» San Diego Wedding Photographer - Jeff Dillow Photography

When we first walked into Kristen’s hotel room for the pre-wedding photos, it honestly felt like a yoga studio in there.  Everything was calm, you could breathe easy, not a drop of tension.  The entire wedding day followed suit, and more than some of that credit is due to Laura from Hannah Smith Events.  Can we just say we love shooting weddings with planners, it really makes life easy : )

The wedding ceremony took place at Pocket Park on the rear of the Museum of Contemporary Art property in La Jolla, which over looks the ocean.  You’re simultaneously among the exciting, hustle & bustle of beach goers, while still feeling intimate with the few dozen other guests in attendance.  Kiyoko Ando & her team at Cherry Blossom Floral Designs made the already gorgeous setting pop with the orange & red flower arrangements.

Afterwards, everyone was treated to what I would call uber-gourmet plates at George at the Cove just up the street.  The choice of venue is no surprise at all, considering Yao hosts his very own food blog {Insert Food} which lays claim to over 75 entries documenting food from around the planet.  I feel like the term “foodie” doesn’t do Kristen & Yao justice.  What was a surprise however, was how the dance floor become nearly at capacity when DJ Wreckrd starting spinning Gangnam Style to a seemingly mild mannered group.  A full dance floor always makes the photographers happy!

All in all it was an awesome way to start the wedding season for us.  We’ll be blessed if all our weddings are this enjoyable to shoot, but we’re getting our hopes get too high!

I feel like I’m beating a dead horse each time I say this, but having the chance to shoot with couples to celebrate their engagement pays huge dividends on the wedding day.  If you’ve spent some time on our website, you may have noticed Jodi & Garrett shooting hoops on the floor of Assembly Hall early this year during their engagement shoot.  Garrett self-admittedly, doesn’t love having his picture taken.  But, Rachel & I feel like spending a couple hours with these guys created an easiness between us that allowed the true emotions and smiles of the day to come out, and therefore the photos to really pop.

Moreover, getting to shoot in one of the most beautiful counties around, at an awesome, intimate venue really let us having fun as photographers and capture the day as it unfolded.  The oreo groom cake really cracked us up, too!

I’m just so excited about how all of these photos came out.  It is really the culmination of having established a relationship on our engagement shoot, the gigantic bridal party (five of which are brothers), a “party trolley” to loosen everyone up and the fact that Margaret down right loves pictures.  When photography is high on a bride & groom’s priority list, the photos always turn out better.

I believe I wrote about how mouth watering shooting at the Scottish Rite is for a photographer.  It can sometimes be a challenge for lighting, but oh the epic interior more than compensates for the little bit of extra planning it takes.  Margaret & Jacob, I will say, had the most elegant reception we’ve shot.  And, we’ve shot a lot of receptions.  I try to not ever say that any one wedding is my favorite because that would just be unfair to everyone else.  So, in fear of breaking my vow I’m just not going to say anything else..

I could tell from our consultation that Rachel & Don’s wedding was going to be fun.  Anyone who has the forethought to bring their own shot glasses when such a thing isn’t even allowed at the venue surely knows how to have a good time.  They did not disappoint.  I mean, anytime you get a bride and groom to throw Soulja Boy’s “Crank That” into their choreographed first dance you can’t go wrong.  And, I am so glad we were able to sneak out to the canal at dusk to capture what has become my favorite shot of the wedding.  (It’s the last one : )

Pre-Wedding: WIP Downtown Hairstudio // Photo Site: Indianapolis Museum of Art // Ceremony & Reception: Indiana State Museum