••• TELLING STORIES, SHARING LOVE •••
©2016 Sun & Sparrow Photography // Fairytale engagement at the LA Arboretum
©2015 Sun & Sparrow Photography // Rustic Palos Verdes Engagement
FROM THE BRIDE //
In 2010, Daniel (a 3rd year) and Ellen (a 1st year) met at a pharmacy fraternity meet & greet. While getting to know each other, Daniel tried to impress Ellen by cooking for her in the dorms; Ellen gave Daniel a “high-five” as a thank you, but she unknowingly confused him. She thought maybe a hug was too forward so early in their relationship, but Daniel thought the “high-five” meant friend-zoned. Eventually Daniel started to understand Ellen’s awkwardness, and after several “study sessions” (basically Ellen studying and Daniel playing video games), they made it official.
During pharmacy school in Chicago, Daniel and Ellen enjoyed a lot of great food, sight-seeing, randomness (such as creating Build-A-Bears of each other), and cooking together. Though they met in Chicago, luckily both were from Southern California, even if it meant they had to continue their relationship long-distance after Daniel graduated. Through a lot of patience and hard work, they are blessed to both be working in West Los Angeles now.
So how did they get engaged?? Well, Daniel had plans to propose to Ellen while celebrating their 4-year anniversary. Using a delicious steak dinner at Maestro as a cover, they started the day off with a picnic lunch on the beach. (The cover worked in terms of Ellen wearing a dress and Daniel wearing a blazer to the beach.) After walking around, Ellen noticed decorations set up along a deck. “How perfect!” she thought as the week had been full of downpour and gloomy weather. Looking more closely, Ellen noticed roses, greeting cards, and letters spelling out E-L-L-E-N hanging from terrariums. It took some hints from Daniel (such as “open the card, it’s for you”) for Ellen to realize it was for her and not another Ellen. After reading the cards and remembering their story through pictures, Daniel sang the song that he had written for her. Ellen had been asking for a song for 4 years; she thinks it was definitely worth the wait! By the way, did you know the beach was Crystal Cove, about 5 minutes from the wedding venue, [seven-degrees]!
FROM THE GROOM // I had started to plan for the proposal about two months prior to the actual date. I wanted it to coincide with our four year anniversary so Ellen would not suspect anything. I made sure to first visit her parents as well as her brother to seek approval prior to proposing. With their blessing, I started devising what I wanted to do. I wanted something that would be meaningful and would have special significance only to us. I found a location in Crystal Cove in Laguna Beach that was overlooking the ocean and had very little foot traffic that could distract from the moment. I designed the area with five stations with little things in them that represented us. Each station had a greeting card (Ellen particularly loves greeting cards and she is one of the few people who actually keeps ALL the greeting cards that she receives), a rose, letters spelling out her name, as well as banana grams spelling out “Will you marry me Ellen?” (We started getting into board games more). In between each station, I placed pictures of the both of us of the various dates and activities that we had done for the past 4 years together. When we got to the end, I sang her a song that I had written for her (Ellen had always wanted me to write a song for her, and I felt that this was the perfect time to write it for her). I played guitar and sang the song for her and then went down on one knee to propose to her. She said yes and the rest is history!
Natural Inspired engagement in Los Angeles // ©2017 Sun & Sparrow Los Angeles wedding photographer
(more…)©2015 Sun & Sparrow Photography // Wilderness engagement in Yosemite National Park
HOW HE ASKED // FROM THE BRIDE // I was on my way up to the observatory to watch a show at the planetarium. According to me I was there helping a friend get extra credit for school and I was promised a michelada and kbbq after the show. Mario had gone out with his best friend that day, and since my friend drove us to LA I let Mario take my car. On my way up I ran into my cousin (which I thought was weird but didn’t think anything of it) and I asked what he was doing there. He said he was meeting up with his friends. After talking for a minute we parted ways and I started to comment to my friend how he observatory is a really popular spot and I wasn’t surprised to run into him. As we were waiting for the bathroom (because I have a teeny tiny bladder) I happen to see Mario’s brother and his girlfriend. I got really excited to see them one last time before they went back home to Merced. I started to think how strange it was that I’d run into more people I know. I started asking why they were there and the answer was “we were so amazed by Interstellar that we just wanted to stop by” I had watched the movie as well so I figured “aaaaha that makes total sense”. As we were walking they began to slow down and well I was in a hurry trying to catch a show so I said my good byes and we took off (speed walking), my eyes were dead on the door I really wanted to make it to the last show. As I’m walking toward the entrance I feel someone grab my hand and to my extreme surprise it was Mario! I was beyond confused and when I saw tears in his eyes I began to get scared (my car? Chris?). I wasn’t understanding what was going on and I kept asking him but he was so emotional he couldn’t talk. So I keep asking him “Mario are you ok?” He nods yes and drops down on his knee. I remember looking around, where did my friend go? And then I see a huge crowd of people (family and friends) and everything starts to make sense. He tells me how much he loves me, I start to get nervous, happy, excited and shocked all at the same time. It was such a rush of emotions I thought I was dreaming. Of course I said yes. It was one of the most confusing day of my life! I had been fooled for almost an entire week, and everyone knew except me. I’m happy I didn’t spoil the surprise because there were tons of clues but I somehow managed to miss them (or find justification) for all of them. I know I’m so lucky to have such an amazing man in my life.
HOW HE ASKED // FROM THE GROOM // I had been planning the proposal for close to a month. I had already told all of our friends and family about the details of the proposal and I felt very excited about it all. I wanted to plan out the perfect proposal and wanted it to be complete surprise for her. I managed to get everyone in on it and even had her friend Jessica make an excuse to hang out so that she wouldn’t catch on to the master plan. My friends Danny and Chris met me at my house and we drove up to the observatory. The original plan was for everyone to meet at the observatory at five, but when I got to the observatory there was a really long line. I had to park the car about half a mile away from the observatory but besides all this I still felt calm. I met up with all of our family and friends and explained to them the plan for the proposal. After waiting for about 20 minutes her friend Jessica text me to let me know that they were there, I informed everyone and began to feel a little nervous but I still felt fine. After waiting for another 20 minutes I saw Julie walking down the walkway up to the observatory and I turned around so she wouldn’t see me and patiently waited for her to get closer. Once I heard her voice I grabbed her arm, it was at that moment that I began to feel very emotional about the whole thing. I had a whole speech planned out but I felt so overwhelmed with emotions I couldn’t get all my words out. I told her that I loved her and then I got down one one knee, I remember seeing her face filled with so much excitement and as she began to get watery eyed all of our family and friends came out from hiding. I have to admit that the rush of emotions i felt at the time of proposal definitely comes from the overwhelming feelings i have for Julie. I am very blessed and fortunate to soon call her my wife.
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The magic of motherhood... and the magic of a newborn baby. Nothing can top these moments and that feeling of wonder.
MINI SESSIONS ARE HERE!
We are thinking about it, we are wondering when fall sessions start... and now its time! My mini session dates are live and now you can book yours.
They are already filling up like wildfire, but I do have spots available for you. Dont miss it!
And this location right here, this is the NEWEST spot! I`m calling it "Fairybrook Bridge" and its open for you. Feel free to Hop over to the site and book your session whenever youre ready.
I cant wait to see all of your sweet families and make magic together.
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The season of back yard weddings is here!
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This wedding was a long awaited day for me.
I met Helen last year in Seattle at my optometrist`s office (far away, I know...) who is the receptionist there. She was the sweetest, most compassionate and fun-loving person to navigate a confusing new part of my journey as someone who now wears glasses permanently. In any case, she and I have gotten to know each other through the process of glasses+weddings (such a funny combo!). I have watched her journey and gotten to know so much about the depth of how she cares for people, and its so so beautiful.
She`s one of the youngest brides I have ever worked with, and it has shown me SO MUCH about my next generation of brides and how I CANNOT WAIT for those weddings coming soon. The energy coming into the next era of weddings is so fresh and blissful, Something we all need much more of in the world.
Helen, Youre a gem. I`m so thoroughly grateful for you and the fun stories we have created together.
Cheers to Helen and all the brides getting married in this era! WOO!
