Lauren & Adrian // Carmel Mountain Ranch Estate Wedding
Lauren & Adrian met at a college party at the University of Michigan. After the party, both of them went and told their friends about each other. Lauren thought Adrian had unforgettably stunning blue eyes, and Adrian thought Lauren was unlike any girl he’d ever met. They quickly fell for each other, and began to build what has turned into a deep, loving, laughter-filled relationship. After graduating college, the couple endured Los Angeles to New York long-distance for a few years before starting their lives together in California.
Fast forward a bit to a perfectly breezy & sunny day in San Diego, where Adrian and Lauren got married at the Carmel Mountain Ranch Estate surrounded by their (MANY) friends and family. Their wedding was thoughtfully planned and full of incredibly meaningful detail. When I say detail—I mean details I could NEVER think of. For one, Adrian & Lauren wrote handwritten letters to every single one of their guests. They wanted to express their gratitude and love for every individual who attended their wedding, and I can’t think of a more thoughtful, more personal way to do so. Ultimately, this display of appreciation says a lot about who Adrian & Lauren are as people. Just knowing them for a short period of time, and listening to what their friends & family had to say about them, it is so clear that they are just the kind of people you want to be friends with. They are thoughtful, generous, loving people who bring joy and good energy to everyone they touch. They are party animals and they are epic pals to all. Being a part of their wedding day and witnessing them interact with each other & their loved ones was such a treat.
Taking photos of their bridal & groom’s parties brought out how truly hilarious, supportive, and fun their relationships with their friends are. Adrian and his guys could NOT stop laughing all morning & afternoon, and Lauren’s girls couldn’t stop doting on her and exclaiming how unbelievably beautiful she looked. The girls also intermittently broke out in dance parties… which I couldn’t help but approve of. There were no dull moments with the couple & their pals.
The newlyweds-to-be didn’t share a first look, so at the beginning of their ceremony, Adrian had an overwhelmingly emotional reaction as Lauren walked down the aisle. He was seeing his bride for the first time, and was overcome with joy. When Lauren reached the end of the aisle and her father joined her hand in Adrian’s, I saw Adrian whisper something in her ear and (although I don’t know what he said) I just melted. They could not have been sweeter together throughout the entire day, always taking little moments to just lock eyes, lean into each other, and be present.
Their ceremony was so unique and so full of personality: Adrian yelled “HELLLLL YEAH” when asked if he would take Lauren to be his wife. Then, when in his vows, Adrian said he’d always make sure Lauren was happy—even if that meant sitting on the couch eating a family sized bag of Cheeto Puffs, Lauren interrupted him to specify “white cheddar!” Their vows to each other included personal and hilarious elements about their relationship, and there was not a dry eye among guests as they each shared loving, thoughtful words with one another.
After their ceremony ended, in an epically executed double-prank, Lauren & Adrian BOTH simultaneously “iced” each other (hiding a Smirnoff ice and then having the other person take a knee and drink it) and spent their first few moments as husband and wife drinking their drinks as the crowed erupted in cheers. It couldn’t have been funnier, and couldn’t have been more “them.”
Later in the day, after precious first dances, it was time for speeches. Adrian’s best man’s speech, or “roast” rather, had Adrian and every guest in TEARS laughing, and then Lauren’s dad had the whole room welling up with emotion. After speeches were finished, the dance floor was OPEN for business. At the same time, A CHURRO MAN arrived and began making fresh churros for guests to dip in caramel or chocolate sauce. When I say I was the first in line for that churro man, I say so with 0 shame. They were the best churros I’d ever eaten in my life, and I dream of them every night.
Lauren later changed into an epic white jumpsuit, and she & Adrian hit the dance floor HARD. In the hands of every guest were custom water bottles filled with cocktails, and as the night went on, the dance floor was absolutely on fire. Friends used the sport-like water bottles to constantly squirt drinks into each other’s mouths, and I think I took 90 photos of Adrian being fed beverages. At one point, Adrian & Lauren were up in their friend’s hands, CROWD SURFING at their own wedding. There was a reoccurring limbo situation, “All I Want For Christmas is You” played at one point, and the newly minted Muguerza’s had the ABSOLUTE time of their lives dancing the night away with all of their friends and family. That dance floor had more energy than I’ve ever experienced. It was legendary.
Overall, I left Lauren and Adrian’s wedding thinking.. “well, that was perfect.” They were just so happy and excited throughout the entire day, taking in each moment & relishing in the fact that they were finally married and surrounded by everyone they loved. They ignored traditions that didn’t mean anything to them and created new traditions around what they love. They ditched a wedding cake for a churro man. They had the time of their lives on the open dance floor for 3 straight hours. It was such a special celebration to witness, and I am SO grateful to have been there to photograph every moment. Seriously, scoring an invite to the Muguerza wedding was a blessing and a joy.
Lauren & Adrian Muguerza. Sounds great, doesn’t it?! CONGRATULATIONS. I love you both.
