Zaha & Magdy | Cupertino Backyard Wedding
With each knock on the door, greetings of salam resonated through the home. Each family entered the house and stepped through to the backyard, transformed by beautiful floral arrangements, hand crafted by the bride's mother. The warmth of the occasion blended seamlessly with the late afternoon sunshine that lit the space.
Magdy entered the backyard, cheerful as he engaged the other men in conversation. Meanwhile, Zaha and the other girls ran around upstairs, getting ready for the ceremony. Zaha looked beautiful and held an understated elegance about her even amidst the frenzy.
Zaha and Magdy were joined in marriage before an intimate gathering of friends and family. Their small ceremony in California was just a prelude to the rest of the celebrations that will continue with the full wedding in Egypt. I only wish I could be in there for the rest of it too! But I am so thankful to have been a witness to this beautiful ceremony.
There were so many beautiful little vignettes all around the backyard. Zaha's mother is quite the gardener, with a wonderful artistic eye!
They had very traditional wedding favors: dried dates, almonds, and unrefined sugar.
Zaha's mother brings Magdy into the backyard and shows him the layout for the ceremony.
I love capturing men looking dapper in candid moments.
Zaha prepares upstairs.
The nikah ceremony is the part of an Islamic wedding where the marriage contract is set out. Both Magdy and Zaha are joined by male witnesses to the contract, as the imam leads in a sermon. Zaha even had one more witness not shown in this photo, but you'll see later...
The imam speaks of Allah and what is asked of men and women.
Zaha's cousin and childhood friend look on.
Magdy and Zaha repeat their consent in Arabic and English three times each.
They exchange the rings
And the marriage license is signed, next to a beautiful copy of the Qur'an.
The witness I previously alluded to! Zaha's father was unable to attend the nikah ceremony, as he was already in Egypt. But Zaha's cousins helped out by skyping him in as a surprise!
He watched the whole thing, and had to keep admonishing Magdy for taking off his floral necklace after the ceremony.
As soon as the ceremony was completed, the sun went down, and the celebrations were just beginning. Not only was this a special occasion, but it fell during the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. It's tradition to break the fast with a date, as shown on the right, and prayer.
The food was absolutely amazing, a combination of homemade Egyptian and Pakistani food. And these were only some of the appetizers. There was so much wonderful food for dinner and dessert too.
Zaha and Magdy steal away for some photos just after sunset. I love the stringed lights she put up all around the yard.
And at the end of the night, a variety of desserts and a delicious slice of cake.
Congratulations, Zaha & Magdy! Wishing you all the best in Egypt and beyond.
Kristen & Matt’s Wedding | West Hartford, Connecticut
He stood in the reception hall surrounded by his friends and family and spoke of his new wife, his new marriage. He referenced wedding planning, often a notoriously stressful experience. But he smiled his passionate smile and declared, If wedding planning is a glimpse into the kind of marriage we'll have, I'm going to love it.
Matt and Kristen met in college at Duke, where they lived in the same dorm and were both involved in the same Christian organization. They were friends, but they didn't quite start dating then. Matt was moving across the country for grad school at Stanford, so they agreed to put it off. Of course, they then found themselves 3,000 miles apart and decided to start dating anyway.
True to Matt's words, all of the little details and elaborate excel spreadsheets that they labored over came together in a wonderful celebration of friends, family, and love. Kristen and Matt are simply adorable in their open affection for one another. They have been united in their love for each other and their love for God, and they will doubtlessly grow together in both.
I absolutely love Kristen's engagement ring: sapphire, diamonds, and gold, passed down from Matt's grandmother. And I love the band they had custom designed by Topper Fine Jewelers to pair with it too.
I began my day with the very good looking group of men getting ready at the hotel.
Such piercing blue eyes!
Then I photographed Kristen at her childhood home in West Hartford.
Gorgeous.
The ceremony was held at the very New England-style Covenant Congregational Church of West Hartford.
The programs were printed by Cricket Press with all the ribbons hand tied by Kristen and her helpers.
Kristen is absolutely glowing, walking down the aisle with her dad
Matt and Kristen sat down in the front pew for a special part of the ceremony as their friend perform a liturgical dance.
Beautiful detailing on their cake by Creative Cakes by Donna.
Kristen's grandmother was inspired by one of my photos from their engagement shoot and painted the beautiful painting of them on the left.
I love the soft flow of movement in her dress. They really had a beautiful first dance.
Kristen's sister Laura delivered a funny, moving, and emotional toast.
Newlyweds Addison and Julie-- I have to give Julie a huge shoutout, because she helped to coordinate everyone for all of the different group formals. I wish I could bring her with me to every wedding!
Birdseed grand exit!
Vendors:
Church: Covenant Congregational Church, West Hartford, Connecticut
Reception Venue: Birch Meadow Banquet Facility, Bloomfield Connecticut
Florist: Sharon Elizabeth's
Cake: Creative Cakes by Donna
Jeweler: Topper Fine Jewelers
Programs: Cricket Press
Salon: Acure Eco Salon
DJ: Dave Giani
Photographer: Anna Wu Photography
Audrey & Aaron | Grace Cathedral | San Francisco Wedding Photographer
He is her rock. He has a commanding presence, matched with the kindest eyes. She's the spontaneous, rambunctious, playful one. They knew within four months of dating that they wanted to get married, but their families insisted they were too young, and so they've put it off for six years, keeping their relationship going across the oceans, spanning the US, Japan, Philippines, England, now Germany, and soon Afghanistan.
Aaron is in the Army, stationed in Germany now, but deploying deployed to Afghanistan in a couple months. He and Audrey have plans for a full wedding when he gets back from his tour in Afghanistan, but really, they knew that this was the time. Aaron flew back to California from Germany for just three days, with one goal in mind: marry his girl. And with that, they eloped in San Francisco.
We met in front of the iconic Grace Cathedral on a gray day. It was overcast and chilly-- the kind of weather that often envelops San Francisco but shocks tourists dreaming of Southern California sunshine and beaches. These two were unfazed by the cold, especially Audrey in her stunning vintage lace dress and those gorgeous peep-toe pumps.
Starting off strong in the middle of those beautiful steps.
In front of the famed Ghiberti Gates of Paradise, an exact replica of the Duomo doors in Florence.
Gorgeous!
Already said it once, but I love her shoes. And Aaron's are shiny enough to see yourself in them.
There are no words.
Love this! There was a meeting going on in the room right next to where they're standing. But they went ahead and pulled this off anyway.
Love the natural vignetting of this one.
Congratulations to you both! I wish you only the best in the year to come.
Junghwa & Brandon | Cincinnati Wedding Photographer
There was no way around it. She was becoming anxious. They were running behind, and all the logistics of pushing back her hair appointment, changing locations, and moving people around were starting to overwhelm her. Junghwa made it through her makeup session by sneaking in phone calls between brushstrokes, and then she rushed off to the salon.
He met her there, the fair-headed boy with a super sweet smile. Brandon stepped into the buzzing salon to bring Junghwa her dress and all her sparkling accessories. They shared only a momentary exchange before she had to rush off again to get changed. It was as if the world was spinning, and they could only spin so fast to keep up.
It wasn't until the car ride that all that spinning stopped. Or rather, the world was still spinning, but it was they who were still. In that brief trip from the hair salon to the church, Junghwa found her center of gravity again. With his warm, gentle presence and his boyish charm, Brandon soothed away the weight of her anticipation. By the time they arrived at the church, she was a completely different person. Calm. Whole. At peace. Ready to walk down the aisle with the man she loved.
Junghwa & Brandon, thank you so much for inviting me back to Ohio to be a part of your beautiful wedding day. I can still feel the love from your friends and family surrounding everything and everyone. And of course, I wish you all the very best as you continue to center each other in your new life together.
Multitasking as Jean Folchi does her airbrushing magic.
Junghwa's aunts and mom help her get dressed downstairs in the salon...
...as the men sit around waiting upstairs.
This conscientious videographer (the boyfriend of one of the bridesmaids) could be seen faithfully recording everything throughout the entire day.
My really awesome second shooter Elliot captured the guys getting themselves together. It was about an hour into the shoot that Brandon recognized Elliot from junior high. Later, I recognized Brandon's sister Meredith from junior high as well. Small world-- and it all ties back to Sycamore Junior High!
Junghwa and Brandon are both musicians-- Junghwa the pianist, and Brandon the conductor. It only made sense that music would figure largely in their wedding too. Guests could be heard commenting throughout the rest of the day how beautiful it was.
A quick prayer before the ceremony.
The guests fill the seats at St. Saviour Church.
Mom and dad give Brandon a final go-over.
The wedding was officiated by Father Bernie McAniff, S.J. who traveled to be there.
After a nice midday break. The guests headed over to Brandon's family's home for the wonderful backyard reception. The cake looks divine!
A nice detail from the bride's parents. Junghwa laughed when she saw it, explaining something about them and pandas.
Junghwa changed into her second outfit for the reception-- a beautiful Korean gown.
What a good looking family! Brandon looking strapping on the left, and his cousin Chris looking, well, like he belongs in a magazine, on the right.
Brandon's father enveloped in conversation with Bethany, another girl I knew from high school.
Jason gave a hilarious toast-- short and sweet.
The maid of honor spoke first in Korean and then translated to English. While she was speaking in Korean, she had a momentary lapse, and she paused mid-sentence, trying to remember what to say. Someone from the audience generously offered, "Brandon?" as she broke out laughing, saying, "I know his name is Brandon!"
The bride's mother and aunt, and Brandon's mother looking on.
A great sequence captured by Elliot: the funniest bouquet toss I've ever seen. Notice how the bouquet goes in a direct path, right to the bridesmaid. Now, notice how Junghwa is turned around looking straight at the bridesmaid. The other girls never even had a chance!
Junghwa is getting a kick out of this. They even practiced the toss beforehand. Hahaha.
Their very sweet first dance, to Claire de Lune. Elliot's angle from above.
And my angle. Like little wings taking flight.
Vendors:
Makeup: Jean Folchi
Hair: Le Salon Hair Salon, Montgomery, Ohio
Wedding Coordinator: Jan Ortman
Ceremony Venue: St. Saviour Parish, Cincinnati, Ohio
Celebrant: Father Bernie McAniff, S.J.
Musicians: Friends of the bride and groom
Reception Venue: Private home, Blue Ash, Ohio
Catering: Garnish Catering, Blue Ash, Ohio
Photographer: Anna Wu Photography, with thanks to my second shooter, Elliot Kim.
Candace & Tony’s Castro Valley Shoot | San Francisco Wedding Photographer
It was Friday morning, and everything had been planned for our shoot on Sunday. We would meet in San Francisco at Candace & Tony's place with our hair & makeup artist we had lined up and a floral designer who would meet us there. Just one problem-- rain.
What started as a 30% chance for precipitation had billowed into 90% all day Sunday. So luckily, within a couple of hours, we managed to move the whole shoot a day earlier to a new location for convenience: Lake Chabot in Castro Valley. We had a new hair & makeup artist Penney Do, Courtney, the floral designer, dropped off the bouquets in the morning, and all was set.
We created two looks with three different floral designs for our shoot. Candace had her wedding dress, as well as a shorter cocktail dress, both of which were absolutely stunning.
The florals were provided by Courtney Marie Floral. She drove them all the way up from Santa Cruz to Oakland that morning!
The great thing about the rainy season here is that rainy days and sunny days are often mixed in as if they've been shuffled up in a random alternating pattern. Sandwiched between two absolutely dreadful days are sometimes beautiful days, perfect for photos. After it rains, nature turns an amazingly bright green, as if the saturation bar has been rigged in real-life Photoshop. And a big cloudy sky is nature's giant softbox, providing flawless shadowless lighting. And every so often, the clouds part open for a peak of sunshine that warms the entire place.
Candace and Tony are such a cute couple-- warm kind, and loving. They got married recently, and you can tell they'll glow with happiness together for a long, long time. They're a couple that loves an adventure in each other's company, and I think more than anything, they love to laugh together. Not a little smirk, like an 'oh, haha' kind of chuckle. No-- it's a wide-open mouth, enthusiastic, creases-in-your-eyes kind of laugh.
Photographer: Anna Wu Photography
Assistant: Mona Quinlan
Floral Design: Courtney Marie Floral
Hair & Makeup: Penney Do
Location: Lake Chabot, Castro Valley, CA
Best of 2009: Weddings & Couples
You wouldn't know it now, but I wasn't really one of those little girls who spent her time dreaming of her wedding day. My first wedding experience was in high school, when I was hired to play violin in a string quartet. All I can remember from that episode is the impossibly long rendition of Pachelbel's Canon we played. It's not that I didn't like weddings, but I didn't quite understand what they were all about.
Of course, years later, I am now a wedding photographer subscribed to no less than 25 wedding-related blogs. I love the gorgeous dresses, the flowers, the fancy cake, the beautiful place settings, and the millions of other thoughtful details that can go into a wedding. While I adore all of these things and I will always love photographing the pretty elements of a wedding, it's not any of those things that drive me to this work. To understand what a wedding is all about, you can strip away all the pomp and circumstance, and you'll still be left with the core. It's a love story-- two people who have found each other in this world and are vowing to love each other for eternity. I could photograph that forever and it still wouldn't grow old.
So here it is-- favorite moments from some fabulous love stories of 2009. Weddings, engagements, and even some just-because couple shoots. Thank you to all the fantastic couples for sharing your love with me.
Sierra & Steve's post-wedding shoot at the Emeryville Marina, California
Erica & Robert's engagement at the Kunde Family Estate in Kenwood, California
Erica & Robert's wedding in Santa Rosa & Kenwood, California
Sara & Phat's wedding in Geyserville, California
Pingping & David's wedding at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, California
Mona & Jiongyi's just-because session at Union Square, San Francisco, California
Cami & Eric's just-because session at Lake Merritt, Oakland, California
Maria & Ryan's just-because session on the UC Berkeley campus, California
Pingping & David’s Wedding | San Francisco Wedding Photographer
The atrium of San Francisco's Hyatt Regency unveils itself in a magnificent, sparkling display. It's an expansive space, opening up like a great courtyard surrounded by eighteen floors of suites. Around the holiday season, strands of white Christmas lights are suspended from hundreds of feet in the air, and a great Christmas tree sits by the grand piano. But there is absolutely no doubt, the true star of the atrium can be found right in the middle: the Eclipse. It's a giant twisting metallic sphere, a perfect exercise in fluidity and structure, a blend of mathematical calculations and organic form, and--most importantly-- it's why she chose this place for her wedding day.
Pingping is undoubtedly a smart woman. She's got the savvy and the practicality to plan a whole wedding from beginning to end, overseeing every last detail. But with David, her warmth and sincerity are brought to the fore, outshining Ph.D.s or pragmatism. David is the charmer, ready and willing to address any crowd. And when the topic is the love of his life, he beams. They complement one another perfectly. It's wonderful to watch this beautiful dance as they yield to one another, making sure they've got each other's backs.
We start with the gorgeous venue at the San Francisco Hyatt.
These are some of the many thoughtful details that went into the wedding. I absolutely love the applique on Pingping's dress.
Beautiful dress with a simple silhouette and again, the applique! A wonderful detail.
The next few are from my wonderful second shooter Vay, who captured David's preparations while the girls prepared floral arrangements downstairs.
David couldn't be more ready for this moment in his life, while the ringbearer gets a bit of coaching in the back.
The bridesmaids somehow coaxed out a smile from our ringbearer-- probably the only one we saw from him all night!
She looks like she's completely ready to be the next bride! And don't worry, that's sparkling cider in that glass.
The couple had apparently been hiding some serious skills from everyone. They hesitantly approached the dance floor, David joking about needing another drink before he could dance. But as soon as the music started, jaws hit the ground. Pingping was fiery and sensational; not even her bridesmaids had seen it coming!
And then, a quiet moment alone after the reception.
Pingping & David, thank you so much for inviting me to capture your wedding. I hope you've both enjoyed your time in Hawaii! I wish you nothing but the best as you embark on this next part of your beautiful life together.
Finally some behind-the-scenes shots captured by Vay. So this is what the back of my head looks like!
Adorable.
Friends and family can view the whole gallery at http://gallery.annawu.com/Weddings/Pingping-David.
Sara & Phat
What a gorgeous day in wine country! My friend Shu-Jon Mao asked me to be a second shooter at Sara & Phat's wedding. While hanging out with the wedding party, I discovered some interesting ties, like the groom went to Lincoln elementary when he was little, and the bride and a bunch of her bridesmaids were members of Teach for America. It's a small world!
Anyway, I'm kicking this one off with the details montage.
I am in love with the cupcakes cake, by the way.
Sara and Phat opened their wedding festivities with a traditional tea ceremony in the afternoon. Then we grabbed some portraits with Sara still in her red dress.
Changing to the white dress. Double-stick tape does wonders!
Beautiful!
I love men in suits! Standing around waiting for portrait time.
Wow. Sara's absolutely glowing as dad walks her down the aisle.
Hilarity during the ceremony!
Babies!
Stealing away for some magic hour photos in the vineyard-- magic hour is the golden glow that happens right before sunset.
Thank you to Sara & Phat for letting me be a part of your beautiful day. And thanks to Shu-Jon for inviting me as your second shooter! Check out his photography at shu-tterbug.com.
Erica & Robert’s Wedding
Erica and Robert were married on a Saturday in late August in gorgeous wine country around Santa Rosa, California. You might remember Erica & Robert's engagement session when we got to roam around the entire property at Kunde Estate. We had such a great time, I knew this wedding would be a pleasure to shoot. Sure enough, it was simply beautiful!
We started in the morning with preparations at Erica's sister's beautiful house. I loved peeking in on hair and makeup as they occurred simultaneously in the two different rooms. Check the vendor list at the bottom of the post for all the info on all the different elements that went into this wedding.
I definitely took a risk shooting against the super sunny windows, but I actually love how the tiers of the dress were brought out by the backlighting.
I was happy to finally receive my Panasonic LX3 the week before the wedding. I had ordered it back in April, but the stores were out of stock until now. The LX3 looks very unassuming, a little black point-and-shoot with old school stylings, but it's known amongst professional photographers for its amazing macro capabilities: super sharp images that bring out incredible details in even the smallest things. Just look at the water droplets on Erica's bouquet! And scroll all the way down to see plenty more detail shots from this wedding. Love it.
A funny moment as Erica scrambles to get her garter on and get out the door!
Mom and sister lace up the corseted dress.
Just a moment of calm in the limo before stepping out into the church to get married!
Beautiful Catholic ceremony with readings by friends.
The priest confers his blessings on the couple.
Married! Love the grin on her face!
Still beaming, the newlyweds retreat out the side door to leave the church and head for the vineyards.
Limo arrives at the Kunde Family Estate.
Erica's daughter Kristiana looks like she walked straight out of a magazine.
Greeted by the Mariachi band!
Someone had the great forethought to proivde parasols to help keep the guests beautiful in the 100+ degree weather.
Junior bridesmade trying to stay cool!
Erica reacts to Robert's beautiful toast.
First dance. I can tell these two have been practicing! I love how the camera caught just a bit of movement in Erica's dress.
Money Dance! This is a pretty awesome wedding tradition. Guests get to pin money on the bride and groom and do a little dance with them.
Plenty of fun ensues. Robert in the background looks like he's having a good time with his pant leg hitched up with all th