Sometimes when I’m photographing a wedding, I pause and look around me and can’t believe how amazing everything is.

Such was the case at Lokie & Ted’s Gull’s Way Estate Malibu wedding, in which I found myself photographing an incredible wedding at the late Dick Clark’s home.

It wasn’t just that we were surrounded by the American icon’s family photos while people were getting ready, though that was very cool. It also was the view of the Pacific from the ceremony site, the surfers catching waves below us, the craft cocktails with spherical ice cubes, Lokie & Ted’s specially choreographed first dance, the glow sticks on the dance floor, the breakdancing by the groom and groomsmen, and even the basket that carried Lokie & Ted’s beloved dog Penny into the ceremony (she was the ring bearer). All these wonderful details set against the sweeping backdrop of a glorious coastal Malibu estate made this wedding so unforgettable.

I was fortunate to be selected by Lokie & Ted to photograph their engagement session in Carmel, and even more fortunate to be brought to Malibu to photograph their wedding. My wife, baby daughter and I made a weekend trip out of it. (They went to the zoo while I worked the wedding.) We were all treated to fabulous weather and gorgeous landscapes. The wedding day was relaxed and fun, with lots of time to explore Gull’s Way Estate’s many beautiful locations. The day’s schedule was kept on track by Lauren of Someone’s in the Kitchen catering and events, whose entire crew did an exemplary job putting everything together.

I can’t say enough good things about this wedding, but I’ll let the photos tell the rest of the story. Check out my favorite images from the day in the gallery below.