Jennifer Bowen Photography » Engagement, Wedding, Portrait & Family Photographer // Scottsdale, Phoenix Arizona

It’s been such an extraordinary spring filled with amazing couples and beautiful weddings. Caitlin & Ryan’s wedding on April 28th at Royal Palms Resort & Spa was no exception. One thing is very clear: the two are stunning. What may not be quite as evident is that they are also beautiful, fun-loving and kind on the inside as well. Caitlin was so calm and serene the whole day, and just excited and happy to be marrying Ryan – who seemed equally joyful to be here, marrying his best friend. These two exude joy and happiness and I think so many of the photos really captured their big, honest smiles and expressions.

Victoria Canada Weddings & Events did a beautiful job -as always – bringing together all of the different pinks, textures and design elements to pull off an elegant and sophisticated look and feel for the day.

 

Petal Pushers did a beautiful job on the florals – pink peonies and roses.

Linda Wagner, makeup artist extraordinaire, made Caitlin look even more beautiful

Caitlin was so calm and serene…

I loved her Jimmy Choo mary jane peep toe shoes

I love these next two shots that Nicolle captured

Omari hung with the boys and captured his usual great shots of them getting ready.

Pretty paper products by http://mjpaperie.com/

Their first look:

Love this!

Omari got this great one below while I was on the other side:

Love this close up Omari got below…

Nicolle got this great candid right before the ceremony started:

Good angle by Omari below
I love these moments right after the ceremony is over…

Victoria told me she had a dream about how to lay out their place card table (which later became the candy/favor table). It turned out to be such an original and unique way to display their table placecards / seating assignments – and of course the candy favors.

The beautiful ballroomt

Love this shot below that Nicolle captured

 

Vendors who helped make Caitlin & Ryan’s wedding beautiful and memorable:

Wedding Planner & Event Designer: Victoria Canada Weddings & Events

Venue: Royal Palms Resort & Spa

Photographer: Jennifer Bowen Photography

Cinematographer: Bright Bokeh

Florist: Petal Pusher

Makeup: Linda Wagner

Hair: Amber/The Grateful Head

Band: The Walken’s

Ceremony Musicians: String Serenade

Paper Products: MJ Paperie

Thank you Omari Dickens and Nicolle Moshiri for your help/second shooting!

Caitlin and Ryan – Thank you for being so great to work with and for sharing your day with us. It was such a joy to photograph your beautiful wedding!

 

Beautiful – inside & out. That is how I would best describe Jon and Chelsea. That, and easy-going, fun-loving best friends. I always talk about how amazing my couples are, because I truly work with fun, kind and cool people, and these two are no exception to that. While it was certainly hot on April 21st – record heat for us this time of year in fact – no one complained about it at all. All around, their family and entire wedding party was a relaxed, easy going group who helped made J & C’s wedding day so perfect.

Add to that beautiful wedding decor & event coordination by Some Like it Classic, and the always gorgeous Country Club at DC Ranch, and the day was fantastic all around.

 

Her Christos/Amsale gown could not have fit her any better. Gorgeous, especially with the buttons that ran up the entire length of the back. And of course Jimmy Choo shoes always make for the perfect pair of bridal heels.

 

Jon did good – picked that out all on his own ;-)

Omari hung with the boys and got his usual brand of great shots:

Chelsea cracked me (and her Mom) up when she looked down at her phone for a moment and said calmly, “Whoa, my Facebook page is blowing up!” Nothing like a little wedding day to bring about the well wishes :-)

I walked back into the locker room later and found half the girls on the floor doing yoga to calm their nerves. Chelsea has some pretty hilarious friends. Good group of girls here…

Chelsea, you are gorgeous

More shots by Omari below…

Chelsea did a quick first look with her proud Dad before she and Jon saw each other for the first time. Mr. Otto was just beaming – so sweet!

These two below are by Omari

What a great looking group

 

Loved all their soft, romantic wedding decor…

The courtyard at DC Ranch is one of my favorite’s in the valley. It is so romantic and inviting to dine al fresco under the big tree and stars.

Love this shot that Omari got of the toasts

 

Vendors to Thank:

Wedding Coordination & Planning: Amina Michelle with Some Like It Classic

Venue: Country Club at DC Ranch

Florist: Petal Pushers

Band: Easton Ashe

Wedding Gown & Shoes: Christos/Amsale and Jimmy Choo

Bridesmaid Gowns: Jasmine/B2

Hair and Makeup: Rolf’s Salon (Tanya Davis) and Heather Wilson Makeup

Cinematography: Serendipity

Photographer: Jennifer Bowen

Thank to Omari Dickens for second shooting the wedding with me! And Jon and Chelsea, thank you for being such a joy to work with and allowing us to capture you gorgeous day. It was our honor!

 

They say that a long-time, strong friendship is the foundation for a marriage that will last. That if you can remain friends with your lover, in such a way that keeps the respect alive and growing, even through all the times you will each change and grow individually, then you stand perhaps the greatest of chances for a long and happy marriage. Jay and Lauren have such a strong friendship at their core, and clearly have a deep and abiding respect for one another, that I think theirs will indeed be a long and happy partnership. I first met these two a couple years ago when I photographed Jay’s sisters’ wedding, so it was such a pleasure to see his side of the family again as they all came together to celebrate this very perfect union. This was my first time shooting a wedding at the Japanese Friendship Garden in downtown Phoenix, but absolutely love that place. It is so peaceful and beautiful in there!

Following are some of my favorites from the day… the girls started things off by getting ready at the Westin Phoenix Downtown:

That is a GOOD friend who will give you a foot rub on your wedding day!

When you don’t have a crochet needle for the hook and eye dress, use a paperclip! (Worked beautifully the girls said.)

Kasia, my frequent second photographer, hung out with Jay and his groomsmen at their home and got some great shots of them getting ready…

As a mom myself, I can only imagine how I will feel when Jordan one days gets married… love this moment with Lauren and her Mom:

I love these images from their first look

And that they took a moment to read to each other personal letters they each had written, sharing a private and touching exchange after their first look (or as part of it):

Then we had a little time for some bride & groom portrait time before the ceremony and photographed the bridal party & family as well….

Although the light was so incredible in there after the ceremony, so I was thankful we had a little more time afterwards for these sweet light photos!

(Above, Kasia: top right and bottom right)

 

When Lauren was a teenager, she read a book about Judism following a trip to Israel and felt such a strong connection to the world’s oldest religion, that she decided to convert. So it was no surprise that her wedding day would incorporate many of its rich traditions and customs, including signing the Ketubah, encircling each other 7 times and more…

I love this shot & framing that Kasia got below…

I adore this image below of them walking away from the ceremony site…

 

Custom to Jewish tradition, after the ceremony Jay and Lauren shared a few private moments alone honoring each other and the vows they had just exchanged. I love this photo of them right after they left the tea house from their alone time…

 

I dont know who this woman below is, but what I do know, based on this exchange is that there is a tremendous amount of love and respect between these two. I’m glad Kasia and I were both on hand to get the different angles from their touching moment together… (Kasia, bottom right)

 

After the ceremony, all of the guests were transported over to the Lath House at Heritage Square for dinner, dancing and the reception…

And of course, the Hora!

A touching first dance with Lauren and her father…

 

Jay and Lauren – thank you for sharing your day with us and allowing us to capture it for you! You two make an absolutely wonderful couple!

Vendors to thank for helping make their wedding so beautiful and successful:

Whitney and Sean married each other two short weeks ago at the exclusive Paradise Valley County Club on a gorgeous day. These two are so fun loving with each other, and laugh so easily together, that they are just a joy to be around. I LOVE weddings with an outdoor reception following their ceremony and their’s was beautiful – so elegant and timeless. It allows for some great first dance photos – not to mention the details – too :-)

Here are some of my favorites from the day:

 

 

 

Their touching first look:

 

Omari Dicken’s second shot with me and got some great ones of the guys (above prep photos of Sean too):

 

Gorgeous group of girls!

And loved these little guys – their nephews:

 

Seriously adorable:

Whitney looked gorgeous:

Whitney’s nephew adores her… he kept coming back for hugs… and more hugs… and more hugs.

Their outdoor reception. Event decor by White House Design Studio.

Love, love this one below

 

After the toasts, everyone moved into the ballroom for the after-party and dancing with my favorite wedding band “Instant Classics” and late night candy table and comfort snacks – like grilled cheese sandwiches (yum!)

 

 

Thank you to all of the wonderful vendors who made this wedding so beautiful:

Venue: Paradise Valley Country Club
Wedding Planner: Patty King/I Do I Do Wedding Specialists
Florist & Event Decor: Jenny Ellis/White House Design Studio
Photographer: Jennifer Bowen Photography
Videographer: Serendipity Videography (Click here to see the wedding trailer they did for this wedding)
Band: The Instant Classics
Ceremony Music: Apperson Strings
Lighting: Classic Party Rentals
Gown: Priscilla of Boston
Tuxedo: Men’s Warehouse

Whitney and Sean, I wish you both a lifetime of laughter, joy and success. You guys were such a pleasure to work with!