Lesley and Blake Wedding Wedgewood University Club, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA February 4, 2024

Wedding Photography LAdigitalPhoto - Life Event Photography by Tom Keene ©

Wedding Location - Wedgewood University Club at UC Irvine, CA on February 4, 2024

Now as can be expected, whenever I shoot here I get a bit sentimental. Why? I attended and graduated from UC Irvine. It is such a beautiful campus. Normally I walk it when I am there to shoot an event, but today was a bit stormy. It is always a pleasure to return to the Wedgewood University Club in Irvine for a wedding.

Having arrived about an hour early, I got straight to work capturing the details inside of the Wedgewood University Club. This is my 4th time shooting here but was going to be my first time covering the ceremony inside due to the pending rain storm.

A moment alone with the couple after their wedding ceremony.

Lesley and Blake are a young couple, but they are truly surrounded by an amazing family and friends. Blake is a Marine! Thank you for your service Blake!

The University Club has a lot of space inside for both the reception, cocktail hour and an outside patio section as well. It also has both a large bridal suite and a groom suite as well on the property. In the back, outside, is a large grass area where ceremonies normally take place next to a gazebo.

This is normally where the reception takes place with a dance floor just under the where the couple stands.

I had a chance to meet the florist before she left. Those roses are a color I have never seen before. Simply stunning and a perfect match for the time of year.

Once Blake and his side arrived I got to the details of the day. Lesley's shoes were her something borrowed.

Blake's mom got the rings for me and I captured this shot. Not only were they in safe hands, but it is my way to showing I returned them. :)

Blake was ready to go. So I headed back to his bride to see where she was in getting ready.

Lesley was equally ready. All we had left was a quick first touch and a quicker rehearsal.

The tradition is for a couple to not see each other before walking down in the ceremony. Over the years, first looks have become more common as way to get some emotional and celebratory moments of the two alone before the ceremony and a way to get the jitters out. For those that want both, in a way, the first touch has become a great back up plan.

I think moments like this say it all. The grooms first moment of seeing his bride being walked down the aisle.

The return smile is the explanation point.

Now I have seen some fast ceremonies in my time, but this has to be in the top 10. I barely had enough time to make it to both sides to get them saying their I do's and do their ring exchanges and came back to the center to hear "by the power vested in me..."

After capturing their family photos, Lesley expressed her biggest wish to get some photos outdoors by the gazebo.

Come see these moments and all the rest!