Blog
One of the cool things about going to weddings is seeing all the different details that make each couple different. Jennifer and Brian had a box sealing during their ceremony in which they put letters to each other and a bottle of wine to be opened on their first anniversary. Once they open it they will reseal it with another bottle of wine and place it on the mantle to be opened on their 5th anniversary. I thought that was a fun way to celebrate as the years go by.
Every once in a while I take a picture that has 2 of my brides in it. I shot Shereen's wedding last year and this weekend I shot her sister Deena's wedding at the Conrad. They had a ton of friends and family around them the entire day! At one point a Deena lost her veil in the wind on the top floor and the Conrad was able to pull up the footage from the security cameras and find it! It had blown under a car in the parking garage! Crisis averted!
As a photographer I get a front row seat to the most important day in people's lives. One of the shots I always try and get is the grooms face when he sees his bride coming down the isle because thats when he realizes he's getting married and all the emotions of the day and moment come out in a deep breath, a quivering lip and sometimes crying or all the above! Alex had the deep breath and cried when he saw Emma with her parents coming down the aisle to marry him.
Where do I start with Caitlin and Zach? Caitlin's brother's epic toast, the downtown twilight shots or one of the groomsmen rapping the entirety of "Ice, Ice baby?" Maybe getting locked out of the venue or meandering around downtown in the party bus to the canal? So many different things happened to make Caitlin and Zach's wedding day memorable. My favorite part is still sneaking them out of their reception and taking twilight pictures. It helps slow the day down and helps them enjoy the night out just the two of them.
I love first looks and Stephanie and Steve's did not disappoint. A lot of anticipation melts away during this moment. The Maid of Honor was Stephanie's sister and gave a great growing up speech while the Best Man was Steve's brother who recited a poem that he wrote about Steve. Stephanie's dad welcomed Steve's three boys into the family with a, "We got the better deal because we got three boys along with Steve!"
I love how weddings take on the personality of the couple and Kim and Grant's wedding was no exception! The cake topper was How to train your dragon with specialized cupcakes. Centerpieces were homemade by the groom's mom using window blocks stuffed with lights and ribbon. It just goes to show that when everyone works together having a reception that is tailored to the couples is very possible. Kim looked amazing and Grant looked like the happiest guy in the world! We also managed to get some great photos on the swing!
One of the things I love to do at weddings is to sneak my couples away during their reception for a mini twilight photoshoot. We literally stepped out of The Sanctuary on Penn and took their twilight pictures. When Natalie saw them she said, "I just have to hug you, this is going on our mantle for 40 years!"
Kim and Grant's snowy engagement shoot was a long time coming! We had scheduled a snow shoot right after a snow storm only to arrive and find out there was next to no snow on the canal! This time we waited for the mother of all storms and were not disappointed! Grant's brother arrived to help hold the props and managed to arrive coatless so he spent most of the time under the blanket they brought as a prop!
