Author: Shanti

Breathtaking, graceful, glowing, happiness, stunning, and in love, these are just a few of the adjectives that I can think of to describe a pretty perfect day that celebrated the love of two very awesome people along with their loved ones from both close and afar.

The wedding ceremony was in a somewhat secluded area off the 17 mile drive in Carmel, CA called Church in the Forest. I'm not always a fan of the look of churches , photography speaking, but this church was so beautiful in a very simple and Carmel sort of way. With big windows that open you up to forests all around you, it allows, even a large wedding, to have the intimacy of all those you love around you and the magic of Carmel's nature to seep in to the calmness and the serenity of the moment.

If that wasn't beautiful enough, the reception was held at Clint Eastwood's Mission Ranch in Carmel. Which is this historic ranch resort that sits on 22 acres with views all around you. Again, they managed to find an intimate location to have a wonderful sit down dinner with 150 of their closest friends and family. After dinner, some toasts, and the first dance, the guests were invited into the “old barn” to boogie down to an amazing live band called Steve Ezzo and the Monterey Bay All-Stars. Amazing! They had everyone out there dancing to all sorts of fun music both current and old school. It was a blast to capture.

And what made this day even more perfect… having my two favorite people help to capture this day. Simone Anne Photography and my very own associate Shannon Henretty were there to capture all the details of the day! Two very creative and detail oriented individuals. Together, we are so inspring and we really just feed off each others energy… its a blast.

Ok, enough about the details… I can't end this blog with out talking about Christa and Aaron and what they mean to me… I have known Christa for years, having the pleasure to work with her mom in my last lifetime, and watching her grow in to this beautiful young woman that is glowing from the inside out. When Catherine, her mother, asked me to capture this day a year ago I was beaming… I loved this family, but not having been in their lives for the last 10 years, I never had expected that I was on their radar of options. I knew this was a wedding that would bring everything I do full circle and it did just that. I left capturing this wedding thankful for what I do, and thankful for bringing wonderful people back into my life and allowing me to witness, capture, and be apart of such important moments in their lives. And then their is Aaron, a person who from the minute I met him had left me feeling as if we too were old friends. He has so much warmth and insight on life and couldn't be a more perfect match for Christa.

Thank you Miles family for allowing me to be so apart of this day. It was an honor!