Can I just say one thing? I love a good last name. Like, I love my last name now that I’m married.

In case you’re wondering, it’s Auer like Bauer. Like hour. Like our. Like power.

It’s simple, short and sweet. Don’t get me wrong, my maiden name wasn’t bad [though I myself, being a traditionalist, adore being tied to my husband via last name- and everything else]. But a married name is special. A married name is chosen, and I feel that it speaks volumes about me.

So when I met with Erica and she told me Brian’s last name was Winter, I about died. Can you imagine? How completely adorable is that? Any child they have will be the cutest kid in school with that last name. And their 11.11.11 wedding- just on the cusp of that pivotal season- is complete with theme, just being them. Matt and Molly Snelson of Mathieu Photo did it again [and again and again] and knocked my socks off with their gorgeous images. So, meet Erica, meet Brian… meet the [to-be] Winters:

Exactly. See? They get it!!

Erica is exceptionally sweet. She’s graceful and looks you in the eye when you talk with her. And she is so trusting of us. I’m thrilled that we connected on a personal level from the get-go. Chatting with her and knowing that she trusts us and our vision to make her wedding exceptional makes me feel like I’m on a whole new level of loved. And more than that- it shows tremendous things about her character!

Brian fits her like a glove. They’re considerate of one another, genuinely best friends and so excited to begin their life together. It’s amazing to watch and an honor to be a part of!

Oh yeah, she’s also a little bit vixen. In all the best [bridal] ways! Really though, I have a feeling she prefers her time to be spent right here:

In a place where we live the literal Endless Summer, it’s nice to get us a bit of Winter!! So, go leave these Winters some love by commenting lots right here!!!

Take a break with your head on someone’s shoulder today. Romantic or not, it’s real, and we all need us some reality at moments. It’s nice to be needed- and more than that, it’s great to show that you need, too.

xoxo,

I have come to the conclusion that you’ve been kept waiting long enough. I mean, I teased you already about this couple. Now, it’s time to show you the new hotness [or, cuteness even] that is Brooke and Toon. Their up-and-coming photographer at Tikko Studios [someone I'd yet to have heard of and is now officially on my radar for making me smile ear to ear] did such a great job capturing the essence of these two. I love so many of the photos!

Brooke is one of those girls that you always keep thinking “she’s one step from pissing me off”. No, no- not like that. Because Brooke is sweet. She’s genuine, soft, caring and feminine. And, well, she’s totes gorgeous [as exemplified] and apparently ridiculously photogenic. You want to hate her, right? But you can’t. Trust me. And when you meet her, you’ll stop wanting to hate her. You’ll just want to be around her.

Toon- her counterpart. Just gets her. They connect through quick glances, through laughter, and through their completely authentic friendship. Working with couples like them makes my job so full of raw joy. I adore it.

She gives us the “smeyes”…

And he sees her “smeyes” and raises it with a smolder!

These next two are my absolute favorite in the way they make me FEEL. About love. About Brooke. About Toon. About my job.

And one last cutie for the road:

B+T, you know I can’t wait for your Smoggy May wedding. It’s going to be quirk city and I’m thrilled to be along for the ride.

You can view the blog post that their photogs put up right here [and cruise around for a while, too- the site is enchanting!!]. And now, my dears, I implore you- spend some time in love’s midst today!

xoxo,

Sometimes I think my clients are just TOO much. No, no- not too much stress, or too intense, or too overbearing. You’re forgetting that I literally just happen upon the best clients in the world. When I say ” too much” I mean too funny, too sweet, too cute, and sometimes [in Irene's case] too totally wrong about themselves!

You see, Irene prefaced the email with the link to her photos by saying that I should “keep in mind they know how awkward they are”. So, of course, I was expecting your standard awkward engagement photo. And then I opened these from Ian Grant Photography, and gave my eyes a whole minute to do a super-drama-diva roll before telling Irene that she was off-her-rocker crazy. Like, she should be put into a straight jacket. And here’s me saying, Irene: it’s NOT ‘the dress’, it’s not ‘you’, it’s not ‘Aaron’, it’s certainly not awkward- it’s love. And above all, it’s your love. And I love that love.

When a couple has about 1/3 of their engagement photos full of laughter and true, genuine smiles… you know you’re in for the good stuff.

Growing up in Pasadena and now living in [and planning from] the Bay Area, Irene and Aaron are tying the knot at the incredibly ridiculous Saddlerock Ranch! A dream venue for brides and design teams alike!

Are you totally in love with them yet? Well, if not, here’s one to put you over the top:

Am I right?

Thanks to Ian for capturing them so authentically!

Irene [who is most likely going to read this] and Aaron [who, let's face it, probably won't]: yay! Just, yay! I love the way you two love one another. That last picture, in the ice cream shop- reminds me of who I want to be. It’s full of all the hope and love and newly-wedded [almost wedded] bliss that dreams, real dreams, are made of. I love who you are. Don’t change a thing. Funny dress/face/laugh/feel and all.

xoxo,

Now, I don’t typically do “sneak peek” engagement sessions [do I??], but, Brooke just casually sent this my way via email and I about jumped out of my skin with delight when I saw it!! Having never worked with her photographer, Tikko Studios, before- I really didn’t know what to expect. But this… this was definitely exceeding. I adore this photo and now I simply cannot wait to see the rest. [Do you see what I did there? I became a polite version of my alter-ego "Demanda" by essentially letting Brooke and Toon know they must send me their images now. Don't worry guys, it's all for your benefit, not mine!]

Cute, right? I wish you could all meet them in person and just hug on them the way I always get to when we meet!! There’ll be more where this came from right around the corner. You betcha!

xoxo,

I die for this couple. [Been watching too much Rachel Zoe recently I realize]. No joke. They are going to have one of THE best weddings of the century. I know we’re only 10 years in, but it seriously is going to be that fun. A bonanza if you will. And you will. Ohhhh, you will. Let’s get to this crazy couple, captured perfectly by Mathieu Photography!

That’s the tree they’re gonna get married in front of.  I’m squealing with delight.

THIS is them.  So cute.  So fun.  So happy.

Can’t wait to be a part of this big day, which is right around the corner (THIS Saturday!).  Go ahead and head over to Matt and Molly’s blog to look at ALL their hotness. Now. Go!

I don’t know how I do it, but I seem to get the CUTEST, most IN LOVE, and considerably ADORABLE couples out of the bunch who choose me to work with them. And I love it. Karina and Tanner are totally no exception. They have been a delight to work with every single meeting and now, as we rapidly approach their wedding, their excitement is radiating from both of them! I’m thrilled that they’ve chosen Jered Scott to document their day [just a personal bonus that we're friends]. So when he shot me an email over with a few gems from their woodsy engagement session, I was tickled pink! He begged me not to blog them until he’d met with K&T and they’d seen them all themselves [which of course I did] but now that their wedding is this Friday… it’s free reign!

Such a total fave of mine. I cannot get over it:

And some urbanite shots…

I love that the shot above is so indicative of marriage to me. It may not be a very feminist attitude that I have, but I feel exactly this way about my husband. He’s my protector, my best friend, my strong arm. I cling to him willingly and lovingly, as he promises to guide me, keep me safe, shield me from harm, and be soft to my heart. I can only hope that each and every one of my clients gets the same thing out of their marriage [as much as they desire it to be]- and I can tell that this is the dynamic already set up for Karina and Tanner in all the best of ways.

And two more faves:

Thanks Jered! Cannot wait to see the spanish-infused rustic fiesta fall wedding come together this Saturday!!

xoxo,

I went to a wedding on 10.8.10 and gasped when I arrived. Not anything out of the ordinary, really- I gasp a lot when I work because I looooove so much about my job [and the cute stuff that comes with it, like, GASP- cookies! GASP- succulents! GASP- bouquets!]. I gasped because I realized something quite important.

I’d forgotten to introduce you all to Carmen and Elmer. Via blog, of course. And they are oh-so-blog-worthy. But I’ll admit something candidly here just because I can: I’m happy about that. Mainly due to the fact that spending an hour with a couple learning about them initially is great, but working with them, seeing their love and their story and their time unfold… it changes me. It changes how I view my own world. And certainly how I view theirs. So, I’m writing to you now, imparting a bit of Carmen and Elmer and their bilingual love to you.

Oh Mr. Aaron Shintaku my affection for your work runs deep. Plus you’re a pretty fab hang with a great attitude- nothing I could ask for more!! He took C + E to their stomping ground, the Los Rios District in San Juan Capistrano. The iconic area as captured below:

When I first met Carmen- her sweetness immediately struck me. She is genuine, through and through, and now having shared her wedding day alongside of her… I know it. It’s pure, unfettered love for her HUSBAND that keeps her this way!

Oh and P.S. she totally got her braces off the week of her wedding. Along with a killer spray tan. This girl is one hot little mama.

With all the “fierce” they’re delivering in these engagement pics from months back, I can only IMAGINE what Aaron had to work with under the warm San Clemente sun [and a backdrop like Casa Romantica!]. Attack of the killer wedding photos… right?!

Carmy and Elms [just now made those names up, so deal with it]: I am totally completely head over heels in love with your love. Your families. The moments in your wedding sunk deep into my soul and I’m keeping them as part of my heart. I’m so honored that I got to spend those cherished hours with you. I hope you’re resting and relaxing and honeymooning it up! And I’m glad I didn’t blog these until now, so that I can shout from the rooftops how good it is to see a love like yours become a marriage like yours is sure to be.

Love fearlessly today, my dear readers!

xoxo,

Are y’all ready for this?? I could not have let out a more delighted squeal when Emily passed these photos over to me, compliments of Max Wanger. Emily and Richard are super playful, super fun, super CUTE and totally ‘get’ it… know what I mean? I can just see in their faces that they get it. They’re tying the knot THIS MONTH at one of my fave venues, the SmogShoppe in Culver City [I mean, is there a week this September where I'm not there??]! I cannot wait for the explosion of turquoise and red and white and quirk that will come from their wedding. Every time Em and I connect, I get excited. Like probably a little too excited for the fact that it’s not my own personal wedding. But, moving on…

You can tell already huh? This is gonna be good. And you’re right. It’s good.

I mean seriously if I could wrap Richard in a bow and place him on my bookshelf I would. That outfit!!

Classic Max:

UGH you guys. I’m trying to widdle down the number of images as I post and I just CANNOT seem to. I’m sorry. Don’t get bored. The best is still yet to come!

ADORE this:

This was their save the date postcard, below. There is possibly nothing better in life than girly, dainty running hands and human airplanes.

Okay. I’m doing it. I’m limiting myself to THREE more photos. But seriously there are oodles more.

What’s that? You’re DYING for one more?? But how am I supposed to go and break the rules that I myself set up mere minutes ago?? Okay, for you lovely readers, because you’re worth it…

I know! It’s my favorite too. Have a splendid day, my friends. Hope these photos take you back to a youthful, joyful place like they did for me- tennis camp in the summers and playground on school days.

xoxo!!