Who better to have your back on such an important day?

This is such a strange time of year for me. I’m yearning for the cool mellow days of fall, yet I hate the thought of not having the floral abundance of summer. All week long, I look forward to visiting the farmer’s market and coming home with an armload of fresh flowers and vegetables. I know there will still be lots of wonderfully delicious produce there and even my garden will manage to offer up a few more roses before Thanksgiving but that embarrassingly gorgeous profusion is coming to an end and I can’t help but feel a little wistful.

“Let a joy keep you. Reach out your hands and take it when it runs by.”
~ Carl Sandburg

After each wedding, I eagerly anticipate pouring through the rolls of film that were shot. It’s a little bit like Christmas morning when Larry comes back from the lab with the bag of photo booty. I especially love to see what he photographed in the groom’s dressing room. That part of the wedding day is Larry’s domain, no girl photographers allowed and I have to admit, I’m more than a little envious that I am off limits. It’s not for any prurient reasons that I want to be present; it’s just that there are usually so many quirky, hysterically adorable things going on. As kooky as it can get, there always seem to be three common elements: the consumption of a really large sandwich, a ball game playing on a massive television, and the groom or groomsmen struggling to put on their bowties.

The energy seems so different from the bride’s dressing room. Instead of the controlled chaos of several girls vying for the makeup chair while nibbling on fruit salad and bemoaning having to wear Spanx, the guys seem to be really relaxed. It’s as if putting on a tux and seeing one of your best friends getting married is as familiar as getting together for Monday night football.

Maybe one day, I’ll get the chance to photograph the gentlemen getting ready, but my guess is the reason they appear so unguarded is because Larry, being one of their own, puts them at ease and allows all of their zany goodness to shine through.

It’s only natural to feel butterflies fluttering in your stomach on the morning of your wedding. Having a little bubbly on hand is a beautiful thing.

For the past four years, Daisy and Matt have upheld the wonderful tradition of scheduling a portrait session on their wedding anniversary. Each year, they choose a fabulous spot in which to celebrate and invite us to tag along with our cameras. This time, the glorious location was the Ojai Valley Inn and surrounding area. It seems like each sitting gets more soulful and beautiful. Maybe it’s because Daisy is even more radiant than she was on her wedding day and Matt more besotted with his bride. Or maybe it’s because they remain as giddily in love as they were when they were first wed.

Daisy and Matt, we wish for you another year of love, laughter and light. We just adore you two!

Also, thanks Jen for letting us photograph at the Inn. As usual, it was an absolute pleasure.

www.ojairesort.com