Lily + Elvis [St. Vincent de Paul Church Wedding]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church. You can't miss it when you drive by.
Located in downtown Los Angeles, standing tall at an intersection adjacent to USC, it's a remarkable urban gem. Built in 1925, it's described as a combination of Spanish baroque + California Mission. Outside, your eyes dazzle over the details of the architecture. Inside, warm woods and the drama of the space soothe and encourage reflection. And as a plus, the property is fairly photo-friendly as far as churches go. Some churches ask that you pretty much photograph from one fixed location at the rear = a lot of shots of the backs of the couple's heads. St. Vincent allows discreet access along both sides of the altar, which really opens up the possibilities in terms angles and perspectives.
After capturing some getting ready coverage at Lily's home east of L.A., we headed to St. Vincent. I'm always a bit anxious heading into downtown for a wedding on a weekend, because inbound traffic can be a real game changer. But we made great time, and Lily and Elvis committed to a life together at the altar. Post-ceremony, there was some talk of going up to Griffith Park for some portraits, but seeing as how the wedding reception was a good distance away at
Mirage Banquet Hall in North Hollywood, I suggested we head on up to the valley and spend a half-hour taking shots at a park just a few blocks away from the reception hall. Plenty of great light there that time of day, and the natural setting made for a nice contrast to our earlier urban adventures.
Lily and Elvis threw one heck of a party. A saxophonist for cocktails and two killer bands rocked guests into the wee hours of the morning. At the close of my services, Lily and Elvis made sure I followed through on a promise to have a few farewell shots with them to close out the night. Good people, good times.
Praise to Karina from Cana Karola Bridal for a smartly coordinated evening. Congrats, Lily and Elvis!
