A special thanks to all of the wonderful couples who helped make this new site a reality. Without your beautiful selves, and the love you shared, this would have never come to be.

I am grateful to and moved by you all.

Here’s to an amazing 2013!

Coming up very soon, JK Life Stories will become Julie Kay Kelly Photography! You can expect to see the same great work, just under a more straightforward  name.

Alongside this name change will come a handful of other changes I’m super excited about, including a new website, a new look, and some very exciting news!

I can’t wait to share all this goodness with you. Please stay tuned as the deliciousness unfolds!

Look at these two! Aren’t they beautiful?!

Tina, the so-beautiful bride.

Gorgeous flowers

The ceremony was held inside Calistoga Ranch’s wine cave. It was intimate, elegant, and warm.

The dinner table was exquisite!

The beautiful cake

And, one last portrait of the newly married couple.

Congratulations Tina and David! It was so special witnessing your love for one another and getting to be a part of this amazing day.

Tina and David were married in an intimate ceremony Tuesday at Calistoga Ranch. After days of rain, the sky opened to cold, brilliant sunshine. As the sun went down, Tina and David celebrated and dined in the warmth and elegance of the wine cave. More teasers coming soon. For now, here’s a tiny sneak peek of this gorgeous couple.

Congratulations Tina and David!

Congratulations Amy and John! I hope you are loving life abroad!

Above, the dinner menus, with Kristina and Donn’s artfully crafted logo in the corner.

Donn and Kristina, looking out over the San Francisco Bay. For an autumn evening, the weather was unbelievable.

Love this. One of my favorites from this year.

The beautiful dinner table.

The Maritime Museum, bayside.

One of my favorite parts of the evening was getting to take photographs with Kristina and Donn in and around the museum. The two love the bustling heart of San Francisco, and we had fun on the cable cars. Two standees only

In front of the museum.

The museum itself is beautiful and fascinating, with all sorts of murals that made for very fun photographs.

Kristina and Donn made their grand entrance by dancing down the aisle. I just love this.

One beautiful night.

Congratulations Kristina and Donn. It was such an honor to be a part of this beautiful evening.

Ceremony location: The San Francisco Maritime Museum
Flowers: Floramor
Coordinator: Laura Little
Catering: Componere Fine Catering
Lighting and rentals: Hartmann Studios
Flamenco Guitarist: Ryan Kelly Garcia
Pianist: Ken French, Declare Music
Vocalist: Leenya Rideout
Wedding Dress: Lazaro
Wedding Shoes: Christian Louboutin

In my last post I mentioned the beautiful letters that Sarah and Eric wrote to one another and read on the morning of their wedding day. It was so sweet and very emotional to watch Sarah read hers.

My second photographer Kristi got this great shot of Eric reading the note that Sarah wrote to him.

Besides the tears, there was plenty of laughter.

And, yes, lots of love.

There were also so many beautiful details that made Sarah and Eric’s wedding special. Above, gorgeous floral arrangements by Asiel Design.

I loved this adorable spin on the guestbook.

Sarah and Eric’s rings, so lovely.

Stay tuned, even more photographs of this lovely couple still to come!

Location: Palm Event Center
Flowers: Asiel Design
Catering: Palm Event Center
Music: Amos Productions
Desserts: Nothing Bundt Cakes
Girls Getting Ready location: The Rose Hotel
Guys Getting Ready Location: Pleasanton Hilton

First things first – check out these shoes. When it came to comfort, Amanda was not messing around. Fortunately, she knows cute when she see it. Love this!

Next, a peek at the amazing flowers, by Karen Brown Designs. These were so beautifully rustic and sweet.

One of the most amazing things about Amanda and Mark’s wedding was its gorgeous ine art theme, beautifully executed by Amanda’s mother, an artist. Each table was named for a great artist, and marked with one of the artist’s great works.

If you’ve been to Brix, you know it abounds with natural beauty. It’s a working farm, whose food is used on location for its restaurant in a beautiful example of farm-to-table dining. All around are these sweet little herb beds with signs like this.

On to the most amazing wedding dessert table I think I’ve ever seen. This spread of cakes was created by Penelope Jane Designer Cakes and Trufflesto match Wayne Thiebaud’s famous Cakes painting, seen here framed at the back of the table. I love this mix of art and baking, and this collaboration between Amanda’s mother and Penelope Jane. Penelope Jane’s work is always amazing, but here she truly outdid herself. (And yes, the cakes looked just as good as they tasted!)

Next, a photo of Amanda with one of her bridesmaids. So sweet.

Lastly, a portrait of Amanda and Mark, as the Wine Train passed by. Love this!

Stay tuned for a few more photographs of this beautiful wedding. Congratulations Amanda and Mark!

Location: Brix
Event Planner: Sharon Burns, Napa Valley Custom Events
Flowers: Karen Brown Designs
Hair: Shelley Knauer
Make-up: Make-up Artistry by Alan
Cakes: Penelope Jane Designer Cakes and Truffles
Officiant: Kimberly Thompson, A Beautiful Ceremony
Linens: La Tavola Linens
DJ: Jammin Jo

Kristin’s gorgeous bouquet, by the amazing Tessa’s Garden

So-sweet cupcakes by Sibby’s Cupcakery

The ceremony. Kristin’s two sons walked her down the aisle. So sweet!

Making lifelong commitments amidst the junipers

During cocktail hour: one of many moments of love.

Stay tuned! More photos of this beautiful day still to come.

Location: Costanoa
Flowers: Tessa’s Garden
Cupcakes: Sibby’s Cupcakery
Music: DJ Now

A special shout out to writer Sarah Adler, who made this story amazing. And congratulations and thank you to again, of course, to Kristina and Donn.