Viani, a recent bride of mine, sent a few “preview” images from her Wedding Reception in San Francisco’s Presidio…these are such a tease!  I cannot wait to see the photographer’s final shots. Her Wedding cake / cupcake dessert table is so simple & colorful {+ that custom cake topper is so darn cute, I’m still trying to find out who made it?}.

We worked together to create her personalized ceremony & reception stationery {shown below}. I hope her guests loved the custom layered, tea-length ceremony program with twine headband. The textured paper we used throughout is a perfect match for the events location.

I promise I will post more wedding & reception images as soon as I can get a hold of them! ;}

location >  Presidio of San Francisco Log Cabin
cupcakes >  That Takes The Cake {fyi: I stopped by their shop for a taste; “bunny bites” carrot cake + “lemon drops” lemon filled were both scrumptious!}
cake >  friend & baker, Adelina Wong

I love winter. I do. Born and raised in the snow, I have to say there really is nothing prettier or more magical than twinkling lights against glistening snow. When my wonderful friend Erin, seriously of my favorite people in the world, got married last weekend it was just that. Magical snow everywhere, and just in time for her rehearsal. After a super casual (which was amazing and should be adopted everywhere) rehearsal at a brewery with more than a handful of their closest friends and family, Erin & Michael hosted a bonfire complete with marshmallows, snow and some drinks to keep everyone warm. It was beautiful, and a perfect way to kick off the weekend together. Here are some more amazing photos from photographer, and friend of ours and the bride’s , Randi Voss.

The bride shares a laugh with friends by the bonfire…

Father of the Bride…

The bride and groom take a quick sled down the hill with friends…

The bride and her maid of honor head down next…

I am pleased and proud to announce my wedding photographer’s December special. So if you are in the Dallas Fort Worth Area or in Texas by any means really. . . you should really take advantage of this especially seeing as wedding photographers are so ridiculously over-priced!

Your wedding package price is guaranteed if you book and make a 25% non-refundable deposit by December. If you simply want to do a photosession for engagements, bridals, trash-the-dress, boudoir etc. His package rates are:

WEDDINGS
Package A – $2500
1 – 20×30
2 – 8×10
1 – CD of Wedding Day coverage
1 – Leather Wedding Album (40 images, 8×10)
2 – Leather Parent Album (24 images, 4×6)
1 – 2 hours shoot of Bridal or Engagement
1 – 5 hour coverage of Wedding Day
Package B – $3000
1 – 20×30
2 – 16×20
6 – 8×10
1 – CD of Wedding Day coverage
1 – Leather Wedding Album (40 images, 8×10)
2 – Leather Parent Album (24 images, 5×7)
1 – 5 hour coverage of wedding day
1 – 2 Hours each of Bridal and Engagement

Because all weddings are different, if you need a cheaper rate he is more than willing to work with your budget.

Shoot him an email hello@tracynphotography.com

And but of course, photo credited to Tracy Nanthavongsa

I first found Katie and Tim’s wedding on Rock ‘n Roll Bride this summer. Their wedding photos were gorgeous and I couldn’t get enough of their wedding day style. Most importantly though, I felt like I could feel their love jumping through the screen.  I am so (very) excited to be sharing Katie and Tim’s wedding; I would wish them all the love and happiness in the world, but it looks like they already have that in spades. Now, without further ado, here’s Katie.

We couldn’t be happier to be featured on your site. We used so many independent blogs just like yours to inspire our wedding. We could not have done it without the inspiration and ideas from the blog community. It is nice to be given the opportunity to tell our story and possibly help out a few future brides, thank you so much for this chance. Tim and I actually met online (match.com). We had our first date in an Irish Pub near our home in Orange County, CA. We dated for 3 years before we got engaged and then a little over year later we were married. We live in Seal Beach, CA. with our two dogs Emma and Wyatt. I am high school history teacher and Tim is a police officer.

One of my favorite things was the In and Out Trip my family and I took prior to the wedding. I really wanted to be able to spend some quiet time with my immediate family before the hoopla of the day. Going to lunch with them was the perfect opportunity. My brother was ordained as a minister and performed our ceremony. It was very special having someone so close to us marry us. We walked straight from the ceremony to the cocktail hour a large open grassy field. We had an Irish band, Foggeydew, to pay tribute to Tim’s heritage. We took pictures prior to the ceremony so we could just enjoy the day. From the cocktail hour we made our way to the barn for the reception. It was probably the most fun we have ever had. The day went off without a hitch, or maybe a few hitches that we didn’t know about. We were so lucky to have had a day of wedding coordinator. A friend of the family who plans large events stepped in and helped us out so much. The day of coordinator was probably the best thing we did. 

We have been working with Renee and Ryan since February of 2008.  And ever since then, I had been anxiously looking forward to their wedding.  Well…it finally happened and did not disappoint!  Renee had alot of great ideas and therefore we had fun and intense planning sessions.  In the end, we achieved the goal and “made their wedding day magical”.

The look was a STUNNING, GLAMOROUS & ROMANTIC dream!  The entire ballroom was draped and luxurious fabrics were used on their tables by Maty’s Chair Covers.  Lisa Takao Fine Couture Invitations created custom stationery that was amazing – from the save the dates to the menu cards.   They had HUGE floral centerpieces by Apropos for Flowers and even table chandeliers.  Renee is a girl who loves sparkle, so we made sure to incorporate it everywhere, including crystal drapes inside her sweetheart canopy, chandeliers and the rhinestone place card favors.  And the custom lighting scheme by Media Solutions was BANANAS!  Of course everything was captured by the extraordinarily talented RCJones Photography.

Renee and Ryan, thanks for letting us help you plan your day!

{click images to enlarge}

{Photos courtesy of RCJones Photography}

{VENDORS: Draping/Linens * Maty’s Chair Covers, Flowers * Apropos For Flowers,  DJ * Party DJ Party,  Ceremony * St. John’s Cathedral, Reception * Copper River Golf and Country Club, Transportation * Classic Charter, Photographer * RC Jones Photography, Cake * All About the Cake, Lounge Furniture & Accessories * StarEvents, Stationery * Lisa Takao Fine Couture Invitations}

So you all remember Alison & Paul, one of my FAVORITE weddings from photographer Randi Voss! Alison & Paul decided to go two rounds for their wedding, incorporating a small intimate destination wedding in Maine first, and opting for a seriously fabulous and all out party back in their hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. I especially love Alison’s multi-dress change incorporating the old with the new. Love. So here it is,  round two… and really, it just keeps getting better. Enjoy!

From the bride…  After our  bed-and-breakfast destination wedding in Maine at the end of September, Paul and I were ready for an all-out party for our at-home wedding reception at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, PA.  I was initially under the impression that having an ‘at-home’ reception after our actual wedding would be less stress but it actually turned out to be pretty stressful!  Despite us already being married, we truly were planning a full ‘typical’ wedding reception in Pittsburgh, complete with catering, cake, music, photography, floral details, etc so there was a lot of details, organization, and coordination required. My parents were an absolute lifesaver in the month between the actual wedding and the reception and I owe most of the reception’s success to them for sure as they were my eyes, ears, hands, voice, etc for most of it! Regardless of the extra stress that popped up here and there, the reception turned out fantastic and everything came together perfectly!

From the bride… Our venue, the Heinz History Center was nothing less than perfect. I was certain that I wanted a venue that had its own personality and of which did not require a lot of decorating. The History Center was a perfect fit and provided just the amount of character that I was looking for with its exposed brick walls, steel beams and vintage vehicles, the best being a full-sized classic Pittsburgh trolley that provided the perfect photo-op.

From the beautiful bride… The best thing about our reception for Paul and I was to get the chance to celebrate with our larger group of family and friends. We have a large group of friends from our days in consulting and since many of them live out-of-town, we do not get to see them very often. We are also very lucky to still remain close to friends we had growing up through high school, many of whom live out-of-town as well. So, when we get the opportunity to have everyone together, and then adding in delicious food and cocktails, great music for dancing, photographers and videographers to capture everything, it makes for a wonderful time!

From the beautiful bride… We used the ‘a&p’ logo (along with the lower-case font) on our cocktail napkins, menu cards, truffles that were placed on each table, bathroom guest towels, candy table signage, etc.  Our centerpieces utilized two different arrangement-types and included pink, ivory, and green flowers as we similarly had in Maine for our wedding.

From the bride…  One of the things that was meaningful to me and of which I was most excited about was what I ended up wearing to the reception. Soon after we decided to have a destination wedding and then a reception at home, I was convinced that I wanted to be a two-dress bride and wear more of a party/reception dress in Pittsburgh. Enter my mom’s wedding dress….. On a whim, my mom suggested that we take her wedding dress to the seamstress that was currently fitting me for my actual wedding dress to see if she would be willing to create a reception dress for me from my mom’s dress. Only a few weeks later, my mom’s long-train, high-neck, long-sleeved, lace wedding dress was turned into a short, strapless, lace reception dress for me! We made sure to have a picture of my mom in her dress on her wedding day at our reception to show everyone what the dress used to look like! Now that I had my reception dress, a part of me also wanted to wear my actual wedding dress so the guests that were not in Maine with us could see the dress I was married in. So, I ended up wearing my short dress for most of the reception but also changed into my actual wedding dress for our introductions, first dance, and cake cutting. Best of both worlds!

From the bride…  The food was absolutely delicious and was presented as station-style eating, with a pasta, carving, and Mediterranean station that gave a nice variety of food for our guests. The band had everyone on their feet all night long and gave a wonderful performance. Last but not least was the most talented photographer – Randi Voss, who continued as our photographer for our reception and produced nothing less than amazing photographs for us once again!

Congratulations twice over to Alison & Paul from Wedding Belles! Thanks for sharing both of your very special days with us!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  While the rest of you ate leftovers, I went to a seriously fun and super magical winter wedding last weekend and I cannot wait to share it with you all for so many reasons! The ever talented Randi Voss shot these amazing, amazing photos.  Here’s a sneak peak of Erin & Michael’s wonderland wedding in Deep Creek, MD. More to come!

Another old friend, Rebecca,  got married this past Saturday at her home church in Ormond Beach, Florida.  She and James hosted fifty friends and family members for Thanksgiving just two days before their wedding — which proves their marriage is firmly built on selflessness, generosity, kindness and hospitality!  What a feat to pull off less than 48 hours before the biggest day of their lives!

Rebecca made a lovely bride, and I hope they’re enjoying their much-deserved post-holiday honeymoon cruise!  God bless the beautiful couple.

~ Laura

Loren Porter and I recently met during the wedding of Mrs Dianna and Mr Francisco Villalobos. She is a new talent that is emerging in the DFW area. She is just a peach to work with. Her photos tend to have a romantic flair to them. See for yourself.

Katie and Tim will soon be sharing their wedding with A Married Life.

I am so very thankful that they agreed to do so. Their Wedding Day was so clearly magnificent that the joy shines through their pictures.

I thought I would send out a little teaser. This is one of their engagement photos. Shot by the amazing Emily of Emily Takes Photos.

Image Credit: Emily Takes Photos.

My sister Lindsay wants her wedding to reflect their laid back and modern approach to life. She’s been searching for a location with a rustic barn-like atmosphere with great architecture with so far little luck. We will keep looking however!  (If any lovelies out there know of a great place in the S. Michigan/ N. Ohio area let me know.)  Despite this minor sad face, she had a fantastic find during a recent trip to our West Virginia farm. In the cellar she found several old 1976 Mason jars commemorating 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence, symbolized by the Liberty Bell! Trust me, this is very exciting because Lindsay’s last name is Mason and her fiance’s last name is Bell 1976 also happens be the year she was born. How perfect is this! Even though we aren’t positive on how they will be used yet, just having them definitely highlights the fun in making this wedding all about bringing these two together in marriage! Big happy face:)

We made several pieces for Michele and Chris’ wedding.

First up, the invitation: we did a few modifications to our Lacey design and added the green matting to incorporate both her colors.

The couple had lots of guests coming from different areas so Michele wanted a map, something personalized that didn’t just look like it came from mapquest. This was our first map to design but I’m sure not the last! They are just too useful. We also put their wedding web site on it. The square design gave the simple but elegant design a more modern look. I loved the way the ribbon looked all packed together.

I have seen and been a part of several cake pulls. They are always fun even if we don’t know what each charm means. I thought it’d be nice to design something with all the meanings for the cake table. The girls were fun to watch when they read who got which one! Favors! Nothing says South Louisiana like pralines to munch on for the ride home. We kept the same elements we had throughout and even added the green backing to each tag.

We have really had a great time working on this wedding and it is great when we get to share so many aspects of any wedding.  This photo and video highlight comes to us directly from Fair Winds Farm. It was created byBetty Bryant.  We hope you enjoy!!

Watch for more fabulous photos and video from this wedding!!

Andrea/Cloud Nine Events

Here are just a few shots from Collin, pre-wedding day!!

Rennetta and Curt gave their guests the SURPRISE of a lifetime. What was supposed to be a reception celebration for a couple who went away to Hawaii to get married turned into an impromptu Wedding Ceremony.

While guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers the Wedding March sounded over the speakers. Everyone stood in amazement as they watched a gorgeous Rennetta enter the room ready to marry the man of her dreams. We all toasted the happy couple as they kissed for the first time as man and wife.

{Photos courtesy of Choice Imaging}

{VENDORS: Lighting * Media Solutions, , Flowers * Shadowbrook Floral,  Rentals * Walker-Lewis Rents, Its My Party, Expo Party Rentals & Classic Party Rentals,  DJ * C and H Productions, Ceremony & Reception * Fort Washington Country Club, Photographer * Choice Imaging, Cake * Caroline’s Creations, Dessert Bar * Chiffonos, Officiant * Randey Porter}

When we started planning, Michele said she wanted to incorporate green into their wedding day. Orange and green was a theme she had been playing with. When we couldn’t find the perfect shade of green in a bridesmaid dress. The marine blue fell perfectly into place and I think it was the perfect complement creating a sophisticated elegant feel. Enjoy!!

I thought it could be easy to search for locations on Lake Como, Iseo or Maggiore, but even if there are a lot of beautiful villas on the lake shore not all are available for weddings at a resonable price.

Since when George Clooney bought Villa Oleandra in Laglio many abroad citizens (but also italians) wanted to tie the knot in this amazing, romatic, and also historical part of Northern Italy.

One hour (traffic permitted) from Milan and from its three airport, Malpensa, Linate or Orio al Serio, less than a hour from Switzerland, principally Lugano, another beautiful lake, its seen by many as a perfect spot to get married. The possibilities are variuos: there are little and cozy churches on the hilltop overlooking the lake and the mountains or villas available for civil ceremonies but above all ther are gorgeous italian gardens used as a romantic spot scene for symbolic weddings.

Saying all that you can say, well I can make it! Yes you can make it but you need to be flexible.  Many villas were private villas and some are still private: if you preview more than 100 guests you can be sure that not all are seated in the same rooms but in three or four different rooms, music cannot be played more than 1am (the law says), your guests arrive by boat, and sometimes you mus be prepared to pay a rent for the villa that can be very expensive. Look at this amazing place, nice, isn’t it? Your wedding will be an unforgettable one, your guest will remeber forever (I guarantee) and also your pocket!

You saw the pictures and now you get to see the video of Michelle and Sujee’s wedding. This video you’re about to see is a true reflection of their wedding day. Fun, endearing and romantic.

I’m lovin’ some of these pics from Tracey and Chris’s October wedding!! The ladies got ready at the Holiday Inn in Oakland (down the street from the University of Pittsburgh), where we celebrated into the night, and the ceremony itself was at the gorgeous St. Therese in Munhall. Tracey and Chris are sweet and outgoing, a pleasure to work with, and I had a wonderful time shooting them with Christina (Thanks for your help!!).

Enjoy a few of my favorites… starting of course with a detail shot! Love the ribbon flowing through the shoes

How about this great flower girl moment?? Adorable.

I loved that Tracey’s veil flowed all the way out the bathroom door on this one…

And then off to St. Therese’s for the big event! Here’s a shot from the ceremony itself,

and then here are a couple from just afterward, of the happy newlyweds…

Then it was off to Schenley Plaza, in front of the Carnegie Library by the carousel. It was positively freezing, so we did a couple of running shots to keep warm. Love the emotion in this one! (Sorry it’s a bit tough to see in the smaller format!)

Once the bridesmaids and groomsmen were finished, it was just Tracey and Chris with me for a bit. I love love Tracey’s white peacoat! So smart!

And gotta love the anklet ties on those shoes…

How about this one for sass! I love it!!

We had some fun spinning around with that big veil…

…and then I let THEM have some fun off by the fence!

I’d started some detail shots at the reception when Tracey’s wedding planner Sumer tracked me down to take a couple more photos of the newlyweds. Tracey spotted some fall foliage nearby so off we went! I’m a sucker for those yellow trees myself!

And I had to toss in this next one because it so reminds me of a runaway bride! It was sooo cold, so as soon as we finished our mini-shoot on the street, off went the bride!

Of course gotta share a reception pic or two. Love this entry shot!

And I’m a big fan of this cake (and the backdrop/lighting). They have a miniature of their dog Barli on top!!

Gotta toss in this next one last. It’s one of my personal favorites from the session and seems to fit perfectly here. The sign they made is adorable!

Donnie and Katherine Lee Coleman were married on November 7th, 2009 at Fair Winds Farm in Knotts Island, Virginia.  We always have fun customizing each clients wedding to their personalities, likes, & hobbies so that we can truly showcase the union of the couple.  This wedding was no different!  Katherine Lee and Donnie were two wonderful people. Loved the outdoors, laid back personalities, and wanted to have a great time with their guests.  It was great to see smiles all around us all evening long and a dream come true for Donnie and Katherine Lee.

These are just a few of the photos taken by Betty Bryant.  Betty is a wonderful person who can be found at Fair Winds Farm.  Her love for photography can be seen in the photos below.  You can see all of Betty Bryant’s photos by going to her site by clicking here.  Katherine Lee was so fortunate to have two photographers for her wedding.  We look forward to showcasing more of this wedding and allowing you to see the wedding from the view of two photographers.

The farm is a new venue for our area and we look forward to holding many weddings and creating many dream weddings with Chris, owner of Fair Winds Farm.  Follow along over the next 2 weeks as we showcase this wedding with more stories, more photos and words from our Bride!

Barn Wedding

Congratulations Donnie and Katherine Lee!!  We look forward to showcasing more of this fabulous wedding!

Andrea/Cloud Nine Events

With Thanksgiving coming up in the next week, I began to think about the dreaded splitting of the holidays that occurs when new families are formed. It becomes especially complicated when parents are continuing to split holidays with grandparents. My fiance and I stay casual about the topic, but it will eventually need addressing down the line.

If we spend Christmas with my family in 2010, I will be with my mother’s side of the family. If we spend Christmas with his family in 2011, I will not get to see the relatives on my father’s side of the family. It will be a tough adjustment, but we will work out a plan in the end. I wish all our relatives lived in one place! Maybe one day…

How do you and your significant other split the holidays?