Wedding Portraits at the Wright Ranch in Malibu

Writing this entry feels like an excerpt from my journal. Two days after Jackie and Skylar’s DTLA Grass Room wedding in Los Angeles we hopped in our Jeep and drove to Malibu, California for their portrait session. We travelled down the Pacific Coast Highway taking in the authentic California coastline views and then proceeded to climb the winding roads up the mountains of Santa Monica. Being from Alberta, I’m no stranger to death-defying cliffside drives but this one certainly reminded me of all those road trips through the Rockies when I was growing up out West. The nostalgia of it all combined with our reeling emotions of the recent wedding day really had me appreciating the small in-between moments of this once in a lifetime experience.

As you drive into the Wright Ranch you turn the corner and everything unfolds in front of you, like a whole other world suddenly revealing itself right before your very eyes. At first you see the stunning minimalist architecture of the building, then the vintage trailer literally built into the cliffside, and as you getting even closer the California valley fills your field of view. A panoramic view of Malibu, the ocean, and the sky all appear at once, and it rendered me utterly speechless.

As a photographer and curator I have been heavily influenced by architecture and it’s ability to influence how we engage with a space. The Wright Ranch creates an accessibility that allows you to explore wherever and whatever peaks your interest. We were lucky enough to be there with the bride and groom as well as their families and bridal party who really embraced the whole experience. Before we got started, I stood back and observed. It was so fascinating to watch each of them explore different spaces of the ranch and some of them even headed off on their own to take it all in.

The experience of being up on top of the world in California was one in a million. I don’t have many words for it other than an it was an overwhelming outpouring of creative energy. Jackie and Skylar had fallen in love with the ranch when they first saw it and you could see how much it meant to them to be there. They wanted to take it all in, exploring every nook of the minimalist space and the ground that surrounded it. We played a bit of their favourite music as they shared their quiet and intimate moments in the ranch, it was enough to give you the good kind of chills knowing that there was an authentic and engaging experience unfolding before you.

We were able to slow things down and shoot the session on digital and analog film. Shooting both 35mm and medium format, we were really able to capture the feeling of the environment and the emotional energy that transpired from being in such an awe-inspiring landscape. Brian shot medium format 6x7 slide film to create mini cinematic frames to transport us back to that moment in time is something that can never be replicated by digital photography and a big reason why we still shoot so much analog film in our wedding photography and personal work. Being able to look at the slide film by simply holding it up to a light really allows you to connect with the images and it’s a little window into our experience. I’m excited we get to share that with the bride and groom.

Our time at the Wright Ranch felt like a low-key celebration of the entire experience in California. It was the last time that Jackie and Skylar were surrounded by the people that are most important to them and a chance to just take a deep breath and let everything sink in after a whirlwind of emotion on the wedding day.

I feel like maybe I will wake up tomorrow and this will have all been a dream. This experience holds a very dear place in my heart and it will always be a fond memory, not only as a wedding photographer, but as a human being. What we have left are our negatives, some slides, the photographs, and an unforgettable story to tell.

VENDORS
Photo Location: Wright Ranch, Malibu
Collaborating Photographer: Brian Bettencourt, 3B Photography

DTLA Wedding at The Grass Room

One year after their sunrise engagement session at Underpass Park in their now home in Toronto, we all flew out to Los Angeles for Jackie and Skylar’s wedding celebration in beautiful Los Angeles California.

Skylar is from Orange County and Jackie is from North Carolina, they met at the National Ballet school in Banff, Alberta and moved across the country to Toronto to dance for the National Ballet of Canada. They decided to get married in Los Angeles, a place that has a lot of sentimental value for them both and was the perfect place for them to gather their closest friends and family for a joyous celebration.

Jackie and Skylar decided to host their day at the DTLA Grass Room, which is a converted greenhouse now turned wedding venue. Now, I’m sure you are picturing something very specific but this isn’t your average greenhouse. The Grass Room is located in the North Sea district so naturally it has a blue facade with a giant whale mural visible from the street. It has massive ceilings with site specific murals high up on the walls and themes of underwater life and a tropical jungle subtly incorporate all the aspects of it’s quirky history. The eclectic and modern design of the Grass Room is completely unique and every aspect of the space has been meticulously redesigned to tap into your imagination and bring you into a whole other world. It was unlike any other wedding venue we’ve ever photographed.

The bride and groom’s fun, easy-going personalities were reflected and highlighted throughout the events of the day. They started off the celebrations with their emotional (but hilarious) ceremony that had the guests laughing through tears brought on by the sentimental and deeply rooted vows. I always love seeing couples write their own vows and often when they go to recite them they both bring up the exact same reasons why they love each other and how much they’re looking forward to spending their whole lives together. It’s a not-so-subtle look into the intricacies and history of two people’s journey together and for Jackie and Skylar it was evident how they each played a significant role in one another’s growth and personal evolution. Those are real things that create a profound bond that naturally blossoms into a genuine and sincere love such as that of Jackie and Skylar.

There was truly, never a dull moment and I sincerely mean that statement. From the champagne tower that Skylar filled a little too full, to both of them trying to cut the cake through multiple layers unsuccessfully, they had theirs guests on their toes but laughing the whole way. It was a relaxed atmosphere, there was nowhere else to be and all the guests were present and soaking in this incredible day.

The high emotions were carried throughout the entire event and were capped off with some incredible live performances by their close friends and a special performance by Skylar’s little sister. Their friends did a duet to the song “Rivers and Roads” by the Head and the Heart which was powerful and gave you goosebumps. It was followed by the groom’s younger sister performing her favourite Taylor Swift song, which she was practicing over and over in the backroom prior to her performance. The bride and groom stood at the front of the crowd absolutely captivated and took in the unreal performances, singing along and tearing up while having the biggest smiles on their faces. It’s so clear that music plays such an important part in their lives and being able to have these live performances by those closest to them was really a culmination of it’s significance. Oh, and did I mention Skylar played a set on the drums as well? He was able to have his drum teacher from back in the day and his band perform at the wedding so naturally Skylar had to show off his skills. The crowd went wild and the night continued with a buzz of excitement and energy that elevated the party to legendary status.

There were so many small details that clearly held strong meaning to both the bride and groom that made their day unique and a true reflection of their relationship. There was a quote from their all-time favourite band the Lumineers on the marquee in the back courtyard, the vintage lounge space that reminded me of their Toronto apartment had a book from their proposal and a book from their engagement session to give it a home-sweet-home touch. These are all just a few examples of the way they were able to express themselves in this quirky, mythical feeling place, combining their experiences of Los Angeles California and their now home of Toronto into one ethereal atmosphere where everything just felt right.

This day feels like it was pulled out of a fairytale and sometimes I have to look back at the photos to remind me that it was all real. To put it lightly, the opportunity to fly out to California and experience this day is an unforgettable one. Jackie and Skylar, your wedding day not only lived up to the hype, but it without a doubt exceeded it.

This blog post is Part One of Two. My journey with Jackie and Skylar didn’t end after this incredible day. You can check out Part Two where we headed up the coast to Malibu for a spectacular bridal session a couple of days later.

VENDORS
Collaborating Photographer: Brian Bettencourt, 3B Photography
Florist: Eothen Floral
Planner: Ro & Co. Events
Accommodation: Hotel Covell
Venue: DTLA Grass Room
Cocktail Catering: The Whaling Club
Catering: Hungry Bear Catering
Coffee Station: Long Shot Coffee
Videographer: Cinema Life Weddings