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Five years ago today I started on a new journey.  After many years of just being friends, dating not dating Kyle and I were ready to make it official.  We weren’t sure if the wedding was going to happen, not because of us but due to Mother Nature. As the minuted ticked by I remember watching the tv to see what Katrina was going to do.

As we got closer to the time for the photo shoot I had scheduled with our Photographer prior to the ceremony all I could think about was marrying my friend.  The photo’s we took in the French Quarter have turned out to be some of my favorites.

After returning to the hotel I was relieved to learn that all our vendors but one had shown up.  The one who didn’t make it was the DJ but thanks to me having back up music on CD and the chef loaning us his boom box the rest of the day went off without a hitch.

Some of our guests were unable to make it due to the hurricane, our honeymoon that was supposed to be in New Orleans got cancelled.  Our adopted home city was devastated and it took us 6 months to get our wedding license.    But it’s all part of our history, our story that we will pass on to our grandchildren and they to their’s.   And even with everything that happened then and since I would still do it all over again!!!!!!

All of our guests that did manage to make it in to the city and out again safely.

I love to travel, and I love weddings.  This past weekend I had the chance to travel to Shreveport, Louisiana to photograph on of the greatest couples I have ever met.  Chloe, Shaun, their family and friends showed us such an awesome time and we are looking forward to going back.

I am editing the pictures and they are awesome!  Here is a quick picture of the bridal party.  More coming soon.

“Lot’s of people think we just met and it’s too soon for us to be getting married”.  I remember that as one of the statements that Kaymoi made to me.  But they meet when they were in middle school and dated for a while in High School.  After some time apart they found their way back to each other and are planning to get married in the fall of 2011.

I love this couple and not just because Brittney is Kyle’s daughter but because theyare so much fun and I enjoyed the day we spent together.  The were up for everything and anything and we laughed a lot.  Thank you guys for making my job so easy.

It was a warm, sunny spring day in Altamonte Springs, Fla.  It had been Ashley’s dream to marry at the Altamonte Chapel since she was a little girl and Dean was determined that she get her dream.  I’ll never forget the passion I heard in his voice when I once suggested another location closer to their reception venue Ceviche.  He let me know in no uncertain terms that this was what his bride wanted and this was what she was going to get. 

Dean and I have been friends for many year’s.  We worked together and kept each other company on some long nights.  I held parties at my house for his kids and he bought me a birthday cake once since no else seemed to remember my birthday.  I didn’t think this day would ever come, so  I was as happy for him as I could be.  Ashley is a wonderful woman and just what Dean needs.  As she was getting ready to go marry her man there were many tears  joy by her and her family.  So much so I wanted to get a hankie and just sit with them and cry.

The ceremony was short but sweet and when Dean and Ashley went in for round two on their first kiss as husband and wife the audience just clapped and shouted with joy.    At the reception Dean beamed from beginning to end.  For the first time in a long time he was in a room at the same time with everyone that he loved and it was mostly due to his new wife. Ashley was radient and content to watch her new husband as he bounced around all night like the Energizer Bunny. The cake which tasted as good as it looked was baked by the wife of  Bobby Fishbough Manager at  Tin Can films which also did the video.  I was so touched that Kyle and I were able to share in those special moments with Ashley and Dean.   And we can never thank them enough for letting us not only capture their day but seating us at the table with Dean’s family at the reception who kept us very entertained thoughout the meal.  Dean and Ashley may you have a very blessed life.

Here are some photo’s from their day.

This last image is one that kinda sums up Ashley and Dean in my opinion.  We were creating some images during the reception and towards the end I wanted them to stand in the door way.  Kyle handed Dean the flowers and before we could give him any direction he looked at them with this look on his face that made us all laugh.  Ashley quickly grabbed a beer bottle and this image was created.  They are a fun, loving couple and I am proud to call them friends.

You know I figured when I got to the point that I get to be the Mother of the Bride or the step-Mother of the Bride that it would be easy.

I thought it would involve helping out with little things, getting a good dress and showing up. No mess no fuss. Wrong!!!! This whole adventure has just started and I am already ready stressed and thinking is it over yet? Not the best thought when this is just the first child to get married and we have four more to go.

The topic of conversation today was the actual cost of a wedding as in “how much per person”. After going over the numbers, what they wanted and what they can afford. I think they were left feeling like running away and eloping. It reminded me of that moment in Father of the Bride where Steve Martin suggests having a backyard BBQ. Kyle and I suggested they go home and sleep on it.
As it stands now this wedding may be here in Orlando, in Miami, on a cruise ship or who knows what? Keep coming back and I let you know about our journey to the altar as the Parent of the Bride.

 

It was a beautiful evening for a wonderful beginning as we arrived at the lovely Tavern on the Lake for the launch party of the Orlando chapter of Wish Upon A Wedding.

This is a wish granting organization that was founded this year and hopes to make wedding wishes come true for US citizens where one person has been diagnosed with less than three years to live.  This is an organization that we at C&K Photography hope to be a part of since making people’s wishes come true is something that really moves me.

We had a good time that evening.  The music provided by DJ REKKA was great and kept me moving my head and my feet all evening.  The decor was stunning and me being the foodie that I am have to say that the cake pop provided by Cake O Licious were as beautiful as they were tasty.  We enjoyed the Mango Sorbet that Three2OH  served and my husband went back for the Carmel Ice Cream as well.  There was a photo booth that was fun but you won’t see them here because we got a little crazy with them.  The highlight for me had to be the cupcakes made by Cakes by Design Inc .  I love cake all cake and they did not let me down Sylvette was a delight to talk to and of the two flavors there I’m still not sure which was my favorite the Pina Colada or the Chocolate Coconut. 

All in all it was a great evening, fun to party with the people who make the parties happen for so many others.  As much as you hate to think of someone dying I think this is a great charity and if you know of someone who is in that situation but is still looking to get married please send them to the website or have them contact me so we can make a wish come true.

My husband called me early one Friday morning .  You have to talk to this guy he said.  After playing phone tag most of the morning I finally spoke with William who explained to me that he and his lovely bride Lisa were to be married the next day and he was in need of a photographer.  I know what your thinking ,why did he wait till the day before for something this important, right?  Before I could ask he explained that his friend who does a lot of photography work for him was sick and unable to shoot his wedding.  He had found us on the internet and then he told me I was the only photographer he had called.   I know many photographers wouldn’t take a last minute job like this but I am a romantic at heart and knew I couldn’t turn William down.

William and I talked for quite awhile and I discovered that he works with this really great charity called Clean the World.  They are recycling soap and saving lives, to read more about it click here.  While giving me details of the wedding and directions, William let me know that he and Lisa were having a small wedding at his sister’s house on the lake.  His sister had not only opened her home to them, but did the flower arangements as well.  The catering was done by Denise’s Catering and the DJ was a friend of the family.

Meeting the bride for the first time as she is about to get dressed is not the way I would always want to do things but it semed to work on this day.  Lisa was cold and nervous and ready before everyone which gave us a few minutes to take these shots and get to know one another.

This was the view of the pool and the lake where the ceremony was to be held.  It was just beautiful.

After the ceremony Lisa’s sister’s came to me and told me they really wanted to do this next shot and they knew if we didn’t do it quick she would back out.

They had an awesome cupcake tower with a cake on top.  Williams Mom let me know that I had to try the cupcakes before I left and she made sure I did that.  Both families were awesome and treated Kyle and I like we were family.  We had such a great time and I’m glad that we decided to help this gracious couple out.  William and Lisa I wish you many happy years and I thank you for letting us be a part of your day. 

To see more pictures click here.

Today I am posting a letter that an officiant has written for brides.  I found it through Wedding Wire which is a great resource for wedding planning and networking with other brides and vendors. 

And yes this blog post does count for the Cans for Comments promotion so be sure to leave a comment.

Planning and budgeting for your wedding is a LOT like planning and paying for your starter home. The obvious similarities? It is a huge purchase. It is an expression, perhaps, the first, of your couple style. AND you will be spending a lot of money in a situation where you may not feel that you’re informed enough to feel totally comfortable.

So many factors can contribute to your decision, but perhaps the most important (or close) is your budget. Every couple has one, sparse or generous. While it may not be the only thing on your mind, it certainly looms large. No one wants to walk away from such an important purchase with buyers’ remorse, fearing that they have made an expensive purchase that wasn’t the right choice. In the case of your wedding, those multiple expensive purchases contribute to a day that cannot be done over; it truly is a “once in a lifetime” experience.

Decisions based solely on price can cause regrettable (and avoidable) disasters on your wedding day. Like the classic joke, “The food was terrible, and the portions were so small!”, five hours of an obnoxious DJ or an out of tune band will ruin your reception, no matter how many mirrored balls, inflatable guitars or ‘dance motivators’ they throw in for “free”. Five thousand photos that are carelessly shot, amateurishly lit or cropped and delivered late are not going to capture your wedding day in a better way than 500 artistically created pictures that really tell your story. (And there is just no way to know what great shots were missed.) A cake no one eats is well, a cake no one eats……and a ceremony everyone yawns through is a terrible way to start this precious moment in history; yours, your friends’ and your families’.

When you buy a house, a common phrase is, Location location location! Buy the most house you can afford in the best neighborhood, not the most expensive house in a less than desireable neighborhood. How does this translate to your wedding? Easily. Instead of finding the cheapest professional in any category, strive to put together a team of the people that you truly want to create your wedding, and then work with them to see just how that can happen.

“Every wedding professional who truly is that, a professional, wants to work with the couples that want to work with us. We want you to understand why we charge what we do, how we are uniquely qualified to be a part of your wedding, and how we might work together to stay within your budget. Your photographer might suggest a shorter period of coverage (maybe just before the ceremony and then part of the reception, rather than spanning the entire day, from makeup to the last crumb of cake). Your invitation artist might deliver your wedding stationary in components, ready for your bridal party to assemble. Your officiant, (that would be me!!), might offer to do a quick run through of your processional before the wedding rather than on a separate day. (I also offer a printable, decorative copy of the ceremony readings that some of my couples have used instead of favors.) All of these are invisible ways to include the vendors who will truly enhance your days.

None of us want our couples leaving their reception thinking that their day was vastly more expensive than they hoped; that is not the memory we are striving to create. Great, experienced, enthusiastic wedding partners are worth every penny that you’ll spend on them, and they’ll help you spend it wisely. That is our wedding gift to you. ”

Written by Celia Milton Celebrant

The party is over all the planning, waiting anticipation is done.  You saw it in your minds eye made it a reality, had a great time with your friends or co-workers and now it’s done. 

But what to do with all the food, flowers, gift bags etc that’s leftover?

I have faced that question many times in my life.  Had people beg me to take items that I didn’t want or couldn’t use because they didn’t know what to do with them. 

Special E is a company that will help you with this very delima.  In a time when giving is needed and people are looking to go green or be socially-responsible why not consider making them part of your to-do list.  I know when I have my next event I will be calling them.

Being a cury woman myself I am always on the lookout for designers and fashions that speak to the needs of woman who are not a size 7 or even 10.  Sometimes going shopping is something that I will put off until I can’t put it off any longer because I find it so very frustrating.  It feels as if the stores think that just because you may need a larger size you have no sense of style. 

I have been very happy to find a few more places lately that cater to the full-figured woman such as Monif C who offers the fabulous Convertible Dress, Torrid which actually offers items that a teenager could wear and be comfortable in and Ashley Stewart which is a must for great fitting jeans.

However when I was getting married four years ago there were not a lot of options.  Things are getting better not great but better and the choices are improving.  Today I was reading one of my favorite wedding planning sites.  I found this little bit of greatness when I was planning my own wedding.  The community I found on the forums was so awesome and I have developed some lifelong friendships there.   I knew when I read this little article on their blog about a designer for Curvy woman named Cc.elaine, that I had to share it.  You know how some things are just too good to keep to yourself, well this in one of those times.

And because no post is ever really complete without a picture I’ve included one of our beautiful and cury bride Kyrstal.

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