No, really: What can you say about a picture-perfect day in North County, with a couple that’s totally in love, a bridal party that knows how to get down, and a gorgeous venue set up just right? That’s the kind of day it was.

We owe a few words of thanks before unleashing this barrage of photos: First, to the couple, who made our job easy by being relaxed and fun and not even a little bit camera-shy; to their groomsmen and bridesmaids, who were awesome in that upbeat, drama-free kind of way; to the guests who made the photobooth rock (coming soon…); and to Melanie at Twin Oaks Valley Golf Course, who was super helpful and liked our photos enough to print a promotional brochure a few months after the wedding featuring only Dawn and Christian. (Check out Twin Oaks if you’re looking for a killer outdoor venue with a view.)

We were at the scene of the ceremony for more than eight hours, and left with hundreds of blog-worthy shots. For the sake of time (and your eyeballs), here are our favorite 100 — give or take 20. That’s how tough it was to narrow this one down.

Let’s start out with nine of the best, then go back to the beginning…

We met Dawn through a friend, whose wedding we have yet to blog. (Actually, it was Grace from this engagement session.) Since Christian was working out of state, we did not have a chance to shoot their engagement pictures. Wedding day was the first time we met him.

Ties! Can’t live without ‘em… Oh wait, yes you can!

You just can’t be in a wedding without one.

Best boutonniere-pinning sequence in history:

The toasts were some of the best we’ve ever heard. Funny, heartfelt, profound. A bridesmaid read a toast from one of Christian’s former Marine Corps buddies that was absolutely ridiculous.

Start to finish, this was one of the best weddings we’ve ever attended. To have been the ones documenting the day was a privilege indeed.

Christian and Dawn, thank you.

Congratulations, and best wishes.

The old Mission Road bridge in Bonsall was already one of our favorite places to shoot. No one ever had to twist our arms to get us out there, and even though Adam and Teryn were the umpteenth couple we’d escorted across the old arched span, shutter clicking all the way, they definitely kept it fresh and fun. This early summer session was also the first time we’d ever taken pictures of a couple in a construction zone, which is something that could grow on me real quick. :) :)

We shot their wedding less than a month after this, and will soon be sorting through the best of the ceremony and reception, which were also right here, on our home turf. All I can say about their wedding photos is this: TREES. You’ll see.

Old Bonsall bridge, meet new Bonsall bridge. BOOM!

Before I tie this off, a couple of outtakes and, yes, another hands-in-the-shape-of-a-heart.

One of the other great things about their session was a spot Micah knew about, where he used to play paintball with his friends and siblings. It took about five minutes of hiking, and then there was this great little scene, with abandoned cars all overgrown and ready to be photographed. All I can say is that it’s in Vista somewhere, and we’d love to shoot your engagement pictures, too, if you want to know exactly where! :)

As I catch up on blogging here at the end of the 2011 summer wedding season, this is one of those long-overdue sessions that Grace’s friends have already seen on Facebook. We shot their wedding in June, so stay tuned for a deluge of some of our best work yet in an upcoming blog post.

Until then, please enjoy and comment!

Grace and Micah, you guys rock.

But never out of date.

See, we did Jer & Shan’s killer engagement session at the old Bonsall bridge several months before their wedding, and when the Big Day came around, we knew to expect TONS of chemistry and emotion. (These are two main ingredients of any great wedding picture.)

As Shannon’s family calls Fallbrook home, everything was held here in town. The ceremony was convened at the historic First Christian Church of Fallbrook (which was literally one of the first Christian churches in Fallbrook — if not THE first), and the reception was held at her family’s house down by Highway 76. There, among other awesome things that went down was an incredible photobooth, which we blogged not long after their wedding.

Their day was filled with great legacies of lasting marriages and family ties, and as friends we would have probably been there anyways. But being part of such a special day was a privilege that we will never forget. We love you guys (and your little guy)!!! :)

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First up, my nephew, the ring-bearer.

He flexes:

And……… the flower girl. (Love this sequence, after we gave her a handful of petals.)

“Should I do it?”

“I’m gonna do it…”

There were a lot of my nephews running around.

Stay tuned for some amazing images from their day. We love you, Uncle Paul and Aunt Nadine!!!

We’re especially looking forward to their Hawaiian theme. A few years ago, The Grand Tradition added a second wedding site called “Arbor Terrace,” and the lush landscaping goes so well with tropical shirts and the rest. :) :)

Wow. Just, wow:

The booth was set up right next to the food, so we got quite a bit of traffic at dinnertime.

You can probably tell from the length of this post that we spent more time than usual with K&T. Again, that’s because they were so much fun to be with, and every pose was a WIN for Brooktown Photography.

Thanks so much, guys! You are going to have tall kids someday!!!

When Tessa called us to arrange where to meet, she said, “Do you know where the popcorn stand is?”

Seaport is hands down one of the best places in San Diego to watch the sunset. Most days it looks like it’s lowering itself onto the deck of one of the aircraft carriers moored across the bay.

Cyrus and Diane are awesome together. We already shot their wedding last week, and it’ll be a few weeks before we get those photos edited and up on the blog. In the meantime, here are a few of the best from their engagement session in downtown San Elijo.

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