Cheerful Summer Wedding at Santa Clara University | Clarissa & Alex - Trevor and Elisebeth - San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Photo and Video Team

Clarissa and Alex first met in fall 2019 at a Catholic young adults event in Santa Cruz, CA. They had a great time talking about life, faith, and Doctor Who at a beach bonfire. A couple weeks later, they ran into each other again at a Harvest Ball north of San Francisco and spent the whole evening talking and dancing with each other. Soon they went on their first date, and the rest is history!

Life always throws curveballs, and the COVID-19 pandemic was certainly a tough one. To keep their loved ones safe, Clarissa and Alex did not visit each other for a few months. While in-person dates were not an option, they had regular FaceTime dates, watched movies, and played Minecraft together. When they were able to see each other safely again, they were exhilarated to be together in person after being apart for so long.

In June 2021, as things were reopening in California, Alex planned a series of dates to celebrate. He told Clarissa that he would propose on one of them so that she would make sure to be prepared for all of them. On the first one, he took her to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and proposed with a ruby ring — naturally, she said yes!

Getting ready for a wedding day is filled with a balance of hustle and bustle with pure excitement. At least those were the feelings shared between both Clarissa and Alex's wedding day preparations. Alex got ready at his apartment in Santa Clara, while Clarissa was at a nearby Airbnb having her hair and makeup perfected before slipping into her beautiful wedding gown. Before heading to her first look, Clarissa's family gave her a blessing for her marriage.

Once their final looks were completed, we drove to Santa Clara University. Clarissa glided down the paths, past Adobe Lodge to the side of Mission Santa Clara de Asís for their first look. As Alex turned around, you could feel the pure happiness he felt for seeing Clarissa.

Following their first look, Clarissa and Alex were joined by their wedding party, their dearest friends and family that had been selected to stand by their sides. The men donned navy blue suits with coral ties, perfect pops of color for summer. The ladies wore bright hues: pinks, corals, reds, and oranges. Their bouquets complemented their gowns and added beautifully to the fun color scheme.

Their faith is important to both Clarissa and Alex and was highlighted during their wedding ceremony. As their families watched eagerly, they exchanged their vows and entered into the sacrament of matrimony at Mission Santa Clara de Asís at Santa Clara University. Clarissa and Alex sealed their vows with a kiss following the end of the ceremony, before walking between friends and family.

Following their beautiful ceremony, guests went next door to the Adobe Lodge. Clarissa and Alex, as well as their wedding party, made their grand entrances to their seats in the beautiful outdoor courtyard in front of the Lodge. The June sunshine strongly shone on the bright pinks and oranges on each table setting and floral arrangement.

After a delicious meal, Clarissa and Alex cut their cake, featuring a handmade polymer clay topper made by Clarissa herself! What a perfect touch to personalize the delicious dessert table.

For their first dance as husband and wife, Clarissa and Alex learned some incredible choreography. They twirled, spun, lifted, and glided around the dance floor as everyone said "Ooh," and "Aah!"

Following special dances with their parents, the open dance floor called the names of many in attendance. From a chair lift to the shoe game, the guests were filled with excitement and energy as they enjoyed each event during the reception in addition to dancing.

As the sun began to set, we snuck the newlyweds away for a little break. We headed to the front of the Mission to capture their golden hour portraits. The cool of evening began to settle in. While the final light touched the ground, Clarissa and Alex were filled with a combination of joy and calmness before they returned back to the dance floor.

As their wedding day came to a close, Clarissa and Alex were surrounded by their dear loved ones again. The happy couple walked through an aisle of bell ringing as they said their final goodbyes.