08 Dec 2011, Posted by Carmen in Blog, East Bay Wedding, Weddings, 0 Comments

Berkeley City Club Wedding Photography | Berkeley, CA | Terri + Brad

I was so happy to be back at the beautiful Berkeley City Club to photograph Terri & Brad’s classy romantic wedding! All their elegant Julia Morgan-designed hallways, arches, staircases and courtyards make for so many great sneak-away portrait opportunities. It was very fun to see that a few months after our engagement photo session, this originally slightly photo-shy couple had turned into pros relaxing in front of the camera . It was also fun to get the feedback at the reception that their friends had never seen Terri & Brad kiss as much as in their engagement photos… hee hee! The only thing this venue did not lend itself to is running shots, which I otherwise would have gotten, given that these two are both runners and Brad actually proposed to Terri while on a run . The photo booth we set up for them at the reception was a giant success – I could post an entire album of just those photos! But I restrained myself to one small guest and an informal side shot of a bunch of their friends from Williams College, where Terri & Brad met. Enjoy!

Venue: Berkeley City Club, Berkeley, CA

Who says we’re not both pregnant??

Father of the bride hanging out with Terri right before the ceremony:

This is what happens when the props from the photo booth start wandering free…

08 Oct 2011, Posted by Carmen in Blog, Church Wedding, East Bay Wedding, Recent Blog Highlights, Weddings, 1 Comments

Berkeley City Club Wedding Photography | Hotel Shattuck, Berkeley, CA |Mary Magdalen Parish | Sinthia + Phillip

Sinthia and Phillip had their fantasy-come-true wedding at St. Mary Magdalen in North Berkeley and the Berkeley City Club, perfectly castle-like. Basing their day on the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast, this couple didn’t cut any corners when it came to bringing their dream to life, and we even got to see butterflies released as the wedding party was announced . The flower girl and ring bearer were in full yellow and blue Beauty & the Beast outfits, the cake was in the shape of a stack of 3 large fantasy books, and Sinthia’s bouquet sported a perched butterfly. Phillip, who is incredibly gifted at design among many other things, made the thematic invitations, complete with old fantasy-style maps of how to get to the different venues. He also crafted his own ring in the shape of a crown and a real rose-under-glass centerpiece for the head table that lit up from the inside of the flower itself (!!). I think he’s a bit too handsome to really qualify for the role of The Beast, but Sinthia sure could pull of The Beauty! I had so much fun photographing them and their friends and family. Sinthia’s sister’s toast, and their mom’s reaction which you’ll see below, almost made me lose it! Thank you to everyone involved for a fantastic day all around.

Getting Ready Venue: Hotel Shattuck, Berkeley, CA

Ceremony Venue: St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Berkeley, CA

Reception Venue: Berkeley City Club, Berkeley, CA

Cake: Masse’s Pastries

Flowers: Pat Gibbons Floral

Makeup: Lily Huang