Of course it does help that I was working with a gorgeous couple!

Megan & Chris, the two of you are just a delight.  I can’t wait for your wedding this summer!

Dear Megan & Chris,

Remember how I kept saying that Chris reminded me of my friend Ryan.  And how I almost called Chris “Ryan” about five times when we did your engagement shoot?  Well I thought you should see what he looks like.

This is Ryan.

Can you see it?  Maybe it’s the plaid.

Anyway, with that out of the way…. you two are adorable together!  Megan, I love the way you would so delicately reach for Chris’s hand, tenderly holding on to just a couple of fingers.  And how the two of you just seem to go together.  It probably comes from the fact that you both have such compassionate hearts.  Even in the careers that you’ve chosen, teaching and nursing, it’s obvious that you both have a deep love for people.  And it shows in how you relate to one another.

I mean, just look at how cute you are!

Such pretty light just makin’ you glow, Megan!

So cute.

And I loved the props you brought!

Here you are, drawing each others portrait.  What did you think when you finally saw what each other had drawn?(they didn’t see until I emailed them their photos).

I think it’s funny that you both drew each other with your tongues sticking out.  See… you’re perfect for each other!

oops!

There is way too much cute-ness for one post, so stay tuned for the second half!

You are getting a lot of air time on my blog these days.  But you guys are so cool I can’t help it!  I loved the save the dates that you guys sent out!  I loved them so much they got their own photo shoot.

You guys are a great example of what it looks like to carry a theme through.  Nice work!

I mean, seriously.  You thought of every detail.  I love the custom rubber stamp with the little airplane.

I blurred out your website so all your adoring fans can’t stalk your website.

Look at you!  Even your stamps are fun!

I love it!

Love, Jen

PS- I can’t wait to post some pics of your custom designed guest book!

When we last saw you, you were all decked out in your handsome uniform and sassy vintage travel wardrobe.  I was wishing I could hop on a plane and go somewhere.  Anywhere!

When you both did your wardrobe changes I was really glad you both put on some boots.  I was glad I wore mine too, cuz remember all the mud I made… er “asked” you to sludge through?  Josh, I’m sure you didn’t find any in your car, right?  Riiiiiiiight.

Now, Chino tends to get a bad rap.  Probably even more since that OC show that was on a few years ago. But look at all the cool places we found for photos.  And after a while we didn’t even smell the cows any more.  OK.  That’s a lie.  But look at that light!  It was totally worth it!

Kristin, you are radiant!  I can’t wait to see you as a bride!

Beat up old wood thing that might fall down if you lean on it too much… yes please.

I just love this photo of the two of you for some reason.  I don’t know why I liked those tires so much.  But thanks for being willing to go sit on them and look awesome!

And when there are LOTS of cows around, you’re bound to find a barn or two.  This one suit us just fine.

What did she say that was so shocking, Josh?

You guys look so peaceful and in love here.

But Kristin, you were lucky that this guy didn’t bite you in the tookus!  I’ve never seen such a hairy pig before.

Josh & Kristin, I had such a blast with you.  I’m SO looking forward to your wedding and for the months leading up to it.  I’m thankful to have made two new friends!

When Karey first called me to tell me that you were looking for a photographer I was excited.  I would finally get to meet this “Josh & Kristin” that I had heard so much about.  I thought you must be OK if you were such good friends with Karey.  But I had no idea just how much I would like you both!

I loved talking with you guys about all of the places you’ve traveled together (Kristin, you’re smart to be marrying a pilot!  I gotta get me one of those  And kudos, Josh, on your sweet proposal up in Oregon.  What girl doesn’t want to be whisked away to a beautiful place and have the man she loves ask her to marry him?

So when you guys told me about your idea for a vintage travel themed wedding, I swooned a little.  OK… a lot.  And when you told me you were thinking about doing a vintage themed engagement shoot… oh my gosh I think I fell in love a little bit.  I couldn’t wait to do your engagement shoot!

I’m in love with this shoot!  I love how there are so many stories that can be told from these photos.  I couldn’t believe that the guy at Planes of Fame let us do pretty much whatever we wanted!  Even getting in one!  The planes were amazing and it was fun to hear some of the history.  Kristin, I loved how you pulled together the whole look with the vintage suitcases and gloves and everything.  You are adorable!

Oooh, Kristin!  Look at those legs!  And Josh, you’re lookin’ pretty dapper in that uniform of yours.

Work it.

There’s those legs again!  Girl, I’m a little jealous.

Where you guys goin’?  Can you sneak me on the plane?

There’s something I love about the emotion in these.  It’s like you’re saying goodbye before a long trip.

I’ll get to the other half of our shoot in the next post. I just thought this part deserved a post all its own.

To be continued……

You’re getting married in 9 days.  Woah!  NINE DAYS!!!  Can you believe it?  I am SO excited for you.  This is a day you’ve both waited a long time for and it’s almost here.

I’ve known you both, separately, for quite a while.  Karen, I remember one of the first times I had an extended conversation with you.  It was at a winter retreat at Forest Home.  I remember thinking that you would make someone a great wife.  I would later find out that that someone would also be well nurtured and EXTREMELY well fed, especially if he were fed your pumpkin pancakes on a regular basis (dang those things are good… can I get a witness!)

And Andy, one of my early memories of hanging out with you was when we were backpacking through Ansel Adams Wilderness.  You wore a purple-ish and teal sweatsuit made from some sort of wind-breaking material.  I thought it was pretty dorky.  Sorry.  But I also remember listening to you talk being impressed at how smart you are and how you figure things out.  As I got to know you more, I would come to understand that behind that extremely analytical mind is a gentle soul with one of the most caring and compassionate hearts I’ve ever met.

I also remember when I found out the two of you were dating!  It was the day our church celebrated its 50th Anniversary.  I think it was Andy that told me, but I remember exactly where I was standing.  I thought, “Of course”.  Of course you were dating because you two are totally MFEO (made for each other. c’mon, haven’t you seen Sleepless in Seattle?)  Somehow I knew that the two of you would be getting married someday.

And here you are.

You two have been on a lot of adventures together.  Some that I’ve even had the privilege to be a part of (although I have to say I’m not sad I missed the one where you backpacked for 18 days on the John Muir Trail.  The photos were pretty, but I’ve got NO desire to do that one.  You guys are amazing and hard core!).  I WAS ecstatic that I got to be a part of this moment.

And now you’re about to embark on this new adventure together.  You’re going to be married.  I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that you get to go on this journey together.

Since you guys are such outdoorsy people, I’m so glad we found this little spot for your engagement photos.

And I’m so grateful that I got to be witness to these moments where the love between you two was so evident and beautiful.

And silly.

I can just hear Andy’s laugh when I look at this.

Dear tree with changing leaves,

Thank you for providing such a pretty golden canopy for these two love birds.  The end.

This is one of my favorites of you two.  Maybe because your personalities come through so much here.  And maybe it’s that glint of adoration in your eye, Karen.

And thank you, you two adventurers, for being willing to jump over fences for me and hang out in dead plants.  It sure does make for pretty pictures.

Gurl, you are workin’ those jeans.

OK, these next two are my favorites too.

Whaaaaaat?  You guys didn’t tell me that you moonlight as models?

Stop it.

Karen & Andy, thank you for choosing me to photograph the two of you.  Karen, you have always been one of my biggest fans, encouraging me in my business, and I always secretly hoped I would be the one who got to photograph you on the day you became a bride.

So many hopes becoming reality next Saturday.

Love, Jen

This one’s super special.  Meagan is the sister of my friend and former roommate, Heidi.  I remember when she first started getting to know Stephen.  It wasn’t long until they were the cutest couple!  Stephen fit in with Meagan’s family so well.  It was pretty obvious they were meant for each other.

When I heard that they had gotten engaged and that they wanted me to be their photographer, I was more than thrilled!  Meagan told me how much she loves the Mission Inn so we thought we’d head out to Riverside for their engagement session.

Aren’t they sweet?

Meagan, you’re adorable.

Love love love!

I love alleys!  Even my roommate’s name is Ally!

The sun… just doin’ what it does best.

So sweet and tender.

Thanks for hanging out with me, guys!  I can’t wait for your wedding!

Eric & Kristen took me to where they take Miles to go running.  It’s also the area where where Eric proposed to Kristen!

After we had some fun with Miles, we decided to drop him off at home.  While the two of them changed clothes, Miles and I had a little fun.  I think he was a little sad to see us leave, though.

These two will have kids with GORGEOUS eyes!

Eric & Kristen’s wedding is going to be at the beautiful Ponte Winery in Temecula… and I can’t wait!

Meet Desiree and Jeremiah.

They’re awesome.

I’ve known Des since she was in 7th grade.  I was her youth leader.  She’s always been amazing.  She went to Wheaton College in Illinois.  While she was in college she went to some sort of leadership conference where she met a guy named Jeremy.  Her impersonation of him goes like this: “Hi, I’m Jeremy.  I’m gonna own a Chick-fil-a some day.”

Fast forward 9 or 10 years.  Desiree moved back to California and got a job working with Young Life, pouring into the lives of young people in the heart of Hollywood.  Now she heads up Young Life in that area.  She has a bunch of volunteers that work with her ministering to students in the Hollywood area.

One of those volunteers is Jeremiah (formerly known as Jeremy).  Jeremiah opened a Chick-fil-a in Florida then decided to move to California to open the first Chick-fil-a in Los Angeles, by USC (since then he has opened another Chick-fil-a in Hollywood)  He wanted to find a place to serve young people in the name of Jesus so he decided to Volunteer with the Young Life in his area.

They remembered meeting each other years before.  They served alongside each other for a while, but Desiree had a rule that she wouldn’t date any of her leaders.  Well…. obviously she broke that rule.  They’re getting married next weekend and I can’t wait to photograph their wedding.  This one’s going to be an extra special one for me.

We did their engagement shoot in and around the neighborhood where they live, work, and serve.

Gorgeous couple, right?

I mean, really.

I just love how Jeremiah makes Des laugh all the time.

Next, we headed up to the Griffith Observatory for sunset.

Seriously, Des.  YOU ARE GORGEOUS!!!!!

Oh, my hotness!

I can’t wait for next weekend!!!!!!

These two are just adorable together.  Their love for each other just oozes out of them!

I loved their outfits and particularly Rey’s purple shoes!  Judy said that Rey is more the “fashionista” of the couple. I don’t know though… they both rocked it!

There’s nothin’ like a hand tied bow tie.  And just look at that smile!

Next stop… Olvera Street.

Don’t you just love how they love each other?

Then we headed over to the Arts District.  Such a cool area!

When the sun went down, things got a little steamy!

Judy and Rey, it was so fun meeting you!  I feel so honored that I got to witness and capture the love you have for each other.  May God bless your lives together!  And next time I’m in New York, let’s get together!!!!