We LOVE weddings like this one!  Kristen and Cormac had an charming, intimate wedding at Tlaquepaque in Sedona, Arizona.  They wanted the day to be about sharing their love with those friends and family they care about most.  Cormac is from Ireland and so there was plenty of fun spirit to go around and the day was just that, fun!  You could just feel the happiness all around the love between Kristen and Cormac was obvious!  Kristen and Cormac, thank you both so much for having us as your wedding photographers.  We loved being a part of your wedding day and being able to take part in all the happiness that came along with it!  Enjoy the sneak peak :-)!We also want to mention Laura Marolakos of Heart of Sedona Weddings who did an amazing job coordinating this wedding!!  Lastly, thank you to our Partner Photographer, Meg, for helping out as a third shooter and doing such a great job as always!WEDDING VENDORSWedding Photographers: SIERRA BLANCO PHOTOGRAPHYCoordinator: Laura Marolakos, HEART OF SEDONA WEDDINGSCeremony and Reception Venue: TLAQUEPAQUEFlowers: BLISS EXTRAORDINARY FLORALCake: SEDONA SWEET ARTSHair and Makeup: SEDONA BEAUTY TEAMCatering: ROSALIE'S CATERINGEntertainment: Brian David TrioHarpist: Lily SwanOfficiant: Pastor Steve

Robin and Mychal came all the way from Illinois this fall to have their dream destination wedding in sunny Sedona, Arizona! It was a gorgeous day with just a touch of wind ... well, a lot of wind, but that was of no matter to the happy bride and groom. To them, the day and the place were absolutely perfect!Robin contacted us quite a while back and we quickly formed a wonderful relationship with her through email, so needless to say, we were so, so, so excited when her big day finally rolled around! She hired a stellar team of vendors including Liz Margin and her company, Sedona Beauty Team, for the perfect makeup and hair and Reverend Shanandoah of Sterling Weddings of Sedona, did a lovely job as always officiating her authentic Native American ceremony for Robin and Mychal. A special rose was placed in a chair in memory of Robin's late father and after the ceremony Robin, along with her mother and two children, tossed the petals of the rose off the cliff and into the beautiful Sedona landscape below in a touching gesture.Thank you Robin and Mychal for having us as your wedding photographers! It was such a pleasure meeting you both and sharing in your very special day!!

Stephanie and Nathan's relationship is rooted in the Grand Canyon, so it seemed only fitting that they would choose to begin their married life together there as well.  These two were married on September 6th, 2014 at Shoshone Point.  It was still monsoon season and in true monsoon season fashion, rain danced around the canyon throughout the afternoon.  By the time guests began arriving, umbrellas were a must and it looked as though the couples' ceremony might be washed out.  At that moment the canyon put on an astonishing show as the sun peaked through, spotlighting the canyon below ... and in answer to your soon-to-be question, yes, the full double rainbow in the photo below was real!!  It left everyone speechless!!  No words could truly describe the sight.  It was one of the most beautiful moments we have ever witnessed in nature.So, as the ceremony began, the rain cleared away and Stephanie and Nathan had their beautiful wedding on the rim of the Grand Canyon!  After, the canyon continued to dazzle as it changed colors from orange to red and finally to a lovely, soft pastel pink as the last light of day faded away!  What an amazing and memorable wedding day for these two!Thank you Stephanie and Nathan for having us as your wedding photographers!  We had such a great time being part of your big day!!

Mary Jo and George, Ahhhh, where to begin?!?  Let me start from the beginning.  It was March, 2013 when I opened up my first email from Mary Jo inquiring about our services for her upcoming wedding in Chicago.  Mary Jo lives in Chicago so we scheduled a time to talk on the phone and after talking extensively about her plans and details for her perfect day, I asked how she heard about us.  Here is the great part :-).  Turns out Mary Jo had a friend who was a bridesmaid in a wedding we photographed in California ... in 2009!!  Wait, what, huh?!  I couldn't believe it!  She had held on to our information for 4 years and has been following us throughout that time!  Needless to say, I was speechless.  That someone would like our images so much that they would keep track of us for that length of time was a true compliment and it meant a lot.  I knew from the first phone call that this couple and their wedding was going to be a special one for us!!  Indeed it was!!Fast forward 14 months to Memorial Day weekend 2014 and Mary Jo's dream wedding had arrived!  As soon as we met Mary Jo and George in person, we felt as though we were among old friends.  They are so sweet and easy to get along with!  We started the wedding day with Mary Jo at her parent's beautiful home.  Mary Jo's mom decorated the arbor in ...

Mary Jo and George, Ahhhh, where to begin?!?  Let me start from the beginning.  It was March, 2013 when I opened up my first email from Mary Jo inquiring about our services for her upcoming wedding in Chicago.  Mary Jo lives in Chicago so we scheduled a time to talk on the phone and after talking extensively about her plans and details for her perfect day, I asked how she heard about us.  Here is the great part :-).  Turns out Mary Jo had a friend who was a bridesmaid in a wedding we photographed in California ... in 2009!!  Wait, what, huh?!  I couldn't believe it!  She had held on to our information for 4 years and has been following us throughout that time!  Needless to say, I was speechless.  That someone would like our images so much that they would keep track of us for that length of time was a true compliment and it meant a lot.  I knew from the first phone call that this couple and their wedding was going to be a special one for us!!  Indeed it was!!Fast forward 14 months to Memorial Day weekend 2014 and Mary Jo's dream wedding had arrived!  As soon as we met Mary Jo and George in person, we felt as though we were among old friends.  They are so sweet and easy to get along with!  We started the wedding day with Mary Jo at her parent's beautiful home.  Mary Jo's mom decorated the arbor in ...

Kavita and Sudeep decided to have a coast-to-coast event to celebrate their marriage.  It started at the beginning of April in posh South Beach, Miami.  The couple wanted a location with a tropical feel that would provide their guests with a weekend full of fun and relaxation that wasn't too far off the beaten path.  South Beach was the perfect solution!The three-day event in Miami began at a private estate nestled deep in the heart of South Beach's main strip, called the Orchid House.  Though it is in the thick of the action, you would never know it once inside the property grounds.  It was surprising how quite and tranquil the setting was ... and beautiful.  Friday evening was reserved for the Mehndi Party which featured henna artists, dinner, and several wonderful dance programs.  Kavita is a very accomplished dancer and gave an outstanding performance to wrap up the night's festivities.  The following Saturday morning, the couple took part in a festive Haldi Ceremony where a mixture containing turmeric is playfully applied to the skin by various family members for beautification purposes.  Gifts are also exchanged between family members.  The wedding ceremony and brunch the following Sunday is covered in our next posting.

Kavita and Sudeep celebrated the first part of their two-part coast-to-coast Indian wedding in South Beach, Miami, Florida.  This was a destination wedding for everyone involved and the weekend was designed for for fun-in-the-sun!Friday evening they held a Mehndi Party and Saturday morning the held a Haldi Ceremony, all at a beautiful South Beach estate called the Orchid House.  The ceremony and reception were held Saturday afternoon and evening.  We started with a few photos at the Orchid House and then moved over to the ceremony venue at a high-rise on the beach known as the Shore Club.  Everything took place at the Penthouse of the Shore Club and it was almost overwhelming to take in.  The evening's events took place out on the patios of the penthouse and the views were out of this world spectacular.  In every direction was either beach and ocean views or stunning city views of Miami's incredible skyline.  To top it off the entire penthouse balcony was lit up in vivid shades of every color of the rainbow!  Oh, and did we mention the cake ... WOW, what an awesome cake!!Kavita and Sudeep decided against a traditional Indian ceremony, opting instead to make it their own and incorporate many customs from various cultures throughout the world, including those of Indian culture.  It was truly a stunning event and one I'm sure their ...

We were beyond excited to grab First Place in the current ISPWP competition under the category, Emotional Impact!!  Better still, we LOVE the couple in this image!  Thank you Allyson and Eric for giving us one of our most memorable "first look" shots EVER!!!  

Part two of Kavita and Sudeep's coast-to-coast Indian wedding was held in California and it was spectacular!!  The first part, the wedding, was held in South Beach, Miami.  The second half included a two-night celebration.  On the first night they held a welcome dinner and mehndi party at Kavita's parent's home.  The second night was the reception and it took place at the gorgeous Hyatt Huntington Beach.  Kavita and Sudeep looked amazing, the ballroom decor was stunning, the weather was perfect and the entertainment for the evening was second-to-none!  Kavita loves to dance and is extremely accomplished, so it would stand to reason the theme for the evening was dance.  There were tango and salsa performances and the highlight of the evening were the electric performances by world-renowned dance group, Karmagraphy.  Kavita was invited to be a guest dancer with the group and she was simply flawless!!  Smita Mohindra of Ethnic Essence did a stellar job coordinating the reception!Kavita and Sudeep, thank you for taking us along on your coast-to-coast wedding journey.  You both made us feel so welcomed as did your families and friends!  We had such a great time getting to know you all and wish you all the happiness in your future together!! Reception Venue: HYATT HUNTINGTON BEACH RESORTEvent Planner: Smita Mohindra, ETHNIC ...

The day after Cassondra and Matthew's amazing wedding at Cap Juluca Resort on the Caribbean Island of Anguilla, we headed out to explore the Island further during their Trash the Dress Session.  We wanted to incorporate some of the history of Anguilla in the shoot in addition to it's natural beauty.  This led us to a quite beach with two incredible shipwrecks!  We were told by locals that the two enormous ships were casualties of a fierce hurricane that hit the Island during the 1980's.  They certainly made for great backdrops!  What a fantastic weekend we had with a wonderful couple on a picturesque Island in the Caribbean!  Thank you both for this experience!  Enjoy!!See Cassondra and Matthew's wedding images HERE!

When we told people we were going to Anguilla to photograph a destination wedding, for most the reaction was, huh???  It's true, many aren't familiar with the tiny Island located a mere ten miles off St. Maarten's coast in the Caribbean ... and that is precisely the point!  This charming, off-the-beaten path, spit of land is surrounded by crystal blue waters, powdery, white sand beaches and friendly locals happy to show others why they love their Island.  Lacking the tourist-trap feel, Anguilla was the perfect Caribbean Island for Cassondra and Matthew to get married and Cap Juluca Resort was the perfect venue!We first encountered these two at a bridal show in Phoenix.  Kevin noticed Matthew looking at one of our large photos from a beach wedding and said, "I'm going to bet you are having a beach wedding?"  The answer was obviously yes, and the rest is history.  Just over a year later we were on a plane to paradise!We love destination weddings like this - small, intimate, laid back and lots of fun!  This was what the couple wanted from their wedding and by the big smiles on their faces all day long it was obvious they were more than satisfied with their decision.  There were many personal touches, including a paisley garter in memory of Cassondra's brother, jumping the broom and having Matthew's father preside over the ceremony.  ...

We can't say enough wonderful things about this couple!  We just love Allyson and Eric and to think, we almost didn't get this booking.  Allyson found us on the WPJA (Wedding Photojournalist Association) under Florida listings.  We are obviously listed under Arizona, but also list ourselves under Florida because we work there frequently.  When Allyson contacted us and found out we were based in Arizona, she almost didn't email back.  Ultimately we continued talking and in the end it was meant to be and we are so glad for that!Allyson and Eric were married January 18, 2014 at the Ancient Spanish Monastery in Miami, Florida.  This was a destination wedding for the couple and it couldn't have been a more beautiful setting.  So many things about this wedding were noteworthy, but the two things that really stood out to us were their obvious love for one another and their love for Eric's son, E.J.  During the ceremony E.J. was invited up and they all joined hands to symbolize becoming a family.  One other moment worthy of mention was the couple's "first look" ... epic!  The week of the wedding they were still wavering on their decision to see one another before the ceremony.  After some back and forth, and some coaxing from us, they finally decided to do it.  We always strive to make these meetings special, but we felt even ...

Another year has come and gone ... it goes by so quickly!  Year eight of our business brought with it more travel and some wonderful advances and changes!  We started out the year with a destination wedding in San Francisco, California and ended it with a destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico.  We also enjoyed photographing a traditional Navajo wedding on the Navajo Nation, which is always a deep privilege!  We scaled back a little this year and photographed 32 weddings.  The extra time was spent working on a new business called Nature's Album by Sierra Blanco.  This business is dedicated to the nature end of our work, offering fine art landscape and wildlife prints and nature photography workshops.  It is an exciting new venture for Kevin and I that we are thrilled to finally launch!  You can view our nature photography on our new website.The biggest change of all though centers around our wedding photography business.  Kevin and I (Tina) have always been the primary photographers.  Angie joined us four years ago and starting taking her own weddings through us a couple of years ago, but only sporadically.  This year Meg joined us and she has been working very hard to learn the ropes and our unique style of journalistic wedding photography.  With the launch of 2014, Sierra Blanco Photography is now officially a ...