The One with Vaness & Daniel's Wedding :: Getting Ready

Everybody wants to live happily ever after
Everybody wants to know their true love is true...
How do you know he loves you?
(How does she know that you love her?
How do you show her you need her?)
How do you know he's yours?
(How does she know that you really, really, truely-)

Well does he take you out dancin' just so he can hold you close?
Dedicate a song with words in
Just for you? Ohhh!

He'll find his own way to tell you
With the little things he'll do
That's how you know
That's how you know!
Lyrics: "That's How You Know" - Enchanted Soundtrack

I struggle to find the words to say how much I truly love Vaness and Daniel. They are closest friends here in San Diego because most of our other close friends live elsewhere. God has truly brought us together in friendship, but also as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Being able to be a part of their wedding day meant so much to Adam and I. So much so that it was difficult for the both of us to maintain our composure most of the day and hold back the joy that was just overflowing from our hearts. For me, overwhelming emotion typically manifests itself in tears, so I struggled most of the day to not cry all my makeup off. :)

Of course I couldn't leave my camera at home the day of the wedding. How I managed to take more photos on this day while being IN the wedding than I normally shoot at a wedding that I'm NOT in, is beyond me. (I actually had a blister on my thumb at the end of the day. I think that balancing my camera with my right hand while holding a bouquet in the left hand had something to do with it. Multi-tasking, perhaps?) Once Melissa Koehler arrived though, I did try my best to stay out of her way. I had a hard time picking out my favorites, which is why this series has taken so long to blog.

I think it's totally different when the people you're taking photos of mean so much to you. I honestly believe that you can't help but want to capture all the moments because they are all special and boy, did God give them SO many beautiful moments!

Eliza had her iPod stereo and a little wedding playlist that started out with the Enchanted CD. I thought it was fitting because Vaness loves Enchanted so much and in many ways she is just as joyful and genuinely cheerful as Amy Adams is in that movie. Plus, it was her wedding day and she was getting married to her Prince Charming!

We started bright and early with getting our hair and makeup done.


Marilou getting her hair done.




Ginger getting ready.


I love when Marilou smiles because it just lights up her whole face. :)


Vaness' dress. It was so small!






The back of Vaness' gown.


Heidi getting her hair done.


The bride is awake! Sisterly love.


The poster Eliza made for Vaness. Vaness is a big *NSync fan. Like how our heads are pasted on top of theirs?


Airbrushed makeup! So cool.


The card Vaness gave to Daniel. It was so cute and even had a sonnet inside the little book. How romantic!


Having fake lashes can make taking photos quite difficult, but did that stop me? Nope! :)


Vaness writing Daniel's card.


The bride getting ready!


The flowers Daniel bought for Vaness...


...and the delicious desserts too! (From Heavenly Sent Desserts)




I loved the bouquets... absolutely beautiful.




Eliza getting makeup done.


Vaness' mom getting a first look at the bride.


Vaness' dad hamming it up for my camera. He's a Canon shooter too!


Papa Castano's first look at the bride.


Daniel's mom.


The tote bags that Vaness had made for us. SO sweet. Mine was pink and brown! :)




Vaness's mom kept telling Eliza that she needed to wait a long time before she got married. Awww! So sweet...


Love the note... it's so "Vaness"


Heidi's hair all done.


Look at those lashes! Watch out, Sasha Fierce! You haven't met Vaness! :)


Moms.


Marilou and Heidi


Eliza and Ginger.


And me too.


The moms showing off their matching gold purses!


Vaness' SUPER tall 4" heels.




Vaness' mom's outfit.


Daniel's mom getting ready.




Curls.


Easily my fave shot of the whole day. I think Enchanted was playing while I took this shot. I love this girl.




Vaness' mom talking about how she remembers when she gave birth to Vaness, an 8 pound baby. 8 pounds? Really? I'll believe it when I see the proof. :)


Loved the hair clips.


Going to the chapel and we're gonna get married...




Tristan (Daniel's brother) escorting Vaness to the chapel in the mini-cooper.


She looks like a princess in her carriage in this shot.

More to come!