Desi Baytan Photography

Connie here talking about the Utterly Engaged first year anniversary Ultimate Hoedown BBQ Throwdown.  Eva, Henny & Lucy, the girls of Utterly Engaged, threw an utterly fabulous party!  Summer from Grey Likes Wedding styled the marvelous dessert table with sweets provided by the incomparable, Melody, at My Sweet & Saucy. Oh did I mention who will win the coveted BBQ Hoedown?  Find out later in this post.   It’s all about good eats!  HeeHaw!

Whimsy floral elements provided by Honey & Poppies!

The rope UE cake top is ingenious!  And more pink and white ropes styled the dessert table.  Very Western!

Mustache Mafia men scheming to get the upper hand.  Will their sliders be enough to win the Ultimate Hoedown BBQ Throwdown?

Izze Sparkling Juice and cowboy boots.  A country hit.

Upper left: Me, Connie with Amy Squires from Weddingchicks.  Next: Leila Khalil and the lovely ladies from Be Inspired.  Note the very creative wooden horse photo prop and the stylish cowgirls!

Grasslands Blue Grass band was the band of choice when it comes to country western!  Check out Dominic from Cartoon Slinger.  He’s the fastest draw in the Southland.  But the line of people waiting to be drawn kept growing longer until the party was over.  The way he drew eyes piqued my curiosity; I, too, waited patiently to get our turn.  I LOVE how that drawing turned out.  It looks kind of like me, but only sexier.  Talk about vanity!!!

Above right: Amy from Weddingchicks and the fab ladies from Utterly Engaged and me. And finally  Vox DJ announcing the winner of the best BBQ Hoedown… and the winner is…The Mustache Mafia!

A former student of UCLA, Stacy knew where to go for their engagement session – right on the quad next to Royce Hall.  It’s spacious, green, and what looked like a popular hangout.  We brought a big bag of goodies of colorful fun stuff to celebrate Summer.  What better way to do it with old fashion soda-pop, colorful suckers, hats, and funky glasses.  Just add grass, trees, and sun and we have the ingredients for a fun Summer engagement session.  And with just one more added touch.  We included an old film camera just because it’s so chic.  With digital cameras so ubiquitous, an old Nikon F3 film camera is so refreshing to see.  By the way, I got this camera from eBay for $250 and it works perfectly.

Boylan’s Creamy Red Birch Beer bottle looks so old-fashioned, I couldn’t resist adding this to our shoot.  Plus it really went well with the mini picnic table stand.

Ah so nostalgic.  Film couldn’t be more chic with a Nikon F3.

John looks like a pro with that old Nikon SLR.

Stacy and John brought along some cowboy hats and I thought, whoa there!  Howdy cowfolks!  Let’s use them under them trees over yonder.

Kelly and Michael love books.  The first thing that catches your eye when walking into their living room was the wall-to-wall book shelf.  And it’s not just your typical collection mind you.  Perusing the titles, I didn’t see the usual cook book, self help, and how to guide books but instead, I found a plethora of literary marvels of the early 20th century authors like Franz Kafka, Ernest Hemingway, Friedrich Nietzsche, and not one inch of the shelf was unoccupied.  Love of books may be an understatement.  It probably is more like an indulgence or even a passion for literary works of art for Kelly and Michael.  So it was apposite that they incorporated this infatuation with books into their wedding theme that made for an original take on “simple elegance.”

Their reception was at Pasadena’s picturesque resort, The Langham Huntington.  And at The Langham, within that golden hour of sunlight, there is this magical moment which makes a magazine style photo shoot possible.

There are some serious reads on the shelf.  Note Kelly and Michael’s “Save the Date” card on their fridge door, next to this very funny note that says, “drink coffee do stupid things faster with more energy.”

Nothing about this wedding is typical of what we’ve captured before.  And that’s what I love about weddings is that we’re always experiencing something different and something new.  Marriage in a Russian Orthodox church is steep in rituals and symbolism.  What’s shown here is the “crowning”, the denouement of the wedding service. Kelly and Michael were crowned as king and queen of their own kingdom, in which is a very significant bestowment of matrimony.

Gardenia was the flower of choice and it made Kelly’s bouquet intoxicating with its perfume.  LOVE the hair piece made with Gardenia; it nestled so beautifully on Kelly’s hair, accenting her blue earring.  The ivy garland is yet another example of the simple elegance.  Flowers were designed by Euri and Kendra at Fleuretica.  Lighting by Jack at The Music Man Production

Guest seating was organized by Kelly and Michael’s favorite authors, and on each table were stacks of the books written by those iconic authors.  A very personal touch.

Want to give a big thanks to Katie Tiffany at Tiffany Weddings for making this day run so seamlessly!

Vendors for this wedding:

Venue: The Langham Huntington, Pasadena
Event Coordination: Katie Tiffany of Tiffany Weddings
Lighting: Jack Hou of TMMPRO
Flowers: Kendra & Euri of Fleuretica Floral Design Studio
Photography: Desi Baytan Photography
Hair&Makeup: J Beverly Hills Salon

Macarons are one of my favorite desserts.  They make wonderful wedding favors and photograph beautifully because of their cute round shape and vibrant colors.  So, while traveling Europe, we sought out macaron stores to have a little taste test.  You would find macarons among other desserts in many patisseries.  The notable macaron shops we saw are Pierre Hermé, Laduree and Jean-Philippe Darcis.  You would see assortments of macarons up to 12 different flavors, and colors nestled next to gourmet chocolates.  We also found them in gourmet markets like the Le Bon Marche in Paris.  What should a good macaron taste like?  First and foremost it should have a light and fluffy texture; when you bite into one, there should be little resistance but pure soft and puffy consistency.  Like biting into a cloud.  The filling should not be too sweet.  Contrasting flavors such as a tart filling against the sweet cookie outside will have you beg for more.  Out of all that I tried, I have to say Pierre Hermé makes the best tasting!  For us living in the states, worry not, we have a few specialty stores that make macarons, just as tasty as the European counterparts.  Joie Patisserie, for one, is my favorite!

“Eco-Chic Destination” best describes Robin and Ken’s wedding.  Residing in Toronto, Canada, Robin and Ken got married in the beautiful resort of Highland Springs & Resort in Cherry Valley, CA, 2 hours east of Los Angeles.  Over the course of one year, Robin, Ken and their planner, LaDawn Williams, from Platinum Lining Events, tirelessly exchanged ideas over Skype, which made this long distance planning possible.  Robin, a botanist, loves plants and trees, and Ken, a professor in Biology, loves hummingbirds and animals of all kinds.  It is no wonder that they chose the Highland Springs & Resort for their wedding.  This venue has century old trees, olive groves, fields of lavender, a true haven for all things natural.  Irises Designs created an organic posy that complemented the beauty of the venue.  Their wedding style reflects of what they are: organic, natural and real.

Couples usually hire us for our photo-journalistic style.  Robin and Ken were no exception.  They preferred an observer’s perspective to document their wedding day and preferred not to be the center of the attention.  I obliged, but first I indulge on composing a lot of portraits for them because they looked stunning against the beautiful backdrops.

When traveling in Europe a refreshing sight was the way people got around.  Yes, there are cars and motor cycles but what was most astonishing is the amount of bicycles on the road.  And what’s even more surprising is the way they dress while riding bikes.  Here in the US we see avid riders in sportswear.  But in Europe, Amsterdam especially, it is common to see women in dress and heeled boots zigzagging around town like it’s a fashion statement.  So I dedicated this post to thousands of bicycles and the people who embrace this way of getting around.

In March Connie and I took a photography excursion to Europe to capture the art, the culture and the history of the old world. When we planned this trip, we had a few criteria.  One, we wanted to travel on our own time, and two, do as the locals do.  With that in mind, we avoided any guided tours and we focused on immersing ourselves in the cultures of the places we visited.  So, we took our time, we wore off the soles of our shoes, and enjoyed the many foods they have to offer.  We stayed in apartments equipped with kitchenettes and close to town squares so we were central to everything.  We shopped at local markets and prepared our own meals.  Sometimes we splurged and had an authentic dining experience.  We spent a week with our friend, Madeleine, in Besançon, a city south-east of Paris, and got a true taste of French living.  And everywhere we went, we captured everything with our cameras.

In our 19-day journey we walked on century-old cobble stones, witnessed serene countrysides, sipped strong coffee, tasted fresh pastries, sampled beautiful macarons, enjoyed pungent yet delicious cheeses, visited quaint villages, and drank fantastic wine!  In the next few posts, we will share our photos and our experiences.  Join us, as we travel to our European destinations and see what you normally won’t see in a guided tour.

Antwerp train station, Belgium.

Anwerpt train station, Belgium.

Brussels, Belgium.

Brussels, Belgium.

Brussels, Belgium.

Brugge, Belgium.

Brugge, Belgium.

Brugge, Belgium.

Brugge, Belgium.

Panorama of a center square. Brugge, Belgium.

Our friend Madeleine in her kitchen.  She is an amazing cook who introduced us to simple and elegant French cuisine. Besançon, France.

Madeleine’s jardin (garden).  Soon these trees will bear fruit which will be made into preserves.  Just like the ones Madeleine served us for breakfast.  Besançon, France.

On top is the Citadel and down below is the entrance to the city of Besançon, France.

A panoramic view of the city of Besançon, France.

A roundabout. Besançon, France.

Farm house near Besançon, France.

Mr. Emile Brutillot, a farmer and artisan sausage maker.  La Chaux de Gilley, France.

Bourguignon, France.

Niedermorschwihr, France.

On Route Des Vins D’Alsace near Colmar, France.  A region know for their white wines.

Village along Route Des Vins D’Alsace near Colmar, France.

Village along Route Des Vins D’Alsace near Colmar, France.

Eyeing delicious French baguette in Colmar, France.

View from the top of Chateauneuf. Burgundy, France.

Near Chateauneuf. Burgundy, France.

Near Chateauneuf. Burgundy, France.

Canal of Burgundy near Chateauneuf. Burgundy, France.

Cows amused by tourists. Burgundy, France.

Gown by Deborah Lindquist Designs. Flowers by Lauryl Lane Floral Design.  Hair and makeup by TH Makeup + Hair Design

Gown by Deborah Lindquist Designs.  Hair and makeup by TH Makeup + Hair Design

Gown by Deborah Lindquist Designs. Flowers by Lauryl Lane Floral Design.  Hair and makeup by TH Makeup + Hair Design

Gown by Deborah Lindquist Designs.  Hair and makeup by TH Makeup + Hair Design

Gown by Deborah Lindquist Designs.  Hair and makeup by TH Makeup + Hair Design

Gown by Deborah Lindquist Designs. Flowers by Lori’s Flowers.  Hair and makeup by TH Makeup + Hair Design

Gown by Deborah Lindquist Designs. Flowers by Lauryl Lane Floral Design.  Hair and makeup by TH Makeup + Hair Design

Gown by Deborah Lindquist Designs. Flowers by Lauryl Lane Floral Design.  Hair and makeup by TH Makeup + Hair Design

Gown by Deborah Lindquist Designs. Hair and makeup by TH Makeup + Hair Design

Gown by Deborah Lindquist Designs.  Hair and makeup by TH Makeup + Hair Design

Gown by Deborah Lindquist Designs. Hair and makeup by TH Makeup + Hair Design

Gowns by Deborah Lindquist Designs.

I must say the ladies at Junebug Weddings really know how to pick creative wedding photography.  One of my destination wedding photos was chosen for their Best from the Best 2009.  And for me to find another one in “What Junebug Loves!” section was a real surprise.  What Joy!  There are lots of creative photographers in the mix so I’m very pleased.  Thanks Kim, Christy and Blair!