Dana Point, CA. Cousin of the bride. 2009
Another photo I love. I'm a sucker for candid shots of brides on their wedding day. But throw in the fact that the bride is my oldest niece, Sarah, and her cousin, the flower girl Ava, is my youngest niece—it all adds up to a classic shot in my book. Plus, the wedding was in Dana Point, right around the bend from where we learned how to surf at Doheny in the '60s. And we're about to ask Ava to be a flower girl in our October wedding. It's her birthday today, too. She's 8 and still every bit as cute as she is in this picture. And one more very cool thing about Ava: she shares a birthday with my oldest nephew, her cousin Josh, who turned 23 today. I have a feeling they're both destined for greatness. As is the bride, who just moved to Texas with her Marine husband, T.J., in April and is 6 months pregnant with their 1st baby. This big family keeps getting bigger. Happy birthday, guys! And welcome to Texas, Sarah. Make sure you keep that baby-growing body out of the Texas summer heat, girl!
Flower girls. Austin, TX. 10.3.14 Photo by Josh Makela
Wanted to wish my niece Ava a happy birthday today. That's her on the left with Molly's niece Caroline. These two were a highlight at our wedding. We only wish we lived close enough to see them more often. Happy birthday, Ava!
(posted 6.26.15)