Ysa + David’s Southern California wedding was such a blast to photograph. Traveling for weddings is something I have always dreamed of doing and I cant help but feel like this day was just the beginning of something amazing!
Ysa and David reached out to me at the beginning of last year about their engagement session. After shooting their engagement photos they decided to book me as their wedding photographer (yay yay!!). At the time, they were getting married in Texas, but later in the year they decided to change their wedding to be in California and I was STOKED.
California is one of my favorite places in the whole world. Mainly because of the weather but also because of all the BEAUTIFUL scenery. Ysa + Davids wedding day was at the STUNNING Green Gables Estates in San Marcos California. I was speechless from the first moment I arrived. The getting ready rooms were perfection, the outdoor ceremony space was to DIE for, and the reception decor was spot on.
I loved every minute of this California wedding day, and im so lucky to have been their photographer. But now, you guys know the drill, its time to hear from the bride and groom themselves! Enjoy the sweet words that Ysa + David shared about their day!
HOW DID YOU TWO MEET?
We met in July of 2015, on the boardwalk in Carlsbad, CA while David was stationed in Oceanside in Camp Pendleton. We haven’t stopped talking since! From Good morning to Goodnight, we were talking all day long for at least two months straight.
David and I met a few times on base within those two months, and he told me he was going on leave to see his family in August. I was so sad, I didn’t want him to go, because I realized I felt calm and happy any time I was with him. That’s when I knew he was the one for me! We talked about the future together often and we knew we wanted each other in it. David one day said that he was going to Texas after he got out from the Marines and asked me to come with him. Obviously I said yes!
Fast forward to August 2018, I had stayed the summer in Cali while David went back to Texas to work and get our living accommodations ready after getting out of the military. Little did I know he had bought my ring in May of 2018 in Texas. In August, we hosted a little “going away” party for me since I was moving to Texas with david (secretly an engagement party) . He proposed in front of all my family in a small Italian restaurant in my hometown!
WHAT MADE YOU GUYS FALL IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER?
// Ysa’s Answer
David has always been inclusive and caring since the first day we met. Since when we started talking, I felt connected with him. I knew I wanted to marry David when he asked me to move to Texas with him. He technically never asked, BUT he told me he wanted me in his future. We had been dating for a while, and his contract in the military had been coming to an end. He knew he wanted to move back to Texas after he got out, and when he told me, I started crying. When I told him that I was sad he wanted to move away, he said “Well of course I want you to come with me DUH!”. I was all in, and then I was crying because he had included ME in HIS future. Happy tears, of course.
// David’s Answer
Ysabella is real and not judgemental. She never judged me when we met. We had different upbringings in our pasts, and not once did she judge me or make me feel bad for being me. She was always for “us”. When we first started dating, she offered to do all my laundry every week and she also offered to cook me dinners any chance she got after I got off of work. She brought all sorts of pots and pans of food to the barracks when we were first dating. She showed me love, and I knew with her commitment and love that we would be great for each other.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT EACH OTHER?
// Ysa’s Answer
David is a hard-worker, compassionate, and simply just has a heart of gold. He works incredibly hard to provide for me and to take care of me. Anytime my mother needed help with something around the house, he would fix it without having to ask twice. David proved to me that his heart is truly filled with love. He claims to not be emotional (yeah right), but he is filled with nothing but love. I love his sense of humor and that we can definitely be ourselves around each other. My heart and soul are peaceful when I’m around him!
// David’s Answer
My wife is silly, beautiful, smart, and just an all around caring person. We laugh together and I don’t have to pretend around her. She cares about me and makes it a point to make sure that I am taken care of. Whether it’s laundry, food, clothes, or pretty much anything else, she does everything she can to help, and it makes me feel loved.
HOW DID YOU FEEL WAKING UP ON THE MORNING OF YOUR WEDDING?
// Ysa’s Answer
First waking up and for the majority of the morning, I was totally calm. I had stressed so much about all the California wedding planning, but when I woke up on the day of, I told myself to “let go and let God”. I was marrying my best friend! That, plus the fact that I knew I was taken care of by God and my loving family, is why I felt at peace ! As soon as we finished makeup, I started to feel giddy. I couldn’t wait to see my handsome groom (:
// David’s Answer
Anxious. The big day was finally here. I couldn’t wait to see Ysa in her dress and I was excited for her to officially be my wife.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR WEDDING DAY?
// Ysa’s Answer
So I flew to California about 2 weeks before our wedding, without David. I hadn’t seen him for 16 days before our actual wedding day. My favorite part was finally getting to see David at the end of the aisle after 2 whole weeks of not seeing him. Nothing brought me more comfort or joy than first seeing my man at the beginning of our ceremony!
// David’s Answer
I can’t truly choose one part. I enjoyed hanging out with my guys in California before the wedding. My mom and I had a special moment before as well, which I knew meant a lot to her. I loved seeing Ysabella walk down the aisle. I told her repeatedly that I would not cry when I first saw her, and not to get her Hope’s up when I don’t cry at the wedding. When I saw her on the big day, I may or may not have shed a tear, or it was just really bad allergies that made my eyes water.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Kailey and Mason were absolute DREAM clients. It’s not often that two people are brave enough to have their wedding ceremony outside in the winter. But DANG, I’m so glad they chose to do that! I loved getting to capture their day and get to know this sweet couple in the process. I pray that their marriage is just as perfect as their wintery wedding was!
Makeup – Honey Lux Salon
Hair- Indigo Salon
Photography – Marissa Merrill Photography
Venue – Green Gables Estates
Decor and Flowers – Bluebell Florals
Cake – Cute Cakes
Dress – D’Angelo Couture Bridal