Jamie + Michael // A Ceremony Within the Ceremony SDE

Mike's father, also Mike, is a Colonel in the United States Air Force. So when he stated that the planning that went into this wedding was the best he had ever seen, it meant something. He was not only referring to the wedding, but all of the activities surrounding it.

Jamie + Mike live the life of a military family. As Mike is a Major in the Airforce, they are bound to the life that it brings, including the relocation from time to time. So for the wedding, family and friends joined them from all over the country, thus Jamie planned out activities for everyone. From shopping at South Coast Plaza, to Yoga on the Beach, to a 5K run the morning of the wedding, there were activities all weekend.

This is not to say that the wedding was not every bit as structured and as we arrived to the ceremony rehearsal, it was very evident that this couple was not messing around. As Jamie + Michael and immediate family arrived, Jamie quickly began going through her wedding notebook approving itinerary and details as Mike and his brother, Brad quickly took to the Sabre Ceremony. In military tradition, a special ceremony is performed at the end of the ceremony service that involves ushers, very real swords, and the bride and groom. Brad, the lead in the service took the honor very seriously and the two probably spent 25 minutes rehearsing and perfecting what was to take place on the big day. This became a driving thread in their Same Day Edit as you'll see.

As the morning of the wedding came, the two set out for split activities with family and friends. Mike lead the 5K run while Jamie's good friend led a Yoga instruction on the beach. From there, the rigid timeline began and helped to unfold what was a most memorable of days, and one that definitely shined during the Ceremony within the Ceremony.

A couple MONSTER points of mention. First, Kathy Nosek from A Divine-Occasion Wedding and Event Planning. This woman is incredible and her execution at any event is second to none. Thank you to her for helping us to deliver what was truly a fun presentation for all that evening. A second shout out goes straight to Chuck Wansley and The Chuck Wansley Band. If I was getting married tomorrow, these guys would be performing at the reception. Unbelievable. The only word to describe them and they made the Same Day Edit happen without a hitch, so thank you to them as well! Finally, our new friend, Pepper Nix from Pepper Nix Photography. Photographer and crazy like us, need we say more?

And here it is as it was shown to everyone at the reception las night. Jamie + Michael // The Ceremony Within the Ceremony SDE

Sarah + Jeff // Don't Jinx It

We love backyard weddings. The details. The intimacy. The uniqueness of the venue. There is so much that can be learned about a couple at a backyard wedding just by the thought that goes into every aspect of the day.

Sarah + Jeff decided to make their wedding happen in Jeff's parents' backyard. To say that every detail was attended to would be understating the event. Jeff and his grandfather filled in the swimming pool with a plywood base that can be seen during the rehearsal footage. The alter was also hand made. Photos throughout the house were filled in with pictures of the lovely couple and to top it off, dinner consisted of a made to order pasta bar (let's just say we gave that part specifically two thumbs up) and mashed potatoes in martini glasses.

As we arrived to the house, the rain from the morning was just beginning to let up. No sooner than the rain stopped, the sun cranked up about 14 notches. It was as if two completely different weather forecasts had collided. Perhaps it was simply fate as it never rains on a bride's big day in Southern California. . . .

As the day wore on, we began to focus some of our attention on all the work that was taking place behind the scenes. The dance between the Catering Crew, the Bartenders, and the Event Planners was almost choreographed. Although we don't show it in the trailer, it will reveal itself in Jeff + Sarah's final film and it was a very organized chaos to say the least.

When all was said and done, this wedding was hands down one of our favorites this year. Jeff + Sarah, married in his parents backyard, but not a backyard wedding by any stretch of the imagination.

A very large shout out to Lisa Moon from Lisa Moon Events. As always, she worked her magic on the big day, as well as at the rehearsal :-) Also, a very special thank you to Justin from Generations Entertainment for making our life easier once again at the reception! Krista Jon from Downtown Flowers ROCKED the florals as you will see, and Rog and Lyndzee from Ellsworthphotography were so great to work with as well!

And now, Sarah + Jeff. . . enjoy!

Scott + Brigitte // the Scigitte SDE

First and foremost, Happy Halloween!!! Belated or otherwise, always a fun holiday and an opportunity for children and adult children alike to give into the practice that is dressing up like a complete idiot and candy binging. . . guilty as charged.

Moving forward, we switch gears to Scott + Brigitte (who will be referred to from this point forward by their true power couple name, Scigitte).

Our crew lives for juxtaposition, the concept of placing two things together that you wouldn't normally see and making them more interesting because of it. If you watch our films, you know that we look for it in everything we do. So when Brigitte contacted us for her wedding day to take place on Halloween, you know we were instantly sold.

Before you jump to conclusions, however, this was not a wedding you would expect on Halloween. These two are not creatures of the night or costume hounds just waiting for October 31st to get married. . . . just a couple that stands firm in their faith and the belief that things happen for a reason, and ultimately a puzzle can only be put together in one way (to be explained in the SDE).

Scigitte has a crazy long backstory that involves several twists and turns that incorporate finding their faith, losing one another, rekindling, and vowing not to EVEN SHARE A KISS until they were married. It almost goes without saying that the Same Day Edit was going to have to end on that first kiss, right???

Scott began the day golfing with his father. A last outing as a single man looking for those fatherly words of advice, which he later shared with one of the guys on his car ride to the venue. Brigitte sat quietly at her friend's house, putting together the final touches for the florals, which she had done ON HER OWN for the entire wedding day.

A day that is so infamous for demons and devils, candy and scares, horror and fear. . . it was the ultimate juxtaposition for Scigitte. Demons and devils??? We saw an angel fairy princess flower girl. Candy and scares? We saw laughing, good food, and an overwhelmingly sweet candy bar. Horror and fear? Not on this day. . . . Only love, laughter, and an unyielding dedication of Scigitte's devotion to their faith.

It wouldn't be fair to proceed without first thanking two UBER-RAD vendors! First, Janel Conlan from Focus Photography. The definition of Rad Photographer, and amazingly sweet and cool human. Thank you Janel for always being so great to work with. Second, Justin from Generations Entertainment made the SDE possible. Thank you for allowing us to work through your soundboard all evening and for keeping the party rockin'

And now, Scott + Brigitte // the Scigitte SDE