Los Angeles Wedding Photographer - Polka Photos Photo Blog: Wedding Photography, Photojournalism, candid photos

Congratulations Leah & Oscar!

San Juan Capistrano, California

Leah and Oscar were married at the beautiful St. Margaret Episcopal Church of Scotland. I had met the couple for an engagement session but it was my first time meeting their family. Leah's mom however needed no introduction - the family resemblance was unmistakeable.

Leah checks in on the bridesmaids.

Before the ceremony we took a couple of quick photos of the bride and bridesmaids...

and Oscar with the groomsmen.

The gentlemen headed inside the church as the bridesmaids wait for their cue.

Leah's mom walks her down the aisle.

The rings

The lazo

The kiss

The Newlyweds!!!

Congratulations!

Labels: church, Orange County, wedding

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Hollywood, California

It's dusk. We make our way to the pews inside the dark church. At Christ the King, Easter Vigil celebration begins at sunset on Holy Saturday. Father Antonio starts the service by blessing a fire in the vestibule.

The priest then lights the Paschal candle.

Symbolizing the light of Christ, the flame of the Paschal candle is used to light other candles which in turn light each of the parishioner's candles.

The priests and altar servers walk toward the altar lit only by candlelight.

A single light comes on where a cross draped in white cloth stands.

The mass continues with readings and singing.

The lights come on and new members are baptized into the church. At this time catechumens also receive the sacraments of first Communion and / or Confirmation. All of the parishioners renew their baptismal vows. Father Antonio walks through the church sprinkling everyone with the baptismal water. My hair is soaked. I don't think you get extra blessings if you get more water - if that was the case, I'd be pretty lucky right now.

Hope you have a Happy Easter, Passover, Spring - or whatever you celebrate this time of year!

Labels: candles, Catholic, church

Catholic Wedding Ceremony

Bloomingdale, Illinois
Here's some more photos from Santy and Ernesto's wedding. Their ceremony was at St. Isidore Chapel in Bloomingdale.

St. Isidore's, like some other churches, requests that no flash is used during the ceremony. All of these photos were shot using available light only.

Some Catholic ceremonies include the lighting of the unity candle, which signifies the joining of two families.

Everyone is invited to recite the Lord's Prayer.

Father Felipe consecrates the bread and wine for Communion.

Santy and Ernesto included some traditional Mexican wedding customs like the lazo. A lazo, usually a white ribbon or rosary, is wrapped around the couple to show that they are bound together for life.