kitty maer photography

Photos for the holidays!

2011-11-27T06:10:00.001-05:00

Aaaaaaand the holiday season is yet again upon us! The stores are full of the overpowering scent of artificial cinnamon, we get to hear umpteen cheesy versions of Frosty the Snowman every day, and thoughtful parents mace and stab each other in order to save twenty bucks on an xbox (their children must be so proud!) The holidays are crazy...

...and so is the studio! Many of our couples have asked for updates on their images to see if they'll have photos to share with their families during the holidays, so I thought it would be a good idea to let you know what we're up to here on the blog instead of sending out a bunch of emails. The majority of our weddings this year were in the latter half of the season and we just wrapped up last weekend. So it's been go-go-go since August! Earlier this year, we overhauled our workflow and so far, we've been able to deliver several weeks earlier than the typical turn around times. So even though we've been very busy bees, things are actually going well!

That said, we are working around the clock to not only make sure the weddings that are due before the holidays are done and delivered to you on time, but also to make sure our other holiday deadlines are met as well, which is quite a challenge, given that everyone in this industry is in the same kind of time crunch!

Believe me, the editing of your images is not a process you want rushed and out of respect for all my couples, I must work on them in order. However I will do my best to make it possible for you all have something to show or send to your families in time for the holidays. Once the weddings that are due beforehand are complete, my plan is to select a handful of sneak-peek images as well as family portraits to edit and have online for all of you who's images aren't due until later. Just a little something to hold you over!

:)
~Kitty

Yirae + Josh Get Married! {by Kitty}

2011-11-24T03:50:00.001-05:00

Here's a look at Yirae & Josh's fun and gorgeous wedding at Darby House!

See that amazing dress? Yirae's mom worked a miracle resizing it to fit her...that's some serious skill! Caroline and I walked into the room and went "oooOOOOooooh!" in unison.

Awesome stuff: perfect light and a couple who can't stop smiling at each other.

See those lovely ladies in the middle above? Those are Yirae's grandmothers who came all the way from Korea for the wedding. They're super cute.

Thanks to all that's holy for auto-focus moment: Yirae's and Josh's self-written vows. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

Korean wedding traditions: there's a lot of bowing to honour family members...which requires assistance while wearing such outfits! In the center image, you'll see Yirae & Josh holding chestnuts and dates on the white cloth - these have been slung these into the air by their moms and however many they catch on the cloth predicts how many children they will have. A good laugh was had...if memory serves, they'll be the parents of nine. At the end of the ceremony, Josh carries his bride away on his back as a sign of his strength.

Happy Kitty moment: Josh emailed me a few days before the wedding mentioning how they've noticed there's a distinct style difference between my lifestyle wedding work and my editorial fashion work. He asked if I would do some of their portraits with a combination of both. Yeay! I LOVE shooting in black and white as opposed to turning it that way later in post.

Favorite Details: Yirae's hand-stamped favor boxes and seating cards, snack sized boxes of Pad Thai, bountiful and beautiful desert table, and the combination of fall textures with soft end of summer colours.

At the end of each wedding, we always ask the couple if there's anything else they'd like us to get. Glad they said yes and requested a few shots on the darkened terrace.

Congratulations, Yirea & Josh! We had a great time! :)

{venue ~ Darby House }

Jennifer + Dwayne Get Married! {by Kitty and Caroline}

2011-11-01T20:22:00.001-04:00

Everyone knows I can't make a long story short. Neither can Caroline. Well, neither can Jennifer or Dwayne and our very first very long meeting was chock full of hilarious stories about how they met, dating dramas, the proposal, and how while Jennifer loves surprises, she simply must sabotage every surprise Dwayne plans for her. Our faces hurt by the time we got to the business aspect of things and in the end, they didn't want to decide between Caroline and me, so they hired us both. Which was funny because both Caroline and I were sitting there secretly hoping "I hope they pick me! I hope they pick me!" and we both got our wish.

Favorite getting ready things: Jennifer's delicate hair fascinator, her laugh which is unique and hearty and made us smile every time we heard it (which is quite often), her mom crying and laughing at the same time watching Jennifer put on her dress, and the bridesmaids teasing Jennifer for being so conscious of her grooming - she puts perfume on her feet. Personally, I think that's fabulous. :)

Favorite thing about their portraits: feeling like a lazy bug. Caroline shot J+D's engagement photos and when I looked at them, I had to ask if it was as easy as it looked. To which she answered "they are just CRAZY about each other!" So we just stuck them together and started shooting. I kept thinking "should I tell them to do something?!?...nahhh...this is what it's all about."

Biggest challenge of the day: group portraits. Dwayne has 13 siblings. All the boys are D's all the girls are K's...and he can name them all...it's quite a party trick. Many of them have families of their own, so some of the extended family shots had upwards of about 35 people in them. We would like to extend our thanks to everyone for their patience. :)

Favorite ceremony detail: bagpiper on the hill in the distance. Very cool.

Awesome reception stuff: chocolate fountain, rustic fall decor, sparkly lights behind the dance floor.

Kitty Hangs Her Head in Shame Moment: I love the Chicken Dance. (There...I've said it...publicly.) I think it's hilarious. Many small children at this wedding and lots of adults not afraid to act childlike on the dance floor. This particular Chicken Dance was awesome...if not nearly dangerous. haha

Funny stuff: when one of Dwayne's toddler nephews attempted to assist with the garter removal. That little guy is going to be trouble. :)

Amazing thing: I have not received one single email from Jen asking when her photos would be ready. For someone who is very conscious of her tendency toward being impatient (we had a good laugh about this) I am very very impressed. Not wishing to make her wait one more moment, I'm going to stop here and hit "publish."

Jennifer's dress: Enzoani @ Toulas Bridal - Canfield, Ohio / Jennifer's hair: In Style Salon - Attica, Ohio / venue: Mohawk Golf & Country Club - Tiffin, Ohio / flowers: Schuster's Flower Shop - Upper Sandusky, Ohio / cake: Willis Cakes by Diane - Marion, Ohio

Andrea + Jeff Get Married! { by kitty }

2011-10-21T03:41:00.000-04:00

I clearly recall my first meeting with Andrea... which was all of 30 minutes, if memory serves. It was very clear that the wedding was going to be a small, intimate, no fuss, relaxed get together. And that it was!

The dress: Wow. Pink! Love it.

Fun moment: Andrea giggling during the bridal portraits due to feeling like a "fake model"...when in fact, she did a fantastic job.

Favorite thing about Andrea & Jeff's portrait session: they are excellent cuddlers and easily make each other laugh. Second favorite thing: their little son in his teeny suit.

The aesthetics melded seamlessly into the Bridal Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory. Everything was soft and light and airy. Caroline and I couldn't stop taking photos of the arrangements by TeAmo Flowers and the ephemera by On Paper.

Fabulous thing: flavored lemonaid and punch outside for guests before the ceremony. Great idea for hot wedding days!

Practical thing: Ohio weather is about as predictable as a wild animal and the forecasts change by the minute. It looked like it would hold off, but there in the middle of the ceremony, it decided to rain. I keep that pretty antique brolly in my car for such occasions and I was glad to have it on hand - Andrea and Jeff braved through the shower and continued on. Funny moment: the officiant asking "Can I put this down now? My arm's getting tired!" - the rain had stopped about 5 minutes beforehand. :)

More fabulous things: calligraphied favor bags doubling as seating cards, macarons, little suitcases full of fun "busy" toys for the kids.

"Awww" moment: Andrea and Jeff finishing their first dance with their son in their arms.

Andrea's dress: Vera Wang, spring 2011 - Bridal and Formal, Cinci / Andrea's hair: Beth Seitz / Andrea's makeup: Leigh Ann Ehmann / venue: Franklin Park Conservatory / flowers: TeAmo Flowers via Flowers on Orchard Lane / cake: Jan Kish ~ La Petite Fleur / macarons: Pistacia Vera / invitations, programs, etc: On Paper

Mary + Josh Get Married! {by Kitty}

2011-10-21T03:00:00.001-04:00

So um, the images from Mary & Josh's beautiful wedding have been sitting here forever waiting for me to write commentary. And I've said this (to myself and on this blog) several times before - I'm not hired for my writing skills and I'd much rather the images tell the story themselves. However, I don't really want to be so impersonal (because while I'm a spectator, it's still personal to me) as to simply post images and say nothing, I'm going to try something new: Cliff Notes. It will be funny to see if I can make a long story short (verbally, at least.) :)

So...Mary and Josh:

Great Idea: Mary gave her bridesmaids these beautiful matching kimono style robes to wear while they were getting ready. You'll have to wait for the slideshow to see them (and I plan to make a "where to get them" post in the near future) but it really made for pretty photos!

Awesome thing about the ceremony: Very accommodating priest who allowed us to use common sense and good taste in regards to moving about the church to get good angles. There was also a fair amount of laughter (and plenty of tears in the pews.) Mary's mom's face as she watched her come up the aisle was priceless (that's a slideshow moment...)

Favorite thing about Mary and Josh's portrait session: they never stop kissing. :)

Second favorite thing: they weren't afraid to get their feet wet or dirty.

Best decor detail: ...um...all of them. Pretty, pretty, pretty!

See that lovely lady in the second photo from the left? That's Mary's mom watching the first dance. Favorite quote of the day: Mary saying how her mom and grandma are her two favorite ladies in the world.

Thoughts as I left the building: I wonder how badly Mary and Josh's faces are going to hurt from smiling and kissing all day. :)

Mary's dress: Amsale, Bridal and Formal, Inc, Cinci / Mary's hair: Angella Williams / Mary's makeup: Nicole @ Mukha / church: St. Michael's in Worthington / reception venue: Columbus Athenaeum / flowers: Flowers On Orchard Lane / cake: Christina Jones @ Bella Luna Cakes / custom printed ephemera: Jennifer Teitt

Mary + Josh ~ Sneak Peek! {by Kitty}

2011-08-15T03:07:00.000-04:00

Mary and Josh leave tomorrow for their honeymoon, so again, I want to get a few up here before they take off! More photos coming soon!

Meredith + Joe Get Married! {by Kitty}

2011-08-10T03:54:00.002-04:00

HI!! Well, Meredith and Joe are leaving tomorrow (today, technically) for their honeymoon and I want to send them off with some photos of their wedding from this past weekend. I'll be back to add some very fond thoughts of the day, but right now I just want to get these up! So...more later!

Ok, but one thing: Gold star to the first person to leave a comment guessing what the song is that induced the last couple of images!

Mere's dress: Girls in White Dresses / Mere's hair: Kat @ Penzone's on N. High / Mere's makeup: Jade @ Penzone's on N. High / Joe's tux: JCrew / venue: Athletic Club of Columbus / flowers: Snap Dragon / cake: Lady Di Cakes / custom printed ephemera: On Paper

Donna + Jason Get Married! {by Kitty}

2011-08-03T23:30:00.000-04:00

It's always such an honor to be chosen by another photographer to photograph their own wedding! I've heard so many of my photographer friends say how hard it is to hand over the reigns and trust someone else to do it when they wish they could, but obviously can't do it themselves. I'm afraid I'd spend my own wedding day looking around thinking, "Is she getting this? Is she getting that?" But the handful of photographer brides and grooms I've had the pleasure of photographing have all just let me do my job and let me do what I do without expecting me to clone the way they work.

That said, working with Donna and Jason was a breeze! We had a long list of destinations for their portrait session, but given the sweltering heat and mugginess, after their first look (we were lucky to find a lovely spot in the shade), we made use of the rain-alternative and headed off to the State House to enjoy the air conditioning and the beautiful interior. (Being a photographer, Donna knew photos of them with sweat drenched faces does not make for favorable wedding photos!) Then off to Mouton - their friend's gorgeous little café/wine bar in the Short North for some wine and relaxation before the ceremony. So while we didn't get to run around as we'd planned, we still got tons of photos with lots of variation, AND they were able to stay comfortable and enjoy their wedding day.

Champagne was served to guests to sip during the ceremony - there were a few rows of chairs for immediate family and everyone else stood where they wished under the tent. This is always nice - people huddle up together, I saw arms around waists, heads resting on shoulders. The flowergirl decided her bouquet was better off on the ground at her feet not six feet down the aisle so everyone had a good laugh.

Obviously, I have some foodie couples this year! Besides the very colourful desert/candy bar, Donna and Jason had three food stations at The Venue - Mediterranean, Southern comfort food, and a seafood bar which included the biggest freshest shrimp ever. Another nice touch was the couches they set up as a lounging area, it really gives a homier feeling to an event.

Everyone knows how much I love the "that guy" at each wedding. Well, this time, there were more than one and I feel they earned a blog board of their own. :)

Congratulations, guys! Morgan and I had a great time spending the day with you!

Nicole + Craig Get Married! {by Kitty}

2011-08-02T09:27:00.000-04:00

Columbus is indeed a very small world - turns out Nicole, Craig, and their two adorable little boys live in my neighborhood and I ride my bike past their house nearly every day. On top of that, Craig's family lives across the street from us and while we've been neighbors for a decade, I had no idea! (Note to self: get out of the house more and get to know the people on my block better!)

While their wedding was several years in the making, the day went by with relaxed effortless ease - only their closest friends and family attended the Art Museum ceremony and the dinner reception at their friend's restaurant, Z Cucina in Grandview. Truly an example of how to enjoy your own wedding day - intimate, no complicated time schedules, room to let what happens happen and celebrate with the ones you love. It was obvious all day long that the only thing that really mattered was that they were together and totally crazy about each other.

Ok, well, I'm pretty sure one other thing mattered: the food...oh dear lord, the food. FYI, if you haven't been to Z Cucina, you are seriously missing out. Everyone was able to make their choice from the four dinner options printed on their custom letterpress menus...it was not an easy choice! For dessert, four choices were listed and much to the surprise and delight of everyone there, the agony of choice was omitted - all four treats were served to each table family style. The "cup cake" (which was the size of a brick) was covered with buttercreme icing...that actually tasted like real butter...I had to stop halfway through lest my sweet-tooth gluttony go from regret to remorse.

Thankfully after all that amazing food, there were plenty of antics and craziness on the little dance floor!

Congratulations, Nicole and Craig!

Sneak Peek! Donna + Jason {by kitty}

2011-07-30T02:51:00.001-04:00

Here's a sneak peek from today's wedding!

Jenni + David Get Married! {kitty}

2011-07-28T03:51:00.000-04:00

Here's a peek at Jenni + David's wedding in Piqua. Dan, Nick, and I had a fun drive through the country to get to this charming little town from where David's family hails. Their wedding is another example of how good planning makes for great photo opportunities. After the ceremony, we had a ton of time to romp around downtown, get a few shots at David's family's home, and still hit some lovely spots on the grounds of the Piqua Country Club. Jenni and Dave and I had not met before the wedding, so it was wonderful to get to know them throughout the day!

I'd been really missing black and white film and conveniently, Jenni and Dave's wedding naturally fell into a vibe where I could play and capture some more traditional style black and white images. That's part of the fun when it comes to weddings - to just go with the flow - no wedding is the same and each will determine how I approach it while I shoot. While naturally I shoot all weddings in my "style" each has different atmosphere, aesthetic, and pace. Keeps things unique and interesting!

Thanks, Jenni + Dave! Congratulations!

Jeannie + Brian Get Married! {Kitty}

2011-07-18T02:56:00.002-04:00

Hello again! Always great to start off the season with a wedding this lovely. I've been so looking forward to Jeannie and Brian's wedding after the fun of their engagement session and seeing them at Kelly and Dennis' New Year's Eve wedding.

I'm in love with the soft cotton garter! (Finally a garter that won't scratch.)

We set a side a nice block of time to take photos before the ceremony, which gave us the opportunity to take advantage of the afternoon light. Jeannie thought ahead and brought along matching hot pink wellies so we could traverse through the woods and stream for their photos. (Which was a good thing, considering all the rain we'd been having!)

The Browning Amphitheatre was a fantastic setting and coordinator Jen Woster-McBride made sure everything went smoothly. The little flower girl was killing me. She kept practicing tossing the petals to the point where her dad took the basket away from her (which displeased her thoroughly.) When she finally walked down the aisle, she did so without once sticking her hand in the basket...she walked right to her dad in the front row - and dumped the basket out at her feet. I always hope the little ones will improvise their roles and totally ignore the script. :D

Love and macarons and really great people! I've photographed some of Jeannie and Brian's friends' weddings and also have a few coming up (like Nicole and Craig this weekend!) Really fun seeing so many familiar faces while I'm working.

Congratulations, Jeannie + Brian and thanks for such a wonderful day!

Mandy + Jerry's engagement session {by Kitty}

2011-04-28T22:50:00.002-04:00

Last weekend, I went to photograph Mandy + Jerry at the waterside park where Jerry proposed. Mandy and I had a chat about what they would like from their photos - casual simple natural interaction. As someone who cringes when a camera is pointed at them, I understand the want to not have to "perform" during a photo session, so following them around as they wandered the park arm in arm worked out brilliantly!

Addressing Invites/Thank Yous

2011-04-11T00:06:00.004-04:00

For those of you who didn't win the merit badge for good handwriting or don't want to develop carpal tunnel before slipping on your wedding rings, this post from Design*Sponge has a fantastic cheat! Check it out!

Kelly + Dennis' New Year's Eve Wedding {kitty}

2011-03-22T06:29:00.004-04:00

And here we have Kelly + Dennis' New Year's Eve wedding!

A classic and gorgeously elegant wedding, a party with two rounds of "Country Roads", and ushering in the new year with fun and happy people was a great way to spend New Year's Eve.

All the details were stunning and as usual, Tim from Mukha Spa did a fantastic job on Kelly's makeup.

A few shots with the wedding party (thank you, ladies, for braving the cold!) and then K+D spent some time with us and Julie + Chris for photos and video footage downtown before heading back to the Westin.

Cupcakes. Oh, the cupcakes. Toward the end of the night, the cupcake table was out in the hall and I spied a girl stealthily swiping one off the table in a rather perfect drive-by...I followed her and snapped a shot of her guilty face as she realized she'd been caught. I'm not posting the photo here...but you know who you are! ;D
Video feed was set up for the countdown to midnight and we all got to watch the ball drop. Happy 2011!

Many thanks to Kelly + Dennis and their friends and family for being so warm and welcoming. It was a great way to start the new year!

courtnee and eric's engagement session! {by caroline}

2011-02-18T16:39:00.004-05:00

It was so much fun being able to be a part of Courtnee and Eric's day! We had a really great time hanging out and taking pictures at their house. Even their dog wanted to be a part of the pictures :)

People who are in love always look great in pictures :)

Liz + Bill's wedding {kitty}

2011-02-11T03:35:00.002-05:00

I'll be back to write about Liz + Bill's wedding, but right now I want to get these up so they don't have to wait a minute longer!

I'll be back to write about Liz + Bill's wedding, but right now I want to get these up so they don't have to wait a minute longer!

BHLDN ~ Anthropologie does weddings

2011-01-28T14:09:00.003-05:00

So excited I don't know what to do with myself. "Hello? Over here?" are probably the words Wolfgang will be directing at me on Valentine's Day as I spend hours pouring over the BHLDN website on their release date. I was never that little girl who'd wear a white tshirt on her head and pretend to be a bride...but from what I've seen so far, I just might start doing it now (pretty sure I have a white Anthro tee somewhere....)

They currently have their website rotating gorgeous detail shots of sparkly things and soft raw edged fabrics, which will cruelly taunt me in the weeks to come. So...please join me in my torment and take a look. You can sign up for more information about when the site goes live.

colour themes ~ peacock!

2011-01-25T23:20:00.000-05:00

colour theme ~ peacock by kitty maer weddings
click on the image to see the individual items

frugal finds ~ dresses under $255

2011-01-23T02:32:00.000-05:00

frugal finds ~ dresses under $255 by kitty maer weddings

Style BC219-Beach Wedding Dresses
Style BC148-Beach Wedding Dresses
Style BC160-Beach Wedding Dresses
Style DE009-Designer Wedding Dresses
Style DE009-Designer Wedding Dresses
Inexpensive Wedding Dresses-Style DE211

let it snow!

2011-01-22T06:35:00.000-05:00

inspiration ~ snow by kitty maer weddings featuring rubber shoes

All this snow has me dreaming of winter wonderland weddings...with, yes, a photo session outside.

Just throw on a faux-fur stole or fluffy shawl over your dress and some Wellies (with warm socks) under it and you're all ready to go!

Helen + Rob's wedding {Kitty}

2011-01-21T06:36:00.003-05:00

Really happy to share more of Helen & Rob's photos from their wedding at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, CA.

The very talented Jim Minics accompanied me as my second shooter for the day.

I loved Helen's dress...looks like snow drifts.

Helen & Robert have been together for a long time and Robert is a photographer himself, so they were very at ease in front of the camera. It started out as a rainy day, but the weather held out for us to get plenty of photos. I really love the light after a good rain, too.

The receiving line was worked into the cocktail hour - champagne with strawberries were served to guests while they waited to congratulate H&R and their families.

Check out the action shot Jim got of Rob's daughter (who was Helen's maid of honor) catching the bouquet!

Out of town weddings always provide new adventures - new locations to shoot, new challenges, fresh inspiration, and meeting new people who very often I'm meeting face-to-face for the first time on the day of! This was no exception and we had a wonderful time sharing the day with Helen & Rob! Thanks, guys!

inspiration ~ Audrey

2011-01-19T01:35:00.000-05:00

inspiration ~ audrey by kitty maer weddings

Natalie + Drue's wedding!

2011-01-17T12:47:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone! This is Caroline! Kitty's out of town so she asked me to upload some blog images from Natalie and Drue's wedding. It was an absolutely fantastic wedding! I was shooting with Kitty and absolutely loved being able to be a part of Natalie and Drue's day. They're an incredible couple!

These are some of our favorite pictures of Natalie and Drue. I loved their attention to detail! Everything was beautifully planned and put together!

Their reception at BoMA.

Bridesmaids' Dresses under $175 ~ outdoor weddings

2011-01-14T02:10:00.004-05:00

Garden weddings = gorgeous. Possibilities for dresses = endless. Forget official "bridesmaids" dresses, forgo the big bridal chain stores (is it rude of me to name the one that comes to mind?) in search of dresses that are A) pretty, B) flattering to your b'maids, C) have a chance of ever being worn again, and D) affordable. So unless you're going for a formal aesthetic, try looking elsewhere for cute summer dresses. The over all look will be more personal and unique, your girls will be comfortable, and chances are, the dress won't disappear into the back of their closets never to be seen again.

Here's a selection of summer dresses from Anthropologie, all but one under $175. As I've said before, I'm fond of doing fashion math. Wear a $75 dress once, you paid $75 for that one wear. Pay $175 for a dress and wear it 5 times, you paid $35 each wear (which to me is the better value!)

garden weddings ~ bridesmaids' dresses under $175 by kitty maer weddings featuring vintage style dresses

Irresistible Maxi Dress, $178
Take Action Dress, $168
Peggy Sue Dress, $168
Dresses - Clothes - Anthropologie.com, $158
Dresses - Clothes - Anthropologie.com, $138

Something Blue

2011-01-12T16:45:00.008-05:00

{click on the photo for info on the individual items}
something blue ~ aqua by kitty maer weddings

I discovered Polyvore during my holiday break...and hence found a new obsession. If you haven't heard of it, it's a site where you can create inspiration boards using images you've found on the web. The great thing about it is that it keeps the source links from all the images, so you'll never have to wonder who sold those shoes or what those flowers are called...just go to the sidebar and click on the individual item. You can search the images that have already been added to Polyvore by keywords, colour, and even price bracket, so if you see an ivory fur stole you love on the site, but it costs more than your car, you can search for a similar one within your budget.

Inspiration boards are great for pulling all the little details together and Polyvore makes it really easy. (Although there are certain sites that will not allow clipping to Polyvore, such as Ebay and Etsy, sadly...two of my favorite venues for finding unique items.) To collect images you've found online you'll have to download their app which sits on your browser's toolbar. From there, anytime you see a dress or necklace you like, you can just click the Polyvore app and then click the photo on the site.

Have fun...and don't play on Polyvore before your favorite show or if you have somewhere you need to be...you just might not make it. ;)

Anyway, now that I have an easy way to present all my little findings, I'll probably be posting them a lot more ('coz this is what I do when I'm "taking a break.") Often the items on the board have a really high sticker price. But they're there for inspiration. So remember you can most likely find something quite similar within your budget.

black & creme theme

2011-01-11T15:29:00.002-05:00

black & creme theme by kitty maer weddings featuring satin shoes

Holiday week!

2010-12-21T17:20:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone is bundled up and getting ready for a great holiday weekend!

For the first time in five years, I'm going to give myself permission do the same! I have two projects to finish, some phone calls to make, and then I'm taking the rest of the week off so I can enjoy the holidays with Wolfgang and his family.

Dan, Caroline, and I wish you a wonderful Holiday!

Helen + Rob's wedding ~ sneak peek!

2010-12-17T04:48:00.003-05:00

My favorite bride-and-groom portraits are always the candid shots. I think this one of Helen & Rob making their way back down the aisle is probably my favorite from their wedding. More from their Malibu wedding coming soon!

Natalie + Drue's wedding ~ sneak peek!

2010-12-17T04:41:00.003-05:00

Here are a few of my favorite shots from Natalie & Drue's wedding!

MISSING CAT! Westerville area - please look in your garages!

2010-12-15T23:05:00.002-05:00

One of my couples has lost their cat - he ran out of their house on December 5th. His name is Buster, he's 10 years old, medium sized, short-haired, orange & white, and his nose is half orange and half white. He has an orange patch on his right shoulder. He has been neutered. Front paws are de-clawed. He's shy & probably won't come to you, but should you see a cat like this, please let me know! If you live in the Westerville area, please check your garages in case he snuck in for warmth.

Please call me or email kitty at maerstudio dot come if you see him.

If you know anyone in the Westerville area, please pass on the message. I can't imaging someone not having their pet during the holidays...it's just too heartbreaking. I hope this little guy gets home!

Katie + Bob's wedding!

2010-12-14T06:33:00.003-05:00

I have to say how thrilled I am when I see "Style Me Pretty" on the referral line in an inquiry email... The Style Me Pretty blog has no shortage of inspiration on how to incorporate personal and unique details into your wedding. They're very big on dyi and environmentally-friendly weddings, so I was really excited to hear about Katie & Bob's wedding at Thorn Creek Winery in Aurora.

I love how Katie and Bob's classic wedding day aesthetics went so well with all their locations - the woods, city gardens, church, and the prairie setting of the winery.

Some great details: hot pink shawls for the girls - it got pretty chilly in the evening, wine opener favors that doubled as seating cards, an old cart wagon with family wedding photos and a tree for hanging messages from guests. The cart later held apothecary jars with cookies for late evening snacks on the ride home. The band, Frederick Davis, played on through the night and had everyone out on the floor. (Perhaps someday I'll figure out how to edit the impromptu video I shot of the groomsmen going nuts...it was awesome.) And those cupcakes...oh, the cupcakes....

Favorite moment of the whole day: amongst the festivities on the dance floor, seeing Katie spin around to face Bob with this enormous grin on her face, grab his hands, shake them, and jubilantly yell "I LOVE YOU!!!"

Julia + Angelo's wedding! {Kitty}

2010-12-14T06:27:00.008-05:00

Well, shame on me...I put these up on our Facebook page, but not here!

Much fun was had by Dan and me at Julia and Angelo's wedding. Orchestrated by fabulous planner Emilie Duncan, the day went by smoothly. We had plenty of time to run around with the wedding party for photos!

Often I hear "we're thinking about a photobooth..." Yes, yes, YES!!! I'll get tons of photos of your guests enjoying themselves at the reception...but chances are, they'll be on their best behavior, especially if they know there are cameras (ie evidence) around. Not so much with the photobooth, where they have carte blanche to let go and be silly.

cori + robbie's wedding!

2010-12-10T05:07:00.005-05:00

It's rare I accept two weddings in a weekend, but Caroline and I still talk about how happy we were that I did just that in late September.

Cori & Robbie are awesome. The weather was sketchy all day and they just took it in stride. When Cori walked into the dressing room, she was cheerful and all smiles...and Robbie was the same way while waiting to see her in her dress.

The light right after it rains is phenomenal at Darby House. And the wedding party was so easy going about running out and in and out again so we could get some group shots between sprinkles. (And, uh...I want that hat.)

It's not every couple who start laughing when it suddenly downpours during the ceremony - on queue right as Cori's brother (who was officiating) said something about how sometimes in life, God throws obstacles in your path. {I love the last shot of C&R running in the rain. It was photographed by Will Figg who was shooting along with Caroline and me.}

Never losing sight of the purpose of wedding, they ran inside (still laughing, as you'll see), everyone found a place to stand or sit, and the ceremony continued as if nothing had happened. Often when things don't go as planned it wields much more memorable moments.

Love these little "guest book" rocks!

Congratulations, Cori & Robbie, and many thanks for letting us take part in such a wonderful day!

katie + bob's wedding ~ sneak peek!

2010-12-04T08:29:00.003-05:00

Here are a few favorites from Katie + Bob's wedding in Cleveland. I'm going to call it a night now and dream about the cupcakes from their reception! ;)

cori + robbie's wedding ~ sneak peek!

2010-12-04T08:27:00.003-05:00

Just a quick sneak peek at Cori + Robbie's wedding at the Darby House this fall. More to come soon!

welcome home, *Print!

2010-12-04T02:14:00.004-05:00

So...some new changes coming up in 2011! We've done a lot of restructuring over the last few months to make our service a lot more efficient and to make your experience with us a lot smoother. {woooo, this is waaaay longer than I'd intended, but need-to-know stuff, I believe!}

First, my sister-studio *Print is coming home and rejoining my own studio. What does that mean? ONE website, ONE blog, and - this alone has improved our operations ten-fold - ONE EMAIL ADDRESS! (It's this one: hello at maerstudio dot com - please put it in your address book!)

So from now on, you'll be seeing new work from Dan, Caroline, and me right here.

Other new stuff:
1. New computers! Yeay! It's a complicated business, this...you see, every time we upgrade camera equipment, the files get bigger. Bigger files = more harddrives and slower processing, which in turn means it takes us longer to deliver your images, longer time spent designing books due to rendering, etc, etc...you get the picture. So once we wrap up this season, we unwrap the new digital-darkroom-machine and monster harddrives. When we do the swap-overs, we'll announce it here, because we're going to take a few days off production in order to do it properly.

2. New FASTER workflow! One of the first things out of my mouth when meeting with inquiring couples is this: "Just so you know - we are not fast." It's by no means an apology; we aim to deliver images that will remind you for the rest of your lives just how amazing your wedding day was. To do that to our standards takes quite a bit of time. And the response is usually, "Oh, that's fine! We want you to do what you do - it will be worth the wait!" (But....I know when I order something online and I choose 7-10 day shipping, I still check the mail box everyday. I know it's not going to be there on day 4, but the anticipation kills me.) So, we also aim to keep learning and continuing our education so we can improve everything we do. At the end of October, I attended Pictage's PartnerCon. And oddly, where my own presentation and demonstration was on retouching, from the classes I attended myself, the number one thing that stuck with me is that "immediacy trumps perfection" and that my couples probably care a lot more about enjoying their photos and sharing them with their friends and family as soon as possible than they do about a few stray hairs and an exit sign I feel I can't live without retouching out. So...I still refuse to batch process your images and I'm still going to tweak the hell out each one. But I'm going to save the all-out perfecting for my absolute favorites and YOUR absolute favorites (ie the images that go in your book or the ones you want printed over 8x10.) This means you get your photos weeks earlier and you still get your favorite images perfected.

3. New pricing! The economy still sucks. I don't know a single person who hasn't been affected by it in some way. In reality, all one needs to get married is a significant other and a marriage license - weddings and everything that goes with them are luxuries, not necessities. So in the last couple of years, many couples have had to be more careful and bypass what they want for what they need. Also in the last year, I've had more couples tell me they need great photos...the day is going to happen once, they can't go back and do it over once they're more secure in their finances. They want a book or a large canvas, etc, but later when things settle down and they can look at their finances and have time to save. So our new commission rates structure is geared to give you what you need now and what you want later. Now you can hire us to show up, document your day, process your images, and give them to you archived on discs. If you would like a book, prints, canvases, you can come back to us at any time. Also, with Dan from *Print and now Caroline (joining the ranks this year) there are several options to fit your budget.

4. My work schedule! Please don't feel bad when you get emails from me at 3am. 9pm-5am is my 9-to-5. I've always been a night-owl and I get three times as much editing & design done in the still of the night than I do in the day when phones are ringing, the email "ding" is constantly going off, the kids next door are screaming right next to my window, and Wolfgang is trying to show me funny videos on youtube. When the rest of the world is asleep, all I have to think about is the photos and how awesome your wedding was. Caroline and I will of course still be taking phone calls during daytime-hours. And email will still be checked in the day, but twice a day instead of 50x. Again, working when I'm most productive will speed up delivery of your photos!

Well, we'll be posting more about the changes going on over here as we delve into them. Right now, I'm going to get back to work - I've been dying to give Katie & Bob their sneak peek!

amanda & kelan's wedding {by dan}

2010-12-04T02:13:00.001-05:00

jeannie & brian's engagement session

2010-11-29T01:49:00.003-05:00

For months I was looking forward to Jeannie & Brian's engagement session. They'd sent me a few links to some inspiration images and I knew right away what we were going to do and the perfect time to do it. The planets aligned and provided us with perfect weather and light. Plus the two of them are so sweet and loving toward each other, it was easy to just step back and shoot them as they are.

I must say, I really love when my couples do some research when it comes to discovering what it is they're looking for from their photography. There are so many mixed messages on wedding planning websites about telling your photographer what you want - show your photographer photos you like, don't show them other photographer's images, etc, etc. The thing is, if you find photos you love, I can't duplicate them for you - the people in the images aren't you, the location isn't the same, nor can we guarantee the weather, lighting, etc. What I can do, is identify the aesthetic elements of the images that speak to you and I can't tell you how helpful that is!

So please - peruse the wedding inspiration websites, tear out pages from magazines, tell me what you love and (often even more helpful) what you don't like. Don't be shy! :)

meredith + joe's engagement session

2010-11-27T02:54:00.005-05:00

I try to encourage couples to be silly and play while being photographed...and Meredith & Joe did not disappoint!

For their engagement session, we met inside Grandview Mercantile, the antique store where they found her ring. No shortage of props there...silliness abounded. Then a romp around the neighborhood ending with one of their favorite treats - real ginger ale. It was a great time with them and I'm really looking forward to their wedding next summer!

Julia + Angelo's wedding - sneak peek!

2010-09-29T03:54:00.003-04:00

Just a quick sneak peek at Julia + Angelo!

trends in photography (timeless vs. stylish vs. dated)

2010-09-26T19:31:00.008-04:00

Interesting post today on my favorite photography forum...

A photographer brought up how Annie Liebovitz stated she moved into digital (as opposed to sticking with b&w film) because her photos had to match the time period in which they were photographed. The discussion on the forum was about photos that are classic and timelessness vs. those that are trendy and dated. I wrote up a rather long (and opinionated) reply and it occurred to me that hey - I finally have something to write about on my blog! I never write about how I feel about photography (mainly because I take photos so I don't have to put what I think or feel into words...it just takes too long. Those of you who've met me know it can take an hour for me to describe the colour of cement...) However, this is something I feel has bearing on my job as a photographer and it is relevant to you as someone interested in wedding photography. So here it is.

Photography is kinda like any other kind of fashion. A well cut white button down shirt is always going to be classic and timeless. Certain styles of clothing will always be indicative of the time periods during which they were worn. And then there's the trendy crap you look back upon and think "wtf was I thinking?!?"

Photography isn't much different. Most of the "effects" that indicate when a photo was taken are based on the materials that were available at the time. In the 30s, no one scratched up the borders or yellowed their prints for fun. No one set out for Polaroids to be flat and washed out and no one in the 70s said "oh, let's make 126 film with heavy yellow/green casts and OOH we can add some light leaks too 'coz that will be coooool!!" The film just sucked by today's standards and what makes us appreciate these anomalies is the nostalgia we have for these time periods.

But just like that big ass neon Frankie Says Relax tshirt in my basement, trendy fads like selective-colour (you know, everything in b&w, but the flowers are in colour), over-saturation, excessive sharpening (like when the eyeballs look like creepy glass marbles), overdone texture overlays, and other digital treatments that pretty much scream "LOOK WHAT THE PHOTOGRAPHER CAN DO IN PHOTOSHOP!!!" will most likely lead to nothing but shame and slow head shaking in less than a decade's time.

That said, styles and trends repeat themselves. The 80s stemmed from the 50s, the 90s were full of 60s influences, and this past decade has had the 70s all over it...hence the explosion of "vintage" treatments, which I have to admit, when well done, I love. Plus, I started in photography using those crappy films and cameras...each time an old beloved film was discontinued, my heart broke just a little more. I spent a long time learning how to emulate those films using Photoshop when I went kicking and screaming to digital (which still kinda sucked at the time.) So I'm just making up for what I lost.

But like anything else: everything in moderation. I feel like "stylish" makes the leap to "tacky" when it goes overboard and beyond what the original inspiration looked like. The advent of digital has given us photographers the capabilities to do practically anything...and I'll be the first to admit it's a hell of a lot of fun to "see what you can do" with the latest techniques. But too often we'll look back on our own work from the past and think "why the hell did I think that looked good?!?" The effects and treatments cannot be what the images are about - they must be about the people in the photos, their love for each other, and the moments they shared on a very special day. The processing of the images should not take the focus away from those moments.

Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with looking at a photo and knowing what decade it is from, especially for something like weddings - history should have a time stamp. But I feel like what ever we do to these photos should be classic within that time period and not just exploit the technical trends of the time (I mean, did Swatch watches really need to be scratch-n-sniff?!?...what was the point of that anyway?!?)

I hope my clients' grandkids will look at their wedding photos and say "ooh, this looks so turn of the century" and NOT "ewwww, this looks so turn of the century." Know what I mean?

natalie + jt get married! ~ block island, ri

2010-09-21T04:36:00.003-04:00

Yeay! Another wedding where I know half the family! Natalie was a bridesmaid (and cousin) for Erin & Nate's wedding last year and I was so happy when she got in touch when she and JT got engaged.

The wedding took place on Block Island, RI - a little pork chop shaped island 11 miles out to sea off the coast of New England. Natalie's family has been vacationing here forever and it took about 5 minutes off the ferry to see why. My best friend and fellow photographer Sarah Babcock came with me to assist and enjoy the island a bit before leaving.

I've said it a million times, but I can't stress enough the value of a great coordinator. Such a person is Mona Dwyer Helterline. We loved her from minute one when she took us for a tour of the island so we knew all the fabulous spots for photos on the wedding day right down the flawless execution of the wedding day schedule at the Spring House. All. Stress. Free. Having never been to the island before, she was a godsend.

Natalie and JT have been together for ten years and we loved spending the day with them, especially their portrait session when we rambled around the island by ourselves taking photos on the bluffs and the lighthouse. It was a fun little escape before the party. We really had a great time and there are so many images, I'm just going to get back to the editing now. But I wanted to get some of these up here in the meantime!

More to come. :)

check out the little three-legged lucky piggy Natalie gave her bridesmaids

a few moments before the ceremony (including some little wedding birdy crashers)

LOVED Natalie's flowers by Jamie Lee Rose of La Bella Rose

{ wedding planner ~ Mona Dwyer Helterline / makeup ~ Jennifer Hodge, Spectrum RI / hair stylist ~ Lynda Williams, Formal Hair Design, RI / flowers ~ La Bella Rose, RI / wedding day venue ~ Spring House Hotel, Block Island, RI }

julia + angelo's engagement session

2010-09-05T16:24:00.001-04:00

It was hot. Very very hot. Yet Julia and Angelo braved the sweltering air, mosquitoes, and blazing sun to get in some practice before their wedding, only a couple of weeks away. I for one found it rather difficult to breathe...mostly from the laughter. These two are hilarious together and such good sports. September 10th is going to be a good day!

Katy & Matt get married! {part 1}

2010-08-27T18:34:00.003-04:00

I love going to a wedding and already knowing half the crowd! Such was the case at Katy and Matt's wedding. We photographed a couple of Katy's friends' weddings and we already knew how entertaining the day was going to be! Beautiful and elegant by day...and, well, anyone who knows me is aware that I hate the word "party" being used as a verb, but no other word suffices...these people know how to party whether they're eight or eighty years old. :) (You'll have to wait for part 2 of this post for those shots.)

{click on the boards to see them full size!}

hello, again!

2010-06-02T00:07:00.013-04:00

Well, hello again! It's been a loooong time since I updated this blog. Last year was wonderfully busy and with the majority of my weddings involving travel, I simply ran out of time to write. Caroline offered to take over for me, but no, no, no...I'll do it! I want to write the details and little stories! Alas, time did not allow. With more help in the studio, this year I hope to do more sharing of photos here.

And for me, no better way to start the season off that with Laxmi and Lance's much anticipated event. I love Indian weddings and multi-cultural weddings are always a blast, just watching both sides experiencing and enjoying new traditions. First let me say this will probably be the first of several installments of L&L's photos...there are many. Many, many, many. I've only just skimmed through the ones I shot personally to pick out shots for this post. The wonderful Nick Fancher shot along with me, as did my new assistant, Nick Thompson. So, yes...many more to come.

I have to say, our 15 hour day was full to the brim with events and between planner Jamie Rapavy of Devoted to Details and Laxmi's vigilant observance of the schedule, everything went off splendidly. We had time to get some shots at the church (ceremony #1) and then off to the Topiary Gardens.

We started to feel some rain and only had a few minutes to get some bridal portraits. My favorite images always seem to be the "between" moments and here's my favorite of Laxmi in her dress. I'd just said "Ok, let's get out of here!" and she swirled her dress around to run out of the rain.
Back to the Hilton to change for the Hindu ceremony.

Always my favorite part of an Indian wedding: the baraat!

Traditionally, the groom's sister steals his shoes before the ceremony. He must bargain with her to get them back.

I love Bart. Not only are his floral designs to die for, he's just a joy to be around. The flowers for this wedding were amazing and everywhere.

Oh, the desert table...tons of gorgeous treats from Pastacia Vera.

...and that's just for starters! More in a few weeks!

{ planner: Jamie Rapavy, Devoted to Details / church: St. Joseph's Cathedral / Hindu Ceremony & reception: Polaris Hilton / wedding dress: Alan Ray / makeup: Megan, Mukha Spa / cake: Sue Larson, La Gateau / desert bar: Pistacia Vera }

Britany and Nick ~ engagement!

2009-07-20T19:02:00.000-04:00

I found this photograph in an antique store about a week before Britany & Nick's engagement session. I love how this scene would have been perceived as being "racy" during the time it was taken. But I'm still quite moved by how innocent and passionate it is at the same time. I feel like I know a little bit about them as a couple. This is what I strive for during your engagement sessions...your photos should allow your friends and family a glimpse into who you are together, regardless of how silly, proper, crazy, romantic, extroverted, or quiet you are....or a private record just for yourselves. Don't worry what other couples are doing or what people will think...these photos are about YOU.

Britany & Nick have been together for seven years...they're 22. What a great foundation to have grown up together. The first photo I took of them had to be a tribute to the photo above. They nailed it.

But this one is my favorite. These guys have way too much fun together.

We took a little break to watch these two boys fight over a girl. The poor guy on the left lost...he swam slowly off down the stream.

(Please refer to page 2, paragraph 3 of your planning guide...hahaha)

Lori and Nate's Wedding!

2009-07-10T13:14:00.014-04:00

I was so pleased to start off the season with Lori and Nate's wedding in Kentucky! I went to Lori's parents' home to document the preparations and Kate went to Nate's. I called to see how things were going when she echoed my thoughts by saying everything was really relaxed and "everyone here is soooo coool." It was bound to be a great day.

Really lovely outside...everything was just starting to bud.

After the ceremony, I left with Lori and Nate in an antique car to head down to the water. We knew in advance that we'd be racing against the setting sun, but they were so relaxed about it, that I wasn't worried in the least. The light was fleeting by the minute, but we worked with it and ended up with some great shots!

Lori looked so beautiful and I love how she paid close attention to all the details.

Now this is an entrance ~

Ok, so you know how much I love "That Guy" at the wedding...there's always one of them. Well, they were ALL "That Guy" at this wedding. I don't think I've ever seen so many young, happy, crazy guys at one party. It was fantastic. I would have to say that Nate's brother below was the ring leader.

More and more fun!

Thanks, Lori & Nate for a wonderful start to the season!

{ dress ~ Bridal Designs / Nate's suit ~ Banana Republic / cake ~ The Bonbonerie / flowers ~ Dan @ Vine St. Flower Co., 859.240.4844 / reception venue ~ The Madison }

Tiffany & Rick's engagement session

2009-04-22T18:52:00.011-04:00

Ok, these guys are endless fun.

I think this one is my favorite from the session ~

This awning was a fun find. Tiffany & Rick's theme is black and white stripes!

Ok, maybe this one is my favorite...

You have to give credit to a girl who'll scale a tree in 4" heels. :D
Rick made getting down a wee bit easier...

The site of their first date!

Letterpress invitations from Studio on Fire ~ sans script

2009-04-12T11:28:00.004-04:00

I'm a huge fan of Studio on Fire. I have to admit, it was the studio's name that caught my eye...then I scrolled through pages and pages of stunning work. They continuously post their new work on their Beast Pieces blog and I'm wowed every time. Today I'm especially in love with these minimalist invitations. Definitely check out their blog and take a look at the mix-tape invites, too.
{photos via beastpieces.com}

Lori & Nate's wedding ~ sneak peek

2009-04-09T22:52:00.003-04:00

Just a quick few from last weekend's wedding in Kentucky! More to come soon.

Tiffany & Rick's engagement session ~ teasers

2009-04-08T18:02:00.004-04:00

More to come, but here's a glimpse ~

jill & wes' wedding

2009-04-01T21:50:00.000-04:00

Today I went to a blogging bootcamp workshop. I whined about how I take pictures so I don't have to describe things, memories, emotions, and the like. And how I'm a terrible blogger - I'll sit on a post out of the frustration that comes with trying to find the right words. It was then pointed out to me that I'm a photographer and I shouldn't feel the need to tell you how fantastic my couples' weddings are...I am in the position to just show you. So that's what I'm going to try to do from now on. Perhaps a few comments here and a couple of adjectives there, but my job is to tell wedding stories through images...and I should stick to it!

So FINALLY onto Jill and Wes' wedding!

I'm totally going to brag about these next two shots. They were taken in the dark. No lights. Windowless church basement cafeteria. And they are officially two of my favorite portraits. I'm going to yank these out next time I'm asked if I can work in less than ideal lighting situations. ;) But I really do love these "nothing but the girl" shots...no busy distracting backgrounds, just a lovely bride.

Love these little moments during ceremonies.

Wes really wanted to ring the church bell when the ceremony was over. He was pretty happy!

Their wedding party took the term "party bus" rather seriously. :)

These guys = awesome.

One of the great things about Jill and Wes' wedding was that they were able to attend their cocktail hour. It was wonderful to see them relaxing and being able to chat with everyone casually. We had plenty of time to get fun photos and they didn't miss a moment of their day. And while I hope I've shown you, I still have to say what a fantastic day it was.

sending some love out to evelyn <3

2009-03-14T23:51:00.003-04:00

I actually yelled "woohoo" when I got Dan's email saying he and his fiancée, Evelyn, decided to hire Christa to shoot their wedding. 'Coz they freakin' rock and while I won't be there, I still get to see their wedding photos.

I always tell our clients when I meet with them that we are not fast. We do not have a quick turn around time...what we produce takes time and a great deal of attention. I want them to know this ahead of time so they can avoid biting their nails and checking their in-boxes every day for the "all done!" email. However....I get the feeling it will be Christa & Kate receiving those "are we there yet? are we there yet?" emails all this season...from ME. The girls are photographing for so many fabulous couples and I just know they're going to want to slap me for pestering them to see if they have the images ready for me yet. I'll be dying to see them.

Anyway, Eve had some lovely things to say about us on her blog...thanks for making me blush, Eve. :P

new website is live!

2009-03-10T00:05:00.004-04:00

Well, one thing that wasn't stalled by the fire: the new website! It's officially up and running. Yeay!

Please take a look; lots of new images and some old gold. Enjoy!

robin & dan's wedding

2009-03-03T21:27:00.000-05:00

How can I not love a couple who wanted to submit the below photo as their newspaper engagement announcement?I laughed and laughed and even saved a spot on my office wall, where I intended to frame the clipping. Alas, Dan's hometown newspaper shut down before the announcement could be published...oh, well. On to the wedding day!

When I got to Robin's family's house, I saw her hair and just locked in on it. It was just so beautifully done (thank you, Amanda Braun) and suited her perfectly.

Lora at Elegant Touch put together these superb arrangements.
Here's my favorite portrait of Robin from the day. Isn't she gorgeous?!? Tim of Mukha Spa worked his magic yet again. Robin's makeup was very subtle and just enough to embellish her natural beauty...I love that you can still see all her freckles!
Robin planned a surprise for Dan. While he had his back turned, waiting for Robin to come up for her reveal, his gift was placed behind him: a vintage racing bike. There was a personal letter in the seat pouch.
Then we had plenty of time to stomp the grounds of Darby House.

Totally in love with the light this day.

Kate got this shot as we all headed into the field to do the wedding party portraits.

Dan being totally handsome ~
Here's a sweet moment between Robin and her dad. He beamed the whole way up the aisle.

On to the get-away car!

Favorite shot of the day ~
Jenny Mackey of Seedlings (and fellow Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book VIP) created the invites and seating cards for Robin & Dan.
The next two shots were taken while Dan's brother dished out his toast. :) Pretty funny stuff.

Now this was fun. Dan & Robin's dad going crazy...
...and Robin jumping in on the fun.

Robin's dad was in the photo business for years, so I have to say I'm so flattered to have been chosen to document such an important day for them. And if you'd like to see more, here's their slideshow!

{ venue ~ darby house / dress ~ girls in white dresses / hair ~ amanda braun / makeup ~ tim @ mukha spa / flowers ~ lora @ elegant touch, 614.598.3326 / cake ~ alice's piece of cake / invites & custom printing ~ jenny mackey, seedlings }

handyman standard time + winter dulldrums = pfft.

2009-02-27T22:05:00.004-05:00

Dude. I'm taking this weekend off. Seriously. The last month has been endless rushing and panicking trying to get things back in order. The weeks have felt like days. Today I was simply unable to even open the door to the office, look at a paint brush, or clean up a single speck of plaster. I went out for a nice long walk in the cold and listened to my ipod with the volume up loud enough to drown out the internal chatter nagging at me about all the things that have yet to be done to get back to normal and catch up. When I got tired of being damp and chilled, I trudged home, realizing that nothing was going to get done today...my brain was holding up picket signs and refusing to function.

And then I remembered I was supposed to keep everyone updated. But all I have to say is that progress is slow and annoying. Yeay! Isn't that a fun read?!? Uhg. So. From now on, I'm just going to give a one line update on the progress (or lack thereof.) And I'm keeping my blog for what I like: sharing photos and talking about fun wedding stuff. Fires = not fun. Trying to get schedules aligned = not fun.

However...Robin & Dan's and Jill & Wes' weddings? Totally fun. Totally gorgeous. And I have yet to blog about them. Shame on me. It's 10:30pm and like I said, brain = mutiny. So I'll write about the weddings tomorrow...and then I'll take my weekend off. I really really need it.

But I cannot wait to share these two portraits of Jill. She's just too stunning.

"are we there yet?...are we there yet?..."

2009-02-03T12:01:00.004-05:00

{ Soon to come ~ Jill & Wes }
Well, things are finally starting to look bright again over here. The new office is nearly complete and in the next few weeks, we can start the process of replacing anything that still smells like burning tires and get the rest moved into storage and into the office. Whew.

I couldn't wait a day longer to continue working on Jill & Wes' wedding, though, so I quickly rigged up one of the computers in our bedroom, sealed myself in, and got to work. In the next few days I'll put up Robin & Dan's gorgeous wedding and then more of Jill & Wes'. I just have to do so in between construction and the accompanying dust storms. I'm just not digging this 18th century powdered wig look...

I have to say...getting back to work has been the best medicine. I was able to work on Jill & Wes' photos for a few uninterrupted hours and it was bliss. Locked away, no speakers even to allow music to intrude on the experience of watching happy moments. Seeing Jill laughing heartily with her adorable sister, the little looks J&W gave each other during the ceremony, the groomsmen hanging like crazy monkeys from the rafters, and it's nearly impossible to find a shot of Wes where he's not wearing a huge smile.

...I cannot wait to get back to work in full force. I need that in my life. :)

in case you've ever wondered, plaster does not taste good.

2009-01-23T10:40:00.005-05:00

Well, it's been an interesting week. It feels way longer; there's been so much happening. First I want to thank everyone for your kind words, support, and understanding!

Two days after our building went up in flames, there was a four alarm fire in Grandview that laid waste to a block of businesses. So in the grand scheme of things, I don't really feel I'm entitled to much sympathy. While the rest of my building is in ruins, my little concrete block protected everything inside. We haven't really lost anything; we've just been severely inconvenienced....

So we returned a few days later to survey the fun. It smells. Really bad. Like burned rubber and wet rot. There are angry holes in the walls. The gas company turned off the gas for obvious reasons, the pipes froze and burst, and there's a leak in the gas line. The rest of the building is apparently a candidate for demolition and rebuild. In short...we're not going back. I love wedding season. It makes me giddy and happy and the last thing I want crinkling my brow is dealing with the fiasco that would accompany making the place usable again. Especially since I was going to have to be out in August anyway! (The new owners bought the building so they could have the whole space when my lease expires...) I think the universe has plans for me that don't involve that building.

SO...the plan!

1. move our day-to-day operation home immediately so we can resume our normal workflow
2. monopolize a couple of tables at the local coffee shop to use for meetings (their coffee is better than mine anyway...)
3. look for a new studio...at our leisure so we can find the "right" space and not the "oh, crap, I guess it will have to do" space.

step one: in progress

We are moving. Which requires a bit a construction. We have a three bedroom house which is nearly 100 years old. Since we've had it, we've only had the time to make one of the bedrooms inhabitable. We now have to get to work on the other two so we can have workable offices and storage. So far, we've managed to get the electric work done (this house was stuck in the dark ages...quite literally, with only 25% of the electric working) and as of yesterday, one of the rooms is halfway done. Holes in ceiling, check. Working outlets, check. Still to do: scraping off moldy peeling 70s vinyl wallpaper and fixing the crumbling plaster behind it, resurface and prepare for paint (which we will do later in the year...right now we just need four clean walls and working outlets!) Everything in the house is coated in a fine layer of plaster and saw dust, including me. And while I was denied permission to swing the fire axe (still bitter about that) I was permitted to bust out my own ceiling with a piece of discarded pipe. I did so with utter glee. Anyway, the messy stuff should be done soon and then the computers can come out of their protective plastic cocoons and work can begin again.

Oh, and yesterday was a fine day indeed: our security system was installed. Complete with fire detectors that immediately dispatch the FD. I've never been so pleased to write a check.

Today I woke up a bit panicked and frustrated worried about the move and all the production days lost. But then I realized it's only been a week and we've accomplished quite a bit in the direction of fixing this mess. All we can do is move forward as quickly as possible.

and there I was with no marshmallows....

2009-01-16T13:51:00.009-05:00

Last night's fun:

8:21 ~ Chatting with Kate on the phone.

8:24 ~ Why are my lights flickering? Must be the ice on the wires...it is Clintonville after all. Someone sneezes, 600 people are with out power...

8:30 ~ Working at my computer, annoyed at the people behind my house who won't stop yelling at each other. This is a common occurrence.

8:34 ~ Open back door. Those aren't warring neighbors...these are firefighters...yelling at me to get the hell out 'coz the whole building's on fire.

8:36 ~ Fire axe starts hitting my front door. I let them in and tell them the best place to bust through the wall to get to the main building. I stare in envy as they start swinging the axe. (Read my bio on my site...) They yell at me. "GET. OUT!" I say I'm getting my coat & purse...and grab my external back up drive, throw it in my wellie boot. "M'AME, NOW!!!"

8:38 ~ Call Wolfgang at rehearsal. He's on his way, band members in tow.

8:39 - 9:00 ~ Stand outside in sub-zero weather watching the building burn, worry, fret, pray to all that's holy.

9:15 ~ Plead with firefighters to let us in to "get my camera." Bandmates, Wolf, and I all run in and frantically disconnect computers and other drives. Firefighters see we're determined and help us get them out of the building.

9:20 ~ Sigh with relief. Overwhelmed with gratefulness to all involved. Wolf's guitarist sits in my car with me for two hours to keep me company as we watch the firefighters continue to work.

11:20 ~ The fire is out and it's deemed safe for us to re-enter, get whatever else we need, and secure our part of the building. Look around at the mess. Really quite pleased I decided not to mop the floor earlier.

11:40 ~ Get home and thank Wolf's band. We're really quite moved at how they all stepped up to help us.
12:30 ~ Do the only thing left to do: drag ourselves down to the Dube, toss back some Jack Daniels, entertain ourselves with Metalocolypse quotes ("oh nos! Someones lefts da lunchables ins da microvaves agains!") and wonder where William Murderface was when we needed him. (Brownie points to anyone who gets that reference.)

So everyone and everything is fine. However, there will be a necessary delay in production as we regroup and move our day to day operation so we can resume working. We do have a gameplan, however, we have quite a bit to move and reorganize, so this may take some time.

So of our clients, I ask for your understanding and patience. I'll be updating the blog throughout the process so you all can check for updates. And of course, please feel welcome to email or call with any questions or concerns you may have.

And for all the misfortunes we've dealt with this winter, I really feel quite lucky. :)

next on kittyTV ~ robin & dan

2008-12-08T20:44:00.004-05:00

Just couldn't wait to put this one up.
More to come soon!

anjali & nirav's wedding

2008-11-28T19:24:00.012-05:00

So this was one of those "counting the days" weddings. Anjali is Tej and Pansy's cousin and I was so happy to receive the call when she was planning her wedding to Nirav. I love their families, and since I've done two other weddings in their newly expanded family, I was so looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces and meeting some new ones, too.

The sangeet is always a blast. Here Anjali & Nirav start the festivities by lighting the diya together.
Their aunties and friends performed some fabulously choreographed dances ~

The rest of the night everyone danced. Sticks are clacked together to keep rhythm while the dancers pass each other while going around in a circle.
The next day was the wedding. This next portrait was shot by Christa. We couldn't stop gushing over how beautiful Anjali looked.
Anjali's mom went to India for weeks to find pretty much everything for the wedding. She has impeccable taste!
Nirav sees Anjali for the first time in her lengha.
My favorite ~
Or maybe it's this one ~

Nirav looking dashing ~
Ok, my favorite part of an Indian wedding - the baraat. The groom arrives on a well decorated white horse. His family accompanies him with music, drumming, and dancing. It's totally exhilarating. It makes me feel like I've chugged 3 cans of Red Bull in a row. I wish they started four blocks away. :D
Anjali's family waits for the groom's arrival.
Off the horse, Nirav dances with his family before being joined by Anjali's family.
Anjali's uncles carried her in to the ceremony.

Ghee and rice are offered to God.
Here Nirav is giving Anjali her mangala sutra. (It's the equivalent of a wedding ring.)

Anjali mentioned how bored Christa and I must be as she put on her second outfit. There was no boredom...we were way too busy ooh-ing and ahh-ing, mesmerized by all the sparklies. We asked again, "Really? Your mom picked all this out? By herself?"
Again...gorgeous. Can you believe those eyes?!?
Ok, fine...I have a lot of favorites from this one. The Scottish Rite Cathedral just has so many amazing canvases with which to work. I think they look incredible here.

I'm totally with this little guy...those treats were delicious.
Christa got this shot of the gigantic chandelier in the ballroom.
During some down time, we were able to run around and shoot the architectural details of the cathedral...there was no shortage of material.

There were many heartfelt toasts.

This was unexpected!

Another fabulous Shah wedding! I'm so happy I was able to take part in it and be around such wonderful and welcoming people. Thanks and congratulations, Anjali & Nirav!

{ venue ~ scottish rite cathedral, indianapolis / flowers ~ / cake ~ }

anastacia & shawn's wedding

2008-11-27T20:01:00.002-05:00

I heard a story from Aaron Nelson about a friend of his, a Coast Guard public affairs officer (who is also a fellow photograher) and her Navy fiancé who were trying to get married before the groom was deployed for Afghanistan. I was typing an email to him half way through reading, saying "I WANNA SHOOT IT!!!"

Most of us will never have to face the obstacles or long-term separation that war brings. We take so much for granted. Ana and Shawn's wedding is a tribute to what weddings are really for: joining two people who want to spend the rest of their lives together. It's not about the dress or the cake or the perfect flowers, a perfectly orchestrated schedule, or who's sitting next to who. The only thing that matters is showing up and saying "I do."

The wedding was to take place at the Admiral's house on the military owned side of Treasure Island in the SF bay. Anyone who knows me can tell you I micro-manage. I like to be thoroughly prepared. I was in for a surprise. Me: So how many people are coming? Ana: 15. Me: I'm sorry, 115? Ana: No, 15. Me: faaan-tastic! Oh, and the schedule? It had two times on it: hotel for hair & make up @ 12, ceremony at 4. I didn't know what to do with myself. This was going to be awesome. And off to San Francisco Kate and I went!

Ana lives in New Orleans and if you've ever been there and not visited Trashy Diva, you're totally missing out. This gorgeous little boutique is full of stunning vintage dresses and recreations and it's one of those places you swoon over and wish for an occasion that warrants buying a dress here. Ana didn't hesitate a second to snatch up this silk dress and the velvet wrap she wore over it.
Her stylist whipped her hair up into a beautiful '40s style.

totally in love with these colours ~
When we arrived at the house, I started asking where and how things were happening and Ana pointed to the grass and said they were thinking about down there and they were going to let us figure out the best place for everyone to stand. It was great. No fuss, just "hey are we ready down there?" "Yeah!" And here comes the bride.
I didn't meet Shawn until about 15 minutes before the ceremony...I liked him right away.

Kate is responsible for the gorgeous shot below.

Now I want a little lemon tree in my garden. They're just so happy and cute.
Also happy and cute ~

This next image is the reaction while Ana's dad and Shawn compare the stars and stripes on their cuffs...Shawn was pouting.

Shawn's cousin officiated the wedding; it was his first one and he did a stellar job! And I just love the "bible."
There's a story behind the "mac & cheese." You'll just have to trust me that it's a good one. Ha!
The reception dinner was on Forbes Island, which is actually a giant houseboat in the bay. The view was spectacular. And I have to admit, I really like the sealions going "ort ort ort" all night.
These are my favorites. I collect vintage photographs and all the elements that I love came together in these next two. The clothing, the setting, the lighting...neither of these were set up...they just happened.

Dinner was great. We all just sat around the table talking, eating, and toasting.

A few days later, Shawn was half way around the world. And for the record, the dress was fabulous, the flowers were lovely, and dessert was great, but the important thing is they got married and they are undoubtedly perfect for each other. I pray they can be together again very very soon.

By the way, Shawn keeps a blog about his time overseas. Ana married a very funny man. ;)

{ dress ~ trashy diva, new orleans / flowers ~ church street flowers, sf/ reception dinner ~ forbes island, sf }

**this just in: a quote from Ana about Church Street Flowers ~ What was wonderful about them? I just called them told them the general colors..."every shade of blue you think works, with wine accents!" and they did it all on their own. I am SO in love with "Love in the Mist" a flower I did not see until that day. I have already bought the pods to plant my own!

"oh my god, I'm SO exCITed!!!" :D

2008-11-18T19:34:00.009-05:00

When I first began to think about transitioning into weddings, I read a lot of wedding photographers' blogs. I did a lot of eye-rolling. Really? You think all your brides are beautiful? You're "so excited!?!" And you "love, love, LOVE" everything? How phony. How saccharine. How...eww.

So I started shooting weddings. And I jumped on the blog-bandwagon. And something horrifying happened. I sometimes wonder now if my readers think I use a template for each of my blog posts. 'Coz I start a lot of comments with "I just love..." and I started using words like "thrilled, amazing, so-much-FUN" and even the dreaded "so excited!" I find myself saying those words a lot. Be still my little black cynical heart ~ I've turned into a girl.

Of course it helps that my clients are awesome. It becomes difficult to find new words (and I'm too lazy to consult a thesaurus.) So many of their families are equally as warm, fun, and just incredible to share the day with and there isn't enough room within a simple blog post to go into all the little things that make them "fantastic" in their different ways. Or all the individual nuances of a couple that makes them "so amazing together." It can be truly overwhelming and other times so simple that no flurry of words would ever be needed.

So I just have to come to terms with the fact that I'm "so excited" about every wedding, I've always have a "wonderful" time, and all my brides have been so beautiful it moves me to tears just to look at them while editing. And so yes, when you see me write these sentiments over and over, I mean it each time. I suppose I really do love, love, love it all.

maraga & michael's wedding

2008-11-18T19:04:00.014-05:00

This is going to be another long one, friends and neighbors. Maraga and Michael had a great wedding. Christa and I were with them for 12 long hours and on the way home we talked about how we weren't even exhausted; the whole day was so relaxed (as was everyone involved) that it just happily rolled along. Stress level = 0.

I joined them the night before for their rehearsal dinner at Barcelona. A nasty thunderstorm decided to park itself directly over German Village and the wind knocked out the power. Dinner was truly by candlelight and while challenging from my standpoint, it was really pretty.

For Maraga's "something old" her mom sewed on two buttons from her grandmother's wedding gown.

I love this quiet moment of Maraga writing a letter to Michael.
Christa was assigned to the guys while they got ready. You'll have to wait for the slideshow for the photos of pushups-as-punishment, Jack, and various other weapons of mass destruction. :) I was jealous.

After the ceremony, the wedding party and Michael's & Maraga's parents all went off to the park to have a champagne cocktail hour of their own. Maraga & Michael and I took advantage of the time to get their portraits.

I knew where I wanted to take them...but it's dirty. Literally...dirt path. "Would you...go in there?" I asked meekly. I was then reminded how enthusiastic they both were about the photography when they first came into the studio to meet with me. I think we got some gorgeous shots.I could just walk away and let them be together. I just love the way they look at each other.

Maraga got her phenomenal Ulla Maija gown from The Bridal Garden in NYC. They sell designer sample and runway gowns and give all the proceeds to charities.

It's official ~ this is my favorite shot of the day.

Steven Cox. Incredible arrangements as always.

Let's face it...people often dread the toasting part of a wedding. Not at this wedding, though. After the toasts, a friend presented a slideshow that spanned from their childhood photos right up to the photos from Michael's rather adventurous proposal ~ Maraga was sent on an extravagant scavenger hunt that led her to a lighthouse...where their families were waiting, as was Michael with her ring. (Good job, Michael.) Anyway...not a dry eye in the house.

this next shot is by Christa ~Photo booths are fantastic. Don't "consider" one...GET one for your wedding. I'm not quite sure what it is about a little curtained cubicle that makes people go crazy, but my ribs have hurt from looking at the results at the end of a wedding.

Maraga and Michael work for the same fashion house as two of my other couples. So I already knew I was guaranteed fabulous dancing shots and a fair amount of joyous misbehavior.
"WhoooOOOAAAH!!!! Living on a prayer!"

I'm so happy to have shared this day with Maraga, Michael, and all their friends and family. Thanks and congratulations, you guys!

{ rehearsal dinner ~ barcelona / hair ~ holly hunt @ raffiel's / dress ~ the bridal garden, nyc , designer: ulla maija / flowers ~ steven cox / cake ~ dublin cake cottage }

Goodnight, Capt'n Thwack; your ship is sailing.

2008-11-13T22:57:00.006-05:00

The last few days have been very sad for us. Our little old man, Whisper, finally decided to cash his check. We referred to him as the Timex cat, since during his 18 long years, he defied the three death sentences he'd been handed by several vets. Even 15 months ago, when we were told he was dying, he once again flipped up his middle claw and said he'd go when he was damn good and ready. Tuesday morning, we rushed him to the vet's and we were told in no uncertain terms that this time, there was really no decision to be made. We didn't want him to suffer so we made arrangements.

Oddly enough, Sarah came over on Monday night to take "family" photos of the three of us. It still breaks our hearts that we never got a photo of our little family, Einschka included, as we typically were: us in the middle, Whisper on Wolf's left, Einschka to my right, on the couch, watching Family Guy (or something equally as stoopid.) She passed away last year on Halloween night with her little head in my hand. It was at that time we were told Whisper was on his way out, too. He thrilled us by making it through the holidays, New Year's Eve, and while he was at it, why not Valentine's Day, the whole summer and this Halloween, too?! Defiant as ever, he denied my invitation to the party I was planning for his 20th birthday.

Here's a great shot Sarah got on Monday night. This is how we often saw him around the house.

I took a ton of photos of him yesterday while we waited for the vet to come over. We could tell he felt awful, but he really loves to have his picture taken and posed quite often.

Years ago, Wolfgang told me that if I "died tomorrow, that cat would have no reason to live." He said he's never seen a cat love it's momma like Whisper loved me. While that may be true, he did have one other thing to live for: treats. He loved his treats and spent half the day screaming for them. (He's been deaf for a year and he's half Siamese...so it's literally screaming.) He'd been on a very strict diet, but the vet said he could have as many of his treats as he wanted. He was determined to eat every last one in his jar before checking out. (He was toothless, so it was super cute.)
He rested most of the day.
He hadn't been outside since he was a tiny kitten, so I bought him a lead and made him a sweater out of an old sweater sleeve so he wouldn't get cold. He really perked up and loved sniffing the air and crunching around in the leaves...and eating a few as well. I love this shot Wolfgang took of him looking up at me. He looked so happy.
Dr. Ken came later in the afternoon and Whisper, aka Señor Peespair (due to his love of being pissed off), aka Capt'n Thwack (due to his tail-thrashing temper-tantrums) went peacefully. He'd saved my life, twice literally, and many times figuratively. Nothing for us will quite be the same without him. He'd lived a very very long life and was much loved by us both. We miss him already.

stacy & ron's wedding

2008-11-05T11:58:00.016-05:00

It's a long drive up to Rochester, Michigan, but Christa and I were so looking forward to Stacy & Ron's wedding, that the time flew by...fully loaded iPod, road snacks, and ghost stories helped, too. ;) When we arrived at our hotel, we were surprised by the rather heavy welcome box that was handed to us at the desk. What could possibly be inside...bowling ball...paper weight...??? Be still our hearts ~ a bottle of Veuve! { Thanks, guys! ;) }
Drool inducing shoes!
The fantastic Tim from Muhka also made the trek to do the girls' makeup. Wait until you see how gorgeous Stacy and her ladies look!

Ah...Meadow Brook Hall. Seriously...hard to take a bad photo. The mansion and grounds are to die for.
Told you Stacy looks gorgeous ~

All the guys were a blast and Ron is hilarious. And considering the heat of the day, they were all really good sports about running around and getting lots of photos.
Here's a very rare moment of them all behaving themselves.

Florist Steven Cox does amazing things with colour and textures.

Stacy and Ron have been together for eight years. I love this victory shot from Christa.

Ron had a handmade surprise waiting for Stacy. It was his job to plan the honeymoon and she was not told where they were going.
He made her a flip book with pictures and clues to help her figure it out.
We went around the grounds and spent some time away from everyone to get their portraits. Every time I asked if they were up to doing a few more, they'd say "yes!"

They have a lot of fun togther!

Occasionally, I'm quite proud of myself. It was pitch dark outside when this next shot was taken.

This was really cute. They were singing the song to each other while having their first dance. (This next shot is from Christa.)

I swear, the flip-flop idea is pure brilliance.

Meadow Brook Hall is full of beautiful antiques and paintings. I figured this next image should look like one, too.

Late into the reception, I'd asked S&R if they wanted to do some photos inside, since we hadn't the chance earlier in the day. Off we went and a little while later, they spoke magic words: "Can we do more?" Music to my ears.

I told you Ron is hilarious ~
What a wonderful day with awesome people! Thanks, Stacy & Ron!

{ coordinator ~ courtney ladd, mi / venue ~ meadow brook hall, rochester, mi / stacy's hair ~ gina rewold@ la dolce vita, rochester, mi 248.656.1906/ makeup ~ muhka, columbus / dress ~ monique lhuillier from roma sposa, mi/ flowers ~ steven cox, columbus / invites & programs ~ on paper, columbus }

laura & drew's save-the-dates!

2008-11-01T22:51:00.004-04:00

Check out what designer Marit Hanson did with one of Laura & Drew's engagement photos for their save-the-dates! More on Marit's fine work here.

{save the date cards ~ designed by marit hanson weddings}

sheila & tom's wedding

2008-10-24T12:50:00.010-04:00

I had a great time during Sheila and Tom's engagement session earlier this year. They laugh a lot and are quick to do so, which made photographing them a breeze. Here are some of my favourite shots from their day ~

Sheila's dad was one of the speakers during the ceremony and he'd written a lovely reading which was heartfelt and funny and full of practical advice, encouraging them to be mindful of the planets from which they hail.

I'm always impressed by the colours and textures that go into the bouquets from Bloomtastic.
Sheila looking amazing in her dress ~

Tom was all smiles all day.Usually, I'm up front concentrating on the bride and groom, their parents' reactions...the detail stuff. Until they perfect cloning, I cannot be in more than once place at a time, and I'm so lucky to have a great team of photographers who can be where I cannot. Here's a shot of Christa's that I feel sums up the atmosphere of the ceremony.

I never get tired of the grounds at Darby House. The simple open landscapes are like these ever changing canvases depending on the season and weather.

Cute moment caught by Christa as Sheila danced with her dad.This cake from Corbo's Bakery in Cleveland = pretty and really yummy.It started with one little pair of discarded black dress shoes....

Earlier in the day, when we were stashing our gear, I spied a couple of boxes...suspicious boxes...one had something fuzzy sticking out of it. I'm sorry, but one cannot see something yellow and fuzzy sticking out of a box and not peek. Hoping desperately that it was a Big Bird costume abandoned from some kid's birthday bash, I lifted the box flap to see a variety of fiesta and luau paraphernalia. Must've been fun, I thought to myself. So came the end of the night, and Christa and I said our goodbyes and started packing up. I ran back out to the main room to get something...and I see this ~Obviously, the cameras came back out of the bags! Seriously, what fun! Sheila's dad was killing us. :)
The whole day was really a testament to the love Sheila and Tom share, not only between themselves, but with their family and friends. I'm so happy to have been there to see it all!

venue ~ Darby House / flowers ~ Bloomtastic / cake ~ Corbo's Bakery