JENNIFER & JESSE
Locations:
- Getting ready: Bacara Resort And Spa in Goleta, CA (bride and groom)
- Ceremony and reception: Bacara Resort And Spa in Goleta, CA
Wedding photos at Bacara Resort And Spa:
Jennifer and Jesse were referred to me by a good wedding planner friend of mine Trini Leon, who runs Nozza Studios. They were planning a luxury Jewish wedding ceremony at the stunning Bacara Resort And Spa in Goleta, right by the upmarket coastal area of Santa Barbara. They had met during their undergrad college days in Arizona and were full of love (and ready to party), and it was a lot of fun capturing this wedding at Bacara Resort And Spa.

Capturing a warm embrace between the bride and groom during their Bacara Resort And Spa wedding photo session.
Getting ready photos at the Bacara Resort And Spa:
My wife Charlene was my second photographer for the day and we drove up early in the morning from Long Beach to Goleta. Jennifer and Jesse were getting ready in different suites at the Bacara Resort And Spa, but both emanated a lot of excitement and plenty of humor that made our jobs that much more enjoyable. While Charlene was with Jesse and the boys, I was with Jennifer, her bridesmaids, and mom as they made their final preparations and shared in this special morning.

Jennifer and her mom share a special moment as they were getting ready for her wedding day at the Bacara Resort And Spa in Goleta.

A black and white shot of Jesse getting ready with his dad before the Bacara Resort And Spa wedding ceremony.

Jennifer’s bridesmaids help her to fit her garter as she was getting ready at the Bacara Resort And Spa.

A close-up black and white shot of the bride getting ready for her wedding day at the Bacara Resort And Spa in Goleta.

A bird’s eye view of Jesse waiting for his bride in a fountain courtyard of the Bacara Resort And Spa.
Pre-ceremony portraits at the Bacara Resort And Spa:
The couple had decided on a first look session in an elegant fountain courtyard area at the resort, and Jesse’s reaction as Jennifer walked down the staircase was priceless! We used this opportunity for a couple portrait session within the leafy green landscaped gardens, and I also captured a few shots of Jennifer exploring the walking paths with her extended group of bridesmaids in these Bacara Resort And Spa wedding photos.

Jennifer walks down a staircase towards Jesse during their first look session at the Bacara Resort And Spa.

The bride and groom embrace during their first look session at the Bacara Resort And Spa in Goleta.

Jennifer and her bridesmaids walk together through the landscaped gardens of the Bacara Resort And Spa.
Ceremony photos at the Bacara Resort And Spa:
Jennifer and Jesse’s wedding ceremony combined traditional Western elements with Jewish ones, and it started with the signing of the Ketubah marriage license. Then Jennifer was escorted down a flower-strewn aisle at Bacara Resort And Spa’s stunning garden ceremonial gazebo to an expectant Jesse, complete with his Jewish kippah.
I tried to capture their wedding ceremony from multiple angles, ranging from wide angle shots looking down the aisle, to up-close candid images of the bridal couple’s (and their families’) emotional responses. The ceremony was held during the golden hour of sunset, and the light hitting the white-draped gazebo as they exchanged vows was magical. Covered by a Jewish chuppah the couple said “I do” and then Jesse performed the traditional breaking of the glass ceremony.

A black and white shot capturing a special moment between the couple and their grandmother at the Bacara Resort And Spa.

The bride and groom sign their Jewish Ketubah before the start of the Bacara Resort And Spa wedding ceremony.

A candid black and white shot of a young wedding guest at Jennifer and Jesse’s Bacara Resort And Spa celebrations.

Jesse has his traditional Jewish kippah fitted at the start of his Bacara Resort And Spa wedding ceremony.

Jennifer’s parents escort her down a flower petal-adorned aisle at the Bacara Resort And Spa in Goleta.

Jennifer and Jesse are watched on by family and friends during their Jewish wedding ceremony at the Bacara Resort And Spa.

The bride and groom laugh together during their Jewish wedding ceremony at the luxury Bacara Resort And Spa.

Capturing Jennifer’s playful reaction as she exchanged vows with Jesse at Goleta’s Bacara Resort And Spa.

A wide angle shot looking down the aisle of Jennifer and Jesse’s Jewish wedding ceremony at the Bacara Resort And Spa.

A close-up shot capturing Jennifer’s parents’ reactions during her wedding ceremony at the Bacara Resort And Spa.

A silhouette shot of Jennifer and Jesse’s luxurious wedding ceremony at the Bacara Resort And Spa.

The couple, covered by a traditional Jewish chuppah, during their Bacara Resort And Spa wedding ceremony.

Jesse performs the traditional Jewish breaking of the glass ceremony during their lavish Bacara Resort And Spa wedding celebrations.

Capturing the emotional reaction of family and friends during Jennifer and Jesse’s Jewish wedding ceremony at the Bacara Resort And Spa.

A close-up shot of Jennifer’s joyous reaction as she exchanged vows with Jesse at the Bacara Resort And Spa.

The newly married couple kiss during their wedding ceremony at the luxury Bacara Resort And Spa in Goleta.

Jennifer and Jesse make their recessional walk at sunset following their Bacara Resort And Spa wedding ceremony.

The bride is greeted by a glass of champagne following her luxury wedding ceremony at the Bacara Resort And Spa in Goleta.

The groom is congratulated by his mother-in-law following the Bacara Resort And Spa wedding ceremony in Goleta.

The newly married couple are whisked away on a golf cart to their Bacara Resort And Spa wedding reception.
Reception photos at the Bacara Resort And Spa:
At the end of the wedding ceremony, the couple were greeted with champagne flutes and a golf cart, ready to whisk them away to their glamorous reception that was held indoors at the Bacara Resort And Spa. Jennifer and Jesse both love electronic dance music, so instead of a romantic first dance, they kicked off the party with something a little more club-inspired!
I captured all the traditional Western wedding reception elements, such as the father-daughter dance, the cake-cutting ceremony, and the garter removal. I also got in amongst all the dance floor action during the traditional Jewish Hora chair dance as the bridal couple were lifted into the air above their wedding party. Jennifer and Jesse also decided to mix things up with a little DJ-ing of their own, giving my good friend DJ Raul Mora a break for a while!

Jennifer and Jesse hit the dance floor to their favorite electronic dance music at the Bacara Resort And Spa in Goleta.

The newly married couple embrace during their first dance at the glamorous Bacara Resort And Spa wedding reception.

Jesse’s parents are lifted up above the wedding party during the traditional Jewish Hora chair dance at the Bacara Resort And Spa wedding reception.

A black and white shot of the bride being congratulated by her grandma during the glamorous Bacara Resort And Spa wedding reception.

A close-up shot of the couple’s reactions to speeches and toasts during their Bacara Resort And Spa wedding reception.

The groom makes a toast during his wedding day celebrations at Goleta’s Bacara Resort And Spa.

Capturing a playful moment between the bride and groom during their cake cutting ceremony at the Bacara Resort And Spa.

Jennifer and her dad share a special moment during the father-daughter dance at the Bacara Resort And Spa.

Jesse playfully removes Jennifer’s garter during their luxury wedding reception at the Bacara Resort And Spa.

The couple do some DJ-ing of their own at the luxury Bacara Resort And Spa in Goleta.

The newly married couple are lifted above their wedding party during the traditional Jewish Hora chair dance at the Bacara Resort And Spa.
Wedding photos at Bacara Resort And Spa:
It really was a lot of fun capturing these Bacara Resort And Spa wedding photos with such an energetic, fun-loving couple and I wish Jennifer and Jesse a life together full of love and happiness.
October 23, 2014
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