Erica and Michael are living the “LDR” lifestyle right now (Long Distance Relationship) … He lives in New York and she works out of Seattle. I think we all felt pretty lucky when the schedule Gods smiled on us with a day we could all make it to the OC for this shoot last month. The planets aligned in the weather department too  – nothing but warm California sunshine smiling on us here (= With record rains here in NYC the last couple weeks…I have to admit, I’m just a smidge excited about getting home to what California does best… But I’ll be ready to return next month to shoot this couple’s wedding, Upstate. Can’t WAIT you guys!!!!

Margaret and John are my ultimate. Period. Number One. For starters, they’re both REALLY FUNNY. They both work for the Sims Franchise. John’s job is to come up with “cool new ways for people to play” and Margaret works on pairing the video game with people who appreciate creativity and freedom of expression. Um, hello – it’s just SLIGHTLY interesting stuff…kind of makes me want to see what’s up with the Sims. I could talk for hours about how cool this couple is, or how they write me hykus, or the 50 kinds of awesome that is the location Chateau Le Dome, or how this couple’s wicked DRY sense of humor was such a good fit with Tony and I as their photographers. But I think they could really say it best themselves…

After the wedding, all of my couples are asked to fill out a Wedding Editorial Questionnaire – it’s the sheet that I provide to magazine (and blog) editors when I’m submitting a wedding to be published. Here are a few of my favorite answers from John and Margaret …I hope it inspires you to look to what’s REAL on your wedding day … (hint: it’s about your PEOPLE). I just LOVE what they had to say. Also, I just have to add that if I had it all to do over again, I would have a wedding JUST LIKE THIS….

Q. How did the two of you meet?

A. We met in the marketing group at Mattel. John had just finished business school at USC’s Marshall School of Business. On his first day at Mattel, he was assigned to shadow Margaret on the Hot Wheels monster truck business, Monster Jam. We’re one of the few couples you’ll meet who have experience behind the wheel of an alcohol-fueled 7000 horsepower monster truck. Together, we crushed cars, and that turned into a crush.

Q. What was the most important factor that you considered while planning your wedding?

A. Keeping it small and intimate, having it match our character and sense of humor, and navigating away from bullshit and inauthenticity at every opportunity.

Q. Where did you find your inspiration for the theme of the wedding day?

A. Our shared sense of humor, and the people we care about. We like to laugh, and we wanted to have fun. And we wanted to create fun for the people we care about and share ourselves without any reservations.

Q. What was unique about your wedding?

A. For starters, our food didn’t suck. We somehow managed to escape inviting half the free world. We had a chance to have a full conversation with every one of our guests. And we weren’t afraid to be ourselves and be the kids that we still are. Our introduction was to the Muppet Show theme song. Why? Because we both like it and it makes us smile.

Q. What was the most memorable moment of your wedding day?

A. John: I remember standing at the ceremony arch, tuning out our officiant, and just looking at Margaret and feeling how much I loved her and being overwhelmed by her beauty and the serenity of our setting and I just knew it was one of those defining memorable moments … {in life}