It was such a gorgeous day for Toni-Jo and Craig, a very sweet couple who seemed to have a knack for finding bad weather.
But San Diego delivered a picture-perfect wedding day with beautiful skies and a warm, sunny day down in Coronado at the Marriott.
Ooh – La – La!
Is that a Leafs garter? Why, yes. Yes it is.Toni-Jo is now a proud member of the Leafs Nation!
Beautiful.
Craig was brimming with excitement as he told me about how proud he was of the ties he selected for himself, as well as his guys. Understandably so…they were pretty darn cool!
Awww! Their First Look was full of laughter and delight. LOVE how these guys interact with each other!
Toni-Jo giving Craig a preview of that Maple Leaf garter
LET’S DO THIS!!
After the First Look, and before the ceremony, we cruised around the Marriott chasing pretty light. It was so great to see Craig’s grandmother walk past and just stared at Toni-Jo… she actually didn’t recognize her right away! Toni just smiled and said: “Well, who else do think was hanging out with Craig in a pretty white gown?” Hee hee!
Can’t have a wedding in Coronado without a few shots down at the beach! So we headed down to a spot that wasn’t too crowded on Labor Day weekend, and had a little fun in the sand.
What we really like about the Coronado Marriott is the semi-private lawn…still on the water (near the ferry landing), but just removed enough so that there aren’t hundreds of tourists pausing to stare. Toni-Jo and Craig were still able to enjoy the beach vibe without a shirtless dude in a speed-o gawking at them from the boardwalk.
Toni-Jo circling her groom and the giggles ensued.
Luke was, of course, the star for the day (Toni’s words).
Rabbi Meltzer gave a very warm and meaningful ceremony for Toni and Craig. Love the look Toni is giving Craig here!
Mazel Tov!
OK, Reception time. I have to say that Toni-Jo and Craig’s reception was OFF. THE. HOOK.
It all started with a rowdy bridal party entrance (which we love), and many of the guests formed a “tunnel” for the happy newlyweds. High-fives all around!
The Hora and Chair Dance can be summed up in one word: EPIC! After the happy couple were paraded around the room for a bit (on chairs and on shoulders), their friends opened up a sheet and started to toss them up in the air (one at a time) to see how nervous they could make DJ Tim Altbaum feel.
I SWEAR that Craig’s hair touched the ceiling at some point.
Perfect combo of sweet and hilarious toasts!
Nice form, guys!
DJ Tim really kept the dance floor moving throughout the night! We love how a great DJ can keep his finger on the pulse of the crowd and keep things alive. Tim is awesome.
Remember Asia and Chris? We just LOVE it when we get to see previous La Vida Brides and Grooms at their friends’ weddings.
Sorry, Asia. I couldn’t resist including this one. Chris just cracks me up, you know?
Toni-Jo and Craig, thank you for a wonderful day for us to photograph. We have had a great time getting to know you guys, and we wish you the best that life has to offer. Please keep in touch as you start your next big venture together!
Toni-Jo and Craig’s fantastic vendors:
Photographers: La Vida Creations Photography
Coordination: Miryam Seid of Mrs. Events
Event Design: Miryam Seid of Mrs. Events
Ceremony Venue: Mariott Coronado
Reception Venue: Mariott Coronado
Officiant: Rabbi Meltzer
Catering: Mariott Coronado
DJ: Tim Altbaum Productions
Florist: Modern Bouquet
Cakes: Flour Power
Toni-Jo’s gown: Jim Hjelm
by Jeff
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