Persian Nuptials Nestled in the Mountains of Malibu [RF Wedding of the Week]

May 19, 2016

By Laura Brauer

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All Photos © Francesco Spighi

The last time I chose to feature a wedding by Florence, Italy-based photographer Francesco Spighi, it was of an elegant event in Manhattan. Fast forward to California, where couple Mary and Farhad chose to celebrate their wedding at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu.

destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1045destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1019destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1013destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1041Many of Spighi’s weddings are booked by clients who first hire him for a proposal or engagement shoot; in this case it was the latter. “I shot their engagement session in Florence,” he says, “and then they asked me to follow them to Malibu for the wedding.”

destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1003destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1035destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1023destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1025destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1044destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1050destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1060 destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1069destination-los-angeles-wedding-photographer-malibu-california-1074“We were expecting rain, so the outdoor ceremony setup was changed to have the Persian altar covered by a tent,” Spighi explains. “Luckily we had no rain during the ceremony (when you have a great plan B, it is no longer needed). For the lighting, I used both a flash on or off camera and a LED light to balance the venue light.” By the way, he adds, “the cloudy sky was great for portraits.”

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“These photos are timeless,” Mary and Farhad told Spighi. “Not only did you capture our emotions and happiness, you managed to capture the emotions that our guests were going through. Some of the moments we didn’t get to see, but you captured them and we get to enjoy those moments for a lifetime. We are truly blessed to have had you be at our wedding, not only as our photographer, but also as a true friend. The gratitude we have for you is endless and we only hope that our paths can cross again! You are truly a one-of -a-kind photographer and person.

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GEAR: 
Cameras: Nikon D810 (two)
Lenses: Nikkor 28mm f/1.8 AFS, Nikkor 58mm f/1.4 AFS, Nikkor 45mm f/2.8 PCE, Nikkor 85mm f1.4 AFS
Lighting: Nikon SB-910 flash, Aperture AL-H198C LED Light
Miscellaneous: Manfrotto Stands

VENDOR CREDITS:
Photography: Francesco Spighi  | Cinematography: HD Studio | Wedding Planner: Sara from Besharati Group | Wedding Venue: Calamigos Ranch | Floral Design: Avant Garden Events | Wedding Dress: Farzaneh Maleki of Maleki Couture | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Groom’s Attire: Montezemolo | Invitations: Creative Works Design  | Getting Ready Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village  |  Makeup: Marine Muradyan  | Hair: Davee Troublefield

Check out more Weddings of the Week, and email Libby Peterson or Jacqueline Tobin with submissions.