Colson Griffith Photography Blog

My compliments must go to Stephanie for being such an easy going bride.  To say we had a little bit of a brides maid dress malfunction would be putting it lightly.  Just as the dresses were going on, Maura’s zipper decided it wasn’t going NOWHERE, and gets stuck about half way up.  Okay we can handle that, just get some soap and grease it up right?  Uhhh… not exactly…  Maura had three ladies, all hands on deck, trying to zip up, zip down, move, inch, budge, push and fudge that dang zipper and it was going no where.  As these ladies are tugging, prying, and pulling, a quick “zzzziiipp” sound lands in my ears and instead of nicely sliding up in place as its supposed to, the bottom half of the zipper just releases and opens up.  Crap!  Now she’s bare above the zipper and bare below.  YIKES!  Stephanie calmly calls Jen, the coordinator at the Oceano Hotel, asking for help.  ”Ummm, Hi Jen, we have a little bit of a dress situation.”  Up she came and after a quick inspection we determined this dress needed to be sewn together.   At this point we realized this is going to take some time.  Our plan had to change, we no longer could run down to the beach for photos, we had to improvise.  I gathered my thoughts about what we could do with what remaining time we had, and ran the plan by Stephanie.  She looked at me, smiled, and just said, “Okay, whatever you think is good” and that was that.  No tears, no phone calls, no sad faces, she just refused to let this little mishap ruin the pace of her day and I totally admire her for that.  Cool as a cat.  No problemo.  That, my friends, is an amazing bride!

Stephanie and Ryan had their wedding at the Oceano Hotel in Half Moon Bay California.  It’s Nestled along side the Pacific Ocean in the shadow of the massive hill that blocks a view of the famed surf spot, Mavericks.  It’s nautical decor is classically styled, bright, and airy.  Beautiful for a wedding by the ocean.  Stephanie and Ryan told me their wedding would be a party.  I had been warned.  I had been cautioned.  I had been…. ENCOURAGED! Haha… They weren’t lying!  I dont think I’ve laughed at the utter enthusiasm of a bridal party more than I did at this wedding.  On the dance floor, I was introduced to the earth shattering nature of Skrillex’s Bangarang, and possibly the perfect sing along song for anyone who ever attended college, Toby Keith’s Red Solo Cup (don’t ask me what hole I was hiding in that prevented me from ever hearing these songs).  I think the wedding party tried to stomp holes in the ground when each was blasted through the speakers.  Lora and I waited on on our toes at the edge of the dance floor just to see the next thunderous dance move to shake the earth.  A party it was!

Many thanks to Stephanie and Ryan for including me on their memorable day!   I’m off to go blow my mind up with some Skrillex.  :D

Vendors:

Venue: Oceano Hotel & Spa

Florist: Flowers by Yip

Cupcakes: Kara’s Cupcakes

Hair and Makeup: Lindsey Welsh

DJ: Curtis Bakich

Second Shooter: Lora Nardi