I shoot this one as a 2nd for my buddy Quan D Nguyen.  This wedding was in San Jose, Ca. The reception and getting ready was at the Sainte Claire Hotel and the ceremony was at the St Joseph’s Caathedral.

*Thank you for visiting Ari Simphoukham Wedding photography blog.
*Feel Free to visit my portfolio website.
*Contact me. 209.981.9820

*Thank you for visiting Ari Simphoukham Wedding photography blog.
*Feel Free to visit my portfolio website.
*Contact me. 209.981.9820

Kat and Chepo had their beautiful December wedding at the Casa Real in Ruby Hill Winery in Pleasanton, CA.  The day started off with the entourage getting ready at the hotel.  The anticipation building up to their first look was just too exciting.  During the gift exchange, Kat hooked Chepo up with his very own WWE Championship belt complete with his name engraved on it!  That’s probably the best gift for a groom to date.

The wedding ceremony and reception was beautifully lit with a nice warm-toned ambiance with a very cool monogram of their “CK” theme.  Awesome wedding with awesome people.  Good job Kat!  You did a great job planning this wedding!

You may remember Kat and Chepo from their San Francisco engagement portrait session.

It’s suppose to chase the bad weather away.  It works!

The ceremony room at Casa Real Ruby Hill Winery. Niiice.

A grand entrance to the Eye of the Tiger. Winner!

Thank you to my second shooter for this awesome shot!

The slide show was a hit! More on that in the end…

If you know Chepo, you know he’s gotta do things a little different.  For the reception slideshow, Chepo laid down some dope rhymes to the beat of the classic rap song “Just a Friend.” This remix pretty much tells the story of Kat and Chepo.  From their beginnings with XPO and DOX to their proposal on the Empire state building, this is a great love story.  Check it out:

*Thank you for visiting Ari Simphoukham Wedding photography blog.
*Feel Free to visit my portfolio website.
*Contact me. 209.981.9820

Meet the Tambongcos.  This beautiful family came all the way down from Union City to Stockton to get their family portraits done.  Adobo and chocolate meat  ;-D

*Thank you for visiting Ari Simphoukham Wedding photography blog.
*Feel Free to visit my portfolio website.
*Contact me. 209.981.9820

To raise some funds for the deprived school kids in Laos, I teamed up with Jai Lao Foundation to put together a Lao Cuisine calendar.  The calendar will showcase some of the tastiest Laotian food. We’re hoping to raise enough money to get some school supplies for the students in Laos or perhaps even be able to build a playground.  (Man it feels good to be doing something positive like this).

Here’s a preview of some of my favorite dishes from the calendar.  I will provide more info on how you can order these calendars once we have them ready.

Kaow Poont- Coconut soup in chicken or fish with vermicelli
Mango with sweet sticky rice dessert.
Lao stew. (ok, I don’t know the name of this one)

bamboo soup- eat this with sticky rice and you’ll become authentically Lao.
Papaya salad- probably one of my all time favorite. It can get pretty spicy depending on how you like it. 

These ladies worked extremely hard to cook and prepare these food, so shout out to them.

`Ari

*Thank you for visiting Ari Simphoukham Wedding photography blog.
*Feel Free to visit my portfolio website.
*Contact me. 209.981.9820

Ari Simphoukham Wedding and Portrait Photogaphy| justari| www.justari.com|Ari Simphoukham Wedding Photography blog|  Stockton, Tracy, Modesto, Sacramento Wedding Photographer | Bay Area Wedding and Portrait Photographer| Los Angeles Wedding Photographer| Justari Wedding Photography blog| Central California Wedding photography| Davis, Ca Wedding Photographer| Wedding Photographer | Orange County Wedding Photographer |Laotian Wedding Photographer |Awesome Wedding Photographer |Modern Wedding Photographer | Destination Photographer |Photography by Ari

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, spent with your loved ones and filled with tasty food.  It amazes me that even under today’s hard economic times many families are experiencing, people still have the heart to help others who are less fortunate. If you are one of these people, give your self a pat on the back and HIGH FIVE from me.

Last week I was invited to Jai Lao Foundation’s “ThanksGiving From the Heart” charity event in San Francisco. The event was organized to help raise funds to donate necessities for the school kids in Laos and the people who were hit by the typhoon in Southern Laos.  I am in absolute admiration for the members of Jai Lao. They’ve given so much of their time and energy to help others who are less fortunate.  I am truly blessed to be apart of this effort and to have met the Jai Lao family. The members of Jai Lao recently left for Laos to deliver the necessities in person, so please wish for them to have a safe trip.

I donated a portrait session in their silent auction.  Congrats to La for winning the bid! I can’t wait to photograph you!  

To read more about Jai Lao’s cause, please visit their website (http://www.jailao.org) and add them to your facebook.

~Ari

Ms. Asian American, Amy Chanthaphavong performing a traditional Laotian dance.

A master khan player who rocked it despite being blind. The khan is a traditional Laotian instrument.

The girls getting ready to perform a traditional Laotion dance. 

`Ari

*Thank you for visiting Ari Simphoukham Wedding photography blog.
*Feel Free to visit my portfolio website.
*Contact me. 209.981.9820

Ari Simphoukham Wedding and Portrait Photogaphy | justari| www.justari.com|Ari Simphoukham Wedding Photography blog |  Stockton Wedding Photographer | Bay Area Wedding and Portrait Photographer | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer| Justari Wedding Photography blog| Central California Wedding photography| Davis, Ca Wedding Photographer| Wedding Photographer | Orange County Wedding Photographer |Laotian Wedding Photographer |Awesome Wedding Photographer |Modern Wedding Photographer