Yikesssss I have not made a blog post since July, and I try to be super consistent with sharing my weddings and travel photography! I was kind of busy traveling the world starting at the end of July. First I flew off to the OPPOSITE coast, and headed to California! Just outside of LA, there is this amazing mountainous town called Lake Arrowhead. About an hour drive UP through the clouds (literally driving through clouds). THAT is where my friends Justine and Julian decided to host their big epic amazing wonderful SO MUCH FUN wedding weekend. YES I say wedding weekend because it was not just one day of fun, it was four! But I’ll get into that. Their venue was Pine Rose Cabins, in Lake Arrowhead, CA. A really cool spot not just for the wedding itself, but your family can all stay there, too. It’s a bunch of cabins to rent out and walking distance to the venue itself!
Let me start by saying that I met Justine in 2021 in Portugal! We both booked solo trips and we met on a tour, the very first trip post-Covid life. Justine and I were random roommates, and I’m so glad that happened!! We always kept in touch after we got home, and when she got engaged and told me she wished I could be her photographer……… and then made it happen, I was OVER THE MOON! Not just to be able to be there for her big day, but to get to document it, have fun with them and their families, get to travel to Cali, adventure in the mountains, and see my FRIEND again – I mean, truly, say less, sign me up.
The first day they hosted a Shabbat Dinner at their venue. It was Moroccan themed as a node to Julian’s family, too, which added the most GORGEOUS and creative touch. They ate, they broke bread, they DANCED, they had a henna party, it was already my favorite thing of the weekend and the weekend was only just starting! The second day was a pool party and a welcome party later that evening. The pool party may have been my favorite event to cover. It was so relaxed, so chill, just people showing up as they got into town, jumping in the pool, no formal photos just candids and then I jumped in the pool once I was done, too! This was such a fun way to get to spend time with their people informally! The welcome party was perfect, too, it was just some handmade tacos, drinks, a couple toasts, and everyone looked nice and tanned and pretty, the night before the wedding.
The wedding was honestly a WHIRLWIND. Does anybody even remember what happened? Because I think I emotionally blacked out because we truly had the best day. I say “we” because I was genuinely just a part of the party at this point. The really cool part about working a little bit all weekend was that I got to know everyone and it was a lot more personalized. Everyone was comfortable with me, would pose for photos happily, gave me really fun candids – I mean, hello, dream wedding day? The weather was PERFECT I mean warm and sunny but we were covered in trees and it cooled off perfectly for dancing the night away later in the evening. The venue is truly like hosting a wedding in your own private forest. It was a vibe. The most memorable moment for me was absolutely the hora. I mean, I’ve photographed a hora before. I thought, ya know, just another hora? I mean they’re always fun. But this? This was like a mosh pit of chaos and absolute hilarity. I was in shock and awe basically the whole time, and yes it lasted for like half an hour. And yes someone did elbow my camera straight to the lens. (But it’s okay) LOL. And then, on their final morning all together at the cabins, they hosted a brunch as their last event, which I think is the perfect ending to the perfect weekend.
What an incredible group of people. I have never seen a crowd so supportive and energetic and so full of love. Justine and Julian – y’all have A LOT of people in your corner and you are SO loved. And I’m so glad you found love in each other! So so so eternally grateful for getting invited to be a part of your big day – and I’m so glad we got assigned to be random roommates in Portugal in 2021 (sorry Julian for this long love letter I wrote to Justine, okay!!!) Now go enjoy some highlights from their weekend:
Design & Weekend Planning: @alwaysallegra_
Wedding Coordinator: @letitgoweddingandeventplanning
Florist: @dianadregerdesigns
Photographer: @lightbloomphoto
Videographer: @madhumediafilms
Venue: @pineroseweddings
Caterer: @foxinthewoodscatering
Cake: @littlebeescakerie
DJ: @arrowheaddj
Photo Booth: @lakesidedjservices
Linens: @raquelspecialtylinens
Hair: @gpinz_hernandez
Makeup: @designvisage
Henna Décor: @Moroccanpartyrental
Stationery: @ironleafpress
Signage: @alwaysallegra_
Fruit Vendor: #Rosita’s
Coffee Vendor: @coffeecateringla
Dress Designer: @millanova
Bridal Shop: @vonvebridalcouture
Shoes: @stevemadden
Rings: @jrsdiamonds
Tux: @enzocustom
Bridesmaids Attire: @azaziebridal
Groomsmen Attire: @macys
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