Sun & Sparrow Photography | wedding photography & videography in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara & Southern California

Marco & April | Averill Park Wedding | San Pedro Wedding Photographers

love, Ellie — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:19:30 +0000

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR WEDDING? I wanted to incorporate spring colors (mint & coral) and lovebirds into a vintage style. I used Pinterest to help me brainstorm decor ideas and pick out the design of my bouquet. The most memorable part of the day was walking down the aisle toward Marco and being overwhelmed with joy (while trying to hold back the tears and emotion) as reality set in that I was about to marry my best friend.

DID YOU DO ANY DIY PROJECTS? WHICH WAS YOUR FAVORITE? Everything was DIY…and in only 3 months! My mom, bridesmaids, and I made the reception center pieces which included mason jars with either engagement or childhood pictures, small jars with succulents, love bird party favor boxes, as well as the hand-painted, light blue mason jars with succulents which were first hung along the center aisle at the ceremony. We also made burlap runners and used this material as a theme to decorate around the picnic area (even covering up park signs with graffiti)! I picked out the flowers and succulents from various flower shops or plant stores and with the help of my bridesmaids we constructed all of the boutonnieres and bouquets; also, my mom decorated the flower girl baskets. There are so many other decorations that were hand-crafted but my favorite DIY project was the hanging fabric strips which were hung across the gazebo at the wedding ceremony and later displayed at the reception as a photo booth area; this will become a keep-sake as my mom and I plan to make the strips into a wedding quilt. I have two Pinterest boards: http://pinterest.com/aprilqot/my-style/ has decor ideas and http://pinterest.com/sunandsparrow/aprils-wedding-inspiration/ for various wedding poses.

WHAT MADE YOUR WEDDING “YOU”? Marco and I love being outdoors enjoying God’s beautiful creation so we were happy find a local park with beautiful trees and rolling hills (Averill Park, San Pedro). We wanted a place that was affordable for entire families to come and celebrate. I’ve had several guests comment on how adorable it was to watch kids from various families blowing bubbles together or running around in the open grass area next to the reception. Also, Marco and I enjoyed the message by Pastor Matt and sharing communion together as a married couple.

WHY WAS PHOTOGRAPHY IMPORTANT TO YOU & WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SUN & SPARROW? Photography lasts a life time! The day goes by so quickly that it’s hard to soak in and enjoy all the details of the day! Sun and Sparrow Photography does a beautiful job of capturing the details as well as the precious candid moments from the ceremony and reception! They have an amazing artistic eye and an energetic, positive attitude which made the photo shoots before and after the ceremony more enjoyable!! Most importantly they care about incorporating the client’s ideas or style.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF BEING MARRIED NOW? I love spending lots of quality time with my best friend…laughing, sharing, serving and praying for each other.

VENDORS

David’s Bridal (wedding gown), Torrance Bakery (cake), Costco (reception food), Ace Party Rents (chairs, tables, linens), Home Depot and Villa Hermosa Plant Shop (succulents), Ralphs and Walteria Flower Shop (roses), Joanne’s (ribbon and burlap) and Michael’s Craft store (scrapbook and paper for guest book etc.), Smart and Final (mason jars), Party City (plates, plasticware etc), Kohl’s (groomsmen shirt and tie), various stores or online shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses, GirlsDressLine (flower girl dresses)

Wes & Pauline | Disney inspired wedding | Orange County wedding photographers

Tiffani Matsuura — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:16:17 +0000

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR WEDDING? Disneyland, gardens, and magic!

WHAT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE PART ABOUT YOUR WEDDING DAY? Walking down the aisle and seeing Wesley

DID YOU DO ANY DIY PROJECTS? WHICH WAS YOUR FAVORITE? Yes! They are all my favorite, but the flowergirls signs were my favorite to make!!

-The ribbon backdrop at the ceremony site

- the groom & groomsmen’s boutonniere

-Maid of Honor flower belt

-Bride & Bridesmaid’s flower hair clips

-flowergirl signs

-decorated the guestbook and card box

-Invitations, programs, placecards

-Reception room map

-Table name signs & sign holders

WHAT MADE YOUR WEDDING “YOU”? We love to go to Disneyland any chance we get. We wanted our wedding day to be as fun and magical as a day at Disneyland. Also, we originally wanted an outdoor wedding, but because we were unable to do that, i thought of little ways to bring the outside in.

WHY WAS PHOTOGRAPHY IMPORTANT TO YOU & WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SUN & SPARROW? Photography was important to us because we knew this was a day that we would want to remember for a very long time. And because the day is so busy already we wanted to make sure we captured all moments. Being the bride, I missed half the ceremony, so I wanted to make sure I could go back and see the moments I missed. We chose Sun and Sparrow because we had an instant connection with Tiffani. We knew the photographer was someone that we would spend the whole day with, so it was important that we got along and felt comfortable with the photographers. We also like Sun and Sparrow’s artistic style and how their pictures reflect each couple’s personality.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR BRIDES TO BE? Keep your eye on the PRIZE! and that is your Husband-to-be. Your wedding day is about you and your fiance committing your lives to each other for the rest of your lives, not the latest wedding trends or what your mother-in-law wants. Make sure your wedding reflects you and your fiance’s character and personality. Enjoy your wedding planning time and your wedding day. Have fun and don’t forget to laugh.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF BEING MARRIED NOW? I love being able to see my husband first thing in the morning.

Vendors:

Florist: Flowers by CINA http://flowersbycina.com/

DJ: Invisible Touch Events http://www.invisibletouchdj.com/

Cupcakes: Animated Cupcakes http://animatedcupcakes.com/

Makeup: All Made Up Team http://www.allmadeupteam.com/

Bride’s Hair: Caroline Trinidad (Salon Heavener) http://www.salonheavener.com/

Bride’s earrings: Rent the Runway http://www.renttherunway.com/

Wedding Gown: Hollywood Bridal http://www.hollywood-bridal.com/index.html

Vietnamese & Chinese Dress: Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo

Groom& Groomsmen tux: Friar’s Tux http://www.friartux.com/

Bride’s shoes & Bridesmaid skirts: Urban Outfitters http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/

Bridesmaids top: Forever21 www.forever21.com

Styled Bridal Shower, All DIY for one of our own! A Sun & Sparrow girl is getting married!!!

Tiffani Matsuura — Fri, 10 May 2013 01:22:34 +0000

Since we had the opportunity to style this amazing bridal shower, I thought it best to give my sister an official ‘BRIDAL SHOWER PHOTO SESSION.’ So, here it is, a beautiful day for a beautiful lady, styled from head to toe! Don’t you love the matching bow in her hair? It matches the decor!

Mary & Cole | Glamour in Palm Springs | Riviera Boutique Hotel, Palm Springs Wedding Photographers

love, Ellie — Sun, 05 May 2013 20:02:51 +0000

• WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR WEDDING? My theme was a combination of desert romance and Hollywood glam.

• WHAT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE PART ABOUT YOUR WEDDING DAY? The first look.

• WHAT MADE YOUR WEDDING “YOU”? Our venue, The Riviera, really reflected our style. Our wedding party made the day so special, we have such amazing friends and family. One of my bridesmaids even carried our little Chihuahua during the ceremony which was adorable and meant a lot to us. Our friend Chris got ordained specifically to marry us which was special. We also wrote our own vows in addition to the traditional ones. I think those details made the wedding more personal.

• WHY WAS PHOTOGRAPHY IMPORTANT TO YOU & WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SUN & SPARROW? Photography was important to us because these pictures will be around for generations to come. We wanted them to represent us in the best light and help savor the memory of our day. We chose Sun & Sparrow because we liked their portfolio and style. Once we met Tiffani, we felt confident that she would do a good job. She made the effort to get to know us in order to anticipate what we wanted to achieve. Her positive and outgoing personality made working with her easy.
• DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR BRIDES TO BE? My advice is to not leave the little details until the week before the wedding. Don’t try to be thrifty when it comes to veil, shoes, and accessories. Invest in a videographer. (We wish we had.)

• WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF BEING MARRIED NOW? The best part about being married is knowing I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Riviera Palm Springs http://www.psriviera.com

Rehearsal Dinner Venue & Pre-Ceremony Picture Venue: Escena Golf Club http://www.escenagolf.com/

Florist: Cachet Fiore http://www.cachetfiore.com/

Cupcakes: Over the Rainbow http://www.romanblas.com/

Groom/ Groomsmen Suits: Zara

Wedding Dress: Enzoani from La Soie Bridal in Torrance http://lasoiebridal.com/

Shoes: Audrey Brooke

Veils: David’s Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses: TFNC

Hair: Evy Pena Evelynp0101@yahoo.com

Makeup: Nereida Rodriguez

Photobooth: Vizid Booth

Musician: Adam Hollick

DJ: Southern California DJ Company

JT & Sheva | Echo Park boho chic backyard engagement | Los Angeles Engagement Photographers

love, Ellie — Fri, 03 May 2013 00:12:37 +0000

FROM THE GROOM’S PERSPECTIVE: It was Easter Sunday 2012 on our 4th year anniversary. I had traveled to Ghana, West Africa, where Sheva was stationed for a month, working with local jewelry artisans. On one of our free moments, in the afternoon heat of Africa, we took a romantic horseback ride along the coast. In one moment, I realized that it was time. With my heart pounding in my chest, I jumped off my horse and reached into my pocket, then got down on one knee… Above me sat Sheva on her horse named “lucky.” ”Will you Marry me… And make me the happiest man on Earth?” She immediately yelled “Yes!!! Yes!!!” enthusiastically!! I was so excited, everything but her faded away. Right after she screamed a large wave came crashing down on me while still on one knee! I was drenched from head to toe. Luckily, I held onto the ring with all my might! When I got to my feet, I put it on her finger smiling with tears welling up my eyes, and I could see them in hers… It was our kind of fairy tale moment!!!

Juan & Stephanie | Adventures while Camping rustic engagement | Los Angeles Photographers

Tiffani Matsuura — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:46:59 +0000

We got engaged in March of 2012. My childhood friend from Arizona came to visit me for the weekend. We spent a great Saturday at Disneyland, so when Sunday came I thought we could relax and have lunch at Olvera street. She said that Juan had mentioned something about a beautiful park with great gardens, The Huntington Library. I wasn’t to thrilled about going to a park to look at flowers, not my idea of a fun filled sunday. I thought Olvera Street would have been more fun. But she said “i’m from Arizona, I want to see gardens.” We packed up the car and headed to the library. We started the day a little late, so by the time we arrived the park was going to close in an hour. The fee to enter the park was, what i thought, a little to expensive. I said “Lets go to Olvera street”!! I had to use the restroom before getting back in the car, when i returned Juan and my friend bought tickets to go in. I was surprised that they did that but my friend “really” wanted to go in. We walked through the gardens and took lots of pictures. It was really beautiful. We stopped in the rose garden to take a picture and there Juan proposed to me. My friend knew all along what juan was planning to do. She was just going along the whole time.

Tips to planning a fun wedding reception | Wedding Planning Ideas

Tiffani Matsuura — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:11:20 +0000

Being a self-proclaimed work-a-holic, I have always found it difficult to sit still and enjoy beautiful moments. This post is not intended to offend any of my clients or my friends, but intended to help & encourage future brides & grooms to plan fun receptions that can be the most memorable wedding possible!! Recently, I was invited to a wedding as a guest. As the event proceeded, there were many wonderful moments, but I did notice alot of down time between the beginning of the ceremony & the end of the reception. When we arrived at the church, there was an usher, formally seating guests… And I had to wait in line. After the ceremony, we drove to the reception location, and we had to wait for the cocktail hour to finish. We didn’t know many of the other guests either! So, not only did my husband and I sit alone, in the back, but we didn’t have anything to do for the entire cocktail hour, but sit in our chairs and watch others mingle. When the Bride & Groom finally arrived and there was a grand entrance, we also had to wait some time before the speeches & first dance commenced. I wondered, what would be some solutions to make all of the guests feel comfortable, excited, even those odd-friends who might be sitting in the back.

The whole goal of inviting our friends and families to weddings is to have them enjoy the time together, to engage with people, and to celebrate with the couple. If there are crazy work-a-holic people like me, or even a child who might have a short attention span, or a friend who might not know many other guests, how can we help all of these different types of people ENJOY YOUR WEDDING DAY, RECEPTION AND ALL? I have put together a few Tips for all you planners out there, to help you engage your guests while you are out taking the photos of your life.

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HOST A FUN & UNIQUE COCKTAIL HOUR W/ EXPERTS TASTERS

A full bar is a must-have for a great reception, but amp it up a notch with an interactive drinking experience. We’re talking about a wine, beer or whiskey tasting, where guests can sample different drinks and learn a few tasting notes. A hand-rolled cigar station also fits the bill, as does a choose-your-flavor margarita bar (yum!). QUINN & NICCOLE had it right! They had friends put together 3 microbrews as well as a gourmet pop-corn station!

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START FROM THE BEGINNING WITH INTERESTING ESCORT CARDS

Escort cards can be a cool and fun way for people to find their tables & interact with acquaintances or to make new friends. We have seen a variety of escort cards. My favorite ones are the ones where the brides & grooms put thought into their guests. Seat guests with people they’ll know and get along with. A well-thought-out seating chart leads to great conversation, which leads to a great dance party, which leads to…well, you get the idea! So seat your high school track teammates near your college running buddies, and put your tween cousins with other kids their age rather than their parents (and keep track of it all with The Knot’s seating chart tool).One of our couples BARRY & JENNIFER, gave each guest a question to answer. Their table names & numbers then had the answers to the questions. Check out in the images below. They asked the question, “What is the name of the night club where we first met?” Can you guess the answer?

At this wedding, SCOTT & LAUREN placed their escort cards on a ladder, which worked with the theme of the wedding day. Rustic elegance is so beautiful!

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HAVE AN INTERACTIVE TABLE THAT DESCRIBES YOUR PERSONALITY

You two are getting married, but your personality doesn’t have to be all about flowers. Show off your personal style by placing interesting items as your centerpieces. You can use books, clocks, games, tokens or whatever makes you stand out. AND don’t forget that your reception is a party! Let your guests know that it’s okay to cut loose after a formal ceremony by passing out crazy wedding favors at the reception. A few of our favorite ideas? Funky masks, noisemakers, or Silly String. We even know one couple who handed out neckties and encouraged their guests to tie them around their heads on the dance floor. Quirky, but definitely fun!

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PLAN A SURPRISE FOR YOUR GUESTS

Sometimes the best parts of a reception are the things guests don’t see coming. Surprise your guests with unexpected entertainment during the cocktail hour or reception, like a belly dancer, a mariachi band, or even a salsa dancer. MARYANN & VAGGELIS had planned a surprise FLASH MOB at their wedding! It was awesome & totally took us by surprise!!

Also, tell your guests about a late night treat or events. Nothing stops a party in its tracks faster than guests heading for the door early. Take out an insurance policy against a skimpy crowd and plan a treat for the end of the night that people will look forward to: You and your new spouse can perform a song with the band for the last dance, or you can plan a reception getaway that’ll gets guests excited, like a fireworks show or an exit with sparklers. JOE & CAMILLE had their family send them off in their favorite car!!!

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ORDER GOOD FOOD (THAT’S NOT STUFFY OR NOT YOU!!)

Just ask yourself: What would you want to eat? If you’re not the meat-and-potatoes type, consider doing something more to your liking — maybe Spanish tapas, Mexican fajitas, or a big Italian dinner. Or skip the sit-down altogether and opt for a heavy hors d’oeuvres reception. Think mini sliders, bite-size vegetable quiches or a cheese table. THERE ARE ALWAYS OPTIONS BESIDE A THREE COURSE DINNER. Instead of a quick, three-course menu of salad, entree and dessert, stretch out dinner over four or five smaller courses. Then, plan small surprises in between, like a short toast from your hilarious aunt or a professional dance performance. It’ll give your guests the experience of a fun night out on the town, complete with dinner and a show. KYLE & MOLLY HAD THE IDEA RIGHT! YUMMY MEXICAN FOOD THAT EVERYONE WENT BACK FOR SECONDS!

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ADD A LOUNGE AREA TO YOUR RECEPTION

If at all possible, create a lounge-like area in your reception space. Why? People can get antsy. Instead of having your guests sit around the same dinner tables all night, a change of environment will promote conversation and keep even your nondancing guests entertained. Look into renting or borrowing couches, chairs, and other pieces of furniture that you can then stage with pillows and votive candles in your wedding colors. A lounge area also gives people the opportunity to ham it up in pictures!

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PLAY DANCEABLE MUSIC & CREATE A GAME TO GET PEOPLE ONTO THE DANCE FLOOR!

Having an awesome night of dancing and drinking is the ideal for any wedding, but getting people onto the dance floor is a whole other obstacle. Find a creative game to help get all those guests onto the dance floor and engage them with fun songs that they want to dance to. Whether you’ve hired a band or a DJ, if you want to keep the dance floor packed (and we’re guessing you do), plan a playlist of songs that will please the crowd, not just you two. You may love obscure indie rock, but now isn’t the time to show off your discerning taste in music. People love dancing to Lady Gaga and Madonna — so let them! Okay, this is an obvious one, but it made the list because music is a major fun factor at the reception and it has a lot to do with how long your guests will stay. The last thing you want to see is your dance floor clear out when the “chicken dance” comes on. So, make sure to talk to your DJ about your do-not-play list.

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LAST, BUT NOT LEAST…. HIRE A DAY-OF COORDINATOR

You may have a ton of fun ideas for your reception lined up — say, a rockin’ entrance, an amazing band, and surprise late-night snacks — but the truth is it’s much harder than you’d think to keep each of those plans in check. We have seen amazingly planned days fall apart and cause the bride and groom to stress out!! Your day is super important to plan out, but you don’t want to have to worry about it on the actual day! If you already have an event planner, genius. If not, look into booking a day-of coordinator to oversee the details (trust us, it’s worth it). Here are some links to planners that we have worked with in the past.

Gather Events /// Ace The Day /// Nicole Alexandra Designs & Events

Love you all, keep reading, & keep it real!!! <3 Tiffani

Protected: Barry & Jennifer | Desert Love | Palm Springs, Cree Estate Wedding Photographers

love, Ellie — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:36:57 +0000

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Steve & Michelle | Cosmic-Love comic book engagement story | Los Angeles Photographers

love, Ellie — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:09:17 +0000

On July 2nd, 2012, four years to the day of the now infamous note, Steve took Michelle to the spot that they had first really hung out alone: a simple bench under a street light, off Avenue H in Redondo Beach. As the sun set Steve played his guitar, as he had for Michelle multiple times on that same bench during their relationship. After a couple songs, he handed Michelle another (simple mistake-free this time) note and began playing and singing The Wedding Singer classic, “I Wanna Grow Old With You.” The note was a simple history of Michelle and Steve’s relationship, with him telling her that he’d only grown stronger in his convictions that she was his better half. After a few seconds of awkward silence, Steve explained that she should fold the paper so the tops of two arrows touched. Upon doing so, a hidden inquiry appeared. Michelle stared at the question, “Will you be my wife?” for a very long time with a confused look on her face. This led to the following exchange:

Michelle: “Are you serious?”

Steve: “Yes.”

Michelle: “Did you ask my dad?”

Steve: “Yes.”

Michelle: “Are you kidding?”

Steve: “No…”

Michelle: “…”

Steve: “So…?”

Michelle: “OF COURSE!”