Wedding Photographer: Matt Theilen, Lake Tahoe Wedding Photographer
Ceremony and Reception Location: Ahwanee Hotel, Yosemite Valley, CA
Engagement Photos and Wedding Portraits: Yosemite National Park
Wedding Date: October 8, 2009
Client Names: Shawna & Grant

Real Wedding Description

We met Shawna and Grant one evening in the Spring of 2009. At first, it was to be a typical wedding “client” meeting and after 3 hours of talking, sharing and laughing–we were hooked. They were hooked on us and we were hooked on them! Even though they hadn’t set a date or location — we knew we were going to photograph their wedding wherever and whenever it was going to happen.

Several months before our meeting, Grant had taken Shawna on a hike in Yosemite Valley and proposed overlooking the valley below. Naturally, Yosemite became significant to their relationship and since I had lived in Yosemite for several seasons in the 90′s, nothing in my mind could have been better than an engagement session in Tuolemne Meadows in the summer. They agreed and we were off for a whirlwind 24 hour engagement session along the Eastern slopes of the sierra and up into the park. The weather was true to form in early summer–a little rain near Mono Lake, snow in the high country, mist lifting up through the valley at Olmstead Point, and plenty of sun in between. We set up our tents in a campground near Lee Vining, made a fire and the photos didn’t stop until the next afternoon.

At this point Shawna and Grant still hadn’t nailed down a date and after several weeks of planning, they decided on a wedding in October at the Ahwahnee Hotel in the valley. My wife and I were ecstatic to photograph in a place that is so meaningful to us and also to our bride and groom.

Now a little bit about Shawna and Grant from a photographer’s perspective: they are the best “models” you could ask for. All they wanted was to get married and run around Yosemite and take posed portraits, jumping, running and laughing the entire time. They made so much time for photography that we were able to drive around the valley with them for hours before the reception started that evening. When we returned we were witness to some of the sweetest speeches and dances of all time.

This was truly an event that we’ll never forget and we’ve made life-long friends!

Wedding Photographer Contact Information
Matt Theilen | Lake Tahoe, California Wedding Photographer, ISPWP Member
Website: Matt Theilen Photography | Email: matt@matttheilen.com | Phone: (775)224-8254

At Olmstead Point

Jumping with crazy hats at Olmstead Point.

Kissing by the campfire in Lee Vining with a heart painted in light by my headlamp.

Kissing in a summer blizzard on Tioga Pass

Shawna’s wedding ring and wedding present with note from Grant on wedding day

Shawna getting ready

The dudes making their way to the ceremony at the Ahwahnee.

Doug giving his daughter a kiss before she walks into the ceremony circle

Grant seeing Shawna for the first time on their wedding day

The ceremony

First kiss as husband and wife

Ceremony and El Cap portrait

Wedding party on Ahwahnee bridge

El Cap meadow with Middle Cathedral rock in the background

Walking back to the car, passing by people watching climbers on El Cap

Grant always loves jumping photos–and crazy processing to the photos.

First dance

Speech to all the guests

At dinner

Co-eating cake

Wedding Photographer Contact Information
Matt Theilen | Lake Tahoe, California Wedding Photographer, ISPWP Member
Website: Matt Theilen Photography | Email: matt@matttheilen.com | Phone: (775)224-8254

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