As an Orange County Professional Photographer, I just adore the couples we meet, whether it’s to photograph their engagement session, their wedding, various stages of their family life, or any combination of any of those, each one of them is truly great to work with. But perhaps our favorite part is hearing their stories. This sure does ring true for Chelsea and Allen. A truly wonderful couple that we had the pleasure of photographing their wedding at one of our favorite nature locations here in Orange County, the Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim Hills.
Oak Canyon is a 58-acre natural park of pure beauty and is a great place to have a wedding. In addition, it was dedicated as Orange County’s best-kept secrets. It’s a wedding venue that allows you to share that special day with family and friends under their majestic canopy of coastal oaks and enjoy the peace and tranquility of their year-round stream. Plus, having your ceremony here, you can add your rustic flare to this location to make it your own.
Just looking back at the journey that Chelsea and Allen took to get here. Meeting while attending college at the University of California, Davis, then to their first date at the Boiling Crab to proposing at the end of an escape room, which all led us to the Oak Canyon Nature Center for their wedding. What’s next? Honeymoon in Mazatlan, Mexico, of course. Not bad for a couple that lives in Philadelphia.
We would really like to thank Chelsea and Allen for allowing Three16 Photography to be part of your special day. We wish you many years of love and happiness.
Check out their love story. We hope you enjoy it, and their photos, as much as we do.
Chelsea and Allen’s Love Story
How did you both meet and who liked who first?
At University of California, Davis. We met through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship on campus. Allen liked Chelsea first.
Tell us about your first date. Who was more nervous and what did you guys do?
First, we went to the Boiling Crab Restaurant wearing fancy clothes. Then took a walk along a river, got ice cream and went to a park together. Allen was more nervous. We had a great time and enjoyed each other, but it was definitely awkward.
What’s the proposal story? Give us all the details and tell us, who cried first?
Allen proposed when Chelsea went back to California (from Philadelphia) for winter break. He got a bunch of our friends to go to an Escape Room together since we both love doing escape rooms. At the very end of the puzzle when you escape, Chelsea exited and saw Allen on one knee and even more of their friends surrounding them. Chelsea cried the whole time.
As you approach the wedding day, what have you both enjoyed most about the wedding planning process?
We enjoyed planning the ceremony and our vows, the part that meant the most to us. Planning some stuff with our best friends has been a huge privilege as well.
What has been the hardest part about planning your wedding?
Everything else! We are terrible with logistics and details because we get bogged down with that kind of stuff. Chelsea is in medical school and Allen is a first-year teacher at a high school. Our free time is incredibly limited, so we’ve been grateful for all the help we’ve been getting from friends and family.
Why did you choose your particular wedding and reception venue?
Chelsea wanted an outdoor ceremony site and loves anything related to nature. The Clubhouse was perfect for the reception since it’ll be colder, so indoors was better. The fact that the clubhouse and nature center were right next to each other made it an easy pick.
Where did you draw some of your inspiration from for your wedding day?
Our best friends who got married before us!
Where are you going for your honeymoon? Are you excited and why did you choose that destination?
Mazatlan, Mexico. We’re incredibly excited. We live in Philadelphia currently and it’s snowing as we speak. We wanted our honeymoon to be at a warm sunny beach to escape the winter!
Vendors used for Chelsea and Allen’s gorgeous Oak Canyon Nature Center Wedding:
Location Information
Ceremony & Reception: Oak Canyon Nature Center
Address: (Ceremony) 6700 E. Walnut Canyon Rd., Anaheim, CA 92807
Address: (Reception) 6501 Nohl Ranch Rd., Anaheim, CA 92807
Vendor Information
WEDDING COORDINATOR
Company: Hardwood & Co.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Company: Three16 Photography
Instagram: @three16photography
FLORIST
Company: La Mirada Garden Florist
Name of Person: Rick and Diane
DJ
Company: DJ Exodus
CATERER
Company: Clubhouse at Anaheim Hills
CAKE
Company: Cinderella Cakes
HAIR
Name of Person: Aubrey Yip
MAKE-UP
Name of Person: Jena Du
DRESS
Company: Love and Lace Bridal
Brand / Designer: Mikaella
GROOM’S SUIT
Company: Friar Tux
Email: contact@friartux.com
WEDDING INVITATIONS
Company: Minted
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About the Author:
Jerrick O’Connor is the owner of Three16 Photography and has 15 years of experience in the world of photography. He specializes in Weddings, Engagements, Family and Corporate photography and loves connecting small business owners with other small business owners in hopes they can benefit each other’s production. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his wife Josie, playing board games or just spending time with his many friends.
