San Diego Elopement Inspiration
Living as a photographer in the San Diego area, the ephemeral quality of the desert often inspires me. This came in handy when I was asked to conduct a San Diego elopement. I instantly drew upon the surrounding landscape, knowing I wanted something to soften the rugged landscape.
Initially, the thought of a windswept romance set to the background of a pale arid landscape Nevadan desert may not seem very romantic. However, I know that with flowing fabrics, a balance of colors, and long lovelorn gazes, a desert wedding brings a special kind of romance.
Natural Inspiration
The dusty background of this East San Diego elopement is brightened with lush floral arrangements thoughtfully created by Janna Brown Design, accompanied by a dazzling Susie Saltzman ring. Furthermore, Janna’s color selection complemented the desert, beautifully. Furthermore, on our models, the flowing gowns designed by Domenica Domenica move effortlessly in the wind, cascading into the landscape alongside the flowers. Uniquely, nothing is chosen to standout, instead, it works with the natural softness and stillness of the desert.
Desert Romance
Likewise, the sun-worn hills perfectly contrast the youthful excitement. At one moment, I asked the models to take in a deep breath and take in the landscape. We all stood there together, and stared in awe, lost in the silence of the desert.
This is what I strive for. If you’re searching for a photographer in the San Diego area, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to the chance to work with you.
For further information on the styling, and to view vendor direction of this photo shoot, please see below:
Creative Direction, Styling & Floral: @jannabrowndesign
Hair & Makeup Assisting: @nataliaissa
Permit direction: @cactuscollectiveweddings
Gowns: @domenicadomenica
Suit: @theblacktux
Paper goods: @bijoucreative
Silk Ribbon: @silkandwillow
Ring: @susiesaltzman
Agency: @tngmodels
Models: @michelle_senecal @jword_
Shoes: @bellabelleshoes
San Diego Wedding Photographer – Mandy Ford Photography
If you’re interested in booking a San Diego Photographer to capture your wedding, and life milestones, please contact here to learn more. Mandy Ford Photography specializes in fine-art film hybrid photography, and creates genuine moments that will turn into tangible memories for you and your loved ones to cherish for a lifetime
Did you like this blog post and want to see similar work?
View this gorgeous Oahu Elopement at Dillingham Ranch by clicking the image below.
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I'm Mandy - A San Diego wedding photographer specializing in fine-art wedding photography. When I'm not photographing my amazing clients, I'm busy as an overly obsessive dog mom, capturing life’s beautiful moments with my husband, Chris, and reveling in Teddy antics.
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Estancia La Jolla Wedding Venue Inspiration | Jen and Carr
With over six beautiful ceremony and reception spaces, Estancia La Jolla wedding venue is the perfect place to hold your San Diego wedding. Around every bend and turn, there’s hacienda-style architecture and lush greenery. This makes Estancia La Jolla wedding venue truly one of the most visually-stunning places in San Diego to host your wedding […]
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With over six beautiful ceremony and reception spaces, Estancia La Jolla wedding venue is the perfect place to hold your San Diego wedding. Around every bend and turn, there’s hacienda-style architecture and lush greenery. This makes Estancia La Jolla wedding venue truly one of the most visually-stunning places in San Diego to host your wedding day.
Estancia Wedding Ceremony | Garden Courtyard
The Garden Courtyard is Estancia La Jolla’s true centerpiece. The Garden Courtyard hosts 100 types of botanicals and accented by gorgeous Spanish-style architecture. Two Spanish tiled staircases lead into a beautiful lawn ceremony space, which make for a stunning grand entrance. A trickling fountain mirrors the staircases. Both looks provide completely different customizable looks for your big day! The Garden Courtyard seats up to 420 guests. With this in mind, the Garden Courtyard is great for large, lavish ceremonies!
Jen and Carr chose to renew their vows in this courtyard, which was a lovely sight! Jen is a San Diego Floral Designer, and owner of Nectar and Bloom. I love the special detail she chose with the flax-colored gauze with perfectly placed dried flowers cascading down like a waterfall. The backdrop piece was unique and subtle, but for their anniversary photos.
The Olive Lawn Ceremony At Estancia La Jolla
One of my favorite spots for a wedding, even on overcast days, is the Olive Lawn for your Estancial La Jolla wedding. The lawn is surrounded by lush, swaying olive trees, which makes it perfect for photos, regardless of the lighting conditions on your day. Furthermore, this ceremony location seats up to 130 guests, making it the perfect location for an intimate vibe.
Ballrooms and Private Dining At Estancia La Jolla Hotel And Spa
Estancia La Jolla Wedding venue boasts 2 large ballrooms and multiple dining areas. Adobe El Restaurante is a beautiful indoor dining space. The Restaurant accommodates up to 70 guests. Not to mention, the space boasts lovely Garden Courtyard Views with a patio, perfect for cocktail hour.
Two ballrooms are perfect for indoor reception spaces when weather does not cooperate. The Grande Room can hold up to 180 guests, whereas the La Jolla Ballroom can hold up to 420 guests. Furthermore, both have neutral tones and clean, modern lines.
Contact Information: Estancia La Jolla
For more information or to book at tour at this Estancia La Jolla wedding venue, please contact 858-964-6615 or EstanciaSales@EstanciaLaJolla.com. For your convenience, I’ve tagged Estancia La Jolla Wedding Brochure.
San Diego Wedding Photographer – Mandy Ford Photography
If you like what you’ve seen and you’re interested in booking a wedding photographer, please contact Mandy to learn more. Mandy specializes in fine-art film hybrid photography. With this in mind, she aims to produce bright and airy, timeless images in a relaxed setting. Presently, Mandy resides in San Diego, California, and documents love stories nationwide.
Did you like this Estancia La Jolla Wedding and want to see similar work?
You can view the wedding below and more recent work by clicking here to view this Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Wedding in San Diego, California!
Resort At Squaw Creek Wedding | Kari And Cam
The Proposal Kari and Cam met in Baltimore on a chance encounter. Kari had just taken a job there as a PA, and Cam was in his residency. They share a love of food and beer. On their first date at Poppy’s Tacos, they shared a meal. This turned into a date night tradition that […]
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The Proposal
Kari and Cam met in Baltimore on a chance encounter. Kari had just taken a job there as a PA, and Cam was in his residency. They share a love of food and beer. On their first date at Poppy’s Tacos, they shared a meal. This turned into a date night tradition that they continue to this day. Cam and Kari moved in together, but there was one more make or break for Kari… would her non-cat-lover boyfriend love the number one man in her life? Cam quickly grew to love Charles like his own, and, like in everything Cam sets his mind to, went the extra mile to become a wonderful cat daddy.
After a few years of dating, they were visiting Kari’s family, playing their annual game of Thanksgiving Euchre. Cam had asked Kari’s father that day for Kari’s hand in marriage. It’s a good thing he agreed, because Cam already had a special deck of cards made that said “Kari, Will You Marry Me?”
Kari being the fun loving, happy go lucky girl that she is, began dealing the cards when it was her turn. She didn’t look twice at the new deck and even pulled 2 Jokers out and didn’t read them. This left Cam quietly freaking out inside. Kari finally looked down and saw Cam’s proposal. He dropped to one knee in front of her family and the rest is history!
Waking up the morning of the wedding, I was really nervous that the smoke-filled mountains wouldn’t allow for a great view of the ceremony site. We were so fortunate that a lot of it dissipated before the wedding and I was able to catch some ghost mountains in the back.
Resort At Squaw Creek Wedding
Kari and Cam’s Resort At Squaw Creek wedding began with warm welcoming hugs in a bridal suite full of love and warmth. Since Kari and Cam had a destination wedding, I wasn’t able to meet them until their big day. But let’s just say, I feel like Kari and I are probably related since we share so many similarities. Within minutes, I felt like I’d known her for years!
Kari’s bridesmaids were insanely sweet. I’ve never met a group of bridesmaids who were so encouraging to their bride! When Kari was putting on her gown, one bridesmaid even took the time to play some beautiful music on her phone! I love the little touches like that, and I know Kari will be brought back to that tender moment when she hears it years from now!
Though I didn’t get to hang out with Cam that morning, I heard so much about his personality, mentioned by friends both in the ceremony and in toasts. One thing I do know, is Cam is a little extra. He goes the extra mile in every facet of life. From his work ethic, both in the gym and in school, to his marriage, Cam always goes the extra mile. (PS, sorry, for stealing your Apple watch for so long while you missed out on those beloved steps)!
Resort At Squaw Creek Spa Deck Wedding Ceremony
Resort At Squaw Creek has multiple amazing ceremony locations which allow couples to customize the venue to fit their aesthetic. Kari and Cam chose the Spa Deck for their wedding ceremony location. Nestled alongside an oversized wood-burning fireplace, guests were treated to views of the Sierras sprinkled with thick pine trees.
Not only were the details to this wedding stunning, the bride chose to honor her mother, Rosemary, throughout the entire day with subtle notes of detail. Kari and her mother were extremely close, before she lost her battle with cancer in 2011. Rosemary has been described fun-loving, outgoing, and loved by everyone. She had no problem being the center of attention, and was truly the glue that held her family together. When Kari spoke with me briefly about her mother, I couldn’t help but draw similarities from Kari’s own magnetic presence. There’s clearly no question that the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree.
When first deciding to plan their wedding, Kari dreamed of being wed in a rose garden, so that she was surrounded by her mother’s presence. Since there aren’t many rose gardens in Lake Tahoe, the team at Love and Lupines put together the most lush, romantic, rose-filled, garden-inspired altar I have ever seen. After the ceremony, guests were invited to light a candle in honor of Rosemary. What a beautiful thing it was to see.
The Pavilion At Squaw Creek | Reception Inspiration
The subtle hints of roses continued into the reception. Each place setting displayed a sprig of Rosemary wrapped in lush crushed-mauve velvet napkins. Cam’s Swiss heritage was intertwined into the event as well. They chose THE BEST array of delicious Swiss chocolates. They couldn’t have blended Kari’s rose-filled vision with the place Cam grew up any more perfectly. It was a true reflection of both of their styles.
During toasts, the best man and maid of honor both spoke so highly of Cam and Kari’s work ethic. If you ask me – they’re both a little extra. Kari has the most amazing fashion sense, and runs a blog Bargains And Bubbly. You know, in all of her spare time between surgeries and rounding on patients as a Physician’s Assistant. Cam is an anesthesiologist who offered up his reserved parking spot so he could rack up extra steps. They’re both so giving and thoughtful. I was so undeserving of all of their sweet compliments and attempts to make sure I was comfortable on THEIR day! Seriously, you both are so kind! I know if they treat their marriage as extra as they do their day to day lives, friends, and family, they’re going to be incredibly happy together!
Vendors
Photographer: Mandy Ford Photography
Planning: Jenn Lazon & Cara Bruno
Venue: The Resort At Squaw Creek
Floral: Love and Lupines
Hair & Makeup: Polish And Pout
Rentals: Celebrations! Party Rentals
Linens: Creative Coverings
Dress: Martina Liana
Veil: Betsy Robinson’s Bridal
Suits: JoS. A. Bank
Lake Tahoe Wedding Photographer – Mandy Ford Photography
If you like what you’ve seen and you’re interested in booking a wedding photographer, please contact Mandy to learn more. Mandy specializes in fine-art film hybrid photography. With this in mind, she aims to produce bright and airy, timeless images in a relaxed setting. Presently, Mandy resides in San Diego, California, and documents love stories nationwide.
Did you like this Resort At Squaw Creek wedding and want to see similar work?
You can view the wedding below and more recent work by clicking here to view this Dancing Pines Wedding In Lake Tahoe.
A Westgate Hotel Wedding In San Diego With Parisian Vibes
Westgate Hotel | A History Buckle up, this lavish Westgate Hotel wedding in San Diego is absolutely gorgeous! The Westgate Hotel was built in 1970 as a chic recreation of France’s Palace of Versailles. The Westgate Hotel is within easy walking distance of The San Diego Opera and Symphony. Furthermore, it’s located near The Museum […]
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Westgate Hotel | A History
Buckle up, this lavish Westgate Hotel wedding in San Diego is absolutely gorgeous! The Westgate Hotel was built in 1970 as a chic recreation of France’s Palace of Versailles. The Westgate Hotel is within easy walking distance of The San Diego Opera and Symphony. Furthermore, it’s located near The Museum of Contemporary Art and the historic vibrancy of San Diego’s Gaslamp quarter.
Vendors:
Photographer: @mandyfordphotography
Planning & Design: @grace_kandgevents
Venue: @westgatehotel
Floral Design: @greenflorals
Hair & Makeup: @beautybystaceymua
Men’s Hair: @misterbrowns
Gown & Veil: @ritavinieris
Rentals: @aprboutiqueevent
Floor: @conceptseventdesign
DJ: @the_new_ivy_league
Calligraphy: @fourthingspaper
Cake: @heytherecupcake
Video: @currentfilms
The Westgate Hotel, A San Diego Downtown Wedding Venue
One thing that makes the Westgate Hotel In San Diego one of my top venue choices for San Diego weddings is that the entire experience is customizable. In addition to the gorgeous fountain terrace, the Versailles Ballroom provides the most stunning space to hold your wedding day. Choose multiple spaces for a one of a kind feel. Not to mention, The Westgate Hotel Wedding staff goes above and beyond for their clients and vendors. I highly suggest the Westgate Hotel for your downtown San Diego wedding venue.
Fountain Terrace | Westgate Hotel Wedding Ceremony
The Fountain Terrace at the Westgate Hotel is a lovely spot for an urban, downtown San Diego wedding. Sara and Brandon worked with Grace, of K&G Designs, to craft the most lovely ceremony site. Coupled with ghost chairs and dripping orchids, the clear chuppah was a beautiful focal point. Because of the ghost chairs, the ceremony decor was able to be viewed from all angles.
Sara and Brandon
Sara and Brandon are two of the sweetest people I’ve had the joy of photographing. They have a true, genuine vibe, and they’re so caring of others. Sara is a little more outgoing, whereas Brandon is a bit more reserved. They both don’t love being the center of attention, and I loved watching them flourish outside of their comfort zone. Equally, I loved catching them off in a corner, alone together, soaking in the day.
While this wedding was a dream to photograph, visually, their ceremony was sweet and personal. My favorite part about the ceremony was seeing Sara and Brandon’s body language change once they linked arms at the chuppah. I oftentimes see this on a wedding day and once the bride and groom get to be near one another, their stress and nerves from the hustle and bustle of the day melt away. They spent no time snuggling into one another after the ceremony was over, and it made our formal photos a breeze. Thank you both for having such a relaxed demeanor and for making my job so easy! You are so kindhearted.
Versailles Ballroom | Westgate Hotel Wedding Reception
Sara and Brandon’s wedding reception at the Westgate Hotel in the Versailles Ballroom was lavish and beautiful. Chandeliers reflected light from hundreds of white candles glowing on the tables as well as onto the shimmering place settings. Furthermore, gold reflective chairs picked up flickering candlelight and multiplied its beauty. Their ghost sweetheart table, framed in front of the most beautiful fireplace, was the perfect modern touch. K&G Events pulled together the couple’s dream beautifully to create a warm, inviting Parisian vibe for this stunning wedding reception!
Sara and Brandon, it has been such a joy getting to know you both! Thank you for choosing me to document your big day! I’m so grateful to you both, and I’m looking forward to following along and keeping in touch!
San Diego Wedding Photographer – Mandy Ford Photography
If you like what you’ve seen and you’re interested in booking a wedding photographer, please contact Mandy to learn more. Mandy specializes in fine-art film hybrid photography. With this in mind, she aims to produce bright and airy, timeless images in a relaxed setting. Presently, Mandy resides in San Diego, California, and documents love stories nationwide.
Did you like this Westgate Hotel wedding and want to see similar work?
You can view the wedding below and more recent work by clicking here to view this Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Wedding in San Diego, California!
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