La Selva Beach Wedding Photography – Alyssa & Rodolfo

On a day that started a little foggy and windy, Alyssa and Rodolfo got married on the bluffs at La Selva Beach. It is one of their favorite places and they couldn’t imagine a more wonderful location to tie the knot. I also fell in love immediately with La Selva Beach when we first moved here and was over the moon to photograph a wedding in such a unique location! Friends and family started to gather wrapped in jackets and talking about the wind but then like out of a movie… when the limo pulled up with Alyssa the sun started to shine through! Suddenly it was like a whole different kind of day.  An even more perfect day for getting married!All the details of the ceremony were perfect, from the driftwood arch, to the metal heart scupture that hung down, to the creatively written out chalkboard to the lollipops! Alyssa and Rodolfo, parents of two little ones know exactly how to keep the kiddos happy and busy!The happy groom!In bright sunshine the officiant, Rodolfo, family members and bridal party danced down the aisle!Then Alyssa escorted by her Dad did the same, dancing with a smile so bright it was amazing! I love how the bridemaids had pin wheels!How cute is that? I love how their son sitting in the front row was listening, while enjoying his lollipop of course! Those smiles!  Those are the smiles of two people who were just announced married and can now kiss each other!!!So much joy and happiness! This bridal party was so much fun!Two years ago when we first moved here and came to these cliffs I saw this image(above) in my mind and hoped one day it would come to fruition. Thank you Alyssa and Rodolfo for making one of my photography dreams come true!Alyssa’s Nicole Miller dress was just stunning!Honestly, what a perfect location for a wedding. It was then off to the Clubhouse which is located in the tiny little La Selva Beach town, right next to the library which is right next to the Fire Station.  Yeah it’s that sweet of a little town!Alyssa & Rodolfo planned a wedding reception for their guests like none other I have seen before! They made it into an old fashioned fair- with a kissing booth, cotton candy machine, popcorn and games!  Everyone was so delighted, especially the children!  No bored kids at this wedding! What a beautiful family!! I love these wooden heart-shaped bowls! Making all these games was a famly effort, I love how they were custom painted too!While everyone was outside enjoying the cocktail hour and the games, the inside was beautfully set up for the reception! I was amazed how Alyssa and Rodolfo personalized the space with their pictures, quotes that they love and even a caricature of themselves!  Alyssa’s Mom and wedding coordinator Erin did a great job preparing everything!Oh I was swooning when I saw their tables with the lace!  So pretty and quaint, it was just perfect!The cake was just perfect (and yummy too) and I thought it was brilliant that they had candied apples for everyone! Advice for the newlyweds on little wooden hearts! These two thought of everything!Alyssa and Rodolfo got welcomed into their wedding reception and had their first dance as husband and wife. 
Sisters with tears of joy and happiness! Alyssa then had a touching dance with her Dad, followed by her parents having a dance!And then everyone joined in!One of my favorite parts of a wedding is the welcome and the toasts.  It’s such a beautiful part of the day where people share stories and speak from their hearts!Alyssa and Rodolfo hired a family caterer that cooked the most delicous Mexican food! This little cutie was borrowing some props from the photo booth!The party started to get going just as the light started to turn into golden hour… it was time to pull the love birds for 10 minutes to grab some more photographs of them in the beautiful California light!We just had to take advanatge of the cool mural outside the fire station! Alyssa and Rodolfo you two are so much fun to take pictures of!  I love the way you look at each other- so much love and happiness!  And yes- we hit the road, literally….…you can take the NYC girl out of NYC but I still love taking pictures in the street!  There is a little urban that can be found everywhere, even when you’re surrounded by beaches and palm trees!Throughout the reception I’m always looking for a way I can photograph the rings  that connects to the theme or “feel” of the wedding. I thought the popcorn bag was perfect- also you can see their venue in the reflection!Back to the party for the money dance!Look at this little sweetie dancing with her Mama!It was time to cut that lovely cake and not only did they cut it they….REALLY fed each other!  Love it!Time for all the single ladies to line up!And then the single guys!I left the party with everyone having so much fun, that always makes me so happy.  I love weddings!  As I passed the advice box on my way out I noticed that the advice had started to pile up. On the right you can see a heart that says KISS KISS… I agree, can’t go wrong with giving kisses!Speaking of which…. how about one more of the happy newlyweds in the kissing booth?!  Congratulations Alyssa and Rodolfo!!!

 

Team of Vendors!

Wedding Coordinator- Erin Laird

DJ and Photobooth- DNA Entertainment 

Caterers – family caterer (the couple’s names are Josefa Rojo and Luis Rivera) – we also got some food catered by Whole Foods and my mother made the rest (such as the ceviche and special drinks).

Decor – tables and chairs M&M rentals in Watsonville

Cake Pure Bliss Baking Co. 

Flowers – Ace Flowers in Aptos