Simple Sophistication

Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ • Sessions by appointment only

Simple Sophistication

Hilton San Diego Bayfront Wedding – Indian-Korean

Neil & Nayoung – Hilton San Diego Bayfront Wedding

This was our 3rd wedding we have photographed for this sweet family! Neil and Nayoung had one of the most culturally diverse weddings we have ever seen. Nayoung wore a traditional Hindu sari and Neil wore traditional Korean wedding attire (hanbok). We have always wanted to photograph a Hilton San Diego Bayfront Wedding! The hotel sits on the harbor right next door to the San Diego convention center and across the bay from Coronado Island.

Traditional Indian Hindu Wedding Ceremony

One of our favorite parts of a traditional Indian wedding is the Barraat! This is where the groom (riding on a decorated horse) and his side of the family meet in celebration. This festive event is filled with loud music, drums, and dancing. This large group starts walking from the front of the hotel towards the ceremony site where the brides family is waiting. Once the two families come together, everyone dances as family members exchange hugs and hellos. The music is typically traditional Indian music but DJ Riz made sure to mix in some Snoop Dawgg to the mix! After the dancing, everyone fills into the ceremony location. Next, the parents and relatives take turns lifting each other off the ground while exchanging floral garlands.

Traditional Korean Wedding Ceremony

Next up was the Korean ceremony called, pyebaek. Nayoung changed into a traditional dress that is called hanbok. All the married females on the brides side of the family also wore these dresses. During the pyebaek ceremony, the couple has a ceremonial drink with the family and bows to them. The parents take turns throwing chestnuts and jujubes towards the new couple as they try to catch them in a cloth. The number of items caught in the cloth is supposed to represent the number of future sons and daughters they will have!

Wedding slide show

Check out Neil and Nayoung’s engagement session at the Venice Canals. You can also view Aash and Paul’s Hindu wedding at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort (Neil’s cousin).

Wedding Vendors

Wedding Coordinator: Melinda with In the moment event service
Photographers: Brian & Jennifer Gilmore Studios, 3rd photographer – Chris Griffiths
Videographer: Arash with Rugger Productions
Floral Design: Widad with Royal Florist Designs
Makeup Artist: Kelly Park with Red Kelly Makeup
Hair Dresser: Hills Beauty Club
Wedding Venue: Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Ceremony and Reception Music: DJ Riz
Wedding Ceremony Officiant: Rabindra Watson
Invitations: Wedding paper Divas
Wedding Dress designer: Rosa Clara
Groomsmen Attire: Korean hanbok

About the photographer

Brian and Jennifer Gilmore are a husband and wife wedding photographer team in Orange County, CA. They have been photographing weddings together since 2003. Contact us for more info about booking your wedding in the Southern California area. Brian and Jennifer Gilmore specialize in wedding photography in San Diego, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, Huntington Beach, and surrounding areas in OC and Los Angeles, CA. Call 949-698-3968 or email us for more info about booking your 2018 wedding! A Hilton San Diego Bayfront Wedding photographer.

Hilton San Diego Bayfront Wedding photographer

 

Nayoung and Neil’s Wedding Teaser- Hilton Bayfront San Diego from Rugger Productions

by GilmorePosted in WeddingsTags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Meet the Gilmores:

Gilmore Studios serves Orange County, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. We specialize in wedding photography, family portraits, newborn and branding photography. Our studio has been in business since 2002.

Fun Facts:

PLace we call home:

Newport Beach & Queen Creek

Number of kids:

3 boys

Years in business:

Since 2002

As seen in:

Wedding

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Simple Sophistication

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Pick something you love and make that your career. Honestly, that’s kind of what happened.

I never imagined that setting up backdrops, planning themes, making silly noises to get a baby to smile, and celebrating first birthdays would become my job.

But here we are. 🥹

And after all these years, I still get excited watching a theme come together and seeing a little one’s personality shine once they step into the studio.

Because cake smash sessions aren’t really about the cake.

They’re about celebrating a milestone that only happens once.

And getting to be a small part of that never gets old. 🎂

What’s something you could talk about or do all day and never get tired of?

3 0
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17898074328465018
Pick something you love and make that your career. Honestly, that’s kind of what happened. I never imagined that setting up backdrops, planning themes, making silly noises to get a baby to smile, and celebrating first birthdays would become my job. But here we are. 🥹 And after all these years, I still get excited watching a theme come together and seeing a little one’s personality shine once they step into the studio. Because cake smash sessions aren’t really about the cake. They’re about celebrating a milestone that only happens once. And getting to be a small part of that never gets old. 🎂 What’s something you could talk about or do all day and never get tired of?

Pelican Hill Resort + a gorgeous sunset + incredible food = an evening I didn’t want to end. 🧡 Had the best time covering this event for ABOG (Dallas, TX). The boho vibes were unmatched and decor was beyond. This is what happens when a great group of people gathers in a beautiful place.

8 0
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17872516275617564
Pelican Hill Resort + a gorgeous sunset + incredible food = an evening I didn’t want to end. 🧡 Had the best time covering this event for ABOG (Dallas, TX). The boho vibes were unmatched and decor was beyond. This is what happens when a great group of people gathers in a beautiful place.

This is just me being sarcastic - but some might be a little true. 😂

Top 5 Horror Movies for a Photographer

• can you send the RAW files
• wind. just. wind
• wearing neon orange at sunset
• the tide is too high
• making videos while being a photographer

29 3
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17940025950249372
This is just me being sarcastic - but some might be a little true. 😂 Top 5 Horror Movies for a Photographer • can you send the RAW files • wind. just. wind • wearing neon orange at sunset • the tide is too high • making videos while being a photographer

The question that starts almost every cake smash conversation:

What themes can we do?
Honestly — almost anything.

But here is what I actually recommend.

Choose something they are into right now. Whatever phase they are in at this exact age. The dinosaurs. The rubber ducks. The princesses. The trucks. The thing they carry everywhere and sleep with and talk about constantly.

Because here is what nobody tells you about cake smash sessions: in ten years that photo is going to show you exactly who your child was at this age. Not just what they looked like. Who they were.
That is worth capturing.

We have a full theme library on our website — but if you do not see something that fits your child we will build it custom. No two sessions have to look the same because no two kids are the same.
For this session we planned everything together from the start. Rubber ducky theme. Portraits first. Then family photos. Then cake.
And before we ever talked about the set — we talked about what she wanted to do with the photos.
She chose an album.

Because digitals are beautiful. But an album is something her daughter will open when she is grown and understand immediately.
What theme are you thinking for your little one? Drop it in the comments — I want to see what phase you are in right now.
Newport Beach and Gilbert AZ. Link in bio. #cakesmash #cakesmashphotographer #cakesmashphotography

DM me BIRTHDAY and let’s start planning yours.

10 5
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 18065998445409348
The question that starts almost every cake smash conversation: What themes can we do? Honestly — almost anything. But here is what I actually recommend. Choose something they are into right now. Whatever phase they are in at this exact age. The dinosaurs. The rubber ducks. The princesses. The trucks. The thing they carry everywhere and sleep with and talk about constantly. Because here is what nobody tells you about cake smash sessions: in ten years that photo is going to show you exactly who your child was at this age. Not just what they looked like. Who they were. That is worth capturing. We have a full theme library on our website — but if you do not see something that fits your child we will build it custom. No two sessions have to look the same because no two kids are the same. For this session we planned everything together from the start. Rubber ducky theme. Portraits first. Then family photos. Then cake. And before we ever talked about the set — we talked about what she wanted to do with the photos. She chose an album. Because digitals are beautiful. But an album is something her daughter will open when she is grown and understand immediately. What theme are you thinking for your little one? Drop it in the comments — I want to see what phase you are in right now. Newport Beach and Gilbert AZ. Link in bio. #cakesmash #cakesmashphotographer #cakesmashphotography DM me BIRTHDAY and let’s start planning yours.

Photography started as something I loved.

I never picked up a camera thinking it would become a business, support my family, introduce me to thousands of incredible people, or still be part of my life 20+ years later.

But somewhere along the way, a hobby became a career.

Then a business.

Then a huge part of my life. 🤍

I’ve photographed weddings, newborns, seniors, families, birthdays, and milestones for people I’ve known for decades.

And honestly?

The greatest part isn’t the photos.

It’s the people.

The families who come back year after year.
The babies who become seniors.
The clients who become friends.

That’s what keeps me showing up every day.

Do you have a hobby you secretly wish could become your full-time job?

Comment LEARN if you’d like to see how I turned photography into a 20+ year business.

19 5
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 18123683860650152
Photography started as something I loved. I never picked up a camera thinking it would become a business, support my family, introduce me to thousands of incredible people, or still be part of my life 20+ years later. But somewhere along the way, a hobby became a career. Then a business. Then a huge part of my life. 🤍 I’ve photographed weddings, newborns, seniors, families, birthdays, and milestones for people I’ve known for decades. And honestly? The greatest part isn’t the photos. It’s the people. The families who come back year after year. The babies who become seniors. The clients who become friends. That’s what keeps me showing up every day. Do you have a hobby you secretly wish could become your full-time job? Comment LEARN if you’d like to see how I turned photography into a 20+ year business.

Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ

Session by appointment only

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