living desert wedding photos

Living Desert Wedding Photos

Temecula Wedding Photography Duo Takes On The Living Desert!

Prepare the catapults! I’ve got some serious goodness that I’m breaking out of the arsenal and comin at ya with! annnnnnnd this one kicks a** for sure! A beyond BEAUTIFUL and classy wedding at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens between a couple of genuinely warm hearted people that are a pleasure to be around… not only that but Jen n Luke are talented themselves in what they do! and I’m not just saying that because they are palm springs wedding photographers themselves… cause I’ll be honest here when I say its always intimidating for me to shoot for other photographers. I’m not sure why that is. I mean, you’d think that by now being 8 years in I would have this thing down and not get stage fright. lol Perhaps its some weird self doubt or just being my own [critical] worst enemy at times but when I take pics of other photographers it puts the pressure on to be 1000% awesome instead of just the typical 100%. TRUTH. I mean, I know how I am and when I am a guest at a wedding… I am analyzing the other guys every move! taking it what they are doing, OR not doing… why they did this or didn’t do that. So I imagine as a photographer that being photographed on your big day would be that same thing.. probably more so! It is truly and honor when ever another wedding industry professional thinks highly enough of what we are doing to ask us to capture the big days moments for them : )but there is a level of self inflicted pressure to perform and knock it out of the park… annnnnnnd although we all have totally different systems and approaches [that’s what makes it great and makes us all unique in what we do] I’m analyzing my every move as well and keeping careful not to misstep. Now, I don’t know at what point that pressure to be an amazing wedding photographer in the eyes of another photographer will no longer get to me, cause I thought after the engagement session and the 4 of us hanging out in Vegas for a bite to eat and cocktails that I was past it… but of course come the big day parking at the Living Desert, I got those butterflies in my stomach that I haven’t felt like that in a while.

The day was perfect though. It went great. There was no need to worry. As I’d anticipated, EVERY detail was in place and the ceremony and reception were perfectly put together and far exceeded my expectations. I’d grown up in Palm Desert as a kid and been to The Living Desert a few times… but it had been years since I had last visited and today did not disappoint! It’s such a cool place to have a wedding and they do a great job over there bringing out animals for the guests to hang out and interact with. Whats not to love about a freakin high fiving porcupine!? Something the guests will totally NEVER forget!

The food was amazing, not your typical wedding day grub thats for sure. Living Desert handles all that on site and does a great job! Jen and Luke brought in Wheat and Fire to cook up amazing wood fired pizza as well!! California DJ did an awesome job keeping the party going all night and there were a game or two mixed in there as well. The slideshow playing in the background during the father /daughter + mother/son dances had everyone in tears… again.. cause as you will see in the pics below the ceremony was extremely emotional with tears from the bride n groom… that stuff is straight contagious and spread to the family and friends watching within seconds. All n all an epic day we were so fortunate to be a part of! Much love to all the people involved in making this day go off without a hitch and for Jen and Luke for being delightful to “work” with… I say it like that cause this isnt work at all. New [wonderful] people at a new [fabulous] party every weekend. I got the best “job” ever.