Makeup before putting on the gown?
Any professional hair or make-up stylist, will advise that you absolutely apply your make-up before slipping into your gown. If possible try to step into your gown (without shoes), but if that isn’t do-able, have your bridesmaids assist with holding the opening of your gown as wide open as possible. Raise your arms over your head and put your hands together as if you’re preparing to drive into water. Your bridesmaids will then lower the gown over your head, and your arms will protect your face and hair. The more girls helping, the better you’ll be. Then, once you are dressed, you or your makeup artist can look at the whole picture and determine if any finishes touches are needed.
Becca & Dustin – More! (Part 2)
Because of Beth’s (True Love Photo) extreme photographic talent, and never missing a design detail, I have so many fantastic pictures to share of Becca & Dustin’s June 19th home wedding. Sit back and enjoy! Becca envisioned a little bit of Southern Elegance (she and her sister spent a few Saturdays on ladders hanging Spanish Moss from the trees), and wanted to upscale the vibe by adding lots of color, crystals, and hanging lanterns. Check, check and done!
Tables were named and peacock feathers added to compliment the table linens selected. It’s always a pleasure to work with the great gals at Celebrations Party Rentals. And thank you so much to my pal Sarah with Cuttings Floral Design for the perfectly coordinated flowers. Love ‘em!
To compliment that Southern feel, The Zebra Club, our fun and accomplished bartending service, created Mint Juleps. Hummmmmm (oh, I only sampled!)
This picture has histoy to it… Beth and I have been setting up this shot for a few years. Becca and Dustin enjoy a great cold beer… thus their toasting goblets were filled.
And, have you ever seen a wedding cake that followed with the theme so beautifully? Carissa with Sugar and Spice Specialty Desserts really outdid herself! What a focal piece!
Becca ‘s mom and dad love to garden and the entrance to their property had a long driveway lined with all sorts of flowers. Daisies, cosmos, dahlias and a beautiful crop of just beginning to bloom sunflowers.
I gave Becca the suggestion of making a bride & groom scaregrow, as it seemed so fitting with the garden. She had the best time shopping in thrift stores for what she referred to as “the ugliest ’70s style wedding gown.” Rather than a top hat for the groom, they used a Billibong logo baseball cap.
After a scrumption and plentiful buffet dinner prepared by Bravo Pasteria, wedding cake, fun at the photo booth (complete with goofy hats) by Jensen Films, then the dancing began, under the light of paper lanterns. Doug & Dara with Music on the Move added some wonderful special touches and a little interactive frivolity, and then the p-a-r-t-y dancing began. Crewful at 10:00? NOT!
Thank you Becca and Dustin, and also your wonderful families. It was a delight to work with you over the year. I’m going to miss you! You’re great parents to baby Coralynne. Enjoy your wedded life and your beautiful family. Also a huge thank you to all the vendors who worked so hard and so caringly to create a fantastic day for this couple.
Wedding Readings – Selection #7
Another heartfelt reading to share with my readers. Many couples include readings within their ceremonies, and I ask for a copy to keep in my file. This one is very nice, but unfortunately it has no title nor author. Enjoy…
Marriage is a lifetime commitment to the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal. Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life’s most important relationships. A wife and husband are each other’s best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic. Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller; commitment is stronger; even anger is felt more intensly but passes away more quickly. Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. When two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise that takes a lifetime to fulfill.
To see each other before…?
I often recommend to my clients that seeing each other prior to all the pomp and circumstance of the wedding ceremony is truly a lovely experience and a very rewarding time to come together, take in what is about to occur, breath, enjoy your company, and calm your nerves. Getting the majority of the photos handled prior to the ceremony allows more time at your reception. A bonus!
However, while noodling around on the web, I came across these two photos and absolutely fell in love with this fun concept of being so close - yet having that blockade… does make the anticipation even more jucier, eh?
Photo credit: Hagerty Photography
Our Wedding Tabletop Photo Shoot
A photo shoot is a lot of fun… no pressure, just imagination, collaboration and good times, as is evident in the recent issue of Sacramento Magazine’s Our Wedding. I asked my friend, the very talented Katie Edwards of Ambience Floral Design to join forces with me as we designed the Farmhouse Chic tablescape. The location chosen for the shoot was pure perfection – Wilson Vineyards in Clarksburg, California. Stay tuned for many more photos taken by The Memory Journalists - I know they’ll be awesome!
Wedding Readings – Selection #5
Below is another sample of a lovely reading to include within the wedding ceremony. Today’s selection is very popular and familiar to many. Check out the previous posts to review other Wedding Readings.
I LOVE YOU by Roy Croft
“I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you, for the part of me that you bring out. I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart, and passing over all the foolish, weak things that you can’t help dimly seeing there, and for drawing out, into the light, all the beautiful belongings that no one else had looked quite far enough to find. I love you, because you are helping me to make of the lumber of my life, not a tavern, but a temple. Out of the works of my every day, not a reproach, but a song. I love you, because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, and more than any fate could have done to make me happy. You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself. Perhaps that is what being a friend means, after all.”
E-Session of Emily & Brian
I am such a promoter of engagement photo sessions. It’s a perfect opportunity for the couple and the photographer to further develop their working relationship. I just received these great photos of the e-session of my darling October, 2010 couple. Check ‘em out!
Emily and Brian will be marrying at beautiful Wine & Roses in Lodi, California. It’s been great fun working with Miss Emily; she is focused, knowledgeable, imaginative, and a super sweet person (and a darn pretty bride-to-be, too)! Thank you to Tim of Round Top Photography for sending me these images; can’t wait until the big day as I know the wedding photos will be outstanding!
Celebrating the First Anniversary
Just had to post this cute photo… Sara & Kyle celebrated their 1st Anniversary on May 15th (see previous post) and they were lucky enough to go back to Napa Valley to stay at The Harvest Inn in their same wedding night suite. Here they are one year later ( holding up their finger to indicate #1) and they are standing in the same spot that they exchanged vows. I also included a wedding photo of them standing in the vineyard just beyond the ceremony patio.
Posing in the vineyard
Hillary & Shawn – married
Hillary & Shawn Luesing married March 27, 2010, on a lovely sunny, warm spring afternoon. Hillary contacted me 3 months prior to the wedding day asking for “day of” coordination and I happily was able to assist her pull the last pieces together and be there on wedding day to oversee, coordinate, facilitate and send my happy bride down the aisle! The married table-side at the Placer Event Center in Rocklin, California. 
Working with her florist Mary, (a friend and extremely talented floral designer), the color palette of vibrant blue, hot pink and limely green was perfectly executed.
Apparently Hillary’s mom makes a mean Ginger Snap cookie, and each guest was lucky enough to go home with a bag of cookies, which included the coveted recipe. Snappy!
The cake was beautiful and was created by another very talented acquaintance.
This was my first opportunity to work with Gary Buth of G-Photo Design. He was terrific! Fast, efficient, very pleasant, easy-going, creative and ever-so-clever… isn’t this picture cute?
Thank you Hillary and Shawn. It was a beautiful day. I wish you well.
Another Real Weddings blog post
Another blog post is up on the fantastic Real Weddings website. As a guest blogger, this time I wrote about the five mistakes to avoid on Wedding Day. Read about it here. Good advice, if I don’t mind saying so!