How are Europeans always so effortlessly chic? (asking for a friend) 
Check out this epic set up: Frederik and Julia are German and they have been together for 20 years (what?!? were they 5 when they started dating?!?) and they decided 2024 was the year to tie the knot. Only they decided to jet off to Malibu for a just-them-and-the-officiant-and-me beach elopement. Julia brought a chic but surprisingly low-maintenance dress from Lulus.com (in my opinion, the smart girl's elopement dress shop) and Frederik brought an impeccably tailored tuxedo. 
They said their vows in a private pocket beach at El Matador State Beach, then we had the rest of the evening until sunset to document this grand adventure of theirs. What a dream! This is what I love about elopements: light on the planning, heavy on the beauty and serendipity. 

WONDERING WHAT A MID-DAY, BRIGHT SUNNY WEDDING LOOKS LIKE? CHECK THIS OUT.
​
Nicci and Johnny's beautiful Malibu wedding is proof that you CAN get married and take beautiful pictures in the middle of the day! Most couples tend to plan their wedding for evening, in order to capture golden sunset light and a evening-to-nighttime party. But Nicci and Johnny aren't most couples! They're active and beachy SoCal kids (not night owls), so they opted to have an early afternoon outdoor wedding with a casual lawn reception with tacos and games. Their timeframe included a family-only ceremony at 1pm, couple photos at 2pm, and their friends arrived for the reception afterward at 3pm. In photographer-speak, this meant shooting couple photos in the middle of the bright afternoon sun (in late July)! Technically this is usually a photography no-no, but I made sure they understood what kind of look their photos would have—sunlight-drenched with strong shadows and bright blue water—and they were all in! Though these photos are non-traditional, we were still able to work with the angles of the sun and what shadows we had to shoot evenly lit family pictures and gorgeous sunny couple photos that Nicci and Johnny are thrilled with. 

Ceremony location: Malibu Gathering 
Family portraits: Malibu Gathering
Couple portraits: Point Dume, Malibu 
Photographer: Cecily Breeding (that's me!) 

Are you planning a wedding? I love capturing weddings of all sizes and styles. I am based in both Austin, TX and Malibu, CA, so if you're planning a wedding anywhere in central Texas or southern California, I have local availability and rates (no travel cost) for you. Please reach out to talk more! >> [email protected] or you can learn more about Wedding Photography Packages and Rates here >> 

Congratulations Lexie and Ryan on your beautiful Malibu elopement! What a special moment to share with your immediate family and celebrate the beginning of this new chapter in your life. 

Dalton and Lexi got married in a beloved family vacation spot—Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! I have known Dalton's family since I was 14, so being in Mexico to celebrate his marriage to Lexi truly felt like I was celebrating with family. My husband Dusty officiated their beach ceremony and we all partied late into the night after spotting whales in the water, enjoying a purple sunset, and topping the night off with fireworks!
​
Photographer: Cecily Breeding (that's me!) 
Coordinator: Jesus (with the location) 
Venue: Pueblo Bonito at Sunset Beach
Officiant: Dusty Breeding
Food/Beverage/Catering: Pueblo Bonito 
DJ/Music: Live violinist, DJ at reception (both by venue) 
Flowers: Venue
Cake: Venue
Dress: David’s Bridal

Grace and Kaity's Santa Barbara Women's Club Wedding was truly so joyful and meaningful. I particularly loved how both brides so sweetly incorporated their fathers with first looks and first dances. It's evident that their families are so excited to be part of one another's lives in a shared future. 

A low-tide, sunset family-only Malibu beach ceremony followed be gorgeous beachy photos! Congratulations to this awesome adventurous couple on the start of your marriage together. 

Mission San Juan Capistrano is as iconic as wedding venues get. With the kind of old world atmosphere you usually only find in Europe, the beautiful ruins of the mission lit by golden California sunlight and Kyle and Celina's impeccable style made for timeless wedding photography. 

Photographer: Cecily Breeding (that's me!) 
Coordinator: Amy Beck - All in the Detail Designs
Venue: Franciscan Gardens
Food/Beverage/Catering: 24 Carrots Catering
Videographer: Yours Truly Media
DJ/Music: DJ Makai with Vox DJs
Flowers: Bethany with Tiny Victories Florals
Cake: Simply Sweet Cakery
Dress: Mon Amie Bridal Shop - Designed by Matthew Christopher

Emily and Chris' Leo Carrillo Malibu Beach wedding photos were a mix of part post-COVID wedding photoshoot, part beach elopement, part family portrait session and all dreamy sunset sky goodness. This couple and their family was so much fun to celebrate and snap photos with. Emily picked a beautiful wedding dress with a high neckline (I mean, she's a triathlete, so that was DEF the right choice) and Chris wore his wedding suit and we frolicked barefoot at low tide snapping these pics on the sand and on the cliffs above. 

Holey moley if this qualifies as a "backyard wedding," it's giving all other backyard weddings a serious run for their money. For starters, most backyards don't overlook a canyon in the Santa Monica mountains and the famous Getty Museum. To continue, most backyards don't have an infinity pool like this with a platform built over it for the bride and groom to say their vows. I'll stop there. Just look at the pictures.