Maria & Robert, like many couples who wanted to have their wedding during Covid had to roll with the punches given. On a months notice they had been notified by their reception venue, a country club in the peninsula, that they were unable to resume hosting weddings, but that didn’t stop Maria and Robert. With the direction of wedding planner Areglia Castro of Le Reve Events the couple moved their reception location and kept their wedding day as planned. Here is their story.

Our coverage began at the beautiful St. Ignatius Parish which is on the campus of the University of San Francisco.

At the beginning of a wedding we are always trying to establish a sense of location, art and journalism. We began by capturing a multi photo panoramic image from the balcony, followed by my assistant Sergio’s wonderful artistic framing of the first glimpse of the bride, followed by an emotional moment by the groom Robert. We love the formula of great wedding coverage, it makes for an easy to layout wedding album.

A great way to get the perfect first kiss image is to simply do it again half way down the isle following the ceremony. Maria informed me just before the wedding that she planned to go for the second kiss, it’s a very different look having people in the background.

After the ceremony I suggested we take a two minute walk into the USF campus so we can capture a bride and groom portrait with the entire church in the background. The initial exit image of the couple leaving the Parish is impressive but with the photographers and cinematographers (Imperial Productions) backed up to the street’s edge, I thought it was worth the walk to frame up a B&G portrait that had a sense of space.

After spending a few minutes capturing photos and video Maria & Robert headed back to the limo shuttle where the bridal party was waiting in style. Then it was off to the Palace of Fine Arts for formal bridal party photos and more B&G portraits.

Off to the reception we went where there was lots of love and laughter during the speeches and formal dances.

In all of my years photographing weddings, shooting this exact framing wedding after wedding, I have never caught a double tear wipe. The photojournalism major in me is saying “that’s the story!”

Roberts father is enjoying this very moment which he and his wife will remember forever.

Custom cake with gold leaf by Jen’s Cakes in San Jose.

Then it was time to make memories with friends and family and dance the night away!

At the end of the night I quickly pulled aside the bride and groom for one last lit portrait in the courtyard under the gazebo.