210
June 30, 2011
Four days before their wedding, as I was walking into a restaurant in my home town of Mariposa, someone that I had never seen before look at me as said "Hey, are you Patrick?" It was Beka and John and the first leg of their honeymoon / wedding. On their way up to Yosemite to explore and head into the backcountry for a few days, they stopped by Mariposa for the night. They were simply exploring, taking in as much as they possibly could and enjoying the road together.
This love of exploration and appreciation for the land really runs right through their wedding. When Beka first contacted me last year about getting married in Yosemite we talked about her and John getting married in Tuolumne Meadows. They were drawn to the area because of the their love of the everything outdoors and rock climbing in particular. But when the time came for their ceremony and Tioga Pass was not opened for the season yet, we knew their ceremony location would have to be moved.
Neither Beka nor John were put off by the location change. Instead they were excited to experience something new. They decided on an early morning wedding on Cathedral Beach. Instantly I had pictures in my mind what it would look like; the sun slipping through the trees, sparkling off of the sand and glancing off of El Capitian.
On their wedding day I was the first to arrive at Cathedral Beach and quickly realized this plan would not work either. With the warm temperatures in Yosemite the river was swollen and entering a flood stage, covering Cathedral Beach with five feet of water. In this was good news however. The river pushed up against the trees and left Beka and John the perfect place for their ceremony. It was there, in the early morning light under the trees, in a beautiful ceremony by Rev. Carol Dewey that Beka and John shared their love and became husband and wife. What stands out in my mind most as I think back on that ceremony is they way that Beka and John held each other during the ceremony. They couldn't stand apart from each other in a moment like this, but instead embraced each other and held on tight. I couldn't help but wonder why every couple doesn't do this.
Once there ceremony was over we headed out across Yosemite Valley to take in the sweeping views. It became clear immediately that Beka and John would be willing to go anywhere and do anything with me to get that perfect photograph; something that I decided to take advantage of it. We drove out of the valley and headed up to Sentinel Dome to take in the 360 degree view. As we hiked up to Sentinel Dome we were greeted by a foot of snow covering the granite and even a group of skiers taking turns hitting a jump they created. It was a bit surreal to see this in the middle of June, but there it was.
From the top of Sentinel Dome the views are jaw dropping. You can see deep into the Sierras (including the route that Beka and John had hiked just days before) and nearly to the Pacific Ocean. It really is one of my favorite places in the park. In the midday sun, the fallen jeffery tree at the top of Sentinel Dome takes on the look of a lost piece of driftwood lodged in a sandy beach, the perfect place for Beka and John.
It was this wedding photographers dream. Not only were we able to visit some of the most beautiful places on earth, but everywhere we went Beka and John were there, with love pouring. Their love and interaction makes these photographs come to life. Beka and John are wonderful people in every sense of the word and it was a complete pleasure to spend the morning with them.
Officiant: Rev. Carol Dewey
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209
June 29, 2011
In the midst of hiking up Sentinel Dome with a couple that had been married just hours before, we first ran into snow. Then we ran into skiers that had just built a jump. Then we watched them lift off. You never really know what you will run into in Yosemite. And yes, this is in June.
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208
June 28, 2011
If you're thinking about planning an intimate destination wedding, Yosemite should be at the top of your list. Sarah and Josh are both outdoor enthusiasts and love visiting new places together. In fact, that statement describes almost their entire family! So it came as no surprise that they planned their wedding for Yosemite. Everyone traveled from all over the country to join them on their wedding day and also share Yosemite together. They dined together, they hiked together; it was an entire weekend celebration.
Sarah and her family and friends had taken over the Presidential Suite to prepare for the day. Carol from Bellissimo was onsite helping everyone to get ready and look their best for the wedding. When I first joined them I quickly noticed that everyone in the room was a morning person; despite it being 8 am everyone was wide awake with excitement for the day to come. Laughter and good cheer filled the room as everyone watched Sarah transform into a bride.
Spending as much time as possible with their guests was one of their primary goals, so before the ceremony Sarah and Josh joined me on a trip through Yosemite Valley. There were a few places that they knew that just had to go to, but really we were just chasing the morning light. I had known beforehand that Josh was slightly apprehensive about having his portrait made, but when it came down to it he was in love with his bride and little else mattered. Holding her in the warmth of the day was everything.
The sweetness of their relationship was beautiful. The way that they held each other as we walked and talked revealed so much about them. The adventurousness of their personalities was evident as we worked together to create art. Hike through a muddy meadow in a wedding dress? Sure thing. They were there to soak it all in and live life. So much love.
We returned to the Ahwahnee Hotel with plenty of time for Sarah and Josh to relax a bit before there ceremony. Beth of Coarsegold Flowershop was busy decorating the Mural Room for the reception while guests were gathering for the ceremony. A single guitar and violin from Sierra Entertainment provided the perfect soundtrack for the day with birds above adding the occasional note. It was a small intimate ceremony on the Ahwahnee Wedding Lawn, under the afternoon shade of a tree. Rev. Autrey Nassar officiated the ceremony with beautiful weather overhead while Yosemite Falls thundered in the distance.
Shortly after the ceremony everyone headed inside the Solarium for cocktail and appetizers mixed with friendly conversation. The late afternoon sunshine sunshine filtered through the windows creating the perfect atmosphere of an intimate wedding. Once again, the subtle music of Sierra Entertainment set the the mood perfectly and was enjoyed by all. When dinner was ready everyone headed into the Mural Room to share a delicious meal.
The reception was very different than most wedding receptions; many weddings have events stacked up back to back during the reception, such as a bouquet toss and cake cutting with a DJ telling guests what to expect. Not so with Sarah and Josh's reception. Their reception was focused on spending time with their guests and took on an enjoyably relaxed feel. They created a dinner for their guests to share at their own pace; not to be interrupted with traditional events.
Of course Sarah and Josh did share their first dance in the Mural Room. A dance that was first followed by a father daughter dance, and then everyone was swallowed up in the mood and began to dance. There was no big name band, no DJ blasting music, just an iPhone playing through some small portable speakers - and it was perfect. That really does capture the entire feeling of the day; the perfect wedding for Sarah and Josh.
Ceremony and Reception: Ahwahnee Hotel
Hair and Makeup: Belissimmo
Flowers: Coarsegold Flower Shop
Photography: Patrick Pike Studios
Music: Sierra Entertainment
Comments
fer juaristi says:
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Beautiful wedding Patrick, love the natural look of the series.
Ted says:
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The bridge shot is pretty cool! Nice way to end this set. Just like the other one. hehe!
Laura Havran says:
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Gorgeous! I want to get married there! Oh wait, I am married....maybe a thirty-fifth wedding anniversary trip! Sarah - you made a beautiful bride.
Carol Cardinale says:
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Stunning photos! fabulous!! Thank you Patrick! Sarah and Josh were such a pleasure to work with!
Bev Olsen says:
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
What a spectacular venue for your wedding! Thank you for sharing this beautiful place with us. Sarah, how beautiful you are in every photo. And Josh....handsome as ever!! I'll look forward to seeing more.
Angela Bruntlett says:
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
A breathtaking collection capturing beautiful moments! Great job. And I enjoyed reading the description of the day through Patrick's eyes. Sarah, you are stunning!! And with Josh, a perfect couple. Hope you are enjoying your honeymoon. Angela Bruntlett
Jane Shoup says:
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Patrick,
Just as I exhausted my list of superlatives describing the beauty of Yosemite soon after arriving there, so have I in describing what a pleasure it was to have you as the photographer for Sarah and Josh's wedding at the Ahwahnee. I will never tire of looking at your photos of them, and this sampling only makes me that much more eager to see ALL of the wedding pictures! Your descriptive introduction captured the essence of that very special day perfectly. Thank you, thank you for everything!
Sarah says:
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Patrick, thank you so much for your kind words and these amazing photos! The passion that you have for your work really showed from our first conversation to meeting in person to our wedding day and finally to the finished product. Really the whole experience was a joy and our guests couldn't say enough good things about your friendly demeanor and the way you worked. Thank you so much!
~Sarah
P.S. The shoes have recovered nicely from their 'dip' into the meadow mud :-)
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207
June 21, 2011
Carrie and Jeff traveled to Yosemite from Florida for their perfect destination wedding. They planned an stunningly extravagant affair for the guests, with thoughtful and beautiful details throughout. All of this set the stage for one of their most important goals of the day; to enjoy and celebrate with friends and family.
Of course, the wedding really started before their wedding day. They were able to come up to Yosemite Valley a few days before and enjoy the park with friends and family, some that had never had the chance to visit Yosemite before. The night before their wedding they even had an outdoor BBQ rehearsal dinner at the Wawona Hotel.
Carrie and her family had just about the entire sixth floor at the Ahwahnee Hotel. Each room on the sixth floor is styled differently and captures a specific use and time period in the hotels history. For example, Carrie was in the Sun Room; an open windowed room with views stretching out across Yosemite Valley and to Staircase Falls. The rooms are nothing short of outstanding in both quality and beauty. If you have had the pleasure of staying in the the one of these rooms you know exactly what I am talking about.
The wedding morning was a bit leisurely as everyone took their time getting ready for the afternoon ceremony. Carol from Bellissimo was onsite making sure that everyone looked their best, but really this morning was about family. Carrie was taking in every moment of being a bride, not rushing this valuable time with her family. Her sister and her share an amazing bond that can only be shared between sisters. They were all together, sharing the experience as one while the dramatic weather of Yosemite pulled past the windows.
When the morning's rain did not let up, the Ahwahnee staff quickly made arrangements to move the ceremony under the covering of the hotel's East Portico. With everyone protected from the elements but at the same time right in the middle of nature, the ceremony took on a magical quality. The smell and sound of a summer storm filled the air as Carrie and Jeff proclaimed their love for one another in a chapel made of stone. Trees dripped with rain and as everyone took in the amazing beauty.
As husband and wife, Carrie and Jeff joined their family and friends inside the Ahwahnee after the ceremony. Music and laughter blended together perfectly in the Solarium as guests enjoyed hors d'evouers and cocktails with one another. Ice sculptures and flowers adorned the room while the dramatic weather outside of the windows revealed the beauty of Yosemite. In the midst of these gorgeous surroundings, Carrie and Jeff were the king and queen of the night. They captivated everyone and made time for each of the guests. It was evident that their entire wedding was planned around the people who mattered most to them.
A delicious dinner was served in the Solarium and enjoyed by all. Conversations continued as the sky gradually darkened outside, but the love in the room remained bright. I have been a part of many weddings in the Solarium, but the beauty of that room with its grand views of the valley as the sun sets still amaze me. Toasts full of love and laughter were shared. A cake was sliced and they politely fed each other a bite.
Eventually everyone made their way into the Winter Room where the party really got started. The Joe Lenigan Band was setup and ready to rock the night away, playing the perfect mix of oldies rock. The party took on a life of it's own at this point, an unseen energy driving on the dance floor. And throughout everything were Carrie and Jeff, both with the same smiles across their faces that were there since the moment that they first saw each other. This night of celebration was perfectly Carrie and Jeff.
Ceremony and Reception: Ahwahnee Hotel
Hair and Makeup: Belissimmo
Flowers and Design: Natalie Galasso
Photography: Patrick Pike Studios
Music Trio: Sierra Entertainment
Band: Joe Lenigan Band
Comments
Carol Cardinale says:
Thursday, June 23, 2011
I love the pictures Patrick...They are incredible...Love the shot of the dress...Love them all!
cousins Marianne and John says:
Thursday, June 23, 2011
... wow! these are stunning pictures of the most beautiful bride and groom ~ it was an amazing wedding and you've captured those memories so well for them ~ how precious it will be for them to be able look back on these pictures 50 years from now ... here's wishing them a long, healthy, joyful life together ~ cheers! ~ amen.
Mary Earll says:
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thank you for sharing Carrie...I've been waiting for these and again, sorry we couldn't be there but these beautiful pictures give me a window on your fantastic day. You were a gorgeous bride and had such a handsome groom. Congratulations and enjoy your wonderful life together!
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206
June 8, 2011
I met Annette and Joe a few months ago in my studio when they traveled to Yosemite to take care of a few wedding details. Up until that moment, I had only been able to communicate with them over the phone and through email, so I was really looking forward to meeting them. As soon as I met them and saw how they interacted with each other, how they held and looked at each other, I knew instantly this was going to be a great wedding. Hearing them express how important the photography was to them made me even happier that we would be able to work together.
Annette and Joe planned an intimate destination wedding in Yosemite. Keeping things and the small side, they created a wonderfully comfortable atmosphere for their family and friends in the midst of nature. Because I wanted to bring together their desire for beautiful photography and an intimate wedding, I suggested that we take as many photographs as possible before there ceremony so that they could immediately spend as much time with their loved ones as possible.
On their wedding day, they were each in a rented house in Yosemite West, preparing separately for their ceremony. In one house, Carol and Amy from Bellissimo were busy perfecting hair and makeup designs for everyone while Joe was getting ready in the other. The house was perfect for Annette to get ready in; she was able to be there with nearly all of her family and not feel cramped.
When Annette was ready we headed over to the house where Joe was waiting to first see his bride. Annette was nervous with anticipation for that moment, but couldn't wait to stand by his side. I think that when Joe first saw her, his jaw dropped as he stood in amazement of his beautiful bride and then they seemed to melt into each other. Once together, we all made our way down into the valley, stopping for a few photographs, and eventually arriving at the Ahwahnee for the ceremony. Everything was covered in green while the waterfalls pounded around us and Annette and Joe held each other and took it all in.
One of the biggest highlights of the ceremony, besides the obvious stunning beauty of the location, was the ring bearer. At almost every wedding, parents struggle to make sure the ring bearer and flower girls walk straight down the aisle, while every guest thinks it's cute when they do what they want to do. Of course one way or another the ring bearers and flower girls will make it to the front of the ceremony. But on this day, when asked for the rings, the ring bearer figured that would be the perfect moment to play a game of tag. Off he ran like a wide receiver breaking tackles; leaving all of the guests, besides his parents, with a good laugh.
With the ceremony over, everyone headed back inside the Ahwahnee for cocktails and dinner. The room was beautifully decorated while a classical guitarist play filled the air with delightful tunes. The food was delicious as always, as everyone dined together in celebration of this new family. Wherever I looked, there were smiles and good cheer. Congratulations again Annette and Joe!
Hair and Makeup: Bellissimo
Flowers: Coarsegold Flowershop
Ceremony and Reception: Ahwahnee Hotel
Comments
Carol Cardinale says:
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Absolutely stunning...Annette was such a pleasureto work with! So was Joe! Thank you Patrick for capturing such amazing shots!
Joseph Lanning says:
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Patrick, the photos look amazing. You were awesome to work with and Annette and I could not be happier. We had a blast driving around that beautiful park with you, and hope you had as great of a time at the reception as we did. Thank you for working with us, Patrick!
Judy Fisk says:
Friday, June 10, 2011
Patrick, the pictures are beautiful. Your photos caught the spirit of the people involved as well as the celebration of the wedding. Annette and Joe are fortunate to have found such a talented and caring photographer! Thank you.
Eileen Slate says:
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Beautiful setting, beautiful wedding - beautifully photographed! Very nicely done, Patrick.
Eileen Slate says:
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Beautiful setting, beautiful wedding - beautifully photographed! Very nicely done, Patrick.
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I think this is one of my favorites!!
Beautiful! Thank you, Patrick! You work is beyond amazing...we couldn't have asked for better photography to capture our day.
I think your pictures are beautiful and I love them because there all so very unique :) Congrats !!!
Beka, I honestly don't know how you would choose a favorite. They are all truly amazing!!!
These are hands down the most beautiful wedding pictures I have ever seen. Having known Beka for years I can also say they sum up exactly what I expected her wedding to be like. My goodness they are amazing pictures. They need to be hanging in a gallery or in magazine or something. John I am so glad Beka found you. You obviously make her very happy. I wish you guys all of the best (and lots and lots of babies..)
those are some amazing pictures. beka you look absolutely stunning in those pics.
Beka, Patrick did a wonderful job with your wedding pictures. These are so unique, beautiful and special. I love them!
These photos are so beautiful they look un-real. I love the textured backgrounds and simplicity of composition. Thank you for sharing this happy day with us.
BEAUTIFUL pictures of a very SPECIAL couple!
Amazing, amazing pictures! Thank you so much for making it possible for us to share in John and Beka's special day.
I absolutely love these pictures!!! Each and every one of them is breathtaking!
Such beautiful pictures! Magazine quality! Congrats and good luck with everything!
Your pictures of Beka and John are absolutely gorgeous! You truly captured their special moments together perfectly. They have treasures to last them a lifetime with your photographs!
Beka, these pictures are amazing. You look beautiful and so happy. I had a hard time picking a favorite, they were all so good.
These pictures are amazing! She looks like a model and it's almost like they're against a back drop!
I love the pictures...... amazing place and an awesome couple!
The narrow of Both foreheads touching, holding hands--the most natural, easily my favourite!!
These are the most amazing wedding pictures I've ever seen. Congrats and good job :D
Absolutely gorgeous pictures!!!! The photographer did a wonderful job capturing the love shared between the two of you. Best Wishes my friend.
Amazing pictures! What a beautiful way to start their life together!
These pictures are great!!!
These pictures are beautiful. I especially like the black and white head shot. You both look very happy and very much in love.
Great Pictures! Many seem unreal.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these pictures. The best I have ever seen! Wonderful pictures for two wonderful people!
These photos are amazing! I particularly like the one where they are standing in a glen hugging. It's perfect. The short story about meeting Beka and John is adorable, as well.
Those pictures are beautiful! What a great place to get married!
These are beautiful pictures!! What a great place for wedding!
Beautiful pictures, they are truely amazing.
These photos are absolutely amazing! Beka and John have been a huge part of my life for several years now, and I could not have envisioned a more perfect wedding album for them. The lighting is beyond amazing, and you can really see the beauty, love, and peace in this wonderful couple. Patrick, great job capturing the stunning beauty of my best friend and her equally wonderful husband. I wish I had words to convey how breathtaking I find this album. Thank you for your phenomenal talent, and congratulations to two of my favorite people in the whole world!
I have no idea who these people are, but it's obvious that they love each other SO MUCH!! What beautiful people and what fun. Great work, Patrick. Congrats, Beka & John!
These pictures are all so very amazing!! Seeing Beka's wedding thru your photographs brings tears to my eyes every time I look at them!!