In the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, two highschool sweethearts finally tied the knot on this fateful day. The wedding was held at the Doubletree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown, which served as an exquisite setting, perfectly encapsulating Julie and Calvin’s deep affection of each other. I had the honor of documenting every enchanting moment of this beautiful Los Angeles wedding!

The special day began with photographing the bride and bridesmaids at the bridal suite in Doubletree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown. I had the opportunity to capture some detail shots as well as the bride and bridesmaids having fun in their bridesmaid robes in Julie's room. Then, we moved to the Genji room to photograph the groom and his groomsmen. What I found particularly interesting about this preparation was that the groom was helping his groomsmen get dressed when it's usually the other way around. After everyone was dressed, the groom poured alcohol into each cup to start the celebration. Initially, I thought there wouldn't be much to photograph, but to my delightful surprise, there were so many things to capture! From the small intricate details of the ring and whiskey pouring to the groomsmen's outfits and vintage Polaroid photos, it was a fantastic experience photographing their preparation process.

Next, we went through two first looks: looks: the first featuring their traditional Chinese wedding attire, and the second adorned in modern Western outfits. I loved how each first look conveyed a different vibe. This gave me two opportunities to capture the perfect shot of Calvin getting emotional when he saw Julie. After each first look, we took a few couple portraits to commemorate the occasion.

As the sun set over Los Angeles, we took the opportunity to capture some bride and groom portraits in the serene Kyoto Garden. Drawing inspiration from the essence of Japan, this hidden gem atop the hotel provided a peaceful oasis from the bustling ambiance of the wedding. Julie and Calvin were able to spend quality time with each other, resulting in more intimate photos. We concluded the couple's portrait session by having the wedding coordinator blow bubbles into the frame while I took photos of the bride and groom. It was a magical ending to an unforgettable wedding.

Photographer: Makito Umekita Photography

Ceremony & Reception Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown

Coordinator: Mad Love Events

Florist: Le Daisy Flowers

DJ: Spotlight Groove

Videographer: Christine Jeon

Officiant: Spotlight Groove

Hair & Makeup: Grace Lin Makeup and Hair Studio

Ice Cream: SuperCool Creamery

Cake: Diamond Bakery

Here’s a link to my wedding pricing page!

Check out their engagement session I photographed at Treasure Island Beach!