Brandonwong's blog » Wedding

Rydhima + Sirtaj

brandonwong — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:44:02 +0000

Photographed by Brandon Wong and Katrina Santos. Written by Brandon Wong

Planning one wedding can be a monumental task. Couples spend hours trying to find the perfect dress, venue, catering, decorations, and more. Now for an Indian wedding, multiply all that by four, five, or even seven or more times. That’s just how much preparation goes into this intricate occassion and Rydhima and Sirtaj did it in one of the most beautiful and unique ways possible.

Smita Mohindra of Ethnic Essence designed the Mehdni and Reception night which is shown in the pictures below. Almost all of the reception details were custom made to match the couple’s specifications. To mix things up, their grand entrance consisted of a magician making them appear out of an empty box.

Throughout the celebration Rydhima and Sirtaj were always so caring and thoughtful of their guests who were coming from all around the world. Never did they put themselves first that’s what we admired most about this couple. Their patience and love for their family was truly something that Katrina and I look up to.

Check out their slideshow here or by scrolling to the bottom of the post

Dana + John

brandonwong — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:30:13 +0000

Photographed by Brandon Wong and Katrina Santos. Written by Katrina Santos

Dana and John’s day began by taking in the beautiful architecture of Pasadena City Hall for their first look. Next, we all walked across Pasadena together to the gorgeous First Baptist Church where the two exchanged vows amongst the large organs and grand chandeliers of the chapel.

The long anticipated party was just around the corner at the hip Noor. The reception began with an unforgettable surprise dance performance by John. As the night went on, we witnessed one of the most epic dance battles between their friends and family. This was ultimately the perfect way to get the dance floor started to party the night away!

Dana and John’s fun, adventure-seeking, and carefree personalities were translated into their wedding perfectly. The aspect they looked forward to most were their activities, which included caricature artists, a photobooth, and gourmet cookie sandwiches by Coolhaus.

At first glance you would think that Dana and John have just started their relationship, when in fact they have been dating for almost a decade. They laugh hysterically together and are always walking on cloud nine. We have no doubt that this will continue on for the rest of their lives.

Check out their slideshow here or by scrolling to the bottom of the post.

Linda + Julio

brandonwong — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:12:38 +0000

Photographed by Brandon Wong and Katrina Santos. Written by Brandon Wong

When Linda described her honeymoon in Belize to us it was quite the opposite of most people’s idea of relaxing on the beach and doing absolutely nothing. Instead the couple opted to make every minute an adventure during their stay in Belize, spending many of their days snorkeling, zip lining, hiking, and exploring the city.

Much like Linda and Julio’s honeymoon, their wedding day was a jam packed affair. Their special day spanned nineteen hours and included two ceremonies and a festive reception. Despite the duration of the event, their thoughtful, genuine, and considerate personalities still shined all day which made it all the more pleasure to document.

Lind and Julio thank you for all the smiles, laughs, and tears throughout the day. We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding to start 2012.

Check out their slideshow here or by scrolling to the bottom of the post

Karen + Ed, Philippines

brandonwong — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 01:44:25 +0000

Photographed by Brandon Wong and Katrina Santos. Written by Brandon Wong

Many of our clients are architects, designers, and even photographers. Shooting a creative professional’s weddings is an intimidating experience, mostly because they will notice the small details that most people don’t. So when award winning photographers Karen and Ed Atrero asked us to document their intimate ten year anniversary across the world, Katrina and I knew we were going to be put to the test.

Of course when we finally landed in the Philippines and saw Karen, Ed, and their two adorable children Amelie and Julien all of the anxiety went away. At that point we knew the journey was going to be nothing short of amazing. As an added bonus, the wedding took place in a country that brings us back to Katrina’s roots. All of the guests spent an incredible three days exploring the island home to the Tarsier monkeys, Chocolate Hills, and breathtaking tropical views.

On the wedding day we experienced one of the strongest downpours we’ve ever encountered. Luckily enough, the skies cleared shortly after the ceremony for our portrait session at the oldest church on the island, Baclayon Church. Our hotel and reception site was the gorgeous Peacock Garden which had some stellar customer service and breathtaking views.

These two hold a special place in our hearts not only as friends but also as mentors and a constance source of inspiration. We still feel incredibly honored to have been there to witness and document this very special moment in their lives. Here’s to another ten more years!

Check out their slideshow here or by scrolling to the bottom of the post

Mimi + Jeff

brandonwong — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:37:29 +0000

Photographed by Brandon Wong and Katrina Santos. Written by Brandon Wong

Mimi and Jeff have a big heart and it shows with how they treat their friends, family, and their dog “Ho Ho.” Despite meeting them just once we were already invited to their rehearsal dinner where we had the chance to meet their closest guests. In fact it was the same place where Jeff’s parents were married years ago.

What happened on the wedding day was a flurry of emotion, love, dancing, and plenty of drinks. The party at the Luxe Hotel Sunset actually ended up being one of the wildest nights we have ever witnessed. We also brought our very own StudioBooth, an open air photo booth complete with photographer. You can check out some of the party here.

Cynthia + Hernan

brandonwong — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:06:01 +0000

Photographed by Brandon Wong and Katrina Santos. Written by Brandon Wong

What attracted us most to Cynthia and Hernan was their intimate relationship. When asked how they spent their free time, their answer was sitting on the couch and watching movies. In fact, that is exactly how Hernan proposed.

Their wedding at the historic Park Plaza Hotel couldn’t have been a more perfect reflection of who they are. They said their “I do’s” standing beside sixty of their closet friends and family on the steps of the warmly lit hotel. For their reception, Cynthia wanted a club feel which is exactly what she got. Colorful lights, confetti, and great salsa drove the party on into the late night.

You can watch their slideshow here or by scrolling to the bottom of the post. Make sure to check out our Facebook fan page to see more pictures and updates from us that we don’t put on the blog!

Randa + Josh

brandonwong — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:04:37 +0000

Photographed by Brandon Wong and Katrina Santos. Written by Brandon Wong

Randa and Josh were married at Soka University where they happened to have met for the first time. We were graced with beautiful light, beautiful people, and a couple whose energy and wit will capture your heart the moment you meet them. Josh is passionate about music and even wrote a song dedicated to Randa which they played during the reception. Throughout the day we constantly felt like old friends with cameras hanging out on their wedding day, which ultimately brings out the best in our creativity. Katrina and I are incredibly fortunate to have had their complete trust and faith in us and we hope you enjoy a few of our favorite images.

Sheryl + Peter

brandonwong — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:01:00 +0000

Photographed by Brandon Wong and Katrina Santos. Written by Brandon Wong

Sheryl and Peter tied the knot in a beautiful Japanese garden under the blue California sky. To mix things up, they decided to plant a calamansi tree together during the ceremony. A filipino cuisine staple and one of our favorite ingredients!

Things got even more interesting during the reception. To get their guests fired up for the dance floor, the couple surprised everyone with a Rock Band performance. It wasn’t long until “Don’t Stop Believing” had everyone jumping and drinking the night away.

Check out their Pasadena Wedding slideshow here or by scrolling to the bottom of the post.

Rina + Samir

brandonwong — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:42:12 +0000

Photographed by Brandon Wong and Katrina Santos. Written by Brandon Wong

An Indian wedding is a long journey from start to finish, often spanning multiple days and numerous ceremonies. Katrina and I were lucky enough to photograph Rina and Samir’s engagement ceremony which is actually the first step in the course of the marriage. It is often one of the first times that both families get together. It’s during this opportunity that they laden the couple with jewelry and other gifts. The most important part of the ceremony is the Misri which is the exchanging of rings, signifying the beginning of the festivities to come. Here are a few quick favorite shots at the beautiful Old Ranch Country Club. Enjoy!

Stephanie + Chris

brandonwong — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:44:52 +0000

Photographed by Brandon Wong and Katrina Santos. Written by Brandon Wong

A day before Stephanie and Chris’ wedding they were worried about the slight chance of rain. To their luck, California pulled through and there was nothing but rays of sunshine and clear blue skies.

Chris started his day at a barber shop while Stephanie got ready at their home where we photographed them earlier in the year doing what they love best, drinking wine and cooking. Their wedding day, much like the weather was gorgeous and full of emotion. The couple exchanged vows amid mountains and were even given a Ring Pop as a gag by the best man during the ceremony.

Make sure you check out their slideshow here or by scrolling to the bottom of the post