it started with a smile.

it was the smile that his mother had when she found out she would be having her first child; it was her smile when she found out it was going to be a little boy; it was her smile when she met him and knew his name was elijah; and it was her smile when she realized he smiled because of her love.

meet elijah. the cutest little man i think i have ever met. the little man with a smile than already lights up a room and lights up our hearts.

i am pleased to have met him and his proud mommy for some casual portraits in laguna a few weeks ago. we spent a lovely afternoon together getting to know each other, and by the end of it we were great friends.

i am honored to show you these portraits of elijah and elizabeth– they are a little glimpse into their lives, their hearts and their love.

these are the moments that we treasure… sort of.

elijah, you are so loved!!!

now you know where elijah gets his good looks from…

elizabeth… you’re stunning!

I remember the first time I met Anna: it was at our high school’s football game on a cold Friday in November. I remember thinking that she was the coolest fourteen year-old I had ever met, and I was glad to know her. We danced that night– I like to pretend like I can swing dance, and tried to teach all my friends after the game that night. I remember the sheer joy and exuberance that radiated from her then, and I’m glad to report that I can still see and feel it now. In the decade since that night we have grown to be great friends and something like family. I am so proud of the incredible woman she has become, and am overjoyed to see that she has found her partner for life.

Gabe and Anna met me on the street of her childhood home and we all walked about enjoying an extraordinary Southern California November afternoon. We walked over to Brand Park where she has so many memories of playing with friends and growing up. I am so glad she could share this place with the love of her life, Gabe– and I’m especially glad to have been there to capture some photographs of them together.

Their love for each other is shared in smiles and laughter, something I cannot get enough of. Thank you friends for allowing me to be a part of your lives, I am forever thankful.

*** Make sure you check out the {ENGAGEMENT ALBUM} I designed for them that can be used as a sign in in book at their wedding ***

my favorite thing about these two– they’re always full of laughter…

It’s been a busy month so far and we are so excited to be working on something very exciting! We are designing a line of save-the-date cards that can be printed as 5×7 flat cards (to be sent as postcards) or 5×7 folding cards that are awesome and inexpensive options for save-the-dates! 

These are custom designed by yours truly and can be changed to match your color pallette or font!

Email me and let me know if you are interested! Here’s a preview of a postcard style save-the-date I designed with a VERY trendy aqua and red color pallette for a spring/summer wedding. 

ALSO, we are designing a line of custom holiday cards that will be available VERY SOON!

Sometimes I wish I could go back to high school… first of all to knock some fashion sense into the 15 year old me, but also to make more informed choices about college. I probably would have enjoyed a smaller campus with proffesors who were actually approachable, but I chose to go to the big school with the big name. I wish I would have had Lauren around to tell me that I had more options, more choices. 

She’s the loveliest college freshman to hit campus this year… and I’m sure she is going to have an extraordinary time there! Lauren just started at a little college in the pacific northwest where she can wear coats and jeans and boots and all that cute clothing that we rarely get to wear here in Southern California. She’s also going to have such a wonderful time sharing moments and experiences with people that are a lot like her… articulate, intelligent and brilliant! She’s going to look fabulous in her pea coats and Wellies when it snows and I am so excited to see her grow into the amazing woman I know she is on her way to being.

I am so blessed to have had an opportunity to spend one of the last warm summer afternoons with her and am so happy to know her. Thanks Lauren for hanging out with me, I’ll never forget it!