Katherine and Caleb were planning an intimate ceremony at Heritage Park in Old Town San Diego, surrounded by the colorful Victorian homes that make the whole place feel like you accidentally stepped into another time period. They also told me they loved a good spooky, vintage vibe, which is pretty much the easiest way to get me excited about a wedding. Fun fact, I once photographed a Hocus Pocus shoot in the same spot!
Read MoreSamantha and Nick had already done the quiet part. A few months before this, they flew to Japan and got married with their closest friends. It was intimate, intentional, and exactly what they wanted for that chapter of their story.This day was something completely different. This was the party.
Read MoreWhen Natalie and Cris first started talking about getting married, the plan was to go to Vegas.
Not because they wanted to elope on a whim, but because the vibe was just perfect. Somewhere during the planning process, though, they realized they didn't actually have to leave San Diego to create a wedding that felt like them. Everything they loved about Vegas already existed in the places they spent their weekends together. Instead of building the day around a venue, they built it around their neighborhood.
Read MoreQuilted tablecloths, the cutest little kitschy details everywhere, a massive ballgown moment, and a dance dress change that honestly deserved its own round of applause?! Kelsey & Arthur’s wedding at the historic Rotch-Jones-Duff House felt like the perfect blend of elegant and playful in a way that never tried too hard
Read MoreCacti, columns, rooftop vows, and Argentinian wine flowing all night long?! Yeah, this day was definitely a pretty perfect reminder that elopements can still feel incredibly meaningful, emotional, and stylish all at the same time.
Read MoreDreamy & relaxed San Diego wedding at Ethereal Gardens with spring wild flower florals shot on film by Wedding Photographer Madeline Barr
Read MoreAshley and Calvin’s wedding at Old Rancho in San Diego felt like walking straight into the most iconic dinner party you never wanted to leave. It was layered, colorful, a little chaotic in the best way, and deeply personal. The whole day carried this maximalist tchotchke energy that somehow balanced nostalgia and intention. Think pizza buffet comfort, but reimagined through a design lens that actually knows what it’s doing.
Read MoreWe spent the afternoon driving through Palm Springs, weaving in and out of mid-century neighborhoods that feel frozen in time and scream all the charm of Palm Springs. At one stop, something unexpected happened. The driver noticed someone was home at one of the houses we were admiring. He walked up and knocked, just to ask if we could get a little closer…And they said yes!
Read MoreThey chose Hotel Wailea for its seclusion, tucked above the shoreline from the busy tourist spots on the island. It was a gathering of only their closest family, nothing more and nothing extra. While Hotel Wailea had space for a huge event, Portia & Travis kept it intimate and personal.The ceremony offered a breathtaking view of the mountains and the ocean.
Read MoreThe Madonna Inn is easily one of my FAVORITE wedding venues. There’s an undeniable kitsch and chaos to the details here, and I mean that in the best way. Nothing felt ironic or overdone—just genuinely joyful. The colors, the textures, the little visual moments all delightfully came together because Erika and Kurt let them. They didn’t try to tone anything down or make it more palatable. They leaned into it, and in doing that, everything felt intentional instead of chaotic.
Read MoreLisa and Anthony were already married when we met up, which immediately changed the vibe—in the best way. No timeline to chase, no expectations hanging over the day. They’d done the meaningful part privately, and this was just about celebrating it, their way. The only real plan? Find good light and get pizza.
Read MoreBefore heading to their ceremony in Balboa Park, they spent some time at the Lafayette, which ended up being the perfect backdrop. It has that slightly nostalgic, tucked-away feel—colorful, textured, a little bit moody in the right light. It didn’t feel staged, just like they dropped into a place that already had character and let it do its thing.
Read More
