Jardines De San Juan - San Juan Bautista, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Janet + Manny's Wedding

Every wedding holds its own unique charm, but some love stories have a way of touching your heart in profound ways. Janet + Manny's wedding at Jardines De San Juan was not just a celebration of their love but a priceless moment that just had to be documented.

It was such a privilege to be there for Janet + Manny’s wedding, and I can’t wait to show you all of the amazing photos from their extraordinary day! These two were such a romantic couple.

Love has a beautiful way of unfolding in the quiet moments, away from the grandeur of the ceremony. As Janet + Manny prepared for their big day, we captured all of the emotions, from nerves to excitement! Something that really helped the couple relax was taking first look portraits together.

Hacienda de Leal served as the perfect backdrop for their first look portraits, and it was a moment so pure that time seemed to stand still. The emotion in their eyes as they locked gazes for the first time that day gave us chills!

Despite some harsh lighting during the ceremony, we were determined to preserve the magic of their day, working tirelessly to position them in the most flattering angles. Their love definitely shone through in every frame.

Photography freezes moments, but videography breathes life into them. Janet + Manny recognized the value of both mediums, and we were honored to provide them with the opportunity to relive their wedding day in both photos and video. Check out their highlight video!

Manny + Janet - Teaser from Drew Zavala Media on Vimeo.

The blend of photographs and video footage allowed us to capture their love story in its entirety, unveiling the subtleties and emotions that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. One of my favorite moments of the entire day was getting a drone shot of Janet walking down the aisle. It was priceless!

Janet + Manny were so overjoyed that they purchased this package, and they did not regret spending more for both. That said, I highly encourage clients to follow their own path.

Thank you both so much for the honor of documenting your special day! As these two start their new life together, Janet + Manny invited us to go mountain biking with them in Utah, where they will be living from now on! We’ll definitely have to take them up on it soon.

Janet + Manny's wedding was such a beautiful day. From their intimate first look portraits to the breathtaking ceremony, we were humbled to document their journey at Jardines De San Juan. Thanks again for choosing us, and see you in Utah!

Mission San Juan Bautista - San Juan Bautista, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Nick + Sonia

Nestled in the gorgeous San Benito county lies the Mission San Juan Bautista, which was the perfect venue for Nick + Sonia’s wedding! It was an amazing day, and I’m so happy that we got to photograph it!

The day began at Hacienda De Leal, where the bride and groom prepared for their upcoming nuptials. This pretty spot did the bride justice as she and her bridesmaids prepared for the day! A makeup artist from Nelas Studio and Academy made sure that the bride looked stunning.

As always, I made sure to capture amazing detail shots to help the couple remember the little things. We had some harsh light during this part of the day, but we easily solved that by adjusting our positioning in a way that took advantage of the harsh lighting. That way, we still achieved dreamy photos!

The ceremony was breathtaking! The Mission San Juan Bautista really was the perfect place for Nick + Sonia’s wedding. It was so meaningful for the couple and everyone in attendance!

No one could keep smiles off of their faces! The ceremony went so smoothly, and the happy couple looked straight out of a fairy tale.

After the ceremony, we headed to Casa Maria for the reception, where Oscar By Oscar did a fantastic job conjuring Sonia’s decoration dreams into reality. With soft pinks and whites, the reception table sang of refined luxury.

Central Coast Entertainment kept everyone dancing. This shot is one of my favorites! I placed my camera on a tripod and used a long exposure to create an intentional blur. This dance is called “Vibora Del La Mar,” which is a traditional Mexican dance where the people try to knock down the bride and groom while holding hands and dancing in a line. The dance is super fast-paced, and this photo is worth a thousand words!

The guys in particular had a blast! This is why I love my job. I also love it when my clients are open to creative shots like this one! For a fresh angle, I got on the ground and told the guys to pretend to be in a music video. They nailed it!

Nick + Sonia, your wedding was a day to remember! All of your hard work and planning definitely paid off. Since you gave us a timeline of what was to happen two weeks before the wedding, we were able to squeeze out every last drop of fun!

Thanks for being such great clients. You two are an amazing couple and I wish you both the best in your new future together. Congratulations!