Marissa & Josh's Mexican-American / Los Angeles-Lovin’ / Joint-Birthday Wedding!
♥︎♥︎ This wedding is after my own heart ♥︎♥︎
Marissa is a Mexican-American who grew up in Tijuana, Mexico (and now lives in Los Angeles). Her mother, father, & extended family often make the commute north and cross the US-Mexican border, and this celebration was no exception. Marissa’s birthday is on the 15th of July, and Josh’s birthday is on the 17th of July, so why not get married on the 14th and combine all the celebrating to make one perfect party? (My birthday aligned with these dates, on the 16th, which has got to activate some kind of cosmic power-party mode, right?).
Instead of one cake, they had two, and blew out their candles at midnight while holding hands, as their family and friends wore party hats and sang Feliz Cumpleaños (heart explosion -here-). AND OF COURSE there was a piñata. This was the quintessential Los Angeles wedding, which meant getting married at the Heritage Square Museum (a living history museum that explores the settlement and development of Southern California) beside a Queen Anne style Victorian home from a Los Angeles of yesteryear, and having the reception at Marissa’s sister’s artist studio alongside the LA River. Marissa grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, but has a deep affinity for LA history, which only leaves me with one question… Marissa & Josh, will you marry me?
“Stellar photographer + person
Let's be real, having your wedding photos taken is awkward AF. Combine that stress with wanting to find a photographer who "gets" you and your vision. Gina delivered on all accounts and then some!! Before the wedding, Gina was professional, communicative and offered wonderful suggestions for scheduling. She frontloaded the formal portraits so we had more time to enjoy ourselves and our guests during the event. She immediately made us feel at ease and it showed in how natural our portraits looked. After we received our photos I couldn't stop staring at them! The colors, the faces, the details she captured just brought me so much joy. Weddings go by so quick but having these beautiful photos just takes me back to that day. Please do yourself a favor and hire her.” — Marissa & Josh
I shot a couple of their couples portraits using a Holga toy lens, since I knew Marissa & Josh would appreciate that aesthetic!
Their rings were inside these teeny-tiny precious packages, and they opened each of them up during the ceremony before they exchanged rings! They each fit in the palm of your hand, gah!
Beautiful familia!
That’s right! She has a Harry Potter lightning bolt drawn on her forehead, what else?
They had Mexican Alebrijes as party favors for their guests. Each piece is finely carved and hand painted. Made of Copal female wood, Oaxacan wood carvings are representations of the Zapotec cosmogony and its calendar and sacred animals.
Right after the ceremony is always one of my favorite times. I always suggest to my couples to take as many formal portraits before the ceremony, so you relish in the live-wire vibes that happen post-ceremony. As your photographer, it’s my job to safeguard your wedding-day experience and keep you in the moment. The moment is where all the magic lives.
We took the second part of couples portraits as the sun set at the reception site, which was located at Marissa’s sister’s artist studio in Frogtown, alongside the L.A. River. I spend a lot of time shooting art and culture events on the L.A. River, so it was really great for me to loop this special place into some wedding portraits.
The reception decorations were lovingly sourced, handmade, and set-up by Marissa and her talented family and friends. It was truly unreal, and my hungry eyes couldn’t get enough.
Fresh, warm tortillas made onsite, yummmmmm!
Humor me, and get the full effect by listening to the “Happy Birthday” song in Spanish, ’cause it might flesh out the memory and give you an idea of the total joy I felt when documenting this part of the night.
And good night! Remember, no matter what happens, nobody can ever take away your birthday! Thank you for having me Marissa & Josh!
♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎
Venue: Ceremony, Heritage Square Museum / @heritagesquaremuseum & Reception, Sister’s Artist Studio alongside the L.A. River
Dress: Needle and Thread London / @needleandthreadlondon
Dress Alterations: Williamsburg Seamster / @williamsburgseamster
Hair: Wendy Luna Hair / @wendylunahair
Suit: Indo Chino / @indochino