When you’ve been in the wedding industry for as many years as I have, you’ll find that there are still plenty of surprises.

It’s incredible how couples continue to show off their unique, fun, energetic, and passionate personalities. 

But when this couple told me they were planning to have an entire carnival at their welcome party at Calamigos for their Malibu wedding? Well, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming up something so amazing! 

Keep reading to see how I captured the entire 3-day wedding weekend:

Couple’s Portrait Sessions, Featuring Malibu’s Hillside and Beachside the Day Before the Wedding:

Maybe I’m a little bit biased, but I think any fabulous wedding weekend celebration should start with a couple’s portrait session! It’s one of my favorite ways to add more variety to the final wedding photography gallery. And it gives any couple the opportunity for more curated, composed photos in different locations and outfits! 

I can just imagine newly married couples having so many photos to choose from to print and hang in their homes. 

For this session, we got a little taste of the rolling hillsides and the beach, thanks to Calamigos Guest Ranch, the Malibu ranch wedding venue.

A One-of-a-Kind Backyard Carnival for the Malibu Wedding Welcome Party:

I’m sure you can imagine that putting together a full carnival for the couple’s welcome party was no easy feat! 

But their wedding planners, Mae and Co. Creative, did a fabulous job of making sure the carnival matched the vibe for the Malibu wedding weekend. And they made sure that no part of the carnival was too overpowering or too much. 

It was the perfect blend of a nostalgic, fun element with an upscale, luxurious design.

One of my favorite things about my couples is seeing how they blend their dream wedding aesthetic with their lighthearted, energetic personalities. I loved getting to be a part of this magic!

Starting the Calamigos Ranch, Malibu Wedding by Sharing an Emotional First Look: 

So many of my couples mention that look. The look their partner gives them when they first see each other on the wedding day. 

Just about everyone wants to make sure the split second of raw, genuine emotion is captured. Because the photos say it all! The photos have so much love in them because it’s written all over their faces. 

That’s exactly what happened for these two as they kicked off their Malibu wedding day. I scouted the perfect location on the Calamigos Guest Ranch wedding estate so I could be sure to grab the groom’s reaction to seeing his bride. 

And what makes these photos even more magical is that they felt comfortable enough with my camera and me to express their true feelings.

A Gorgeous Malibu Garden Wedding Ceremony at Calamigos Guest Ranch: 

Nestled in the hills of Malibu sits Calamigos Guest Ranch. It’s a sprawling estate that has everything from rolling vineyards to a relaxing beachside. 

It was incredible to see this wedding day come to life and get to photograph it all, as the ceremony location was transformed into a garden-inspired wedding.

Nothing Heightens the Wedding Day’s Aesthetic Quite Like Fresh Florals:

Fresh flowers add so much luxury and elevation to any wedding day. They bring life to the event, and they set the tone for the couple and their guests. 

And there’s nothing like seeing those fresh flowers preserved forever in wedding photography.

Soaking Up the Last of the Sunshine During the Couple’s Portrait Session: 

After the ceremony, and with the cocktail hour in full swing, the bride, groom, and I sneaked off to soak up the last little bits of sunshine for a couple’s portrait session. 

Fittingly, with their carnival wedding welcome party, we found a merry-go-round to use for part of their “just married” portraits!

Garden-Inspired Meets a Touch of Whimsy in the Fairytale-Like Calamigos Malibu Wedding Reception: 

In keeping with the garden-inspired aesthetic of the Calamigos wedding ceremony, the bride and groom worked with their wedding planner to create a gorgeous garden-inspired reception. 

What I especially loved about it was the touch of whimsy. Just like the carnival wedding welcome party, that extra touch of sparkle brought out the personalities of the bride and groom. 

It’s small additions like those that I love seeing on any given wedding day – when the bride and groom allow themselves to be seen in the design (and, of course, in the photos!). 

The whimsical elements showed up in things like Connect 4 on high-top tables. It was found in the hanging chandeliers over the reception tablescapes. And my favorite touch was found in the fairy lights hanging from the trees that made the reception look like it belonged in a classic storybook.

Starting Their Marriage with a Night of Celebration

No wedding truly feels complete without some kind of celebration after the ceremony! Theirs was complete with plenty of dancing, a four-tiered cake that looked so beautiful, it was hard to eat, and an indulgent champagne tower.

One Final Couple’s Portrait Session to End the Malibu Wedding Weekend:

The day after the wedding at Calamigos Guest Ranch, the couple hosted one final farewell brunch for their friends and family. 

I, of course, used the opportunity to sneak them off one more time for another portrait session. 

I always love it when my couples let me do this because I know how fantastic it is to receive a wedding photography gallery that is so dynamic. 

Not only do they have their wedding photos to look forward to, but they also have other portrait sessions highlighting the two of them (in outfits other than their wedding day attire)!

This Malibu wedding was a dream to photograph! The unique approach they took to think outside the box and allow their personalities to shine throughout the wedding weekend was so amazing to witness. 

And better yet, I was able to witness it all through the lens of my camera! Now, they have wedding photos so they can relive this incredible celebration again and again. 

Explore more destination weddings on our blog! 

Wedding Vendors:

Photography: Lilly Red
Planning and Styling: Mae and Co. Creative
Location: Calamigos Guest Ranch
Flowers: Noble Floral Co.
Videographer: Emma K. Films