Espresso Bar Catering!

Coffee Caboose, LLC is a mobile coffee bar that comes to your event. Indoor or outdoor, trained baristas will serve specialty coffee drinks, gourmet hot chocolate or flavored teas for you and your guests. Coffee Caboose offers a traditional “coffee shop” menu or will personalize the menu for your party! Coffee Caboose is based in Dayton Ohio and travels to Cincinnati, Columbus, CLeveland, Toledo and Indianapolis. An espresso bar is great for a marketing tool, a corporate meeting or an appreciation gift! An espresso bar leaves a lasting impression on wedding guests, family, and business associates. Visit www.coffee-caboose.com to book your coffee bar!!

Sabrina & Ryan's ~married~ SNEAK PEEK!

… finally, right guys?! lol

Oh boy, what do I say about my friends Sabrina & Ryan??? Well, I must start by saying I LOVE THEM! So willing to “venture out”, creative & for sure a super FUN couple!

I had a great time shooting their Ice Rink engagements last winter and just knew there was a little ’somethin’ about these guys that was unique! I show up at Sabrina’s parents place the day of the Wedding and was led to “the make-up” area where I literally had a “jaw-dropping moment” at the sight of this chick-bride Wedding day foot attire!!!! LOVE THE SHOES SABRINA, I kept going on and on about them!

Came time for the Wedding party shoot at a separate location (Eugenia Falls) where I was then led to the COOLEST Wedding day secret Bride &Groom location they had picked out for their shoot: and old abandoned, graffiti-ridden stone building, a little ways down the trails from the falls. …I was so excited!!!

Thank you guys for everything!!!

Congrats Sabrina & Ryan, I had so much fun…can`t wait till we meet again!

Enjoy,

–melissa xo

getting ready.

I’m kind of restless today, I suppose it’s the leftover sleepiness from like, forever… and the feeling like I’m going to fall ill. Then again, everyone in the office is sniffly and on the brink of unwell. I’ve been downing plenty of cranberry juice in the hopes of avoiding that.

Tonight, we’re off to meet our solemniser, Ms Isabel Tang. Fingers crossed all goes well! She’s kindly agreed to do a reading for us, at the end of our wedding ceremony :

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.

Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.

May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years,

May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth.

- an Apache blessing

 

{photo by tamara schlesinger for lyell, via this is glamorous}

My favorite Green Wedding in Melbourne, Australia

A Woodsy Green Wedding on Another Continent

I love the latest trend of woodsy-chic decor for events: ferns, elves and mushrooms.  It brings us back to nature, and in return, we plan our weddings and events to keep nature healthy.  Why not support our little friends, the elves, fairies, deer and woodpeckers?

The photographer for this wedding contacted me, and although the event took place in Australia, I just had to post it.  Not only is it a beautifully shot affair, but the overall romantic and earthy vibe is really strong and ethereal.  The photographer is apparently the first eco-friendly photographer in Australia.  And besides her green life practices, she does some great sustainable business practices as well.  Check out what this Australian Eco-friendly photographer, Holly Cottingham, had to say:

1.  When did you start your green business?

My business has been going for about 3-4 years, however only this year have I begun on the green route.

2.  Why did you?

I changed my direction because I feel that we can change the world through our purchases. Also, I feel that using recycled paper is just a basic thing that we can      do with no extra effort, plus I was never really fond of the standard wedding albums.

3.   What are the ways in which you are green/Eco-friendly/sustainable?

The ways that I am eco friendly in my business:

• Paperless workflow – everything except business cards is online
• Accepting direct deposit – most people have online banking now anyway and it’s easier for both of us, no more running to the bank!
• Online proofing – there’s nothing worse than a huge amount of prints that you’ll never look at
• Recycled paper –business cards are printed on recycled paper
• Digital files – today the easiest way for people to show photos to friends is online
• Eco matte photo prints – made from 100% post-consumer recycled waste though you wouldn’t know it, beautifully soft with little speckling
• How are you green in other aspects of your life?

I started being green in my personal life before my business so there are quite a few ways that I try minimise my impact. I have a growing vegetable garden that I     am currently growing a variety of veges and herbs in. There’s nothing quite like just grabbing a handful of peas from the garden or a lettuce for a salad J I also         compost all of my food waste (I’m vegetarian so everything goes in the compost!). The rest of my vegetables I get from a local organic farmers market. I really             dislike going to the supermarket so it’s really great to just pop out on a Sunday morning and enjoy the markets instead.

I also own a Sigg water bottle and take it with me everywhere. I cannot understand buying bottled water when we have just as good water at our own homes.             Lately I have been really utilising the library to get books from instead of buying them. There are so many that I want to read that it would cost a lot to buy them       all! I think the biggest way that I am eco friendly is that I no longer live a consumerist lifestyle. I always have a really hard think about if I actually need that new     product and usually don’t! Being green is great because it can save you alot of money too!

5.      If you could invent something to be more Eco-friendly or sustainable, what would it be?

If I could invent something to be more eco friendly it would be a light switch that has a 15 minute timer on it so that after 15 minutes the light turns off. That is         definitely a downside to the CFL bulbs is that you have to think about if you will need that light on again within the next 15 minutes!

6.      What advice would you give to a green bride/groom about how they can be Eco-friendly in their wedding and future life together?

The advice I would give to a green bride and groom for their wedding would be to plan a more simple wedding (which can be way more beautiful and personal           than the average wedding). Limit the miles that the food you serve has travelled. Educate your guests about the amazing local produce in your area. Choose a             venue that you can have both your wedding AND reception at – it saves time and energy for everyone in travelling and means you can spend more time with your     guests (it’s great for the photographer too, no rushing about like crazy!). Think hard about the favours that you give to your guests, do something more exciting         than sugared almonds (fruit, homemade jams, packets of seeds, small seedlings)!

For their future life together, I would recommend for the couple to think about what ways they can minimise their impact. Not every action is possible for every          person but there are many that can be done with ease. Buy reusable water bottles, ride your bike more often (make a day of it, cycle to a park and then have a              romantic picnic!). Think about what produce you can grow – herbs and some vegetables grow really well even just in pots. Think about what you are supporting      with your dollars, shop responsibly! There are many many ways you can do your part. J

Here are some beautiful pics of the wedding itself:

The happy couple

I love the simple citrus decor.  It’s something I hope to include in a Gorgeous and Green Event in the coming months.  Yum!

The blooms from the tree are beautiful, and the overall sepia tones are so romantic.

I love this little nature scene on the cake.  Those little forest people are so cute!

Lovely.

Thanks to the photographer from

www.hjimagery.com and www.j-studios.com.au

In Green, Ferns, Elves and Health

G&G

Ivanka Trump's gorgeous wedding

Donald and Ivana Trump’s daughter was married on Sunday October 25th to Jared Kushner, the son of another major New York area real estate family.

KA-CHING!

So, of course the ceremony was held at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey!! Donald Trump wouldn’t have it any other way! Over 500 guests, among them included celebrities like Barbara Walters and Russell Crowe.

Her dress was a custom-made Vera Wang. Not sure if I like the sleeves though.

Photos courtesy of Fred Marcus Photography.

Tina and Mark

Tina and Mark were married at the Martha Mary Chapel in Sudbury, MA and had their reception at Stow Acres Country Club in, you guessed it… Stow, MA.   Mark is a big golfer and has been a member for years, so it was fun to get a few shots of him swinging a club while Tina looked on.  The reception was beautiful and had unique touches, such as the rhinestone cake topper.   They also set out a box filled with ready-to-mail postcards for guests to write them a note and pop in the mail.  How cool is that?!

Congratulations to Tina and Mark!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark watching his beautiful bride coming up the aisle.

 

 

 

I thought it was so sweet that Tina’s son walked with her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Photo by Matt)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Photo by Matt)

 

 

 

The guys thought it would be funny to lean on Mark’s shoulders…hard. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes even the bathroom can be a fun spot to shoot! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognize this couple?  Yes, it’s Andrea and Mike, who were married last month!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Danielle and Jon sharing a fun moment with their nephew.

 

 

 

 

 

Yanic & Rebecca - Married in the rain! {Burgaw NC Wedding Photographer}

Click here to view my online portfolio

The wedding party rented out Clarendon Inn (the cutest little cozy inn) in Downtown Wilmington, right across the street from the reception location at the Hannah Block USO Community Center.  It made taking getting ready shots and reception detail shots super easy:)

Becca & Yanic decided to have a first look before the wedding ceremony on the Riverfront in Downtown Wilmington.

Becca’s bouquet was so pretty!

Yanic & Becca were planning to get married in her parent’s yard in Burgaw, NC. Everyone had been working hard getting the place wedding-ready and it looked amazing. The only problem were the rain clouds that rolled in just before the wedding was to start. As the limos pulled in, the sprinkling slowed and guests hurried to wipe down the seats. Maybe the backup plan to marry in the church could be avoided after all. Then just as the ceremony started, so did the rain! No one was without an umbrella, so the wedding went on as planned, in the rain!

The poor bridesmaids were soaked, but it was definitely a memorable day!

Hurrying to blow-dry Becca’s dress…

Becca & Yanic did things a little differently in lots of ways, including having only bridesmaids!

The centerpieces for all the tables at the Hannah Block USO Community Center were all different floral decorated birdcages.  They were so pretty and the florals were amazing!  They also served the best shrimp and grits as martini style appetizers and were the best that anyone has ever had, hands down!

Becca broke out the clogging during Lynn Anderson’s version of the song Rocky Top.

I know this isn’t the best image composition wise, etc… but we thought it was cute nonetheless. When the bride’s sister started breaking it down, everyone seemed a bit shocked.

Anyone who wasn’t at the wedding want to take a guess at what song is playing during this next photo?

copyright 2009, Crystal Genes, Charlotte NC Wedding Photographer, Burgaw NC Wedding Photographer, Downtown Wilmington Wedding Photographer

Kaminski-Kane Wedding

Saturday marked the end of our 2009 wedding season, and the Kaminski-Kane wedding was the perfect finale.  The house and grounds were beautifully decorated, the food was wonderful, and the cake was a masterpiece.  But the best part of the evening was that everyone seemed so happy.  It was as though they didn’t want the night to end — the guest lingered for an hour after the bride and groom left!

Wedding coordinated by Emily Stepp of Your Special day; catering by Mitchell’s Catering & Events; flowers byKelly Odom; cake by Swank Cake Design; blog photos by Sheryl Long

 

For more photos, please visit our page on Facebook.

Three Types of Flowers to Avoid At Your Wedding

You want your wedding day to be perfect. You want everything to run smoothly, for people to have a good time, and to be able to celebrate with family and friends. You don’t want to hear that flowers could have potentially ruined your day, do you? If you listen to these three helpful suggestions you won’t have to worry about flowers having the potential to ruin your picture perfect day.

Suggestion #1: Avoid Fragrant Flowers. Even though some flowers have such a strong, sweet scent, we recommend avoiding using them, or at the very least, using them sparingly. You may love the scent, but your guests may not. Some flowers have such an overbearing scent that it can give guests a headache, and some even have the potential to change the taste of your meal and cake if they are placed nearby.

Suggestion #2: Avoid Flowers That Die Quickly. This seems fairly obvious, doesn’t it? If you are having an outdoor, summer wedding, avoid these types of flowers especially, since the hot sun blazing down on them will result in them dehydrating quickly.

Suggestion #3: Avoid Flowers That Will Stain. Pollen is a particular culprit – and a pollen stain is very difficult to remove from a white wedding gown. Also, if you are using flowers that are artificially coloured, sometimes dyes may rub off onto your dress. If you must use dyed flowers just remember to avoid having them rest against your dress when walking up the aisle, standing at the alter, or posing for photographs.

Mom Bread

This recipe was dreamed up during my postpartum recovery, after my daughter Alchemy was born. I received a loaf of banana bread from one of my dear friends and I loved how easy it was to grab a nourishing bite of this delicious bread. As the loaf disappeared, I started thinking about making a bread myself and what I would want in it. I wanted it to have different fruits and vegetables, whole grain for plenty of fiber, nuts for the healthy fat and some protein and to be fairly low in sugar. It should be as nutritious as a meal, I thought to myself. Well, I never got around to making it in those early postpartum weeks but months later when a friend gave birth I knew what I had to do. It was time to make mom bread! I have since made this bread for all of the new mom’s in my life. And in turn, it has become a bread that I make for the holidays and for other life changing events. Weddings, funerals, housewarming, just to name a few. Life Transition Bread should be the name of it, but Mom Bread has stuck. At first, it was actually named, Jen’s Super Momma Power Bread. That title was a bit cumbersome and quickly got shortened to Mom Bread. I like it! The recipe changes with every batch. It changes with the seasons, it changes as I experiment with ways to make it healthier it changes with the tastes of the new mother in mind and it changes because I don’t think I’ve ever been able to leave a recipe alone for long. So, feel free use it, change it, eat it and help me keep those new mommas nourished with some home baked lovin! That really is my wish, for more people to start taking time to support our new moms with home cooked meals, help around the house, love and understanding.

Ingredients:

2 cups All-purpose flower

1  cup wheat bran

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/4  tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. clove

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. cardomon

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. vegetable oil

2  1/2 cups fruit and vegetables (shredded, finely chopped or pureed) – I have used zucchini, carrot, apple, pineapple, pumpkin and banana. I usually pick 3 or 4 per batch.

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (can find at health food store)

1 cup chopped nuts & or seeds (walnuts, almonds, pecans, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are my favorites)

Sometimes I add bee pollen (1 tbl.) and spirulina (1 tsp.)  for a little nutritional boost. And, sometimes I add dried fruit like raisins, cranberries and cherries are good, about a handful. Oh, and don’t forget to add love and well wishes for the new momma! I literally think about the person I am making the bread for while I am baking it and I put all the love I can into it!

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325.

In a large bowl combine flower, wheat bran, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices.

In a small bowl whisk eggs, oil and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and mix well.

Stir in veggies, fruit, nuts, coconut and any ingredients that you have added.

Pour batter into two well greased 9×5 inch loaf pans. Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until golden brown on top and cooked through so that a toothpick comes out clean. You can also use smaller loaf pans and make muffins too but bake time will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Leave out to cool completely but after it is cooled, it is best to store this bread in the refrigerator to keep from spoiling. Enjoy and share the love!

I’d love to hear about your recipe variations and any stories around the joy of sharing this recipe and the traditions that it may create within your circle.  Love and blessings to you and yours.

two birds with...

…one dress.

actually it’s more than one dress.

twobirds Bridesmaid is a boutique dress company that marries a bride’s vision with her bridesmaids’ happiness.

Its all ONE dress, FOUR lengths,  EIGHTEEN colors, NO alterations. Wear it again and again and kill twobirds with one dress.

what an ingenious beautiful idea!!  best part is the founder, Ariane, is a michigan alumni!  (go blue!)  Ariane was getting frustrated with having to spend too much money on bridesmaid dresses that she’d never wear again.  at her own wedding,  Ariane’s own bridesmaids wore multi-functional dresses and guests became enamored with the idea and the dress.  and twobirds bridesmaid was born!

Daniel + Joelle's Pre-Wedding Shoot

I guess this post would be long overdue as I was quite tied up with other things and also as the couple for this next shoot requested that I delay the publication of their pre-wedding photos. Well  as they needed to prepare all the necessary before announcing to their friends that they would be married so I guess it would not hurt to delay a bit!!

This is my first pre-wedding shoot and I would say that it is indeed a privilege for me to shoot this couple as the bride-to-be is my ex-colleague!! Yup,…they requested for me to shoot their pre-wed photos and also this one is quite unique. Why you may ask?? Well for starters they did not want to shoot the conventional type of photos usually taken in a bridal studio (this is quite common here is Malaysia by the way!!) as they felt it is quite fake. So instead of the usual, they’ve decided to shoot a casual one to ensure its simplicity.

My first assignment was to find a suitable location and since I’ve never shot a pre-wedding shoot before it was really quite a brain drainer for me as I surveyed whatever location there is in Kuala Lumpur. Well finally I met up with the couple and provided my suggestions for places to shoot and I guess there places are just too far. An idea came up as I proposed to shoot around my housing estate in Bukit Jelutong (”Bukit” is the malay word for “Hill”) and after bringing them for a tour around the place,….they absolutely loved it!!

Finally the day came and we drove around Bukit Jelutong to shoot the pre-wed photos and of course we had an

enjoyable time as we tried many poses and locations and not forgetting that both Daniel and Joelle are indeed a sporting couple. I was also glad to have the company of my good bud from high school Nicky Ang to shoot with me. Below are some of the shots taken and I hope you enjoy them. Cya,….;)

Ryan and Solomiya Wedding

Today we traveled to Philadelphia to photograph Ryan and Solomiya’s wedding.  It was a fun mix of the Ukraine and United States!  They were a sweet couple and we were thankful that they let us be a part of their wedding day.  Here are a few photos from the wedding…

The bride and groom played a cool game that we have never seen before.  They each held one of their own shoes and one of their spouse’s shoes.  A host asked a series of questions such as, “Who will spend a lot of money on something without consulting the other person?” or “Who will most likely start most of the fights?”  They held up the shoe of the person that would most likely be the culprit.  It was hilarious!

Brendan & Kelly made it Legal: St. Patrick's and The Garrison

Brendan and Kelly are a couple of sweet lawyers in love… they had a lovely wedding at St. Patrick’s Church in Yorktown Heights, followed by a reception at The Garrison in Garrison, NY. All in all a beautiful and fun day with a beautiful and fun couple. Their guests knew how to cut the rug, too. This place had some of the best service I’ve ever seen. And the food was absolutely to die for. I’m a vegetarian myself and though they seem to specialize in meat they had NO trouble providing me with one of the best meals i’ve had in a month or so… and I was not a guest, but the photographer. Now that’s great service. Check out my favorites!

the above shot by my assistant, Dmitry Gudkov!  Nice work upstairs, Dmitry!

I love it when my subjects are comfortable enough to make goofy faces… this makes me smile.

I don’t know what it is but somehow bagpipes always make me cry… as do weddings… the combination?  yes. there were tears… i could go on, there were so many nice shots, but you can just watch the slideshow if you’re interested in seeing more

Glicer & Noe

Diamond Events have been working with Glicer and Noe for over a year now and it has been such an easy going experience. Glicer was so organized and ahead of schedule, not once was there a moment of panic. Glicer really focused on picking local vendors that made the experience easier for all of their wedding party, family and friends! The ceremony was held at St. Stephen-Martyr Catholic Church, just blocks from the reception, held at The Fairmont Washington D.C. The ceremony was a very traditional Spanish Catholic wedding, a beautiful blending of the two families. Afterwards guests walked to The Fairmont for a cocktail reception in the loggia. Guests impatiently waited for the reception to begin in the grand Colonnade room, rumor of the photo booth by Booth-O-Rama quickly spreading. Cute centerpieces with pink roses and orange lilly’s were created by Christi of Bergeron. Pink wire that swirled the vase came through the top of the centerpiece to hold the table number, so unique! Tables alternated with pink and orange napkins, and candy tin favors. Michael Liang of Precious Moment Wedding Photography moved around the round room capturing guests in a photojournalistic style. DJ Leon Sidbury kept everyone dancing all afternoon, lots of Salsa to show off Noe’s dance moves! As the afternoon came to an end, guests were not ready to leave, many of them reconvening downtown to continue the festivities. What a fun reception! Best of luck Glicer and Noe!

Ceremony
St Stephen-Martyr Church
Reception Venue
The Fairmont Washington, DC
Bob Mikolitch
Wedding Coordination
Diamond Events
Stephanie Hughes
Photographer
Precious Moment Wedding Photography
Michael Liang
No Photography Shown
Florist
Bergeron’s Flowers & Events
Photo Booth
Booth-O-Rama
Daniel Nakamura
Ceremony Music
Virginia Virtuosi
Cake Baker
The Fairmont Washington, DC
Transportation
Limousine, Inc.

Busy Day

It’s Wedding Day at the Library today with one of our colleagues getting hitched. Whether it’s a traditional religious ceremony, a themed event or a snap decision on holiday, here’s something that may help you choose what to do if you really want to do that sort of thing:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding

In other news, today is White Cane Safety Day in the USA. This is a day celebrating the achievments of people who are blind or visually impaired:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Cane_Safety_Day

This day is also Global Handwashing Day which seeks to encourage people to wash hands with soap. With all manner of bugs, pandemics and other not-so-nice things running riot at this time of year the advice the website gives may be quite useful:

http://www.globalhandwashingday.org/

C & D Hatton Vale - Wedding

On the 3rd of October I had  pleasure  of photographing C & D wedding at Hatton Vale. There were showers and storms predicted for the day, we ended up with high winds and dust storm. Oh the dust, no one could imagine my face as I drove over the mountain to see the  …. see the … yeah no mountains in the distance.

The day turned out to be just gorgeous!  From house, to farm, church … can’t forget the beautiful, lush and green after location garden!!   Thankyou C & D I hope you had a wonderful honeymoon I’ll be in touch soon with the rest of your gallery.

 Thankyou Geoff for shooting and assisting me on the day. It was wonderful to work with you again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cebu Artists' Wedding

Having artists as subjects for photography is one those projects that Tabong finds challenging. For one, they can be hard to please — art wise. The photographer would usually expect to receive some inputs from them that might be difficult to achieve. But nevertheless, they are always fun to work with as they can be more playful and artistically expressive.And, it is also good to put  Tabong’s talent and skills on test.

Car Trouble turned into a Photo Opportunity

Following are some pictures from the wedding of Mark Deutsch and Johanna Velasco-Deutsch who are the brains behind Happy Garaje: Ilustration, Animation and Photography.

Happy Garaje Couple

Funky Bridal Car

The Beautiful Bride

The Lucky Handsome Groom

The wedding was celebrated at St. Jude Thaddeus Church, Lahug, Cebu City.

Flower Girl at the Church

Preparation and reception were done at Chateau de Busay, situated at the top of Cebu City.

Buoquet

at Chateau de Busay

You can find more pictures in the following pages.

At the Wedding Preparation in Chateau de Busay.

Bride Prepping Up

Bride and her gown

Groom's bonding moment with his siblings

Of wedding rings and invitations

Wedding rings

Wedding invitation

Wedding pictorial

Bride & Groom with some of their entourage at Chateau de Busay

An Eclectic Wedding Day

Industrial Weds Fantasy at Revolution Mills Studios

Randy helped create a fantasy wedding for a couple that was looking for something unique.  Starting with holding the wedding at Revolution Mills Studios the bride set the tone for her special day.  She also purchased some elements of her arrangements to use on the reception table.  Randy was enthusiastic with her interest in doing something different and worked to create a modern fantasy from the industrial nature of the space and some of the components the bride brought to the look.  

The Sunday Times is where you find the real news.

I will unashamedly admit I was perusing the “Weddings & Celebrations” section of the Sunday NYT, and found this enlightening nugget…

Normally, I chose one of the briefer announcements to read in order to devote some attention away from the people who have their photos and sappy multi-page stories about how he’s an investment banker and she’s a feminist from *gasp* Barnard.

In particular, this story was just so romantic because, among other details, they met when they were working on Bush’s ‘04 reelection campaign. And, well, I just didn’t realize that more than one person in the whole of Massachusetts was working on Bush’s ‘04 reelection campaign. Kidding aside, here’s what got me:

Mr. Vasey, 29, owns two Five Guys Burgers and Fries franchises, one in Swampscott, Mass., the other in Gloucester, Mass.

There’s a Five Guys in Massachusetts! Why this news was buried in a pictureless, word-limited wedding announcement deep in the dark crevasses of the Sunday Times, I’ll never know.

Also from this week’s wedding announcements, I learned a new word: dramaturgy. As in, “The bride is getting a degree in dramaturgy. She will be keeping her last name, but not her bank account.”

Feelings at a Wedding

This was the first wedding I’d been to since my wife died. Or perhaps should I say that it was the first wedding between young people, as I’d been to another involving one of my ex-business partners, who like me had been widowed.  That was different, as it showed me a lot of hope for the future.  It was also a nice touch, that the groom was having the same best man fifty years later.

But this one was a full wedding, with both a civil and a church ceremony.  They do it that way in Holland.

As to the wedding itself, everything went well and except for a few small glitches, it seemed to go smoothly.  But then what wedding goes absolutely perfectly.  If they did Robert Altman’s film wouldn’t be so funny!

But it was the details that brought me to tears.  Just words, but many times in the past at a wedding, my wife and I would smile at each other and repeat our vows and perhaps sometimes joke at some inappropriateness or funny memory.  Not that I can seem to remember much of our marriage at all.  Perhaps having only a couple of photos or videos doesn’t help.  I’ve still got her wedding dress though and perhaps one day, it’ll fit a granddaughter.

Those memories made me sad and I was pleased that I’d hidden away at the back of the church.

Jennifer & Andy

What a total love fest of a day for this amazing couple! You could feel the Universe rejoicing along with so many friends and family who traveled from all across the United States to to celebrate this union. We began with first look photos at Gasworks Park, then on to the ceremony at University Presbyterian Church, and finished with a rollicking reception on the Skansonia. Lots of personal touches expressed this couples love of nature, travel, adventure and fun…especially when Jennifer surprised her groom with a Bollywood Dance! Photographed by Toni and Audrey, wedding planning by SK Wedding and Event Design.

Weddings at River House Inn

Planning a wedding?

River House on the New River is justly famous for wedding weekends in the North Carolina mountains. Friends and family members are ensconced in guest rooms and nearby cabins. Rehearsal dinners, special brunches and recreational activities culminate in the ceremony held under the giant sycamore tree at the river’s edge. Once the I “do”s are said, the champagne corks pop and the party begins.   After toasts and hors d’oeuvre, the wedding party and guests make their way into the white tent on the banks of the river or up to the main house for the reception.    The River House staff will take care of the bride and groom and their families, planning, advising, tending to all the details.    Part of our expertise involves networking, connecting the bride and groom to photographers, floral artists, wedding officiants, and musicians.   (We will even prepare the best North Carolina pulled pork–A High Country Bar-B-Que–for a more casual rehearsal dinner.)   Innkeeper Gayle Winston makes an awesome Chocolate Bourbon groom’s cake. It is often presented on a 3- to 6-foot board and marched through the dining room with sparklers aglow. Truly a showstopper!   Gayle’s Orange Walnut wedding cake with Grand Marnier Buttercream is not just beautiful but delicious.   River House has hosted and catered weddings of all sizes – up to 400 guests – but no fewer than two. Your wedding guests will enjoy all of the many attractions in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the River House. We are near West Jefferson, Boone and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Read more about nearby North Carolina and Virginia attractions.

For more info visit: http://riverhousenc.com/ 

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Trash the Dress

So, you’ve spent a nice chunk of change on your wedding dress. You’ve painstakingly kept it pristine and dirt free until the big day, and you may even have had it professionally dry cleaned afterwards. But now what are you going to do with it?

Well, you could do what most of us do, and store it away. You could save it for your offspring. You could sell it on eBay. Or you could completely trash it – soak it in water, cover it in mud, even attack it with scissors. And you could hire a professional photographer to take pictures of you doing it!

“Trash the Dress” for the Fearless Bride is elegant clothing in an unexpected environment shot in a fashion or glamour style. The unexpected locations may include things like the beach, a pool, fields, abandoned buildings, a theme park, train tracks or other rustic locations where a wedding dress would not normally be seen. Originally started by John Michael Copper, the father of “very different wedding photography” in 2001 and it was made popular by online sites dedicated to Trash the Dress photography.

Why would a bride even consider doing something like this, you ask? Well, there are a few reasons… Many fearless brides realize they will never wear this dress again and look at this as an opportunity to take the dress out and have fun taking photos they could not take on the day of the wedding because they didn’t want to chance getting the dress dirty.

Some brides see their Trash the Dress session as a declaration that they are 100% committed to their marriage and will never need the dress again. For others the motivation is the fantastic vogue style photography that they will cherish for many years even when the gown no longer fits.

Of course, there are many brides who love the Trash the Dress photos but are not sure they want to ruin their gowns. The good news is that there are many great options for Trash the Dress sessions that will not actually destroy your wedding dress. Trash the Dress sessions can range anywhere from getting a bit of sand on the dress at the beach to shredding the dress with scissors.

If you love the idea of a Trash the Dress session but are a little leery about actually destroying your dress, talk to your photographer. They will be able to suggest plenty of options that will give you amazing photographs and will result in your dress simply needing a quick trip to the dry cleaners.

While Trash the Dress sessions often feature brides, more and more couples are choosing to do Trash the Dress sessions together. A couple’s Trash the Dress session results in beautiful post-wedding photographs to complete your wedding album.

There has also been some amazing Trash the Dress sessions done with couples celebrating a 1st, 5th or 10th anniversary who want to celebrate their years together with a special photo session.

Luvs it! I am the bride who would rock the pale pink short dress down the aisle. I would sooooooooooooooooooo do this!

Photo Credits: Ash Imagery; Jeremy Clay; John Michael Cooper

Sophia + Jason {Wedding}

Really laid back and awesome couple that I photographed last friday, 10.2.09 with Pat Furey.  The place was gorgeous as well!  Of course being a 2nd shooter, it led to lots of horseplay and jokes! :]

Ultimate Bling!

This was only a precipice of how windy the day was!

They actually bought live butterflies to be released right before the first kiss!

We guarded that box of butterflies like there was no tomorrow!

Poor guy grew really attached to those butterflies..

At my sniping post.. hehe!  70-200!

Jason’s family is a riot!

Thanks for the good times!

I Couldn't Make This Stuff Up Even If I Wanted To.

I was sitting at work when I recieved a text message from a friend. Peep the hilarity below.

Her: “Ok. I’ll have to do that later. I forgot I have a wedding to go to today. I’m glad my mother called and reminded me…lol. I’m terrible.”

Me: “Lol we’re getting old .”

Her: “I know. Too young for getting old…lol”

Me: “Lol”

*About an hour later*

Her: “I just thought you should know the wedding wasn’t today. I drove my black ass to some side street off of US-1 to walk into a church for the deaf with no one inside. Of course, no one would have been able to help me anyway because they can’t hear.”

Me: “LMAO!!!! Maybe it was a Silent Wedding?”

Her: “Lol… I wish. I went all up in the chapel and no one was there. Then I realized I needed to get out of there because it was dark, no one was there and if something happened to me, no one would have heard.”

Me: ” LMAO. Even if they were there, they still wouldn’t have heard anything…”

Her: “Lmao!!”

Wedding Registry: Wedding Minister Wedding Registry Suggestions for Brides Planning Weddings

Wedding Registry: Wedding Minister Wedding Registry Suggestions for Brides Planning Weddings

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For elegant and creative wedding ceremonies designed to match the bride and groom’s relational history and personality, while being sensitive to religious ideology, culture and the families contact Paul F Davis worldwide speaker, author and wedding officiant.

http://www.itietheknot.com

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info@PaulFDavis.com

Spas and Salons in Downtown Augusta

Whether you are in town for an events and need to look your best or just looking for somewhere to get away for awhile, Augusta is home to several top-notch spas and salons to pamper and soothe residents and visitors alike. Here are some stars—-

 

Halo Salon 706.828.4856

 

Joanie Lamb Salon 706.737.4247

 

Impressions 706.823.9973

 

La Dolce Vita 706.724.0040

 

Spa Bleu 706.722.1518

 

Evoke 706.627.7979

 

Patrick & Mary

Patrick and Mary were married a number of  weeks back in Gougane Barra and held their reception later that evening in the new maritime hotel in Bantry .Mary has stunning natural beauty but as with most who do !  thinks the opposite .Mary was keen that the shoot just goes with the flow so we duly obliged .

Below are a few of my favorite images from the day .

Wakeboarding!

Whenever we photograph a wedding, Lisa always follows the bride and bridesmaids, while I follow the groom and groomsmen. This day, the groom and groomsmen decided to go wake boarding before the wedding! Spent a couple of hours on the water and had an absolute blast! This is one of the series from the day! I think Lisa wants to change roles!

Maayan is Married!

Two weeks ago we flew to Tucson, Arizona to celebrate our very own editor, Ms. Maayan’s wedding!!! It was the most charming and darling wedding we’ve ever been to and wanted to share some photos as so many of you have followed her path towards walking down the aisle as she wrote about so many different elements of planning weddings here on WIT & Whismy!!

Becoming a Mrs.!

Everything was bright, colorful and so cute!

Decorations from Etsy Maayan wrote about here.

Cupcakes!! Love them.

Dress No. 2 and pink pumps!

Isn’t she the most beautiful bride?! Loves!

Congrats to Maayan & Steve!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Chloe & Maty (point loma, ca)

Here are some shots from a wedding in August that I assisted my good friend Aaron Thompson of ASPhotography. The wedding was a an awesome place called The Thursday Club in Point Loma. Chloe and Maty were the awesome bride and groom. They both acted as if they had known me for years even though I dont think they even knew I was going to be shooting and had never met me before. Beautiful Day+ Awesome Venue + Beautiful Couple = A Beautiful Awesome Wedding!! Take a Look…..