I met Genesis + Josh over two years ago when I initially photographed their engagement session. Ben and I have since moved to the same town and we literally live like 2 minutes down the road from them now. It was really so much fun to get to know Genesis and hear all about her plans for their wedding to feel like a Resort in the Bahamas wedding. Genesis and I were exactly alike in how we planned our weddings: organized and detailed. It was so great to see how all of her ideas and plans came together for her and Josh’s Marina Del Rey Wedding.

I love Genesis + Josh’s story of how they met, they sat next to each other on their first day of art class in high school. They quickly became close friends. He tried asking her out their freshman year, but as Genesis’s maid of honor who was there, recounted during the toast, Genesis declined. In fact, Genesis said looking back she felt like she was so mean. (But isn’t that just how high school goes?) She moved from New York to Connecticut, but they kept in touch and later on in high school she was the one to ask him to prom. (Again, isn’t that just how high school goes? haha) Years later, Josh would propose to Genesis under the 4th of July fireworks at the West Haven, CT beach by the Long Island Sound. He proposed with the original engagement ring that his father gave to his mother when they were first starting out.

Genesis + Josh’s Marina Del Rey wedding took place right along the East River with the Throgs Neck Bridge to the left and the Whitestone Bridge to the right. At night, out in the distance you could even see the lights of New York City. However, with the white pier, the water right next to outdoor ceremony space and the sunny day it felt more like beach wedding. (Without the sandy feet of course 🙂 ) Just wait until you see all of the details and seashells Genesis used to make her theme come alive. And if that isn’t enough, make sure to check out the surprise they had for their guests during the reception!

Genesis must be a shoe girl, because just wait until you see the amount of shoes she had. (I’m not saying its a bad thing haha!) There were 3, technically 4 with the barefoot anklet she wore.

Genesis gave each of bridesmaids matching robes (for getting ready) and flip flops (for dancing all night at the reception).

I like to call these the mermaid shoes 🙂 They’re iridescent so there’s green, blue, turquoise and a little bit of purple depending on how the light hits them.

Genesis also had a separate dress and shoes that were easier to dance in for her first dance with Josh and her dance with her father.

Her something old and borrowed were her pearl earrings from her aunt.

We had to quickly get Genesis into her wedding dress, but sweet moments like this always take priority over the timeline.

I love Genesis peeking around the bookcase to see if her dad is ready for their first look.

While I was with the ladies, my 2nd shooter was with the guys while they got ready at Josh’s parent’s home.

This white pier is my favorite! We shot their first look here and pretty much all of their portraits. It was so perfect with the white and the water.

Dang Genesis! You are stunning!

I asked if Josh could dip Genesis, little did I know how flexible and graceful Genesis is!

Cathedral length veils are my favorite and make for such romantic pictures.

I’m working on my double exposures and this seemed too perfect not to try for their wedding day.

Like I said, the ceremony space was right along the water.

Genesis and her mother-in-law hand made and glued all of the sashes for the chairs.

Married!!

That pier again, it’s my favorite!

The flower girl was pretty shy when it came to pictures, but how cute is this of her and Genesis playing under the cathedral length veil before the reception!

Ok here come all of the seashell and beach themed details! Genesis said as soon as she decided she wanted to use starfish and seashells everyone was collecting and buying them for her. None of it was over the top, but just the perfect accents.

Contis Pastry Shoppe did an amazing job with the detail in Genesis + Josh’s wedding cake!

And Chic: A Floral Boutique did such a great job with all of the florals. There were even starfish wired into the sweetheart table centerpiece. Talk about detail!

These beach spa themed favors from The Knobby Broom were so generous of Genesis + Josh to give to their guests.

Finally reception time and some dancing!!

That slit in the dress, dang girl it was perfect for your bachata dance!

Again, a perfect, graceful dip!

This was so cute! The flower girl was too shy for pictures, but not to get the microphone and sing to everyone! haha

And to top off the evening, Genesis + Josh surprised all their guests with a Michael Jackson impersonator!

Can you guess which song this was?

This is one of my new favorite things to do, right before I leave I love to take the new Mr. and Mrs. out for a couple minutes of nighttime portraits. (I don’t want them to miss much of their reception.) This is one of my new favorite nighttime portraits with the Whitestone Bridge in the back all lit up.

And this one in between the lights of the lit up trees.

Thank you Genesis + Josh for allowing me to be a part of your day and capturing all the special moments. I loved being with you throughout the whole thing! I hope you’re having fun on your honeymoon cruise through the Mediterranean!

And a huge thank you to my team that day. Lin and Diana you were such amazing photographers and backed me up all day and knew what I needed before I did. And then got such great shots while supporting me. Plus a huge thank you to Ben, my husband, that came as my assistant and did everything from steaming robes & the veil, to choreographing family portraits and fixing my gear when I was moving too quickly to notice that I had accidentally flipped a switch. It was a huge team effort all day and I had the perfect team!

 

 

 

MARINA DEL REY WEDDING VENDORS

THE DRESS | Galina David’s Bridal

DANCING DRESS | Fashion Nova

THE SHOES | Penny Loves Kenny

BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESES | David’s Bridal

HAIR | Rosalia at C N Dominican Styling

MAKEUP ARTIST | Munia Akter

GROOM’S ATTIRE | Whitepoint Cleaners

FLORIST | Chic: A Floral Boutique

INVITATION SUITE | Shutterfly

CEREMONY & RECEPTION VENUE | Marina Del Rey

CAKE | Contis Pastry Shoppe

DJ | Top Notch Event Planning – DJ Eric K

DANCE STUDIO | Arthur Murray – Mount Kisco

RECEPTION ENTERTAINMENT | MJXpressions

FAVORS | The Knobby Broom

VIDEOGRAPHER | Clear Vision Videography

PHOTOGRAPHER | Cassady K Photography

2ND PHOTOGRAPHER | Lin Pernille Kristensen

3RD PHOTOGRAPHER | Diana Ramirez

 

GENESIS + JOSH’S ENGAGEMENT SESSION >>