Conti Di San Bonifacio Wedding in Tuscany, Italy | Lily + Steven

Conti Di San Bonifacio Wedding

Prepare yourselves for Lily and Steven’s stunning destination wedding at Conti Di San Bonifacio. This bi-coastal couple did away with a local wedding and instead flew to Italy to tie the knot. They had originally planned for a Summertime wedding in Napa, but with a guest count approaching 300 and temperatures nearing 100, the couple knew that just wasn’t for them.

Conti Di San Bonifacio winery and resort boasts 360-degree vineyard views and rolling Tuscan hills. This spectacular venue is nestled deep in Tuscan wine country and served as the backdrop for the wedding weekend.

Bridal Party

Lily’s bridesmaids wore a collection of soft pink dresses. Instead of the traditional bouquet, the ladies instead wore delicate flower crowns. Steven’s groomsmen kept it traditional with black suits while he donned a classic black tux.

Portraits

We walked throughout the property during Lily and Steven’s midday portrait session. The overcast weather allowed us to shoot in all directions and really utilize what Conti Di San Bonifacio had to offer. We began at the back of the property where cocktail hour would be held. Lily and Steven walked hand in hand around the pool and made their way down to the main lawn. With the rolling Tuscan countryside in the background, it looked like we were on a movie set. It was absolutely unreal!

Getting Ready

Lily and Steven combined Italian elements and held a traditional Chinese tea ceremony in the morning. They were surrounded by their closest friends and family, some of whom even flew in from China. Afterward, Lily returned to her suite to change into her wedding dress for her first look with Steven. She paired her strapless, open-back dress with a classic pair of nude Louboutin heels. The bridesmaids chose to forgo the traditional bouquet and were adorned with flower crowns.

Bridal Bouquet

Lilly’s traditional bouquet was composed of lush greenery and white roses and was held together with a long white ribbon.

Cheers

While the ladies got ready, Steven and his groomsmen enjoyed a shot of some Hibiki whiskey. After some liquid courage, the guys headed over to the pool to get in a quick dunk and cool off.

Ceremony

While we captured portraits, the floral installation was underway at the ceremony site. Infinito Amore spearheaded the floral design. There was a seven-foot-tall ceremony arch at the end of the aisle composed of pampas, roses, and eucalyptus.

Lily and Steven officially became husband and wife in front of their closest friends and family. Everyone cheered and tossed olive leaves on the couple during their recessional down the aisle.

Just Married

Guests showered Lily and Steven with olive leaves as they made their way back down the aisle as husband and wife.

Cocktail Hour & Reception

Following the ceremony, guests were ushered to cocktail hour poolside. A spread complete with local meats and cheeses, fresh Caprese salad, and delicious homemade sliders awaited everyone.

During cocktail hour, we captured romantic portraits while Lily and Steven savored their just-married sunset together. The ceremony site was converted into the reception space where garlands of greenery and roses adorned the communal tables. Upon sunset, market lights illuminated the dining space with a warm glow. The floral wreath was moved to be the backdrop for the sweetheart table. Lily and Steven’s grand entrance was welcome with cheers from their guests. Everyone soon took their seats to enjoy a candle-lit al fresco dinner. Endless courses of authentic Italian food accompanied by local wine from Conti Di San Bonifacio were served.

End of the Night

Conti Di San Bonifacio served traditional Italian wedding cake and pizza for guests to enjoy as a late-night snack. This wedding was truly one for the books and I was honored to have documented it.

Photographer | Alex W Photography

Venue | Conti Di San Bonifacio

Florals | Infinito Amore

Scanning | Richard Photo Lab

Bride’s heels | Christian Louboutin

As seen in Magnolia Rouge.

Tuscany Engagement Shoot | Lily + Steven

Tuscany Pre-Wedding Portraits

The day before Lily and Steven’s wedding in Italy we headed out to the Siena countryside for their Tuscany engagement shoot. While I researched different locations I wanted to find something that looked unequivocally Italian. Located not far from their wedding venue is the Abbey of San Galgano. I knew as soon as I saw it that this would be the perfect spot for Lily and Steven’s photos. Dating back to the 13th century, this gothic-styled monastery set the perfect backdrop for us to capture their portraits.

Upon stepping foot onto the grounds, we felt like we were transported back in time. There’s just something about classic architecture that brings joy and inspiration. Luckily for us, it was quite empty that day so we took our time exploring the property. We walked through the ancient halls and under the stone archways supported by the massive pillars. We imagined what it was like for the monks who lived and worked here so many hundreds of years ago. It was truly a humbling experience for us all.

Lily stunned in a green strapless dress and Steven donned a navy suit minus the tie for a truly relaxed European look. After exploring all of the areas inside of the abbey we headed to the backside where the sun was doing some truly magical things. In a field just beyond the abbey was a spotlight in the grass where the sun passed through an old broken window. Lily and Steven took a step into the beam and were enveloped in the most beautiful warm light.

After the sun dipped behind the abbey we headed back to our cars and were on our way to greet family and friends back at Conti Di San Bonifacio for their welcome dinner.

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Pelican Hill Wedding | Crystal + Ross

Pelican Hill Wedding

I had the pleasure of photographing Crystal and Ross’ beachside Pelican Hill wedding at the beginning of the Summer, and what a gorgeous day it was! You might recognize these two from their engagement session in Malibu at the end of last year. This Houston-based couple knew they wanted to host a destination wedding for all of their guests.

I was thrilled to return to photograph another Pelican Hill wedding, especially since I would be working with such a talented team of vendors to help bring the couple’s vision to life. From the oceanfront views and perfectly kept grounds, this property is truly a dream. Pelican Hill boasts classic stone architecture, tropical greenery, and an iconic rotunda where ceremonies are held. Just from my initial meeting with Crystal and Ross during their engagement session, I knew they both had a phenomenal sense of style and they seriously brought their A-game on the wedding day!

Details/Getting Ready

Crystal absolutely stunned in a champagne Galia Lahav dress complimented by the most beautiful tiara and a bouquet filled with white and blush roses. Ross donned a classic black tux and Ralph Lauren shoes alongside a white rose boutonniere. They even brought their Maltese, Matisse to join in with them on the day’s festivities.

Once Crystal’s mom helped her into her dress we met Ross on the rooftop topiary for their first look. After a sweet embrace with one another, we invited their wedding party to join us for more photos. The ladies all wore blush dresses alongside the groomsmen who rocked classic black tuxes. After the bridal party photos on the roof, we headed over to the ceremony site on the main lawn to capture photos with family

Cocktail Hour

Everyone was escorted to the upper balcony which overlooked the sunset for cocktail hour. They were greeted with salmon and caviar-topped blinis, a cheese and fruit bar, and signature cocktails from the bride and groom. During that time, I headed back down to the ceremony site with Crystal and Ross to capture romantic portraits. While we walked the grounds capturing their photos, the pair got to enjoy their first sunset together as husband and wife.

Reception

Guests were soon invited inside for the reception. Gorgeous candle-lit escort mirrors calligraphed by White Lilac. led everyone to their seats. Waiting for everyone inside were shimmering blush and champagne tablecloths, gilded chairs, and tall-stem vase centerpieces. The cake was six-tiered and candlelit with cascading sugar florals. Additionally, the sweetheart table stood in the middle of the room, covered with beautiful floral arrangements.

Once everyone was seated, Crystal and Ross entered the room for their grand entrance. Guests were smiling from ear to ear and cheering for the newly married couple. After they enjoyed their first dance together and everyone joined in for the horah, dinner was served. Guests had a wonderful energy and danced the night away to one of my favorite live bands- Liquid Blue. An assortment of mini desserts and cake was served along with a do-it-yourself s’ mores bar on the back patio for everyone to enjoy. Following the reception, guests were invited to join the after-party in another location on the property where they enjoyed a live DJ and finger foods. Enjoy the images below from this beachside Pelican Hill wedding!

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Ethereal Open Air Resort Wedding Escondido | Amanda + Jarrod

There’s something special about photographing a friends wedding. Beyond that, a friend who is an admirable photographer. There’s no greater compliment than that. When Jarrod and Amanda reached out to photographer their Ethereal Open Air Resort Wedding, the answer was easy. Of course!

Aside from the fact that these two are our friends, they are incredibly good people. Being around them is always a joy. Their love is apparent in everything they do. And you truly never grow tired of how silly they are.

Jarrod and Amanda’s history stretches back to the good ‘ole college days. They met at the University of Arizona at a Christmas Party. Jarrod, came dressed in his best, as an elf. This is a moment they still share with others as a found beginning of their love. Fast-forward 5-years, Jarrod is down on one-knee vowing his love forever.

Funny enough, the first time Jarrod and I ever met each other was at the Heck Yea photography retreat hosted in Joshua Tree. Jarrod and I were assigned to be roommates and we hit it right off from the start. It was the most wonderful news that after becoming photo buddies and fast friends that Jarrod and Amanda asked if I would photograph their wedding for them. It seemed very fitting that to document their engagement we headed back to J Tree to make it official with an desert engagement session.

I met with Amanda and her bridesmaids in the bridal suite of Ethereal Resort. This room was right out of a fairytale. It was filled with lots of natural light, had beautifully delicate details throughout, and had the coolest swinging bed suspended from the ceiling. After everyone was dressed Amanda and I headed out to meet Jarrod at the Redwood tree house for the first look. After kisses, hugs, and a few tears we met up with the bridal party for portraits. The bridesmaids wore a variation of floor length blush dresses and the groomsmen donned navy suits.

Before the ceremony began the family greeted us outside of the church for photos. Once the guests began arriving from the shuttles Amanda and Jarrod were whisked away to hide while everyone took their places. The church glowed from all of the candlelight that could be seen from the outside. The Dainty Lion designed a beautiful floral backdrop that hung behind the altar. As Amanda walked down the aisle she was accompanied by a live performance from Kelley Jakle (ass seen in Pitch Perfect). After vows were exchanged, and a kiss was shared, Jarrod and Amanda were offically husband and wife!

Guests then proceeded out to the main lawn where cocktail hour was being held. Jarrod and Amanda pulled out all of the stops for their guests. They had giant beer pong, corn hole, and even a vintage Volkswagen van photo booth for everyone to enjoy.

As the sun faded away, and the day turned into night, the guests were escorted to the reception. A gorgeous al fresco dining experience awaited them. Communal tables were adorned with florals and candles. Marketplace lighting elegantly draped over the tables providing a beautiful combination with the candles.

Their friends and family shared heartfelt, and quite hilarious, speeches. Sharing fond moments of the couple and past life experiences brought joy to everyone. There wasn’t a single person without a smile on their face. This was the exact wedding I envisioned they’d have.

After an unbelievable dinner, we made our way to the dessert table. Filled with treats from Sweet Cheeks and a beautiful wedding cake. The cake was cut and treats were enjoyed by all. Que, dancing!

Keep scrolling to see more images from this gorgeous Ethereal Open Air Resort wedding.

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Greystone Mansion Wedding Beverly Hills | Mashan + Jamie

Greystone Mansion Wedding | Mashan & Jamie

Mashan and Jamie chose to forgo a local wedding in Atlanta and instead, planned a destination Greystone Mansion wedding. I had seen many weddings online showcasing this gorgeous estate and I anxiously dreamed of photographing this venue. Nestled in Beverly Hills, this historic estate boasts 180-degree views and overlooks downtown LA. It made for the perfect spot to host the couple’s intimate soiree. The day was planned to perfection by Randy Fuhrman Events and adorned with gorgeous white and blush florals.

The bridesmaids all donned beautiful off-the-shoulder blush dresses and were accompanied by the most dapper groomsmen rocking navy suits. While Jamie anxiously awaited the first look with his bride-to-be, Mashan eagerly circled the koi pond to give a very excited shoulder tap. After happy tears were shed, the family gathered for formal photos. We headed up to the infamous cypress walk afterward for a bridal party and couple of portraits. Everyone shared laughs as they strolled up and down the stone walkway.

Ceremony & Cocktail Hour

While the bridal party assembled for the ceremony to begin, guests took advantage of the beverage station where they had their choice of sun tea, fresh lemonade, and spa water and grabbed parasols provided by the bride and groom on the way to their seats. As the bridal party made their way down the aisle each member in the procession was accompanied by live music played by a harpist. After the ceremony concluded guests made their way over to the reception area where cocktails and hors d’ouerves awaited them. As soon as everyone had a drink in hand the DJ ushered everyone inside the house for Mashan and Jamie’s grand entrance.

The Evening’s Events

While guests were served their appetizers Mashan, Jamie, and I traversed the property while we chased light and found beautiful little nooks to photograph in. After dinner and speeches, guests made their way onto the dance floor to celebrate the newlyweds and dance the night away. Thank you again to Mashan and Jamie for allowing me to capture such a big day in your lives.

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Santa Barbara Engagement | Joanna + Ryan

Santa Barbara Engagement

This dreamy Santa Barbara engagement session has everything I could hope for from working with a couple. I had the pleasure of photographing an incredibly fun (and ridiculously good-looking) pair of human beings that are head-over-heels in love with one another. We had the pleasure of traveling to one of my favorite Central Coast locations- the Santa Barbara sand dunes. From my first meeting with Joanna and Ryan, we hit it off immediately. I loved bouncing ideas off of one another for the most epic place we could travel to for their engagement session. As soon as they saw another session I had done earlier at a separate set of dunes they were sold.

It was cool and overcast on the day we met. The sun was hidden behind the clouds but we had the softest, most beautiful light to play with. The sand dunes were a 25-minute walk from the parking lot where we rendezvoused so as we headed over to our first location of the day we chatted about their wedding plans, favorite recipes they cook for one another, and all of their upcoming travels.

Joanna & Ryan’s outfits were wonderfully classy and timeless. Joanna rocked a stunning white off-the-shoulder dress white beautiful gold adornments on the arm and Ryan looked like he walked straight out of a movie with his button-down white shirt and Hollywood quality hair. Upon arriving at the dunes we were greeted with a seemingly endless rolling landscape that we had entirely to ourselves. The wind was calm and you could hear the seagulls off in the distance. It was pure magic. As we ran around the dunes together I captured endless amounts of kisses, sweet embraces, and full-on belly laughs. They just made it too easy for me!

We ended the session with a brisk romp in the Pacific and then headed back to our cars before we lost the last bit of daylight. I had the absolute best time with these two at their Santa Barbara engagement at the sand dunes and I can’t wait for their wedding later this year.

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Bernardus Lodge Wedding Carmel | Grace + Roman

Destination weddings are quickly becoming my favorite way to celebrate a couple’s big day. Grace + Roman’s Bernardus

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Brookview Ranch Wedding in Malibu | Stephanie & Jonathan

Two of the sweetest people I know had friends and family gather for their Brookview Ranch wedding over the Summer. I had the pleasure of photographing it and have some serious eye candy for you to enjoy. You might remember seeing a previous blog when we traveled to Los Olivos for an epic mountaintop engagement session.

I had been eagerly awaiting for their big day to finally arrive. I met Stephanie in her bridal suite in the morning and had the most beautiful details to photograph. The entire day was perfectly planned by Masterplan Events and exquisitely decorated with beautiful pops of colored florals by Rebelle Fleur Design. All of the bridesmaids donned gorgeous floor-length dresses with subtle blush floral patterns. It perfectly complemented the groomsmen’s navy suits. Jonathan rocked the most dapper three-piece plaid suit from Indochino and Stephanie stunned in a gorgeous Winnie Couture gown.

As seen in Style Me Pretty.

First Look

Stephanie and Jonathan opted to do a first look before the ceremony (which is my absolute favorite). After hugs, kisses, and even a couple tears we headed over to meet the rest of the bridal party for more photos on the main lawn. As guests began to arrive, everyone was escorted to their seats for some pre-ceremony champagne.

Ceremony

As the guests took their seats and the music began to play, the bridal party began their walk across the lawn and down the aisle. As Stephanie approached all the guests rose out of their seats. She made her entrance through the gorgeous antique patio doors provided by Archive Rentals.

Cocktail Hour

After the ceremony concluded, guests headed over to cocktail hour where they enjoyed lawn games and some tasty appetizers. Stephanie, Jonathan, and I took full advantage of the property and visited all of the hidden nooks and gorgeous spaces for the bridal portraits.

Reception

I headed up to the reception site afterward to capture all of the gorgeous details before guests arrived. Every vendor involved really pulled out all of the stops for this one; it was gorgeous! From the cascading Silk & Willow table runners to the gorgeous calligraphy on the geometric stone name cards that the bride created herself, this was truly a dream! The dessert table had not one, two, or three but four cakes beautifully crafted by Cake Divas. The gold foiling was the perfect accent to the blush tones found throughout the reception. All of this was beautifully complemented by warm candlelight surrounding the reception area.

As guests took their seats. Stephanie and her father shared a heartfelt father-daughter dance followed by Jonathan and his mother. As the sun began to slip behind the mountains we headed to the top of the property to enjoy the last few minutes of golden hour and 360 degree views of the hills. After sunset we headed back down to the reception area to enjoy toasts, some delicious cake, and a night full of dancing. I’d like to wish Stephanie & Jonathan the biggest congratulations and I look forward to following the progress of their sweet marriage!

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Springtime Vacation Around the Island of Iceland

This post is long overdue but better late than never! It’s thrilling to share this Springtime vacation around the island of Iceland. This trip was taken two years ago and thinking back to our adventure, it feels like just yesterday. We spent 10 incredible days driving over 1,200 miles around the island.

Never before in my life has visiting an unknown land felt so otherworldly. From the steaming natural thermal spas to the beaches filled with car-sized pieces of ice, Iceland is like no other. It’s mind-blowing to experience just how many unique features the island has to offer. We must have seen at least 50 waterfalls and hundreds of Icelandic ponies in the first day alone of our drive

The first few days were spent in the South where we visited Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach, and the Skógafoss waterfall. Let me just say right now that I could happily have my last days on Earth at Diamond Beach and Glacier Lagoon. Beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe the breathtaking sights at the two locations. Conveniently located just right across the road from one another, these two locations literally took my breath away. Glacier Lagoon is not just stunning to see but it’s so eerily quiet and peaceful, it would be a spectacular place to meditate, camp, or even have an elopement. As the glacier ice breaks apart and eventually melts, it makes its way across the lagoon and eventually onto Diamond Beach. There, among the black sand stands huge chunks of ice that’s as clear as glass.

The next morning, we continued our journey along the south until we arrived at our next destination- Black Sand Beach. This location is truly a sight to behold. While strolling along the beach you’ll hear the sound of pounding surf and admire the giant caves and geometric basalt columns that line the sand. Many people have been pulled out to sea by the force of the rip currents. Everyone was made well aware of the signs they passed to not suffer from the same fate and be careful.

During the loop around the island, we stayed in a different home every night. This was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the locals and learn about Iceland. One of the homes was located on an active farm which hosted sheep, horses, and the friendliest husky.

90% of the meals that were eaten were cooked and prepared ourselves. Before leaving Reykjavik we made a stop at the local grocery store and stocked up on produce, fresh fish, and local spices. I made the silly mistake of asking the staff if the sold coolers in the store. With befuddled looks on their faces, they replied, “This is Ice-land. No coolers needed.” So from that moment on, all of the food was packed in grocery bags and topped with snow. One night, in particular, there was no access to a fridge so the food was left outside to chill.

The East and North points of the island were still very much suffering from winter. Besides for epic amounts of snow, there wasn’t too much to stay around to see. The last leg of the trip, however, was definitely a favorite. If you’ve never seen a geothermal vent before, it’s quite a sight to behold. Just outside of the small town of Myvatn is a location called Hverir. Here, one is welcomed with the smell of rotten eggs thanks to the endless amount of sulfur being pumped out. The geothermal vents are incredibly loud and quite scary, to be honest. Steam is constantly shooting hundreds of feet outwards from the vents protruding out of the Earth.

The last stop, and what I would consider being the highlight of the trip was our visit to the Blue Lagoon. This geothermal spa had been on our bucket list for quite some time and it sure did live up to its reputation. The lagoon opens at 8am every morning and we were sure to be the first ones in the water. Without anyone else around us, we captured some truly incredible images! Most people only visit for a couple of hours but we made an entire day out of the experience. It was truly a memory we will never forget and we hope to return again soon!

If you’re considering making a trip out to this incredible country, do it. You won’t regret it.

Lab | Photovision Prints

Springtime Vacation Around the Island of Iceland

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Destination Lake Wedding in Greece | Ellie + Charles

Destination Wedding in Greece

This lakeside wedding is particularly special because I personally know the bride and it was my first destination wedding in Greece. Needless to say, there was a lot of preparation that had to be done for a trip of this magnitude. Luckily I have an incredible girlfriend who helped throughout the process and even accompanied me to Greece. We flew into the Athens airport a few days prior to the wedding. This gave us ample time to adjust to the time difference and scout the area for the wedding day.

The days leading up to the wedding were quite nerve-racking. Every day we experienced scattered showers, strong wind, and even severe nighttime thunderstorms. Needless to say, this was not the weather we were expecting. Thankfully, once the wedding day arrived the clouds rained themselves out and we had nothing but sunny skies. This was a huge relief considering the entire day was to take place outdoors.

Bridal Details

I met with Ellie on the morning of in her suite. Her hair was styled to absolute perfection without a single strand out of place. The jewelry was simple and elegant, much like her custom-made dress. Ellie’s friend and Swedish-based designer Lina Nordin, worked with Ellie to create her dream gown.

Ceremony & Reception

The wedding went off without a hitch. The couple kept things very traditional and saved their first look until the bride walked down the aisle. In Swedish tradition, Ellie and Charles were adorned with crowns during the ceremony. Following the ceremony, we hopped in a van with the bridal party and headed to the coast for portraits. We returned to the lakeside reception after bridal party photos and sunset portraits for family photos and the evening’s festivities. Heartfelt speeches were given throughout the night and a flash mob surprised Ellie on the dance floor. Everyone danced the night away with drinks, enjoyed homemade Greek ice cream, and a cigar bar.