San Diego, California

November 5th, 2023

I’m psyched to finally share this Spanish-styled intimate vow renewal in sunny San Diego. There is so much detail to share from this, from the florals done by my close friend Tori from Berry Blooms Floral Co. and the heartwarming story of how this styled shoot turned into a beautiful vow renewal for my own parents! We shot so many gorgeous images on digital, film, instant film, and Super 8 that we are showing off in this blog.

Setting The Scene In San Diego, California

Nestled in the charming historical neighborhood of University Heights lies The Hacienda West. This hidden gem served as the perfect backdrop for our intimate celebration of love for my parents. My mom Jacinthe spent the morning getting ready with the amazing hair and makeup team we loved. Nikki, the hairstylist killed her two different hairstyles for the ceremony and reception that looked so effortless and beautiful. Jacinthe’s look was inspired by the 1930’s with a classic silhouette with some modern flair. I paired the dress with the most elegant pair of designer mini heels you’ll ever see. We were all gushing over velvet and rust color pairing. Her look complimented the whole day and venue so well!

The bright Florals by Berry Blooms Floral Co.

Let us introduce you to Tori, the creative genius behind Berry Blooms Floral Co. I reached out to Tori not just because of her stunning work and proximity to San Diego, but because she’s a queer and POC business owner. Someone we were genuinely excited to collaborate with. She crafted a monochromatic bouquet that exceeded what I’d imagined, full of texture and finished with a long ribbon that felt anything but basic. She also designed a striking floral piece for Louis’s lapel that really stood out against his navy jacket. Drawing inspiration from the tiles at Hacienda West, she brought in subtle pops of blue that tied everything together beautifully. Tori wrote a full blog post about this styled shoot turned vow renewal, where she dives into the floral details. Check that out here!

A Styled Shoot Turned Vow Renewal

Now, here’s where the story gets interesting. As fate would have it, the originally scheduled model couples suddenly had to drop out. But fret not, because I had the perfect idea – why not invite my parents to model for the shoot? It just so happened that the styled shoot was scheduled for the same time as their 6th anniversary. Talk about meant to be! I shot their first wedding in 2018, but my photography style and skill have changed so much since then that I was so looking forward to getting them some new photos to share!

As my parents stood in front of the camera, we were so excited about how everything came together from the venue to the florals. They exchanged short and to-the-point vows, affirming their love and commitment to each other as they embarked on a new chapter of their journey together. We were incredibly grateful to be witnesses to this impromptu celebration of love and that they were so open to the idea of modeling for us, it turned into this unique moment for all of us. I know the whole team was proud of what we had created together.

The Ceremony & Reception Space

The versatility of The Hacienda West was truly remarkable. In the blink of an eye, the ceremony space seamlessly transformed into a stunning reception area. While we headed off to take some sunset pictures, the team worked their magic, decorating the sweetheart table. Plus the chocolates we sourced locally were UNREAL from Mission Heights Chocolates. If you are ever in San Diego you have to stop by! I also spent a ton of time antiquing and thrifting to source decor pieces like candlesticks and table runners for the eclectic feeling I was going for. The result? An ethereal reception setup that felt like a dream.

Capturing the Moments with Super 8 Film

You know that if I was in control and planning an event, we had to incorporate Super 8 film into the mix. My parents didn’t have any video for their wedding day so when we brought the idea up to them they thought that having Super 8 for their vow renewal was really special. The vintage aesthetic and nostalgic quality of Super 8 film perfectly captured the essence of the day and the unique feel we brought to life as a team! Check out the social media highlight and director’s cut below.

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHT

DIRECTOR’S CUT

Castillo Holliday Photo + Film

We cannot express enough gratitude for the collaboration between Berry Blooms Floral Co., Castillo Holliday Photo + Film, and the other talented vendors involved. Their commitment to authenticity and creativity was truly what brought this styled shoot turned vow renewal to life. I think we knocked it out of the park!

Take this as our personal note we love to travel for weddings, elopements, and vow renewals! So, if we are not local to you but we are your dream photo and film team, reach out to us here! We would be honored to travel and capture your special memories.

Love from Jacinthe and Louis

“Dominique recently photographed and filmed a very special event for us which was our six-year vowels’ renewal in San Diego, CA. She made this day so unique and special for us. The amount of planning she invested in coordinating all the details with the venue vendor, finding an amazing florist like I have never met before, and securing a wonderful make-up artist and incredibly talented hair stylist who made me feel as beautiful as the photos and Super 8 film she captured for us. She gave 200% of herself to make this shoot perfect. She delivered so many wonderful photos for us and captured and edited a Super 8 video that brought tears to our eyes. Dominique has a special gift for capturing those candid and priceless moments between human beings and she beautifully brought to life the chemistry my husband and I share. I couldn’t be more pleased with the work she did for us and the love she put into her work. Merci!”

Vendor Team:

Photographer, Super 8 Filmmaker, and Creative Director: Castillo Holliday Photo & Film, Instagram: @castillohollidayphotoandfilm | Venue: The Hacienda West, Instagram: @thehaciendawest | Florals: Berry Blooms Floral Co., Instagram: @berrybloomsfloralco | Hair: Nikki San Diego Hairstylist, Instagram: @nikkidomyhair | Makeup: Yerusa Zarshah Dewan, Instagram: @artistrybyyzd | Vow Books: Calligraphy by Ally, Instagram: @calligraphy_by_ally | Chocolates: Mission Heights Chocolates, Instagram: @missionheightschocolates | Gown: Jenny Yoo, Instagram: @jennyyoonyc | Shoes: Loeffler Randall, Instagram: @loefflerrandall