Not everyone handles a rainy wedding day with grace and panache- but these two certainly did! Cynthia and Spencer tied the knot in the middle of a stormy day but nothing could dim their joy or their spirits. No one was going to rain on their parade.
One thing that made a huge difference to how smoothly the day ran was the fact that they chose to do a first look before their ceremony. Since it was so dark due to the storm, having a first look early ensured that they had plenty of portrait time for romantic formals as well as bridal party formals. We had scoped out the church ahead of time and found a few overhangs that allowed for natural light as well as keeping everyone dry. If there had been no first look, there would have only been about 30 minutes to complete all their formal photographs. We love first looks because they always allow for more portraits, create a more relaxed day overall and give enough leeway in case of any speed bumps.
One of my biggest tips to couples who are getting married when it might rain is to make sure to plan a first look and to use clear umbrellas. Colorful umbrellas can darken the light on the couple’s face or create a colorful shadow that is not flattering (I found this out the hard way with a cute pink umbrella at my wedding!). In anticipation for this wedding, we purchased clear umbrellas and we’re so glad we did! They kept our bride and groom dry and have a nice look in the images. They were even a fun prop to work with!
After their first look and portraits, they had a lovely and traditional Catholic Ceremony. In addition to the full mass, there were a few other traditions that they included. They presented flowers to the statue of the Virgin Mary, their family wrapped an intricate lasso rosary around the two of them and they were presented with a bible. One of the things I really love about being a wedding photographer is being able to capture all different kinds of ceremonies and traditions.
Once their ceremony was finished and their final portraits were done, it was time to party at the Perera Pavilion in the Pleasant Hill Community Center! They decorated their reception venue with so many amazing details. A few of my favorites were the acrylic signs, the iron stands made by Spencer’s dad, the gorgeous (and giant!) cake they had and their own signature drink! The whole reception was such a fun and non-stop party and we even got to work with one of our favorite DJ companies ever- Denon and Doyle. The dance floor was packed all night and even turned into a conga line at one point! Such a fun night!
This was such a memorable wedding and we had such an amazing time capturing it! Cynthia and Spencer are so sweet and we are so excited for them as they start this new part of their lives as husband and wife!
Scroll down to see images from their big day and their list of vendors.
VENDORS:
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Nautilus Lens Photography
FLORIST: Tony Rossi Sons Florists
DJ: Denon & Doyle
CATERING & RENTALS: Elegant Occasions Catering
BAKERY: Fantasy Cakes
CEREMONY: St John Vianney Catholic Church