And… the wedding did not disappoint! It was such a beautiful day, both because of the out-pouring of love that was felt, and also because of the stunning details. Samantha looked gorgeous in her La Sposa bridal gown. The dress had a very sexy Spanish Flamenco-esque vibe to it which I loved! The Santa Barbara Historical Museum and Covarrubias Courtyard are old adobe structures and definitely have that Spanish/Mexican influence. So it was fun to see other details through out the day that alluded to the history of the venue– from Sammie’s gown, to the taco bar for dinner, to the succulent escort cards! It was all so charming!

But the highlight of the day for me was the expression on Brooks’ face as he watched Samantha walk down the aisle. Brooks’ eyes welled up with tears and you could see how overcome he was with love in that moment as Samantha came towards him. It is so wonderful to see a guy love his girl so much, and let me tell you, Brooks really loves Samantha! I also swooned over the heartfelt toasts, and of course Brooks + Samantha’s amazingly choreographed first dance! These two have the moves!

Thanks so much to my hubby AJ and also Megan Sharp for assisting me on this wedding! Also much love to La Fete Weddings for coordination, Simply Bouquets for the gorgeous bouquets and ceremony decor, and Pure Joy Catering for a killer Mexican feast!  Check out all the beauty and love below….

The details leave me breathless…

A little bling never hurt anyone!

Sammie was so calm before she got dressed. She just wanted to soak in the day

A sweet moment from the First Look! I LOVE First Looks!

The First Look allowed us to get many of the group photos done before the ceremony… which also meant extra time for fun bridal party shots like this!

Vanity Fair, ladies! Work it out!

The boys opted for some more Ninja-like moves

Okay so this one just makes me laugh. Brooks decided he wanted a shot where they all stared straight ahead and looked like zombies (Brooks is a goofball, yes). But the funny thing was, though it may sound easy to stare ahead with a blank stare, it’s actually quite challenging. The groomsmen had a hard time holding it together!

The CEREMONY! LOVE.

Cutest thing ever!!!

Brooks’ face as Sammie walks down the aisle? PRICELESS. This is why I do what I do.

I had so much fun shooting the romantics! I love this part of the day so much! And the Historical Museum was such a great and rustic backdrop!

Sammie, you are STUNNING!

SERIOUSLY?? GORGEOUS!

FIERCE!

I adored the little succulent escort cards!

The reception details were so cute! Lots of blooms in mason jars and burlap table runners! Oh and chalkboard table numbers! Cute cute cute!

The first dance!

I don’t usually post toast pictures, but I thought these two below were so touching. So much love was felt!!

To see more from this lovely wedding feel free to check out SLIDESHOW below or watch it by clicking here:

I wish I could share photos from every single wedding I got to be a part of, but that’s not really possible right now. Hopefully soon I will be share some more top secret weddings from 2011, including the wedding I got to shoot in a Castle in New Hampshire!! But for now I will do my 2011 wedding recap with the images that are okay to currently go public! So enjoy this look back at the weddings I got to shoot this past year, even if it is semi-incomplete!

Hanna + Chris kicked off my year by eloping!!

Jami + Jose married in Santa Barbara on a misty March day!

Elaine + Angel tied the knot one fine April day in Pasadena!

Karla + Waldo’s stylish Downtown Los Angeles wedding knocked my socks off!

Andra + Nate got married in Pasadena… in July… in 100+ degrees! And they still managed to look FLAWLESS!

Kim + Mark’s wedding was just lovely!

I still get goosebumps when I think of Lauren + Drew’s AMAZING art deco Santa Monica wedding!

Skylar + AJ’s vibrant San Diego wedding was too beautiful for words!!! I still have to pinch myself that it was real! Such loveliness and such a perfect couple!

Becky + Bernadette tied the knot at the gorgeous Los Angeles River Center and Gardens!

Nikki + Dave’s fabulous Malibu wedding was just one of the weddings I got to shoot as an associate for Callaway Gable in 2011! So glad I can share this one with y’all!

Frances + Jared’s Sherman Library and Gardens wedding was picture perfect! Love these two!

Whitney + Nate’s Long Beach Museum of Art Wedding was just down right fabulous!

And there was nothing cuter than Carolyn + Prescott’s rustic, Southern inspired, autumn wedding held at Strawberry Farms!!

Every year, around December (and sometimes rolling a little into January) I like to do a series of blog posts that review and sum up the past year. It really helps me relive all the fun and awesomeness of the past year and see how far I’ve come!

Last year, I debuted a Behind The Scenes post where I showcased all the photos I could find of me shooting weddings in 2010! To my complete surprise, it was a big huge hit, and I got so much feed back that people loved seeing me in action. So now that 2011 is coming to a close, I decided to spend an hour or two digging through all the photos from the weddings I shot this year…searching and searching for photos of me in action! It was kinda like playing Where’s Waldo!

Well… I found some doozies that I hope you will enjoy! Without further ado, here is Behind The Scenes of Ashleigh Taylor Photography 2011!

Here I am with Frances + Jared, shooting their First Look and romantics:

Getting a few portraits of the groom! Excuse the greasy hair please, it was over 100 degrees outside that day! YIKES!!!

What’s better than shooting on the beach with toes in your sand? Shooting an adorable couple on the beach– like Lauren + Drew!

I LOVE shooting romantics! I always have a dopey smile on my face when shooting them, no matter how hot or cold it is outside!

I always make sure to line up everyone for family shots and angle them just right for the perfect photo!

I LOVE showing my clients pics on the back of the camera and seeing their reaction! I think they love it too because they can see right away that they look amazing!

I always tell my the bridal party how to lift up the bride’s dress just enough so you can step in close to her without stepping on her dress! That’s what I’m doing here. Serious business friends!

I LOVE this picture! The light was fading as we walked back from the beach to the reception… and we chatted about Boardwalk Empire! Being friends with your clients is rad!

Just explaining poses to get the shot!

Yep, I can handle a big old bridal party and get them to have fun!!

Just chatting with the groom as I take some portraits of him!

This is me at my destination wedding this year!! Which was in New England in November! It was a chilly, windy 40 degrees that day so I bundled appropriately but also pretty snazzy! My hat had sequins– dressy and yet keeps the head warm and cozy!

I always make sure to check the back of the camera to make sure I got the shot before we move on!!

I’m a shorty. A REAL shorty. So my secret to getting great angles and pics often involves standing on chairs, benches and whatever solid furniture I can find!

We shot Skylar + AJ’s romantics on a suspension bridge!! What daredevils we were! Not gonna lie there were a few moments I was a little nervous but SkyJ is so sexy, I quickly forgot where I was and rocked the shots out!

That’s me showing a bridesmaid how to pose!! Sexy right? LOL

Just shooting a wedding in autumn, in New Hampshire, on the grounds of a Castle… that’s all!

This me showing a bride how I want her to pose. Aren’t I adorable?

Fun with my bride Carolyn in her ATP Phunky Booth!

I also LOVE getting fun shots in regular style photo booths too! Here are some great ones from 2011!

If you provide a pimp hat as a photobooth prop, I will pose with it on. Yeeeeah dawgz! I’m gangsta.

What a goofball I am!

Well folks, there you have at! A look at what goes on behind the scenes at one of my weddings! Hope you enjoyed!

Though Whitney and Nate live in Chicago, Whitney grew up in Long Beach so the Long Beach Museum of Art was the perfect venue! And Whitney managed to utilize all the nooks and crannies of the venue– from setting up croquet on the lawn, to the ceremony overlooking the water, to the dinner held in the historic building and dancing on the outside patio! There was so much fun happening that day and it allowed for everyone to see all the pretty sights the venue had to offer. Whitney is a huge fan of the color green so all the details reflected various shades of green. From adorable Twining Tea Tin escort cards to green bridesmaids dresses to her green bridal shoes! It was very pretty and a unique color palette for a fall wedding! But beyond the pretty setting and shades of emerald details, Whitney + Nate’s wedding was so special because it was ALL about love. Serious love. Love of family. Love of friends. Giddy, joyous, snuggly newlywed love. I was so happy to document all the smiles, all the hugs, all the stolen glances and all the happy tears. That is why I love my job. And that is why I LOVE Whitney and Nate. Because they radiate love.

Special thanks to Ami and Jenny for shooting with me this day… And now without further ado…the photos! Dun dun dun!

Could Whitney be ANY cuter or happier to get into her veil??? Seriously ADORABLE!

Frances fulled her Pippa duties as Maid Of Honor, Sister and BFF when she helped Whitney get into her dress!

Whitney, you are one gorgeous bride!!!!

The First Look. Seriously, I LOVE this! These two were sooooo happy to see each other. The First Look gave them extra time to soak each other in on the big day… and extra time for pics on a November day with an EARLY sunset. I call this WIN-WIN.

FIERCE! Whitney you look like Grace Kelly! So lovely!!!

I seriously LOVE how these two turned it out for my camera! HOT!

The ceremony took place at Sunset overlooking the water! Kinda like my own wedding! LOVE!

Photos of hands during a ceremony always make me smile!

After the ceremony, we were allowed inside the actual Museum Gallery for photos. Since it was dark, I worked out some funky, editorial, avante-garde photos using off camera flash! Gotta thank my homies Brian + Allie for teaching me how to rock this. LOVE!

Whitney knows how to DIVA it up! I love that about her!!! Yes I do!!!

I LOVE THIS! It’s so…artsy…which works well for a wedding held at an Art Museum, no?

And then… party time!!! I love a good fun dancing shot!!!

To see more from this lovely wedding, please watch the SLIDE SHOW below!

Carolyn is the owner of Half Baked Co, a bake shoppe featuring tasty treats at half the fat, and so of course she had a ROCKIN’ dessert bar at her wedding! She also had two pairs of adorable shoes, and one of the prettiest bouquets on Earth. But beyond the amazing eye candy this wedding had, it is the love that beamed off both Carolyn and her hubby Prescott that made the day so very special. From their very personal ceremony, to the gifts Prescott sent to Carolyn while she was getting ready, to the way they danced together all night… There was SO much love filling up and warming up that barn on that cold, gray November day!

Special thanks to Ami for second shooting for me on this wedding!

So without further ado… the wedding…

I knew I adored Carolyn from her first email to me. But the fact that she chose these two pairs of shoes to wear on her big day?? Well that makes me love her even more!!

SO much excitement in the air while Carolyn got ready! She is so lucky to have a great momma and fantastic girlfriends!

It wasn’t exactly the plan to have the ceremony in the barn… but I think it looked LOVELY! I loved all the twinkly lights!

The newlyweds!!!

I just LOVE this shot!!!!

Carolyn + Prescott have some really fun and really good looking friends! Seriously!!!

Adorable!!!!

Let’s just all do a collective AWWWWWWW for how cute the ring bearer and flower girl looked!

I told you their peeps are full of fun and LOLZ! I seriously heart the ENTIRE bridal party!!!

We snuck away for some gorgeous portraits after the ceremony…

How good looking are these two??!! Seriously! It’s ridiculous how gorgeous these two are together!!

Fierce super stars!!!!

Oh my goodness!!!! Carolyn you are a beauty!!!!!!!!

Adore this fun shoe shot!

L-O-V-E!!!!

Carolyn’s dessert bar was AMAZING!!!! But who could expect any less of her?!

Nom nom!

And then they partied the night away…

To see more from this fabulously rustic wedding, watch the SLIDE SHOW:

But don’t be fooled, the success of a Phunky Booth partly has to do with the bride and groom. I ask that all my clients provide their own props so that each booth is unique! My bride Carolyn (stay tuned for her wedding pics soon) took my advice and ran with it! For her rustic inspired wedding, she set up a kickin’ photobooth table. Complete with old-timey props with a Western, Cowboy theme! She had sooooo many AMAZINGLY creative props, from Sheriff badges, to hand cuffs, to western shirts and bandanas to old cameras! It was so creative and all her guests got right into character!

Check out the pics of all the old-timey PHUNKINESS that happened below:

Watch out for the bridesmaids… they’re trouble!!!

Looks like there’s a new Sheriff in town…

Carolyn and Prescott…or perhaps Bonnie + Clyde!

The guests came out with guns blazin’. Literally.

“Are ye deeeeeeeeaf?!”

That’s me trying to be very serious. Which was VERY hard. Because I am always smiling!

“Say hello to my little friend!” (okay I know thats a mafia movie reference, not a western movie reference…but it still works right?)

“There ain’t room in this town for the two of us!”

Don’t mess with Texas… or in this case, bridesmaid Berlin!

Awwww, sweet country love!

To see more from Carolyn + Prescott’s Cowboys + Indians Phunky Booth, watch the SLIDE SHOW:

Nikki + Dave’s Malibu wedding was the first wedding I photographed as a Callaway Gable Associate. The wedding was beautifully designed and coordinated by Brandi of High Society Events. The ceremony was on the beach in Point Dume, Malibu… coincidentally neighboring the beach I got married on in 2009! Being a former beach bride myself you can just imagine how much I loved this wedding! After the ceremony, we headed to the lovely Villa Sancti di Bella Vista for a fun filled outdoor reception! It was a completely gorgeous day!

Thank you to Candice + Becca for shooting with me and assisting on this big day! And now… pictures!

Nikki wore amazing pink Badgley Mischka shoes!!

Nikki was incredibly calm and casual while getting ready! Props to her for being such a relaxed bride!!

Part of the Callaway Gable aesthetic is using artificial light for edgy portraits. Brian and Allie have taught me how they do this… and this is me putting it into practice!! Ferosh, right?!

A bridal portrait in my own signature style!

Sighhhhhh! The ceremony set up was gorgeous!!! I LOVE beach weddings!!!

A touching moment as Nikki’s dad gives her away.

Dave was all smiles throughout the ceremony!

And Nikki cried tears of joy!

My favorite image of the day…..

The sun was harsh but we still worked it for some photos on the beach!

Nikki, darling, you are FIERCE!

Even though you can’t see their faces, there is something so joyous about this next photo.

We then headed from the beach to Villa Sancti for some more portraits.

When I showed this next photo to Nikki on the back of my camera, right after it had been taken, she said “awww” and got all choked up. I agree, there is something so tender and evocative about this photo.

We ended the portraits with a few Callaway Gable style artificial light portraits. I do have to say, they are pretty rad! What do you think?

The reception was just lovely!! Look at that view!! Villa Sancti is an amazing venue for sure!

As the sunset these two laughed with each other and enjoyed being married! Just love!!!

Their wedding day started off so fun and relaxed. Frances got ready at home with her sister/maid-of honor Whitney (who’s wedding I will also be photographing in November) and their mother. The three gals laughed as they got all made up, and also found some time to watch the Sex and the City movie! Love it!!! As the Kate Middleton inspired veil was being pinned into Frances’ hair, Whitney squealed and helped make everything look perfect. She said she was fulfilling her “Pippa duties!” Also love!

The First Look was a sweet moment! Jared was just floored to see Frances, but how could he not be? She looked STUNNING in her beyond fabulous dress! Their ceremony was beautiful with some sweet words by the Rabbi. I especially loved the story he told about their first date… the story that totally explains why these two were meant to be. You see, on their first date Jared accidentally knocked over and spilled the wine on the table. But Frances quickly told him it was all okay because all night she had been fearing that she might knock over and spill the wine. These two have the same cute quirks and it’s why these two just get each other. As the Rabbi said it was clearly B’shert (a Jewish term for “meant to be”) and I have to agree!

Thanks so much to Ami for shooting this with me! And now… onto the photos!

Can we talk about how FIERCE that dress is?! LOVE!!! But that smile on Frances below?? That’s even FIERCER!!!

This is Whitney fulfilling her “Pippa duties!” I LOVE it!!!! And doesn’t Frances totally remind you of Kate?! Classic elegance indeed!

Frances, you are GORGEOUS!

The First Look was as romantic as ever! Loved that we were able to stage it in a greenhouse!

LOOOOOOVE this!

Frances + Jared, are you sure you aren’t super models?! I mean, REALLY!

I just love this candid moment from the Ketubah signing! Their whole families gathered to watch them sign this marriage contract! And the looks on Frances + Jared’s faces are priceless!

The ceremony was just lovely!

Officially MR + MRS! Mazel tov!!! These two were on cloud 9!

Seriously, I can’t get over how gorgeous you two look together!!!

ADORE!

You two are too cute for words!!!

This is maybe my fave shot of the day! Just fabulous!!!

And a quick shot from the first dance! Soooo lovely!

To see more of this lovely wedding watch the SLIDE SHOW:

On a more personal note, it has been a goal of mine since the inception of my business to see my work featured on the main page of Style Me Pretty. I absolutely adore SMP– to me it is the holy grail of wedding blogs. I even relied heavily on the site when I was planning my own wedding, which is why I have always wanted to be featured on the site! This year, I had work featured both on SMP’s facebook page and on SMP California, which was huge! But this is the first time seeing my work on the SMP’s front page and it is a dream come true! I will be doing happy dances all day for sure.

Go check out all the lovely details from Lauren + Drew’s wedding on Style Me Pretty and please leave a comment on the post:

To see MORE photos from the booth watch the SLIDESHOW:

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