Chelsea & Ian

So their story begins like many others, boy meets girl, they fall in love, they’re together for years, no one can imagine one without the other, he asks the question – she says yes, they plan and plan, and a wedding day happens, beautiful, right?

The wedding day is where their story becomes the one that I pull out and hold up as the shining paragon of “be like them.” First you need to know that they are planners, both of them. Every detail was organized, and relaxed, don’t get me wrong, but the lists were made and the items ordered, the ceremony to be held at Stone Brewery Liberty Station (because as serious beer officianados, where else?), catered Mexican and fancy cookies to eat as the height of no fuss delicious cuisine, and all the family and friends flown in from the other end of the country. Two Airbnb‘s were rented, one for him and one for her and I had the pleasure of shooting the rehearsal dinner and getting to know their fantastic group of friends the night before. 

That’s when it became a Story, the kind that you can’t plan for. In an effort to love on their wedding party they had carefully planned a series of events for the few days before- brunches, pedicures, get-togethers and on the day before the wedding, lunch together for the whole family and wedding party. Lunch at a local resturant during which 80% of the wedding party and family were accidentally gifted with a case of food poisoning that kept them up all night the night before the wedding. I walked into the brides Airbnb on the morning of the wedding expecting the usual clutter of champagne glasses, make up, and happy chatter- instead I was met with quiet voices, Ginger-ale, and saltines. Oy! But let me tell you, here’s where it gets good. These two and their wedding party put on the biggest of big girl and big boy pants and held it together like I have never seen anyone hold it together.

The wedding went on as planned and it was beautiful and if you hadn’t been told you would have had no idea anything was amiss. This groom was genuinely green and holding onto the wall to stay upright, but his love for his bride pushed everything else out and when she was looking at him he was only smiles and warmth. I have never heard two people complain less about an awful situation than these two. And because of that their day turned out beautiful and wonderful and gorgeous. 

They didn’t feel like drinking beer and that’s a shame but when they met for their first look with tears rolling down both their faces and smiles lighting them up, you could tell there was nothing else on their minds. Love can truly be the adrenaline to get you through the trickiest of situations. And for every groom in a summer wedding who says he’s overly hot, I remind him of Ian, who held it together like none other, and say “Ian didn’t complain – be like Ian.”

Moral of the story is, don’t worry about the worst that can happen, it’s livable, beautiful even, and chances are you’ll get a great story.

That’s What She Said:

“Miranda truly stands out as a photographer and a person. She will learn your whole love story and somehow convey it in photos, she will offer you ginger essential oils when you aren't feeling well, she will have incredible patience as your puppy runs in circles and she tries to get the perfect shot, she will make you homemade dessert while you go through your wedding photos. And when you get the photos you will cry as you relive the emotions you felt that day and appreciate the beauty of everything she captured.

My husband and I both had food poisoning during our wedding which was absolutely TERRIBLE. Miranda called me a few weeks after offering to take some extra shots because she just felt it was truly unfair what happened to us and wanted to do something sweet for us. This truly demonstrates how sweet and wonderful she is! I always dreamed of a woodsy style elopement so we went out to Mount Laguna and did an amazing shoot…”

Vendor Love:

Venue: Stone Brewing Liberty Market

Dress: Carrie’s Bridal

Hair: Bridal Hair By Brittany

MUA: Aethetics Savoir