feeling like I was at someone's home instead of a "venue."

• the villa •

• behind the villa •

We went to see Ozomatli who is one of my L.A. favorite bands and have watched them perform a few times all over the L.A. area so to have them play close to my new home was so perfect. They took advantage of the intimate setting, performing into the crowd, bringing out their children to perform and they closed the evening with an impromptu jam session in the villa's courtyard. Even after their mini-jam session ended, they continued to hang out in the courtyard meeting all their fans.

• lead singer, raul •

• raul was cool •

• music makes me warm and fuzzy - although wine can help •

I have been neglecting my musical self while living in Santa Clara (there really aren't too many places that are close by) but I am releasing the inner-hippie in a few weeks to see Phish at Shoreline. I haven't been to Shoreline so am curious if I will like the venue. I am happy to know that there is a little gem of a place now in the Saratoga area that I am going to have to frequent more! :)

Wedding Photos - sneak peek

We have been eagerly awaiting the photos from our wedding from our photographer, Joy Harmon Prouty (Wildflowers Photography) who teams up with her husband and is based in Thousand Oaks. All of their photographs evoke a feeling which is the most important thing when it comes to photography (you should really surf their wedding photos and newborn photos. If we're living in the States when we have a kid, I'm so going to them!) We are just so overwhelmed by their pure awesomeness!

We haven't received the final disc of all the photos and I'm sure that when we go through them, we will find photos that are our personal favorites but in the meantime, here are two links of what Joy loved (which are all perfect and the music from the slideshow is fantastic).

Wildflowers Photography - Best of Slideshow

Wildflowers Photography - Blog

• our first glance, what a perfect location •

• wowzers •

• i heart this photo •

• perfect family photo •