They got ready overlooking the beautiful San Diego harbor on Shelter Island. It was bright and warm on this December morning with a fresh breeze throughout the day making for the perfect conditions for these two to tie the knot! Katie surprised Michael with the watch he has always wanted and his guys, coming in from all over the world to celebrate, sent him off to the first look with one last toast. The highlight from the first look is Michael stepping back, covering his mouth in awe and leaning in to kiss his bride with a speechless and overwhelmed sense of gratitude that this day had finally arrived. Quickly after that, we all did a little dance because why not, right?? There are so many reasons to celebrate and why wait until the reception to shake it off?!

       Michael and his fresh-off-the-plane New Zealand groomsmen looked sharp in their light grey, blue suites and skinny ties. Katie and her ladies were very classy in their elegant navy blue dresses and beautiful bouquets from the talented ladies at Carter & Cook. The decor was a perfect blend of rustic and classic, with touches of branches and wood and just the right amount of gold sparkle and navy stripes. OH MY… the DESSERT BAR! It was a complete spread of cookies, brownies and specialty donuts from VG Donut & Bakery in Cardiff, CA with gluten free options as well. Point Loma favorite, Miguel’s Cocina, catered the evening with endless amounts of their incredible white sauce and Mexican dishes. My favorite personal touch was the their guest book in the form of a world globe. Both Katie and Michael have a love for travel and designed their details with a perfect blend of story telling, classic and timeless decor.

       The standout moment in the night was when their friends from college burst out in song to a rewritten lyrical version of “Summertime” to tell their story. Summertime is a classic jazz piece that Katie sang many times with the Jazz band at Point Loma Nazarene University. This is becoming quite a tradition for her friend group!

       There was no doubt that this December wedding would be full of laughter, emotion, and a serious dance party to finish off the night! Enjoy walking through this incredible day through the images below!