Desert Wedding at Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa

Natalie and Chris were married on October 31st, 2020 in Palm Springs. While you may be thinking, “wow, a Halloween wedding?!” it actually wasn’t! The wedding dates just worked out that way. Natalie and Chris met in 2015 on a dating app. While on a trip to Maui in 2019 for his 31st birthday, Chris proposed to Natalie in front of a gorgeous fountain at the @grandwailea!

For their wedding, Natalie and Chris wanted a warm and romantic vibe with desert tones and fall-inspired decor. They absolutely love the desert palm trees and mountainscapes. An open and airy venue was really important to them, so they could have indoor and outdoor space. When they found the Rancho Las Palmas Resort, they were ecstatic! With the San Jacinto and San Bernardino mountains encompassing you, the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa provides extravagant indoor and outdoor areas to accommodate intimate ceremonies, lavish soirees, and everything in between. They instantly loved the openness of the venue and were so excited to enjoy the beautiful outdoors of the desert, with the reception on the rooftop giving beautiful views at sunset.

On the day of their wedding ceremony, Natalie and Chris exchanged gifts with one another. After recording their personal video interviews, it was time to capture the first look. Natalie opted to do a first look with her father as well, as he wasn’t able to join her when she said yes to the dress. Natalie wore a gorgeous gown from L'amour by Calla Blanche. After the ceremony, the bride and groom as well as their guests headed to a beautiful outdoor space to host the reception. Dinner and drinks were flowing, followed by wedding speeches and first dances. Chris and Natalie finished their wedding night surrounded by friends and family, and were sent off into their future through a sparkler exit! 

Vendors:

Coordinator: @weddingswithpamolson
Event Manager: @whimsicalweddingsbycarly
Photographer: @arcfilm
Videographer: @venture_outbound
Decor: @vasobello
Make Up: @marissatorres + @_beautysanctuary_
Hair: @lalas_hair
Minister: @joyfulweddingsevents
DJ: @crowdcontrolent
Rentals: @sigpartyrentals
Dress: @styledbytc

What is An Adventure Session?

The “Adventure Session” is simply our version of an engagement shoot, but more fun! Instead of being placed in poses, we bring those poses to life and create authentic interactions between you and your future spouse. We take a very personalized approach to creating our videos. Since this is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, we want to make sure we craft a video that is based around the most important thing, you and your love. It’s also a great opportunity for us to make you feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. We want you to feel ZERO stress on your wedding day and this session tends to help get rid of those camera-shy jitters.

We’ve created this guide to help you feel comfortable, confident, and excited for your adventure session! There’s a lot to go over, so let’s jump right in!

TIPS FOR YOUR ADVENTURE SESSION

You want your session and film to be perfect, and so do we, which is why prepping is super important! If you look at your session as having an adventure, ‘cause let’s face it, this is not your everyday happening, you’ll realize this can be fun and it should be. We totally understand being filmed can seem intimidating, but it’s our job to make this a comfortable and stress-free session. We’ll spend time teaching you everything you need to know. By the end of the session, you and your fiancé will be pros!

When it comes to styling, we always think staying true to who you are is best. If dressing up is your thing, then dress it up! But if you’re more comfortable keeping it simple, then some fun accessories can help make things more interesting, like a necklace or bracelet. High heels can also make you feel more confident – but keep in mind the shooting environment. It won’t be much fun if you get stuck in rocks or mud, so make sure to bring a backup pair of shoes.

We HIGHLY recommend our couples make a night of their Adventure Session. Use the fact that you’re already dressed up and make a night of it! It might be the perfect time to try that new restaurant or head for some fancy cocktails!

Location and Timing

Since we film weddings most weekends, it’s usually easiest for us to coordinate your Adventure Session on a weekday. We love chasing the sun, so we plan our sessions about 2 hours before sunset. Sunset times will vary based on the time of year, so make sure to keep that in mind.

California is known for its beautiful locations up and down the coast, incredible mountain views, and even desert landscapes. We’ve got it all, so finding a place for your Adventure Session should be no problem! Here are three things to consider before choosing your location:

1. What’s your theme? Your Adventure Session can help set the tone for your whole wedding celebration, so it can make sense to tie the location into your overall theme. For example, if you were planning a rustic affair, then an outdoorsy spot for your Adventure Session might fit perfectly. If you have your heart set on a particular location, let’s do it!

2. What do you enjoy doing together? Your Adventure Session is about YOU! It may be a good time to celebrate any shared interests between the two of you. Do you enjoy mountain biking? Then you might choose an adventurous forest park. If eating out is more your thing, then a downtown location with picturesque streets could be perfect for you.

3. Do you share any special places? Do you and your future spouse have a place you love going to? If there’s a particular location that’s meaningful to you as a couple, it might be worth making it the stage for your Adventure Session. It could be where you shared your first kiss or even where you shared your first ice cream!

We’re happy to travel up to 250 miles from Aliso Viejo, CA free of charge. If you’re looking to make this session super special, we’re ALWAYS up for an adventure out of state or internationally! Depending on the location and your package selection, there may be additional fees. Some of our favorite spots are Yosemite National Park, Big Sur, Redwoods National Park, Lake Tahoe, Sierra Nevada Mountains, Joshua Tree National Park.

What to do with your film

Finally, our most asked question is “What should I do with this adventure session film?” You could just leave it sitting on your computer, or you could put it to good use in your wedding planning. Here are a few fun ideas to consider:

1. Opt for “video” stationary. Sounds interesting right!? We’re all about saving the planet and conserving, so why not choose a paperless Save the Date, Invitation, or even a Thank You message that puts your film front and center? Websites like “The Knot” and “Zola” allow you to create free wedding websites where you can use the film as a save the date or invitation. Your wedding website is the first stop for most guests to find out more about your wedding, so it’s a great place to play your beautiful video footage.

2. Tease your guests on social media: If it isn’t on social media, did it ever really happen!? Share your video online with all your social media outlets! Tag the vendors you’ll be using, tag your bridal party, heck, tag your parents! Get everyone excited for your once-in-a-lifetime wedding day! After the video is shared, but the video link in your bio so that anyone can watch your adventure session video.

3. Show the video during your wedding: Think about the possibility of weaving your film into your big day. Some couples like to play the video during cocktail hour or during the reception. This gets guests even more excited to be at your wedding and in the mood to celebrate!

And there you have it. If you’re interested in booking an Adventure Session, don’t hesitate to reach out and learn more, or, watch one of our most recent videos below!

Portola Springs Wedding - Marcella + Herman

The first time we met Marcella and Herman, we knew their wedding day was going to be absolutely magical. Marcella and Herman had been together for 13 years before their wedding; since high school to be exact! The couple have three beautiful children, but at the time of filming their wedding video, they only had two. During this sunny California wedding, Marcella was actually pregnant! But, no one knew (yet). Marcella and Herman announced the news at their wedding reception, and in May of 2020 they brought home a beautiful baby boy.

These two are so in love with one another, and their guests exuded love right back to them. The wedding ceremony and reception were held at the Portola Springs Community Center in Irvine, CA. Portola Springs Community Center is a beautiful multi-use facility. It is directly across from the Limestone Canyon Regional Park, which makes for some seriously gorgeous views. 

Marcella wore an absolutely gorgeous crepe fit and flare wedding dress with a sweep length train and that keyhole back from Anomalie. This was paired with a unique jeweled belt around her waist. As she walked down the aisle, arm in arm with both of her parents, she wore a white flat-brim hat. Talk about style! The groom and groomsmen looked dapper in brown tweed 3-piece suits from Grooms Grotto, matched perfectly with brown leather shoes. All of the gentlemen opted for no tie or boutonniere, which gave a playful and modern vibe to their outfits. 

After the beautiful ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests headed to the dance floor, which was outside on the terrace. Everyone had so much fun dancing alongside their friends and family, and busting out some signature dance moves. Marcella and Herman know how to throw a real party!

Bride - Marcella Tutson: @marcellalyn

Ceremony: Lawn of Portola Springs Community Center

Reception: Patio of Portola Springs Community Center

Wedding Planner/Coordinator: @weddingsbykatlin

Florist: @unforgettablemoments13

Wedding Photographer: @keith.robertson

DJ: @la_regg_ent

Dress: @anomalie

Suit: @groomsgrotto

Saxophonist: @hayesjralvin_

10 Reasons to Hire a Videographer AND a Photographer

We know more than anyone that planning a wedding can be stressful! Researching the perfect vendors to help you pull off your big day takes up a lot of time and energy. You’re probably reading this because you’ve come across wedding videography and asked yourself, “Is it even necessary?” Many people are quick to dismiss the service on the grounds that they already have a photographer. We’d argue that hiring a videographer should be at the top of your priority list. While having photos of you smiling and dancing the night away is amazing, you could also have beautiful videos of the special and candid moments throughout the day. If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine the value of a video? 

Let’s break things down and help you decide to hire a photographer AND a videographer. Here are 10 benefits to wedding videography:

1. Videos Capture What Photos Can’t

Your marriage vows, toasts, speeches, and music can’t be photographed. You’ll want to watch these incredibly important moments over and over again! Watching these off a parent or friend’s phone screen just isn’t the same either. By having a videographer at your wedding, you’ll make sure these memories are preserved forever. 

2. Movement Is Important

Getting ready, walking down the aisle, your first kiss, and your first dance. These are all moments that are better remembered through video. A still image of these moments will be beautiful, but it won’t capture the life within these shots.

3. Preserving Raw Emotions

Your wedding day will be a very emotional day, not only for you but for your guests as well. Relive the groom fighting back his tears as he sees you for the first time. Watch your parents cry tears of joy as they watch you marry the man of your dreams. Having these emotions preserved through video is so special.

4. Relive The Day

Your wedding day only happens once, and trust us, it flies by. Hiring a videographer to film your wedding allows your day to live on forever. After spending months if not years planning this day, you deserve to look back on it anytime you want. Aside from having a beautiful wedding album of photos, you can easily access your wedding video and re-live the day.

5. See Moments You Missed

You will be busy on your wedding day, often running from here to there. In all the hustle and bustle, you may not notice all the decorations and special moments throughout the day. Not only that, you’ll get to watch your wedding from the guest’s point of view. You’ll thank yourself for having a videographer there to document all the little moments. 

6. Easily Shareable

With digital delivery, you can share your video with friends and family instantly. Your wedding day will forever be safe in “the cloud”. This is great for people that weren’t in attendance at the wedding, they can then watch as if they were there. Share your wedding at social gatherings with a simple click of a link.

7. Capture Friends and Family  

It may be hard to think about, but your family and friends will not be around forever. Having footage of your loved ones dancing and moving about is something you will find incredibly precious to look back on. You’ll also always have access to the funny and heartfelt speeches given by your loved ones.

8. Create a Family Heirloom

Your wedding video will be a family heirloom shared with friends, family, and your children one day. The video will live to outlast you and be a beautiful piece of remembrance for years to come.

9. You Won’t Regret Hiring a Videographer

The #1 thing we hear from brides is that they wish they hired a videographer to document their wedding day. You don’t get a do-over of your wedding day, and you can’t go back in time and decide to hire a videographer. We guarantee you won’t regret hiring one!

10. Your Love is Worth It

You deserve to celebrate your love and re-live every moment of this spectacular day. I mean hello, you’ve found someone that you want to spend the rest of your life with! We often hear that wedding videography just isn’t in the budget and our response to that is: YOUR LOVE IS WORTH IT! You’ve waited your entire life for this moment, make sure you do it right! At the end of your wedding day, you’ll leave with three things: A husband, your photos, and your wedding video. 

We know it’s a lot to consider, photography and videography are similar but also COMPLETELY different. Personally, we believe our couples deserve the best and we’ll be there to guide them through their entire wedding journey. We’re passionate about what we do, and making sure your love story is told through video. If you’re still not convinced, view some of our client’s videos here.

If you have any additional questions, contact us! We look forward to hearing from you!