Max + Aiyana are two incredibly beautiful humans who threw an incredibly beautiful party to celebrate the incredibly beautiful new chapter in their lives, and we were witnesses to all of it.
They were married right smack dab in the middle of one of my favorite places on the planet – right against the coast in Santa Monica. Their goal was to have a relaxing day and killer party with their closest family + friends. The proof that they totally achieved that is posted below:
I was nervous for this wedding for a very long time. There. I've said it.
For the first time since attaching a comma and "Inc." to the end of my business name, I had to shoot a wedding for friends. This was that wedding.
Matt + Kendra aren't just two of the best people we know. They're two of the best friends we have. So much so, that Daniel actually skipped out on second shooting this one and stood alongside Matt as one of his groomsmen. My sister Megan mostly took over for him, but he still managed to wear and use his camera most of the day.
Their wedding transpired at a camp in the woods on a textbook fall day. Squeezed between sprawling hiking paths and crooked-hill trees, an amphitheater draped in delicate flora set the stage for their ceremony. After vows were read and kisses were smooched and fists were pumped, their friends and family assembled into chairs set up along three outstretched harvest tables laced with gold plates and cutlery, geode stones, and greenery underneath strings of giant twinkle lights. Both scenes were spellbinding. Both scenes were so them.
Sometime between the ceremony ending and the dance floor opening, a thing happened that often does at weddings. Matt unwittingly placed his right hand on his left and spun his new ring around his finger. We attend a lot of weddings throughout the year, but this simple mannerism gets me every time. It always serves to remind me that vows are weighty. It reminds me that these couples leave their weddings new and different. We don't show up to photograph traditions or parties. We show up to capture the start of one of the coolest new adventures in our couples' lives. Anyway, you'll find that particular moment in a (surprise!) highlight video and a whole lot of our most favorite frames posted here. (Thanks to Megan + Daniel for contributing their fair share to both!)
