Alex and Kaitie have the kind of love story that makes you smile ear to ear when you hear it. They met on a dating app, but quickly realized they had friends in common and that they had actually been working out at the same gym since Alex moved to LA. They started dating and Kaitie adopted Alex’s 2 dogs and they moved in together the next year. Alex has been so supportive of Kaitie starting her own dental practice and loves to cook dinner for the both of them after long days at work. They have a standing date night every Saturday where he makes insane sounding pizzas in their pizza oven with farmers market ingredients. As soon as I spent time with them for their engagement photos a few months back, I could see how well they complemented each other, and I can also add complimented! The way they spoke to each other was so positive and gentle. Alex made Kaitie laugh the whole shoot, where me telling her to smize was nearly impossible since they erupted into giggles.
Their elopement day started out with them getting ready together at the gorgeous Hotel Vitorrja in Venice Beach. The suite was moody, vintage inspired with a big beautiful bathroom and tub, and they even had a loaf of sourdough and a cookie left for them on the counter along with oat and regular milk in the fridge for their morning coffee.
After getting ready, enjoying some bathtub champagne, and the beautiful space that is the hotel Vitorrja, we headed up to one of the most iconic beaches in Malibu, El Matador Beach. With stunning rock formations, arches, and cliffs, it makes for a dramatic setting for elopement vows and portraits. We started out with the 2 of them taking in the view from the top, then heading down to the mid level for private vows. True to them the vows brought lots of laughter and tears. We then headed down to the beach for some frolicking and enjoying the gorgeous September day, where it really was 72 and sunny.
Afterwards, they started to get hungry, so we headed up to finish out the day in the Santa Monica Mountains, just 9 miles away in Charmlee Wilderness Park. There were very clean bathrooms (hooray!) before we started our short hike to some grassy fields for a picnic. They ate and fed each other, crackers, veggies, fruit and cheese that they stocked up on from TJ’s, frolicked in the fields just spending time with each other, before their elopement day came to a close. It was such a magical day celebrating in 3 very different locations, one bustling beach town, the cliffsides of Malibu, then to the Malibu canyons and grassy fields, which are often an overlooked part of the area.
It is such an immense privilege to be part of days like this. I am so grateful they trusted me with the planning and continued inspiring me throughout the day.
