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Two Plus One = Three: A Sweet California Family Affair

I love when couples find ways to display the true meaning of family, marriage, and love with even the smallest of gestures. Our couple today, Melissa and Jason did just that by having a small intimate wedding on the beach with only about 15 closest friends and family members present and decided to hold their sweet baby girl during the entire ceremony as a way to incorporate her into their union. LOVE that! I remember when I was small, about five years old, my mom remarried and my little sister and I were in the wedding. Although she wasn’t remarrying my father, I still look back at the photos and it reminds me how much I was loved and was truly apart their new life together as husband and wife.

And looking at these beautiful photos by Colorado-based Wedding Photographer, Brooke Trexler, makes me home sick for my family back in California who live not too far from where the wedding took place in Redondo Beach. I remember swimming at this beach as a little girl before moving to the East Coast so I was super exicted when Brooke sent me this wedding! Ahhh- such good memories. Guess it means I’m over due for a visit!

Enjoy this super sweet wedding, the most adorable little girl, and a little more from Brooke….

From the photographer, Brooke: Melissa and Jason live in Colorado, but decided to have a very small and intimate wedding ceremony on Redondo Beach in California. They had originally considered just eloping, but wanted to have their close friends and family there, and felt like this was a nice compromise – plus, both of them had always wanted to be married on the beach.

One of my favorite things about their wedding was how personal it was: one of the bride’s longtime best friends is also a wedding officiant, so she performed the ceremony, and Melissa and Jason decided to hold their 8 month old daughter, Ava, for the whole ceremony.

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Redondo Beach Wedding Brooke Trexler Photography

Simply precious, no?? Has to be one of the sweetest and most intimate weddings I’ve ever featured here. Thanks to Brooke Trexler Photography for sharing this beautiful event!

Bride and Groom: Melissa and Jason

Wedding Date: March 19, 2011

Location (City, State, Country): Redondo Beach, California, USA

Guest Size: Approximately 15 people

Ceremony/Reception Venue: Redondo Beach

Creative Team Behind the Scenes:

Photographer: Brooke Trexler Photography / Wedding Offiicant: Sunshine Knight- Memorable Ceremonies / Dress: The Green Bride Denver / Flowers: Whole Foods Market / Pre-wedding location: Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach

A Sweet Charleston Engagement by Kate Botwinski

I was SO excited to receive this very adorable engagement session that took place right along the shores of Charleston, SC from one of our very own Destination Wedding Vendors, Kate Botwinski Photography! I have seriously fallen in love with Kate & Sam’s photography. You can see from the images just how sweet this couple is and just how much they are head over heels in love with one another!

From the Photographer: Shane and Nikki currently reside in Charleston, where they are stationed with the Air Force. Shane is a charming Air Force pilot and when Nikki busy with her career as a local news producer, she’s supporting her hubby-to-be while he is flying missions.

Shane almost had Nikki at, “Hello,” but it was when she noticed that he makes as many silly faces as she does, that there was really something to explore with him.  After a series of cross-country moves, Shane asked Nikki to be his wife in the beautiful and historical Battery Park in Charleston.  To kick off the engagement session, we revisited the same bench where he proposed so that they could always remember how they felt on that special day.

After walking through the Charleston cobblestone streets and venturing out to The Longwood Plantation with Nikki and Shane, we spent an evening photographing them on the beach where they playfully walked the docks together and watched the sunset over the sand dunes.
A few of my favorite photos are the goofy ones where they showed off a few childhood photos of each other and joked at each other’s expressions!

Shane and Nikki are a fun-loving, spontaneous couple.  We admire them because they bring out each other’s rich personalities and consciously work to strengthen their relationship regardless of where their military orders take them. The wedding will be on April 30th at one of Charleston’s most beautiful Catholic churches: The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and the elegant reception will be at downtown Charleston’s finest: The Francis Marion Hotel.

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

Kate Botwinski Photography Engagement Session

After seeing this e-session, I can’t wait to visit Charleston! My little sis, Holly just moved there and is in the line up to be engaged next or so we think: hint, hint Travis. ;) I can just imagine how sweet they’ll look in their engagement photos walking along the beach or sitting right under the spanish moss. Ahhh can’t wait!

THANK YOU to Kate & Sam for sharing this precious couple and your amazing photography with us today!