Just after New Years was the wedding of Laci and Ryan.  A wonderful, down to earth couple that I have not known very long, but that did not matter. Very quickly they let me into  their lives and I was able to shoot their day with no inhibitions. With just one meeting before their wedding we got to know each other and trust each other. Made me realize that people come into your lives at moments you are not expecting and exceptional things happen. Most exceptional  to me was how they met. New York City a few years back. Laci and a girlfriend are sitting on a front stoop of her building and Ryan and a friend are walking by on their way out for the night. Ryan stops and introduced himself to Laci. Invites her and her friend to join them for the night. The rest….is history. Exceptional history.

Details:

Wedding: The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception

Reception: The Sawyer Room

Coordination: Soiree Event Designs

Flowers/Lighting: Studio Dan Meiners

Catering: Avenues Bistro

Getting ready at the Sawyer Room.

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This time last year, Mark and I took a trip to Cabo when I was about 8 months pregnant with Char.  A few weeks ago, we returned with her but this time she got to touch and see it all herself!

Mimi takes Char for a walk on the beach…

Some people try to sneak drugs over the border- it’s diapers for us!!

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What a fantastic way to wind down the wedding season.   Michelle and Nathan and their families were an absolute joy to document.  I had the couple and Michelle’s family in the studio last night for a viewing and I was so touched how close they all are.  It was wonderful to sit back and watch how they reacted to the images of that fantastic day.  It was Michelle, Nathan, Michelle’s parents, her younger brother and a bridesmaid in the studio last night.  What struck me was how unapologetic they all were with their showing their emotions.  Just like on the wedding day.  It was so refreshing to be able to really see such a great family dynamic.  It was a flashback to the wedding.  The entire day was the same.  I told Michelle’s dad and Nathan last night how impressed I was that both of them just let themselves get wrapped up in the moment of the day and did not worry about how they looked and if it would bruise their machismo.  In the end those two men made for some of the best images of that day.  You do not see that much anymore.

Thank you all for being so welcoming to me and Kate on that day.  Thank you for reminding me what life is all about.  Family.

The details-

Ceremony- St. Thomas More

Reception- Californos

Dj- Holmes Music World

The images.

I love when brides get ready at the house they grew up in.  It is like pressing fast forward in the learning process about them and their story.  Michelle’s parents house was no exception.  It helped me to see what … Read the rest

Annie and Victor’s wedding wrapped up a really wonderful season of weddings for me.  As I kicked my feet up the day after my last wedding of the year, and thought about the night, I just could not get over how moved I was by several elements from this wedding- particularly Victor’s toast to Annie in front of hundreds of guests at the reception.  It was so meaningful and I walked away from these two with a wonderful confidence in thier love and that it is real,  and that it will last.

For that reason, I knew I just had to get my hands on that toast.  Luckily, our friend Jeff Stultz was the videographer, and he graciously let me use the audio that he so aptly recorded.  I also need to thank Tyler bigtime for sitting down with me today and helping me pull off this multi-media slideshow since he has had much more chance to dabble in it than I have. (and Mike Varel, good friend, thanks for editing those audio clips for me)

Annie, Victor, Berenbom, and Wishna families- I was truly honored to record your story.  Pop open a bottle and enjoy the show!

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There is first time for everything.

When Sarah’s mom approached me about documenting her daughter’s Batmitzvah I was excited about the opportunity.   When we met I told her I had never done one before but was willing to give it a go.  See as a photographer on a newspaper you never knew what you were getting into.  You just shoot it.

In the end I admired her confidence and willing to basically take a risk on this one.  It paid off.  It was a wonderful thing to document.  Sarah was very impressive to me how seriously she took this and how mature she was throughout.

Thanks for letting me be a part of it.  Lets just say I forgot what it is was like to be 13!

The details:

Ceremony- New Reform Temple

Floral/event design- Blue Bouguet

Party- The Berg Event Space

Photobooth- boothBOOTH

The images.

I attended the rehearsal for the ceremony and I am glad I did.  This moment between Sarah and her mom really shows how close the family is.

Sarah on the actual day doing her readings.

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