I enjoy being around Nicole and Jessica so much. One of the reasons I'm so passionate about what I do is because I'm around love all the time. And these two... these two have been together for eight years already but they act like they just started dating. They are just so cute together. I'm looking forward to crying at their wedding in March.
And by the way, Jessica's family owns and runs my favorite valley restaurant. When we first met and they mentioned it, I had to get up and hug her with joy. Do you want some of the best southern/creole food in LA? Head on over to Les Sisters in Chatsworth. I like so many of their dishes that I often go for lunch and get a ton of side orders so I can have a little of everything! You can't go wrong with a restaurant whose tag line is, " So many hushpuppies, so little time"!
http://karenard.com/blog/2011/12/santa-monica-engagement-photos.html
I'd been excited to shoot Reiko and Scott's wedding from the moment we met last year. I loved the way these two laughed together, what they wanted their wedding to represent and all the fun details they were planning. Plus they were having it at the Inn of the Seventh Ray, one of my favorite local venues.
Once again, it was hard for me to pick my favorites so make sure to view the slideshow below if you'd like to see more of their day. Congrats you guys!
Venue,coordinator, cake: the fabulous Kelly, The Inn of the Seventh Ray
Flowers: Garden Spells
Dress: MoriLee
Shoes: Converse
DJ: Paul Carganilla
Hair: Kat, Regis Salon
Lu Says:
beautiful...you captured the wedding perfectly
(11.17.11 - 04:40 PM)
roberta g. Says:
Just beautiful!
(11.17.11 - 07:35 PM)
http://karenard.com/blog/2011/11/topanga-wedding-1.html
The super cute DIY Bride blog featured Rachel and Jonathan's engagement session over the weekend. Rachel did such a great job styling our fun shot that I'm glad it's getting published! Plus they are so stinkin' cute! Head on over to DIY Bride to see the full post.
http://karenard.com/blog/2011/11/featured-diy-bride.html
A short while back, Nam staged a surprise proposal to Trang at UCLA, were they went to school. It wasn't to be a quite stroll through the corridors where they first caught each others eye though. Oh no. Nam had something a little more special in store for Trang. He had secretly set up a Flashmob with maybe close to 100 people - half of them family, half total strangers - to surprise her as they came out of the student store.
I was originally going to dance this Flashmob but the wedding photographer in me couldn't get past the idea of actually shooting it. Nam was thrilled with the idea so I had the great fortune to capture such a joyous celebration of love and grab some portraits of just the two of them right after. Originally only our UCLA group were witness to the entire dance and proposal but after the video went viral on You Tube, they were interviewed on CNN! These two were so adorable together and so sweet... I'm so happy for you guys!
Trang was blown away when she realized this was for her when so many of their family and friends had joined in, including both sets of parents, little cousins and relatives from out of town!
... and then Nam joined in!
When the dance was over, we made a circle around them and 100-ish people got down on one knee when he did. Priceless! { I wish there were two of me so I could have taken pictures from the balcony to get the full effect of how many people were involved.}
After some time spent with family and friends full of hugs, well wishes and tons of photos, a little quite time to take it all in...
Thank you to the fabulous Staci, Conroe, choreography by Zakk Manzella, and the tons of amazing volunteers of Flash Mob America for making this happen for Nam and Trang. Make sure to watch the whole official video below to hear Trang's response to the proposal. {Other video captured by friends, the CNN interview, and local news coverage videos can all be seen here.}
http://karenard.com/blog/2011/11/surprise-flashmob-proposal.html
{ I'm embarrassed to say that I just noticed this post languishing in my draft folder! Please tell me I'm not the only one that has done that before? }
The stylish, Australian Love Wed Bliss wedding blog featured Whitney and Rick's fun engagement session last month. We had such a great time shooting this and I'm thrilled that it has gotten published online! Click here for the whole post.
http://karenard.com/blog/2011/10/featured-love-wed-bliss.html
Karen i am speechless!! You simply are amazing!! I had images in my head about my weight and the whole nine yards but you take me past all my insecurities and allow me to see such beauty in all of this. You are one of a kind!! I CANNOT WAIT to see you in march!! LOVE LOVE LOVE them!! Thank you!!
(12.02.11 - 07:51 PM)Tons of gorgeous photos,congrats! Wishing you many more years of happiness..
(08.20.12 - 09:42 AM)