Posts Tagged ‘Sacramento Wedding Photographer’

The Couple: Mandy and Scott Martinez

Editor’s Note:  If this gorgeous bride looks familiar at all, it’s because she was our real bride model for our bridesmaid fashion feature at the Sacramento Zoo in the current issue of Real Weddings Magazine!

 Wedding Date:  September 6, 2009

Photography by Sarah Maren Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved: My husband always swore he would never meet his wife at a bar, boy was he wrong! We love living an active lifestyle, and are total partners in crime. We appreciate the good, the bad and everything in between, and challenge each other to keep life interesting. I was bored until I met Scott, he is my spice!

What was the most amazing part of your day? My dad loves his vintage hot rods, and what’s not to love about a suped up 1937 Ford Cabriolet Coupe with flames down the sides? That was my “horse and carriage” to the aisle. I am sort of a daddy’s girl and that moment sitting there waiting to drive up with my dad, we had a heart to heart that was priceless. He walked me down the aisle to “Every Little Thing She Does (Is Magic)” by The Police and when we pulled up everyone started cheering. I mean standing ovation and screaming! Then I saw my groom, it was just incredible, it moved my core.

What else would you like to share about your big day? Our wedding had a classic vintage theme with bright colors and a crystal chandelier at the reception site. Just one for impact, not too much. I think you can make the statement you want and set the mood within your budget by reasoning “less is more” because really, it is!

Ceremony and Reception Site: David Girard Vineyards

Photographer: Sarah Maren Photography

Cake:  Divine Desserts

Flowers: Olivia Rose

Favors: Antique brass bells

Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal from The Bridal Box

Bridesmaid Dresses:Dessy from The Bridal Box

Hair:  Christina Hamilton (Bridesmaid)

Makeup:  Annie Limmond (Bridesmaid)

Invitations: Carlson Craft, Papyrus

DJ/Entertainment:Gary McCallister

Honeymoon location: Dominican Republic

Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out?  My caterer, Bocca Catering… yummy!

First Dance Song: “By My Side” by Ben Harper

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now? Sit back and enjoy the ride! Everyone says “don’t stress” but of course you are going to. Just try to let others help that want to help, you aren’t Superwoman. And make sure you pick a theme for your wedding, it makes ALL your other decisions easier; if it doesn’t fit the theme, it goes.

 Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance? Not really, I loved it all!

Photos courtesy of Sarah Maren Photography.

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The Couple: Tom Lata & Bethany Perez

Wedding Date: October 10, 2009

Photography by Lisa Richmond Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  Tom is currently studying to become a nurse anesthetist at Samuel Merritt University and has been involved in health care in different functions for 18 years. While Bethany has remained a physical therapist at a major hospital in Sacramento for just over five years. We initially met at work and quickly became friends as we both shared many commonalities. We had our first date in May of 2007, progressing quickly as met each other’s respective extended families by July. On February 2nd, 2008, Bethany had a night of surprises waiting for her which started with a lovely dinner and a stay within a suite at the W hotel in San Francisco, planned by Tom. After dinner, they arrived at their room to hear Bethany’s favorite song permeating through the suite door. As Tom opened the door for Bethany votive candles illuminated the suite with a path of rose pedals leading in, awaiting Bethany’s arrival. He then handed her a ring and asked for her hand in marriage. To Bethany’s delight, Tom had advised her Dad of his plans and obtained his blessing previously. The very next morning, Tom’s parents aware of the plans, surprised them with a Champagne brunch to celebrate the special occasion!

What was the most amazing part of your day?  Tom said: Seeing my beautiful Bethany walk down the aisle with her Dad gazing at her. Bethany says: Those brief moments together between the ceremony and the photographs immediately after we were married. We were both glowing and grinning ear to ear with the excitement of our union. It was a very intimate moment…

What else would you like to share about your big day? We selected our wedding date because it was Bethany’s grandparents anniversary and the Birthday of her niece Tristan, our flower girl  . We feel fortunate that our families united together with our union.

Ceremony Site & Reception Venue:  Monte Verde Inn

Photographer:  Lisa Richmond Photography

Videographer:  Artistic Imagery

Cake:  Monte Verde Inn

Flowers:  O’Shays Flowers

Favors:  White chocolate dipped licorice made at home!

Wedding Dress:  Casablanca 1900 in Champagne purchased at Bella Donna Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses:  David’s Bridal

Hair & Makeup:  Denise Viertel at Article

Invitations:  Handmade

DJ/Entertainment:  SJ’s Disc Jockey

Honeymoon location:  Tokyo, Japan

Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out?  Weddingaccents.com for my ivory mantilla veil.

First Dance Song:  “Come away with me” by Nora Jones

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  Relax and enjoy this time together. The planning can be just as much fun as the wedding itself! Try not to get to focused on the details, after all this should be one of the happiest times in your life. Your wedding will come and go before you know it!

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance?  Honestly, no. We truly enjoyed both preparing for our special day and experiencing the big day with all our friends and family. We couldn’t have wished for more!

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The Couple:  Jesika Muller and Clay Pelley

Wedding Date:  October 3, 2009

Photography by Chuck Roberts Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved: Clay and I met through mutual friends in high school. I was 16 and he was 17. We developed a great relationship and friendship while having to grow up and go through our late teens and early 20’s together. We had set goals for ourselves before we could even think about marriage. After accomplishing all of our goals and 9 years into our relationship, he proposed at the same spot where we shared our first kiss. We are truly best friends and couldn’t image our lives without each other. We were blessed to become husband and wife just a few days short of our 12 year anniversary!

What was the most amazing part of your day? Walking down the aisle with my Dad was a very special moment for me, as I am Daddy’s little girl. But most of all was seeing my soon to be husband waiting for me to become his wife. It was an amazing feeling that I will never forget.

What else would you like to share about your big day? We had been planning our wedding for over a year, and to finally see it all come together was more than words could describe. Everything from the venue, flowers, decorations, linens, DJ, and the photographer were perfect. So many friends and family pitched in to lend a helping hand, and creative advice. Even though I was glad not to have to worry about what goes here, what goes there and what color this should be, I do miss it and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Ceremony and Reception Site:  Orchard Creek Lodge

Photographer: Chuck Roberts Photography

Videographer: We decided not to hire a videographer because our minister (who is part of the family) took video of the day. It turned out amazing. We are so lucky to have these special moments captured.

Cake: Divine Desserts

Flowers: Fleurs Du Jour

Favors:  DIY by Bride

Wedding Dress:  David’s Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses:  David’s Bridal

Hair:  Avalon Day Spa & Salon

Makeup:  Avalon Day Spa & Salon

Invitations:  Jon Millman

DJ/Entertainment:  Creative Memories Entertainment

Honeymoon location:  Kona, Hawaii

Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out?  Mimi & Co. They made our reception beyond gorgeous with their selection of linens and chair covers.

First Dance Song: “Can’t help falling in love”  by Elvis Presley

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  “Step back and take a moment to soak it all in.” That was the best advice any could have given me. You hear all the time that the day goes by so fast, as it does. I did just that and I am so glad that I did because that was the moment that I realized this was everything and more that I had been dreaming about since I was a little girl. It really was the perfect day.

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance? Nothing!

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Welcome back to another installment of Real Weddings Magazine’s Partner Profiles!

This week, we highlight the incomparable Sarah Maren Whitehead from Sarah Maren Photography. We’ve been fortunate to work with this amazingly talented woman and her team on several occasions, and she always makes it seem more like a day of fun, than a day of work and that, in and of itself, is a gift! 

And, congrats to Sarah and her wonderful husband Dustin on the arrival of their newest little one, Ben. He joins big sister Lauren in the Whitehead household!  The little guy arrived just last week! We cannot wait to see photos of little baby Ben!

Want to know more about Lauren and Ben’s mommy? Read on…

Sarah Maren Photography

Specialty:  Weddings and Portraits with style

When did you establish your business? Shot my first wedding at 18 in 1997, went full time in 2005.

What sets you apart from your competition?  I have REALLY cute hair… really… it’s taken almost 30 years to find the right hairstyle… and now I have! It makes me a better photographer!

Where do you find inspiration?  Everywhere! I actually find more inspiration from art forms other than photography. Having a degree in Art History, I’ve had to look at A LOT of art over the years and I find so much energy and inspiration from the art that is out there. I’m also deeply inspired by my couples and their own personal love stories. I’ve never had two that were exactly the same, which is why we’ve never photographed one couple like another. It’s different and beautiful in a new way every time.

When you opened shop, what was your promise to your customers?  To be there as a witness. That to me is the most important part of my job, to witness something so profound as two people merging their lives in front of their family and friends. The images we create with our clients become their memories, and that has always had a very profound effect on the way I photograph a wedding.

Do you have any hidden talents?  I LOVE to cook! My family are often guinea pigs, but hearing my three year old say, “Mama! You make the best dinners ever!” makes me feel like a good mom. :)

What color(s) gives you the most joy?  Pinks and purples are the colors I tend to personally gravitate toward… they just speak to me.

What song is the soundtrack to your business day (or at least to how you feel right now)?  “Don’t Stop Thinkin’ About Tomorrow” by Fleetwood Mac. Seriously, sometimes it is REALLY easy to get caught up on everything that is happening AT THIS SECOND, but tomorrow is another day and you have to keep focused on the good stuff, not the rubbish.

Cake, Cupcakes or Cookies?  Cupcakes for sure! I mean, I have a TATTOO of a cupcake on my foot for the love!

Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn or Twitter?  Facebook and Twitter. I have accounts for Myspace and Linkedin, I just never use them. I prefer the ease of FB and Twitter. :)

What is your favorite flower?  I love dahlias and gladiolas.

Do you regularly blog? What’s your blog site?  My website (sarahmaren.com) IS a blog! To me it makes more sense as a photographer to show my clients what we JUST shot instead of something we shot months or years ago. My photography evolves all the time, and I love having my clients participate in that evolution as it’s happening.

Where is your favorite place to travel?  My sister and I went to NYC for the first time last year for a shoot and I LOVED IT! I honestly miss a city I spent 3 nights in. But there is just something so magic about New York. I can’t wait to get back.

What’s your favorite local restaurant?  We adore Crush 29 in Roseville. Their mushroom risotto is something I have dreams about!

What’s your favorite local charity?  We are big supporters of the arts programs in our local schools. We do everything we can to support an ongoing art education for children. I mean, where would I be if I hadn’t had access to a camera and teachers who were excited about my drive to create images?

If you weren’t in the wedding industry, what would you be doing?  I would probably be a fine art photographer or teacher of some kind. When I was in college the whole goal I had for myself was to teach Intro to Art classes at Jr. College. I think it’s something I still might end up doing someday.

What three things are you most grateful for in life?  My wonderful, amazing and so handsome husband Dustin, our wonderful little family we have made, and the ability to do what I love EVERY SINGLE DAY!

If you were to plan your own wedding, or re-do your wedding, what element would be most important to you? Obviously, it would be the photography. We didn’t have the best experience with our wedding photographer and it totally changed the way I work a wedding, the product I deliver to my client and the experience I want them to have. I want our clients to feel like their friends Sarah and Dustin are coming to their wedding, not their photographers who don’t care about them.

What is the best advice you can give to brides and grooms getting married today?  Spend your money where it MATTERS! No one will have that favor you put on their plates in 10 years, but they will have that picture of you on your wedding day.

Anything else you’d like to share with Real Weddings Magazine’s brides?  Remember to HAVE FUN on your wedding day! Surround yourself with vendors you love, and really take your wedding in. I remember standing in the middle of our wedding and thinking WOW! We did this! This is our wedding. Make sure you have a moment where you can just take it all in!

Find out more about Sarah for yourself. Call her at 916-335-4358 or visit her Web site at sarahmaren.com. Also, check out her profile on Real Weddings Magazine!

And, be sure to check out her featured real weddings on our web site and in the most recent issue of Real Weddings Magazine!

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The Couple: Karen Peck and Raymond Vincent

 Wedding Date: August 15, 2009

Photography by Randy’s Fine Art Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  When we met, we each knew there was something special about the other. We both hoped and prayed that we would one day be together, but neither of us would reveal these hopes for some time. We met during a summer internship, become friends, and by the following February, Raymond could no longer hide his feelings. We discussed where we were both heading in life and it seemed like our lives were going in the same direction. Being faithful believers in God, we prayed about a future together. We came to the conclusion that God had brought us together for something special and began our relationship on February 18, 2007. Summer went and winter came. Then, one night, Raymond told me he wanted to take me somewhere special. As we drove, I knew we were heading to the rock quarry where we would go to study, talk and enjoy being outside. It was late, so we snuck in under the cover of the starry night. There, on top of a hill, on a bench, overlooking the city with stars like diamonds in the sky, Raymond got down on his knee and proposed with some diamonds of his own. I was overjoyed. I couldn’t believe it. We were engaged on December 12, 2007.

Two years later, our wedding was planned. We both knew we wanted a very traditional and reverent wedding. The ceremony was set to take place at our cathedral, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento. Father Wehr, a priest from St. Ignatius of Loyola in Sacramento, presided over the ceremony. Most of the Cathedral choir was present for the mass, singing the ancient Gregorian Chant and Renaissance Polyphonic masterpieces that Raymond had chosen, coinciding with our love for music and art. The ceremony went perfectly and we are so glad we had both a photographer and videographers there to capture every moment of it.

My wedding dress was simple, but elegant. The moment I stepped into the gown, I knew it was the one, as did my mom, my sisters and my best friend. The cameo I wore around my neck was something both borrowed and old. It was passed down on my father’s side and given to me by my aunt to wear on my wedding day. It was an honor to wear it.

The reception was held in our friend’s backyard. Their home is an old town grange and the yard slopes down into a bowl overshadowed with trees. The staircase leading down provided a grand entrance to the wedding party. Upon arriving to the reception, the wedding party stood as the guests came one by one to congratulate our marriage.

Reception Venue:  Friends Home – an old town grange, the backyard was a grassy bowl, with trees and a staircase leading down.

Photographer:  Randy Miramontez from Randy’s Fine Art Photography

Catering:  Sharon Reed, friend of the bride

Cake:  A two-tier, red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and matching cupcakes arranged as floral bouquets by Shauna Snow, cousin of the groom.

Flowers:  Mom’s Wholesale Florist

Favors:  Rexcraft Spiral Notepads with Bride and Groom’s name and wedding date.

Wedding Dress:  David’s Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses:  David’s Bridal

Hair: Denise Ruiz, friend of the Bride

Makeup:  Bride

Invitations:  Rexcraft – Emblem Invitation

DJ/Entertainment:  Chris Quandt and Nate Henderson, friends of the bride

Honeymoon location:  Kauai, Hawaii

First Dance Song:  We Will Dance by Steven Curtis Chapman

Father and Daughter Dance:  Always Be Your Baby by Natalie Grant

Mother and Son Dance:  Because You Loved Me by Diane Warren

Advice for future brides and grooms:  Delegation is key. Choose people you trust, talk out some ideas, and let them run the show. I am somewhat of a control freak, but I wanted to enjoy my wedding and I knew if I tried to micromanage every detail I would burn out or freak out on my big day. So I chose people I trusted and gave them the freedom to run the show. Just make sure they know if there is something you really want to happen. Your friends are there for you, let them help make your day extra special.

To find out more about Randy’s Fine Art Photography, visit Randy’s Fine Art Photography online.

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