Adam and Hillary’s La Jolla Women’s Club wedding was the most joyful seaside garden party! These two exude kindness and fun, and their wedding day felt welcoming and easy-going. I photographed this wedding day in San Diego on a mixture of film and digital cameras.

No rules, just enjoy. That felt like the mantra for Hillary and Adam’s wedding from my perspective. Without agenda or requirements, these two embraced the day and soaked up the experience. From a practical standpoint, what does this mean?

First, it means they left lots of time in the schedule to hang out. We never felt rushed. This is one of the biggest recommendations I could give to any engaged folks. You never know how much time you need for things until the day is happening. I recommend approaching the day with the mentality of, whatever happens, it will be a great day. Don’t put too much pressure on yourselves to adhere to a regimented schedule. You will want those extra moments to have a drink with your friends before ceremony or sign your marriage license with your intended witnesses. I can’t tell you how many times the license practically gets forgotten and then it’s a mad dash trying to find the best man…don’t recommend!

Second, Adam and Hillary had realistic expectations about their wedding photos. They just wanted the day captured. This perspective kept it easy because we weren’t having to check the box on tons of photos all day. Instead, they could focus on enjoying the time with their friends and family. The candids from this wedding are so much fun. They show what a great time it was to celebrate the couple. Less stiff and forced, more fun and in the moment. The best way to do it!

Third, Adam and Hillary planned the day so that they’d spend a lot of time beside each other. Having a first look early on meant that they could be hand in hand throughout the night. More than that, I can tell they really valued the opportunity to be close all day. They opted to step away from dinner during sunset to go check out the view from the beach. It was such a great moment for them to hang out and decompress a little while getting a few photos.

Sometimes weddings come barreling with this idea of perfection. Industry shows us these glossy, orchestrated photos of models and says “that’s a great wedding!” But at a real wedding, groomsmen rip their pants on the dance floor, and it’s hilarious. At a real wedding, you look amazing in your wedding dress, not because you worked out every day for 9 months before your wedding, but because you are YOU, and your spouse loves what they see. At a real wedding, your family members tear up and take too many photos on their iPhones, and it’s perfectly imperfect.

Thank you to everyone involved in making this day special from the La Jolla Women’s Club, to the talented florist, to our hair and makeup team.

If you love this beautiful La Jolla Women’s Club wedding, you might also like these Mexico destination wedding photos. Please reach out if you’re interested in having me be a part of your wedding, I’d be so honored!