E + A's Mission Santa Clara Wedding

E + A were both students at Santa Clara University when they met and fell in love, so it only made sense for them to have their wedding at the mission chapel on campus after they graduated! I was lucky enough to meet the couple the night before the wedding, when I photographed their rehearsal dinner. While it usually ends up being in the form of engagement photos, I always recommend working with your wedding photographer before your big day so that you're a little more familiar and comfortable with them; and the photographer gets a chance to figure out how to best prompt and capture you.

We started the wedding day at a suite in the Hotel Valencia in San Jose's Santana Row, which already kicked off the day with glamor. Then, once we got to the Mission, came what was probably my favorite part of the day — the first look. First looks don't make sense for every couple or every wedding day, but they do make excellent photo ops. This setup is what I jokingly referred to as a "first don't-look," since they spent a little time out of each others' views entirely before the big reveal. They also added another element that I absolutely love: personal letters or private vows that they exchange on their own. Not only are these beautiful moments, but it makes a lot of sense for couples who may be a bit more shy (not wanting to say such intimate things in front of such a big crowd) and/or those who want to prioritize a more traditional or religious wedding ceremony that doesn't lend itself well to personal vows.

Aside from the stunning chapel, this couple also added personality and character with their outfits, joining the reception in traditional garb in red for good luck. Then, the bride made one more outfit change to a short and fun dress for the reception! All that being said, the best part of this day was how much fun you could tell the bride and groom were having.