Megan Welker

When Jenna and Matt first contacted me they were planning a big, traditional wedding. After life threw them a few curve balls they decided to elope, just the two of them, an officiant, and myself. Once the day got closer they realized it wouldn’t be the same without the people they love the most. So they invited their closest family members to a beautiful venue tucked away in the hills of Temecula, they shared handwritten vows, and promised each other forever. It is one of my favorite days to date.

Hey Hey it’s Monday! My bff is in town visiting so I’m getting right to the goods so I can spent time with her. Enjoy!

1. Remember how I used to do “what to wear Wednesday’s”? Ya….so, that stopped. Kind of like how I used to do “one a week portraits”. My bad. Anyways, the girls over at Coco + Kelley have taken over for me, ok not really but they’re doing an awesome series on what to wear to weddings. Head over and check them out if you’re stumped on what to wear! {via Coco + Kelley}

2. You know I love Ruffled  and their awesome free printables. These are my favorites! {via Ruffled}

3. THIS. is. awesome. Don’t mind me, just heading to Ikea asap. {via Smitten Studio}

4. Have you all heard about this new bullet coffee? Adam and I learned about it from a friend recently and he tried it today and actually liked it! {via The Kitchn}

5. This had me on the floor laughing. How true is this about the 21st century? {via Marc Johns Serious Drawings}

When you’re as lucky as I am and blessed with the most beautiful roommate who just so happens to have just made some flower crowns, you go out into an open field and photograph her in them.

…and just for fun, I shot some film from this session.

Brenda and Geudy are two of the most kind hearted people you will ever meet. Their smiles light up every room they walk into, they tell locals to give you the “Dominican price” instead of the tourist price and they are so in love with each other. Photographing their wedding was one my favorite days as a photographer. There was so much happiness filling the beach that afternoon, there were tears, there was laughter and most of all there was some serious love. Also, they know how to throw a mean dance party.

Brenda and Geudy, words can never thank you enough for asking me to be such a special part of your big day.

I’m blessed with the most incredible brides. Love these two!

I’m so happy to finally share our personal photos from our trip to Punta Cana in March. It’s such a hard compromise, shooting while vacationing. On one hand you want to photograph every little thing to remember it and on the other hand you actually want a vacation from your camera. I’m kicking myself now for not taking more photos of Adam and I actually being touristy, for example: having a stranger take a photo of us standing in front of the ocean, like I said, touristy. Oh well, next trip!

There are a mixture of digital, film and iPhone photos from our trip. We can’t wait to go back!

We arrived in Punta Cana on Thursday, we were exhausted from the flight so we lounged around the pool, hit up the buffet and then enjoyed a wonderful dinner with the bridal party.

On Friday we had planned on going zip lining but our plans were canceled due to it being too windy. So instead we decided to scout the ceremony and reception locations since Adam wanted to get some B footage for the video. We perused the resorts and stopped into the cute, colorful stores on the walk to the beach. We (I) really wanted to just lay out and get a tan at the beach but after laying there for about thirty minutes we let the wind defeat us and headed back to the resort for dinner.

Saturday was the wedding! We awoke to the most gorgeous blue, clear skies so naturally we made a bee line to the beach where I, being the super tourist I am, had to have a coconut to drink out of. I mean, who would I be if I passed that up? After a few hours of hanging at the beach we shot the most perfect wedding and I’m so so excited to share it soon!

Sunday was adventure day! In exchange for zip lining we chose to do a day of exploring the city. It was so much fun to see the real side of Punta Cana and not just the gorgeous resort side, which we loved. We rode in a monster truck, drank beers at 10am, went to a local school, visited a tobacco farm where we watched how handmade cigars are made (by the cutest man) and try some out ourselves, after that we headed to a coacoa and coffee plantation, stopped at the Basilica, which was fitting since it happened to be Easter, and our last stop was to a nearby ranch to go horseback riding. Since I do that at home, without a dorky helmet, we decided to stay back and relax in the hammocks. It was our absolute favorite part of the day.

This one was called The Monica Lewinsky…

Yes, I was terrified by the fact that this guy had a tarantula on HIS FACE.

Monday morning was our last day there so before we had to check out we had breakfast and then walked to the beach to use up the rest of the roll of film that was in the camera.

It was a quick lived trip but we are so honored that we were able to go there and photograph Brenda and Geudy’s wedding. I’ll be sharing their wedding tomorrow! YAY!!!

 After quite the hiatus, Mad Love Monday’s are back! Woo! I could give you excused but I’ll just skip to something else. I’ve been busy shooting and really enjoying life this past month. Speaking  of, how is it June already? Anyways, Mary came home from her 5 month stay in Africa so we celebrated her return at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, because, why not? Adam and I took a quick trip to SF for a weekend, I photographed 3 maternity sessions in a week and photographed some really, really lovely weddings. So, I’m ready for you June, let’s see what you’ve got.

1. I’m really loving this hair….and her hat. I’ll take it all. {via Free People}

2. Flea Market tips! Genius! I love the tip about bringing a list because lists are my bff’s and I always end up wanting another chair that I already have no room for. {Flea Market Tips Part 1 and Part 2 {via Decor8}

3. Literally, I was just showing Adam a beautiful, colorful rug like this one and explaining to him how much I am obsessed with them even though they aren’t really my style. How does that even work? {via Design Sponge}

4. Since my bike was stolen months ago {boo} I’m looking into getting another one and after seeing this post I think it needs to have this crate. {via Design Sponge}

5. Sweet Kelly Ann and her amazing playlists. Have a listen. {via Flower Child Dwelling}

6. You guys! Have you heard?! BHLDN is opening up a store in LA! AH!!!! This is such exciting news for you brides to be! If you aren’t in LA (sorry for the previous excitement) they are doing a traveling trunk show which is also amazing news! Hop onto their site and see when they’re coming near you! {via BHLDN}

7. A recent article stating the top 22 coolest places to get married. Kinda fun that I’ve shot at one of them! {via Buzz Feed}

Happy Week my friends!

xoxo

 Since these two are getting married tomorrow I wanted to blog their engagement session we shot last month (maybe two months ago?). I am so excited to be there to document their intimate backyard wedding tomorrow, I know it’s going to be a good one!

It was really, really hard for me not to share this session months ago but I’m happy I waited since it was featured on Style Me Pretty Living on Monday! I had so much fun photographing Kiley and Ken in there first home together. From the hanging lavender, to Rocco showing me his one trick, to Ken and Kiley picking a bag full of avocados for me to take home, this afternoon was top notch.

Here are my favorites from our afternoon together. I really do think sessions in my clients homes are so intimate and perfect. I would so love to do more like this (hint hint).

You can read more about the session over on SMP

 Today we remember those who have fought for our country.

These amazing men and women deserve to be thanked every day for their hard work and dedication.

They are truly hero’s.

ps. I promise I’m really going to blog this wedding soon. One of my favorite frames from Lauren & JT’s Lake Placid, NY wedding last year.

 I love this little family. The hugs, loves, stick wars, dirt throwing, kisses, and laughter. It’s all so worth it.