JB + Gloria in Portola Valley

I don’t even know where to start with these two. I remember the morning I met JB + Gloria at a bakery in Palo Alto. Colton and I had made a last minute, spontaneous decision to head to Stanford for a football game and while in town I received an email from Gloria. She was a friend of one of my most favorite past brides and was wondering about photography for her upcoming wedding in the Bay Area. To make a long story short, Gloria and JB met me for breakfast the next morning and the rest is history. Anyone who knows Gloria knows that her joy is infectious. Really, it’s addicting and it’s absolutely impossible to enter a room without being lit up by her smile. She’s the most wonderful breath of fresh, happy air and working with her always seemed to brighten my day. And while Gloria seemed to be excited about just about everything, nothing made her smile quite as big or as beautifully as talking about her boy, JB. These two met at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and later moved to the Bay Area after college. I really do apologize for sounding like a broken record on my blog this summer, but JB + Gloria are again just one of those couples that make me feel so truly blessed to be doing what I do. The truth of the matter is that I work with brides for a long time, sometimes as much as an entire year. We email hundreds of times and make dozens of phone calls and walk through more timelines than you’d think is even remotely possible. But through all of these seemingly monotonous details, Gloria was nothing but a joy. Her excitement made me smile and I truly mean it when I say arriving to the hotel on JB + Gloria’s wedding day was like walking into the room of a dear, close friend. These two have a beautiful future ahead of them, full of life and adventure and only a few million laughs. They’re the type of couple I know will grow old together, holding hands and still making one another laugh. JB will always be the gentleman and Gloria ever the beautiful lady. Together they’ll conquer the world, knowing that at the end of the day they’ll always have each other.

JB + Gloria, awwwww! Plain and simply there just aren’t words to let you know how great I think you are. Thank you for always making me feel so welcomed and appreciated and loved. Your trust meant the world to me and your kind, warm smiles always made me feel so valued. I’m honored to call you friends and I feel so blessed to have witnessed your day. You’re the specials ones and I can’t wait to see what goodness the future holds. I speak for so many when I say I know it’s truly a bright one!!

xoxoxo…XOXOOXOXO! Michelle

Joy and Charlene of Miss Scarlett's Flowers curated the most beautiful arrangements for JB + Gloria's day. Each bright and bold flower was the perfect reflection of the happy and cheerful couple!

Venue :: Private Residence in Portola Valley, California Florist :: Miss Scarlett's Flowers Coordinator :: Meredith Chase DJ :: DJ Matteo (<< this guy was AMAZING! I cannot recommend him highly enough. Colton and I spent the entire drive home planning a hypothetical party in which we leave the dancing to Matteo!) Photographer :: Michelle Cross Assistant :: Athena Plichta Catering :: Joshua Charles Catering Cake :: Peeples Baking Hair + Make-Up :: Maryam Abassi from Tooba Salon Dress :: Pronovias

Bo + Griselda

There were a million things that made me love Griselda from the start. Namely, she’s sweeter-than-sweet and can’t help but smile her big, gorgeous smile when talking about her kinder-than-kind fiancé, Bo. But after meeting for coffee and hearing all about her January wedding, what really struck me as wonderful was just how important family portraits are to Griselda and Bo. In this wedding world it’s so easy to be overwhelmed with table settings and flower arrangements and bridesmaid’s dresses. Hearing Griselda talk about how meaningful it would be to document her family was like breathing a big deep breath of crisp fresh air. People who love their families? They are my favorite.

Bo and Griselda, I know you were nervous about having your pictures taken but really!!! let it be known that you had absolutely nothing to worry about. You’re beautiful people whose gorgeous smiles are rivaled only by your love for each other. Your ability to laugh with one another and the way you’re so comfortably comfortable together is a joy to be around. Thank you for allowing me the honor of documenting your engagement and your wedding and this crazy exciting season of lives. Your trust means the world to me and I cannot thank you enough for letting me be a small part of this adventure. I hope you love your photos just as much as I loved walking through the hills of San Clemente with you. I can’t even wait for January!!

M.

 

Matt + Jo An

Since the weather outside really does seem quite frightful, it makes me so happy to get to share Matt and Jo An's warm + sunny e-session with you. Jo An booked me over the internet so this engagement session was the first time I was able to meet both her and Matt. I had so much fun walking and laughing and traipsing around the neighborhood with these two as we explored San Juan Capistrano's historic Los Rios district. While Matt and Jo An are getting married next summer at Sisters' Five Pine Lodge, they currently live in Southern California where Matt is stationed in the Air Force. It worked perfectly to have their engagement session in Orange County - a place that always seems to have the most lovely evening light during the winter months. Matt + Jo An, thank you so much for making the drive to San Juan Capistrano for the afternoon. Getting to spend the day with you has me all excited for next summer. Your love and joy and infectious smiles will have me looking forward to August all throughout this cold and dreary winter!!

MerryMerry Christmas!!

M.

I especially love Matt + Jo An because they never stop laughing. Throughout our entire session they were all smiles - making me one happy photographer myself!

Jo An, YOU ARE SO PRETTY!!

Matt + Jo An told me they didn't know how to dance. And then I was all, riiiiight.