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Bride and groom standing together against a sandstone cliff on the beach, color portrait

An Intimate Five Crowns Wedding in Corona del Mar

We're chris & julia

 Southern California Wedding Photographers with a love for timeless and authentic images.

We take a documentary-style approach to your wedding photos, capturing each moment of the day as it naturally unfolds.

Tucked into the heart of Corona del Mar, Five Crowns has become one of our favorite places to photograph a wedding.

We shoot here often, and every time, it surprises us in a new way. For Jordan and Wes, married on July 18th, that surprise was movement. Jordan is a dancer, and she brought that presence into every part of the day.

Groom lifting bride into an embrace on the beach, cliff backdrop, color

Getting Ready

The morning started off unhurried before the day picked up speed. Getting ready has its own rhythm, and there’s a different pace to those first few hours.

It’s often our favorite part of the day to photograph, unscripted and full of small moments that are easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. 

By the time the schedule took over, that energy was already set for the rest of the day.

Bridal shoes, wedding invitation, and rings styled together, flat lay detail shot
Bridal veil draped over a chair against patterned wallpaper, black and white
Wedding dress hanging in a windowed alcove with floral embroidery, black and white detail shot
Bride standing beside a full length mirror holding her dress train, color portrait
Bride laughing while walking through the getting ready suite, black and white candid
Bride sitting and laughing while adjusting her wedding dress, black and white
Bride laughing while holding a small gold compact mirror, color portrait
Bride spreading her veil out while laughing, color portrait
Bride holding a white and blue bouquet with veil draped over her face, color portrait
Bride standing in a veil near an arched window, full length black and white portrait
Bride standing at a window with veil flowing, black and white portrait

Jordan + Wes

A couple who trusts the moment enough to let it unfold naturally brings something grounding to a wedding day. Jordan and Wes stayed present with each other all day, never performing for the camera.

That’s the kind of connection we love photographing most.

Bride and groom walking hand in hand past a red phone booth outside Five Crowns on Poppy Street in Corona del Mar
Bride and groom laughing together while walking down a garden pathway
Groom carrying bride barefoot on the beach near a lifeguard tower, color portrait

In Motion

Jordan’s background as a dancer showed up everywhere. From the way she walked down the aisle to the way she moved through the reception. 

We found ourselves chasing twirl after twirl all afternoon, and some of our favorite frames came from simply following her lead.

Groom twirling bride on a tree-lined sidewalk on Poppy Street in Corona del Mar, wedding dress in motion
Groom twirling bride on Poppy Street in Corona del Mar, dress caught mid-spin
Bride and groom dancing under string lights, dress swirling on the reception dance floor
Bride and groom dancing in profile, wedding dress flowing across the floor
Groom spinning bride under a pergola on the dance floor

A Five Crowns Ceremony

As a preferred vendor at Five Crowns, we’ve photographed a lot of weddings here. This one is already one of our favorites.

The venue is modeled after an English country inn. A garden ceremony site, period antiques, and fireplaces that carry warmth through every room. It’s part of why we love returning here again and again. Every couple brings their own energy to the same beautiful backdrop, and it never feels repetitive.

Jordan and Wes hosted both their ceremony and reception here, letting the space hold the day without ever needing to leave it. Their ceremony was simple and heartfelt, tucked into the garden with close family and friends. There’s an intimacy to a Five Crowns ceremony that larger venues can’t always offer, and it suited them perfectly.

Five groomsmen in black tuxedos standing against a gray wall before the ceremony
Bride walking down a hallway with her father, framed through an open doorway
Groom overcome with emotion, hand over his mouth, black and white candid
Wide shot of a garden wedding ceremony under a floral arch at Five Crowns
Bride and groom holding hands during their vows, officiant reading beside them
Bride and groom sharing a kiss outside Five Crowns near the red phone booth
Wedding party group photo against a gray exterior wall at Five Crowns

Golden Hour on Poppy Street

When the light started to soften, we walked down Poppy Street to the beach for golden hour. 

It’s one of our favorite stretches in Corona del Mar. The light comes in low off the water. Poppy Street gives that seaside village feel that makes this whole area so easy to fall in love with. 

Bride and groom laughing together while walking down Poppy Street, black and white

We timed it perfectly with Jordan and Wes, catching them walking hand in hand as the light hit just right.

Bride and groom walking together in golden backlight, color portrait
Bride and groom walking together with coastal homes in the background, color
Bride glancing back over her shoulder with a coastal view behind her
Bride glancing back at the camera while walking with groom, color
Bride and groom laughing together on beach stairs, black and white
Close up of bridal bouquet and shoes carried by the groom, color detail
Bride and groom embracing closely on the beach, black and white portrait
Bride and groom standing together against a sandstone cliff, color portrait
Bride and groom walking hand in hand on a rocky beach in Corona del Mar, black and white wedding portrait

That’s what keeps bringing us back to Corona del Mar. Between Five Crowns, the beach a few blocks away, and streets built for golden hour, this small stretch of Orange County gives a wedding day everything it needs.

The Reception

Back inside, the celebration carried the same easy energy. Toasts were warm and dinner was relaxed.

Close up of a hand with an engagement ring reaching for matchbook favors
Guest holding a cocktail and a bottle of wine at the reception, color candid
Reception table setting with a number eight table card, candles and greenery
Place setting with a folded napkin and a guest's name card reading Dan
Bride and groom entering the reception waving to cheering guests, color
Guests waving white napkins overhead during the reception celebration
Bride and groom dancing closely together, bride laughing, color portrait
Bride smiling while embracing groom on the dance floor, black and white

Given everything we’d seen of Jordan that day, the dancing came as no surprise. Wes was right there with her, matching her energy the whole way. By the end of the night, most of the room was on the floor, and the two of them were right in the middle of it.

Bride and groom dancing closely together on the reception patio, black and white
Bride and groom laughing together during a playful reception moment
Groom twirling bride during their dance at the reception, color portrait
Two guests dancing playfully at the reception, black and white candid
Bride and groom sharing a drink together, black and white candid
Aerial view of the reception patio at night, string lights and candlelit tables
Two tier wedding cake with a cut slice, blue ribbon and white rose detail
Guest signing a blue cooler used as an unconventional wedding guestbook
Bride laughing with guests at a candlelit table late in the evening
Bride and groom exiting at night as guests reach out and cheer
Bride and groom walking out at night as guests celebrate, bouquet in hand
Bride and groom waving from a car window as guests blow bubbles, black and white

Why We Love Shooting Weddings in Corona del Mar

Corona del Mar sits right along the Orange County coastline, close enough to Newport Beach and Laguna Beach to borrow the best of both without the crowds. It’s quiet, walkable, and full of natural light almost any time of day. That makes it one of our favorite places to photograph, whether that’s at a venue like Five Crowns or simply down on the sand.

Bride and groom kissing along the Corona del Mar coastline, beach visible below

We’ve built our business around venues and locations we know well, and Five Crowns is one of the ones we return to again and again. Being a preferred vendor here means we understand how the light moves through the garden. We know where the best quiet corners are for portraits, and how to make the most of a day that unfolds on this property.

For Couples Planning a Five Crowns Wedding

If you’re drawn to a day that feels intimate, present, and true to who you are, we’d love to talk with you.

As Orange County wedding photographers who shoot often in Corona del Mar and at Five Crowns specifically, we know this venue and this stretch of coastline well. Whether your day looks like Jordan and Wes’s, relaxed, garden set, and full of dancing, or something entirely different, we’d be honored to help capture your day in a way that feels entirely your own.

Inquire with Chris & Julia

Thank you to these wonderful vendors:
Venue: @fivecrownsrest
Photographer: @christopherbrownweddings
Hair: @makeupby_paige
Makeup: @makeupby_paige
Bride’s attire: @ferndalesbridal
Florist: @gardengate
Cake: @simplysweetcakery

Weddings

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