This is the year that my best friends are getting married. So much joy.. so much love! Gemma and Anthony’s elopement/wedding has been a long time coming. They will have been together 10 years this coming October. In October they will also be having a larger reception where more friends and family will be invited. Gemma has been one of my bestest friends for the last 7 years and seeing her in her beautiful wedding dress was so moving for me. I wanted to Thank Noah Chavira for shooting while I directed in my dress and heels LOL. It was a super fun day! Images were taken at Laguna Hills Civic Center and reception was at the beautiful Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano. 

Gemma wore a beautiful bejeweled floral hairpiece accompanied by shiny silver and diamond earrings that matched perfectly and really made her shine. Her dress was a white lace V-neck with a layered bottom and it looked so good on her figure. Her hair was braided into a crown and put in a high pony tail. Gemma, within the last few years, has lost a lot of weight and I’m glad she liked how she looked on her big day because that’s all that matters.

The special thing about this wedding was that I was actually in the wedding party! That doesn’t mean that I didn’t direct, pose, and shoot some pictures all while in my dress and heels. Noah, normally my second shooter, did most of the photography the day of because it would’ve been too difficult being dressed like that to do the work I would’ve needed to do. I of course offered to shoot Gemma’s wedding for free but she really wanted me in the bridal party so I obliged. 

I got dressed and did my hair and makeup early that morning and showed up at the Laguna Hills Civic Center with Noah for the courthouse ceremony. Gemma was miraculously on time for once LOL. I’m grateful she could prioritize her own wedding into her crazy schedule. Gemma and Anthony did their first look inside the Laguna Hills Civic Center and behind a pillar they held hands as Gemma read him a poem. It was very sweet and after that they got to see each other for the first time all day. Then came the ceremony. 

Gemma wanted a small and intimate wedding and the actual ceremony only included herself, her husband, me, and Noah. I shot mostly during the ceremony and got some amazing pictures inside the gorgeous Laguna Hills Civic Center.

We got some amazing group and couple shots on the stairs of the breathtaking Inn at The Mission San Juan Capistrano. This is always such a gem to shoot at and the stairs are delicately ordained with beautiful geometric designs. Flowers and plants line the entire staircase really bringing out the essence of the Inn and its history. The Inn is next door to The Mission and in the area, you can truly Indulge in quintessential Spanish flavors with locally sourced cuisine and creative cocktails or host an inspired gathering in more than 40,000 square feet of event space. From the moment Spanish missionaries sailed up the California coast and set foot on Orange County’s soil, it forever changed the landscape and future of the area. Here, you can see history come alive and it was a really great choice for a reception venue. 

Gemma was insistent on getting some photos at Chick fil a, her favorite fast food restaurant, and the manager gave them a free sandwich for coming in on their wedding day in full wedding outfits. The couple took a break with some iced tea, nuggets, and sandwiches and relaxed for a moment. After the break we headed to the Inn at The Mission San Juan Capistrano. This is where we met up with the rest of the Wedding party. It was very intimate with no more than 20 people total in attendance, more of whom were bridesmaids or groomsmen. Her color palette of reds, pinks, and corals was a compliment to the rustic look of The Inn at Mission San Juan Capistrano and came together so beautifully. 

Gemma was really excited to get some pictures at the bar and I took direction and posed everyone and the pictures came out so good! It was really cool to see the final outcome as I was in these photos and not behind the camera like usual. And as you can see, no one wanted to lay on the dirty bar floor so I took one for the team LOL. I’ll do anything to get the shot.

After that we had dinner at The Inn at The Mission San Juan Capistrano and the food was divine! They provided a ton of appetizers including sliders and ceviche. The main course was steak which was sooo good and I was starved after the long day. The service was also impeccable and I would recommend The Inn at Mission San Juan Capistrano to anyone I know! 

A big shoutout to one of my best friends Gemma who let me help shoot her wedding and insisted I be one of her bridesmaids. I wish her and Anthony nothing but happiness and blissful years to come. I value her friendship so much and I’m so grateful she’s in my life. Gemma is a bright and shiny star in the darkness of this world and should be treasured. Thank you love! I can’t wait to attend her reception in October where we can really party it up WOOP WOOP!!!

I want to conclude this blog by stating that the people in the back that are putting all of this together from the florals to the linen to the cake. All of these people make these events possible. And I want to send out a huge thank you and shout out to all of the vendors that made this day possible….

Ceremony venue- Laguna Hills Civic Center

Reception venue- The Inn at Mission San Juan Capistrano

Photography- @Noah_chavira and @Squareeyephotography 

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