We love backyard weddings. The details. The intimacy. The uniqueness of the venue. There is so much that can be learned about a couple at a backyard wedding just by the thought that goes into every aspect of the day.

Sarah + Jeff decided to make their wedding happen in Jeff’s parents’ backyard. To say that every detail was attended to would be understating the event. Jeff and his grandfather filled in the swimming pool with a plywood base that can be seen during the rehearsal footage. The alter was also hand made. Photos throughout the house were filled in with pictures of the lovely couple and to top it off, dinner consisted of a made to order pasta bar (let’s just say we gave that part specifically two thumbs up) and mashed potatoes in martini glasses.

As we arrived to the house, the rain from the morning was just beginning to let up. No sooner than the rain stopped, the sun cranked up about 14 notches. It was as if two completely different weather forecasts had collided. Perhaps it was simply fate as it never rains on a bride’s big day in Southern California. . . .

As the day wore on, we began to focus some of our attention on all the work that was taking place behind the scenes. The dance between the Catering Crew, the Bartenders, and the Event Planners was almost choreographed. Although we don’t show it in the trailer, it will reveal itself in Jeff + Sarah’s final film and it was a very organized chaos to say the least.

When all was said and done, this wedding was hands down one of our favorites this year. Jeff + Sarah, married in his parents backyard, but not a backyard wedding by any stretch of the imagination.

A very large shout out to Lisa Moon from Lisa Moon Events. As always, she worked her magic on the big day, as well as at the rehearsal 🙂 Also, a very special thank you to Justin from Generations Entertainment for making our life easier once again at the reception! Krista Jon from Downtown Flowers ROCKED the florals as you will see, and Rog and Lyndzee from Ellsworthphotography were so great to work with as well!

And now, Sarah + Jeff. . . enjoy!

>Soulmate. By itself, a word that is defined as somebody whom one has a feeling of deep and natural affinity with. But, there is so much more as we all know. A soulmate is the smile when you aren’t having your best day. A soulmate is the off beat giggle when you tell a joke that really isn’t that funny. A soulmate is the eyes you look into every morning knowing that this is the one. Keren + Pieter are soulmates.

We know this because of the way they connect every time they see each other. The way they look completed by simply being in the presence of one another. It’s funny that we use a piece of audio in this trailer that is mumbled by Pieter as he gets dressed for the ceremony. “I’m really lucky. I’ve got everything I want and everything I could possibly need.” In a society that focuses on “things”, sometimes the one “thing” that is most important is easiest to see on the wedding day.

As Keren got ready for the day, a day which she scheduled around the USC football schedule, she watched her team via streaming online while sharing a laugh with the girls as they did hair and makeup, and ultimately a prayer as they prepared for the ceremony. The guys, on the other hand, got dressed over beers. Beers that Pieter’s brother couldn’t separate with as he made the trek from one end of the hotel to the other to deliver Keren her gift from Pieter.

And as the two opened their gifts, “things” if you will, they both were excited and said “wow” and “pretty”, but it was the moments just before opening the gifts when they were reading the cards, hand written from one another, while fighting back teary eyes that showed what “thing” is most important on the wedding day and every day for the rest of their lives. Love.

A very special thank you to Courtney Toney from Joyful Weddings and Events for her help in orchestrating such a wonderful day. Also a shout out to our friend Jasmine Star from Jasmine Star Photography. Always great to work with good people on these shoots and Jasmine and Courtney rock!

There’s nothing more rewarding than being able to show our friends such an important day in their life in a way that it is seldom seen. When Robert + Tina approached us to film their wedding, we were honored and yet nervous at the same time. The pressure always seems to be so much greater when it is people you have known for the better part of a decade. The fact that they trust us to tell their story just ramps up the heat in the boiler room that much more.

8 years ago, these two began their courting. . . a courting that started with, well, let’s just say not Robert’s best line. Then again, now that we think about it, they are married, so perhaps it was his best line? In any case, Robert + Tina’s passion for life, friends, and family made this wedding pop and we would be lying if we didn’t say we are proud of this one. Congratulations to the newlyweds and we simply couldn’t resist making the cake toppers the still screen shot for your trailer 🙂

In constantly striving to develop every couple’s story and unfold their day as it happens, we often stumble onto unexpected threads. In the case of Christie + RJ, it was the handkerchiefs that Christie gave to her mother and grandmother prior to the ceremony while she was getting ready.

A small and simple gift, yet such an emotional moment that had to be included in this trailer. As you can tell by the title, Christie is a teacher and found her Matron of Honor through their profession. As you’ll see, RJ doesn’t mind helping Christie out in getting the classroom ready either. A wise husband indeed 🙂

Congratulations to Christie + RJ and just wait until you see the feature film. . . . .

Sometimes when we are filming, there are those moments where you go, “wow, that was awesome”. In the case of Melissa + Eduardo, that moment came during the Best Man’s toast. Ramon decided to explain Melissa + Eduardo’s story in a very simple, broken down fashion that was so effective, it became the driving narrative for this trailer.

When we met with Melissa + Eduardo, one thing that stood out is their calm and laid back feel.Calm. Cool. Collected. They are so easy going, so we choose the song in this trailer for its easy going nature.

They decided to have their reception at the Red Horse Barn in Huntington Beach and it couldn’t have fit these two and their personalities any better. Horses are calm.cool.collected. As Melissa + Eduardo walked through the stables, the energy just fit the setting. As the shave ice refreshed the guests (Melissa’s family’s business), the tasty barbecue dinner filled the bellies. And what better way to work off dinner than with salsa lessons?

A very special thank you to Jesi Haack from Jesi Haack Weddings. Creativity doesn’t begin to do this girl justice. If you are even considering a DIY style party, call Jesi. Enough said.

Also, sincere thanks to Amelia Lyon from Amelia Lyon Photography for being uber-easy to work with and for helping to setup some really great imagery!

Congratulations to Melissa + Eduardo and we sincerely thank you for your generosity, love, and faith in our work. . . . and the shave ice 🙂 Enjoy!