Happy Valentine’s Day

I’m off to second shoot a wedding, but wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day.  Hope it’s a great one with lots of love from friends and family.

{For a fun project–Crayon Hearts…check out this page.  We made them for Zeke’s class last week.}

Should we see each other before the wedding? {Wedding Wednesday}

When I was planning our wedding I went with the traditional custom and didn’t see Josh before the ceremony.  Not seeing him just seemed like the “thing to do.”  But, if I had to do it all over, I would opt for a first glance.  After being right there as so many others have enjoyed this special moment…I just with I would have known.

Many of our brides also choose not to see their groom ahead of time.  Please know we would never try to talk anyone into seeing their hubby-to-be if they felt strongly about it, but for those that are just not seeing each other for the same reason I did…I have a few reasons why you may want to opt for this newer trend.

1. It’s often the only time of the day when the bride and groom get to be together alone.
2. It’s comforting.  When a couple sees each other they often are able to calm one another’s nerves and focus more on the day.  (I spent most of my own ceremony thinking, I have no idea what is being said.  I can’t focus at all.)
3. I’ve had more than one couple tell me it was their favorite time of the day AND resulted in their favorite photographs of the day.
4. We can still capture both of your faces the first time you see one another; it’s just not in front of everyone else, making the moment much more intimate.  (Dave and I have become pros at orchestrating the location and placement in order to get some great shots.)

Here are two examples of the first glances from 2009:

Jasmine Star, a photographer in Southern CA who I adore, also blogged on this same topic.  I would highly recommend checking out what she has to say here and here.

Wedding Albums {Gallery Matted}

A few weeks back, I shared our new album company with you.  After much consideration, we decided to go with the Finao One Album and the Finao Matted Album. Today I’d like to quickly share some of the Matted Album images.

Drum Roll Please…

A frosted cover:

I am working on my sister’s album right now.  I can’t wait to share it with you when it arrives.

Save-the-Dates

I’ve been working on save-the-date cards for Steve and Angela.  I met with them Saturday to discuss their ideas and this is what I’ve come up with so far.

What do you think?

Don’t forget to enter our contest!

Ohio Wedding Photographer {Casey & Jennifer}

They say she was always pretty cool about guys.  She dated but always kept her head.  Then she went out with him and something was different.  She was falling in love.  And so was he.

We spent the last hours of 2009 watching as Casey and Jennifer were married in front of their friends and family.  New Years Eve promises so much: a new future, fresh opportunities, starting over.  What could represent more of a new beginning than the joining of lives?  The night was magical as each of them pledged their hearts and lives to the other.  Everyone gathered around them waiting to say goodbye to a year and to wish blessings on two people who are so in love.

With all my heart I wish these two the best in everything.  I hope 2010 brings so much happiness and joy to both of their lives.

Here’s Jennifer with her made of honor.  And Jennifer was, well, Jennifer was beautiful.

Casey and Jennifer chose to see each other before the ceremony (an idea I just LOVE) and Dave and I were there to capture every second of it.  A “First Glance” allows for an intimate moment where the couple can be together before the stress of the day begins.  It’s also one of my favorite moments to shoot…because it is always so special.

I think he’s impressed…what do you think?

Casey…hamming it up.

The hotel lobby had some incredible spots to shoot.  This lobby + This couple =

We stepped outside for a few shots, but the chill chased us away pretty quickly.  I think it was worth it though because look at these:

Here’s one of the moments that makes you melt.  I love the way he loves her.  He whispers in her ear and although no one but Jennifer knows what was said…you know it was sweet…because her smile gives it away.

Casey’s sister sang at the start of the ceremony.  She may have one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard.  Seriously.

There’s something about the next one I love.

After the toasts, Casey shared some words of his own.

Casey was planning the following surprise since he got down on one knee.  He secretly had their engagement photographed and added the photographs to the end of their reception slideshow.  Look closely at the screen…it says, “Will You Marry Me?”  I think Jennifer’s reaction was priceless.

Isn’t she radiant?

Less than 30 seconds from 2010.  I love this shot Dave captured…Casey and Jennifer with all their loved ones crowded around them.

Welcome 2010.  Welcome a new life together.

Thank you both for inviting us to share your day.  Blessings to both of you.

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Akron Wedding Photographer {Bryan & Michelle}

She’d moved all around as a child but ended up living in Ohio and attended Kent State for college.  That’s when they first saw each other.  It was a mutual friend’s idea (and a good one, I’d say.  :))  She introduced the two of them and they immediately hit it off.  In fact, they’ve been together ever since.  They eventually moved to Chicago but planned the wedding in Akron where not only would they be married…they’d be able to unite a family that’s all over the country.

They have a quiet kind of love.  They are not the kind to flaunt their relationship but if you pay attention and look closely you see a bond that won’t be broken.  They love each other and want each other.  But it’s more than that.  They need each other.

As everyone travelled from all over the country to get to the wedding, the wedding dress was almost left in Chicago.  No worries though.  Obviously it made it and it was beautiful.

Michelle and her grandmother made all the bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres.

The ceremony took place at St. Paul’s on Brown Street in Akron.  The church has windows everywhere and the light was beautiful that day.  Michelle looked just radiant on her father’s arm.  Don’t you think?

Their joy was contagious.

We then headed to Firestone Metro where Bryan and Michelle were engaged.  You might remember their story here.

The weather was gorgeous!  No it was even better than gorgeous.  Who would have ever imagined the last weekend before December would look like this?  The purples looked fabulous with the fall colors and blue sky.

The following two might be my favorite shots from the day.

…I’ll leave it to Michelle to explain what was so funny.

The next one just makes me laugh.

Despite the beauty of the day…it was still a bit chilly so we headed to the reception at Chenoweth.  As usual, Donna, Chenoweth’s wedding coordinator had every detail cared for.

More from their first dance.  (You can see a couple more here.)

I’m not sure why, but I love this shot.

Michelle wore her mother’s veil.  She had pearls added to match her dress.

The reception was a blast.  Bryan…I have to say…I never expected such a show!

This just may be one of my favorite dancing pictures ever.  Isn’t that adorable!

Dave stayed for the rest of the reception and I am sorry to say that I missed this:

Reception Hall: Chenoweth Banquet Hall Donna does a tremendous job.

DJ: DJ Crew We worked with Jeff and Aron.  They kept the dance floor going all night.  Check out the slideshow and see for yourself.

Congratulations to both of you, Bryan and Michelle.  Thank you for sharing your day with us.

Please click below to view the slideshow of more images.  (If you are viewing this on Facebook or an RSS feed, click on the following link and scroll down to view: www.heritagestudioandgallery.com/blog.)  Please be patient as the images first load.  It’s worth it.

I Love Weddings

I do.  (Pardon the pun.)  But I really do.  There is so much to love about them….not the least of which are the photographs.  I wish I could share the complete wedding of Bryan and Michelle with you but I am a bit of a perfectionist and I want  to make sure it is all perfect.  For now I will leave you with one two more image.

Obviously, I attend a lot of weddings.  I always spend most of the day smiling and laughing but I rarely cry.  I am just not a happy crier.  Bryan and Michelle’s first dance teared me up a little though I must admit.  They held on to each other as if they never wanted to let go.  It was beautiful.

Unique Bridesmaid and Groomsman Gifts

It’s Wedding Wednesday (I know, I know, almost Thursday ) again and I wanted to share a thought I recently had.  If I had it to do over, I would choose different gifts for my bridesmaids and groomsmen than what we gave.  There is so much available these days (gosh, I sound like I’m 80!).  One search on the internet will bring up hundreds of options from personalized jewelry to handbags to t-shirts.  And don’t get me wrong…some of these things are cool.  Really cool.  But yesterday I started thinking about the gifts I have received that meant the most and one kept coming to mind again and again….books.

I imagine selecting a title for each one of my attendants…something special just for them…and inscribing a meaningful message inside.

Here are some fun ideas just to get you started:

• The chef in your life…How about the best selling cookbook of all time?  Joy of Cooking 75th Anniversary Edition
• An avid traveller…A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveller by Frances Mayes
• Sports fan…Quiet Strength: The Principle, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy  (Josh loved this book…and despite being an English teacher, he’s not a big reader.  Shhh.  Don’t tell his students.)
• A movie buff….1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die by Stephen Jay Schneider
• The Interior Designer…House Beautiful The Home Book
• An art lover…National Geographic Image Collection by Michelle Anne Delaney, National Geographic, and Maura Mulvhill or Ansel Adams in Color by Ansel Adams, John P Schaefer, Harry M Callahan, Andrea G Stillman, and James L Enyeart

I’m not sure if it’s a good idea….but I hope it helps someone.  I’d love to hear what ideas you have or what you gave.  Feel free to comment below.

Savor the Season

I haven’t written in a few days and I’m not completely sure why except that I don’t know what to say.  It’s not that there is nothing going on.  In fact it is just the opposite.  My mind seems to be spinning already with Christmas and I just want to curl up under a blanket and take a nap.  But, this year I am determined to not get stressed.  (Is that possible?)  I hate that the season that is supposed to mean so much usually ends up lost in rushing around.  This year, I will savor the season.

I sit here typing with my first plan for enjoying the winter moments…online shopping with my coffee and pumpkin spice cream.  Mmmmm.  Love the combination.

Do you need some gift ideas?  Here’s some of the things I am looking at this year.

• The frame shop has some options that might be great for friends or family.  Remember the letter frames?  They are completely customizable and you can spell a last name or favorite team.   Dave can also frame a number of items…family heirlooms, football jerseys, baby outfits, etc.
• A great gift for a little girl is Loving Family Dollhouse and accessories.   My little girl LOVES it.  She wakes up most days saying, “I wanna git up and pway wif my doll house.”
• This one can’t be ready in time for Christmas…but what a fun gift for kids.  Totally customizable too.
• I love supporting home businesses.  This guy makes some cool wooden toys.  Here’s his  semi truck.
• I’m considering the “Create Your Own–Three Dress Set” for Eden since she LOVES dress up.
• O.K.  This last one has nothing to do with Christmas shopping…but it’s the outfits I’ve picked out for the kids to wear on Christmas.  This one is for Zeke.  And this is for Eden and her doll.

I am at a loss for what to buy the adults in my life…but I’ll have the kids done in no time.  I try to keep it to three gifts for each of them.  Well, three gifts and and an ornament.  I select an ornament that has some meaning relating to the past year and it’s my hope that when they move out they will have a set of ornaments to take with them.

And since a blog post without a picture is like December without hot chocolate.  Here is a small peek of Bryan and Michelle’s wedding Saturday.  Can you believe this weather?!

Another Great Vendor–Paper Persuasions {Invitations and more}

With all the craziness in the studio lately I have slacked a bit on Wedding Wednesday.  I apologize for that because there is so much good stuff out there and so many great vendors I want to share.

I am so excited to introduce you to these awesome ladies.  They work everyday around one of my favorite things…paper…and lots of it.  It is with pleasure that I introduce you to Stephanie and Stacy.  I love what they have to say about the trends in 2010…especially the purple part.  It is my favorite color.  Love it.

Can you tell us a little about each of you?
We are just two sisters who get along fabulously and whose individual strengths and weaknesses balance each other out. Stephanie is creative, impulsive, passionate and driven – she dreams big and acts bigger. I (Stacy) am practical, methodical, and organized – I think everything through and consider all options. Not only are we both Certified Professional Wedding Planners, we each have extensive backgrounds in customer service. It is our personal mission to use our knowledge and past experiences to provide the best service in the industry. We love what we do and it shows!

{Oh my goodness.  I think I could spend hours at their booth.}

How did the two of you get into this business?
Believe it or not, it was never planned. When Steph got married, she made all of her own stationery. Her wedding planner was so impressed with her work that she pushed her into pursuing it as a business. She began by working from home selling samples of her work on Ebay. One day she received a contact from a local customer who wanted to meet in person, so she decided it was time to move into a small office building.  I helped her with office tasks and production of orders, and within two years, it was necessary to move to a larger location in a shopping plaza!

What do you like best about it?
Hands down the best thing about what we do is our clients!!! We both love meeting new people and hearing about their weddings. We have formed lasting friendships with several of our past brides and that really means the world to us!

What types of services does Paper Persuasions provide?
We offer invitations and personalized stationery for all events in a variety of methods and price-points. We are best known for our custom line of products which are all printed, cut and assembled right here in our studio by the two of us. We also offer over 50 special-order albums with thousands of products to see, touch and feel before you order. And we’re proud to now be offering print-at-home invitation kits and accessories. The majority of our business is wedding related as we offer coordinating invitations, ceremony programs, table numbers, seating charts, escort cards, thank you cards, seals and labels…and more!

{Amy here…These are some examples of the beautiful work they do.}

{Love the damask, don’t you?}

{It makes me want to get married all over again.}

When do you recommend bride’s contact you?
Brides should begin looking for invitations around 6 months before their wedding. If they are interested in custom design, they should start the process as early as possible, ideally 7-8 months before their wedding.

Do you have any advice for bride’s and groom’s as they start looking for invitations/save-the-dates?
Of course! The first piece of mail you send to your guests is the first glimpse they will have of your wedding day; it is important to accurately set the tone!  We strongly advise brides to visit a stationery professional who will provide assistance in selecting products that fit both your budget and your style.  A true stationery professional will work hard to save you money and will also educate you in wording and invitation etiquette.

Can you share some of your favorite products?
We have been focusing on growing our personalized stationery offerings.and I have to say that the entire Chloe B line is awesome! We also love working with anything damask right now and of course pocket folds.

Are there any upcoming trends for 2010 that you see becoming popular?
For paper color trends: purple, purple and more purple! For stationery trends: coordination of the invitation AND accessories such as programs, table numbers and escort cards. We definitely see a greater number of brides selecting their accessories the same time as their invitations so that they are sure that everything will match.

What features of your website should brides/grooms be sure to check out?
All brides should be sure to check out the Resources section of our website. Here we offer basic wording and addressing etiquette along with other planning tools to help them through their entire wedding planning process.

Do you have any funny stories that you can share?
The hardest we’ve ever laughed at work would have to be on our way back from an IKEA trip. We had made the 1.5 hour trip to pick up magnetic display boards for the new studio. We strategically filled my trunk with as many boards as possible, but halfway through our drive home, my trunk suddenly popped open and boards started shooting out onto the highway!  As soon as we realized what was happening, we pulled over; Stephanie jumped out of my car and started running down the highway in and out of traffic trying to pick up the ‘escapees’. We couldn’t figure out how it happened until we started stacking them back up and realized that the emergency trunk release had been triggered by the shifting of the boards! We laughed the rest of the way home!

Thank you both so much for taking the time to tell us about yourselves and Paper Persuasions.

Below you can find their contact information.  Check them out.

BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/paperpersuasions
Paper Persuasions – an invitation studio
526 Graham Road – Suite 2 – Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221
office:330-945-6914 – fax: 330-439-1425
w:www.paperpersuasions.com
Mon/Fri/Sat: 10 – 4,  T/TH: 10 – 8, CLOSED WED, SUN

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