A Shakespeare Garden Wedding

The last month has been a whirlwind.  We, as a family, headed down to So Cal for some family time; then a week later I drove back down to one of my best friend's weddings.  Which may I say was AMAZING.  The next day we headed back up home and kidnapped Rachael.  So she came with us... just for a few days.   Rachael and I then shot a wedding in San Francisco.  Shakespeare Garden in Golden Gate Park.  It was beautiful and ummmm a little chilly.  It was so different from other weddings we have shot.  It was lovely.  The Bride and Groom's love and passion was overwhelming.  Love was all over their faces.

Whitney & Gorka's wedding was a destination wedding.  They met up with family from all over the world.  Whitney is from So Cal and Gorka is from Spain.  They met while working in Mumbai India, and are still located there.

I think, other than the wedding - of course, my favorite thing was the grouping of ethnicities.  I love different "worlds" colliding.  And when I say worlds, I mean different cultures and parts of the world coming together to celebrate.  It brings so much to a wedding, it is unbelievable.  The other part I loved was watching the Spaniards with their children.  It was kinda magical.  I think that sometimes we, as Americans, are so worried about school, sports, friends, social status, "goals" finically, the "right" way of disciplining children that we forget to just have fun and love them.  To just be with them.  To be present, goofy and enjoying the four year old ways.   I don't know, maybe I am wrong... maybe it is just me... but I will say that watching these families from Spain, with their children, was beautiful.  They danced the night away with them in their arms.  They rested only when the kids wanted to rest and they laughed at and with them all night long... it was so enjoyable - on all levels.  Anyway...

Without further ado... here is the start of the wedding day... we are going to start with Gorka.
When I asked him what he was most excited about, on his wedding day, he said "I have been waiting 34 years to find Whitney.  I am most excited to have her and love her."  Yes that is what he said.  I know I know... kinda dreamy.  Not to mention what a handsome groom he was.  To me he was a mix of "Joey" on the sitcom Friends {heard of it?} and Hugh Jackman... those two mixed together with a dash of Spaniard... and you get Gorka.  Not a bad mix if I must say.

 While Shooting the pictures I looked over and saw his parents just watching him.  I ate it up... look at the two of them.  Pure happiness.  They have been married for 35 years.