Jocelyn + Manuel | Road Trippin' on the California Coast

Having just finished an 11 month road trip with my husband, this super sweet photo session with Manuel and Jocelyn warms the cockles of my heart. There is nothing like road trippin's with you sweetie, especially in a souped up classic car on Highway 1 next to the California coast.



Talented photographer Jhovany of Monstrous Joy in Hermosa Beach, my neck of the woods, hopped a ride as the Blanco family took to the road in their fiery red mustang.  Jhovany shared with us: Road trips are a Blanco family tradition, so on this sunny California Sunday, we set off with two objectives: To have a good time and to catch a sunset. We accomplished both. 

To make it there, we headed Jocelyn's trusted Mustang down Las Virgenes Road. On the way there was no way to keep off the beautiful landscapes and gorgeous scenery. After some romping and frolicking and general merriment, we got back on to the road and made our way through the canyons and finally reached the historic Pacific Coast Highway.   

Finally having reached the perfect spot for watching the sun set, they had a coke, a cuddle and few kisses to make the best of that beautiful afternoon.  I'll say.....swoon to the higher degree!

What a seriously sweet couple! They have style and class and personality to boot! Thanks to Monstrous Joy, LOVE that name, for sharing this story with us through Two Bright Lights.  If you are interested in sharing our work or your own wedding, send me an email!
 
What is your secret passion that you love to share with your partner? For me, it is definitely travel, road trippin,' having adventures! What is one of your special couple things? 
If you haven't already, we'd love for you to become  Facebook Fan and a Twitter Follower....lots of great ideas, information and generally fun time.
Have a fabulous weekend,

Michael + Samir | Love on Capitol Hill, A DC Engagement Session

Boy meets Boy and they fall in love. Simple.

So, we have our first same sex feature, and I am thrilled....I don't want to make this into a political thing, cause really it is just a love thing. I hope you'll forgive me every now and then when I hop on my soapbox; marriage equality is a very big deal to me and sometimes I get riled up. 

As such, it should go with out saying that we here at de Lovely Affair love LOVE. No, let me get this straight for the record, we SUPPORT love in all its many forms - cultural, religious, same-sex, offbeat, and any way you want.  We support love, plain and simple, and therefore the right to love and marry whomever you want, the right to spend the rest of your life with your best friend and soul mate. Period.  

We cherish love and loving couples, which is why I was do excited to receive Michael and Samir's super sweet engagement session from the talented Jalapeño Photography.  I just adore these two! Michael and Samir are dLA's first multicultural same sex couple, and we are honored!

As Edwina of Jalapeño Photography tells us: Michael and Samir, two politicos, miraculously found one another in the melting pot that is the Washington, DC political scene. Michael is Jewish and from Alaska, and Samir is Indian and from Missouri. Despite their differences, once they met, they were inseparable! 

Michael and Samir's courtship consisted of a lot of getting to know you time, and traveling to far flung places. They even made their way to Alaska for some good old fashioned campaigning. The ebb and flow of D.C. politics can be difficult on a relationship, but Michael and Samir weathered it as administrations and jobs changed. One night, while discussing something other than politics - their future - they both agreed they wanted it to include the other.  Swoon!

*soapbox* Did you know that the movement for same sex marriage rights and benefits began back in the 1970s in the United States? Since 2004, six states as well as the District of Columbia, and two Native American tribals have legalized same-sex marriage. Washington and Maryland both passed same sex marriage bills earlier this year. More are surely on the way!



Happy to report that support is growing in popularity across the country with a majority of Americans now supporting marriage equality for all. It is heartening to know that people are finally starting to realize that we love who we love, and we should have the right to marry who we love.

All photo credits: Jalapeño Photography

As I said, here at dLA we celebrate all couples - he's Indian, he's Jewish, they love each other, what is the big deal! This engagement session is sweet and romantic; Edwina really captured their essence -- a playful side, a serious side, a totally in love side.  Thank you Samir and Michael for sharing your special day with us.  Congratulations and all best wishes for an amazing future. 

Thank you also to the fabulous Jalapeño Photography for sending this our way. I'm excited to see this wedding!

If you are interested, dLA helped found a small but growing group called Wedding Professionals for Marriage Equality. We are still in the development process but would love if you'd join us over on FACEBOOK.

It is all about the love, ya'll!

{Inspiration} A Pillow Fight & Props - Spicing Up A Wedding Photo Session

Using props is becoming more and more popular in wedding shoots these days. I love the idea of gathering items that mean something to you as a couple and showing them off as a window into your personality.  Big, small, lavish, or simple, props can make a huge visual impact in your pictures -- and as with this styled engagement session sent over by Tiffany Amber Photography, they can be a whole lot of fun, as well. So let go of the traditional, embrace the different, introduce color, texture, light, and laughter....use props to enhance your photo session experience with your sweetie and your photographer. 

Here are some of my favorites of Cherissa and Chad a super sweet couple from San Juan, CA. Photographer Tiffany Henson shared: This couple is full of love and laughs! Chad is a goofyball who makes Cerissa smile every second of the day! They are truly meant for each other. There are couples who love each other and then there are couples who are so in love its contagious. That is Chad and Cerissa. They are best friends who fell in love, and are living their Happily Ever After! 

Cerissa and Chad are just way too cute for their own good -- I absolutely adore all the special touches they used in this shoot --from the location all the way down to the ceramic owl. A Pillow Fight? Genius -- for fun, frivolity, and as Tiffany Amber Photography shows us, way cool finished product!

Congratulations to Cerissa and Chad, and many thanks to Tiffany for sharing this awesome shoot with us through Two Bight Lights.  

Are you using props for your engagement shoot? What item is the best representation of your personality? Leave us a comment below so we can share with all our followers on Twitter!

Make it fun, make it happy,

Megan & David - British Invasion Meets the California Coast

A Sunny Engagement Session from Randi Marie Photography 

 

I had a really hard time with this engagement session. Only because every single photo of this absolutely adorable English-American couple was the PERFECT vision of love and longing, romance and fun. How am I to choose?  Sent over by Randi Marie Photography, this couple has serious style - a little rock and roll, a little fashion runway, a dash of culture, a whole lotta kissing!



As the story goes, David hopped the big pond from England and landed next Megan as her neighbor. And you know, it tends to happen - this Cali girl and Brit boy fell in love! Their photogrpaher Randi says, " In rare moments, the stars align and allow for true love, where nothing else matters but how your heart feels." Captured in the lush, sunlit hills of Malibu, this lovefest engagement session plays up their LA/London connection and embraces the excitement of their future! Just love their spirit!

Photos Courtesy of Randi Marie Photography. Submitted through Two Bright Lights.

Congratulations to Megan and David! I look forward to seeing your wedding photos. Thank you to the talented Randi Marie Photography; you can find more fab images on her Facebook Fanpage.

AND for more great wedding ideas and inspiration, visit US over at our FACEBOOK page too!

Have a delicious day,