Venue: Villa Del Sol

Wedding Planner: Dragonfly Events OC

Chapter 1: Getting Ready

I remember arriving and first meeting up with Drew, the videographer, at the hotel. We got to the suite, and Rachel was just having her final touches done on her makeup, while her bridesmaids were relaxing and getting ready. Drew and I started setting the stage for some of our shots, all while capturing candid moments of the bridal party. Fast forward to Rachel being ready, and we had such an intimate moment as she did a first look with her bridesmaids. It was very touching watching everyone shed tears and try to hold back the "ugly cry." Something I really wanted was to get some special moments with Rachel and her mom. I know sometimes these can feel a bit silly, but sharing this moment together is truly something you'll always look back on.

Chapter 2: The First Look

From the moment they first shared their story of meeting at Roscoe’s in Downtown Fullerton, I was set on highly suggesting we do their first look there. It was only a few blocks from their venue. We arrived, and I got Alex into position. Then I guided Rachel toward her future husband. On the way over, Rachel started laughing. I asked her what was so funny, and she replied, "Is he crying?" In fact, Alex was already crying before he even saw his bride. As the first look unfolded, I made sure to give them a private moment to be with each other. After that, we grabbed a few drinks with the rest of the bridal party and headed over to the venue.

Chapter 3: The Ceremony

This is my absolute favorite part of this venue! The ceremony area is so intimate, and the lighting is absolutely beautiful. Seeing Rachel walk down the aisle was truly breathtaking. And yes, Alex was crying! After the ceremony, we made our way to one of the entrances for a few portraits. On the way over, a few guests greeted them, and I knew right away this was a moment they'd want to remember forever.

Chapter 4: The Reception

Fun fact about Rachel: she shared with me during our engagement session that she used to be a dancer for the LA Kings! Keeping that in mind, I knew I was going to get some amazing shots during their first dance. Being able to get to know them both through all of the planning and meetings really allowed me to understand what moments they would truly cherish from their wedding. Cheers to Mr. & Mrs. Wellman!