On location at the Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs, a romantic retreat with a Moroccan vibe, the setting was complete with all the classics -a groom in a dapper suit, the bride in an elegant gown and an abundance of dreamy florals.

Our Pollyanna Stamped Tin Cake Riser with cake created by Erica OBrien.

Mixed Moroccan Lanterns

We absolutley adore these robes by Plum Pretty Sugar! You may remember them from this recent maternity shoot with Caroline Tran’s Propel Workshop and this isn’t the last you’ll hear us raving about them

We’re crazy in love with everything Oak and the Owl creates, and this peach, white and green floral arrangement is a perfect example of why!  It’s chic simplicity perfectly compliments the bride’s Theia wedding dress by Lovely Bride.

To see all of the images captured by the talented Lane Dittoe check out the full gallery on Wedding Chicks.

Photographer: Lane Dittoe
Event Designer: At First Blush & Co.
Venue: Korakia Pensione
Makeup & Hair: 1011 Makeup and Hair
Cake: Erica OBrien
Dress Designer: Theia provided by Lovely Bride
Flowers: Oak and the Owl 
Groom’s Bow Tie: Preston & Olivia
Shoe Designer: Jimmy Choo
Stationery: Mr. Boddington’s Studio
Hair Accessorie: Tessa Kim provided by Lovely Bride
Welcome Bags: Wedding Chicks
Loungerie: Plum Pretty Sugar
Film Processing: Pro Photo Irvine
Cake Stand: Archive Rentals
Models: Stephen Gizzi and Sarah Bella

credit: paper and plane

credit: Simply Bloom Photography

credit: 100 layer cake

credit: 100 layer cake

credit: Ruffled Blog

Credit: Etsy

credit: etsy

credit: Style me pretty

credit: Ruffled Blog

credit: Ruffled Blog

credit: Ruffled Blog

credit: Ruffled Blog

It’s important to me because I am being given the biggest responsibility for a day that is arguably the most important in a lifetime.  I seek to be a person of integrity, so having that trust means more to me than I can explain…

So when I am asked by a photographer to capture the details of their special day, I’m completely blown away.  It’s like a winemaker complimenting another on their wine, or an artist purchasing someone else’s painting.

So Aaron & Amber, I present to you your memories.  I hope you cherish them forever!

I also have like ten other projects I need to tell you about, so come back soon!

(I told you it’s going to be an exciting year!)

Photography by Mike Oblinski Photography

But for this post, I once again invoke the magical name of Bethany Carlson (sorry for the wizard-y phrasing … too much Harry Potter lately).  Nearly a year ago, Bethany developed a concept for a mock wedding that she wanted to shoot, and she asked my husband and I to model for her.  The main point was to shoot in the Nevada desert around 4:00 pm in order to catch the perfect light of the “golden hour”.  The styling of the shoot was something we weren’t entirely sure of to begin with, but we knew we wanted to go for something dramatic if it was possible.  I set out to find some kind of white dress (any kind of wedding-type dress, really) that would hopefully set the tone for the shoot.

Somehow I ended up finding this for the rental cost of $35.00 at a vintage and costume store maybe two miles away from my apartment.  Believe me- I’m flabbergasted, even ’til this day.  One does not simply find an incredible 1970′s gunnysack wedding gown in decent condition for the rental cost of $35.00!

I’d really wanted to find a dress with character for the shoot, and upon trying it on and realizing that it nearly fit (being a little big in the waist), I figured I probably wouldn’t happen upon such a unique item at this kind of price, with this kind of close fit, ever again.  I was sold (and to actually buy the dress would’ve only cost an extra thirty bucks!).  Bethany was able to go all-out with prop styling once she’d seen the dress, and the shoot’s aesthetic developed into an almost Downton Abbey-inspired look with some antique Western elements happening (and she even had invitations created!).  Now, I know the dress looks all soft and dainty in the photos, but believe me, it was like wearing a couple of tumbleweeds stitched together.  The thing itched like fresh-cut grass on your freshly-shaven shins.  Some of the lace trimming was tearing, it looked more yellow than any kind of ivory in a few spots, and it smelled old.  It also was lacking any lining or slip, so I had to find a flesh-colored cami and pair of dance shorts to wear beneath it (and I wanted you to be able to see through it more or less, because sheer was going to be big for that spring).  But let me tell you, that dress just seemed to come alive in the desert, in that light.  Bethany found gloves, put together a silk bouquet in sync with the color scheme of the desert, and things just happened.

Hair and makeup were all on my end, and I was more than excited about it.  Now, I have to confess that for my hair, I tried a new technique I’d learned that proved a bit ambitious.  I blew my hair out straight for the most part that morning, and then proceeded to take 1-2 inch sections of it and twirl them up into pin-curls all around my head.  I secured them with bobby pins and light hair spray, with the intention of leaving them in for 45 minutes.  They were in for nearly two hours.  My bad.  So, you may feel that my hair looks a tad wonky from some angles, but I tried to just do my best Janice Dickinson and werk it.  A couple sections of hair just weren’t able to relax much because they’d been pinned for too long, but that goes for most of us anxious people- Stay wound up for too long, and you’ll find that you’re never able to relax again.  But honestly, it didn’t really matter.

In doing makeup, I learned the real reason why celebrities have a team of artists there for every shoot- That junk’s gotta get reapplied every five minutes for it to even look remotely similar to how it originally looked.  But did I touch up at all once we got going on the shoot?  Nope.  My bad.  That was a major note-to-self:  Despite however much you may have put on to begin with and despite whatever Armageddon-strength primer you use, it will wear off and you’ll need to touch-up.  How can you get your makeup to last all day?  By reapplying it every three hours, that’s how.  And we weren’t dealing with heat or wind or hostile elements of any kind out there.  In fact, it was decently chilly and still as death.  Seriously!  This is where the mob takes you to put you out for a dirt nap!  See those mountains behind me?  Know where that is?  It’s nowhere.

For my face, I wanted a navy-blue smokey eye with basically just bronzer on the cheeks.  I can barely remember everything I used for this shoot because I kind of flew by the seat of my pants, but I do know I used an awesome deep navy shadow by Urban Decay called Perversion, and for bronzer I tend to use nothing other than NARS’ Laguna.  I didn’t use false lashes (my bad), but there was plenty of MAC Kohl Liner in Smolder.  Yes, I’m lookin’ at you, Glamberace.  And I seriously couldn’t tell you what I did, if anything, to my lips.

Bethany and her husband literally piled a room full of furniture in and on top of their car for the drive out to our desert spot.  The two of them found and brought along table settings, chairs, DOORS, everything.  Oh, and we were packed in that car too.  I can’t describe what the whole experience felt like other than Wow … we’re doing this? … we’re doing this … we DID this!  It was literally a game of chasing the light and watching it all come together.  It was thrilling.

I loved everything about this.  Bethany was on her A-game (though I have yet to see a shoot of hers that presents otherwise), I felt proud of my own styling (even if it wasn’t perfectly executed), and my husband was looking all kinds of old-timey handsome.  And look at the prop concept Bethany designed!  Again, I really can’t encourage you enough to take a stare peep at my dear friend’s work, and who knows?  Maybe one day you’ll find yourself all alone in a desert getting shot.  Hopefully it’s just not by someone named something like Toothpick Charlie or Luca Brasi.  xo, MR

All photos in this post are credited to Bethany Carlson Photography.  For more of Bethany’s work and for more of this shoot, visit her site/blog at http://www.bethanycarlson.com.

I love everything about this photo by About Love Studio.  From the black sash the bride is wearing to the contract between the super glam couple and the dirt field.  Check out the full wedding here.

Today’s wedding is the perfect example of why I just LOVE Arizona weddings.  The bride and groom are obviously a beautiful couple (and when I say beautiful I mean absolutely stunning) but the way the desert landscape shines in their ceremony site and floral design is what makes my heart flutter.  Shay and Bryan’s effortlessly chic day was expertly captured by the very talented Marry Jordan.  Don’t miss her thoughts on the wedding at the end of the post.

From the photographer: “We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding day to celebrate these two. The weather was lovely and the everyone looked beautiful. The details were just right and the bride was perfection. The first time I met Shay and Bryan it was apparent they were going to rock the camera with their adorableness and it’s obvious they came through on that one! What else struck me about this couple is how genuinely kind they are to each other and those around them. You can’t help but fall in love with them as you get to know them better and it’s no wonder they fell for each other.”

I’ve been anxious to share the wedding ceremony of my brother Nathaniel, and Francia,  his beautiful wife. Though Nathaniel and Francia have been legally married for over a year now, circumstances called for the post-poning of an official ceremony. More than that, Nathaniel and Francia had to spend the last two years in and out of each other’s presence, with Francia living in Mexico for some time. I was more than happy to finally get to celebrate their love, and to finally see my new sister in her gorgeous wedding gown that she picked out two years ago!!

Their celebration was lovely. Casual and intimate. Long wood tables were setup in the yard, with small vases of some of Francia’s favorite flowers and colors covering their tops. Bright colors were beaming from various detailed pieces, including strands of bells that hung behind them as they said their vows, and little cloth birds Francia brought home from Mexico. It was a beautiful, intimate ceremony, and I’m so overjoyed to see their celebration take place.

Enjoy

I love, love the details of Francia’s dress!

The very next night we headed out for some romance shots at the mountains. Nathaniel and Francia nailed it. Absolutely LOVE these images.

And we did manage a nice sunset picture

Photos from Martha Stewart Weddings, Spring 2012

I spoke with Maryann about my recommendations for the California desert…bet you didn’t see that coming since I’m based in the Bay area! I actually think the desert is an amazing space to get married. I don’t think it is associated with romance in the popular imagination as much as the coast or the forest, but it is actually one of the most dramatic and powerful landscapes I can think of.

I spoke specifically about Palm Springs, which is an oasis of beautiful design in the desert with a stunning backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains. I love the mid-century architecture and the clean, crisp design of everything. That said, the venue I recommended has a completely different feel than the rest of Palm Springs — it’s the Korakia Pensione, an eclectic B&B with a romantic Moroccan/Meditteranean vibe.

Take a look at the article here: Where to Marry in California.

www.amykaneko.com

Copperwynd Resort

Silverleaf

Firesky

Seville
(all picture credits can be found on the original post here)

This particular wedding, of Casey and Jaime Norris, represented a very traditional backyard wedding. The bride made everything with the help of her friends and family.  One friend in particular not only was the Efficient, but he also made her wedding dress (which was fully hand-stitched) and styled her hair for the wedding.  They also had friends offer to shoot their wedding photos, call in favors to get them a great honeymoon, and make all the desserts for the event. It seemed that there community really came together, each offering up a skill (even if it was just their muscles to help load and unload), to bring them their cute little wedding.

Casey and Jaime, both not fans of cake, opted to forgo the traditional wedding cake, which is becoming an interesting trend.  Since the extreme wedding cakes of the late 80’s, with fountains, motes, spiral staircases connecting various cakes to the main one, and their own lighting system, the wedding cake has become more and more tasteful in design.  In the past couple of years, brides have even begun to stray away from the traditional cake, opting for cupcake towers and candy bars instead.  Acknowledging that not everyone likes cake, couples are incorporating more choices for their attendants.  Since let’s face it, second to the booze, food is the most important component to keeping guests happy and entertained.

The Norris’s dessert bar, made entirely by a family friend, consisted of mini pecan pies, cream puffs (a crowd favorite), lemon pies, yogurt covered pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, cherry topped cheese cakes, chocolate cream pies, fruit tarts, milk chocolate squares and vanilla cupcakes. There was something there for everyone, and for those of us who love everything it was quite a feast.

I had the chance to head out to the Anza Borrego Desert, just about 2 hours east of San Diego and visit Borrego Springs Resort. Being a girl who usually likes to be surrounded by lush green trees, ocean and rivers, the desert was a unique experience. Its landscape is in a world all of its own – sandy hills, oasis in the most unexpected places, and a sky so black that when you look at the stars in the night, you wonder if you’re looking at diamonds scattered across velvet above us.

Needless to say, it’s a breathtaking view at times, and a beautiful place if you’re looking for a wedding venue that is unique. So here I am to share ….

My visit to Borrego Springs began with grapefruit trees greeting me upon my arrival! I was so surprised that these trees were scattered around the resort. The desert landscape was beautiful and made us feel like we were so far away from the hustle-and-bustle of every day life. *sigh, time to breathe and relax*

The best time to have a wedding in the desert is in the early Fall – September, October and November are perfect times. It’s a great temperature in Borrego, while everywhere else is starting to cool down. Of course, Borrego Springs has two pools (a main one and a spa-guests adult only pool) that are great for cooling down any time of the year!

Before wedding festivities, spa time at the Borrego spa on the resort is a must for any bridal party! Sign me up for a massage, facial or mani/pedi any day, please. I loved the plush bathrobes as well, also in each guest room to use during your stay

A ceremony at Borrego Springs Resort can be held inside their ballroom or outdoors in their patio overlooking their golf course, or on the golf course. Don’t think you’ll just be looking at sand-colored desert dunes here, there’s plenty of landscaped greenery and palm trees for your eyes to feast on while you tie the knot.

Party away during your reception in the ballroom, grand dining room (with grand piano) or outdoors enjoying the desert fresh air. And last but not least, remember to take in the view of the night sky when the stars come out. If you’ve never seen a desert night sky – you’re in for a treat! It still takes my breath away when I see the amount of stars sparkling in the pitch black night.

A perfect setting to eat, drink, be married and be in love.

What do you think? – Are you a desert destination kind of bride?

With DIY touches and the rustic textures of the venue, the wedding was truly one of a kind!

What about you? Where would your dream destination wedding be?

Image via http://www.isense.co.za

Image via http://www.offbeatbride.com

Image via http://www.liquidinplastic.com

Image via http://www.table4weddings.com

Image via http://www.ladolceblog.com

Image via http://www.sedonaweddingblog.com

Image via http://www.oncewed.com

Image via http://www.sedonaweddingblog.com

Anyhow, we wake up to a dark morning prepping for our fabulous, wedding, desert day; I love road trips!
We of course are running a bit late (which is why I ALWAYS prepare hours ahead)!
We pick up my besty Charla of Charla Blue… with her gear, pillow and blankie in tow…(but don’t we all?)
Of course, I am not able to just fall right asleep as I had hoped…oh well!
We listen to music, speak stories, view the vacant yet beautiful scenery, nod off here and there and traverse on to our destination- Blythe, Ca.
Before we make our arrival, my hubby (Donovan) wakes my tushy up to our one break near Indio, Ca so we can pick up some snack essentials and take a much needed potty break!

We finally arrive in Blythe after a 4.5 hour road trip (thanks again Honey)! We scope out the locations, check into our hotel, unpack mass gear and get our $#!t together for the day!

BTW, can I say how much we all love our iPhones?! We had multiple locations we each needed to be at separately…thank “g” for google iPhone GSP!!!!!

Ok so now the day of Erin & Clay starts! We are limited on time; so I meet with the girls and Charla, as my fabulous 2nd heads over to the boys. In earlier conversations, I had told her (Charla) I needed to find certain things to make this desert wedding work, one being a fabulous or completely opposite of a fabulous car (like a junk-yard car), a rustic house, and of course a valley! I was never really concerned; I knew it would happen and thanks to my 2nd Charla and my hubby Donovan they made it happen!

This November day did not reveal the typical fall weather, in fact quite the opposite! Oh my, do I wish I had carried deodorant the whole day, because it was a dry 85? something! Seriously?!

We make it to the homes of the bride and groom (Erin & Clay) around 1:30 pm to get this party started (ok so, I’m a product of the 70′s, 80′s, 90′s, so I have many cliche songs in my repertoire)!

Char n D drop me off at Erin’s mother Chris’ house. I entered into a home of open arms and a lot of busy-bee’s. I wanted to scope the surroundings and start on the detail shots as I waited for the bride to make an entrance. Erin is such a DOLL; she broke away from her preparation to greet & give me a welcoming hug! Can I say how I love working with REAL people!

As we progress with the “getting ready shots”, I am eager to get started with our bridesmaids shots as well. This wedding was on a pretty strict schedule, I wanted to make sure we got EVERY shot I (& they) had hoped for.

With valleys surrounding us, endless blue skies, and purple mountains we were able to meander down the street to get some quick yet fabulous moments captured!

I love moments that you set up but yet end up capturing something that is REAL- this is ALWAYS my goal! The girls hammed it up for me and took to my idea of shooting on the vacant street!

OK, so Charla and my hubby, so made my wish list come true!!!! She rocked these shots of the guys!!!! What a perfect backdrop of an abandoned home….

and even better, an empty fridge in the middle of the desert!!!! What are the chances? Quentin Tarantino, did you hear and grant my wishes the night before?

And yet again another wish shot… a kick ass car! Hello the photog gods were out there for us all! Also, I need to give thanks for such an easy-going, loving couple! They were with us every beat, willing to whatever we asked! This what makes for great moments, great photographs, great memories!

Go girl, can you pass that along….? I love the pinky in the air- a true girly girl- luv it!!!!

You can’t get these skies just anywhere….just Blythe! I mean it!

The two of you where and are absolutely fabulous! We had a great time shooting your wedding and capturing these moments!
Cheers to you…
Erin & Clay
Mr. & Mrs Currier ]]> http://bouquetchic.wordpress.com/2009/04/11/desert-bouquet-in-bouquet-chic/ Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:30:31 +0000 bouquetchic http://bouquetchic.wordpress.com/2009/04/11/desert-bouquet-in-bouquet-chic/ Here is a photo from my book Bouquet Chic.  Well actually this is a view of the bouquet that was excluded.  I thought I would show it herer. The tough part of photographing bouquets is that you either get to see the handle treatment more or the top of the bouquet..  In this case the book showed the ombre ribbon, and this photo got excluded.  I love this little salamander/lizard brooch.  I bought it on ebay pretty cheap, but it adds the perfect accent for a southwest themed bouquet.

photo: Jim Henkens

The full bouquet can be seen in my book Bouquet Chic : Wedding Flowers for More than 160 Romantic Looks.    The flowers featured above are Sahara roses and flame mini calla lilies.

Wedding at the Viceroy Hotel in Palm Springs California was an intimate gathering of friends and family in the desert resort oasis. The wedding color scheme followed the hotel and lemon trees on the grounds with Yellow, White and Bloack. The ceremony was held in the Presidio garden while the reception was held in the adjoining hall with poolside coctails.

Destination wedding photojournalist