From the ages of 3 to 27 I lived on the cusp of Rancho Santa Margarita. I was literally a stone’s throw away from this city.
At 27 I married my best friend and we moved the whole 2 miles into the city of Rancho Santa Margarita.
This summer I had the honor of photographing two weddings in my home town.
Sometimes the most perfect place for a girls dream day is right outside her door.
Rancho Santa Margarita is a little hidden jewel, located just below the Saddleback mountains in south Orange County.
Rancho Santa Margarita is not only one of the most recently established cities in California, it also has the honor of being the longest city name in the USA.
(There has been many a time that my city name would not fit in the allotted space on a form)
What now is a master planned community (complete with a 1 mile round man made lake) was once the land of Native Americans.
On January 1, 2000, Rancho Santa Margarita became a city.
On June 25, 2011 at the Rancho Santa Margarita Townhall, Jacqui Lattuca married her best friend Brian Weatherby.
Little did I know when 17 year old Jacqui walked into my art class that I would some day be taking her wedding photos.
Thanks to the wonders of social media sites, Jacqui found her old art teacher Mrs. McElfish.
Jacqui told me she had seen photos on her friends Facebook page which she loved. When she looked at the name of the photographer, she realized that she had only known one McElfish in her life.
As beautiful as Jacqui had been in high school, she had become even more stunning in her 20’s.
What had not changed was her amazing spirit and heart.
Jacqui would give you the coat off her back if you needed it, never ask for anything in return and show up at your door the next day with a scarf to keep you warm.
Jacqui and Brian, it was an honor to be part of your dream day.
Jacqui, you are a true kindred spirit.