Megan & Jim, January 3, 2009, Long Beach, CA

Good Evening Everyone! I just got in from our first wedding of 2009 with Megan and Jim along with nearly 230 of their closest friends & family.

Megan and Jim’s wedding day started off in downtown Long Beach at The Renaissance Hotel where each of them had their own suites as they put on their final touches.  Jim had picked up some incredible cravats in London for his Brooks Brothers Tuxedo and the men were dressed to the nines in Friar Tux’s sharpest threads too.  Jim had a tough decision (well kinda…) of deciding on using standard cuff links or some killer cuff links that he picked up from Ireland.  Hmmm… the decisions!

When I headed up to Megan’s suite, I finally had the time to really check out her wedding gown.  It’s a one-of-a-kind wedding gown that is 105 years old!  Awesome!  Megan looked radiant as if she just stepped out of a movie from the silver screen era & her counterparts had some good laughs playing; smell no, hear no, speak no, see no evil.

After everyone was ready, Megan and Jim had a private moment together with their first glance at each other prior to their wedding.  This gave them both an opportunity to take in their day and share it with each other before everything really got going.

Their ceremony was held at the Bayshore Church in Long Beach where every pew was jam packed with people from all around – except for the entire pew that Jill at Bayshore Church gave Jeff from Prism Eye Productions and I the perfect spot to capture the wedding party coming down the aisle.

After the ceremony we did some traditional and fun portraits with the family & bridal party and then it was time to get silly.  Everyone left Bayshore Church & headed to downtown Long Beach in front of The Madison Restaurant so we could do some portraits with the downtown holiday lights in the background and another little secret spot that I like to go to.

Megan & Jim’s reception was held at The Madison Restaurant where Christina and her staff ensured that everyone’s desires were met.  The Madison was wall to wall guests AND a small jazz/big band/swing band too!  It was completely hopping all night long.

I must say though, today would not have been possible if it weren’t for the incredible talent of our partner; Linda from A Wedding Store – where she orchestrated a completely flawless day from start to finish.  If you ever want to take a load off your shoulders and have your wedding be perfect, you need to call Linda ASAP.

Here is a small sample of what I captured through my lens today & I hope you enjoy it as much as I did capturing their wedding day.  Cheers!