Oceano Hotel Wedding in Half Moon Bay

Published by Kurty Photography in Weddings · 7 November 2017
Tags: oceano, hotel, wedding, oceano, wedding, photographer, oceano, hotel, wedding, photographer, half, moon, bay, wedding, photographer

Perhaps it was the cool breeze from the coastal weather or the relaxing scenic drive on highway one, or perhaps the legend of unsolved Mysteries ghost, the Blue Lady from the Moss Beach Distillery, I've always loved shooting weddings in the picturesque Half Moon Bay. Oceano is a luxury hotel nearby the Pillar Point Harbor where local fishermen sail out in search of freshly caught fish or Dungeness crabs. Visitors can buy the catch of the day directly from the fisherman on the pier, or dine at the famous restaurants like Barbara's Fly Trap, Meza Luna, or Sam’s Chowder House. Simply a walk around the harbor is worth the drive.

So glad that Lauren and Warren chose to get married in Oceano Hotel. Michael, my second shooter and I arrived early to have fish and chips and delicious veggie burger by the charming harbor. Lauren the bride's makeup was just about done when we began the photo coverage. I documented details shots of the brides' accessories while Michael photographed the groom outside which his vintage sports car. The videographers were flying a drone, which is a popular trend for weddings nowadays.

One thing that made this wedding really special - the wedding couple hired the professionals that I love to work with. I've worked with David Wong the florist, Jessie Weng the makeup artist, and John Jow the DJ for countless weddings over the course of 15 years. We sometimes call ourselves the "Fantastic Four". It's always wonderful working with vendors we know well for events and weddings. It makes our work smoother.

The weather was a little unpredictable, so the wedding coordinator suggested the ceremony indoor. That really worked out well because of the village mall setting with a glass roof for natural light. We managed to take some portraits with the bridal party by the beach just across the street from the hotel. The wind was so strong that the bridesmaids' hair had gone haywire. We quickly snapped some shots and went back to the hotel for more portraits.

Around 200 guests were seated for the reception. Juicy steak and chicken were served along with the wedding cake. DJ John Jow always had the magic in getting guests on the dance floor. And for those who were happy dancing, the night has just begun.

Photography: Kurty and Michael, Kurty Photography

Videography: Bryant Truong, Urbaners

Makeup and Hair: Jessie Weng,

Florist: David Wong, Absolute Elegance

DJ: John Jow

Cake: B Patisserie

Event Manager: Lauren Jackowitz