Weddings at the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)

I love Wedding Wednesdays, and today I am obsessing over a fabulous venue which has me stopped in my tracks. Literally! I thought I had seen all the unique and beautiful venues in Southern California, until I visited this one. Tucked away in the heart of Long Beach, California, this lovely spot is a treasure worth searching for. I remember when I was looking for the venue, and thought I was lost, I was really saddened.  But once I looked over, and I saw the gorgeous and modern  details of the building, my heart skipped a beat. The Museum of Latin American Art was more than I had expected.   I was already in love with the beautiful trees, and details of the outside decor, and actually took me awhile to step in. When I did? I was shocked. My mouth dropped so low, I had to literally shut it close. Not only does this venue offer fantastic  unique locations for both ceremony and reception, it is a museum showcasing some of the most amazing art! The art gallery alone is worth a visit! This location is the perfect spot for couples who love art and want that modern feel with a touch of Latin American flar. With an incredible staff, breathtaking ceremony and reception locations,  and exclusive catering offering delicious food, The Museum of Latin American Art is a great location to consider when getting married.

 

SG-Tropical

LuisASanchez_20101211_0106

bmmoh

Galleries-20

Ornelas_584

Ornelas_446

Outside of the front entrance to molaa

SG2

Michelle+Joshua-3_sml

About The Museum of Latin American Art

The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) is a vibrant space that joins beauty and the experience of discovering contemporary art from Latin America. MOLAA is located in the heart of downtown Long Beach in the East Arts Village District, at the crossroads of Los Angeles and Orange Counties, with easy freeway access and ample parking.

From the natural backdrop of our outdoor Sculpture Garden, to the versatile Balboa Studio, Our venues afford our clients unparalleled freedom and flexibility in creating their unique and individualized celebration. A MOLAA wedding is an inspiring alternative to the ordinary. Our exclusive art collection is unlike any other in the nation, and can be a part of your celebration. We can host Ceremony and Reception for up to 400 guest. We have an exclusive Caterer Thank Goodness it’s Sofia. No outside catering is permitted. TGIS’s catering  packages can be customized to match every budget.  You are able to BYO however. Included in your site fee are all your rentals. We will supply all your tables, chairs, silverware, glassware, and china as well as any staging and dance floor.

San Francisco, California Wedding from Manya Photography

San Francisco, California will forever be one of my favorite cities. Growing up as a Southern California girl with my heart close to the lovely beaches, beautiful weather, and wonderful friends and family, I have always considered Southern California my home. That being said, I am really drawn to Northern California, and the city of San Francisco specifically. I think its the fabulous combo of  city life, great cuisines, fantastic shopping, unique details which brings back to this amazing city.  That is why today I am overjoyed with this gorgeous San Francisco wedding.  It has all the details that has my city loving heart in total overdrive.  Even though no photographs were allowed during the ceremony, I have to say that I am not totally sad about that. The images from the bride and groom and their reception are evidence that these two share such an amazing love for each other. The happiness totally shows. Thank you to the very talented  Manya Photography  for capturing all the romantic and lovely images. 

2013-12-12_0034

2013-12-12_0108

2013-12-12_0091

2013-12-12_0033

2013-12-12_0040

2013-12-12_0043

2013-12-12_0056

2013-12-12_0066

2013-12-12_0086

2013-12-12_0089

2013-12-12_0185

2013-12-12_0187

2013-12-12_0116

2013-12-12_0134

2013-12-12_0132

2013-12-12_0127

2013-12-12_0120

2013-12-12_0149

2013-12-12_0123

2013-12-12_0204

2013-12-12_0201

2013-12-12_0072

2013-12-12_0070

2013-12-12_0214

2013-12-12_0157

2013-12-12_0231

2013-12-12_0223

2013-12-12_0243

2013-12-12_0250

2013-12-12_0247

2013-12-12_0235

2013-12-12_0179

2013-12-12_0181

2013-12-12_0158

2013-12-12_0166

2013-12-12_0137

2013-12-12_0148

2013-12-12_0144

2013-12-12_0146

2013-12-12_0192

2013-12-12_0196

2013-12-12_0198

2013-12-12_0207

 

From Manya Photography

Brian & Anna got married in San Francisco, California. My first San Francisco wedding! The weather was perfect with beautiful blue skies and cool air. Brian & Anna met at a mutual friends gathering but Anna admitted that she had seen Brian around town and was interested. Anna is Russian, so they had a Russian ceremony. There were no photos taken during the ceremony so you won’t see any, but I assure you it was wonderful! The day started out at Potrero Hill and ended at the Ferry Building for photos. The Ferry Building is Brian’s favorite! Anna wanted to get a photo with a Street Car and we happened to be at the right place at the right time and got it! The reception had a beautiful view of the San Francisco bay. It was a clear day so you could see everything. The bride’s niece Joanna made her beautiful sash for her dress as well as the bride’s headpiece and veil. All put together using feathers and antique broaches. Chai is a big deal with the Russian culture.  The bride’s sister put together a special display of different teas for people to drink in beautiful teapots and a Russian samovar.  All in all it was a beautiful wedding day!

Vendors:

Photographer: Manya Photography

Reception Venue: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House

Florist: Floral Fantasy

Cake: Onya Bagdonoff
Makeup: Barbra Gago
Caterer: Matthew Susoev with Matthew’s Personal Chef and Catering

 

Crystal Cove, Newport Beach Engagement Session from Manya Photography

It has been a sweet holiday week so far, and we are halfway there. Tomorrow marks a day of eating, watching football, being with family or  doing absolutely nothing. Sounds pretty good right? But, before all that, how about treating yourself to the most romantic, sweet, and adorable engagement session from Manya Photography. As you are finalizing the menu, or stuffing that delicious turkey, take a break and prepare yourselves for a romantic e-session surrounded by gorgeous beachside details.  This couple is so cute, my heart  got a bit more happy, just by viewing their adorable photographs. You can tell they are totally in love. Their love totally compliments the beautiful details surrounding their e-session.  What a wonderful way to get your holiday cheer on right? View the incredibly romantic photographs which Manya Photography captured. See why each and every photo is gushing with sweet love. Enjoy an e-session before all the holiday festivities begin!

2013-11-20_0040

2013-11-20_0042

2013-11-20_0048

2013-11-20_0044

2013-11-20_0033

2013-11-20_0032

2013-11-20_0030

2013-11-20_0054

2013-11-20_0050

2013-11-20_0051

2013-11-20_0043

2013-11-20_0056

2013-11-20_0008

2013-11-20_0005

2013-11-20_0012

2013-11-20_0013

2013-11-20_0022

2013-11-20_0017

2013-11-20_0018

2013-11-20_0057

 

From Manya Photography...

Meet Johnnie & Amy: They are both such a sweet and lovely couple. You can see how much love they have for each other. It is so obvious!  They choose Crystal Cove, Newport Beach for their engagement shoot because it’s where Johnnie proposed to Amy. How sweet is that?  I always like my couples to feel comfortable, have a lot of fun, and to join in on the creativity. I tell my couples if they want to try out something, I’m all for it! I love capturing such a milestone in a couple’s lives. It was special to be part of that moment. It was a great experience. They were a lot of fun to work with. They love to smile, laugh, be romantic, silly and sweet, those are my favorite type of couples. I’m was honored to be Johnnie & Amy’s wedding photographer. They got married in Kerman, CA and  had a traditional Russian wedding.

Seven Tips on Getting Fit for the Wedding Day

Wedding Wednesday is here and we are getting fit today! Yep, that’s right. Fitness and good health are super important, and not  just so you can fit into your bridal gown, or that slim suit, but it is a good habit to have all the time. Regular exercise is associated with a whole host of psychological, physical, and emotional benefits, and can have a tremendous impact on one’s overall wellbeing. So why not get fit and be refreshed and feeling oh so good for the big day?  Many times, however, with all the wedding planning, you may struggle with incorporating enough exercise into the mix. So we have seven fabulous fitness tips to get you into shape. Ready to get fit and feeling amazing?

  1. When working out some soreness is normal, but pain is not. Working out is often uncomfortable as you are working to increase your endurance and limits; however, it should not be outright painful. If you ever experience severe pain when working out, stop what you are doing immediately. If the pain does not subside, head to the doctor, as you may have suffered an injury.
  2. When working out, make sure you take your time and focus on doing any and all exercises properly. Even if you can’t do as many or goes as long as you could if you were using short cuts, you’ll get much better results by doing fewer perfect form exercises. Not to mention that by using short cuts or improper form you could end up injuring yourself.
  3. Don’t sign up for a gym membership sight unseen. Gym’s can vary wildly in terms of there decor, atmosphere, focus, and equipment. The feel of a gym can make a huge impact on how often you go. Make sure you like the layout, the amenities, and even the other people working out. If a gym isn’t a good fit for you, you won’t go so make sure you check them out in person.
  4. A simple way to improve overall fitness can be done right at home. Whenever an individual is at home they can go up and down the stairs an extra time for every time they use the stairs. By doing this one will double the amount of exercise that they would get from using the stairs.
  5. Running is one of the best forms of exercise you can do to get into shape. Try your best to at least attempt a jog every other day or so. You can slowly increase your pace and before you know it, you’re burning a lot of calories. When it comes to running it’s all a mind-set, so get your mind strong and your body will follow.
  6. There will be days when you have zero motivation to workout. On days like this, commit to doing just ten minutes of exercise. If you get started, chances are you will continue exercising past the first ten minutes. Even if you don’t continue exercising, ten minutes is better than no minutes.
  7. In order to build better abs, don’t work your abdominal muscles too often. Your ab muscles are just like the other muscles in your body and require rest. Don’t work your abdominal muscles two days in a row, only work them two or three days a week, with at least one day of rest in-between.

People who exercise on a regular basis often notice a dramatic improvement in their mood, energy level, and stamina. The health benefits of regular exercise are well documented. We hope these tips have helped you to stay fit not only during the wedding planning time, but hope you will keep physical fitness a priority in your life! Happy  planning and exercising!