When Priscilla and Kurtis told me they were getting married in Oxnard at a location I had not yet been to, I was excited for a new challenge. When my assistant and I arrived at Heritage Square Chapel we scouted the area for the best lighting and locations at the quaint plaza. Luckily, it was a gorgeous day so there was an abundance of sites and spots to choose from. We’d arrived a little early and awaited the bride and groom. Usually, we start the day with the bride getting ready but they wanted a shorter shoot day so when Priscilla arrived she was completely dressed, makeup done, and ready for the big day. She looked stunning; her wedding dress was ballgown style, dripping in lace, and her long veil floated behind her. Her tiara was full silver and sparkled with jewels. I took photos of just the bride until Kurtis and his groomsmen got to the chapel. Her bridesmaids were in charge of making sure Kurtis didn’t see Priscilla and they took their job very seriously. Once it was time for the first look my assistant and I got everyone into position. The veil wrapped around both of them photo is right after the first look and you could feel the excitement and love in the air. The florals were classic whites, pinks, and neutrals, which seemed to match perfectly with the beautiful Heritage Square in Oxnard.
Once we took pictures of the couple all over the plaza we got Kurtis’s son in some photos and then moved on with bridal party pictures. Let me tell you, their bridal party was full of party people. They were already doing shots and getting ready for the fun. Priscilla’s sister was not only crying during her speech like normal, but she was also holding back tears ALL DAY. It was so sweet and you can see how much they cared about each other.
After the first look and pictures, guests began to fill the chapel and we headed inside for the ceremony. The bride walked out to Disney music and the entire ceremony sounded straight out of a Disney fairytale. It was so cute especially because I’m a self-proclaimed Disney adult. The ceremony told the story of how they met and how they ended up where they are now, which I really enjoyed and I know the guests did as well. I wish more ceremonies were focused on the couple’s love story because isn’t that what we’re here to celebrate? They did a sand ceremony where Kurtis’s son came up and they all had different colored sand jars that they poured into a larger container to symbolize how their lives will be forever intertwined. Once the ceremony was over we headed down the street for the reception at Knight’s of Columbus Community Center. We did all the normal formalities including the parent dances, bouquet and garter toss, and the couple’s first dance. Their cake was a classic three-tier white cake adorned with pink vintage roses. They had such heartfelt speeches, in English and Spanish, and it was so heartwarming. They had an entire dessert table and a photobooth area that always had a line. It was such a fun night and, as I said, their bridal party was down to party and wow did they bring the party.
Dj Ray played such a good mix of Latin, pop, classic rock, and so much more to keep all the guests up and dancing. Towards the end of the night, he even started taking requests which was super fun. My assistant and I hung out on stage with him towards the end of the night so I could get some elevated floor and dancing shots which turned out great and we even got a huge group photo of all the guests.
I’d like to send a big thank you to my Uncle Sal and his girlfriend who recommended me to this lovely couple. They’re always such big supporters of my work and are such a blessing in my life. They were even at the wedding so it was great to say hi and catch up with them for a bit. My uncle Sal even showed up early to try to help me and my assistant kept saying he was trying to take her job hahaha. A big thank you to everyone who made this day possible and to the lovely couple.
Makeup: Marissa Enriquez @Lilmarisamua
DJ: DJ Ray Oxnard
Photobooth: Photo Scanner Good Vibes Shay Mendoza
Cake Bakery: Little Old Lady
Catering: Knights of Columbus
Florist: Elaina’s Design’s
