What can I say about this wedding in Costa Rica other then it was AWESOME! I love to do destination weddings, especially in Costa Rica. This was my second trip shooting there and it is so much fun. The lifestyle is amazingly tranquil and much slower then the US. Suzanne and James’ wedding was super unique and unlike most weddings I do. I had a lot of “firsts” at this wedding. This is a very non-traditional couple who wanted a super simple wedding, which I love. The day was all about their love and enjoying it with their guests. No pressure and so stress, my favorite! 🙂

Suzanne and James planned a very simple wedding Costa Rican style. Suzanne chose a very casual traditional Costa Rican style beach dress. It was the smallest wedding dress I have ever shot! James lucked out getting to wear a T-shirt and shorts and sported bare feet. The couple reside in Northern California but own property and spend a lot of time in Costa Rica. The property that we stayed at in Avellanos (North West Coast) has 7 houses or casitas, each casita took on a wedding job as a vendor for the day. One home made authentic looking Costa Rican cake, which was amazing. One house did all of the flowers from the bouquet to the ceremony pieces. A few of the men went down and dug holes in the sand to make a walkway of palms, made a ceremony site, and laid an isle. It was great to be able to see it all happen and document it during the getting ready’s. The actual ceremony was private and took place on a wooden bridge over a Mangrove Swamp. It was gorgeous, hot but gorgeous. It was just the couple and their children and me! 🙂 I always get to be in the cool places. After the private ceremony the couple walked down to the beach where they were greeted by their guests. They then continued the ceremony with their friends by reading letters from guests that could not attend, and a few other cool wedding traditions from different cultures. A great classy reception followed which was laid back and tons of fun.

Past Costa Rica Blogs 2010:

Pics from Travels in Costa:
http://jaimeehubert.blogspot.com/2010/03/destination-vacation-to-costa-rica.html

Family Shoots in Costa Rica:
http://jaimeehubert.blogspot.com/2010/02/costa-rica-landscape.html

 

Another great wedding coordinated by Natalie Good, owner of A Good Affair Event Production. Natalie and I have worked together for years and I always love her weddings. They are not cookie cutter and each has it’s own uniqueness and classy flair. I personally love her taste. Tom and Liz Pinkava recently wed and we did the Getting Ready shots at The Biltmore in downtown LA, which was an awesome place for bridal portraits! Then we were off for a Catholic Mass wedding ceremony and a great reception at La Canada Flintridge Country Club. The wedding from beginning to end was classy. The reception had a great Mariachi during dinner and Andy Nation for Emcee and DJ. If you ever need a DJ, Andy Nation is GREAT! Ask him about his Venice Dance! Loved the bouquet and the purple heels! Natalie also did the florals on this event, and does a unique awesome job every time! I don’t do that many Los Angeles Weddings, so it is always a different vibe being in Downtown LA vs. OC.

A Good Affair Event Production (Also did florals)
www.agoodaffair.com

Andy Nation- Awesome Wedding DJ
http://www.justimaginedj.com/

La Canada Flintridge Country Club
http://www.lcfcountryclub.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=30

 

A lot of people really want to see some pics of our road trip, our recent move, the boys, and our new home. I wanted to share some of them with you documenting our new chapter in life, our move from OC to Boise. I got a lot of cool shots on the road trip getting here. The snow was and is beautiful, I don’t mind living in it so far at all. I included some pics of my boys first day of school, and first day of school in the snow……..so cute! I love my boys! So far so good, we are really enjoying our new home. We are still moving in so I will send pics in a few weeks when it is more put together. I will be back in OC almost every 4-6 weeks for the rest of this year, but I reside here now and we are loving Idaho and our new home! I will keep you up to date on the struggles and triumphs moving out of state as most of you are probably like me, it terrified me to move but tempted me at the same time. I will let you know how it goes. So far I love the slower pace, being a Mom full time, and cooking great meals. Have lots of plans for a healthier, happier, slower lifestyle! Thanks for stopping by!

 The boys first day on the bus and we woke up to snow falling hard, had to get the snow gear on!

I am a bit behind on my blogging due to my recent travels and move, but I am ready to share more winter weddings! I loved this Hyatt Huntington wedding by Lisa Simpson on a sunny Thursday in January. Robert and Julie chose to have a very intimate wedding including only immediate family of both sides. They also chose to do their wedding on a weekday. I love daytime weddings, and I love weddings that are simpler and all about the couple and their love. I know it sounds cliche, but  I like a wedding that is more about the couple, and their intimacy. There is no big show to put on or anybody to impress, including no bridal party. The bride and groom chose a great venue, a wonderful wedding coordinator, a guitarist for the ceremony, and myself for the memories. It was a “no stress” day. The bride and groom where NEVER rushed or stressed. They had plenty of time for romantics, family, and ceremony pics and it was all about them. They did not spend a lot of money, but as you can see they have beautiful images to remember the day. Lisa Simpson always does a great job at her weddings. She is brilliant at mastering her venues, vendors,  and venue staff with her name being on some of the best venues in OC! I have said many times before to consider having your wedding on any other day but Saturday if you are on a tight budget. Venues and vendors alike, will likely cut discounts and bend over backwards for you if you have a weekday wedding.

Lisa Simpson Weddings:
http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com/

Hyatt Huntington Weddings:
http://huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/events/weddings/index.jsp

The couple chose to see each other before the ceremony. They had a special moment and did all of their romantics beforehand!

Some of you may have seen posting on Facebook about me moving and been confused. I know Boise of all places sounds crazy if you are from Orange County especially, but I am in fact opening a new office and studio in Boise, Idaho. I will still have my office in Newport Beach, California, and run my business in Orange County as well. I will do weddings in Southern California as I always have, and while I am in OC I will be available to do family shoots, pregnancy, boudoir, headshots, senior pics, etc. I will do half off shoot days as well about 3 times a year if you are used to taking advantage of those days which are scheduled in one location and a little shorter then most shoots, but still result in hundreds of images at a really fair rate. Feel free to continue to inquire about weddings, shoot, dates, etc. as I travel to shoot often, and even though my family will reside here in Boise. I will fly out of the state and country many times a year. This year I will do weddings in Costa Rica, Colorado, Southern California, Northern California, and Idaho so far.

The reason for the move…….as much as I LOVE So Cal and as much as I LOVE my photography business……I LOVE my kids and family more! My father has always had a very bad heart and his time on this Earth has always been limited. He got serious about the entire family moving when he was told he had 6 months to live a year ago, and then received a pacemaker and defibrillator last summer. He needs a heart transplant and with all of this, he really mostly wants his 3 daughters and family together as well as his grandsons raised in a  place more conducive to raising children. My older sister Amber and I purchased a home outside of Boise last year, with the help of our father. My eldest sister has lived here in Boise for 18 years. My grandpa, two different aunts and their families, cousins, neighbors, extended family, and friends are all in the process of moving here as well. The housing is 5 times less, the life-style a lot slower, and I love it here! Jobs are easy to get if you are from LA, cause we have an edge. It is beautiful, you get all 4 seasons, there is plenty of cool people and it is much more city then you would think. Everyone is not growing potatoes! : ) Anyhow, I can work a lot less here and be more of a Mom. I have been working 50-60 hour weeks for the past 5 years living in Orange County as a full time photographer. My business has done very well and I am thankful for its success. However, we are slowing it down and keeping it real for our kids. This is a really great move for my family, it is very exciting. I will post pics soon of my new home when we are all moved in. I LOVE my home, and my tiny house payment! This weekend we will take our boys sledding, then I fly in to OC to shoot a Disney wedding next and do a Shoot Day.

Thank you so much for reading and supporting my business and blog. I am very blessed to have this career and life. I am lovin’ it!