July 2020

lovers lane marriage proposal

Lovers Lane Marriage Proposal

Josh proposed to Rachel with this Lovers Lane marriage proposal with the intention of showing her an art installation there. Having met in college and moving to the west coast from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Josh knew Rachel had never been to this specific area of the Presidio and knew he could take her by surprise, despite her claim that she would 100% know when he would propose 🙂 Lovers Lane is a top marriage proposal location because it is hidden from obvious road and foot traffic, and the picturesque row of trees with sunlight beaming through is like something from a movie. Being a short walk from any real street parking, it is mostly known to locals or people intentionally going there to walk along its snake lined tree trunks that make it so popular to shoot around. Fortunately, only a small group of people were present in the distance and the couple seemingly had the entire place to themselves. Josh asked Rachel to close her eyes for 10 seconds, got down on his knee, and popped the question. Rachel definitely had one of the best reactions I’ve photographed for a marriage proposal, even dropping down on her own in shock – further in disbelief when she caught sight of my camera pointed right at her priceless reaction. If you want to read the full story of this awesome couple and their Lovers Lane marriage proposal, you can see the published article on howheasked.com Don’t forget to check out this summer marriage proposal at Lovers Lane also! Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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The Fairmont San Francisco Wedding

The Fairmont San Francisco Wedding Taylor and Paul held their Fairmont San Francisco wedding in the city they love, providing a luxurious wedding occasion with the best overflow of laughs and smiles for two weddings! Just like their engagement shoot, they were full of joy seemingly the entire time, basking in the amazing day with such carefree personalities that they are so appreciated and known for. As I photographed Taylor in her bridal suite getting ready, you could feel the anticipation and recognition of the big day ahead as Taylor and her bridesmaids were giddy with excitement, discussing all the details of the day, including, but not limited to, her dress, jewelry, and the unique piece sitting atop her head, which was the first thing I noticed upon entering the room! As I later found out, the crown had been hand made her great – grandmother and passed on from generation to generation. One can only imagine the memories and pride felt by her mother the first time seeing her daughter with the crown! And if the photo below of seeing their only daughter in her wedding dress was any indication, I am sure that moment for both parents was a truly meaningful moment for them both. This family heirloom was the perfect item to check the box of “something borrowed,” and was a beautiful centerpiece to her ensemble. As you can tell from the reactions of her bridesmaids and her soon to be husband, she was a glowing Bride from head to toe in her dress and crown! After a very touching wedding ceremony involving all the typical Jewish traditions, some emotional vows, and a solemn moment when the two came together in a special embrace, we continued on to the family formals before heading outside with the entire wedding party to capture a photo opportunity only made possible in San Francisco. Being wed in the City, it was only fitting that we captured the iconic Cable Cars that passed in front of the hotel along their touristy route. With San Francisco’s renowned hills as the backdrop, it took a couple of tries to get a patient Cable Car to stop for an extra moment, but everyone’s smiles, including the enthusiastic driver and some well wishers riding the train, made the effort all worthwhile. This little instance proved to be indicative of the entire day, as they went with the flow and shrugged things off with a smile and enjoyed the day with all their favorite people. At the start of the reception, Taylor informed me that it is typical in Armenian culture for the newlyweds to do a “dance in,” whereas they make their entrance together in dazzling fashion. This little hint forecasted things to come as the whole dancing theme would be an amazing memory for me to take home and to show you here! One of the many impressions about this evening were the traditional dances and individual moves that were busted out (Taylor’s brother is pretty athletic can you tell?!)  All the subtle hand movements, the energetic leg kicks, and the group involvement all contributed to an epic dance party for hours! Having both a traditional Armenian musician and a party cover band (see below) provided music and entertainment for everyone in the room! It was so fun being able to capture the sweat and smiles as people danced long into the night! I was in awe of the energy and mesmerized by the coordination and hope this isn’t the last time I see these group dance moves! And even if it is, having the memory of Taylor and Paul’s wedding isn’t too bad for being the only time, wouldn’t you agree? 🙂 Venue : The Fairmont SFVideographer : The Edde BrothersFlorist : Paul Robertson Floral DesignsBand : Pop FictionMakeup : Lauren ErskineHair : Makeup by Amy S Ceremony Music : Eclecta QuartetArmenian Music : KhatchigPhotobooth : Kande Photobooth Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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Fairview Crystal Springs Wedding

Fairview Crystal Springs Wedding This Fairview Crystal Springs wedding was one for the memory books with the last of 8 siblings getting married. Needless to say, there were a lot of happy family photos, laughs, and dzo’s of course!!! (pronounced as “yo” – cheers in Vietnamese).  Tom and Jackie had their wedding at Fairview Crystal Springs in Burlingame, hoping to capture the outdoor beauty of the hills overlooking the Crystal Springs Reservoir. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had a different idea and forced the Ceremony indoors. Despite the last minute change, the smaller quarters complimented the Ceremonial focus of family and faith, creating a more intimate atmosphere for the occasion. Nieces and nephews provided music and sang for the couple, and their local pastor added his personal flair of comedy and religion into his service.  With such a large family, I ended up taking over 100 different formal group photos throughout the evening. Always the “hardest” part for the Bride and Groom with all the smiling, they managed to smile for every single one…even if it took a solid hour throughout the day! 🙂 As I was leaving, Jackie told me that she was initially bummed out about the rain, but that at the end of the night that was the last thing on her mind and that she was simply overcome with so much happiness. She was having a marvelous time, her guests were having a marvelous time, and she was adding a large loving extended family into hers. It was flawless. With all the laughter and joy I saw , you would think everything went perfectly as planned for this Fairview Crystal Springs wedding. As far as I’m concerned…it did! Live. Laugh. Love.  Venue : Fairview Crystal SpringsWedding Coordinator : Cat DuFlowers : Rosedale Floral DesignHair : Liezel StylesMakeup : Marlyn ValenciaDJ : Adam SuguitanVideo : Fusion Films Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com

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sanborn county park wedding bride and groom standing under redwood trees while wedding guests watch

Sanborn County Park Wedding

How to Plan a Sanborn County Park Wedding Ultimate Guide for Planning a Sanborn County Park Wedding (with pricing and photos) TLDR – Sanborn County Park weddings are picturesque with pleasant weather shaded by trees– Weddings at Sanborn County Park are reasonably priced, starting at $495 for reservations.– Peterson Grove in Sanborn County Park can accommodate just over 100 people– Sanborn County Park holds ceremony times anywhere from 8am to sunset, unavailable for nighttime celebrations. Interested in having a Sanborn County Park wedding and looking for inspiration? Sanborn County Park is ideal for those who love the outdoors and want an open space for their ceremony. Located in the South Bay, you can expect predictable sunny weather so you don’t have to worry about weather disrupting your outdoor wedding plans. Read below for all things regarding a Sanborn County Park wedding! Why a Sanborn County Park Wedding For those who want an outdoor wedding venue in nature, this is arguably the best location for it for the beauty, weather, and price. With the grove of redwood trees acting as the perfect ceremony backdrop, this outdoor wedding venue is one of the most picturesque and affordable settings in the Santa Clara county area. It is perfect for a wide variety of tastes, ranging from a large celebration to a small elopement DIY wedding. Sanborn County Park Wedding Cost Wedding Permit Fee: The $120 wedding fee includes a one-day photography permit, a one-day wedding rehearsal available Monday through Thursday, a one-on-one planning meeting with a park ranger, and the ability to reserve your wedding date up to one year in advance. Reservation Site Fee: If you would like to hold your wedding ceremony at a reservable park site, an additional site reservation fee is required on top of the wedding permit fee. Pricing varies depending on the reservable group area, so be sure to review the reservation fee table below for specific site costs. Vehicle Entrance Fees: Vehicle entrance fees are not included in the wedding permit fee or the reservation site fee. Most parks charge a per-vehicle entrance fee for guests attending the wedding. Pre-paid vehicle entrance tickets are available and highly recommended. These may be purchased up to one week before your event. Please note that a $12 processing fee applies to all pre-paid ticket SANBORN CAPACITY PEEK FEE OFF-PEEK FEE Sequoia / Peterson Grove (covered) ​200 ​$433.00 ​N/A ​Costanoan (covered) 100 ​$341.00 ​$257.00 ​Ohlone (covered) ​100 ​$341.00 $257.00 How to Book a Wedding at Sanborn Park Phone: (408) 355-2201Website: https://parks.santaclaracounty.gov/plan-your-visit/fees/wedding-feesEmail: reservations@prk.sccgov.org Address: 16055 Sanborn Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070 Reservations can be made up to one year in advance Sanborn County Park Wedding Locations Ceremony Deck The ceremony location in the Peterson Grove is on a medium sized deck, offering space for a little over 100 seats, or providing a comfortable standing area for elopements and smaller weddings. Amplified music is only allowed in the Sequoia / Peterson Grove, but some music restrictions apply during summer months. photo by Ian Chin Photography Reception Grounds An open picnic style area outlines the reception space for up to 300 guests. photo by Ian Chin Photography An Elopement in Sanborn County Park With ceremony times anywhere from 8AM – sunset, you have flexibility in crafting your wedding timeline to cater to your needs and have the entire place to yourself. There few areas more perfect and convenient than a wedding in Sanborn County Park. An elopement in this South Bay wedding venue means you and your partner can have the perfect outdoor wedding surrounded by centuries old trees.  Eloping here allows you time to focus on intention while allowing for some awesome photography. It’s an ideal location for a wedding that combines a love of the outdoors and an appreciation for nature. If you are thinking of adding adventure to your wedding with a nearby hike, check out the best elopement dresses under $200 if you don’t want to worry about wearing a bulky elopement dress all day and worrying about it getting dirty. Sanborn County Park Wedding Photos Best Months for a Wedding at Sanborn County Park Saratoga can get pretty hot during the summer months, which also coincides with the most daylight hours of the year, so plan accordingly. Though Sanborn County Park does offer a lot of shaded areas for your wedding, the whole of the South Bay area can get weeks long dry heat waves. Restrictions Reservations can be made anywhere from 8Am – sunset, so for those who prefer a nighttime celebration you may have to look elsewhere! Decorations cannot be glued, stapled, or nailed to preserve the natural look of this wedding venue and public park.  If you are interested in other venues, check out my extensive list (50+) of the Best Wedding Venues in San Francisco or the best wedding venues in Saratoga Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com Related Posts on the Blog

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