Weddings Archives - Jasmine Star

Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel Wedding : Stephanie+Phillip

Jasmine Star — Tue, 10 May 2016 06:00:19 +0000

Everyone knew this was different. It wasn’t the giddiness, excitement, or laughter that comes with a bourgeoning relationship that showed how smitten they were. While those things were present, it was quiet, methodical actions that made friends and family realize that this? This was different.

Stephanie would wake up early to help Phillip plan for USC tailgating parties, even spending the night before loading his car with snacks, a grill, and libations. Phillip would stay up late studying for law school finals with Stephanie, even heading back to the library after a Lakers game just to be by her side. It was their systematic actions of care and devotion that made people realize they were destined for a long life of love and commitment.

Stephanie and Phillip married at The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, along the shimmering Pacific Ocean. They promised each other to continue their love not by way of mere words, but actions. Late nights at work, sunny tailgating days, and a Maldives honeymoon was on the horizon, but little mattered more than their simple promise to remain at each others’ sides. Forever.

It was a bright and sunny day in Orange County, California. The couple prepared at The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel and had lots of sparking accoutrements on hand…

Stephanie surrounded herself with friends linked back to her childhood days in Massachusetts…

Stephanie and Phillip opted to see each other before the ceremony, which created lots of time for wedding photos…here Phillip waits to see his bride…

Phillip was clearly excited to see his future wife…

Stephanie was a radiant bride…

The beauty of seeing each other beforehand is the bride and groom can enjoy a private moment on their wedding day to simply be and enjoy…

The afternoon was gorgeous and spending the day with a group of amazing bridesmaids was a blast…

Phillip, you’re looking might dapper, pal!

The groomsmen were full of laughter all day…

The couple set aside ample time for wedding photos and the beautiful grounds of the Ritz Carlton made for a gorgeous backdrop!

Lucky for the sweet couple, the sun created the most stunning patterns of light…

Off to the wedding ceremony…

After the wedding, the couple walked to the beach and enjoyed more time together…

Officially Mr. and Mrs…

An all white, classic reception? Yes, please.

Guests dined around long tables filled with aromatic scents and beauty…

The First Dance…

A little bit of showing off…

And a round of applause for their first spin as husband and wife…

The toasts were hilarious and sentimental…

And lots of toasting ensued….

The dance floor was packed the entire night…

Love…and laughter…

I’ll end on this note because the couple spent their first night as husband and wife surrounded by those they love the most: friends and family…

Many thanks to the amazing team who brought this wedding to life…

Venue: The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel

Planner: Kerrie Underhill

Florist: Nisie’s Enchanted Garden

Makeup and Hair: Flawless Faces Inc.

Videography: Elysium Productions

Band: DuBois Entertainment

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Featured : Your Wedding Day Magazine

Jasmine Star — Tue, 03 May 2016 06:00:26 +0000

When Kim and I first met, it was by way of Skype. We chatted about her wedding day, her love for Cris, and the amazing details they had planned for their wedding at Pelican Hill Resort. I was immediately struck with her care an concern for others, and the fondness she had toward her father. These characteristics manifested themselves beautifully on her wedding day (her guests were treated like royalty, and her dad planned surprises like a confetti bomb to ensure it was a joyous celebration), so it was no wonder her photos were featured in California Wedding Day Bride Ideas Magazine…

Kim and Cris hosted their friends and family to a spectacular day in Newport Beach, and it’s an honor to see their memories in print!

Many thanks to the amazing team who made this day come to life…

Venue:  Pelican Hill Resort
Coordinator:  Platinum Weddings by Kerrie
Florist: Nisie Vorchard of Nisie’s Enchanted Florist
Makeup: Carina Lindgren of Flawless Faces
Furniture:  Found Rentals
Band:  Rembrandt Band
Photography:  Jasmine Star

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Should Photographers Request an Unplugged Wedding from Brides?

Jasmine Star — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 04:15:20 +0000

Dear Jasmine,

I have a question about ‘unplugged weddings’. Personally, I’m all for it–nothing makes me happier than the thought of brides putting the kibosh on Uncle Bob’s DSLRs, or every single person on their phone in the background of a first dance, or someone stepping into the aisle with a tablet…

Have you ever thought about asking your brides to consider having an unplugged wedding? I’m not sure if that makes me look unprofessional? I’ve been reading about some photographers requiring there to be no other cameras present during the day, and that sounds a little like heaven to me.

But again, I’m not sure if it’s right. What are your thoughts on this?

Sincerely,

Kibosh the Kameras

Dear Kibosh the Kameras,

When I shot my first wedding 10 years ago, there were–maybe–two guests with cameras. At the most recent wedding I shot, every guest had a camera. Take a moment and soak that in. Every. Single. Guest.

These guests were personally invited by the bride and groom, all treasured people in their lives. Guests traveled across the world to be there, grandma’s lower lip quivered when she saw her granddaughter walk down the aisle, and the groom’s brother flew in from serving in Iraq. At one point or another throughout the wedding day, guests wanted to capture the moment on their camera. It was their memory, their vantage point, they wanted to keep as their own.

No matter how superior my technical skills or artistic impression may be, guests want to capture the moment…for themselves.

As a result, I wouldn’t ask my clients for an unplugged wedding. Ever. My request would mean that my photo is more important than grandma’s photo. And it’s not. Both photos are equally as important, albeit for different reasons. Would I prefer to shoot an unplugged wedding? YES. Guests are present, there are less distractions, and it’s much prettier to photograph without all the clutter of guests’ cameras. But it’s not my decision to make. I follow my clients’ lead to ensure they’re happy and get the day of their dreams.

It’s Not About Us,

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Featured : Destination Wedding in Italy

Jasmine Star — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 14:05:01 +0000

When she emailed me, it wasn’t your average email. Erica crafted what could’ve been the first chapter of a beautiful novel, but instead sent a letter asking if I’d be interested in shooting her wedding in Tuscany, Italy. After a series of dance moves in my office, I replied YES.

Erica and Carl eloped, and promised each other Forever on the grounds of La Foce. After I photographed their wedding in Tuscany, they spent three weeks traveling the countryside and returned to their Florida home to celebrate with friends and family.

Much to my delight, the editors at Style Me Pretty featured their destination wedding and I couldn’t be more honored. This wedding marks one of my favorites of 2015!

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Association of Bridal Consultants : OC

Jasmine Star — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 21:42:47 +0000

Last night I had the honor of speaking to 150+ wedding professionals in Orange County, California. I was totally blown away by the caliber of industry peers…and the outpouring of love and support. It was privilege to teach about How and Why to Create a Personal Brand, but–more so–it was a privilege to stand in front of people I’ve worked with for over a decade.

Last night I joked that those of us in the room share a mutual sense of crazy…we must be crazy to love the wedding industry. It’s demanding, exhausting, and requires full attention, all the time. But its also deeply fulfilling, creative, and allows us to connect with amazing clients along the way.

The one thing I wanted attendees to walk away with was the encouragement to share their stories. We all possess a unique story, and if we invite clients to be a part of it, they are empowered to share, endorse, and support us in unparalleled ways.

Many thanks to ABC OC for the honor.

The event was sold out…more than 150+ attended!

Many thanks to my lovely husband/business partner for capturing these photos…

Takin’ it to the CHURCH OF BRANDING+BUSINESS…

Just kidding…I spoke about serious stuff…and included a reference to Real Housewives…because, well, duh.

Incredibly honored to meet so many amazing peers

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Lodge at Torrey Pines : Wedding Photo Shoot

Jasmine Star — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 04:52:00 +0000

Being able to do what I love is a powerful thing. But what I love even more is the ability to invite others to join my journey. Yesterday I mentioned I had a shoot featured in Ceremony Magazine. While awesome, what made my heart soar was hearing photographers say they were part of the shoot as well as a result of watching hours of behind-the-scenes video footage as part of my 30-Day Wedding Photography Bootcamp.

All I wanted to shout was YES(!!!) because it was synergy from an amazing creative team, a wonderful opportunity from The Lodge at Torrey Pines, and the crew from CreativeLive who made it come to life. What resulted was a beautiful shoot, a magazine feature, and online education for thousands of photographers. Talk about life-giving!

Many thanks to this amazing team for bringing this shoot to life…
Venue: The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Coordination: Couture Events
Floral: Blush Botanicals
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals and Hire Elegance
Makeup: Makeup by KC
Invitations: Whimsique
Photography: Jasmine Star

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Featured : Ceremony Magazine

Jasmine Star — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 05:39:00 +0000

She reached out as soon as she got engaged, sending a letter with photos of her and her fiancé. Shana sent a heartfelt email, shared her love story, and insisted I’d be her wedding photographer…and I was smitten. She was so sure of her decision, I immediately agreed and became excited to document her love story in Lake Tahoe. What I didn’t fully understand was just how beautiful her day would be.

Shana and Joe said their backyard wedding was a celebration for friends and loved ones, but it was a day rich with history and deep family ties. Their gorgeous wedding was featured in Ceremony Magazine and I couldn’t be happier to see their images in print.

Shana paid extra attention to all her wedding details to ensure they were a reflection of their love and personalized every step of the way…

Three days before the wedding, it was pouring rain in Lake Tahoe (it even hailed the size of golf-balls). Weddings in July along the lake are usually peaceful and glorious in the summer months, so while the bride worried the weather wouldn’t cooperate, it eventually did. In the best of ways.

Many thanks to the following team who helped make this day possible…
Venue: The White House, part of the Edgewood Lake Tahoe
Designer/Planner: Amazae Events
Florist: Petalworks
Stationary Designer: Caitlin Edmunds
Cake Designer: SweetTooth Confections
Bridesmaid dress designer: Paper Crown
Furniture rentals: Archive Rentals
DJ/Band: Main Band: All Star Jukebox
Special Performer: Lia Rose
Caterer: Edgewood
Photographer: Jasmine Star

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Featured : California Wedding Day Magazine

Jasmine Star — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 04:02:00 +0000

Erin and Angela of Sterling Social introduced me to Danielle and Randy on a crisp evening in Los Angeles. They welcomed me into their stylish home and was greeted by their cat, who rubbed his body against my pants as he meandered by. We spent the first half of the meeting simply talking about life, love, and future dreams…and it was then when I realized I wanted to document their wedding because they were awesome people. And I love awesome people.

Danielle and Randy booked me for their wedding at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills and the day was nothing short of perfection (being chosen as Glamour Magazine’s 16 Most Beautiful Weddings of 2015) and featured in California Wedding Day Magazine. It is an honor to see their wedding photos in print.

Many thanks to the following team for bringing this wedding to life…
Venue: Four Seasons Beverly Hills (Linet, many thanks to you and your team for being so accommodating!)
Event Production and Design: Angela and Erin of Sterling Social
Floral and Decor: Sky Flowers
Linens: La Tavola
Furnishings: Revelry
Hair and Makeup: Contour Fossa
Videography: Cloudless Weddings
Entertainment: West Coast Music
Wedding Gown: Vera Wang
Photography: Jasmine Star

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2015 Highlight Reel

Jasmine Star — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 04:55:00 +0000

Every year I post a end-of-the-wedding-season blog post highlighting photos from our new annual portfolio. While I love it, I realized it lacked a certain panache, so I looked for ways to make my efforts dynamic and engaging…specifically as a way to attract new clients.

I’m a born creative and an avid marketer, so when I put this slideshow together, I realized I produced a pretty cool highlight reel to show prospective clients. Not only am I using this slideshow to showcase my images, I’ve inserted video footage of me shooting to give perspective into my creative process. Here’s what transpired…

For those interested in creating their own highlight reels, I used Animoto for this slideshow (classic style) and The Music Bed for the licensed music.

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