New Year’s Eve Wedding~Emily & Pierce!

 Greg and I always imagined how cool it would be to photograph a New Year’s Eve wedding. It had been on our photo bucket list for many years.  After meeting Emily and Pierce for their engagement photo walk,  we couldn’t have been more excited about crossing one off the photo bucket list with this inspiring couple!
 Surrounded by all her ladies and her one “guy” bridesmaid, I referred to him as a bridedude, Emily had a great time getting ready!

 Look at those cheeks on Pierce’s little nephew!
 Guys getting ready is a whole different story, and mostly involves sitting around doing nothing while drinking beers.  Which is a good thing, it would be worrisome if guys did more than this!
Kim Guiley and her team did an incredible job of making all the ladies look so elegant for the evening!! Emily’s dress was so incredible, it was like a work of art and it fit her perfectly! Love this look on mom’s face, such a mixture of happiness and pride. Back at the hotel with what I’m sure was just a few minutes left, the guys started to get dressed. Bowtie? Polkadot suspenders? Converse hi-tops? This ringbearer surely was about to steal the show! One last look and off to the church!Emily added a black sash to her dress for a bit of New Year’s fun- great idea!
St. Thomas Aquinas  Catholic Church in Palo Alto is such a stunning little church! The junior bridesmaids were busy handing out programs and having guests sign the guestbook. Pierce was escorted down the aisle by his Mom and Dad. One of my favorite moments of a wedding day is the moment right before the bride walks in. I love looking over my shoulder to see the groom waiting in great anticipation to see his bride.
 Emily was escorted down the aisle by her Mom and Dad. Whenever there is a balcony at a church  we are always so excited! I love this photograph Greg was able to capture of Emily walking down the aisle. It really showcases the joy on the guests faces but also really  shows off  the back of Emily’s stunning dress! Such an amazing moment, I love not only the look on Dad’s face but of course the look on Pierce’s face as Emilys is presented to him. The reverend’s sermon was fantastic, full of energy and words of love and wisdom for Emily and Pierce.

 The vows were exchanged. Followed by the rings.Then the couple was sung to so beautifully by their friend Amanda Nelson!

 The priest gave one last blessing over the couple… the anticipation was building! You may now kiss your bride! Married! Another awesome perspective from the balcony!  I love the sheer happiness on Emily & Pierce’s faces as they walk back up the aisle smiling at all their friends and family!
The new hardware!
Emily and Pierce are such charismatic and friendly people so it was no surprise to me when they told me that they were having a very large wedding party!
 Quickly, while waiting for Uber to come pick us up and take us to the reception, we did a silhouette picture of Emily and Pierce in the arches of their church!  Outside of MacArthur Park, the newlyweds took a few minutes to celebrate and pop a bottle of champagne!!
Cake Studio did an incredible job of creating this masterpiece of a cake. Not only did it fit the theme of the reception so well, it was so beautiful to look at. It was one of those cakes that was a shame to cut! The tables were set perfectly for this elegant affair.  I loved the white flowers by Laurie Chestnutt Florals,  all the different Waterford vases and the floating candles. Each guest also received a “cracker” which had a little surprise inside… More on that later! When the guests arrived they each had a champagne glass with their name and table number.
 Satra of Events by Satra, the wedding planner, did an amazing job of organizing and designing the events before the wedding and also kept everyone on track the day of the wedding!  We love working with her! Emily’s little brother MC’d the wedding, and couldn’t have done a better job. He was amazing!!!! When the newlyweds were announced, they danced the whole way to the dance floor!!!  Where they were greeted by their bridal party!Champagne still in hand!
Guests then opened their crackers and got a clue as to what came next… RIBS!!!!!!!!!!! Emily’s Mom and Dad were the first to get up and welcome everyone for coming and celebrating Emily and Pierce! They also told some really sweet and funny stories! It was clear that they are thrilled to welcome Pierce into their family!
 Next up was one of Emily’s best friends who shared with us the moment of when she knew Pierce was “the one” for Emily!
The best man’s speech was a great mixture of both humor and warmth as he recounted some of the events that led to the marriage Emily and Pierce.  He was also let off the hook from giving Pierce a good roast as enough of that had been done the night before at the rehearsal dinner!

Next were Pierce’s identical twin little sisters. Their family has had an exciting year as one sister just had a baby and the other one is pregnant!  And now Pierce getting married!! They told endearing stories of how Pierce used to protect them and always love them so much!!  They shared how they are quite protective of Pierce but couldn’t be happier to welcome Emily into their family!
 Emily’s brother took a moment away from being the MC to give a toast and tell some hysterical stories about them as little kids!!   He even had props!   He did take a moment away from the laughter to speak honestly from the heart about how much he hopes to find the same kind of happiness that Emily & Pierce have found with each other. It was a beautiful moment and a great way to wrap up the toasts! Cheers!  The Moms up on the balcony checking out the view of everyone having such an incredible time!! Emily and Pierce’s first dance!
The colored lights put on by the band sometimes make editing a photograph difficult, but for this picture I think it really works!  I think this handsome couple would look good in any color! It was then time to cut the cake and it was no surprise that Emily and Pierce decided to get a little bit messy! Love it! Emily then danced with her dad… …followed by Pierce and his Mom.  The parent dances get me every time, I  always get teary-eyed behind the camera! The band The 415s was amazing and I loved seeing a lady on the trombone! To add a little bit more fun to this already dynamic wedding, one of Emily’s best friend’s dad put on a magic show!

Everyone loved it!!! With New Year’s Eve on the horizon, the party supplies were passed out. Hats, headbands, sunglasses, horns and everything needed to celebrate New Year’s! Everyone started going crazy in anticipation of welcoming 2015! Even the kiddos did a great job of staying up late! Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four… THREE, TWO, ONE… HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then balloons dropped from the ceiling!
Such an awesome moment; laughter, kissing, celebrating, wishing everyone a Happy New Year!! It was a wedding moment we will never forget! I know their guests felt the same way! Through the crowd came a green bearded man… Pierce’s Dad!!
Another amazing moment of the night was when the junior bridesmaid joined the band  for the last song of the evening! She did such an incredible job, keep your eyes peeled for this young star to be on ‘American Idol’ one day!
 What a SENSATIONAL wedding! Emily and Pierce, thank you so much for having us there to document this celebration! We had an incredible time and we can certainly cross one off our photo bucket list!!  Wishing you so much love and happiness for your future!!!