Michele and David's Wedding // Laguna Beach
This being my first blog, I wanted to make sure that I had something special to share with you all. I was fortunate and blessed to have my first contracted wedding to share. I was first referred to the bride, Michele, by a photographer friend. I was told this would be a small wedding. I then got in touch with the bride Michele. She informed me she would only need me for 2 hrs, 3 at max. She then shared with me this wedding had been put together in two weeks, reason being her mom was diagnosed with PANCREATIC CANCER......my heart sank for her. Being in the medical field, I see how devastating cancer can be, especially for this type of cancer. It's like a dandelion, it spreads quickly and if not very forgiving. Her cancer had unfortunately already spread to her soft tissue. I felt led to be there for her, to capture whatever memories I could of her and her mom. Although weddings are suppose to be a beautiful and joyous event, it was also going to be bittersweet. Michele hired me according to her budget but I promised to stay all day and capture what I could. The wedding would be held in Laguna Beach, in a small gazebo and then reception would follow at a restaurant. This being my first contracted wedding, I was completely excited but also so very nervous. Not only are weddings a once in a lifetime event but also this had so much more significance than what I feel most weddings do. We arranged for a day to meet and go over the schedule for the day. We met a local Starbucks and as soon as I met Michele, I knew she was a special person. We started going over the schedule, where she would be getting ready, the size of both locations. The groom, David, was also there, and he is such a nice man that will make you laugh. Both had children from former relationships so this would be not just a union of two lives but of two BIG families. Michele and I soon started talking about how she had decided she wanted her mom to see her wed before she passed. I felt this was such a selfless act for her because this was so rushed, I knew that this was probably not what she had envisioned but this was what became a priority, for her mom to be part of and witness her wedding. Michele and I connected on different levels, we were both in the medical field, we both grew up with single hard working moms and we were both the only girls with two brothers.
I soon realized how special her relationship with her mother was because I share the same with mine.
As I prepared for the wedding, I asked a friend to assist me with this, small wedding or not, I needed all bases covered to service this beautiful couple as best I could. Their special day finally came! She had gotten a hotel room at Art Hotel in Laguna Beach, a small little hotel with, what it looked like, local art work. When I walked into the room I noticed the make up artist looked familiar from somewhere.......I just could not pin point it. We soon realized she had been one of my previous patients! It is amazing what a small world it is and It was even more clear to me that I was meant to be there. I then met Michele's mom, Felicia. She was moving slowly, I could tell she was in pain. We began to take pictures of Michele getting ready. The room was small and friends and family were filling It up quickly. Now wedding days can be super hectic but the one thing that I ABSOLUTELY LOVED about Michele was the fact she never ever panicked. This is the type of person Michele is, she sees the glass half full, all the time. Felicia was resting on the bed and at one point she was even laying down......I was trying to hold back my tears. One concern was if she was going to be able to walk Michele down the walkway. As time got closer to the ceremony, Michele was putting on her dress, her daughter and friends were helping her with the fitting. I asked her if Felicia would be able to stand up and put the veil on? She got up, waited for instructions and held herself so well as we took some time to capture this. I could see Michele's eyes tearing up at times, but she was so unbelievably strong. I think if it had been me, I would have been sobbing my eyes out. The bride was finally ready and off we went.
The ceremony took place inside a small gazebo in Laguna Beach that over looked the ocean. We waited for the bride and briefly discussed with her brothers if they would walk her in case Felicia couldn't. Everyone was getting ready for her to arrive. The day was still very bright out and because this was on the beach, the area was congested with many people walking by which made a little nervous to say the least about having so many people in the background. Michele arrived with her mom, both hand in hand. David waited patiently in the gazebo as we captured some moments of Michele with her mom and brothers. The ceremony began, it was short and sweet. We then proceeded to do Michele and David's portraits. I loved seeing their love. Truly. I've seen where grooms can get tired and frustrated but David was the sweetest with Michele and never once complained. They were both such an amazing couple to work with. Although the area was full of people, they were so open to the poses and were enjoying themselves and their new commitment to their union. They would kiss and laugh, I think I saw Michele laughing most of the time. We ended the portrait part of the event and headed to reception at Avila's El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant in Santa Ana.
The wedding itself was small and intimate but full of love from both friends and family. Although this was a restaurant, they had reserved the banquet section where they were able to have a first dance. Michele was tearing up as she gazed into her new husbands eyes. A toast was given by Jason, Michele's brother and then I proceeded to get a few more images as the night ended. I told Michele I would be contacting her in a few weeks for delivery. The one thing she kept telling me was, "I trust you".
A few weeks, 4 to be exact, went by and I finished editing the pictures and contacted Michele to set up a meeting day. I felt so nervous taking this long to edit but not once did she ever contact me to ask when the pictures would be ready. She rather contacted me to tell me she and David closed escrow on the house they were hoping to buy and she then text me a day before we actually met up to share with me her mother, Felicia, had passed. I wanted to be sensitive to her needs and to the timing of course and asked if she wanted to reschedule. She reluctantly said no, she still wanted to meet. I met up with her and David and my 3 little monsters at my local Starbucks. I showed them some of the pictures, shared some of my frustrations and disappointments in the lighting we had faced or the amount of room we had had for shooting. I was so nervous as they browsed through the pictures but was put at ease when she said she didn't like the pictures but loved them. For me a wedding is such a big commitment and an honor to be a part of that I did not want to disappoint them.
Michele then shared with me the timeline and events that led up to her mother's passing and how her mother passed in her arms with her brother by her side. Michele as an LVN, shared how she was able to care for her mother. I found myself crying with them and thanked them for allowing me to be a part of this. We cried and asked if I could pray for them. This is what made my first contracted wedding experience so special. I asked myself, will all clients have this situation? No, probably not. But I have found myself making this human connection with a complete stranger. To me that is worth far more than how much money I made on this wedding because I know we connected. I mean, I can't even remember the name of my wedding photographer but I know and hope she remembers me as much as I will do them.
Michele with her mom, Felicia
Felicia Lozada 1944-2017