A Classic Wedding at L’Auberge Del Mar, Melissa + Paul

Melissa + Paul embrace and smile on a wooden floor at their Classic Wedding; the bride holds a bouquet.

I am so excited to share this wedding today, I loved it! Love the colors, Love working at L’Auberge Del Mar, and loooove working with Lauren Mandler and EverAfter Events – she is the cream of the crop of coordinators!

Love Story:
Paul & melissa met through a mutual friend in Austin, TX…little did she know that she would soon end up moving to San Francisco where paul lived!

Wedding Venue:
L’Auberge Del Mar is a romantic and luxurious beach hotel with beautiful rooms, a relaxing spa, and wedding venues that overlook the beaches! The ocean views and beautiful ceremony sites make it really the perfect location for a local or destination wedding!

Star Vendors:
Coordinator: Everafter Events – Lauren Mandler
Florist: Organic Elements – Sharon Mintz
Wedding Cake and Bakery: Sweet Cheeks – Elaine Ardizzone
Music: SOS Entertainment
Rentals: Concepts Event Design
Hair: JDM Salon – Wendy McGill
Photography: Vallentyne Photography – Heather Moreau

My Favorite Moment:
Ok wow, there are several favorite moments! The first was the recessional song after the ceremony – it was Depeche Mode “Just Can’t Get Enough.” So awesome. Yes, this is my style so I loved that they chose this to celebrate being just married! If you need to just listen to this song right now, here ya go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6fbfaq-nde

The next super awesome moment was the father/daughter dance…I just love when people spend time on doing this together! They began with the classic dance together to “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole. But soon the music cut out and it honestly seemed like the DJ messed up big time! But no, it was a pause before their coordinated surprise dance performance to “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. So much fun and I loved that they planned and practiced that father/daughter dance together!

Lastly, the bride had a surprise song to sing to her new husband. She performed “At Last” by Etta James and really, she did such an amazing job! I think everyone present was in awe of her voice and just thinking a little bit that the groom just married an incredible woman! So many beautiful moments. I loved this whole crew – congrats Melissa & Paul!

PS. Take a look at the rings below- OMG. I am in love with the sapphire engagement ring and the copper groom’s ring- the combo is so amazing!

A bridal bouquet, locket, and heels by a window set the scene for Melissa + Paul's classic wedding at L'Auberge Del Mar.
Classic wedding dress with jeweled waistband for Melissa + Paul at L'Auberge Del Mar, shown full length and close-up.
A woman with wavy hair in a white robe gazes thoughtfully, evoking classic wedding elegance at L'Auberge Del Mar.
Bride in a white dress at L'Auberge Del Mar, hands and ring close-up; bride and older woman embracing—a Classic Wedding moment.
Melissa + Paul’s classic wedding at L'Auberge Del Mar: a bride in white stands smiling in a doorway, greenery aglow.
A bride at L'Auberge Del Mar holds a bouquet, displaying her ring and jeweled dress at this classic wedding.
Two black-and-white photos of a bride at L'Auberge Del Mar, standing by curtains and holding a bouquet in soft natural light.
A man in a blue suit smiles as his boutonniere is pinned—Melissa + Paul’s Classic Wedding at L'Auberge Del Mar.
Melissa + Paul cut their wedding cake at L'Auberge Del Mar, then share a kiss holding a plate with cake.

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When clients tell me they feel comfortable and relaxed during their session, I know I’ve done my job. If you’d like an easy, natural experience, I’d love to work with you.
So many families tell me they dread planning a photo session. My job is to take the stress away so you can just enjoy the experience. If that sounds like what you need, let’s chat.
Your portraits should feel like you—whether that means a beach sunset, a mountain trail, or a simple studio backdrop. If you’d like help deciding, I’m here to guide you.
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Vallentyne Photography is a portrait studio in Oceanside, CA, with a newborn studio in Carlsbad, CA, serving North County and San Diego. With 20 years of experience, we specialize in natural, timeless portraits for families, maternity, newborns, and seniors—capturing genuine moments on location or in our beautiful portrait studio.

We’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable. Let’s start with a quick chat about what matters most to you. We’d be honored to create portraits you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

When clients tell me they feel comfortable and relaxed during their session, I know I’ve done my job. If you’d like an easy, natural experience, I’d love to work with you.
So many families tell me they dread planning a photo session. My job is to take the stress away so you can just enjoy the experience. If that sounds like what you need, let’s chat.
Your portraits should feel like you—whether that means a beach sunset, a mountain trail, or a simple studio backdrop. If you’d like help deciding, I’m here to guide you.

email directly:

heather@vallentynephotography.com

760-672-2416

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located in oceanside, california