Westlake Village Inn.
July 12, 2008

The bride and groom stayed at Westlake Village Inn.  But the wedding ceremony was scheduled at their house in Thousand Oaks.  The bride and groom got the photography pass so we took care of the formal photography at Westlake Village Inn.

Wedding: July 12, 2008 

Wedding Site: Grand Vista Hotel, Simi Valley

This is an extremely rare occasion.  I opted not to drink my ritualistic coffee, because it was so hot.  Wedding was held in Simi Valley.  If you live in Ventura County, you know how Simi Vally is like.  Simi Valley is the hottest city in the Ventura County.

I felt a little vulnerable and naked without my Minolta Coffee Cup.  But it was so dang hot that I was not going to drink hot coffee.  Instead, I settled with McDonald's Iced Coffee.  The temperature hit a century mark in Simi Valley.  I drank a lot of water as I photograph the wedding. 

Wedding Site: Our Lady of the Assumption

It was a super hot day on June 21, 2007.  I didn't drink too much coffe because it was so hot. 

Wedding Site: Hotel Mar Monte, Santa Barbara

This is a back-street from Hotel Mar Monte, Santa Barbara.  I come here very often.  Cabrillo Pavillion Arts Center is located across the street from Hotel Mar Monte.  Because the hotel is located so close to Cabrillo State Beach the parking is always the issue.  But I always find a spot on this backstreet.

Wedding Site: Marriott Hotel, Ventura

Wedding Site: Padre Serra Parish - Camarillo

Padre Serra Parish is a strict wedding location in Camarillo.  You must qualify in order to get married in here.  It's an exclusive, high class Catholic wedding venue.  The interior of the Parish is breath-taking.

Blog entry about a wedding in Padre Serra Parish.

• Camarillo Church Wedding, Padre Serra Parish (April 4, 2008)

Engagement Photography: Conejo Botanical Garden, Thousand Oaks

I had an engagement photography sessionat Conejo Botanical Garden.  Conejo Botanical Garden is also a wedding site.  I did two weddings here at Conejo Botanical Garden.  This was my fourth engagement session here at the Garden.

I also photographed a Mariachi band here as well.

Wedding Site: Stauffer Chapel, Pepperdine University, Malibu

So far, I photographed two weddings at Stauffer Chapel at Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA. 

On that day (Dec 2, 2007) the wedding customers came from Japan to get married.  I mean, they came to America 1 week before the wedding.  Immediately after their arrival, we took their engagement pictures.  Then I had 1 week to come up with a signing board.  At the wedding I was treated as a wedding guest.  They even brought a gift for me.  Blog entry and more picture listed below.

• Wedding at Malibu, Stauffer Chapel, Pepperdind University (Dec 2, 2007)

Parking structure across the street from Santa Barbara Courthouse
No Coffee today - Had to get one from McD

This was the only time I forgot to brew coffee on a wedding day.  I guess I had enough time to brew coffee, because I arrived at Santa Barbara Courthouse early for the wedding.  But who knows;  leaving home 15 minutes later could have put me in the pocket of a nasty traffic jam.  The traffic to Santa Barbra is always unpredictable.  Sometimes it takes me less than 1 hour to get to Santa Barbara.  Sometimes it takes me 2 hours or more.

So, I got a cup of McDonald's coffee.  I felt kind of empty without my Minolta cup.  Ever since this incident, I never forget to brew coffee when I get ready for a wedding.