Suzy + Todd

Suzy and Todd’s wedding was an unique experience for me to photograph: Suzy has been my best friend since high school, and I introduced Suzy to Todd.

Suzy and I have known each other through good times and bad times, we’ve seen our fair share of boyfriends, and watched each other grow in our careers.  In 2007, Suzy was my date at a Pixar film party.  We were both single at the time and enjoyed dancing the night away.  I introduced her to many of my co-workers, including Todd.  They hit it off and you could say the rest is history.  Within their first year of dating, Todd got a great job offer in Los Angeles, and he and Suzy moved to Southern California.

Six years later, Todd *finally* proposed to Suzy.  Many people would say Todd is a pretty private person and keeps to himself, however he proposed to Suzy in a big way by getting down on one knee after he participated in a Comic Con Marvel speaker panel.  To see their proposal, go here: https://twitter.com/LEGOMarvelGame/status/358681268109590528

When it came time for Suzy to choose a wedding photographer, her only struggle was that she couldn’t have me in two places, “So you have two options: you can be my bridesmaid or my photographer. Only issue with you being my bridesmaid is that I’m not going to like my wedding photos if you don’t do them.”  The choice was easy.

I felt like being the wedding photographer was the perfect role for me on their wedding day.  I did, however, lose my breath when I was feet away from Suzy being walked down the aisle by her dad Nick and had a hard time focusing my camera because I was crying.  The moment was powerful.

Suzy and Todd’s wedding day was filled with much laughter and playfulness, as is their nature.  Their wedding was held at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, which feels like a secret garden in downtown Los Angeles.  Beautiful paper lanterns were strung above the ceremony site and other lighting lit up the garden as the sky got dark.  There were some fun surprises throughout the night, including a big fake ring Todd had hidden away years ago that one of his groomsmen knew about and shared during the toasts, as well as a specialty cake of Stitch from “Lilo & Stitch” dressed in Thor’s armor, the combination of the couple’s two favorite characters, that Todd presented to Suzy.

And then there was the dancing.  Suzy loves to dance and anyone around her can’t help but join in.

Suzy and Todd, here’s to many more years of good times!