Every once in a while, we all go to a wedding that is nothing but glitzy and glamorous. Everybody is left breathless by all the fancy details, the extravagant dress, the designer shoes, the extraordinary sea of flowers. Sure, it's a treat to our eyes and we can spend a whole day ooh-ing and ahh-ing about every over-the-top detail. But when we witness a wedding that is purely about love, friendship, and a celebration of the couple's true personalities, I think it's something even more magical than having a seven-tiered wedding cake. Susan and John's wedding was the perfect example.
John was an old friend from college, but we met Susan for the first time when we flew to Detroit on their wedding weekend. Probably in our entire history of weddings, we've never seen a bride so genuinely happy and excited about getting married than Susan was. It was that kind of giddy, child-like, pure excitement that made this bride glow on her wedding day. Even right after the first look, they couldn't help but clap their hands in total glee. It was the cutest thing we've ever seen. John is usually a pretty quiet, low-profile kind of of guy, but when he surprised his bride at the reception with a personal song (and sang in front of everybody), we couldn't help but marvel at how sweet this couple was together. They would do anything just to make each other smile--like showing up to the wedding wearing Converses under his tux.
It didn't matter that this wedding wasn't as royal as Kate Middleton's or as fancy as the Clinton's. Susan and John made their wedding extraordinary just by being completely in love.
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John was an old friend from college, but we met Susan for the first time when we flew to Detroit on their wedding weekend. Probably in our entire history of weddings, we've never seen a bride so genuinely happy and excited about getting married than Susan was. It was that kind of giddy, child-like, pure excitement that made this bride glow on her wedding day. Even right after the first look, they couldn't help but clap their hands in total glee. It was the cutest thing we've ever seen. John is usually a pretty quiet, low-profile kind of of guy, but when he surprised his bride at the reception with a personal song (and sang in front of everybody), we couldn't help but marvel at how sweet this couple was together. They would do anything just to make each other smile--like showing up to the wedding wearing Converses under his tux.
It didn't matter that this wedding wasn't as royal as Kate Middleton's or as fancy as the Clinton's. Susan and John made their wedding extraordinary just by being completely in love.
Book Wayne + Angela // Join our Facebook Fanpage // Subscribe by RSS Feed // © Wayne Yuan Photography
Palm Springs wasn't an affair we were about to miss. So when Nicole and Al told us about their last-minute wedding at the Cree Estate, we bought our plane tickets on the same day. They envisioned a fun, casual weekend with their friends at one of their favorite places in the world, so renting out a vacation home was definitely the way to go. The estate had its own private garden and double pools (with diving boards!) to keep guests entertained. After their backyard ceremony, the guests enjoyed drinks poolside and put on fun costumes for the photobooth. The best part--everything was planned and put together by their friends! Everybody enjoyed a pleasant dinner under the palm trees and strings of lanterns as the sun began to set. Instead of the traditional wedding cake, Nicole and Al fed each other their favorite dessert, strawberry shortcake, tweaked with extra strawberries and enough topping for everyone. We have to admit, it was delicious. Instead of dancing the night away, they all jumped into the pool (in costumes!) and made this one of the most memorable weddings we've ever witnessed. As last-minute as it all was, they managed to pull it together in the end. Rock on. We had a blast!
As photographers in the wedding industry, our calendar is usually finalized about a year to six months in advance of wedding season, which means there's really not much spontaneity when it comes to our work schedule.
But then, we met Al.
It all seemed to happen in one quick adrenaline rush of events--he called us, we booked our plane tickets, and then flew out to California for their wedding all within five days time. It wasn't until we arrived at the Cree Estate in Palm Springs that we found out this whole wedding was pulled together just the same way--with the help of their closest and dearest friends, the whole she-bang was accomplished in just a few short weeks. We've never seen a wedding that displayed so much teamwork from the very guest list until this one. The DJ, the photobooth, Al's personal sweat-wiper--it all confirmed that this bride and groom had all the right connections. And for a couple as spontaneous as Al and Nicole, it was just the right mix.
The morning of the wedding was unusually chaotic on the groom's side. While we were used to seeing the groom and groomsmen sitting around watching football while the girls scurried around to get ready, Al's morning consisted of writing his last-minute vows and finding a song for their First Dance. And, of course, trying to wolf down a sandwich while his friends pulled together all their resources for their best friend. As crazy as it sounds, what still amazes us is that everything came through on the other side prompt and perfectly delivered. His vows still made all the bridesmaids cry; their First Dance, a winner. And after all the kind (and hilarious) words had been said, the thoughtful gestures made, everybody jumped in the pool at the end of the evening like the party had only just begun. And that was partially true, because they all changed into crazy costumes for the latter half of the night. For us, it seemed like Mardi Gras had come a second time this year; for Al and Nicole, it was the perfect way to spend a weekend in Palm Springs with their buddies. And they couldn't look happier.
Al and Nicole, your wedding was the craziest we've ever witnessed, but also the most unforgettable. Thank you for sharing with us a glimpse of your lives--we hope your days ahead will be just as, if not more, exciting than the one we captured!
But then, we met Al.
It all seemed to happen in one quick adrenaline rush of events--he called us, we booked our plane tickets, and then flew out to California for their wedding all within five days time. It wasn't until we arrived at the Cree Estate in Palm Springs that we found out this whole wedding was pulled together just the same way--with the help of their closest and dearest friends, the whole she-bang was accomplished in just a few short weeks. We've never seen a wedding that displayed so much teamwork from the very guest list until this one. The DJ, the photobooth, Al's personal sweat-wiper--it all confirmed that this bride and groom had all the right connections. And for a couple as spontaneous as Al and Nicole, it was just the right mix.
The morning of the wedding was unusually chaotic on the groom's side. While we were used to seeing the groom and groomsmen sitting around watching football while the girls scurried around to get ready, Al's morning consisted of writing his last-minute vows and finding a song for their First Dance. And, of course, trying to wolf down a sandwich while his friends pulled together all their resources for their best friend. As crazy as it sounds, what still amazes us is that everything came through on the other side prompt and perfectly delivered. His vows still made all the bridesmaids cry; their First Dance, a winner. And after all the kind (and hilarious) words had been said, the thoughtful gestures made, everybody jumped in the pool at the end of the evening like the party had only just begun. And that was partially true, because they all changed into crazy costumes for the latter half of the night. For us, it seemed like Mardi Gras had come a second time this year; for Al and Nicole, it was the perfect way to spend a weekend in Palm Springs with their buddies. And they couldn't look happier.
Al and Nicole, your wedding was the craziest we've ever witnessed, but also the most unforgettable. Thank you for sharing with us a glimpse of your lives--we hope your days ahead will be just as, if not more, exciting than the one we captured!