Wedding

DeTurk Round Barn Wedding Jenna and Eric stayed in their hometown of Santa Rosa for their DeTurk Round Barn wedding, first having their wedding ceremony at First United Methodist Church then going to a different location for their reception. Church ceremonies are always a little more difficult to photograph in since they are generally darker than most wedding venues, but fortunately at this particular church the stained glass windows provided soft lighting to capture the ceremony but are also a little more strict in terms of where photographers can walk. Fortunately, the First United Methodist Church is large enough for me to move around more discreetly and allowed me to move around more freely to focus on moments. As a country music fan, I loved the fact that Jenna and her bridesmaids were wearing leather boots and I was more than happy to capture the fun. Upon arriving for the DeTurk Round Barn wedding reception, we continued the group fun outside, allowing guests to enjoy the unique setting and décor of the venue. After some lovingly embarrassing speeches, Jenna and Erik shared their parent dances and you can see the pride and joy in their eyes as they danced with their respective children. It was touching to see Erik’s mom embrace him as they danced and him wearing his uniform only gave her more of a reason to be so pride of him. Once the music started the guests were eager to hit the dance floor and had so much energy. Surprisingly, amongst the mix of rap, country, and hip hop music, the most popular song that filled the dance floor was the dance crazy of the 90s – the Macarena! I specifically remember Jenna forcing a reluctant Erik to join her to dance this song, and the photo of her encouraging him on the dance floor is one of my favorites from the day. Congratulations Jenna and Erik! Thank you for allowing me to photograph your Deturk Round Barn wedding and for teaching me that the Macarena will be forever loved. Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

University Club Palo Alto Wedding Udval and John held an American and Mongolian University Club Palo Alto wedding, bringing together two very different cultures and reflecting on their unique love story that originated in Mongolia several years ago. John traveled to Mongolia initially for Peace Corps and ended up extending his stay in Mongolia for 13 more years, first falling in love with the culture and people and then eventually this mesmerizing woman with the kindest of hearts. Having met Udval in her native country, they developed a love for each other that might have seemed improbable given their backgrounds and distance apart, and it was so great to see both families come together from opposite ends of the world for such a joyous occasion. When speaking to Udval about her wedding day, I was excited to hear that they would be incorporating both cultures into their wedding ceremony, having very little exposure to Mongolian culture, let alone a wedding, before. Udval explained to me that in Mongolian weddings, an important aspect of the Ceremony is the inclusion of a blue silk scarf called a hadag, which symbolizes well being and peace, and the lighting of a unity candle and offering of milk. A longer ceremony at around 30 minutes, the solemnity and traditions of this wedding made it one of the most memorable ceremonies I have ever witnessed, and I absolutely loved experiencing this melting pot of cultures and hope to shoot more in the future! Udval revealed to me that it was the first time her parents ever left Mongolia, so it was that much more important to document their reactions and presence throughout the day. For the wedding reception itself, it remained a typical American reception with some speeches and first dances, but it was touching surprise when all of their Mongolian friends and family stood up in front of everyone and sang a popular Mongolian song to the newly weds as they swayed left and right to the song with appreciation. It was a great celebration being exposed to such a wonderful culture and even better people. Being able to explore the world through my lens is one of the best advantages of being a wedding photographer, and the emotions and love felt throughout the day help remind me why I am blessed to do what I do. If you are interested in finding out more about this University Club Palo Alto wedding, check out my walkthrough of The University Club of Palo Alto venue.  Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118 Related Posts on the Blog

How to Plan The Old Homestead Wedding Ultimate Guide to Planning The Old Homestead Wedding (with pricing and photos) The Old Homestead Crockett 995 Loring Avenue Crockett, CA 94525 (510) 660-5174 TOHQuestions@gmail.com Founded in 1867, The Old Homestead Crockett is a beautiful and historic wedding venue with years of experience in event hosting. It features a secluded garden, a charming home, and majestic redwoods.  The venue has a large lawn and can hold a ceremony of up to 200 people. All these fuse together to form a picturesque setting where one can host intimate wedding receptions and ceremonies, and become a part of the garden’s cherished tradition. The venue is inclusive of : Parking and wheelchair access Outside vendors Chairs and tables set up and tear down Designated area for food trucks and barbecue A large kitchen  Large parking lot Chairs and tables Apart from being an excellent choice for a wedding venue, The Old Homestead Crockett is also ideal for private parties and other wedding-related events such as wedding rehearsals, bridal showers and engagement parties. If you are looking for other outdoor locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, see my extensive list for The Best Venues for Weddings in San Francisco The Old Homestead Wedding Photos Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

La Costanera Wedding Michelle and Joseph held their La Costanera wedding in Montara, California, a popular Peruvian restaurant situated by the ocean that is well known amongst the locals for its food and easy beach access. In front of about 120 of their closest friends and family, they said their vows and I Do’s on an overcast day, surprising everyone who expected a sunny day that occurred just the day before around the same time. With an outdoor ceremony offering plenty of open sky, the weather provided a clean white backdrop and a blank canvas for their ceremony photos, allowing everyone to focus on the Bride and Groom and not be distracted by the beach and waves just out of sight. For photography, the even lighting is ideal for portraits, and it was for me a blessing in disguise. For the happy Couple, though they preferred it to be a clear and sunny day, the unexpected weather would have little to no effect on how ecstatic they were this day to have their La Costanera wedding. Michelle and Joseph, both very animated and carefree individuals, provided some awesome photo opportunities with their expressive personalities throughout the day. From the loud screams right after getting married, to the goofy cake cutting shenanigans, you could tell exactly why there are a perfect match for each other! One of the most memorable moments for me came when they made their grand entrance, donning gold chains and joining in the verbal ruckus that their friends and family provided. It was pure joy, and they quickly had their parents join in on their dancing celebration, sandwiching them and making it very unforgettable. The smiles on everyone’s faces just made me so happy to be present in this moment. Speaking of smiles, throughout the evening I would always see a smile or laugh on Michelle’s face, whether it was reacting to Joseph’s antics, or simply enjoying the big day with all her friends and family. Despite La Costanera being a smaller venue for a wedding, the intimate atmosphere was the perfect complement to everyone’s energy, helping to make this evening a grand celebration. With a shorter day to photograph at 5 hours, it was great that I was able to be present for the most important parts of the Couple’s La Costanera wedding, photographing the ceremony and reception and leaving right at the start of the dance party! And something tells me that the dance floor kept going off up until closing time! 😀 Venue : La CostaneraDJ : Colors and Music ProductionsFlorist : Florals by FlorMakeup : Brett BlackburnHair : Linda LealaoPlanner : Maria Arellano-Chan Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

Melinda and Vern’s outdoor Lovers Point Park wedding in Pacific Grove included their 6 combined children acting as bridesmaids and groomsmen, and niece and granddaughter serving as flower girls. Melinda and Vern were all smiles on this special family affair and along with about 100 of their closest friends and family were blessed with an unexpectedly sunny day after a strong storm swept the Bay Area the day before. Lovers Point Park was the perfect setting for their wedding ceremony allowing a scenic view of the ocean, and the clear skies served as a clean backdrop for their family and couples portraits, with the seagulls helping to add an authentic seaside feel to their images. Though I was only with them for a couple of hours, this wedding might be one of my more memorable events with the family involvement in the wedding, beautiful location and weather, and overall emotions captured. It just goes to show that beautiful moments happen all the time, and it is an honor to witness and capture them for my Couples. This Lovers Point Park wedding is a great example of an outdoor wedding ceremony and I highly recommend it for your small elopement as well! If considering having your wedding, big or small, check out these San Francisco wedding venues. Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com