Lindsey & Matt
July 17, 2020
Manhattan Beach, CA
As we all know, COVID did a painful number on weddings - on all celebrations, really. However, love kept on keeping on in the face of a global pandemic, and so when a coworker told me about their friends who were determined to get married (safely & sanely) and needed a photographer for their microwedding, I was more than happy to jump in. With COVID and the accompanying safety recommendations changing constantly, so did the plan, and though it wasn’t exactly what Matt & Lindsey had hoped (I know they wished more friends and family could have been there), they nevertheless pulled off a beautiful celebration that - bonus for the photographer - left plenty of time for some pretty awesome photos to share with those who couldn’t make it.
I met up with the couple before the ceremony to take some photos in downtown Manhattan Beach - we found an adorable park that, despite being in between some busy roads, offered some beautiful backdrops. Lindsey (who did her own hair and makeup) wore a sleek dress with some excellent straps up the open back, and Matt’s blue jacket and tan pants lent exactly the right amount of beach-casual cool. I got the usual “we hate having our photo taken” spiel, only to then discover that, as usual, they were extremely photogenic and utter and complete liars.
The ceremony itself took place on the patio of a restaurant on the way down to the beach - oh, did I mention all this was basically within walking distance of where Matt & Lindsey live? So, convenient and also super personal! Their friend officiated, and family joined on Zoom. They also made sure to have a camera running to record everything to share later.
After the ceremony, champagne, beer, and toasts were had - a lovely way for the virtual family members to be able to participate.
We even squeezed in some family portraits with Lindsey’s brother on the road down to the beach!
And if you’re that close to the beach…well, you gotta go get at least a few portraits. The entire wedding was more than happy to schlep with me from one end of the beach to other, from volleyball courts (Matt & Lindsey met playing beach volleyball) to under the pier. There was no rush, and it was a wonderful way to get some memories before I departed and left the group to celebrate over dinner on Matt & Lindsey’s porch.
CREDITS
Hair & Makeup | Done by the Bride
Venue | Ocean View Cafe
