Turquoise Jewelry (destination perfect)

I found this amazing necklace on Pinterest and had to share it. If its too bold for your wedding day ensemble, consider it for one of the other weekend parties. Turquoise always looks so great with white.









Actually, I found about 15 pieces on the Loren Hope Design website that I would happily place in my jewelry box. I apologize in advance for your wallet screaming out to you for mercy.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

How to make your tablescapes better (+ maybe less expensive)

Jimmy Fallon does it and so should you

There's no excuse for not sending thank you notes. Unlike favors, your guests will notice if they don't receive one.


You can get great thank you note cards like these from Minted.








And yes:
You should send the wedding vendors you appreciate a thank you note.
You should specify on every card you send what you are thankful for- not a generic "thank you for your gift"
You should not think that an email thank you is the same as one received in the mail.
Quick thank yous by email right after your wedding (within a week) are VERY appreciated, but make sure you follow up with something a little more proper.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Champagne Cocktails For Your Celebration

Bada Bing


2 basil leaves, sliced into thin strips
3 pitted bing cherries, plus 2 extra for garnish (optional)
1 ounce plymouth gin
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
3 to 4 ounces champagne

Combine the basil, cherries, gin, simple syrup, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Shake moderately and pour into a highball glass. (Add more crushed ice if needed.) Top off with the champagne and stir. If desired, garnish with 2 additional skewered Bing cherries.

We found this cocktail recipe, and all the future recipes for this Champagne Cocktail series, in Champagne Cocktails by Kim Haasarud, founder of  liquid-architecture.com.

A Photographers Wedding Vol 3

And now for the reception. One thing I absolutely adored about this wedding was how intimate it was. Small weddings mean that you have more options for venues. A big bonus when you have less than 40 or so is that you can sometimes find a great restaurant or drinkery to hold your reception in. We had the best time at Mike & Audreys, here's the proof. 

After the wedding ceremony we headed deeper into historic downtown Ft Myers to a great local spot called Bacchus. It could not have made for a better evening with close friends, great music and sweet wedding cake.

I couldn't tell you what song it was that we were all singing and dancing to {because there were many}, but it was such a blast.

The florals on the chandeliers really defined this space as "wedding" and took it from a harsh spot to soft and romantic. 

Simple little boxes of lemon heads for the favors.  I was kind of addicted to the yellow.

Just a touch of lace to keep it southern. Love the Astilbe Sue put in the arrangements.

Thank you again to the amazing team who made this great affair one of the best celebrations ever.
Photography: Ashley Brockinton
Flowers: Signature Florals
Hair & Makeup: Hope Artistry
Music: Clint Wileys None Other
Cake: Ellas Cakes
Want to see more?  Great - You can see the entire series here and you can get Audreys perspective (and favorite photos) on her blog.  Actually, she did two posts; here's the 2nd one. Enjoy! Pin It

Funniest wedding video about a bride ever

Prepare to crack up. I know the title isn't very polite, but I promise the video is very clean. Pin It

A Photographers Wedding Vol 2

 

How beautiful is this custom headpiece Audrey wore? Proof that adding a little color (even/especially black) in your bridal ensemble can be stunning for your wedding.

The Wedding Day.  I think it had to be the hottest day in the history of Florida.  But let me say this...nobody cared.  It was just so wonderful being at this celebration that the heat and sweat were the last thing anyone was thinking about.

Since Audrey and Mile didn't have a wedding party, they opted to have one of their favorite poems on the ceremony program.

We decided to switch the processional and recessional to take advantage of the Heitman House as the backdrop.  So Pastor Hagmaier, Grant (Audreys little guy), Mike and Audrey appeared from the porch and walked towards the guests. At the end of the ceremony, they recessed towards the river.

This is one of my favorite bouquets ever.  I just loved the touch of feathers and gray mixed in with the Peonies, and Iris' and Roses.

I want to draw attention to this boutonniere.  Sue Bain sized it appropriately for Mike's stature and its the right colors for the suit. I can't tell you how big a difference this makes.  In other words- make certain that your florist knows what your groom and groomsmen are wearing and at a minimum your grooms height and stature.

This wedding was intimate and in a beautifully landscaped waterfront backyard, so we really didn't need to add too much.  Just a few arrangements hanging at the end of the 1st and last rows. The Queen Ann's Lace, cabbage, and lily stole the show.

Did you see vol 1?  Well by all means go visit.  And be sure to check back for vol 3 as well (the reception).

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A Photographers Wedding Vol 1

When Audrey came to me to ask for my help with her wedding I was on board before she even got to the question part of the question. In the Ft Myers and Naples area all the wedding professionals are pretty friendly with each other since we're such a small community.  I'd been working with Mike & Audrey for years and so we were not only industry professionals, we were friends.   Two of our kids started kindergarten the same day, and we celebrate birthdays and attend the same holiday parties, so on and so on.  The great thing about planning a wedding with wedding photographers is that you know that you're going to have a phenomenal team to work with. Boy did we ever... Signature Floral, Hope Artistry, Ashley Brockinton, Clint Wiley of None Other and Ellas Cakes.

 

What does the bride & groom who usually photograph weddings decide to do when planning their own wedding?  Take as many photos before the wedding as possible so that they can enjoy the wedding day with their family & friends.  All the images in this post (there will be 3 posts) were taken in the days before the wedding (by Ashley Brockinton). Besides giving you more time for your wedding experience, it also allows you to have more fun with your pictures.  Like this portrait with tea cups. SO freaking cute.

Yeah, Mike & Audrey are always like this.  Ridiculously in love.  No staging required.

This is how excited they are at weddings too.  But their cameras are a bit more modern. I promise.

We couldn't past 30 images, so there are 2 more blog posts to come! Pin It

THE PRO SERIES: Roey Yohai's Inside Secrets

 INSIDE SECRETS FROM

Roey Yohai

When did you start working in the wedding industry?

 I started shooting weddings around 11 years ago, as favors for friends & family; after shooting for a newspaper in Washington DC for 3 years and photographing weddings on the side, I finally made the switch in 2007 and have been shooting weddings full time since.

What made you decide to go into the wedding/event industry? 

I love the entire day! It is full of terrific human moments and emotions; and it is like a giant photo-op: everyone is dressed up, made up, and celebrating, laughing, expressing their love. Its a great way to make a living!

What is your proudest achievement?

Other than my son Alex, having my wedding from Lake Como published as an 8-page spread in Martha Stewart Weddings was definitely a highlight.

How many hours do you spend working with a client?

This varies a bit, but beside the preliminary meeting and the wedding day, I spend between 4-6 full days working on a wedding’s post production, which consists of editing and toning the photos for my clients; burning DVDs; posting galleries; sending prints.

How long is your average wedding day from start to finish?

10-12 hours

If you are not in the profession that you are in now, what job in the wedding/event industry would you like to try? 

I don’t have time to work on the other project I love, which is documenting food cultural traditions that are disappearing around the world. You can see some of this ‘slow food’ work on my documentary site.  Or I can see myself running some sort of outdoor adventuring outfit in Greece.

What can brides do so that you can do a better job for them on their wedding day?

I greatly appreciate having a group photo list, as well as having someone that can easily recognize who they are, rather than having to call around for a family member. Having a timeline prepared is very helpful, and its even better when I get the chance to discuss the timeline and give my input as well.

What is the favorite part of your job?

I love traveling for weddings. About a third of my weddings each year are destination weddings, from Europe to the Caribbean to Florida. But really regardless of where I am I enjoy documenting the couple’s love for one another, the small looks they give each other during the speeches; the pride they feel at the recessional when everyone is cheering them. And the tenderness of the father-daughter dance makes me wish I had a daughter to share a moment like that with one day.

What inspires you?

Alex is my main inspiration. I am also inspired by traveling to new places, they are refreshing and I love the new challenges they bring. 

What is the most unique and extraordinary thing that you have seen at a wedding?

There are so many extraordinary moments from weddings I’ve shot. The most amazing was the wedding in Lake Como, at a breathtaking villa with a gorgeous bride & groom. After the groom’s speech he surprised his bride (and everyone else) with fireworks, while Pavarotti was playing on the loudspeakers, it was magical.  Also shooting at the Chateau Mirambeau in France was incredible; a stunning castle with beautiful details.Then there are some funny elements, like a just humongous, overflowing shrimp bar at a recent wedding as well.

Roey's Website

 

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A Secret Wedding

With all the big celebrity engagements Ive been reading about online recently (Drew Barrymore & Will Kopelman, Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biehl), I started thinking about how great it might actually be to plan a secret wedding...a secret destination wedding even. Benefits: No stress and "opinions" from family friends- Can you imagine? You can plan in peace and plan what you truly want. When it comes to the actual wedding your guests will just be excited that they're a part of the celebration. It's an automatic guest list (and cost) reducer- You'd only invite the most dear to you. Meaning that you get to have the most intimate and sincere celebration. No worries about not inviting that 3rd cousin you haven't seen in 8 years. Don't worry, you can still celebrate with everyone; 2 days before you tie the knot mail out your announcement with an invitation to a post wedding party at home. At the party, display some of your favorite images of the day and play your wedding ceremony (for this reason I highly suggest a pro wedding videographer who can do a quick edit) and wear your dress again (or buy a 2nd dress!). - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad