I’m so happy to finally share these! This wedding near Big Bear was so beautiful and took place on a perfect summer day. The weather was great! Sun out, but not too hot as it was right on the lake. Laura and Andrew were surrounded by their closest family and friends as they said their vows and celebrated in this charming pocket of the woods.

*I’d love to add a hilarious note about the dress if I can. I was looking for an open and well-lit spot to hang and shoot the dress (wasn’t easy in this cabin) and found this mudroom in the back of the house and discovered it was full of bats hiding in the rafters above after I started shooting. I heard them squeaking and everything. I’m standing there with Laura’s brother, shooting this dress while calmly saying “I’m just going to pretend like I don’t hear them…”. I have a weird fear of bats, but it only usually takes place in a cave or a cenote in Mexico…you know, where bats LIVE! Ha.

*Obviously that taxidermied bear was going to make a cameo…

I’m going to highlight these images from the father-daughter dance if I can…wait, it’s my blog, of course I can! 😜 After Laura saw a few sneaks of these, she expressed how much her father being at her wedding was to her. Here, I’m going to copy and paste her exact text as it was so heartwarming to receive:

“Kelli!! I’m so in LOVE 😍 with the sneaks! Thank you so much! I just have to tell you, the pic of my dad and me… 😭 in 1989 my dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness. My whole life, I thought my dad wouldn’t be there on my wedding day. Here we are 30 years later is a blessing and a gift. Thank you for capturing that moment (and all the others of our special day) so beautifully! I can’t wait to see more! ❤”

So much fun!!! I loved capturing their day and meeting her wonderful family. Her kids are beautiful, Andrew is so amazing (hilarious and embarrassing side note: I totally called him “Chris” at the beginning of the day, even though I knew his name was ANDREW. I think it may have been me chatting with a Chris earlier that morning on the drive up there and a lack of coffee! Ah! Luckily for me, he was totally fine with it, but probably thought I was insane all day ahah!) …I trailed off here….anyway, and the rest of family and friends were all so great to work with. I’d relive this day again if I could!

Congratulations Laura and Andrew!!!

 

Photographer: Kelli Hayden // Kelli Bee Photography

Venue/Location: Green Valley Lake, CA