This wedding is extremely near and dear to me, as the Bride and I went to high school together. We lost touch, and I happened to send a holiday card to her mother’s home five years after we graduated high school. I sent the card not knowing that her mother had moved to Los Angeles, and that her mail had just hit the limit of when mail forwarding would end. This was right before the days of social media, so I felt really lucky to get back into touch.

One of Diana and Bob’s very first dates was my wedding, and when I returned to work after having my son, Diana graciously and amazingly helped keep the Barrad household running so I could focus on weddings. And for that, I am forever grateful. So, when Robert said that he’d be popping the question, I was super excited to help in any way I could. Knowing them personally made the process really fun for me, and I can’t think of anyone better suited for each of them–they are a perfect match. Sitting down to think about venues that were a reflection of them, the San Diego Rowing Club popped into my head.

Diana and Robert had an extremely clear vision on what they wanted. Bob is a very talented musician and Diana is organized and creative. They wanted a laid-back day with good food, good music and good friends. Their ceremony and reception were both outside overlooking Mission Bay and we had a beautiful sunset.

In addition to assisting with the wedding day, I was also given the opportunity to assist with design. It was very cool to be able to design florals and the bouquet my good friend would carry.

To see additional photos of Diana and Robert’s wedding, please visit their featured blog post on the True Photography Weddings website by clicking here. D and Bob, you guys rock! Thank you for your friendship and trust. Also, many many thanks to both Nicole Montzingo and Laura Lambillotte of team I Do… Both of these great gals executed a beautiful event so I (Melissa) could dance the night away with my friends. Thanks guys…it was a blast.