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Ojai Wedding Photos in a Teepee

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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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T hey met in college as friends. Amanda tried to strategically choose her seat according to where Nate sat and hoped they'd strike up long, meaningful, and deep conversations in a casual way so it didn't look like she was trying as hard as she was. But Nate was oblivious to her seat picking and simply saw Amanda as the sweet girl who made him smile.
The semester ended and though they were both English majors, Nate and Amanda didn't see each other much until she crossed his mind a couple months later. Again and again. Nate took a chance and sent her a message through Facebook and what he didn't see at the time was Amanda's reaction to his message. OH MY GOODNESS THE CUTE GUY FROM MY ENGLISH CLASS MAY OR MAY NOT BE HITTING ON ME!!!
That was the start of their whirlwind college romance which later led to a wedding and starting a life together. Much has changed since their English class days (they got a cute house, started a photography business, and adopted an adorable dog), but they decided to revive wedding memories for the sake of photos. And I couldn't have been more honored to document their love. |


| Nate and Amanda secured a perfect shoot location in Ojai, California for wedding photos...every inch was stunning... |


| And the light was beyond... |



| Many thanks to Jesi Haack for creating a stunning bouquet... |


| Oh, Amanda...you are beyond--BEYOND--stunning!! |


| One of the best things I learned about Amanda was that she sourced vintage clothes during college, restyled them, and sold them in an Etsy store...that's how she paid for college. She's even so creative she made her own wedding dress...love it! |



| After a few traditional wedding photos, the shoot took a slight spin to really show their personalities... |


| The lovely and uber talented Jesi Haack styled the shoot to reflect a Wes Andersen-inspired twist on camping... |



| I was so, so, so (that's three so's) thankful to have Beauty by Melina onsite for hair and makeup...I adore working with her and her sense of styling... |




| I asked Nate and Amanda for a few words on being newlyweds and if they had advice... I think it's good to frequently ask each other how you are doing. It's a simple question, but sometimes when you ask you find out that you had no clue your partner was even feeling a certain way. As cheesy as it sounds, make time to snuggle. 5 minutes of daily snuggling should be mandatory! ;) Don't stop being silly with one another...ever. Laughter is so important. And lastly, always remember how lucky you are that you got to marry your best friend. (These last 2 sentences are Nate's contribution. He's a man of few words...but a few heart-melting words)." |





| I'm incredibly honored to have this shoot featured on Green Wedding Shoes, so to see more photos, feel free to check it out! |




    

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Crestwood Inn Wedding : Lanier+Scott

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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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T he house was filled with such beautiful decor it gave the impression it was made from the forest in which it resided. The floor, the ceiling, the chandelier were made of various woods, like the trees that once were took pride in their final form. Lanier's mom glided across the living room with trays of food, or jewelry, or a bouquet of flowers, ensuring her daughter was well taken care of. Because, well, the house was a place of respite and would continue to be on the wedding day.
Their vacation home in Blowing Rock, North Carolina was a special place, but for two memories in particular. A few years ago, Lanier valiantly battled cancer and after being treated by amazing doctors at UNC (Go Tarheels!), she recuperated in her family's cabin. Surrounded by trees and the sounds of birds singing, Lanier promised God to live a beautiful life if she was granted time.
Not only was Lanier granted time, God brought someone special into her life. Once Scott and Lanier met, their lives flipped upside down. Together they inspired their friends and family to shine brightly and give generously, but it wasn't until Scott spent the weekend with her family in their vacation home that he realized Lanier was destined to become his wife.
The trees and the forest on their wedding day reached their arms toward heaven and swayed in delight as two beautiful souls promised each other eternity.
Lanier and Scott, I have no words. To adequately sum up everything you are, the beauty of your day, and the fun of your wedding would be impossible, but what I hope is that these photos document your unadulterated love. Thank you for making us feel like part of the family (your dad invited us for holiday dinners, so don't be surprised if we show up again soon!) and surrounding us in your amazing care. The world is so much better with you two in it. Much Love and Appreciation... j* |


| Lanier donned a stunning Ines Di Santo gown. She made personal customizations to it with her seamstress for a unique look and I think it was perfectly suited for her! And just look at this stunner of a ring... |


| Lanier and I tried conspiring to have her dog a part of the wedding, but her father wasn't having any of it...at least she was around for prep photos! |



| The day started at Lanier's family's vacation home in Blowing Rock, North Carolina and just one weekend in that glorious state and now I swear I have roots there. I'm trying to be Southern without appearing like I'm trying too hard, y'all. And, boom, I failed. |


| Lanier and her father have such a special relationship...it made me teary-eyed at some points. The ring she is wearing on her right hand was given to her by her father years ago as a promise to wait for the perfect man to become her husband...as a wedding surprise for Scott, she removed one of the diamonds and set it on the inside of his wedding ring. She stayed true to her promise to her father. |



The wedding and reception was held at Crestwood Inn and Resort in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The wedding was supposed to outdoors, but it was pouring rain just hours before the ceremony...lo and behold, when the ceremony started, the sun peeked and made for an amazing background.
Just look how happy Lanier's dad is... |



| As they walked down the aisle, a choir sang and the sun burst from the clouds...like heaven itself was celebrating too! |


| Lanier and Scott carved out time for wedding photos and a moment to relax together and now I'm convinced every backdrop for North Carolina wedding photos is just perfect. Amen. |



| Oh, Lanier, just GO ON with your gorgeous self! |



| The details and the flow of the wedding day wouldn't have been possible without Ivy Robinson and her effortless coordination and design. She was the hardest working woman at the event and handled everything with such class...loved working with her! |




| The wedding was filled from top to bottom with so many flowers...it was like walking through the most stunning garden. Ever. Many thanks to John Lupton + Andrew Thomas for the stunning florals. |








| I don't even know where to begin to describe this wedding reception...suffice to say, it was so darn amazing I wanted to be a guest!!! The food, the music, the guests...everything was elegant, soul-filling, and perfect. |


| There aren't enough adjectives I could use to describe my love for The Party Crashers Band. They were flown in from Salt Lake City, Utah for this wedding and they were beyond. Beeeeyond. So much fun!! I couldn't help but shake along with them and they made the night extra amazing! |




| A perfect way to end a perfect day... |






    

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Kate Spade Inspired Wedding

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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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W e met at a coffee shop filled with college students and managed to secure a table in the corner. We'd been introduced many times before, but it was the first time Lindye and I were meeting just to hang out. To talk, to breathe. Better yet, to dream. She's an interior and event designer (her home decor is so creative if feels like a interior design photo shoot is just begging to happen), but we left business at the door and chatted the afternoon away.
It was then Lindye became a friend, not just an industry peer. Since then, our friendship has grown, so when she put together a Kate Spade inspired wedding photo shoot, I was honored to shoot it. An amazing team was assembled and everyone's collective ideas were brought to life. |





| Taking inspiration from Kate Spade's prints, patterns, and bright colors, Lindye created a wedding full of life and whimsy...so fun! She described the shoot as wanting a modern feel, "so the location for the shoot is in an art gallery that is the perfect blank canvas to build upon. First is the ceremony! A colorful striped runner rests between the sea of ghost chairs, leading up to the aisle and (drum roll for a unique twist) continues several feet up the wall for a dramatic effect. |


| A huge and special thanks to Nicoletta Daskalakis for modeling...she's actually a makeup artist here in Southern California, so she's lucky to know how to work being behind and in FRONT of the lens! |


| Krista Jon is one of my faves! Not only is she a floral mastermind, she indulges me with permission to style flowers as I'm shooting. I joke I was a florist in another life and she gave me a wink, which clearly meant she agreed! :) |





| Lindye describes the reception details...Each place setting features a unique custom placemat that was made out of plexiglass, highlighting the menu with the guest's name and darling silverware graphics. Each plate is wrapped in a napkin and secured with a ring to create a bow. Also donning a bow is the beautiful cake with polka dots and a cascading circle backdrop. |





| Love Love Love bright colors and bold pops of attitude in this wedding reception design...so much fun! |


| Pink champagne to toast a great day? Yes, please! |


| To see more photos from this Kate Spade wedding inspiration, feel free to cruise on over to Style Me Pretty today! |




    

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Featured : Utterly Engaged Magazine, Issue 25

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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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A few weeks ago, I had the honor of working with Utterly Engaged Magazine for its featured shoot. I adore the editors, Henny and Lucia, especially their generous spirits and kind hearts. They envisioned a themed wedding shoot inspired by tweed and leather and assembled a creative team I couldn't be happier to work with.
UE Issue 25 is now live and our feature can be seen starting at page 94. |




















    

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Featured : Huffington Magazine

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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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I was incredibly honored when Erin Migdol of Huffington Post Weddings reached out regarding an article she was writing. She wanted to interview me regarding one of my favorite wedding photos (captured at Mikaela and Shane's Vancouver Canada wedding) and the story behind it. The story was featured on Huffington Post Weddings, but the even better news was that it was picked up for a feature in Huffington Magazine.
The stories I get to document as a wedding photographer give me the utmost fulfillment and satisfaction. I'm sure I can speak for the other wedding photographers who were featured along with myself when I say we're indebted to our clients' love, trust, and support to follow our passion. |






    




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