Sean and Elizabeth’s wedding was not your typical wedding. It wasn’t the fact that their wedding was not a summer wedding, it actually was just a few day into December, but no, that wasn’t why their wedding wasn’t typical. It wasn’t that it rained the entire day with just a ten minute let up in the wet weather. It wasn’t the fact that this couple had the most amazing bartender I’ve seen at a wedding reception, one that hung from the sky, but more on that later... What was it that made this wedding so amazing is the fact that the bride is a professional entertainer and many of her guests are performers at California’s Great America theme park, which was also the site for this visually stunning wedding.

Sean started his day getting ready at his hotel just across the street from the theme park while Elizabeth began her day in the park.

Elizabeth and her side of the bridal party got ready just above the parks candy shop (thinking 50 cent right now?) which was a New Orleans themed building which made you feel like you were in the French Quarter.

Sean and Elizabeth’s wedding took place in Great America’s theatre where they both have spent a lot of time performing. Sean turned the stage into his literal work of visual art by designing the lighting, transporting the guests into a dramatic and beautiful ceremony.

After their on stage first kiss they exited the theatre but not before one more while the spotlight was on them.

Then we quickly rushed over to the double decker merry go round as the heavy rain at this exact moment turned into a light drizzle for the first time of the day, we seized and captured the moment with the 21 person bridal party.

While I was in a slight hurry as to get as many formal photos out from under the rain protection that the carousel provided, I wanted to feature one B&G portrait in a creative fashion before moving on. My thought was to make a point in one photo that tells the story of where this wedding takes place, a stand alone image. So I got up close and personal with one of the horses closest to me and lit just the couple with a strobe and a mini softbox. Lighting this way not only allows the viewer to see the couple in clear light but the effect also guides you to the them and not the horse.

Fun fact… Carousel horses have basically three stances: they can have all four legs on the ground and are called “standing figures”, they can have two back legs on the ground and two in the air (those are called “prancers”), and they can have all legs in the air which then are called “jumpers”. “Jumpers” also move up and down.

We hurried to the other side of the park as the rain picked up again. So, we stopped and shot another portrait with the holiday lights in the background. My assistant, Sergio and I, lit the couple with a softbox and then I quickly took a photo without the fill light. Curious to see the difference between both shots? Here’s a two minute video I made comparing the two portraits.

Here it is! The most unique wedding cocktail hour bartender I have ever seen in my career. The acrobatic bartender perched, gracefully, up high and she poured champagne to the guests passing by.

The décor in the dining room impressed me. Sean, the groom, was largely responsible for the design and he completely transformed the space with it’s creative physical setup.

There were so many laughs and moments that were a cause for celebration during speeches at dinner.

Slicing the cake got a little dicey. The large piece of cake wobbled as it left the stand, but the bride’s quick reflexes saved it from falling to the ground.