tried this new place called cucina urbana on my last trip to san diego. i first read rave reviews on a couple of blogs, and it did not disappoint! make sure you make a trip out there if you’re in san diego. :)

on a wednesday night it was packed with people, so make sure you make reservations–but if you wander in, they’ll probably seat you at one of the cool communal tables below.

i LOVED their chandeliers.

polenta + ragu, short rib pappardelle. two dishes worth going back for. :)

afterwards, i was tempted to make my usual stop at extraordinary desserts, but we opted to try something new since we were only a couple blocks from chocolat. dark chocolate + hazelnut gelato sundae? HELLO. (p.s. why doesn’t LA have good dessert spots? anyone have suggestions?)

sometimes i forget about the beauty that exists right in my backyard.

more from annie and jim’s wedding at the navy golf course seal beach (see part 1):

my absolutely favorite thing about shooting weddings is the people i get to meet–and annie and jim are the perfect example. even though we’d only met for the first time during their engagement session, they’ve really become the dearest of friends to me.  and meeting their friends and family showed just how big their hearts are–it was obvious that they are adored by many. ;)  thank you, annie and jim for welcoming me into your lives. have the time of your lives in taiwan and mauritius… i’ll try not to be too jealous. (venue: the navy golf course seal beach)

p.s. many thanks to my good friend rebecca for shooting with me… you are indispensable! love you!

how cute are annie and jim’s place cards! it totally reflects their fun-loving, laidback personalities.

i love this one of the guys right before the ceremony (taken by becca)

this is the tamest photo i could find of the boys. there are soo many hilarious outtakes i wish i could post, but promised i wouldn’t. :P (this one’s becca’s shot!)

let’s just say… the girls nailed the jumping shot on the second try. ;)

will be posting annie and jim’s wedding tomorrow! but first, a super cute image from their rehearsal… never seen a girl so happy to be pretend-married :D