Aaron and Amanda together at the Mission Inn, Riverside, California
A CALIFORNIA WEDDING

Aaron & AmandaMission Inn wedding, Riverside

A pre-wedding shoot in the hills above Riverside, then a black-tie wedding in the arcades and chapel of the Mission Inn.

Aaron & Amanda were married at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California — letters read to each other in the tiled arcades, a black-tie ceremony in the chapel, and dancing under the ballroom chandeliers. A few days before, we drove up into the hills above the hotel for a pre-wedding shoot in the last of the light.

FROM THE GROOM

Amanda and I were both born in Simi Valley, a quiet suburban town in Southern California. Our social circles overlapped early on; we attended rival high schools across town and shared common friends but we didn't become close until well after graduation. In fact, it wasn't until after college, and just two months before I deployed to Japan as a Naval Officer that I asked Amanda on our first date. So we added 9,000 km of separation to our blooming relationship and watched our fondness grow through letters and emails. An improbable and inconvenient start to romance, I admit, but also a worthwhile trial in trust, love, and commitment that would set the exciting tone for the rest of our dating relationship. After two years of Facetime dates and care packages overseas, Amanda moved to Japan, accepted my hand in marriage, and made 2015 the most rewarding and thrilling year of my life.

On February 07, 2016 we share vows and toasts, and celebrate our story with the friends and family who have long supported me and those who have helped mold Amanda into the beautiful and profoundly strong woman that God has blessed me with. My hope is that after the reception each and every guest will remember this wedding for its warmth and sincerity. I hope that the smiles linger, the memories endure, that the dance floor is slow to recover, and that these photographs are cherished forever.

A cypress in a red pot, an arched window, and a clipped shrub at the Mission Inn
The tiled rooftops and palms of the Mission Inn against the sky, Riverside
Amanda having her eye makeup done before the wedding, Riverside
Amanda by the window having her hair done, black and white
A phone held up showing the morning’s messages, Riverside
Amanda with her hands together as her hair is finished, Riverside
The back of the gown, the bridesmaids helping, and Amanda ready
Amanda and her mother facing each other in the suite, Riverside
Amanda and her mother sharing a kiss on the cheek, Riverside
A hand-lettered note being read from a folded card, Riverside
Amanda in her gown by the mirror before the ceremony, Riverside
Amanda’s mother pinning something to her gown, Riverside
Aaron waiting in the tiled colonnade in his tuxedo, Riverside
Aaron in the foreground as Amanda appears behind him, Riverside
Aaron waiting with Amanda out of focus behind, Riverside
Aaron and Amanda meeting at the balcony railing, Riverside
Aaron holding Amanda’s hands behind his back, ring showing
Aaron standing beneath the beamed colonnade, Riverside
Aaron and Amanda at the railing, two frames, Riverside
The two of them together at the terrace railing, Riverside
Reading letters to each other among the red flowers, Riverside
Amanda smiling as she reads her letter, Riverside
Amanda listening as Aaron reads, brick wall behind, Riverside
Amanda wiping her eye as Aaron reads his letter, Riverside
Their hands joined between them, black and white, Riverside
Red flowers, the two of them reading, and the Mission Inn dome
Aaron and Amanda close together in the courtyard, Riverside
The two of them reading in the dappled light, Riverside
Aaron and Amanda in the arcade among the flower pots, Riverside
Tilework, the couple in the courtyard, and a carved rosette
A close embrace against the stonework, Riverside
Amanda leaning by a green iron window grille, Riverside
Amanda in a doorway beside the great rose window, Riverside
The Mission Inn courtyard and fountain from above, black and white
Aaron and Amanda framed by the carved stone doorway, Riverside
The two of them kissing before the great timber doors, Riverside
A quiet moment beneath a wall lantern, black and white
Aaron and Amanda in a long arched corridor, Riverside
A kiss in the window light, black and white, Riverside
The spiral staircase seen from directly above, black and white
The Mission Inn rotunda and its galleries, black and white
Aaron and Amanda between the stone pillars, black and white
Amanda and Aaron in matching portraits against stone, black and white
Walking the street, and Amanda alone before the facade, black and white
A kiss among the greenery, Riverside
Aaron and Amanda kissing on the balcony above the courtyard
A wall lamp, Amanda in a lit archway, and an antique telephone
Amanda with her bridesmaids in burgundy in the courtyard, Riverside
The groomsmen in black tie together, black and white, Riverside
A row of palm trees against a pale sky, Riverside
The domed tower of the Mission Inn, Riverside
Guests gathering in the courtyard before the ceremony, Riverside
The chapel full of guests seen from the balcony, Riverside
Two children watching from the balcony rail, Riverside
The organist, the chapel walls, a cellist and a plaque, Riverside
Guests in black tie waiting in the chapel, Riverside
A hand resting on a chair back in the dark chapel, Riverside
Family walking down the red aisle, Riverside
A hand holding a glass in the low light, Riverside
Aaron and Amanda in the courtyard at night, black and white
Amanda walking the red aisle in the chapel, Riverside
Amanda in the chapel doorway with her veil trailing, black and white
Amanda coming down the aisle past the guests, Riverside
Aaron watching from the altar, and the chapel filled with guests
The handover at the altar, three frames, Riverside
Aaron and Amanda at the altar with the guests behind, Riverside
The ceremony in the dark chapel, black and white, Riverside
Guests watching from the front rows, Riverside
The chapel and its gold reredos seen wide, black and white
A gilded panel, the aisle, and candles in the chapel, Riverside
Aaron and Amanda by the candles after the ceremony, Riverside
The exchange of vows at the altar, black and white, Riverside
A dip and a kiss in the crowd, Riverside
Aaron and Amanda walking back down the aisle, Riverside
The recessional in silhouette, black and white, Riverside
The courtyard full of guests seen from above at night, Riverside
Amanda alone in the chapel between the stained glass windows
The first dance on the parquet floor, and a close embrace
The first dance in the ballroom, black and white, Riverside
Amanda laughing on the dance floor, black and white, Riverside
Amanda’s gown spinning on the ballroom floor, black and white
Aaron and Amanda dancing under the chandeliers, Riverside
Dancing in the dark ballroom, black and white, Riverside
The ballroom from above during the dancing, black and white
A close dance in the low light, black and white, Riverside
Aaron and Amanda dancing cheek to cheek, Riverside
Amanda dancing on the empty floor, black and white, Riverside
A backlit embrace on the dance floor, black and white, Riverside
Amanda dancing before the seated guests, Riverside
Aaron and Amanda at the tiered cake in the ballroom, Riverside
The two of them on the balcony above the courtyard, Riverside
Aaron and Amanda kissing in a citrus grove, California
The hills and mist above Riverside, California
The sun setting over the mountain ranges, California
Aaron and Amanda on a rock above the valley at sunset, California
A detail of her gown, a kiss, and a hand on his jacket
A hillside embrace at dusk, black and white, California
Aaron and Amanda close together among the rocks, California
The two of them holding each other above the valley, California
Aaron and Amanda in the last of the light on the ridge, California
A kiss in the golden light, California
The two of them silhouetted against the sunset, California
Aaron holding Amanda from behind at dusk, California
Two frames of them together in the fading light, California
Aaron and Amanda in the dusk on the hillside, California
The two of them tiny beneath a bare tree at dusk, California
MUSIC
"Night Sky" — Sophie Hutchings
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