Elegant Japanese Wedding at Maravilla Gardens | Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer | Heather & Justin
Take a look at this elegant Japanese wedding at the Maravilla Gardens. The traditional Japanese ceremony is a Shinto ceremony, though many Japanese in America celebrate weddings with a Buddhist ceremony. The most popular tradition during a Shinto-style wedding is the exchange of nuptial cups, which is called san san ku do. So san san ku do means three, three, and nine. The groom and bride drink sake three times each, from three different-sized sake cups called sakazuki. In their exchanging cups, they are symbolically exchanging their marriage vows. This ritual dates back to a time when sharing sake created a formal bond as strongly as a handshake did in Victorian times.
Next, their parents also take sips, sealing the bond between the two families. Each person takes three sips of sake from each of three cups. The first three sips represent the three couples; the second three sips represent the flaws of hatred, passion, and ignorance; and the last three sips represent freedom from the three flaws. For more information on Japanese wedding traditions, Manhattan Bride and The Knot, are both great resources for more information.
OUr location today is the Maravilla Gardens, which located in Camarillo, California. The venue has many star qualities and would work fall kinds of weddings. It’s large enough for big parties and quaint enough for an intimate gathering. The grounds have an infinite number of places for portraits; a barn, pathways through several gardens, flowers everywhere, a tree swing, and a huge field next door which made for some incredible bride/groom portraits. Photographers and couples, you are going to love this location.
My photography is a blend of art, experience, and instinct—a little bit of this, a little bit of that.
For over 15 years, I’ve been immersed in the world of photography. It all started when I was 18 and stepped into a darkroom for the first time. That moment sparked a lifelong obsession with capturing the world through my lens. It eventually lead me to the fine art space, collaborating with artists, managing studios, and working alongside galleries and museums.
Through years of studying art and photography—both in undergraduate and graduate school—my aesthetic evolved under the influence of critical theory and contemporary art. I found myself drawn to the intersection of traditional documentary photography and spontaneous, unfiltered moments of real life. My goal is to create images that are raw, honest, and deeply human.
Travel plays a huge role in my creative process. I find inspiration in the unfamiliar—letting light, movement, and emotion guide my eye. Photography is my way of making sense of the world, turning fleeting moments into lasting stories. With a camera in hand, everything becomes a canvas, and every frame is a chance to reveal beauty in the unexpected.
