Chanda and Dave were referred to us by one of our close friends.  Although we know Davy for many years this was the first time we’ve ever met big sister Chanda.  What a resemblance they hold because I caught myself calling the bride by her sister Davy all throughout the day.  I know, it sounds horrible but can you blame me though? =)  Well, pictures were very important to the couple so they made sure to allot ample time for their couples, wedding party and family portraits.  They chose the Bellevue Botanical Garden as the location for their wedding portrait session.  We’ve been there several times before and this was the first time we ever saw flower blooms so that made us happy.  It was just beautiful with all the flowers!  The overcast that morning also made it perfect for picture taking.  Afterwards, we headed over to the Bellevue Kingdom Hall for their ceremony followed by a reception at the Vasa Park Ballroom.  At the reception, Chanda and Dave changed into traditional Cambodian wedding attire which was met with awe by the guests.  Chanda and Dave, thank you for choosing us and allowing us to capture your wedding day.  We were impressed by the overwhelming support shown towards you from your friends, family and community members on this day.  Every wedding should be this way.

To view more pictures from Chanda and Dave’s wedding day click here for their slideshow.

You know, sometimes you just know.  I’ve known Jeff since high school through his sister who was one of my close high school friends.  Over the years, girls came and went.  Some stayed around longer than others and I’ve even had the chance to call some of them friends.  When Christine entered his life though I knew she could be the one.   This bond felt different from the others.  Sometimes you just know.  When the time was right I couldn’t be happier for the both of them.  It was with greatest pleasure to have witnessed and be a part of their amazing wedding.  There were so many great memories from Cancun and the wedding just topped it off.  It was the fireworks show that went off at the end of the most memorable group trip ever.  Sometimes people think that because we’re taking pictures that we’re not really allowing ourselves to enjoy the wedding (especially a close friend’s wedding).  That’s not true because I felt I had the best seat in the whole house (or in this case on the beach) to be able to capture their union surrounded by their friends and loved ones.  It definitely helps that the bride and groom were so chill and relaxed throughout the trip and on the big day.  Christine and Jeff got married at the Hilton Cancun Golf & Spa Resort on Miramar beach.

To view more pictures from the wedding click here for their slideshow! Christine and Jeff, I’ve always dreamed of having a beach wedding… THANK YOU for giving me the experience even it was second-hand.  They’ve really set the bar high now for any of our future friends getting married.  I vouch for destination weddings for all of them!

If a title or trophy existed for the world’s biggest procrastinating bride “EVER” my sister would be the recipient of it, hands down.  Allow me to recall the “to-do” list with ONLY two weeks left before the wedding date: hire florist, hire second photographer, hire make-up artist, order wedding cake, rent chair covers, find flower girls dresses, have back-up bridesmaids dresses made, and alterations/fitting of custom wedding gown.  The bridesmaids dresses didn’t get done and picked up until the night before the wedding and the finishing touches to the wedding gown continued through the night.  And that’s just the major things to be done.  Talk about crazy!!  I guess you could never tell by the pictures though.  Things have a way of falling together on wedding days, they almost always do.  Before I wrap up there is something that deserves special attention — the wedding dress was custom made by the talented Sovannary, one of the bridesmaids.  She also custom made the gown Jacqueline’s wore during her wedding ceremony.  Aren’t they both gorgeous??

If you’ve been following then you  remember that my sister Elisa and brother-in-law Steve got married back in early October.  My Internet connection is actually cooperating today so I might just be able to blog about it finally.  Our Internet provider (*ahem* Comcast) still haven’t resolved our connection issues for nearly two months now.  Back to Elisa and Steve’s wedding though, I have to break their entry into two parts because of the multicultural aspect of their wedding.  In the olden days and back in Cambodia weddings are typically week long celebrations.  The modern day adaptation now lasts about two days and for those who prefer for it to be even shorter can choose and pick only the ceremonies they want to include  and condense it down to a day or even half a day.  After much negotiation with my parents my sister succeeded in carrying out a half-day traditional Cambodian wedding instead.  I wish I knew that I had that option for my own wedding.  While the process of going through a Cambodian wedding may seem daunting and overwhelmingly stressful, speaking for myself, it was all worth it every time I look back at my wedding pictures.  It truly is a once in a lifetime experience (that I would only do once and I’m glad I got it over with, hah).  I would recommend for my Cambodian peers to include some aspect of a traditional Cambodian wedding if they’ve never considered it before.  I’m starting to see more couples now incorporating bits and pieces instead of going full scale.   Again, I’m only speaking from my own experience.  Well, I hope that Elisa and Steve found it all worthwhile at the end.  I also want to say that Steve’s family and relatives were very open minded and very much engaged during the whole experience.  That’s awesome!  If anyone is interested in learning more about traditional Cambodian wedding ceremonies, this link from the Khmer Institute’s website is a great resource.

A talent I really wish I had is the ability to sing.  I don’t mean to be able to sound like Whitney Houston or Celine Dion.  I’d just be happy to have vocals that is at least karaoke worthy you know?  Truthfully, I don’t even know if I’ve ever even heard myself sing.  In my mind I think I’m that horrific.  In high school, I told myself that when I have a boyfriend that I would sing to him Lauryn Hill’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You.  *Ahem* This was before I realized I couldn’t sing.  A boyfriend and a husband later I’ve yet to murmur a single line of those lyrics.  I’ve always dreamed of singing to my husband-to-be on our wedding day, but that was all that would transpire out of it… just a dream.  I think it’s just the sweetest thing when a bride or groom or both sing their love to one another.  That’s exactly what Jacqueline and Tony did on their wedding day.  It was okay that I didn’t understand a single Vietnamese word because  I didn’t need to know what they were singing about to know how they felt about each other.  I felt it too and it just melted my heart.

Jacqueline and Tony got married over a month ago at the beautiful Newcastle Golf Club.  I was really excited because I’ve never been there before.  I’ve only seen amazing pictures of other people’s wedding there, so yes I was SUPER excited!  I want to thank J+T for the permission and opportunity to shoot over the shoulders and off the radar of their hired wedding photographers.  Thanks again guys for having me at your wedding, both behind the scenes and amongst your family and friends!  Now I want to share some of my favorite captured moments from their wedding.