Kristina and Joe met while attending Loyola Marymount University and to say they feel fondly about their alma mater is an understatement. So many of their relatives and friends attended LMU as well, that after the wedding, we rounded up nearly 60 LMU alumni for a big group photo outside the LMU chapel steps.
K&J wed on 7/11–with just a few days past the 4th of July, Kristina was still in a very patriotic mood earlier in the day, before she put on her wedding dress. But with an anniversary date they’ll never be able to forget, we couldn’t resist stopping by the 7/11 and taking along a cut to the wedding for a joint sip shot, post ceremony.
They look so cute, don’t they?

Fireworks were in the air–literally, after Annie and David tied the knot last Saturday–7/4/09.
Annie–she of the most expressive face we’ve ever had the good fortune of photographing–and David, wed at the historic Mary, Star of the Sea church in San Pedro–where we shot our very first paid wedding back in 2003!
The reception afterwards was at the lovely Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach.
Let’s talk about the pictures:
We can’t get enough of the opening shot of Annie, lit like a movie star, holding her flowers in the church.
Next up: Annie and David enjoying the fireworks display at Old Ranch with a heartfelt embrace and kiss, and the couple, earlier in the day, on the same spot, out on the golf course.
For “wedding prep” days, we absolutely love photographing the bride in her home. There’s just something so much more personal and loving there than in a hotel room.
Love this moment with Mary and her mom in the living room of their Rancho Palos Verdes abode.
More shots at the country club, golf course and church, followed by another all-time favorite.
Annie’s dad is taking one last week at his daughter, before giving her away to David. The expressions are priceless.
Look for more here in the coming weeks–one highlight is a video clip of the couple cutting the cake–and the guests all serenading them with “Volare.”

Cathy and Earl again, smiling at us from the altar at their Carson wedding. They followed up with a reception at the Torrance Marriott.

Gaby and Dave are both UCLA grads, and wanted to have their post-wed shots taken at UCLA, en route to the Mountaingate Country Club reception. We loved having stately Royce Hall as the backdrop. We also always wanted to do a shot with a flying, flowing veil–and are thrilled to present it here!

A simple bridal portrait, lit by natural daylight, at the family home, moments before Toni-Lynne hopped in the limo with the gals for the big church Long Beach wedding. And we love it.

Hours later, here’s Toni-Lynne and the Bridesmaids whooping it up on the deck of the Queen Mary, for our “Sex and the City” shot.

We’re back in Malaga Cove, on a rainy day, with Jenna. After ducking the rain, we needed to find a covered area for portraits, and what better backdrop than the Italian like plaza setting of the Malaga Cove shopping center?

Sex and the City, Part 2:

Up the road in Palos Verdes, at the Trump National Golf Course, where Amy wowed her guests by not wearing one wedding dress–but three!

Our Manhattan Beach engagement session with Olivia and Wesley. What a great couple!

We first met Lidia Pareno when we signed up to document her Queen Mary Long Beach wedding to Clarence. She loved the experience of planning her wedding so much, she decided to become a full-fledged Los Angeles wedding planner, a Temecula wedding planner.
Lidia just formed By Your Side Events
a Temecula based wedding and corporate event planning service. She’s already got three weddings in the works for 2009–in Puerto Vallerta, San Diego and Temecula, and is looking forward to meeting with Southern California brides to help them put their dream weddings together.
“With most hotels, they have so many events going on, they can only give you just a few minutes of time each day, if that,” she says. “I called my company By Your Side, because that’s what I am. I am there for you.”
Lidia is a former hotel event planner, so she knows of what she speaks. She worked at La Costa in Carlsbad and the Temecula Winery and Hotel before striking out on her own.
With the average California wedding topping out at between $40,000 and $60,000, Lidia specializes in helping to dramatically cut costs. “I can work with any budget and show brides how to really save money.”
E-mail Lidia at byyoursideevents@live.com or call her at 951-219-3984

Here’s our favorite engagement shot of 2008. We brought Susan and Benjamin down to Hermosa Beach for a series of romantic shots, beginning with the pair riding around town on a bicycle. As the sun began to set, Susan jumped into Benjamin’s arms for this iconic shot. By Sam Graham for Los Angeles Wedding Photo.com