Eric Gross & Ellen Cope Wedding in Malibu

As much as Steve and I love and adore Boise, we can’t help but admit, it is always a pleasure to be hired to photograph a wedding outside our normal stomping grounds. We were thrilled when Eric Gross and Ellen Cope asked us to photograph their wedding in Malibu, California.

The celebration was held at Saddlerock Ranch, a thousand-acre, privately owned estate (part of the Malibu Family Wines) nestled deep in the Santa Monica Mountains.

As we drove into the property, we found it to be a veritable cornucopia of visual delights, with fruit and avocado orchards, acres of vineyards snaking up the hills, and an abundance of pasture-land, all framed by pristine white fencing.

A view of Saddlerock

This working ranch hosts a menagerie of animals ranging from horses, cattle and llamas to more exotic species such as zebra, camels, ostrich, peacocks and parrots.

The natural beauty and secluded rustic charm of this venue provided a beautiful backdrop for Eric and Ellen’s wedding celebration.

As we turned into the driveway, canopied by stately trees, we saw the pristine setting for the ceremony. Bamboo chairs had been set up on an expanse of green lawn facing a huge old graceful willow tree. In front of the willow stood a  log and grapevine altar.

Steve and I made our way to the Cabana, where Ellen and her bridesmaids were getting ready.

We found Ellen in the bathroom where make-up artist, Amber Kerns was busy working her magic on the lovely bride.

As Ellen and her bridesmaids beautified themselves, Steve and I took the opportunity to photograph the bride’s stunning custom-made Caroline Herrara gown and Jimmy Choo shoes (flown in from Italy for the occasion).

The gentlemen, not needing quite as much time to get ready, arrived a bit later.

They also changed in the Cabana, but were directed by the ladies to do so up in the loft.

Numerous attempts were made to get Eric’s tie tied just right.

First Angle Attempt. "I think this will work if I pretend I'm tying the tie on me."

The first try was not successful, so a second attempt was made trying a different angle, much to the groom’s parent’s humor.  The efforts continued on until they finally got it.

Once the gentlemen were dressed, Steve took them outside for a series of fun shots.

As the ladies put on their finishing touches, Eric took advantage of the moment to rehearse his vows.

Shortly thereafter, we did the “reveal”. At our request, Eric turned his back to us as we had Ellen step into place.

When Eric turned around and saw his bride, he was truly blown away. Ellen had never looked more beautiful. His facial expressions in the next two photos are pretty telling.

I think it would be fair to say that this man is smitten by this woman, (with good reason!)

Steve took some beautiful pictures of the couple alone, together, and with their wedding party.

Then we photographed various combinations of family members.

As guests began to arrive, the wedding party sequestered themselves in the Cabana. There, they signed the Ketubah; the Jewish wedding contract.

Once everyone was seated the procession began.  The music was provided by the Ambrosia String Quartet.

Officiants, Rabbi Martin Solomon and Reverend George Rushe

Ellen’s father, Larry escorted her mother, Julie down the aisle.  Eric followed, escorted by his parents Paul & Judy .

Once at the alter, Eric patiently awaited his bride.

The wedding party made their entrance.

The children and Sadie (the bride & groom’s dog) required a little coaxing .

At last, it was Ellen’s turn to walk down the aisle on the arm of her proud father.

At the altar, Larry kissed his daughter, and hugged his soon-to-be son-in-law.

And the ceremony began.

Eric and Ellen recited touching vows that they had written themselves. Each was an incredibly beautiful expression of the love they hold for one another. Eric was so excited to be marrying Ellen, he was almost giddy. Ellen was a bit more reserved, but nonetheless delightfully happy to be entering into this union.

The two of them exchanged rings.

The final blessing was given.

And the two were pronounced husband and wife. Eric kissed his beautiful bride.

Then, in the Jewish tradition, he stomped on a cloth-wrapped glass to seal the deal.

The happy newlyweds led the wedding party back down the aisle.

Immediately following the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Singer Piper Alvarez, backed up by a band put together by the legendary  Clarence Johnston (on drums) provided music for everyone’s listening pleasure.

As the sun went down, twinkle lights suspended from the giant sycamore trees gave the area a magical ambiance.

Following dinner, toasts were presented.

Then Eric and Ellen took to the floor for their first dance together as husband and wife.  Their movements started out slow and romantically.

But then they picked up the pace.

Ellen danced with her father

and Eric danced with his mother.

And then the rest of the guests were invited onto the dance floor.

Eric and Ellen cut their cake and delicately fed one another.

Wedding traditions continued with Ellen tossing her bouquet,

Eric tossing the garter,

and the Hora dance, where guests sat the bride and groom in chairs, and then hoisted them into the air as the crowd sang and danced to Hava Nagila.

It was a fabulous celebration from start to finish.  Steve and I were honored and grateful to have been a part of it.  We wish Eric and Ellen a life filled with love, joy and adventure.

To view all the pictures from this wedding, click here:

Or if you’d like to view a slideshow of some of our favorite images from the event, click here:

All photographs copyright Steve Smith Weddings.

Kallie Wren & Curtis Crandal Wedding – Lucile, Idaho

Destination weddings are by far my favorite nuptial events to photograph. They provide limitless opportunities ranging from a weekend away from the usual routine to really getting to know people who may be new acquaintances or even long time friends. The weekend of July 24 – 26th was one such destination wedding that I will not soon forget. My friends Kallie Wren and Curtis Crandal chose the banks of the Salmon River in Lucile, Idaho (three hours north of Boise) as their espousal setting. Lucile sits nestled deep in a canyon near Riggins where the confluence of the Salmon River and the Little Salmon River lies. This quaint location is a hotspot for fishing, hunting and my personal favorite, white water rafting. I was super stoked that Kallie and Curtis were able to bring together such a great group of people in a gorgeous little spot for their special day.

I arrived mid day on Friday with just enough time to scout out the locations before sneaking in a quick raft trip down the Salmon. One hundred degree temperatures made the cool river waters incredibly inviting. The eight mile stretch is a rather mellow run similar to the Main Payette offering up a few decent rapids that are sure to kick up some water. Three hours of relaxation was just what the doctor had ordered. We arrived back at the Riggins Motel to find the brunt of the younger crowd freshening up and preparing for a night out on the town.

Our evening had us checking out the local fare at Seven Devil’s Steak House and enjoying some live music down at the Rodeo Club. It was a rockin good time.

Another bright sunny day slowly began to warm the valley as guests arose to the sound of coffee makers dripping. Round two of rafting awaited everyone who was adventurous enough and had time to spare before the ceremony. I opted to stay and prepare for the days events back at the hotel. I was able to make time for a quick trip to one the Salmon’s countless sandy beaches for a nice swim. The refreshing waters kicked me right into high gear before the afternoons events.

By 3:00pm I was dressed and ready for action. I began at the Motel where a few of the bridesmaids and the majority of the groomsmen were preparing. From there we hopped on the shuttle bus bound for Lucile. We arrived to family and wedding parties bustling around as they finished getting ready.

“Fresh, dressed like 50 cents” – I grabbed the boys for a few quick shots while the girls fine tuned their last little adjustments.

The long awaited reveal of Kallie came as no surprise. Her jaw-dropping good looks stopped Curtis in his tracks as he watched the bride-to-be descend elegantly down the stairs.

It was clearly evident that these two were madly in love. The two sat there embracing one another for quite some time. I had to coax Curtis into letting me take Kallie away for a few pictures of her with her bridesmaids.

Now that Curtis had waited patiently it was their turn for some shots together.

Glistening with sweat from the blazing summer sun, Kallie found the nearest fan for a pre wedding cool down.

The tranquil sound of rushing water echoed in the background as the ceremony began. Curtis sat anxiously with his back to the Salmon River as he waited for his bride to accompany him. Glimmering rays of sunlight fell across Kallie’s face as her father Rob escorted her down the aisle. Kallie was graciously handed over to an eager Curtis by Rob and the wedding ceremony was all but ready to commence. But wait, there was a surprise guest entrance. Since Curtis couldn’t bring their dogs to the ceremony, Kallie took the liberty of blowing up two photos of their pups and had them marched down the aisle to accompany them. Now the ceremony was officially ready to begin. Papa Dick spoke touching words of wisdom to Kallie & Curtis before they went on to exchange their own handwritten vows. Each was creative and heartwarming but Kallie one upped Curtis with a bit of an inside story at their ongoing competitive nature. She passed along a $20 bill that had been bet back and forth since high school. Smiles spread across the audience as Curtis reluctantly took the $20 back. Before exchanging rings they were treated to a heartwarming song played by Kallie’s cousin and uncle. It just so happened  that Kallie’s cousin was the Grammy nominated pop singer-lyricist, Stacie Orrico. Her soothing yet powerful voice brought tears to several of the attendees. Still wiping tears from her eyes, Kallie extended her hand to receive her beautiful ring. Kallie presented Curtis with his after a bit of nervous fumbling. To close, those long awaited words, “you may now kiss the bride” came from Papa Dick’s mouth. Curtis wasted no time with a classy kiss before being presented as Mr. and Mrs. “Randal” (ask Curtis about the inside joke).

A short while after the ceremony had concluded, guests were invited to the reception just down the road. The location was “Bob’s House”, a family friend of the Wrens with a beautiful spread over looking the river complete with an expansive lawn and stone laid dance floor. A delicious feast consisting of pasta salad, veggies, red potatoes, grilled chicken and even a whole roasted pig brought water to the guests mouths as they sat anxiously in line. Everyone was given ample time to enjoy the succulent meal before asked to grab drinks in preparation for the toasts. Curtis’s best man and uncle, Tyson, was first up to bat. He managed to stay calm and collected with every word he spoke. Next came Kallie’s sisters Megan and Addie. Each gave praise to Curtis and affectionate remarks to Kallie.

All cheery from the toasts, the couple made their way to the dance floor where Curtis enclasped Kallie for their first dance.

Kallie’s father Rob took over from there for the father-daughter dance.

Things moved right along. Cake cutting followed the dances. Being the gentleman that Curtis is, he let Kallie have it. Fortunately, Kallie’s kind heart took it like a champ and attempted to get Curtis back.

Not soon forgetting his mother, Curtis headed back to the dance floor for his mother-son dance.

Friends and family were invited to the dance floor to join in on the action. A group collaboration of “Shout!” made for a fun shot.

A reception isn’t complete without the bouquet and garter toss. Curtis gave Kallie a little show before heading commencing the search for that frilly band hidden on Kallie’s leg. Once the garter had been tossed, DJ One One asked the garter-catcher to place the garter on the bouquet-catcher’s leg. Here’s the catch, they switched the female bouquet-receiver for one of the groomsmen. Let’s just say the guy was a little confused..

After a lengthy duration of dancing, Kallie and Curtis said their goodbyes and departed on a raft strapped to a trailer. This bad boy was fully decked out with decorations. It was a rather fitting way to end such a great day.

I’m so thankful to have been a part of the whole experience. I met some great people and genuinely had a fantastic time! More photos will be made available by clicking here. All images are copyright of Steve Smith Weddings.

Here’s a couple other fun random shots from the reception.

Christine Eakin & Hector Felix Wedding – Malibu, CA

Often times people tend to throw caution to the wind when hiring friends to participate in their wedding matters. I can understand the concern for impending lack of professionalism and potential for unpleasant butting of heads. However, from my personal experience I have found the opportunity to work with friends to be incredibly rewarding. Typically, a wedding photographer is going to be going to be involved with some intimate moments with your family and friends. Knowing my clients and having my clients know who I am ahead of time makes everyone more comfortable when the big day comes. 

I have know Christine Eakin for close to three years now. We met through her son Alex who happens to be one of my closest friends. Back in December of 2008 Christine inquired about the possibility of me shooting her wedding. She mentioned a potential destination wedding someplace warm. My eyes lit up like a kid entering Toys ‘R’ Us for the first time. No matter where the final destination was to be I eagerly cleared my calendar to accommodate her March 21st date. As the big day approached so too did a decision on a wedding location. Talks of a rented house in the hills of Malibu, California was what reverberated my way. Visions of mansions sporadically erupting along the hillsides over looking Highway 1 quickly came to mind. There was no hiding my excitement for this new adventure. 

March 19th finally came and we were bound for sunny California. A quick flawless flight had us taxiing on the LAX runway in under two hours. Before we knew it, we were headed down Lincoln Blvd. aiming for Highway 1. A short while later and we pulled through the private entrance on up to the house that we were staying for the weekend. Not wanting to Now I have seen lifestyles of the rich and famous and seen millionaire mansions on TV but have never experienced one first hand. My jaw dropped straight to the ground. This house was a sprawling 12,000 sq. ft. overlooking Zuma Beach… Did I mention that I really enjoy shooting events for friends? 

My long weekend started off on the right foot. I spent the better part of Friday relaxing and familiarizing myself with the location. I was fortunate enough to meet Hector and Christine’s families, catch some waves at Zuma Beach and wind it all down with a nice soak in the hot tub. 

Saturday came with open arms. To a certain degree I really enjoy the hustle and bustle of wedding day happenings. Guests and families arriving, last minute ceremony/catering/djing details to go over and the random hiccups provide enough nervous anticipation to force bursting cardiac rates. It’s enough to drive anyone insane but when the music starts to play and the wedding party starts to walk down the aisle everything is put on hold for life to be lived in the moment. 

I’ll admit that most brides and grooms tend to wear their stress on their sleeve but I must say that Christine and Hector were probably one of the calmest wedding day couples I’ve come across. They handled any issues with ease and transitioned from the pre wedding madness to the ceremony without skipping a step. Yet even with their ability to handle all the madness you could still see them block everything else out as soon as their first steps down the aisle began. 

The ceremony brought Christine and Hector’s closest family members out on the grounds of the massive Malibu residence. Christine and Hector stood elegantly at the edge of the expansive vista over looking Zuma Beach. A traditional ceremony flowed effortlessly and before you knew it, Christine and Hector were officially wed. 

Greetings and blessings were exchanged before the guests were invited to partake in a delicious feast of simplistic yet classy meal capable of satisfying just about any appetite. Stories of the couple’s past were told, toast were given and congratulations were passed as everyone enjoyed their meals. It was a real opportunity for everyone to get to know the positive values as well as a few embarrassing moments that Christine and Hector have embraced. I’m pretty sure that just about everyone had a little chuckle and smile somewhere during the events. I know I sure did.

Cake cutting and dancing carried the latter part of this beautiful wedding on to the wee hours of the evening. I truly had a great time meeting everyone and having the opportunity to capture all the special moments. I hope you enjoy going through the pictures as much as I have. More images can be found by clicking here.

All images copyright Ray Gadd and Steve Smith Weddings