Archive for the ‘Wedding’ Category

What an amazing time Katie + Michael’s Green Gables Estate wedding was! I had so much fun at their engagement session that I should have known their wedding would be just as fabulous :) These two were absolutely smitten with each other throughout the day – during our portrait time, I just had to tell them to look at each other and all the love came pouring out!  It was also wonderful to see them surrounded by family and friends as they committed themselves to one another.

Ceremony: St. Martha Catholic Church
Reception: Green Gables Estate
DJ: Music & More
Florals: Love & Blossoms

They both got ready at Michael’s parents’ house, just rooms apart from one another.

They wanted to have a moment before the ceremony to hold hands without actually seeing each other – so sweet!

We then headed off for the ceremony! This was Katie’s family church and the ceremony was very touching.

One of my favorite shots to get on a wedding day :)

Their reception was at Green Gables Estate in San Marcos. I’ve shot here before when it was Old Richland Schoolhouse, and the venue is wonderful! They’ve added some more features since I last shot here, and it was so fun to wander around the grounds with Katie + Michael.

Congratulations, Katie + Michael!

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Last night I went to the OC Brides networking event at Crevier Classic Cars. As outgoing as I can seem at times, networking makes me nervous! But the fact is everyone is there to meet other people so it ended up being a lot of fun!

I really loved the venue and wished I had brought my wide-angle lens to get some room shots. The event was held in the middle of the room, surrounded by classic cars. I can’t imagine this wouldn’t be a guy-approved reception venue! :)

There were lots of vendors with food and table set-ups. Erin at Events Taylor Made runs a coordinating and rental business. Back when I was a bride, I think the only options I found for renting reception decor were limited to linens and chairs. There were entire table set-ups that could be rented! I was very impressed with these. Although some of them were very pretty, as a classic rock fan, I loved the ingenuity of their rock-n-roll themed table best!

This tablescape was gorgeous – I feel like it would be perfect for a beach themed wedding!

This table actually had rock-n-roll themed magazine pages lining the top. Plates were clear with a vinyl album as the placement. Cool!

I LOVED  Memory Lane Events’ table. It looked so clean and modern! There’s a reason I’m not in event planning – I’d never think of anything as cool as using nuts and bolts as decor!

Yummy eats from Love At First Bite!

Far and away, though, the coolest thing I saw there was this car cake by Amazing Cake Creations! Wow!

I’m really glad I attended. As wedding professionals, we spend so much time focusing on our clients (as we rightly should) that sometimes we don’t connect enough with people in the same industry. It was a great time, hope I can make the next one!

I had the honor of second shooting with Brent Stanley a few weeks ago at the beautiful Ponte Winery in Temecula.  March is a beautiful time of year to have a wedding in Temecula; the day often starts out hot but cools nicely in time for the ceremony. You couldn’t ask for a better backdrop for the wedding! The winery was in the backdrop of Amanda + Matt’s ceremony, surrounded by fields of flowers. There was a lot of personal effort Amanda + Matt went to on their wedding day to make it uniquely them; from custom programs to unique ceremony elements and even an Instagram hashtag they asked guests to use throughout the night! Enjoy!

 Amanda took just a second to breathe before Matt came to see her for the first time. They were so sweet together!

 Their ceremony was lovely! It featured an Irish binding ceremony where Amanda and Matt tied their hands together to symbolize their new life.

After the ceremony we had some time to get bridal portraits of the new husband and wife! You simply can’t ask for a better setting than a vineyard!

On to the reception!

Congratulations, Amanda and Matt!

I second shot a wedding in Temecula recently with the talented Brent Stanley. It was a gorgeous day and a beautiful wedding! I had to share this one image of the flower girl looking in on the bride and groom’s first look, and probably thinking about what her own wedding day will be like. More from this wedding soon!

Earlier this week I received notification I was a recipient of Two Bright Lights Editors’ Choice Award! Last year was the first year I really pushed to get every single one of my weddings published, and I am very excited and honored to receive this award! 2013 is really starting off with a bang! :) More information on the award can be read below.

Editors’ Choice Award Winner Selection Process

The 2013 Two Bright Lights Editors’ Choice Awards is a signature program that recognizes photographers and vendors within the Two Bright Lights community whose number of published features in 2012 placed them among the top 5% of all Two Bright Lights members. Winners were published across many of the most respected lifestyle, wedding and other print and digital publications in the United States and worldwide.

The 2013 honorees reflect those that have demonstrated a superior quality of work for their customers, and those that have used Two Bright Lights’ online platform to quickly and easily get published by submitting their authentic, stunning imagery and services directly to the top industry publications and editors.

Among thousands of photographers and vendors competing for publication, the Editors’ Choice winners represent the best-of-the-best.

When my husband proposed to me in 2007, one of my best friends (and eventual matron of honor) told me I HAD to go to The Knot! Like any newly engaged bride-to-be, my head was spinning with the prospect of planning a wedding. Not only did I find virtually all of my vendors on The Knot, I also joined their community and got lots of great tips and ideas from local Detroit brides.

In 2009, my photography business really started picking up traction, and I became more focused on weddings. Based on my own experiences with The Knot, I knew I wanted to be in front of those local brides.

Last Thursday, I received the news that I had been selected as one of The Knot’s 2013 Best of Weddings pick for Orange County and the Inland Empire. This feels so full-circle, coming from a time when I was on the other end searching for my own wedding photographer!

I feel very honored to have received this award, as it is based on reviews from my 2012 brides. Choosing a photographer is one of the hardest wedding vendor choices a couple makes. Unlike something tangible like cake or flowers, a bride has to choose a photographer based on the strength of his or her portfolio, and trust that the photos on their own wedding day will reflect the same quality. I am very thankful to my clients for their kind words. I absolutely love shooting weddings and nothing makes me happier than a bride and groom who are thrilled with the outcome!

Looking forward to a spectacular 2013 with more of my amazing brides and grooms!

On Christmas Eve, I had the honor of having my Red Riding Hood inspired bridal shoot published on Fab You Bliss.  It is always a pleasure to see one’s work recognized, and as I was the “coordinator” of this shoot as well, it is especially gratifying! This shoot was a labor of love and I was thrilled to see all of the vendors’ hard work recognized! Many thanks to Fab You Bliss for the feature, as well as the team that came together to make this shoot possible:

Concept & Photography: Courtney McManaway Photography

Bridal Stylist: Hope Stanley

Hair & Makeup: Charmed Beauty

Floral Design: Florals by Jenny

Cake Design: Occasions Cookies & Cakes

Invitation Design: Polkadot Weekend Weddings

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Happy Christmas from London! My husband and I are spending the holidays overseas and it’s a perfect time to reflect on my 2012 Southern California weddings.

2012 was a fantastic year for me! I worked with so many great clients, and it was a joy to capture their weddings.  I also had many of my weddings published online! My work was featured on WedLoft, The Budget Savvy Bride, Urban Style, The Wedding Atlas, Lovebird Productions, WeddingChannel.com, and Fab You Bliss. Looking forward to an equally fabulous 2013! :)

Cindy + Keith had a gorgeous wedding at Aliso Viejo Country Club.

Montserrat + Rafael’s had a beautiful Catholic ceremony at St. Joaquim’s Catholic Church followed by a fun reception at the DoubleTree Hotel.

Morgan + Kevin had a touching ceremony at Presbyterian Church of the Master followed by a sweet reception at Dove Canyon Country Club.

Gloria + Michael’s wedding at Serendipity Garden Weddings was full of personal touches!

Darcy + Dru’s wedding at The Casino San Clemente was a personalized affair! Darcy shared with me she and her family tackled many of the wedding day details. It was a gorgeous day and a perfect reflection of the two of them :)

I also had the pleasure of second shooting weddings this year with Brett Hickman Photography and Laura Eaton Photography.

I also organized and shot my first styled shoot! I was very proud of the team of vendors that came together for this Red Riding Hood themed wedding shoot! I definitely see more of these in my future :)

ABOUT COURTNEY

WEDDING PORTFOLIO

WEDDING FAQ

TESTIMONIALS

CONTACT