California Winter Wedding

So my baby cousin got engaged and I am not going to lie I thought, hmm I hope I get to shoot her wedding.  And a few weeks after her engagement she contacted me & of course I said yes.  Shannon has always been such a joyful person.  She lights up any room that she enters with her laugh and contagious smile.  She knows how to make people feel special and loved & she is so great with kids.  She has over 20 nieces and nephews and makes them each feel known and loved.  I can’t wait to watch their family grow so they can have kids of their own.  So Mark is the man!  He has done a great job sweeping my cousin off her feet and he makes her beam with joy even more than before.  They are great together and I am so glad he came into her life when he did, amazing.

Their wedding day was wonderful.   California winters can be unpredictable and the forecast showed rain ALL day.  But there were so many prayers that day I truly believe God held the cloads in his hands and waited for the rain to pour down until after the wedding!  Thank goodness because we got some great outdoor photos in front of St Annes church.

I love hearing from the groom & bride in their own words, this is from the Groom.  “There are so many things I love about Shannon. I love her beautiful smile and how it bring me happiness no matter what is going on. I love that she is honest with me about any and everything. I love that she is amazing with children. Probably the best I’ve ever seen. I love that she lets me be me. I love that she loves sports almost as much as I do. I love that she wants a big family. And last but not least I love that she is the most beautiful, honest, caring, funny and sweetest woman I’ve ever met.  The first time I saw her…. My sister Maggie brought a bunch of her friends back for spring break. I remember thinking Man I wish Shannon wasn’t my sisters best friend. I thought that was a little weird. So therefore I did not make a move. She was one of the only girls that I gave a hug goodbye to. Lol. And I thought she was by far the coolest most down to earth one out of all of them. But I didn’t ask her for her number. She contacted me on Facebook and then she gave me her number because she had to go to class. I thank God every day for that.”

This is from the bride, “I love that Mark is so attentive and always wants to make others (especially me!) happy. He is very thoughtful and generous. He always gives people very thoughtful gifts. He spends time with his family to make them feel special too. He has a big heart. He always wants to make me happy and lets me choose everything all the time. My first impression of him was that he was super hot and really cool. It was true love at first sight for me but I tried to play it cool. 😉 I loved talking about sports and all of our common interests (especially football). I gave him my number (trying to be so sly) because I knew I had to keep talking to this guy. He is a keeper and I am so excited to marry my best friend.”

 

Congrats Mark & Shannon we love you!

-Special Thanks-

Venue: St Annes Parish 

Reception: Lamp Liter Inn

Flowers: Carmen’s

DJ: Dave Rogers

Musicians: Jon Van Vogt, Jorge Balfour (organist) and Laura Bissonnette (singer)

Hair & Make Up Artist: Katrin Mazanowski

Wedding Dress: Luftenburg’s Bridal in Fresno CA

Bridesmaids dresses: Davids Bridal

Tuxes: A formal Affair