The Look That Said Everything

It Started Over Coffee

Before a couple books me to photograph their wedding, I always want to meet them first.

Usually, that means coffee, a sweet treat, or whatever sounds good to my couple that day. And while those meetings are about making sure I’m the right photographer for them, they’re just as much about making sure they’re the right couple for me.

I only take on a certain number of weddings each year, and I care deeply about who I spend those days with. I want the couples I photograph to feel excited about working with me, and I want to feel that same excitement about them. Their venue can be beautiful, their vision can be incredible, and their style can be right up my alley, but none of that matters quite as much as the people at the center of it all.

When I met Emily and Sam for coffee at Road Runner in Redlands, I had a feeling pretty quickly that they were my kind of people.

Actually, I think I knew before we even sat down.

Sam opened the door for Emily as they walked in. She turned back toward him, thanked him with the kind of eye contact that makes you feel like you’re watching a private little moment between two people who genuinely adore each other. And Sam gave her this little smirk.

You know the one.

The kind of smirk the main character in a rom com gives when he’s completely smitten but doesn’t need to say a word.

I remember thinking, Oh. These two.

They just had a way about them. The kind of ease and affection that is difficult to manufacture and even harder to miss. They looked like two people who had found exactly the person they were supposed to find.

And then we started talking.

I immediately loved the way Emily approached the wedding. She was organized, thoughtful, and knew exactly what she wanted, but she also left room for other people’s ideas, including Sam’s. There was no sense of needing to control every little detail. She simply cared about creating something meaningful and wanted to build it together.

And Sam? He was the perfect complement to her.

Easygoing, yes, but never disengaged. He affirmed Emily in her decisions, but not in that “whatever you want, babe” way we’ve all seen before. He was genuinely listening. He had thoughts. He was invested. When Emily talked, he was right there with her.

It was such a beautiful little glimpse into who they were together.

We met a few more times before their wedding day, and every time felt like a breath of fresh air. I loved being around them. I loved the way they talked to each other, the way they made decisions together, and the quiet attentiveness that seemed to follow them everywhere.

So when their wedding day finally arrived, it felt less like showing up to photograph two people I had only met a few months ago and more like getting to witness a story I had already grown quite fond of.

And it was every bit as lovely as I hoped it would be.

Arriving at The Retreat

I’ve photographed at several Wedgewood Weddings venues over the years, but The Retreat in Corona was a new one for me. When I pulled up, I immediately knew I was going to love photographing Emily and Sam here.

The warm tones of the property, the greenery, the rolling hills, and the city views created such a beautiful backdrop. Emily had told me how much she loved the arches throughout the property, so I already knew those would be one of the main settings for their first look and portraits.

I arrived to a glass of champagne waiting for me, which I very politely declined. Don’t worry, everyone. I’m a water and a Shirley Temple girl on wedding days.

After a quick walkthrough of the getting ready spaces and courtyard, I started to see all the little pockets of the property that would become part of their story. The space felt open and inviting, with beautiful architectural details already woven throughout, and the views gave us that gorgeous Southern California landscape I love.

It was the perfect place to begin a day that was going to be all about Emily and Sam.

I walked into the getting ready room and found Emily first.

She looked like an actress. Her hair was perfectly curled, her dress was sparkling, her smile was wide, and she was absolutely glowing. She was excited, completely present, and remarkably calm.

We love that for a bride on her wedding day.

Then I went to find Sam.

He had the look.

Excited, a tiny bit nervous, but not nervous about getting married. Nervous because he was finally going to see his bride.

And when he saw Emily for the first time during their first look, there it was again.

The exact same look I had noticed across the table at Road Runner months earlier. Utterly smitten. Completely in love. The kind of look that doesn’t need an explanation.

Emily met him with the same energy. That unmistakable, this is my person kind of love.

They both shed a few tears as they read their vows to each other, and I’ll be honest, so did I.

And then, as wedding days tend to do, everything started moving quickly. Before we knew it, the ceremony had come and gone, and the celebration was officially underway.

Let the Celebration Begin

Before I knew it, cold sparks were flying and the grand entrance was here. Emily and Sam took to the dance floor for their first dance, spinning around each other as the evening officially began.

Dinner was served, drinks were poured, and slowly, the sun began to set over the hills. The city lights started to glow in the distance, toasts were made, and the whole atmosphere began to shift from dinner celebration to full on party.

Then came one of my favorite surprises of the night.

Just before the dance floor opened to everyone, a beautiful Egyptian belly dancer made her entrance, bringing even more energy into the room and inviting guests to join in. It was such a fun and meaningful way to incorporate Sam’s Egyptian culture into their celebration, and watching their guests get involved was an absolute joy.

And from there, the dance floor was officially open.

At the End of the Night

As the party wrapped up and guests began saying their goodbyes, I found myself thinking about how lucky I am to do this.

I get to meet people like Emily and Sam, spend a whole day alongside them, learn the little pieces of their story, and for a few fleeting hours, be invited into it.

I get to watch a groom look at his bride the same way he did the very first time I met him. I get to see a bride’s face light up when she realizes she’s finally standing beside her person. I get to watch families celebrate, friends dance, cultures and traditions come together, and all of the little moments in between that make a wedding feel like theirs.

And then, just like that, the night is over.

The lights go out, the last song plays, everyone heads home, and I pack up my cameras and get in the car.

But I get to take a little piece of it with me.

Emily and Sam’s wedding was beautiful in every way, but what I’ll remember most is the way they looked at each other.

Like they still couldn’t quite believe they got to marry their favorite person.