Stacey Adams Photography

Abby and Evan are an adorable couple who met in undergrad at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. St. John’s is unique in that it’s an integrated liberal arts and sciences program based on reading and discussing the great works from across the spectrum of Western thought. The reading list includes works by Homer, Euclid, Chaucer, Aristotle, Darwin, Descartes, Freud, Tolstoy and Plato just to name a few. It shouldn’t surprise you then that Abby and Evan are both highly cerebral, but also creative, fun and adventurous. We had a great time with their engagement shoot in Santa Fe and I’m really looking forward to their wedding there this summer… Santa Fe is a magical place! 

Jen and Brent are another example of two lawyers who fell in love at the office! They spent a couple of years sitting across the hall from one another at their law firm in downtown LA before Brent finally got the courage to ask Jen out… and ever since that day, the rest is history! Their wedding took place at the beautiful Riviera Country Club in the Palisades, and once again proved that lawyers know how to party! The band Soulicious were the featured performers of the night, and they have officially become my favorite wedding band! They had everyone up and dancing, and the energy that they bring to the party really lights the whole place up. Of course, Jen and Brent had a lot to do with that as well, they are both brilliant and just a little bit quirky… which makes them ultra cool in my book! It was obvious that they are both highly respected and adored by the myriads of co-workers and family that were present, and I personally want to say thank you to Jen and Brent for letting me a part of your perfect day! You can watch their slideshow here. xo

They went to neighboring high schools: Ari went to Agoura, Vanessa to Calabasas. They knew a lot of people in common when they met at the district’s summer school program in 1997. Fast forward about 13 years from that first meeting to Superbowl weekend 2010, and Ari had two parties he didn’t want to attend. His friends convinced him to go to a bar, which he never does. Vanessa’s friend, Nicole, invited her to a friend’s birthday party at Big Foot Lodge West in Culver City, and Vanessa figured, “Why not?” At the bar Vanessa spots this guy she recognized, and Nicole nudged her to go over to say hello. Vanessa walked up to Ari and said, “You went to Agoura High School,” to which Ari replied, “Yeah, I’m Ari.” Vanessa said, “I know–Averbach!” Ari got Vanessa’s number, and that’s how it all started! If you’d like to see their adorable engagement photos again, you can see those here. And if you’d like to watch a slideshow of the wedding, that can be seen here.

An interesting and sweet detail from their wedding: Each close family unit received a square to design that would be quilted into a canopy on their chuppah. What a lovely way to include the union of two families! Mazel tov, Vanessa and Ari! xoxo

Venue: Sephardic Temple in Westwood, California
Florist: McCann Florist
Caterer: Pat’s Kosher Catering
Videographer: Video Services Un-limited by Maury Gomberg
Bride’s Dress: Lili Bridal