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 Costanera
DJ : Colors and Music Productions
Florist : Florals by Flor
Makeup : Brett Blackburn
Hair : Linda Lealao
Planner : Maria Arellano-Chan