“During our senior year at Davis, I was thinking about where to go to law school, and Matt said he would go anywhere with me. I ended up going to school in Chicago and Matt took the train out from California to be with me.”
And they’ve been following each other ever since! Matt and Andrea’s love story began in California, lead them to Chicago and Oklahoma City, and then back to California, where they’ll be celebrating the next chapter of their lives with their upcoming Solvang wedding.
Keeping an eye on the forecast, the likelihood of rain kept creeping up the closer we got to our engagement session date, and even to the exact time we were supposed to start taking photos. We decided to start earlier, in the hopes of beating the rain. We met at the Santa Ines Mission in Solvang. With a rainy beginning to the year, the landscapes surrounding the Mission were vibrant and magnificent, so, naturally, we had to capture the views. I gave Matt and Andrea my usual posing tips and suggestions, and headed to the other side of this pond to start taking photos. By the time I made it to the other side (a mere two minutes later!), it had begun to sprinkle. Never-the-less, we were able to capture the snuggly duo and the beautiful Solvang vistas. 
We got creative and took cover from the rain at the Santa Ynez Historical Museum.
Next came time for our original plan, Hans Christian Andersen Park in Solvang. We used a few large oak trees as shelter from the rain.
Andrea and Matt met at UC Davis and got engaged almost six years later, after a romantic dinner at Oklahoma City’s tallest building.
We decided to brave the rain and have fun with it! With an umbrella, of course 😉
From Andrea:
“We have so much fun together and the time has just flown by. We’ve been together for six and a half years now. We are so excited to start our next adventure together!”
Here’s to many more adventures, starting with tying the knot in Solvang in just a few months!
The wedding party was a fun and lively bunch.
“We would run into each other over the years after college. When I moved out to Los Angeles for grad school a few years ago we started dating and here we are!”
“I love Gerry’s big heart and willingness to help people he loves. He has a very tough exterior, but when he comes to people he cares about there is nothing he wouldn’t do for them. He is an extremely hard worker and is so driven to provide for me and our future family. I couldn’t ask for a better partner to spend my life with.”
The entire wedding party.
The groom with his groomsmen.
“David and I actually experienced a lot together even within the first 2 years of being together. We were long distance and I moved to the other side of the country so that we could be together. After you experience so many ups and downs that are out of your control, you just form a very special bond with one another.”
I asked Ashley if there was anything special she chose to include in the day:
Ashley’s look was absolutely flawless. From the fantastic gown, to her beautiful hair and makeup, I couldn’t stop Ooo’ing and ahhh’ing (and neither could Taylor!).
And the entire wedding party!
I asked Taylor what his favorite part of the day was…
I still can’t get over what a fantastic job Ashley did with the florals…
Sunset with these two was perfection…
We had to sneak in some night-time shots with the full moon!
The two were able to enjoy the day to themselves…
When I asked why the duo chose the Courthouse and the Four Seasons for their special day, Samantha replied, “We loved the timeless architecture of the Courthouse and the beautiful and colorful scenery at the Four Seasons Biltmore.”
After we took photos at the Four Seasons Biltmore, we crossed the street and took photos at Butterfly Beach.
Here’s to celebrating love, in every way, big and small! Congratulations, Jack & Samantha!
The groom with his groomsmen.
The sun’s rays peaking through the trees was heavenly! 
“The Scherpa Fire was a big deal for our day as we had many guests worried that our wedding would have to get cancelled. I was a little nervous that if the winds changed that could become a possibility but was happy that didn’t happen. We were also happy to know that no homes were destroyed or lives lost due to the fire.” While the fire was of big concern, it did help create memorable photos for Kerry and Eric.
