I’ve only ever been to the West coast twice in my life, this last trip being the second time. The first time was San Diego, for Crystal & Gabriel’s wedding last year.

This time was Carmel & Monterey, for Mackenzie & Jeff’s wedding. For those of you who don’t know, northern California & southern California are completely different animals as far as weather and landscape. Northern is more rocky and chilly, while southern is more of what people think of when they think California. {It makes sense if you think about it: the northern-most tip is in line with New York & Massachusetts, while the southern-most tip is in line with Atlanta.} BOTH are absolutely gorgeous.

In a nutshell, Carmel was AWESOME. And we were lucky enough to have some time to hang out and explore a bit before meeting up with Kenz & Jeff for part one of their Fearless Bridal session {SO awesome & coming soon!}.

Most of where we explored is called Old Fisherman’s Wharf - which I keep trying to spell Whorf, like on Star Trek . . . - and it’s basically THE place to go for a number of things.

There are tons of shops lining the main thoroughfare, and the restaurants all have stations outside their front doors hawking their clam chowder, since they’re all warring for the best. While most of the shops are full of touristy items {t-shirts, magnets, keychains, etc.} there are also whale-watching & glass-bottom boat tours that launch from the pier, and olde-fashioned candy & ice-cream shoppes.

See, otter? {BWAHAHAHA.}

Succulents that are TALLER THAN NICK.

Lllllllllllllaaaaaaaadies.

A tiny jelly.

We got the chance to catch one of the glass-bottom boat tours - aboard The Little Mermaid, haha - and saw TONS of animals. There were a couple of sea otters, a few harbor seals, a bunch of seagulls and other birds, and a TON of sea lions. A TON OF THEM. Quite possibly literally.

I’ve got so much amazingness coming up for you I can’t even STAND it. Not only are Kenz & Jeff’s offbeat beachy nuptials coming up, but Part One of their Fearless Bridal session, a yoga class in Atlanta, shots from a singer/songwriter session, and about a billion different crazy gorgeous styled shoots.

In the meantime, enjoy Carmel with me. And YES. The water really is that color. AWESOME.