A Coastal Celebration of Family & Faith | California Catholic Wedding

Photographed and submitted by William J. Saylor Photography

“I met the couple via TCBC (The Catholic Bridal Collective). My connection with Matthew and Maya was rooted in a shared mission to witness the beauty of the Sacrament of Matrimony. Our conversation moved quickly past logistics to the heart of their day: the Mass and the Eucharist. We bonded over the desire to capture not just the events, but the ‘happy and triumphant’ reality of their vows, ensuring their wedding photos served as a lasting testament to the sacred promise they are making.

Matthew and Maya’s Nuptial Mass at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea in La Jolla, CA, was a study in contrasts that somehow made perfect sense together: the intimate Spanish Colonial nave of one of San Diego’s oldest Catholic parishes, a Byzantine mosaic apse glowing gold and cobalt behind the altar, and the wild Pacific just steps away. The ceremony was reverent and traditional—a full Nuptial Mass celebrated with the kind of liturgical beauty that reminds you why Catholic weddings are unlike anything else.

After Mass, the clouds rolled in over the La Jolla cliffs and turned the portrait session into something cinematic: moody Pacific skies, green coastal bluffs, Maya’s veil catching the ocean wind. The juxtaposition of sacred and elemental was stunning. Florals were soft and romantic—blush peonies and white garden roses. The bridal party wore dusty blue, which photographed beautifully against the warm plaster and gold of the sanctuary.

The whole day can be summarized into three words: sacred, cinematic, and coastal.

Matthew and Maya’s day started before any of us arrived. Matthew was out surfing that morning, which tells you everything you need to know about who these two are. Relaxed, joyful, and completely themselves. By the time I arrived the energy was already high. Family had flown in from the East Coast, the local crew was there, and the whole atmosphere felt like a reunion as much as a wedding.

The Nuptial Mass at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea was everything a Catholic wedding should be: unhurried, reverent, and genuinely moving. The sanctuary is stunning on its own, but what makes St. Mary’s special is that it doesn’t try to compete with the Pacific scenery outside. The mosaic apse, the candlelight, the marble altar all hold its own.

Then came the Catholic Gap: that sacred window of time between the end of Mass and the reception that Catholic wedding photographers live for. We headed out for portraits, but the sky had other plans. A storm rolled in hard, rain and all, but Matthew and Maya didn’t flinch; they wanted the cliff shots. Soaking wet, wind whipping through Maya’s veil, storm clouds stacking over the Pacific—they were laughing and kissing and completely in it. Those ended up being the best images of the day!

After the cliffs we moved to the reception venue, Lavalencia. There was a classic car show happening outside and Matthew, who loves classic Porsches, spotted one immediately. The owner was thrilled to have them pose with it and the resulting photo is one of my favorites from the whole year. Inside, we found a large Spanish-style bar window overlooking the ocean with the storm clouds still rolling in behind it. We cleared the room, positioned Matthew and Maya in the frame, and the light was extraordinary. The venue was still wet from the rain, the energy inside was electric, and the whole reception felt like a celebration that had been earned.

My favorite part of the day was definitely the Parish, the storm on the Cliffs, and their family. East Coast people are just different—in a good way!

These two were made for each other and that day.”

Congratulations Matthew and Maya!

Planner: Ann Strobel, Weddings of Distinction
Florals: Simply Adina Floral Design
DJ, Photobooth, Lighting, and Live Music: Arnie Ansom, ANSOM Productions

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