Megan Welker

 This week is a whirlwind. Whirlwind, I tell ya. In less than one week I will be taking mamajuana shots and sipping something fruity on the beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Adam and I are thrilled, ecstatic, freaking out excited to document Brenda & Geudy‘s wedding in the warm, warm sand. With this being my first trip out of the country (yes, I know) and the fact that I’m a total control freak…I’ve been researching, planning, packing weeks ahead of time to make sure I don’t forget anything and know everything. Lucky for me Adam balances out my crazy ocd with his calm, “don’t worry babe”-ness and somehow everything always works out. He’s definitely a keeper.

As soon as Nadiya slipped into her wedding dress she beamed. She was a gorgeous bride and Saum such a handsome groom. They grinned from ear to ear from the moment they saw each other during their first look until they danced and danced at the end of the night. After five years of dating, Nadiya in Texas and Saum in California I might add, they finally were together in the same state, saying vows they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives.

Their Seven Degrees Wedding in Laguna Beach was perfection, from the lavender lit ceremony to the romantic reception. The dance floor was packed all night long and there was SO much love filling the room from beginning to end.

Nadiya and Saum thank you, so much, for asking me to capture this day for you. I am so honored.

\Happy Monday friends! Hope you all enjoyed the beautiful weather we had this weekend and spent some time outside. Adam and I spent Saturday up in LA having lunch with some friends from Seattle and stopping by some antique stores before braving the crowds at The Grove. Sunday was spent with Sprinkles cupcakes and watching beach volleyball in Corona Del Mar. It was a pretty perfect weekend if I do say so myself.

♥

Here are some pretties I found around the web recently

1. These sunglasses. I NEED them in my life. Seriously. {via Tumbleweeds Handcraft}

2. I’ve been searching for an industrial shelf like this for months. The only problem is that every one I find is WAY out of my budget. So, imagine my excitement when I found this tutorial! Can’t wait to try it! {via A Keen Life}

3. I came across this on Pinterest the other day and really love it. {via Pinterest}

4. I love this DIY rack! If the walls in my apartment didn’t suck so much I may try to do it. I’ll put it away in my home folder. {via SMP Living} PS. Have you all seen Style Me Pretty’s new Living blog? I love it!

5. Obviously saved this one for last. Do you love Zooey as much as I do and want everything she’s wearing? Here you go! It’s genius! {via wwzdw}

 I ran out of creativity this week. Adam came to the rescue.

When the fog rolls in all I want to do is curl up on the couch.

 I know I say this every.single.time. BUT I seriously love being able to photograph the same family year after year. Being able to see them grow through my photos is the best. Little Gracie Jo is no exception. She has the most adorable little personality and it’s so fun to see it come out.

We had fun with balloons signifying her third birthday. You are a little gem Gracie. Thank you Chesser’s for letting me photograph your precious little family, yet again.

 home is where the heart is. home is wherever I’m with you.

Personally, I have two homes. The home I live in in Southern Ca and is becoming fully “me” and the home I grew up in in the Central Valley that I spent over 20 years growing and learning in which I now refer to as “home home”.

I’m currently at my home home, spending the week hanging with family, my bestie and photographing pretties left and right.

This image was taken in my backyard. Next to the barn full of hay, the pastures full of horses and the dogs that without my asking, came and sat right next to me.

I love home.

 Carly and Mark are one of those couples that make you feel like you’ve been their best friend for years the first time meeting them. They are funny, incredibly sweet and so, so in love. I had the best time trekking around the Sequoias and Hume Lake with them. By the end, we were all freezing and couldn’t feel our toes but they were still game to throw snowballs around. I can’t wait for their wedding this fall!

First of all I have to say a huge Thank You to all of you who sent me comments, texts and cards about my post last week. My heart is so incredibly full of love right now and I owe it all to you guys. It’s nice to put your heart out there and realize that there are so many others going through something similar.

You all complete me.

Now onto what you came here for…

1. This hotel in New York looks amazing. I want to go now. {via Design Sponge}

2. A great article on raw files from Lydia over at Ever Ours. Often couples ask for things only because their bridesmaid who got married years ago told them they should. This post will help you realize what raw files are and that you really don’t need them at all.

3. For those of you who know me, you know I hate working out, like hate. But I recently started taking Zumba classes and you know what? They are FUN! I don’t actually feel like I’m working out, which I love, and I’m sweating like a pig and burning a ton of calories! If you’re in the Long Beach area you should come join me at En Pointe Dance and Fitness. They offer a ton of other really fun classes…I think I’ll take a hip hop class soon!

There are times when the weight of everything in your life takes control of you.

This week was that time for me. I feel like my head has been a constant hamster wheel. Between that annoying voice in the back of my head asking “will you ever book another wedding?”, the thought that I need to buy a new car, dreaded taxes, and so on and so forth. If we’re laying it all out on the table here (which I totally am)…Recently I was thinking maybe I should start looking for a part time job, you know, just in case. At that very moment my thoughts were interrupted by a ding from my phone. An inquiry. And just like that God reminds me that He’s got this. Whenever those voices in my head start to take over and I feel like giving in He sends out a sign that I am doing exactly the right thing at exactly the right time and that everything is going to be ok.

So today I soaked up the last few hours of sunlight laying on the beach, thanking Him for all that He’s done for me. Every friendship, every adventure, every couple that has trusted me to document their wedding day. Tomorrow I leave for a quick weekend road trip to celebrate my favorite cousin’s engagement and couldn’t be more excited to seek out yet another adventure. This year is about being rich with adventure and memories rather than be rich with money. So with that, I hope you all have a lovely weekend and enjoy every second of this sweet sunshine.

     Carrie and Codys engagement session was a dream. We started the shoot just minutes away from their house, carrying along with us a wooden “getting hitched” sign that Carrie made herself and a vintage American flag from her Grandfather. They wanted to make sure to incorporate elements of themselves in their shoot and show off their country roots. We finally made our way back to their property where they rounded up the horses that they love to ride and rodeo on and then eventually made our way up to the top of their property where Cody proposed to Carrie. These two are a giant ball of FUN and I cannot wait for their wedding in April at their home.