Desi Baytan Photography

I’m especially thankful for a wonderful year of collaboration, creativity, and camaraderie. Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving holiday! And here’s a little something to whet your appetite from the Utterly Engaged blog. Stay safe and be with people you love. Peace!

Sameena and Pedro had a modern Indian Muslim wedding at the Hyatt Huntington, designed by one of our favorite event planners, Kismet. Amana and Saadia really out done themselves with the design of this rich and vibrant wedding.

Congratulations to Cassie Black and Josh Green on tying the knot at a private residence in Pacific Palisades. An elegant affair designed by Hilary Hamer of Hilary Hamer Weddings and Events.

La Jolla Shores is a popular beach for tourists and locals because it provides one of the most beautiful stretch of beaches in Southern California. With fine sand and relatively slow sloping shorelines, one can walk a good distance into the ocean and just be waist deep in water. Surfs are mild in some spots which also makes for a long ride to shore on a boogie board. My kids loved it here during our short visit. While the water was a cool 60° F, having a body suit helps. After boogie boarding, there is always something to entertain my little curious scientists. Sea life like the sand crabs are one of them. Easy to spot because they make tiny spouts of water as the water recedes back. They just dig in and filter them out. Plus who could resist building monuments of sand castles to fill the time? I wish I could put down my camera and join in on the fun but someone’s gotta make meaningful memories, right?

August was that time again for my annual trek up to San Luis Obispo where family and friends took time to get away. We came right in time for Thursday’s farmers market where Higuera Street is closed off for people to roam freely to enjoying food, fun and entertainment. And as usual, I brought my camera for the occasion because there’s always something interesting going on. I got to chat with a nice old gentleman, “Uncle Sol” as he’s known, who plays the fiddle in and around town. He showed me a photograph (the one he’s holding in his hands) that won him 1st place in a photo contest. A delightful man who entertained me with some of his tunes. While there we stopped by the famous BubbleGum Alley right on Higuera between Broad and Garden. The kids were either amazed or disgusted or both.

How fantastic is this issue?! Grazing the pages of issue number three, is our collaboration between Twine Events and Oak and the Owl. A shoot that inspires us to rethink the getting ready aspect of every wedding. A gracious thank you to Kate Holland, the editor of Magnolia Rouge for featuring our work. We couldn’t be happier. We love you Kate! And without further ado, here is issue no.3:

The wedding of Susan and Alan, surprisingly, did not take place in Napa, nor Sonoma nor Santa Barbara. It wasn’t even a winery. It was held a the beautiful Turnip Rose Promenade & Gardens in Costa Mesa. Right alongside the venue, just a walk, skip and a hop away, is a lovely vineyard perfect for formals for the soon-to-be married couple. And a perfect place for their first meet. I could tell the tension building up as we were ready to photograph Alan seeing Susan for the first time in her gown. The long narrow isles of grapevines made for a long, anxious walk but as the two meet, nothing but smiles came upon them. And like the light scattered scene of green, silver and white, so too was Susan and Alan’s chosen color palette. And the design elements were sprinkled in natural woods and burlap that gave the wedding a touch of rustic. Lastly, a twist in tradition–a ribbon bouquet toss. In fact this was the first I’ve seen this happen where the bride holds the bouquet surrounded with lines of ribbons, but only one lucky single lady wins the prize.

Vendors for this wedding:

Venue: Turnip Rose Promenade & Gardens – www.turniprose.com
Makeup: Joyce Luck Style – www.joyceluckstyle.com

Whenever we get together with Erica España of Twine Events and Nancy Teasley of  Oak and the Owl, something magical happens. It’s like when those two ladies touch anything it turns to Gold! See fer yerself.

It is an esteemed honor to have worked with Deanna Tat of Chic Ambience Events on this grand wedding at the famed Vibiana. Three cheers! Hip hip…

See the rest of the post on SMP!