Anna Wu Photography » wedding

Best of 2011: Weddings

Anna — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:55:40 +0000

I know I know, it’s almost February, and I am still back in 2011, recapping weddings. Please forgive me. I thought about letting this post slide by, but I simply couldn’t let it go. 2011 was filled to the brim with such wonderful couples, unique venues all across the country, the most touching moments, and above all, love, love, love.

Below is a selection of just a few of the amazing moments from the past year. The majority of these are photojournalistic captures of genuine emotion. The laughter! The tears! The hugs! I chose these photographs because they are the types of images that remind me what an incredible honor and privilege it is to be able to do this for a living.

My sincerest thanks to every one of my 2011 couples and to their friends and family who invited me to be there on such a special day of your lives. I hope you enjoy! Click on any image to view the full wedding post.

Pei-Hua & Tony | San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photography

Anna — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:24:26 +0000

Pei-Hua and Tony first met when they were they first joined AOL and were sent to training in Virginia. Six weeks of work training led to a cross-country long distance relationship, and a couple years later, Tony joined Pei-Hua in California to move into the next stage of their lives together. It was a brisk December day when Pei-Hua and Tony were officially wed at San Francisco’s City Hall. Some of their family members had flown in from Taiwan for the occasion, and Pei-Hua was radiant in her beautiful gown, looking just as elegant as the space.

San Francisco’s City Hall is beyond amazing. It’s such a beautiful building with plenty of natural light for photographs, and it’s simply the perfect setting for a civil ceremony.

Friends and family gather around as they wait their turn for their ceremony.

Laughter and tears!

It was Pei-Hua’s idea to finish off the day with some jumping photos. I love how this turned her dress into a giant poofball!

Congratulations Pei-Hua and Tony! Now that I’ve fallen in love with San Francisco City Hall, I can’t wait to shoot more weddings there!

Wedding Vendors:

Hair & Makeup: Jessie Weng
Dress: Mori Lee
Shoes: J.Renee
Shrug: Light in the Box

Nina & Fernando | Windsor, California Wedding Photography

Anna — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:47:20 +0000

They are high school sweethearts, best friends, and partners for life. With Nina’s brilliant smile and Fernando’s kind heart, they brighten every room they enter. Nina and Fernando were wed in December in a beautiful celebration with summery sunlight, beautiful autumn leaves, and a sparkling winter wonderland all rolled into one.

A great mother daughter moment

The beautiful lazo encircles the couple– a Mexican wedding tradition.

Looking over the shoulders of the Mariachi band.

Nina and her father, and on the right, Fernando and his father.

After the ceremony, we went to the Windsor Golf Club for some more portraits of the bride and groom.

I was in love with these trees!

And then it was time for the reception at the Mary Agatha Furth Center.

I love seeing my couples’ engagement photos used at the reception!

The toasts were beautiful. Family is so important to Nina and Fernando, and it really showed throughout the day.

I love this moment from the end of the money dance! For those who are wondering about all that money stuck to the couple, it’s a Mexican tradition to do a “money dance’ where guests can take turns coming up and pinning money to the bride or the groom in exchange for a dance with them.

And now for the 12 piece Banda! I’ve seen bands play at weddings, but never a 17-piece band with the full stage and production equipment set up! It was one of the many highlights of the night.

…And they danced the night away!

Congratulations Nina & Fernando!

Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony: Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Windsor, California
Reception: Mary Agatha Furth Center, Windsor, California
Hair: Ivonne Zapata
Florist: Angelica DeMaderios
Catering: Rosales Catering, Santa Rosa, CA
Dress: Wine Country Bride
Mariachi Band: Mariachi Jalisco
17-Piece Band: Banda Troyana, San Jose, CA
Videography: Tamayo’s Video
Coordinator: Carmen Callinan, aunt of the bride
Cake: Alicia Quatrocchi
Chair Rentals: 1000 Fine Linens, Fremont, CA
Security: V&G Services, Santa Rosa, CA

Evelia & Joseph’s Wedding Album

Anna — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:15:46 +0000

Even in a digital age– perhaps especially in a digital age– it is still so important to have printed photographs. I absolutely love creating heirloom wedding albums for my couples. Below are just a few sample spreads from Evy & Joe‘s wedding album, which they created as a beautiful gift for Joe’s grandmother.

Use the related links below to view some of the other wedding albums we’ve created in the past.

Kristen & Ryan | Kate & Mike | Wedding Albums

Anna — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:53:04 +0000

I am in love with these wedding albums. It’s been such a great pleasure to create these books for my couples this year. Every single one is so precious and filled with beautiful memories. I just wanted to share two of them with you today:

First, Kristen & Ryan’s super thick 80-page wedding album. I love how substantial this book is! It’s a 10×10″ album bound in white padded leather– a true heirloom that they’ll treasure for generations.

These albums are produced by KISS wedding books, which I absolutely love. Their construction is impeccable and albums ship in just a couple weeks. Each album also comes with its own cute cloth bag.

Here are a couple sample pages from the inside of Kristen & Ryan’s album:

The microfold down the middle is so tiny that it allows for photographs to lie across the spread seamlessly.

Next, Kate & Michael’s wedding album. This one is also a 10×10″ book but with fewer pages. Kate chose a blue leather cover that went perfectly with her wedding colors.

I love a clean, modern design that doesn’t get in the way of the photographs.

Here’s a sample spread from the ceremony– it tells the story from beginning to end.

One of my personal favorites:

And a classic final spread:

The albums are lined with black linen end pages.

Finally, one more look at the padded leather cover and the thick storybook pages.

I absolutely love creating these custom wedding albums. They are a perfect way to retell your wedding story. I am looking forward to many more books to come!

Catherine & Joe | Fort Mason | San Francisco Wedding Photography

Anna — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:53:11 +0000

You can see it in the way their eyes sometimes lock– they’ve found their sense of home in one another. Catherine and Joe first met when they worked together at the same accounting firm, and it took years of friendship and dating before Joe– never the planner– planned a romantic beach getaway and proposed.

On a beautiful day at Fort Mason in San Francisco, Catherine and Joe were married, surrounded by plenty of friends, family, laughter, and even a few happy tears.

This flowy, understated Priscilla of Boston gown fit Catherine perfectly.

Gorgeous and hilarious! The bridesmaids were oh so elegant in their strapless floor length dresses also from Priscilla of Boston.

Beautiful mother and daughter

Meanwhile, in the man cave… these were shot by my second shooter Kirsten.

Catherine & Joe opted to do a “first look,” seeing each other for the first time before the ceremony. It allowed us plenty of time to create these beautiful portraits.

Image on the left by Kirsten

Image on the right by Kirsten

I love the glow of the late afternoon sun– magic hour.

Image on the right by Kirsten

Sisters embrace

Reception in a frame!

The wedding party really enjoyed the same day slideshow!

Catching the couple for a moment in the dance party.

And one last frame, shot by Kirsten.

Congratulations, Catherine & Joe!

Wedding Vendors:

Venue: Officer’s Club, Fort Mason, San Francisco CA
Hair: Hair by Dante, San Francsico
Makeup: Red Door Spa, San Francisco
Florist: Chelsea Bowman
Catering: Piazza Market
Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Priscilla of Boston
DJ/Musicians: Peter Haley
Wedding Cake: Jenefer Chin (friend of couple)
Photographer: Anna Wu Photography, assisted by Kirsten Tamme

Published | Ragini & Brandon on Wedding Nouveau

Anna — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:29:11 +0000

I am so excited that Wedding Nouveau has chosen to feature my work again! I just recently had Nami & Jeffrey’s wedding featured in their magazine, and now Ragini & Brandon’s wedding is featured on their blog.

Wedding Nouveau is a wonderful site that focuses on multicultural weddings. I am so impressed by the care and the time they take to really ask couples about the thought that went into their wedding days. If you take the time to read through the feature on Ragini & Brandon’s wedding, you’ll see just how much intention went into every bit of their day. Congrats to Ragini & Brandon on your beautiful wedding, and much love to Fri and Brittany at Wedding Nouveau for featuring it! I’m really happy to be part of something I can really stand behind.

Oh, and when you get there, scroll down to the bottom to view Ragini & Brandon’s highlight film by our sister company Seaglass Cinema too!

View Ragini & Brandon’s interfaith Jewish-Hindu-Christian wedding at Wedding Nouveau.

Published! | Wedding Nouveau Magazine

Anna — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:17:27 +0000

I am so incredibly honored to be published in the fall issue of Wedding Nouveau magazine. This is the first time my work has been featured in a print publication! I’ve said it before, but there is just something very special about being able to see my photographs on paper and hold them in my hands. It’s even better when in magazine form, in the same book as greats like Elizabeth Messina!

Wedding Nouveau is a digital and print magazine (and blog) dedicated to intercultural weddings, which I absolutely love. Many thanks again to Fri and Brittany for publishing Namiko & Jeffery’s Japanese-Rwandan wedding. Here’s to many more interracial/multicultural/interfaith weddings to come!

Check out the rest of the magazine and purchase your own copy here: Wedding Nouveau Magazine.

View my full blog post of the featured wedding here: Nami & Jeffery’s Rwandan-Japanese Wedding.

Kathleen & Wesley | San Francisco Wedding Photography

Anna — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:52:43 +0000

It was a beautifully warm day on 9.10.11, perhaps the most popular wedding date of the year. Kathleen got ready in her hotel room in South San Francisco, and then she hopped into the gorgeous 1946 Rolls Royce Bentley to join her husband-to-be at the church in San Francisco. A perfect way to start the day. Meanwhile, Wesley was walking up and down the aisles of the church as the guests arrived, warmly greeting friends and family and making last minute arrangements. Finally, he stood at the front of the alter, his smile broadening as she walked down the aisle to join him. It was a lovely ceremony and a celebration of love and family.

This is really a beautiful car. I had to look it up to believe that Rolls Royce really made Bentleys back in 1946, but it’s true! Kathleen and Wesley rolled around in style all day.

I love the image I caught of Kathleen’s father as she was getting ready.

The Star of the Sea is a beautiful Catholic church right on Geary Ave. Kathleen looks so radiant coming down the aisle.

A perfect little moment between mother and daughter.

Love the beautiful light coming in from the front of the church!

I love that Kathleen & Wesley set aside plenty of time for portraits of just them. We visited a couple of spots before joining their guests at the cocktail hour.

I love this serene moment captured by my second shooter Kirsten.

This was a vista point along the side of a road in San Bruno. It was nice to just take a breath and soak in some sunshine.

The reception venue, Dominic’s at Oyster Point, was full of great views too.

The reception was filled with amazing little moments. It kicked off with some hilarious and some touching toasts.

This was really special when Wesley gave the first mother-son dance to his brother, who didn’t get to do it at his wedding in the Philippines two years ago.

Then Wesley got to dance with his mother and Kathleen with her father.

After Kathleen & Wesley had their first dance, Wesley had another surprise up his sleeves– he sang an entire song for her!

The crowd loved it.

Adorable.

Kathy & Wesley, thank you so much for having me at your celebration! It was a fun filled day and you are both such great people. And all the best is yet to come!

Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Star of the Sea Catholic Church, San Francisco CA
Reception Venue & Catering: Dominic’s at Oyster Point, South San Francisco, CA
Hair: Shirley Piscatelli
Makeup: Hillie Yung
Florist: Rosedale Floral Design, Brisbane, CA
Wedding Dress: Casablanca
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal
DJ: Joe Otayde
Band: Feelosophy
Cake: CakeAbakin
Car: 1946 Rolls Royce Bentley, Carl Payne

Raquel & Andy | Chautauqua, NY Wedding Photography

Anna — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:59:09 +0000

It’s true, as Andy joked– it’s equally inconvenient for everyone. Even from the nearest airport we drove past several vineyards, the occasional corn field, and plenty of woods– until we reached the giant lake and the little town. Chautauqua.

It may be far, but it is truly a sanctuary, with its tightly clustered houses referencing a wide array of historical periods. The roads are more like paths, built for walking and biking, not driving. Chautauqua was specifically created as a place for education and enrichment– and still to this day, it’s home to an annual classical music festival, which Raquel’s parents (both musicians) have attended for 40 years. Every summer growing up, Raquel and her family would make the nine hour journey from New York City to this completely different version of New York. So when Raquel was getting married, she knew this would be the place.

We were easily seduced into this slower pace of life for the weekend. It was a beautiful wedding filled to the brim with Jewish traditions, and all around there was a sense of being anchored in something bigger, something special.

Speaking of something special, look at Raquel’s amazing engagement ring with diamonds and sapphire. And all laid on a bed of very delicious local grapes.

Chautauqua’s architecture is so very eclectic. Buildings must have sprung up sporadically over the course of decades and centuries, taking on whatever style was appropriate at the time.

Three beautiful women! Raquel, her sister Talya, and her mother.

We found this amazing Chautauqua lamp featuring the Athenaeum Hotel… and the Athenaeum itself.

I am in love with all of the florals from this wedding. They were all local wildflowers arranged by a family friend, and they look amazing. On the right, Talya warms up her voice with pianist Gayle in preparation for the ceremony– captured by my assistant Yifan.

Meanwhile, Andy gets ready in the Athenaeum Hotel.

Andy with his adorable nephew.

The day started with two separate pre-ceremonies for the bride and the groom called Kabbalat Panim and Tisch. The parallel parties were held in adjacent rooms, but the Raquel and Andy weren’t allowed to see each other yet…

…Until Andy’s friends and family escorted him to Raquel’s part of the room to see her for the first time– he had to dance over there!

The reunion continued with the signing of the ketubah, which was so beautiful with its watercolor painting. And I simply loved it paired against the wildflower bouquet.

I don’t know how Talya managed to not make herself cry singing Schumann’s Widmung as Raquel walked down the aisle.

Mazal tov! The breaking of the glass, captured by Yifan.

All of the centerpieces were bowls of fruit from a local fruit stand. The guests were welcomed to eat the centerpieces, and they were even provided bags to take the extras home.

This was the most intense dancing I’ve ever seen, not just because of the awesome Jewish circle dancing, but also because it went on for at least 30 minutes, full speed!

The middle of the dance set consisted of Raquel & Andy sitting down in the middle of the circle and having their guests do a variety of hilarious things to entertain them– like having this baby dragon run around!

An adorable Lieberman moment.

Finally, a little moment on the back porch of the Athenaeum.

Thank you Raquel & Andy for bringing me out to Chautauqua to be a part of your amazing wedding weekend. Since I know you like superlatives: yes, this was the most Jewish wedding I’ve ever seen– I loved all of the traditions! Chautauqua is quite possibly the most unique location I’ve been to for a wedding, and yes, you are the best at following directions. Mazal tov! Much love to you both!

Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Hall of Philosophy, Chautauqua, NY
Reception Venue & Catering: Athenaeum Hotel, Chautauqua, NY
Hair & Makeup: Iris Conradi, Natural Look Salon & Spa, Cary, NC
Florals: DIY, Nina Klein, family friend
Wedding Dress: Casablanca
Musicians: Images
Cake: Brick Village Gourmet
Officiant: Rabbi Ari Lucas