SAN DIEGO MISSION BAY RESORT

Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing a beautiful wedding at the San Diego Mission Bay Resort. This stunning location perfectly complements the joy and intimacy of a wedding day. As a wedding photographer specializing in candid, editorial, and light-filled images, the natural beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Mission Bay provided an excellent backdrop for capturing authentic moments.

The resort’s expansive waterfront views and lush landscaping offer endless opportunities for both romantic portraits and dynamic candid shots. During this wedding, the soft, golden-hour light filtering through palm trees created the perfect ambience to highlight the genuine emotions shared by the couple, their family, and friends.

One of the highlights was the ceremony location—an open, airy space overlooking the bay. It offered unobstructed views of the water and sunset, enhancing the emotional resonance of the vows. I focused on capturing subtle details like the bride’s delicate bouquet, the groom’s heartfelt expressions, and the joyful reactions of guests — all framed by the serene water in the background.

The reception took place under elegantly decorated tents, where warm, ambient lighting and tasteful decor added to the festive yet intimate feel of the evening. Throughout the day, I aimed to tell a complete story by blending editorial-style portraits with candid moments, ensuring the couple would have a rich collection of images that feel both personal and timeless.

Shooting at the San Diego Mission Bay Resort reminded me once again why I love working in this area. The unique combination of natural beauty and sophisticated event spaces makes it an ideal location for wedding photography. If you’re planning your own wedding in Carmel Valley, San Diego Mission Bay, or nearby, I’m excited to help capture the light-filled, heartfelt moments that make your day uniquely yours.

Check availability if you’re interested in booking — I look forward to creating beautiful memories together.

Getting Ready Spaces: The resort rooms offer beautiful natural light and stylish decor, making the "getting ready" moments—from the final touches on the dress to the groomsmen's toast—feel bright, relaxed, and luxurious.

The Ceremony on the Sand: The option for a toes-in-the-sand ceremony right on the bay is unbeatable. The calm water, the sailboats drifting by, and the warm, soft light create a picture of serene coastal elegance. We captured some beautiful, intimate moments against this unique backdrop.

Lush, Tropical Portraits: One of my favorite things about the Mission Bay Resort is the incredible variety. Just steps from the beach, the lush tropical gardens provide a dense, vibrant contrast to the open water. The towering palms and colorful florals make for dramatic, unique couple's portraits.

Golden Hour on the Bayside Terrace: As the sun dips, the light over Mission Bay is absolute magic. We utilized the Bayside Terrace and its surrounding area for their golden hour session. The soft glow illuminating the trees and the bay created those jaw-dropping, signature San Diego sunset photos that every couple dreams of.

A set of silver-toned bridal jewelry including drop earrings and a necklace, featuring pear-shaped and oval clear stones encircled by smaller pave-set gems, all arranged on a white surface.
A bride, dressed in a cream-colored cardigan and white loungewear, reaches into a small black jewelry box on a nightstand to retrieve her wedding rings while getting ready.
A close-up shot of a bride's hands with French manicured nails, showing a gold ring set with an oval green stone and a matching bracelet as she prepares for her wedding day.
A smiling bride in a white lace gown with a large bouquet and a groom in a white tuxedo jacket walk hand-in-hand down an outdoor wedding aisle lined with palm trees and guests in San Diego.
A close-up shot of the back of a bridesmaid wearing a green top, holding a paper with the lyrics to the hymn "Be Thou My Vision" during a wedding ceremony or rehearsal.
A vibrant, sunny outdoor wedding ceremony set up on the green lawn of Mission Bay, San Diego, featuring seated guests in white chairs, tall palm trees framing an archway, and calm blue water views in the background.
A black and white photograph of a groom in a white tuxedo jacket, escorted arm-in-arm by his mother and father, walking down an outdoor wedding aisle in Mission Bay past seated guests in white folding chairs.
A close-up shot of a bride's back, showcasing the intricate white lace appliqué and sheer paneling of her wedding dress with a deep V-neckline as she is seated at a table.
A black and white photograph of a bride holding a large white orchid bouquet, standing outdoors under a veil as guests and her dad in a suit look on in beautiful San Diego.
A black and white photograph of a smiling bride in a white lace wedding gown and a flowing veil, holding a large bouquet of flowers outdoors with palm tree foliage and a view of the water in the background.
A sunny outdoor wedding ceremony overlooking the water in Mission Bay, San Diego, featuring the bride and groom at the altar under a circular arch, framed by tall palm trees.
A bride and groom kiss under a modern circular archway decorated with white drapes and pampas grass, surrounded by lush greenery and palm trees overlooking the water during their sunny outdoor wedding ceremony in San Diego.
A bride's legs are shown as she sits on a bed getting ready, wearing sparkling silver or champagne-colored platform high heels with ankle straps.
A bride in a lace wedding gown and a groom in a white tuxedo jacket share a moment embracing under tall palm trees, overlooking the blue water during their sunny outdoor wedding in Mission Bay, San Diego
A black and white photograph captures a bride and groom sharing their first dance on a lawn at an outdoor wedding reception in San Diego, surrounded by guests, tall palm trees, and a resort building in the background.
A sunny outdoor landscape featuring three tall palm trees on a green lawn overlooking a calm bay or body of water with a sandy beach area in San Diego.
A candid, shallow depth-of-field photograph taken from the perspective of the wedding party, showing the profiles of a bride in a white veil and a groom in a black tuxedo jacket standing at the altar during a sunny outdoor ceremony.
A bride in a white lace gown and a groom in a white tuxedo jacket sit smiling at their table, with a two-tiered wedding cake featuring a couple figurine topper between them during a sunny outdoor reception.
A black and white photograph from behind the bride and groom, seated at their sweetheart table during an outdoor wedding ceremony, featuring pampas grass decor in the foreground and white orchids on the table.
A close-up photograph of a bride from behind, showcasing the intricate white lace pattern on her wedding dress, a sheer veil with beaded trim, and a bouquet of white orchids in the foreground.
A black and white photograph captures a bride in a lace gown and sunglasses and a groom in a white tuxedo jacket seated at an outdoor table, raising small glasses in a toast or acknowledgment during their wedding reception.
A groom adjusts his white tuxedo jacket with black lapels during an outdoor wedding reception on a sunny day, with white tables and palm trees in the background.
A black and white photograph captures a vibrant moment of a bride and groom laughing and dancing with their hands raised in the air during their outdoor wedding reception at a Mission Bay resort.
A view from behind three bridesmaids in emerald green gowns, looking towards the bride and groom standing at the altar during a sunny outdoor wedding ceremony on a green lawn with tall palm trees and a body of water in the background at Mission Bay,
A happy bride and groom are seated at their white-clothed sweetheart table under a large white umbrella during their outdoor wedding reception in Mission Bay, with the bride waving to guests.
A black and white photograph captures a bride wearing a lace gown and a flowing veil standing at the altar with the groom during an outdoor wedding ceremony, with an officiant reading from a program nearby.
A bride in a white lace gown and a groom in a white tuxedo jacket stand facing each other on a green lawn with a water view of Mission Bay and tall palm trees in the background.
A close-up shot of a groom smiling broadly in a white tuxedo jacket with black lapels, a polka-dot bow tie, and a white calla lily boutonniere.
A close-up, vertical photograph captures several spikes of purple French lavender flowers (Lavandula dentata) in full bloom, set against a soft, green bokeh background.
A smiling bride in a white lace gown and a groom in a white tuxedo jacket hold a knife together, cutting into their two-tiered wedding cake during their sunny outdoor reception on a green lawn overlooking the water and framed by tall palm trees in Sa
A bride in a white lace gown and sunglasses and a groom in a white tuxedo jacket sit smiling at their table during their sunny outdoor wedding reception.