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Thank you to all those that spent part of their Sunday with us at the Premier Bridal Show in DTLA. We are always happy to speak with couples who know what they want, plan ahead and ask great questions. The show was fantastic, great people and vendors all around. The DJ down the aisle way also managed to play a Madonna-cover-band song (lady gaga) every 8 minutes. There IS such a thing as too much Lady Gaga, btw. But aside from that it was an excellent day!

As a reminder for those that came to the show and have the postcard with them, that means you get a $400 gift from us with personalized greeting cards when you order any photography package. Lets go over the details again:

• Must have the card from the show
• Order ANY photography session, package size does not matter
• Get 100 greeting cards from us! They make great “Save-the-Date” cards or “Thank you” cards

Please visit our website.Add us on Facebook.Tweet us here.323.901.9626 YahYa Films (Photography and HD/Super 8mm Wedding Films)Thank you!

I’m a huge fan of coffee table books, the high quality kind. I am talking about the ones you get at Barnes and Noble, Book Soup, or Hennessy and Ingalls in Santa Monica, CA. In my living room I am lucky enough to see two views that I love:

1) The first being an amazing NY Style view of Downtown Los Angeles
2) The second is not one stack but many stacks of coffee table books.

I have books on Mario Testino, Iran, Afghanistan, Voyeurism (I didn’t buy this one!), to books on Orange County before and after. I sit on them, I put them on my coffee table, I put them by my windows, besides the bed, end of the kitchen counter, etc… They are the best, they NEVER EVER go out of style and they last forever.

That is why I offer them exclusively for my wedding clientele. My couples embrace a certain era where style was simple (like the 1960′s) and they love art. They are understated and simply elegant.

My coffee table books are exactly that, and it’s a perfect match for them. They hold about 100 pages, very large format and even pocket-sized books. Their paper construction is thick, sometimes higher quality than what you would find in the store. Each is bound perfectly, and when it arrives they actually take my breath away. Sometimes I love them so much, that I order a set for myself and not for showcasing but because I put so much work into each one…they are art to me.

Each book is different, because each story is different. Some have 40 pages and 100 images, some have 100 pages and nearly 700 images. Some pages are full bleed, while others are a sophisticated collage of their wedding story.

The YahYa Coffee Table Book: included in our most basic photography package.

YahYa Films is happy to give a couple an $1800 wedding film package for free! Please visit our FB Page and vote for your favorite couple, and help spread the word. Right now, here is a little bit on each couple below:

They met on Match.com (this is increasing the trend in the couples we talk to) and he winked, she winked back. The rest is history as Summer puts it. Aaron proposed to Summer just 2 weeks ago on 10/11/11 and they are already in full wedding planning gear! Great job!!

If you wish to vote for them, please go to our FACEBOOK PAGE and vote for them. We’d love it if you also added our page and became a fan.

YahYa Films is happy to give a couple an $1800 wedding film package for free! Please visit our FB Page and vote for your favorite couple, and help spread the word. Right now, here is a little bit on each couple below:

Here is what Hans had to say about their story:

They met at Comic-Con 2009 at the Radical Publishing booth. Hans was working the booth while Lisa waited patiently for Gene and Nick Simmon’s autograph. The autograph wasn’t the only thing she got, they exchanged numbers (she came back to the booth more than once that day) and have stayed in touch ever since that date. On March 26th, 2011 Hans finally proposed to Lisa on a small beach across the SD Convention Center, during a small picnic (their no quick no-stress getaway trip). Hans couldn’t think of a better way and time to propose and the rest is history.

If you wish to vote for them, please go to our FACEBOOK PAGE and vote for them. We’d love it if you also added our page and became a fan.

Over the weekend we photographed the beautiful wedding of Lorna and Cedric at the Hotel Hanford located in Costa Mesa, California. The Hanford is located not only down the street from major fashion hub, South Coast Plaza, but also down the street from the newly opened Segerstrom Center for the Arts. With a prime location like that, the Hanford is bound for success. It opened up within the last year facing many major renovations from its previous facade. The Hanford is a beautiful boutique hotel that looks good from both the outside and the inside. 

The inside lobby of the hotel is adorned with a couch and a  very mod chandalier that really attracts the eyes. As you walk further to the front desk there are more couches and tables that give the room a very lively feel. The Lounge located further back is very modern chic and warm and is beautiful for private parties and a great place for Cocktail hour for the wedding reception. With a beautiful outside patio and a private dining/meeting room, the lounge with its décor and lighting really sets the hotel apart from others.

 

The rooms of the hotel definitely stand at the same caliber of excellence as the rest of the hotel. With a beautiful and understated gold and silver wallpaper and big windows with lots of light, the room is just illuminated at every angle. The bedroom itself is very large with a nicely sized bathroom as well. The artwork on the walls, bedding and room décor all complimented eachother and worked beautifully for photographs of the bride and her bridesmaids getting ready before the wedding.  

The room itself over looked the pool and gave for a great view. The living room of the hotel provided to be very spacious and gave lots of room for the preparatory stages of the brides big day. With our style of photography we are big on details and textures and this hotel room definitely hit all the marks for us. We were able to use many different aspects of the room to tell the brides story and bring everything together. 

As a whole the hotel is very charming and not what you would expect at all. It is definitely a great surprise waiting to be discovered. With its large rooms and great sunlight and also great lounges and decor, The Hotel Hanford proved itself to be a great location. Definitely do check it out because you will be in awe just like we were when we first saw it. 

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We love lanterns, they’re great ways to light up the path and when you’re taking a photograph they add great ambiance give a nice touch to the picture. The Wedding Wire agrees with us and wrote a little post about it.

Here’s what they had to say:

“Lanterns can add a lot to your decor and wedding style. They can be incorporated into any theme, and at any time of year. As Summer leaves us and we begin to think about Fall and Winter, lanterns are great for the shorter days as they can provide romantic lighting to all different parts of your wedding day. Below are five ideas, but truly the possibilities are endless!”

Below are 5 different ways that Wedding Wire gave recommendations for the use of lanterns. Here’s our take on those 5:

1) Centerpieces 

Lanterns as a whole give a very rustic feel and when lined up like this in a photograph it gives a great depth of field. Also, at night when they’re actually being used there is this great sense of romanticism that comes with lanterns. 

2) Aisle Markers 

Aisle markers aren’t always needed but when they’re added they put a really nice look to the aisles. These ones have flowers and small plants inside of them but you can put anything from candles to small tree branches in them and they would light up the aisle in more ways than one. 

3) Welcome Table Decor

For a fall wedding this would be a great look and photograph beautifuly when matched with neutral colors and candle light. 

4) Location Decor 

Locations decor with lanterns makes the spot pop would make a great backdrop for guests to take pictures. With varying sizes of lanterns and candles, these would make a perfect bright spot for the happy nuptials.

5) Reception Decor 

Lanterns hanging from the ceiling if done properly will look very nice. It would light the reception area very well give off a very nice aura. 

Which one do you guys like best?

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Once the wedding is over there’s one more big thing left that everyone looks forward to, THE HONEYMOON.

The Knot gave us a list of the top 50 most popular destinations that our bride and grooms went on and here is our favorite 5 in no particular order. 

1) Catalonia, Spain 

Catalonia is rich in history and beautiful in architecture. The language is beautiful, and let’s be honest, so are the people. With its long and winding roads it would be a perfect spot for the happy couple to go on a romantic bike ride together and take photos of their surroundings or even have a little picnic on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean sea. 

2)Puerto Rico

as said by The Knot, “It’s a small island, but with beaches, El Yunque rain forest, an underground cave system and a bioluminescent lagoon, Puerto Rico is a big playground for adventure-seekers.” What more could you ask for from one location? You can go on a hike, or a swim and be back in time to have dinner as you watch the sun set. 

3) Bali, Indonesia

Bali is beautiful. Bali is spiritual. Bali is historical. With it’s amazing temples and lush green hills, this is the perfect scenic destination for anyone. This would the perfect spiritual get away for the couple that wants to connect on a whole other level. 

4) Paris, France

Paris is the classic answer to the honeymoon question. It’s the city of love. When you think of romance you think of france; the language, the art, the music, the architecture, it beckons you on and you can’t help but be in love. 

5) Reykjavik, Iceland

It’s the birthplace of Bjork, so given that, you know it’s going to be one magical place. Whale watching tours, hot springs, clear waters, Iceland is the perfect place to snuggle up and enjoy the once in a life time views. 

Your honeymoon is somewhere you get away from the world and just enjoy yourself and dive deep into the first chapter of your marriage. Pick your favorite destination and discover a new side of it and make memories that you will remember forever. 

Where would you rather go?

 

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Your wedding is going to be one of those days that you will remember for the rest of your life. With the help of Photographers and videographers, you can relive those special moments anytime by just going through a photo album or a wedding video. 

One of the important aspects of the wedding is the setting, after the cake of course. The setting is where the wedding is going to take place, where everyone is going to sit and watch the bride and groom, where memories will be made, where you will be eating the cake, and that one place that’s going to be forever embedded into both the bride and grooms head for the rest of their lives. 

Weddings halls and places like that are the easiest because it brings everything to your fingertips. All you need is to just go in, enjoy, and be merry. 

To get a little bit more creative however, and make your wedding stand out even more (and the make your friends and family just a little jealous for just how great your wedding is) the setting can change to somewhere completely different. 

Below are five of our favorite picks for the not-so-regular wedding settings.

1) Beach Wedding

The Beach Wedding is a beautiful way to commemorate your summer and your life as two beings coming together. The Beach gives it a much more personalized and familiar mood and brings a sense of community to it all. Plus, watching a sunset together has gone down in history as one of the most romantic things ever, so why not say your I do’s as the sun sets?

2)Museum Wedding

For those lover of the arts and architecture, the museum, and even a library wedding, is one of the greatest things to do. Surrounded by your closest friends, families, and paintings, you will forever remember your special day by just one visit to the museum. It would be a beautiful and elegant wedding that would make everyone just look in awe. The look would just be unforgettable. 

3)Barn/Backyard Wedding

The Barn, or even an outdoor backyard wedding is another place that would be great for a closer more intimate setting. Everyone coming together in the dimly lit wooden barn just has all the makings of a romantic movie. We recently did a wedding at Strawberry Farms Golf Course in Irvine, CA and everything about it was beautiful. Great setting, great people, a wonderful time. 

4)Outdoor Winter Wedding

Phoebe did it in Friends and if that wasn’t perfect then I don’t know what is. I’ve always been a big fan of winter and the snow and there’s something magical about it that just resonates well with me. Maybe it’s all because I’m a winter baby, but give me a beautiful bride dressed in all white walking down a snow paved isle and you have something that will stand the test of time and remain effortless and beautiful for the years to come. 

5)Rooftop Wedding

For the younger, more casual, at heart, and even the more budget friendly, a rooftop wedding is something that is so simple and beautiful it would leave everyone asking how it was all done. You can get amazing views of the city, the star filled sky (even one of those romantic sunsets that we all love), and all of your guests enjoying the evening breeze as they admire the new bride and groom.

Location is everything and we here at Yahya know that. We’ve worked at many different settings and with each one have learned something new. What matters most however, and has proven time and time again, is the love that the two people feel for each other and the energy that they put forth, with those two easy steps out of the way, the wedding could be in the front yard of your neighbors house and still look timeless and beautiful. 

Which one if your favorite?

Weddings season is upon us and I wish you all a long and happy life together. 

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We love books, and so should you because they’re awesome. 

To give your Save The Date a cool little fun twist, and also make it more enjoyable for the bibliophiles in each and every one of us, I would like to present to you the Penguin Book style Save The Date presented to you from our friend at Weddingbee. 

Penguin Books have always been my favorite and their minimal style has always made them stand apart from the rest of the publishing houses. Granted this style isn’t used as much anymore, it would give your wedding a little vintage feel by giving us a throw-back to the good ol’ days of simple design aesthetics. 

pick your favorite color, pick your favorite style, and go get the message out. It’s your wedding, personalize it with these great Save The Date’s!

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