Toronto is truly a gem. It was my first time ever to step foot in Canada, and it couldn't have been a better experience. Like Marfa, J and I were also attending a wedding, but this one was particularly special because it was his cousin who was getting married so I finally met his family! I can't even begin to describe how incredible this trip was, and I couldn't have enjoyed it more thanks to this sweet family.

We flew into Toronto on a Thursday night and were dropped off at our Airbnb located in the Palmerston and Little Italy district. That same week in Texas, it was raining everyday which made the humidity unbearable so Canada provided a bit of fresh air that was much needed. The cherry on top was that the mornings always felt crisp and cool, which at the time made me anticipate autumn more. 

On our first official day, we started with lunch at a taco shop because we were so curious to see how Canadians interpreted what Austinites consider their pride and joy. In case you're curious, we were pleasantly satisfied. The rest of the day was spent lounging outside the porch while we waited for more family to arrive in town. Since the week was mainly dedicated towards the wedding, we also had some family events sprinkled into the schedule, such as a barbecue hosted by the bride and groom and the wedding itself on Saturday. 

Nothing we did on this trip was particularly "tourist-y", but J's cousins were wonderful enough to show us the shops and neighborhoods that gave us a better glimpse of what Toronto is made up of. From the artistic streets of Kensington Market to Yorkville's wealthy neighborhoods and shops, each had its own uniqueness that attributed to the city's charm. It was certainly a place for everyone. I was particularly surprised by how everything is walking distance. I legitimately think I got my year's worth of exercise in those two days of walking, haha! 

Prior to this trip, I was hearing endless raves about how amazing Toronto's food scene is. Since I was coming from a city that identifies as one of the leading food scenes, I couldn't help but feel extremely excited to broaden my experiences. Toronto did not disappoint one bit. In fact, the sheer diversity of the city's food scene was a bit overwhelming to navigate through. I just had too many choices, and it's always funny whenever we spend half an hour simply deciding on where to go eat. Overall, it was one of my favorite experiences, and I couldn't have enjoyed it more without the company and recommendations from J's family. 

Stracciatella & Boquerones

Bread and Cockles

Croquetas

Morcilla & Egg: Bread topped with blood sausage and quail egg

Shishito Peppers

Jamón

Sweet Olenka's Ice Cream

Imanishi Japanese Kitchen

Grilled stingray fins

On our last day in Toronto, J's cousin took us to the islands, more specifically Ward's Island Beach. It was by far one of my favorite places that we visited because we went just as the sun was setting, when the waters were barely sun-kissed before dusk. Every corner we turned at was simply picturesque. As we rode the ferry across, I think my jaw just kept dropping lower and lower. The further we sailed from the city, the more grandeur the city skyline became. Just to show off a little more, nature decided to give its skies a cotton candy gradient with blush and purplish hues just before hitting the rich blue waters. What a sight, eh? 

Aside from the tourism in Toronto, there was no doubt that the heart of this trip revolved around family. While we certainly had our fun throughout the week, nothing was better than sitting around the porch every afternoon chatting away the time through stories and nostalgia. In moments like that, I was reminded of how important it is to slow down our lives sometimes. I often find myself tangled in a culture where we race through life because there's a fear of missing out if we slowed down. My own life in that moment was also a mess in itself, but my soul was filled when I had the chance to unplug from social media and connect deeply with the people around me. I barely touched my phone that week, and I slept in without a care in the world. There were no "rules", no one was judged for sleeping late or in, and it didn't matter if we didn't do anything productive. It almost felt like I was a rebel against something... whether it's my own rules or the standard that life has set in this generation. All of this gave me a renewed understanding of quality time and the importance of balancing between work and personal life.

Personal note: To the Yang family, thank you for hosting everyone with such love and kindness. There wasn't a moment where you didn't include me as part of the family so thank you for going above and beyond to make my trip in Canada so memorable. 

Oh gosh, where do I even begin? I am still head over heels in love with these frames. Not only did my dream come true to photograph at Laguna Gloria, but more importantly, I got to see these two sweethearts again. If you guys remember, Joseph proposed to Sean back in June, but they drove down to Austin for their engagement session (it was also Sean's brithday!), and I cannot be more thankful for their adventurous and willing spirits. From start to finish, they stayed troupers as we battled the Texas heat and mosquitoes. I also can't rave enough about how fortunate we were that day because the lighting was gorgeous as the sun was setting, and everything that we thought to be a challenge turned out perfectly. 

It was a special treat to spend this extended time with Joseph and Sean. I could sense that both were a bit nervous when we started, but over time, I loved watching them relax with each other. At times, it almost felt like they forgot I was photographing them! Joseph's humor always made Sean erupt into laughter, and it was adorable seeing them pause between moments to make silly faces and talk to each other. That's what I love most about engagement sessions and what I want every couple to experience when I photograph them. It just brings me so much joy to witness the progression of a couple's growth as they share about their future dreams and prepare themselves for a new season. I have so much excitement for Sean and Joseph, and I can't wait to photograph their wedding next May.

West Texas is a beaut. The idea of spending a weekend getaway in Marfa couldn't be more romantic and fitting for the summer. J and I traveled here for his friend's wedding, but we decided that it was a good idea to also make a vacation out of it. Afterall, I can't imagine the next time we have the opportunity to do something as unique as this, especially with our work schedules being so crazy. 

We left Austin on Friday morning, and while six hours on the road sounded a little daunting, I couldn't have spent it better. Of course, I had J to keep me company with great conversations and Nicki Minaj rap battles (hardly. I chickened out), but it was the view that truly captivated me. Mountains and plateaus majestically stretched across the Texas desert, and lush green trees and wildlife were scattered so beautifully throughout the land. 

We managed to get there before it became dark so we unpacked in our Airbnb and started our first adventure with dinner at Pizza Foundation. You can bet that I did extensive research for this trip, which was extremely helpful because I found out that it often takes up to two hours to order a pizza there. To avoid that, we called in way ahead of time to ensure that we weren't eating dinner ridiculously late. 

By Saturday, we were rested enough for our real adventure. Since this was our vacation, we obviously have the freedom to do anything we want, and it was just so tempting to sleep in until noon. Good thing we didn't. A place like Marfa is certain to have breathtaking sunrises so I didn't want to give up that opportunity. On top of that, the weather was insanely good. I feared that the heat would discourage us from adventuring, but there was actually a breeze and the mornings were crisp and cool. 

First stop was Do Your Thing, a coffee shop. J and I had some bonding time over breakfast before we headed off to walk around the town. The thing to appreciate about a small town is how close everything is to each other. A ten minute walk could take us anywhere, from breakfast to shopping. Not only that, the southern hospitality was out of this world, which is ironic for me to think since I grew up in Texas. Everyone that we walked past either gave us a nod or greeted us with a "Hello, how are you?". 

We browsed around some of the more well-known locations, such as Marfa Bookstore located inside Hotel Saint George. By noontime, we were hoping to hit up Food Shark for lunch, since it was clearly a must on everyone's go-to list, but J and I fell upon Squeeze Marfa and decided to go there instead. It was one of those moments where we could've made that extra effort to do what we planned, but we were just so darn tired from walking around. Plus, there's nothing wrong with flexibility, right?. We're on vacation, not a field trip. After cooling down with a smoothie and filling up on sandwiches, we spent the rest of the afternoon at home. Since we had a wedding that evening, it made sense to save our energy for that. 

When Sunday came around, J and I slept in. To be fair, we stayed up 'til 3AM the night before talking, but the rest was also much needed. We managed to make it out the door by noon for lunch at Marfa Burrito. It was tricky because we couldn't find any information about it online, such as hours and a telephone number, but fortunately, it was opened and not crowded. The attraction about this quaint little place is that their burritos are homemade and fresh. It's authentic and guaranteed to fill you up for sure. 

Further down the road is the Chinati Foundation, a contemporary museum based on the ideas and foundations of Donald Judd. Most of our time and energy were spent looking at Judd's fifteen untitled works in concrete. They're spaced out across the field and each set is positioned uniquely. Though the weather was hot and harsh, we managed to make it worthwhile experience and one that is memorable. 

When evening came around, we celebrated our last night with dinner at Jett's Grill, located in the heart of Hotel Paisano, and then we drove west to Valentine, Texas to see the classic Prada Marfa exhibit by Elmgreen & Dragset. It was easy for us to assume that it wasn't worth driving 40 minutes to an "over-hyped" attraction that offers very little besides an opportunity to photograph next to an iconic landmark. But if we put those thoughts aside, the very essence of travel is to explore with genuine, unpretentious curiosity. To appreciate and learn about the treasures that characterize and make up the place. 

Who knew our little escapade would create some of my proudest frames, and that's what I love so much about photography. I love being captivated by my artwork. I like to envision how I want my pictures to look after post-processing and especially how it would look like when I decorate my home. I want to keep these pictures alive by giving it a home in frames and albums instead of storing them away into my hard drives without a second glance. 

And just like that, our trip was over. It concluded in one of the most beautiful ways, with the sun setting in its fiery orange glow in the backdrop of our view. As dusk continued to darken, the purple and blush hues grew richer and deeper. It pretty much had me fall in love with Texas all over again. 

Joseph and Sean's engagement is a story that will live in my memory for years to come. I can't even begin to describe what an experience it was, but it for sure guarantees a happy ending. Though I'm based in Austin, I'm always excited when I have opportunities to travel for my clients. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden has been on my radar for quite some time now so what better way to explore it than to combine it with a photo session!

For those who know Texas weather, it's fickle as heck. In one minute, the sun shines gloriously, but the next minute, it rains cats and dogs. And yes, that's exactly what happened the moment Joseph showed up at the proposal site. We, including Joseph and Sean's family, all hid under the arch of trees as best as we could, but we eventually got drenched in the rain. What a way to start everything, huh? 

Enough words from me, though. Here's the whole story told by the future Mr. and Mrs. 

---

JOSEPH: Chapter 1: Pre-planning

The Proposal, as told by the soaking husband-to-be: 

I had originally planned to set up a day of fun surprises for her including all of her favorite things (brunch, nails, puppies, donuts, etc) but after talking to a few friends, they said it was more worthwhile to save the exact moment. So I decided to plan to propose at a venue that Sean and I LOVED, but wouldn't be able to use due to capacity. This way, she'd still get to experience a special moment at an area that she loved. I got her mom to meet us there, and planned for a group of friends and family to meet us that evening for dinner. 

SEAN: I already had a feeling that Joseph was going to propose when he did because he said that he was going to this summer, and this was the first weekend we were seeing each other in about three weeks because I was studying abroad in China. That morning, I had gone to a friend's bridal shower and had to leave early to meet my mom at the arboretum to meet with our wedding planner. I had been eyeing the arboretum as a possible venue because it was so beautiful. I was actually kind of sad because I had a strong feeling that we would not be able to book it, but we decided to go anyway. 

JOSEPH: Chapter 2: The Proposal - Let it rain

My parents and brother had flown in and Sean's parents and sister met us at the garden about 15 minutes before Sean arrived. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and love was most definitely in the air. We paid for our entry fee and headed over to the location. Just as we were arriving, it started to rain. Not like, the sky accidentally spit on you rain. It was more, heaven nailing us with a water hose rain. Needless to say, all of us were soaked, and the girlfriend (now ex-girlfriend) was nowhere to be found. 

SEAN: I met my mom at the entrance of the Crepe Myrtle Allee and saw Joseph standing at the end of the aisle. I laughed when I saw him because he told me that he didn't want to go visit the venue with me, and there he was! It was so surreal and funny to walk down the aisle as my future husband-to-be waited at the end of aisle.

JOSEPH: The rain died down 15 minutes in and Sean took about 10 more than that. She was taking her sweet time tip toeing through the rain since she was dry from sitting it out in her car. There's nothing really like watching the woman of your dreams walk towards you as you prepare to make the 2nd biggest decision of your life (Jesus first, always folks). I really wanted to make her melt with some eloquent words but all I could dribble out was some mumbo-jumbo about Jesus or something. I wrapped it up, asked her if she was ready, got on my knee, pulled out DAT ROCK, and asked her to marry me. She said yes. 

SEAN: He said some really sweet things about us, our journey, how far God has taken us and how much farther we have to go as we walk with Him. He then asked me if I was ready (for him to propose) and I said no out of excitement, fear and a rush of emotions. He then joked that he could propose at another time instead and I saw no to that suggestion also. He then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I just giggled the whole time because I couldn't contain my excitement - and to keep myself from crying. It was a sweet and surreal moment of revelation of God's faithful promise of bringing forth a man after His own heart to romance and love and care for me, a daughter of the King. I can't wait for this next season of life in growing together in knowing Him and making Him known!

JOSEPH: Chapter 3 - Friends that became family

I kind of knew Sean had already realized that I was proposing on that day. You can ask her about that. However, she didn't know that she had 30+ of her closest friends in town and much of her family ready to celebrate with her! We had dinner and drinks at an excellent restaurant and had a blast reflecting on how incredible its been to have these people around us as Sean and I progressed in our dating relationship. The night continued with flashes of the running man, some Mario, and patty melts. Best day of my life, to date. The end.

SEAN: Side note - The story of the ring is actually a really sweet and important backstory of the proposal. So I had been very obvious with ring designs that I liked, and it was really important to me that Joseph like the ring too because, well he was paying for it, haha. The one that he ended up giving to me is a design that we both loved. He presented the design to a small mom and pop jewelry store we visited in Irvine, CA a few years ago, and they were amazing to learn from and work with. They custom designed my ring around the center diamond - each design is original and unique. The diamond itself has an important story too. My dad and Joseph picked out the diamond together from my dad's jeweler. It was so sweet to hear that it was a joint effort from both my dad and Joseph because this was an act of love for my dad to physically give his blessing to us by choosing the best diamond that he could. My dad and Joseph have always had a great relationship and hearing this story just made my heart melt. 

JOSEPH: PS. Vickie Liu and Amy Kersetter are bomb. The end. 
(thanks for the shout-out!)

Proposal Site: The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Reception Venue: Meddlesome Moth
Coordinator: Amy Kersetter
Chalkboard Art: Joanne Hu

declutter & refocus

Creating the space to imagine.

One of the core lessons I've learned from wedding planning is flexibility and the ability to create and execute vision even in the midst of stress. It's important because each task requires detailed attention, and when it's not delivered, the effects are sometimes irreversible.

Of course, that's not to say there's no room for grace, and that's the beauty of creativity. There's always a way around to molding your creations into better results than when you first envisioned it. It's almost as if our minds should be constantly thinking and piecing together bits and pieces of our imagination. 

As many of you know, I work as an assistant for a full-service wedding planner, of that which includes aspects of digital design, crafting, floral design, planning and coordinating. Though it's completely different from photography, I wanted to familiarize myself with the industry and refine my creative process for the sorts of art that I aim to create. 

In late October, I had the amazing opportunity to escape the urban setting for a breather in the countryside down south of Texas. The country air was much needed, and it paved way for me to declutter my mind as my boss and I began our three-day prep for the pending wedding. 

It started out interestingly because the moment we stepped out onto the lush fields, we realized that every corner of it was covered in either deer or coyote poop. It shouldn't have been fascinating, but I admit to analyzing it longer than I should've. Nearby, we heard cows moo-ing and peacocks making their calling sounds. The hazy afternoon sun gazed through the fields, creating a scene that solidified my childhood imaginations of country life.

I was excited to draw out the quiet energy of this setting as inspiration for our works that highlight the authenticity and purity of its design. 

For instance, this particular wedding needed nine bridesmaids bouquets, and each are comprised of one stem of hydrangeas, two blush Juliet roses, three stems of spray roses, two pink ranunculus, and a sprinkle of baby's breath woven within. The question is, how is it possible that one bouquet took me thirty minutes while the other took only ten?

That's where the heart comes in. Beyond the skills, which I'm still refining, it takes a certain instinct and connection to understand how flowers and foliage ought to be paired and arranged. Every nook I tuck a stem in needs a reason and purpose, whether it's because I'm highlighting a flower or accenting with buds and foliage.

I realized that when it comes art, sometimes it's better to start as a "blank canvas". To observe the present situation, create visions, and approach it in the direction that my inspiration is guiding me towards. 

Floral arranging, in particular, is a task that exemplifies this process. It starts off tediously because before we can proceed to do anything, each stem needs to be trimmed of thorns and foliage and properly hydrated. But it eventually blossoms into a process that provides satisfaction and nourishment to my soul. It's the sort of work that reminds me why I pursued the wedding industry.  There's great joy in seeing how different floral components can come together and create such breathtaking results and that each is its unique design. 

My first morning in the house showcased the beauty of country life. I woke up to a faint sunrise and the sounds of droplets left by the passing rain. As I proceeded my work for that day, I began to realize how quiet life was here. All I could hear was myself cutting foliage and occasional chirps from birds. In fact, while I was working in front of the kitchen window, I looked up for a moment and saw a pudgy red cardinal chirping away. I knew I had to stop and just admire what was in front of me. It was a rare and fleeting moment that left me sighing and at loss for words. 

I rested in the silence, drawing in its quiet energy so that I could brace myself for the work that awaited us the rest of the weekend.

Some of my favorite highlights of the trip. 
Click here to read PART ONE.

Tamsui

New Taipei City

Tamsui, otherwise known as Danshui, continues to reign as one of my favorite places to visit in Taiwan. It's very well known for its nightlife and seafood, but there's something inherently relaxing about it's morning air, especially on a quiet weekday.

The September air had already started to cool down, with dainty breezes that blew around the briny scent of the river. Immediately, my friend and I darted for the waterfront, anxious for the next boat ride to Fisherman's Wharf. 

With a glance ahead, we saw a mountain faintly framing the glittering waters with gentle hues of green and blue to accent its grandeur. The boat ride was bouncy and the waves roared as we sailed through before eventually reaching our quiet destination. As always, Lover's Bridge is elegantly perched atop the water with floating boats filling the harbor. 

Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Zhongzheng District

Tokiya

Zhongshan District

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

Zhongzheng District

Fei Cui Wan

Beach Resort, New Taipei District

Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the more celebrated holidays in Taiwan, and it was exciting for me because it was the first time I got to celebrate it with my family. Our plan was to travel to Fei Cui Wan, a small beach with a surrounding resort that housed hot springs and a water park. We had our celebration planned out; however, seeing that Typhoon Dujuan was headed toward the island, we knew that our plans may not turn out as expected. Nevertheless, we had fun. We gorged ourselves with endless barbecue and desserts, bathed in hot springs, and ended the night with beer and mooncakes.  It didn't even matter that we didn't see the full moon or drove back in the middle of a typhoon. When it's with family, nothing else mattered.

Jiufen

Ruifang District

From stand to stand, we tasted the delicacies that Jiufen is best know for, such as the taro and sweet potato balls. At another stand, I finally indulged in some fried stinky tofu. (Thanks to the typhoon, the city's power blacked out for a good 10 minutes. There's nothing like eating in the dark. Quite a bonding moment.) We finally ended at A-Mei Teahouse, where we partook in a small tea ceremony (the traditional way of drinking Chinese tea) and relaxed over homemade snacks. Did you know it is actually possible to be drunk from tea?!

The latter part of our trip took us to Jiufen, a city best known for its mountainous view and features that echoed its past. Interestingly, it's also a famous attraction as it had inspired Hiyao Miyazaki to create Spirited Away, one of his animated works. It was the kind of city that had me ambling around the streets, giving each scenery a double take and embedding each frame into memory. It broke my heart that I couldn't photograph the beautiful scenery with my camera because I broke my lens the day before, but thankfully I had my phone. Though lacking in quality, it managed to capture just enough for me to cherish. 

Jingtong & Shifen Waterfall

Pingxi District

Maokong

Wenshan District

In the past, going to the zoo excited me like no other, and even at this age, I knew that wouldn't change for me, and I hope my intense love for animals and sea-life will never waver. However, the purpose this time extended beyond the animals because tucked within the zoo is the Maokong gondola ride, otherwise known as a cable car. Since it's located in the mountainous area of Taipei, it wasn't a surprise to see acres of farmlands and trees flooding the view below.

Taipei 101

Xinyi District

Back in 2004, I vaguely remember shopping around the area where Taipei 101 was being constructed. It reigned as the world's tallest building until it lost to Dubai's Burj Khalifa and eventually five other skyscrapers. Though now at number seven on the list, it continues as one of Taiwan's top attractions and one of my favorite places to visit. For reasons unknown, I never took the opportunity to tour its upper deck for the grand view of the city, but that's no longer the case. To celebrate the last night of our trip, my aunt booked a reservation at Diamond Tony's Panorama, an Italian restaurant located on the 85th floor of the skyscraper. Talk about killing two birds with one stone, am I right? It was an unbelievable experience where nothing was less than perfect.

Isn't this charger just beautiful?!

It was a rare occasion to eat in such a grand atmosphere so I took advantage of every opportunity given. As soon as I we were escorted up to the top of Taipei 101, I was already busy gawking at the magical view. The floor-to-ceiling windows panned across the room and showed off the city and its liveliness from the nightlife. 

After settling down from my excitement, I finally had the chance to direct ALL of my attention to the food. In all of my life, I've never been overwhelmed by the menu. It was almost a dream come true to have eaten such delicacies that existed only as knowledge and not an experience.

Garlic bread with a crab meat cream dip

WIld mushroom and Truffle Soup

Roasted Sea Scallop and Tiger Prawn

Something my momma ordered that I can't remember

Scallop Carpaccio

Char-grilled Prime Fillet and Baked King Prawn

Deconstructed Tiramisu

It was bittersweet to see our little family excursion come to an end, but I looked forward to home and work, knowing that the rest of my year would be fueled by this trip's inspiration and rest.