Laguna Beach Wedding – Surf and Sand Resort – Alice & Rich
When we first met up with Alice and Rich, it was at their favorite restaurant for a unique engagement session on Melrose! We went to their apartment to get a few shots on the roof and also met their fur baby, Chloe. She had to be part of the session as well! Be sure to check it out here. We talked about their big Laguna Beach Wedding at our favorite oceanfront hotel, Surf and Sand Resort!
Getting Ready for the wedding
Alice had so many great details in the room where she was getting ready. It is always fun to see all the details that have been carefully planned for this sunny Laguna Beach wedding day. Her hair and makeup ran so smoothly (thanks to Grace Lin Makeup) and she looked gorgeous. We went over to her suite to get dressed with her closest friends and family. Rich spent his time getting ready with his guys in the board room. They had a few drinks, had some laughs and great conversation, and then it was off to see Alice for the first time in her wedding dress.
First Look
The first look is always our favorite moment of every wedding! We set Rich up in front of the fountain by the Spa. He nervously awaited Alice’s arrival! Jennifer walked her down the stairs and gently tapped him on the shoulder. The emotions are always flowing during the first look- and we just keep snapping away. 🙂
Oceanfront Ceremony + Sunset Cocktail
The Surf and Sand Resort is known for it’s one of a kind wedding ceremony area called the Catalina Terrace. This area can seat up to 180 guests and has a full 180 degree view of Catalina Island (on a clear day, of course!) The view is incredible! The Bloom of Time did a great job on all of the ceremony floral. The couple also decided to have their cocktail hour up there for the sunset.
Ballroom Reception
The reception was upstairs in the Pelican Ballroom. Ashley (Agape Planning) and her girls spent hours getting every detail ready for the big party! White pipe and drape went wall to wall, up lighting gave the room a warm glow, and the white dance floor was a classy touch! Jonny Tarr with Still Listening Productions provided an interesting mix of music and even played a few saxophone solos. He also played guitar and sang during the ceremony and cocktail hour. A very talented guy! The reception area was gorgeous!
Wedding Video
Since they decided against having a videographer, Brian made an extra effort to capture some video for them. Check out this photo/video hybrid slide show we created!
Meet the Planner – Agape Planning 
Ashley and her team at Agape Planning did such amazing work on this wedding! It was an honor to work with such a talented team. Their passion and detail-oriented focus was truly terrific to see. Every single moment of this wedding was planned out to a T. Agape Planning delivers on unique and inspiring weddings. They have been featured in numerous wedding magazines and blogs, including Strictly Weddings, Ceremony Magazine, and Style Me Pretty. You can read some of their outstanding reviews on The Knot and Yelp. We loved working with Ashley and the rest of the team at Agape Planning, and look forward to working with them again!
About The Venue
Surf and Sand Resort, located in Laguna Beach, is a luxury resort that is perfect for your Laguna Beach wedding. With beautiful fountains, outstanding ocean views, and terrific ballrooms, Surf and Sand Resort is a top-notch venue for any wedding. Surf and Sand Resort offers options in terms of ceremony locations; Catalina Terrace, with a beautiful view above the surf of the ocean, Ocean Terrace, right on the water’s edge, and an option to have your ceremony directly on the beach! And for your reception, you can choose from the Pelican Ballroom, the Sand Dollar Terrace and Ballroom, or the Sand Castle Patio and Ballroom, each with its own unique charm and decor.
About the photographers
Brian and Jennifer Gilmore are husband and wife photographers that created a wedding photography team in Orange County, CA. They have been photographing weddings, families, and corporate events since 2003. Contact us for more info about booking your wedding in the Southern California area. The creative team at Gilmore Studios specialize in wedding photography in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, and surrounding areas in OC and Los Angeles, CA. In addition, you can call 949-698-3968 or email us for more info about booking your Laguna Beach wedding at Surf and Sand Resort.
Vendor Love
Hotel/wedding venue: Surf and Sand Resort @surfandsandlaguna
Photographer: Brian & Jennifer w/ Gilmore Studios @gilmorestudios
Floral decor: The Bloom of Time @thebloomoftime
Hair & makeup: Grace Lin Makeup @gracelinmakeup
Wedding cake: Simply Sweet Cakery @simplysweetcakery
Wedding Planning/design: Agape Planning @agapeplanning
DJ/Ceremony musician: Jonny Tarr w/Still Listening Productions @stilllisteningproductions
Bride’s dress: Truvelle Bridal @truvellebridal
Bride’s shoes: Christian Louboutin @Louboutinworld
Bridesmaid Shoes: Badgley Mischka @badgleymischkabride
Bridesmaid dresses: BHLDN @bhldn @misshayleypaige Lulus @Lulus
Groom’s attire/shoes: Hugo Boss @hugoboss_smr
Groomsmen attire: The Black Tux @theblacktux
Wedding Rings: Icing on the Ring @icingonthering
Rental company: Archive Rentals @archiverentals
Table linens: Luxe Linen @luxe_linen
Photobooth: Photo Booths For Parties @photobooths4parties
Lighting: Impulse Event Lighting @teamimpulse
Gilmore Studios Elsewhere
For more wedding photos, be sure to check out our Instagram page here! We post updates, new photos from sessions, and more daily!
For Photographers
At Gilmore Studios, we love helping fellow photographers. For example, we offer coaching, both online and in person, workshops, and opportunities to join our team. Be sure to visit our “For Photographers” page here for more information. If you have any questions, feel free to contacts us. We’d love to hear from you.
