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It started off with a conversation after church one day where Zachary let me know he had been thinking about Monica for awhile now and was wanting to pursue a relationship with her. Friends with both them separately and around for events Zachary put together like disc golf, let’s just say this wasn’t a total surprise to me. I wasn’t sure where Monica’s heart was but Zachary was hopeful from the start mentioning that his current school schedule would allow for them to spend more time together until his classes started at Davis in the fall and possibly a wedding the next summer after her graduation??

And all these months later, it looks like he wasn’t wrong! Official in April, by August Zachary was in talks with me about photographing a surprise proposal. But the timing didn’t come about until October where he worked out every detail to have Monica remember all their special dates and memories through a scavenger hunt! Starting off getting her nails done (smart guy!), Zachary sent Monica and her friend off for a day of following clues while he and his friends created this little area for a surprise proposal complete with battery-powered bistro lights. When she arrived, they talked and danced while he sang. When he came to to the line “All I want is you, will you be my bride” Zachary shocked Monica by getting down one knee. Let’s just say their wedding in July is just what the “doctor” ordered. ;-)

Surprise wedding engagement proposal
Couple hugging after marriage proposal
Wedding engagement hug
Dancing at engagement photography session
Bride and groom dancing after surprise engagement proposal

These two already knew what it meant to be best friends through both the beauty and pain of life. Their love had been forged through hardship and when walks outside by the river were all they could do. It was such an honor to capture their relationship in one of their favorite places!

We had to end with their everyday outfits, that comfy and cozy wear for living life and laboring alongside a best friend!

Engagement ring at Yuba River
Bride and groom at engagement session

Sharing is sometimes hard to do. Just ask the mother-of-the-bride who told me that she had just finally gotten some of the pictures from her daughters’ weddings that had taken place over the last couple of years (I was not the photographer!). Whether the photographer takes a long time to edit the pictures and deliver them or it’s months of waiting for the cd to be passed around and then hoping it works, it’s a story I hear quite often. Which is why I jumped on board the digital delivery via online galleries wagon when the technology first came out! But I still believe that tangibles like albums preserve and tell the story of a wedding day in a way that goes beyond just a facebook album online. I’m all about things you can touch and feel and creating a memorable experience for my clients from beginning until end!

So I was a little excited when USB Memory Direct reached out to see if I wanted to test their hard drives. I’m all about presentation, branded paper, silk ribbon, and personalized gifts so I loved the idea! Now along with a gallery link my couples can receive a beautiful wooden hard drive with all their photographs that just so happens to match their Heirloom Box! ;-)

Grass Valley wedding photography heirloom album and momentos.

Grass Valley wedding photography heirloom album and momentos.

While USB Memory Direct sent me these hard drives to try, this review is 100% my personal thoughts!

The one things I miss about living up in the mountains is seeing the sun set behind the Pacific Ocean and being able to do more of these amazing nautical weddings and engagement sessions! You see, I’m the girl walking through the forest in Sperry Top-siders. ;-) So I was so excited to be able to capture this fabulously styled shoot and the real love between these couples!

Senior sitting on a boat for a nautical senior styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Senior sitting on a red boat for a nautical senior's styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bride and groom on the boat for a nautical engagement styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bride and groom on the front of a boat for a nautical engagement styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bride and groom looking at each other for a nautical engagement styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bride and groom looking at each other for a nautical engagement styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bride and groom hugging each other for a nautical engagement styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bride and groom on the front of a boat for a nautical wedding styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bride and groom on the front of the boat posing like the Titanic for a nautical wedding styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bride on front of the boat for a nautical wedding styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bride on the boat out on the ocean for a nautical wedding styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bridesmaid on the front of the boat for a nautical wedding styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bride and groom on the front of the boat for a nautical engagement styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bride and groom on the front of the boat for a nautical engagement styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Sunset came quickly with a storm rolling in, which is probably a good thing because I could have stayed out there for hours!
Bride and groom on the boat at night with a spotlight for a nautical wedding styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Bride and groom on a boat at night with a spotlight for a nautical wedding styled inspiration portraits in Santa Barbara, California.

Photography | Lydia Photography
Venue | Santa Barbara Sailing Center
Stylist | House of Style SD
Coordinator | Cassie Jones, Kristin Renee
Florals | Rincon Floral
Hair Stylists | Ronda Albanez, Lindsey Donofrio, Jenny Hopwood, Kristi Reynolds
Makeup Artists | Cathy Calabro, Carolyn Morton, Hattie Liversidge, Patricia Guerrera, Jenny Hopwood
Models | Kristi Reynolds, Emily Wall, Jessica Campbell, Suzy and Lucas Van Dyke

The same year she was moving from Indiana to California, he was moving to the area from the Bay. But it wasn’t until a mutual friend introduced them in college that Victoria and Michael actually met. From friendship, to dating, to a special trip to San Francisco, they both knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. So it was no surprise when she said yes to his proposal at Crissy Field!

We started the afternoon at Empire Mine where it’s still so green and beautiful!
Bride and groom walking through a grove for Empire Mine engagement portraits in Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom walking at Empire Mine engagement portraits in Grass Valley, California.

Bride and Groom at Bourn Cottage at Empire Mine engagement portraits in Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom next to the Reflecting Pool at Empire Mine engagement session in Grass Valley, California.

So cute together!
Groom kissing bride on forehead at Empire Mine engagement portraits in Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom laughing at Empire Mine engagement portraits in Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom dancing at Empire Mine engagement portraits in Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom dancing at Empire Mine engagement portraits in Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom in rose garden and engagement ring at Empire Mine engagement portraits in Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom in rose garden at Empire Mine engagement portraits in Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom next to bird bath at Empire Mine engagement portraits in Grass Valley, California.

Michael chose the ring himself and found the perfect one for Victoria!
Bride and groom in mineyard at Empire Mine engagement portraits in Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom in mineyard at Empire Mine engagement portraits in Grass Valley, California.

Next we headed to downtown Grass Valley to indulge in one of their favorite enjoyments–coffee!
Bride and groom ordering coffee at Caroline's Coffee Roasters at engagement portrait session in downtown Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom drinking coffee at Caroline's Coffee Roasters at engagement portrait session in downtown Grass Valley, California.

Carolines Coffee Roasters is a local favorite!
Bride and groom outside at Caroline's Coffee Roasters at engagement portrait session in downtown Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom at Caroline's Coffee Roasters at engagement portrait session in downtown Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom flirting at Caroline's Coffee Roasters at engagement portrait session in downtown Grass Valley, California.

Downtown Grass Valley has so many cute shops so we strolled throughout the area just stopping here and there and enjoying the evening!Bride and groom outside of flower shop at engagement portrait session in downtown Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom at engagement portrait session in downtown Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom outside of Del Oro theater at engagement portrait session in downtown Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom at engagement portrait session in downtown Grass Valley, California.

Bride and groom next to ivy wall at engagement portrait session in downtown Grass Valley, California.

Victoria, your senior portraits are still some of my favorites, and it was so fun to be able to capture you and Michael together! Michael, I hope you had a little more fun that your horrendous senior session with your photographer, and I hope I redeemed the idea at least a little for you! But then Victoria makes every picture amazing, right? ;-)

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