Marjorie + Mike {Sova Gardens Wedding Photos, Sonoma County Wedding Photographer}

I honestly have no clue where to start with this background story. All I can say is I hope you are comfortable. Grab some popcorn and a nice glass of wine cuz this is going to be a jam packed blog post!
I met Mike and Marjorie nearly 2 years ago when they came to their first consultation. We instantly clicked and they booked me right then and there. A few months later I received a call that they had to put the wedding on hold because they were expecting a baby due right around the wedding date!!! So the wedding was moved to the following year. I was so fortunate to be asked to be there for the birth of their son Jordan to photograph his entrance into this world. As if I didn’t already feel a special bond towards this couple, Jordan’s birth made it even closer.
To say that Marjorie and Mike’s lives in the last 5 years have been filled with heartache and tragedies that most people couldn’t imagine having to endure would be a massive understatement. I don’t want to get into the details but Mike lost his best friend, Marjorie lost her Mother in a tragic accident and then a few short months later lost her only sister to an extremely rare and completely unexpected illness. So this wedding was emotional to say the least. I honestly haven’t cried this much since I can’t even remember. Part of the drive I have to be a wedding photographer stems from the passion and love I have for families, love, and people. Since the day I met Marjorie and Mike I just don’t know exactly what it is but I fell in love with them. I have such a strong connection to the two of them both as individuals but as the amazing couple that they are together. Even while going through the images I keep catching myself tearing up. For this reason I have to apologize up front. There are probably going to be WAY too many images in this post. Way too many redundant shots, etc. I found it so hard to narrow it down. I felt so many of these images. I usually only show case the images that collectively will give a good brief overview of the day. But it’s hard to do that when you are emotionally connected to the event.
Mike and Marjorie, thank you so much for coming to my home office that day. Thank you for choosing me to capture this day and all the other special moments in your lives thus far. You both are so incredible, so brave, so strong, and filled with so much love I can’t even put it into words. Thank you for inspiring me and for showing me how to move passed hard times even when they keep coming. You’ve shown the true meaning of forgiveness, understanding, and love for family and for friends. It has been so wonderful to watch you develop into amazing parents even when you weren’t quite expecting it =) As a Mom I watched you that day with so much pride and admiration, as a friend I watched you and it filled me with strength and happiness, and as a photographer I was so filled with inspiration and emotional content I was nearly overwhelmed….I said nearly people! come on! me actually overwhelmed?? shhesh! j/k

Marjorie had little charms made with a photo of her Mom and a photo of her sister on them.  She attached them to her bouquet.  I thought I’d take a few photos of them with Jordan’s little shoes too.  I’m lucky they came out in focus, I was in tears the whole time I was taking photos of them.

There were a lot of children at the wedding so they had a little table inside with coloring books and crayons to keep the kids busy!  Such a smart idea!

Mike and Marjorie wanted to get a big bulk of their photos done up front so they could get right onto the party so they did a “first look”  It was so sweet.  Mike just kept checking her out over and over it was so cute!!!

Usually if I have a 2nd photographer with my I have them take the shots of the guys while I’m off taking shots of the girls so we can cut down on the amount of time the photos take.  My 2nd photographer for the day was the amazingly talented Anita Martin, she got so many great shots through out the day but she was especially creative when it came down to getting shots of the guys in this old fashioned bar that has extremely difficult light to work with!  Such fun shots of a fun group of guys!

Marjorie’s sister, Brittany loved butterflies.  She was suppose to be the maid of honor but instead she was represented all through out the decor and ceremony in subtle ways with butterflies in the flower arrangements and a special releasing of the butterflies during the ceremony.  She was very much there all through out the day.

 

This was taken during family photos.  We were taking the shot of Marjorie and her siblings and just as I was taking the last shot she looked to her brothers and said they were only missing one person and that was their sister Brittany.  It was such a touching moment.

This was the point in the day that I just about lost all control over my emotions (and if you know me you know it takes a lot for me to do that) Marjorie’s Sister had a son, Daniel.  The family he lives with in Alaska kindly flew him out here so he could be the ring bearer.  Towards the end of the bridal party photos we were ready to move on with just the adults and just then Daniel broke down in tears.  The sadness coming from his cry, missing his Mom, seeing all her family, it must have been so much for him to take in.  I honestly  don’t think there was a dry eye around.  It pulled at every heartstring I have.  My biggest fear is leaving my children and the sadness they would feel.  Children should never ever have to feel that pain, ever.  I felt so helpless and would have given him my car if it would have made him feel better in that moment.  Luckily for me (and my marriage) he took me up on my first offer which was my back up camera!  So he walked around the rest of the day with my Canon 5 D mark ii and took 3256 images!  Some of which I kept in the full gallery!!  Here is one I took of him taking a photo of Mike and the 2 shots on the right are what he was getting while I was taking it LOL

This was one of the first times I have ever seen every single person in the Bridal Party give a speech at the wedding.  This is a true testament to this couple and the profound effect they have on the relationships they have.

Ok really?  there is no other reason for me to include this image (since it doesn’t help tell the story of the day) except for the obvious fact that this child is CUTE as can be!  I mean really?  look at her!  she is so adorable!!!

 

These two are so in love and just watching them together in the moments when they forgot that anyone else was there is so amazing!

I’m such a sucker for Grandpa’s on the dance floor!  He was getting everyone so excited!!!

A huge thank you to all the vendors who helped make this day so wonderful…
Venue: Sova Gardens 5186 Gravenstein Highway South Sebastopol, CA 95472 707-795-4747 www.sovagardens.com
Hair: Victoria Acevedo
Makeup: Ashlee Poole
Florist: Laurie Adan @ Oliver’s Market 707-795-9501
Deserts: Olivers Market Bakery 707-795-9501
Wedding Dress & Brides Maid Dresses: Starlet Bridal 730 Village Ct Santa Rosa CA 95404 707-544-0334 www.glamstarlet.com
Grooms Tux: Men’s Wearhouse 1001 Steele Ln Santa Rosa Ca 95403 707525-1324
Grooms Men: Selix 555 Mendocino Ave Santa Rosa CA 707-5753212
Ring Bears outfits: finehandmadeclothing.com
Flower Girls outfits:Giselle’s Boutique on Etsy
Memory Charms on bouquet: Your Happily Ever After on Etsy
Cater: Oui Cater www.ouicater.com
Linen & Glass Rental: www.encorepartyrentals.com
Butterfly Release: www.butterflyreleasesbys.com
Wedding Cordinator: Tory Brown