Sarah Mahen Photographers

I’ve known Stacy and Wayne for several years. Stacy is the older sister of my dear friend Randy and Wayne and I attended the same congregation at church for several years. When Randy’s wife Anne told me she and Randy had set these two up on a blind date I chuckled. They just weren’t two people I’d put together. But when Anne told me a couple months later that they had really hit it off I couldn’t help being really excited for them. They were so much fun as individuals, they would be a powerhouse couple. And sure enough, before long they were engaged. Funny how things like that work out huh? Two people you wouldn’t think to put together turn out to be perfect for each other, proving again that the universe has a great sense of humor.

Stacy and Wayne were married on March 24th in the Oakland LDS Temple and I had the great pleasure of photographing the two of them ALL DAY LONG! I’m sure they were pretty sick of me pointing my camera at them since we were together for 14 hours. We started the day off at the Oakland Temple at 7:30 that morning, hoping the fog would stay away and allow for sunrise portraits of the bride and groom before they were to be married at 10am. Sadly, Stacy’s hairdresser was a little overly thorough and she was delayed by a half hour and we missed the golden morning light. Luckily though, the fog wasn’t thick and gave us perfectly even light that is really a photographers dream. It was such fun to take all their couple pictures before the wedding, and before guests started arriving. I can’t tell you how much less stress there is when pictures are done before hand. It’s amazing! Plus, Stacy and Wayne are totally awesome, and so in love it’s amazing. They totally made me cry just with their sweet words to each other and all the kissing! You know how much I LOVE kissing.

After their wedding ceremony in the temple we grabbed a quick picture of everyone who made it to the temple and then jumped in our cars and raced over to some docks in San Francisco for a luncheon boat trip around the bay. This was my first time photographing anything on a boat, and I learned quickly that I don’t really have sea legs. Luckily, neither did the happy couple or their guests. It made it very funny to take some candid portraits as we all swayed on the deck. It was great fun nonetheless, and a wonderful experience. After the boat docked we were back in our cars and on our way back to Sacramento for reception #2 at the LDS Church in Fair Oaks, CA. What a packed house! There were so many people so happy that Stacy and Wayne found each other! It was amazing to see how excited so many people were for such a great couple.

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Thanks to Stacy, Wayne and their families for such a great experience. It’s good to be a part of so much love!

Friday night I had an absolute blast photographing TashaAnne and Mike’s wedding reception. These two die-hard romantics ran away and eloped in December but kept their wedding reception on the origionally planned date. They partied the night away at Laguna Town Hall with family and friends. Can I just tell you it was so much fun! There was so much dancing even I couldn’t help shake it a little as photographed the action. The hall was beautiful with amazing light design and perfect colors. The cake amazing, beautiful AND delicious as all wedding cakes should be. Plus, the bride and groom an absolute pleasure to work with. It was a great night, and an amazing party to celebrate the very happy couple.

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Last week I had the oppertunity to photograph the Simmons Family as they prepare to welcome a new addition to their family. Bethany was a little nervous about baring her pregnant belly, but she is so STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL there was no need for fear. She looks so beautiful, and her family is so excited to welcome a new baby come June.

I made a slideshow of images from the afternoon we spent together in their lovely home. Mike and Bethany wanted intimate family portraits, and that is just what we got. I always cry at weddings, but it isn’t often a family portrait session can make me weep. But this family is amazing, and there love is tangible – you can feel it the moment you walk in their home. It was so important for me to capture the way that house felt, and the way this family felt about each other. I’m not sure these images do any justice to how beautiful this family is. The first time I watched it I couldn’t help crying. This is what being a family is all about.

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Thank you Mike, Bethany and Hailey for the chance of a lifetime. And baby David… I can’t wait to meet you too.