Los Angeles Wedding Photographer | Joy Marie Photography | Nashville Wedding Photographer | Destination Weddings » Photography by Joy Marie

What an amazing day!! So, I LOVE contrast! I think it’s something I am always subconsciously searching for when I shoot…contrasting light, colors, sizes, textures- you get the idea. I was beyond excited to head down to St. Augustine, Florida for Meredith & Steven’s White Room Wedding.  St. Augustine is the oldest city in America, built by the Spanish in 1740-1742. It has some INCREDIBLE architecture that’s rarely found in our country.  It was just the perfect backdrop for the youthful Meredith & Steven- CONTRAST!!  These two are beautiful, fresh, adventurous and just the sweetest people ever!! They also happen to be a part of one of my FAVORITE families from one of my favorite weddings a couple of years ago!!  Thank you Meredith, Steven and your wonderful families for allowing me to, once again, be a part of such special day!

[caption id="attachment_1926" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="the GORGEOUS Meredith! My Favorite!!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1935" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="a lot of this going on all day!!"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1940" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="a super sweet mother/son dance.."][/caption]

Maryam & Ajmal are two very special people….so kindhearted & generous!! I was so excited to be there to capture their traditional Afghan wedding in Falls Church, Virginia. You don’t have to speak Farsi to appreciate the rich traditions of their wedding, and the love & respect these two have for their families and their community. In lieu of wedding gifts, they asked their guests to make a donation towards helping the neediest people in their native homeland of Afghanistan. They ended up sending over $9,000 back to Afghanistan! So amazing! I had a great time with these two and their families!! Congratulations, Maryam & Ajmal!

2009 was an amazing year!! Like everyone’s year (and life in general), I had my ups & downs, but the constant bright spot was all of the TRULY incredible people, from all over the world, I had the privilege to meet & work with. While there are literally hundreds of images I wish I could post, I just finally finished my most difficult task so far this year- narrowing down my list of favorite wedding images from 2009. I can’t begin to tell you how hard it was to choose! I am just so grateful for all of my amazing clients! Thank you all for allowing me to be a part of telling your beautiful stories.  Here’s a sneak peek (in no particular order) of some of my 2009 faves! May your 2010 be filled with life, love & lots of laughter!!

We received word this week that we made it into the Junebug Weddings Best from the Best 2009 Fashion Report! Here is what the wonderful ladies at Junebug (Blair, Kim & Christy) had to say about the report:

“Happy New Year everyone! We are very, very excited to say that today we are welcoming in 2010 with the launch of our annual Best from the Best Fashion Report! A look back at the best wedding images of 2009 from the world’s leading wedding photographers! With thousands of images submitted to us by hundreds of photographers across the globe, Blair, Kim and I were in heaven editing them down to what we considered the best of the best- the images that blew our minds, made us gasp and tear up and grin from ear to ear at the same time, and quite simply, made us love photography even more than we already do. We salute every one of the hard working photographers out there who sent in their images for consideration. It has been an honor to see such stellar creative work, and we sincerely hope that all of you, our readers, are as moved by 2009’s Best from the Best as we have been.”

Julie & Aaron’s Santa Monica wedding at The Victorian was sooo beautiful! It was a day full of love, laughter and incredible family & friends. These two are such sweet, caring and super intelligent people…just check out their cake, which was an abstract mathematical formula design!  Every last detail was such a beautiful reflection who they are; from the recycled yarmulkes to Julie’s vintage dress to her grandmother’s GORGEOUS jewelry. Thanks, Julie & Aaron, for allowing me to be  part of such a special day! I hope you have an amazing time on your honeymoon!

[caption id="attachment_1784" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Julie had this beautiful radiant smile all day."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1785" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="I thought her grandfather was just showing me this, but he was actually cashing it in...aaaand I loved it!!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1792" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="can anyone figure out this formula??"][/caption]

My first conversations with Karnis & Alex involved their concepts for an “un-engagement shoot” with ideas about re-creating scenes from movies and famous paintings.  I knew after this first meeting that I LOVED these two, and after our Los Angeles engagement shoot, I loved them even more!!  So it was really no surprise when I arrived the morning of their wedding and Alex had blow-up toys to incorporate as props.  Karnis & Alex are incredibly creative, super fun, so sweet and absolutely perfect for each other.  Their beautiful wedding at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks was an amazing day and so much fun to be a part of. It all made for a really fun Slideshow too!! Thanks, Karnis & Alex!

[caption id="attachment_1771" align="aligncenter" width="630" caption="cuttin' it up on their first dance routine!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1751" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="their "first-sight" at Kyoto Grand Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1760" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="the beautiful, Karnis!!"][/caption]

And a huge thanks to Deborah James of Bella Vita Events in Westlake Village who did an amazing job planning & coordinating this spectacular day!

This Alabama wedding was quite a treat! It helps when the bride is one of the cutest & sweetest Southern Belles this side of the Mississippi! I’ve got a whole lot more I want to share from Brooke & Nathan’s amazing wedding, but for now, here’s a little sneak…And check out their Slideshow!

I’m glancing through Kate & Gil’s images now, and I promise you the W Hotel in Westwood and the Skirball Cultural Center have never seen anything like this! This girl knows how to work it out in front of the camera! Gil can hold his own too! Seriously though, Kate & Gil are great people, and I had to share this quick peek from their recent Skirball wedding! Lots more later…

Karnis & Alex’s Los Angeles engagement shoot was the most unique & original session I’ve ever done! Love these two!! Their Sherwood Country Club wedding was no less spectacular! Here’s a little sneak! More to come…

I can’t wait to share more about this amazing couple; especially what they did in lieu of receiving wedding gifts. You’re gonna flip out when I tell you!! Maryam & Ajmal are really special, and their traditional Afghan wedding in Fall Church, Virginia was quite a day! Stay tuned…