When considering the location for our engagement photos, it was easy for me and Calla Lily Dude to choose UC Davis because we lived in Davis, CA at the time and met going to college there.

But, I found it was not this easy to find the perfect location to take pictures the day of our wedding… While I love our lake-side venue, the immediate exterior isn’t as picturesque as I would like (and right next to a bird estuary!) and the interior won’t be decorated in time to take pictures before the ceremony.

And lo and behold, the gorgeous lake-view promenade I had my heart set on as perfect location to take pictures before the ceremony…

from http://www.victorvolta.com

…is currently under construction and will not be ready in time for our wedding

So, I had to scout locations to find a place to take pictures before the ceremony. I wanted to find a place either near our venue or near the hotel where I will be getting ready. Before pounding the pavement myself, I asked friends and family for suggestions, but no one knew of something close enough.

I also asked our photographer for suggestions. He liked a new church in our neighborhood, and although it’s beautiful, it didn’t feel right because both Calla Lily Dude and I are atheists. He also suggested Chinatown, which sounded fun but still wasn’t quite right (I am, however, considering it for a trash-the-dress session later on).

When friends, family, and photographer failed to turn up just the right locale, I turned to my old standby: the internet. I did a Google Images search for “Oakland weddings” and “downtown Oakland weddings” and I found the perfect location…

from http://www.sweetsmile.com

We will be taking our wedding day shots at the APL Building in Downtown Oakland! (You can check out more pictures of this location and the couple that inspired me to choose this location here.)

The location couldn’t be more perfect. I love the sculptures and architectural details of the building and it is in the perfect location, just minutes away from our venue and right across the street from the hotel where I will be getting ready!

Of course, I did take a look at the location in person before deciding on it officially and that just made me love it more. So, to find the perfect location for wedding day pictures, I had to search high and low and comb the internet, but I found it!