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Kellen & Val: Birch Aquarium Wedding

A wedding at an aquarium. Vows referencing Mario Kart and Harry Potter. A home full of souvenirs from adventures around the world. Kellen and Val are geeks after our own hearts!

I loved starting the day with Val at their apartment, seeing all the personal touches - photos and postcards from travels - that form a sort of portrait of these adventurous souls. Between that and the guys playing Super Smash Bros., you get a good sense of how fun these two are, and the experiences and people that are important to them. This day was all about sharing the fun and the love that defines Kellen and Val!

Birch Aquarium provided a unique backdrop - and a beautiful view! - for this celebration. We also had a great time partying with all of the guests (plus an orange octopus and a few inflatable fish) in the SlowMo Booth!

Kellen and Val, you have many battles, many races, many adventures ahead of you, but you are an unstoppable team and together I know that it will be smooth cruising, and always a great story!

Soundtrack licensed via Musicbed:
"Midnight Ride" by Gentlemen Writers
"Halcyon" by Longlake
"Everything" by KAPTAN

Cinematography: The Adventures Of
Photography: Candice Benjamin Photography
Coordination: Maryssa Stovall of Hannah Smith Events
Venue: Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Floral Design: In Flower
Hair & Makeup: Amy Hsu of Beauty Creator
Guitarist/Singer: Mason James
Cake & Catering: Culinary Concepts
DJ: Chris of Vario Productions
 

Kyle & Michael: Elopement at Mount Hamilton Observatory

One of the best reasons I'm proud to be a geek - to be honest and enthusiastic about my passions and obsessions - is that you meet the most wonderful people! You never know what friendships and adventures are in store when you bond over your fandom.

Kyle and Michael are two fantastic Whovians (translation: fans of the long-running BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who) in love. When they discovered our styled wedding shoot in honor of Doctor Who ("Through All of Time and Space") they were inspired to celebrate their shared fandom - and what better way than to run off and elope at a 100 year old observatory?!

With the help of Jen at First Pick Planning, Kyle and Michael planned this incredible surprise. They would exchange personal vows in a private and beautifully designed ceremony, officiated by a dear friend, and would keep it all a secret for months (!!!) in order to surprise friends and family at a big celebration in Georgia. Fortunately we were there to tell the story, and to help share this intimate, emotional, incredible adventure with everyone when the time was right.

I can't get over those vows, and the thought put into every detail of this beautiful day. It was a real treat to be a part of this romantic escape - a whole day dedicated solely to two people in love!

We offer special discounts for elopements like this. If you are planning your wedding ceremony with less than 20 guests and no reception, let us know! (Bonus if it's in a unique location like this!)

I also can't say enough about the fantastic team that pulled this event together. The staff at Lick Observatory is so fun and helpful while taking care of this incredible historic space, Jen at First Pick Planning made sure nothing was overlooked, and Candice Benjamin Photography documented the day with incredible photos!

Kyle and Michael, I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of your adventure, and to give you the best of both worlds - a private ceremony just for you two, and a chance to share your love, your vows, and your celebration with all your friends and family! It may not be quite as exciting as the TARDIS, but video is a pretty fantastic time machine!

Soundtrack licensed via MusicBed: "Climb" by Michael Rossback

Cinematography: The Adventures Of
Photography: Candice Benjamin Photography
Coordination: First Pick Planning
Venue: Lick Observatory