153
September 6, 2010
You might remember Erica and Brett from their engagement photos in San Francisco a few months ago, if not take a few seconds to go back and visit these two in their hometown. I got to know them during that day and ever since then I have been looking forward to their wedding. I mean when you have a cheese table instead of a wedding cake, you know it's going to be my kind of wedding!
This was a destination wedding for Erica and Brett as well as their family and guests. Instead of just coming up for the day, they turned their wedding into a weekend celebration. Together they shared their same laid-back style and simply enjoyed life. The day before their wedding, they were wakeboarding and tubing on Bass Lake followed by a campsite rehearsal dinner complete with a bear.
The next day, they carried that same energy right into the wedding. Two things were instantly clear about Erica and Brett as they prepared for the ceremony; they were ready to spend the rest of their lives together as husband and wife, and they were ready to celebrate that fact. The entire bridal party stood by them in celebration and love from that first moment of the day until the last dance that night.
Their ceremony was on the deck at Tenaya Lodge, overlooking a beautiful forest of pines. It was both open and grand while at the same time intimate and personal. Everyone could feel the raw love and emotion. It was the perfect backdrop for them to profess their love for each other.
Immediately after being pronounced husband and wife, Erica and Brett joined their family and wedding party for cocktails. The room was filled with love and laughter. New family members embraced with tears of joy while old friends celebrated this new adventure.
Eventually we joined the guests downstairs at the reception. It was beautifully decorated, complete with outdoor fireplaces to watch the sunset. During dinner, each member of the bridal party was given a chance to share a toast. While no two were the same, their was a constant theme of shared companionship past, happiness for the moment, and the promise of love for the future.
Once the dance floor opened for the night everything else seemed closed. Everyone jumped out of their seats and danced the night away. It's both rare and exciting to see a bride and groom on the dance floor all night long, but that's exactly where Erica and Brett were. You could just tell they had to soak in every moment of their wedding.
In the end, it was their perfect wedding - outdoors, surrounded by their family, friends, and the beauty of nature. Erica looked stunning and Brett knew it. Together they had a magical connection between them that could not be denied. Congratulations again Erica and Brett, we wish you the very best of life!
A big thank you goes out to James Steed for shooting with me all day and making this possible!
Comments
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Erica and Brett
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://patrickpike.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/152
152
September 2, 2010
Less than thirty hours before their wedding, Timothy and Rebecca enjoyed the view from Glacier Point by themselves. They had never visited the Yosemite before, so they came to discover the perfect spot to marry. They knew quickly that this place, with it's magical views and sweeping vista was their place. In fact not only would they marry here the very next day, but on that first visit, Timothy proposed to Rebecca as he slipped an engagement ring on her left hand.
Late the next day they gathered again at Glacier Point, this time to exchange their vows as the sun set behind us. Together with Rev. Carol Dewey, we hiked up a trail a little ways from the amphitheater to escape the crowd and suddenly, it was just us and the trees. Together they shared their love and tears for each other, overlooking the granite of Half Dome. It was a beautiful scene, a husband and a wife embracing in a magical place.
As the sun raced towards the horizon I continued to photograph Rebecca and Timothy around Glacier Point while tourists gathered to watch the sunset. They were playfully in love, knowing that they will always have each other. I love how these photographs are not only drenched with late afternoon light, but also soaked with the strong and tender emotion between a loving couple.
Congratulations again to Rebecca and Timothy!
Comments
alec vanderboom says:
Thursday, September 2, 2010
totally awesome stuff man! 3rd from the end is my favorite. Great lighting
Mariah says:
Thursday, September 2, 2010
These are AMAZING. I LOVE the light. You captured her glow perfectly. What a beautiful couple! Congratulations!
Dennis Pike says:
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Gorgeous work. I love that so many of your weddings are so intimate. Definitely different from the weddings I normally shoot. Also, Love the panoramic portraits you have been doing lately, It actually inspired me to try a couple on the engagement shoot I did yesterday
Patrick says:
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Thanks Dennis! I think its the nature of an elopement to be so intimate for those who elope - somehow it just feels right. I can't wait to see your panos!
Patrick says:
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Thanks Mariah, they were a really loving couple. I can't wait until your wedding comes around!
Patrick says:
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Alec thanks for the good words! The open meadow shots are some of my favorites too.
Rebecca says:
Sunday, September 5, 2010
BEAUTIFUL. I cant stop looking at these photos. Thank you so much!!!
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Rebecca and Timothy
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://patrickpike.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/151
151
August 29, 2010
Comments
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Erica and Brett - Sneak Preview
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://patrickpike.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/150
150
August 12, 2010
Sometime shortly after planning their vacation from the Netherlands to tour the National Parks of the west coast of the United States, Pieter and Liselotte decided that trip would be the perfect time to marry. The arrived in San Francisco to drive to the Pacific Northwest, then to Mono Lake and Yosemite. For their elopement they chose the marry at the Mariposa Courthouse, the oldest courthouse in continual use west of the rockies.
Although they are both attorneys by profession, Pieter has a love and respect for fire fighting. Once the decided to marry in Mariposa, Pieter wrote a letter to the Mariposa Fire Department asking if they could possibly provide a fireman as a witness. In a move of unbelievable grace, the fire chief Jim Wilson not only acted as a witness for the wedding, but also created a new friendship. Together Pieter and Liselotte joined Jim Wilson and his wife for the day on a tour through Yosemite and even a celebration dinner after their wedding.
During there ceremony I looked at Pieter and Liselotte and saw something that I have never seen before. Throughout the entire ceremony the had their arms across each other in an embrace. It struck me as both odd and instantaneously right. Why have I never before seen a couple start of a wedding so fittingly?
Immediately after the ceremony ended Pieter and Liselotte embraced in a passionately fierce hold. It was not the look of a couple that has been handed everything and simply expects life to be easy - it was the look of honest love, tried and tested by life. It was beautiful and I doubt I will ever forget it.
From that point on Pieter and Liselotte were entirely focused on each other and little else mattered. We walked through downtown Mariposa a bit longer, taking advantage of various textures and lines. At one point, while shooting on the sidewalks of town, a woman from behind me asked if we would like to come in her art gallery. Who could pass up that kind of opportunity?
We stepped into Riversong Gallery and once again Pieter and Liselotte found themselves making new friends with Barbara the gallery owner. She allowed us to enjoy the air conditioning while shooting in the midst of beautiful works of art. As we were walking out of the gallery, Barbara presented the newlyweds with a bottle of Mount Bullion Vineyard's wine as a present.
Although we didn't spend that much time together, we talked a bit more as the evening went on and I am truly impressed by this couple. Such wonderful people focused on the goodness of life, helping other and enjoying our blessings. They are the kind of people that force you to realize how good life is. Pieter and Liselotte granted us an invitation to see them if our travels take us to Amsterdam and I can't wait for that day when our paths cross again.
Comments
Melissa says:
Saturday, August 14, 2010
It's so simple and lovely.
Linda says:
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Great photographs and a wonderful community in which to marry.
Nancy says:
Thursday, August 19, 2010
I love the passion in the photo of the embrace. Beautiful!
Nils & Lotte from Amsterdam says:
Sunday, August 22, 2010
These beautiful pictures allow us in a way to be part of their wedding day
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Pieter and Liselotte
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://patrickpike.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/149
149
August 11, 2010
If you have had the chance to work with me before, you know my famous last words are always "just one last shot". At the end of Shanna and Phillip's wedding, we drove them back to their cabin Yosemite West from the Ahwahnee. As we drove, I kept one eye on the road and one out the window, keeping a constant eye on the sky. The moon was just over the horizon casting a faint light across the valley.
We pulled over at river view and I quickly looked to see the possibility that was there. Then I just had to convince Shanna and Phillip to hop out of the car and into the cool dark night air for one last shot.
Comments
Patrick says:
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Thanks Dennis! Yes, this is a composite - your'e spotting all of my tricks :)
Suzanne Birnbaum says:
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wow! That's quite shot. It is beautiful. Suzanne
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
One Last Shot
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://patrickpike.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/148
Wow amazing pictures. Patrick really captured the overall aura of the wedding! Good stuff! Love you two!