The weather in the Twin Cities has rocked lately. Very fall weather. Fall invigorates me, and the kids are all hyped up with Cooper going to kindergarten and all…so we had a day where we dressed up, had a special treat or two and took some pictures. Yep, my kids are CUTE!
Woah, getting personal…
I normally don’t post very personal things on this blog. The blog is meant to inspire, inform, and educate as well as show off some pretty pictures and amazing ideas from our fantastic brides. But this has been a tough month. A lot of shooting and editing…too much editing, back to school, a contractor running off with our money, some doctor stuff with myself, the general craziness of having three little ones AND a business AND a house that is in disrepair, all the while trying to eat healthy (well, healthier), exercise, keep clients informed, get new clients, stay current with vendors I love…yeah, just a bit busy. And I feel like I’m losing now…at the end of wedding season with a CRAZY November coming up…EEEK!
So I wanted to drop a note telling all of you readers (all 6 of you) that I appreciate the support, the kind words, the encouragement and I promise I won’t be crazy forever. And I doubly promise that I will always be mentally there and creatively on top of things when I photograph =) The plus side? We have been promised a long fall and a mild winter, and even in this recession, Studio Laguna has been blessed with amazing brides and have been working with awesome vendors. We are happy and healthy and making sure to enjoy life and not let the craziness rule our lives (for the most part).
I came across this Margaret Cho quote and just had to share. I think this is a great quote for people who are overwhelmed to step back and stop getting caught up in the craziness for a minute.
“And I have a lot of self-esteem, which is amazing, because I’m probably somebody who wouldn’t necessarily have a lot of self esteem as I am considered a minority and if you are a woman, if you are a person of color, if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, if you are a person of size, if you are person of intelligence, if you are a person of integrity, then you are considered a minority in this world. And it’s going to be really hard to find messages of self-love and support anywhere. Especially women’s and gay men’s culture. It’s all about how you have to look a certain way, or else you’re worthless. You know, when you look in the mirror and think, ‘Ugh, I’m so ugly, I’m so fat, I’m so old.’ Don’t you know that’s not your authentic self? But that is billions upon billions of dollars of advertising. Magazines, movies, billboards, all geared to make you feel shitty about yourself, so that you will take your hard earned money and spend it at the mall on some turn-around crème that doesn’t turn around shit. If you don’t have self-esteem, you will hesitate before you do anything in your life. You will hesitate to go for the job you want to go for. You will hesitate to ask for a raise. You will hesitate to call yourself an American. You will hesitate to report a rape. You will hesitate to defend yourself when you are discriminated against because of your race, your sexuality, your size, your gender. You will hesitate to vote; you will hesitate to dream. For us to have self-esteem is truly an act of revolution, and our revolution is long overdue.”
Jim and Kacie
Jim and Kacie were married today!
The couple had an autumn theme to their Duluth wedding, with brown and cream colors and a natural northwoods focus. Kacie had all the details thought out and must have spent hours on etsy sites putting together all of her details. Kacie and Jim are also a wedding vendor’s delight, choosing vendors they trust and letting them do their thing. We were excited to learn the Erin Mullin (message me if you want her contact information) was designing the invitation suite and she did a gorgeous job as always. The designer at Engwall’s Florist and Greenhouse was ecstatic to get to work with the seed pods, grasses, and greenery that Kacie chose, and went all out to create beautiful arrangements. An unexpected plus? The room where the flowers were stored smelled so good…and we could have eaten the kale if we got really hungry ; )
Kacie was stunning with her romantic curls and a one shoulder gown that was sophisticated and fit her like a glove. And Jim cleaned up nicely as well. ; ) Since the couple has been together for almost 12 years, the wedding wasn’t a joining of families, but simply a gathering of people that already loved each other and couldn’t wait to have a good time. The members of the wedding party were so proud of their Duluth origins and have all known each other since about 7th grade, so their antics were fun to watch (and document). The bridesmaids kept Kacie laughing and calm, right up until it was time to walk down the aisle and see Jim for the first time. The ceremony was very sweet, with a few laughs thrown in and there was an exuberant first kiss.
After the ceremony, we hopped onto a trolley from the Duluth Transit Authority (they are GREAT by the way!) and drove to a couple favorite spots for pictures. Even though there was a harsh sun and the girls were in 3″ heels on the rocks, they were all troopers and we had a blast taking pictures. Since there was quite a bit of driving, there was also quite a bit of fun had on the trolley, including a “tour guide” pointing out all of the landmarks in Duluth where Kacie and Jim had history making moments.
The trolley got us all safely to Clyde Iron Works, a fairly new venue in Duluth. This space is great! The design shows off the industrial nature, with exposed beams, brick walls, iron railings, signs with rusty patina and concrete. It is a lovely blank slate. Kacie dressed it up with white draping from Avant Decor, and tables with a centerpiece of river rock and candles hanging from branches. There was a candy buffet for guests to nibble on before dinner, Red Swan Catering cake and cupcakes for dessert AND a late night snack of pizza, so the guests were well fed and happy. Intrigue entertainment did a great job as host, making sure things went smoothly and playing a good mix of songs throughout the night.
Kacie and Jim, thank you so much for having us be a part of your day! Here are our favorite images, enjoy!
Rocket Science Weddings and Events
Every once and a while, I like to interview other wedding professionals. It is fun to see their perspective on weddings and share their insights with readers of this blog. This time around I asked Gretchen, owner of Rocket Science Weddings and Events to share her expertise.
Gretchen Culver is a fabulous person and a think outside the box type of creative. She is a go getter, a mom, fantasy football smack talker, walking taco eater, and a great date to networking parties. I love her passion for her brides, and her creative ideas. She knows how to work a budget and be the calm force on the wedding day that makes everything go smoothly. She is also a member of the Independent Wedding Association which makes her an all new level of awesome =)
Here is our interview, enjoy!
What is your experience as a wedding planner?
I have been planning weddings since 2002 in some fashion or another. I launched my own company is 2009, Rocket Science Weddings and Events.
What is the biggest logistical issue on a wedding day that most couples overlook?
Who is going to pick everything up at the end of the night. There are a million different pieces that need to come together, especially if there are any DIY projects involved. Thought is given to how everything is going to be set up, but not how they are coming down.
Another logistical issue involves cars. If the bridal party drives to the church, but then gets in a limo after the ceremony to go to the reception, all of the cars are going to be at the church and the wedding party will have to figure out how to get there at the end of the night or the next morning.
What is the benefit of hiring a wedding planner first before your other vendors?
There are many!!! First, the amount of stress taken off the bride and groom. Some of the biggest decisions about the wedding day come first (venue, budget, guest list, etc.) and many couples try and tackle them on their own. This can be very stressful. I see a lot of couples coming to me after they have found the venue because they are too stressed out and done with planning. Getting engaged changes family dynamics too, which can be stressful.
Second, expertise. You are only getting married once, I help people get married every weekend. My expertise is going to translate into time and money savings for you. Who wants to spend hours and hours researching vendors?! And how do you know you are getting the best price? We are going to help you find the perfect vendors for your budget and style.
Third, design. Some brides have lots of ideas about how they want their wedding to be, without having any way to translate those ideas into reality. Additionally, a good designer can create more out of your vision than you thought possible. Not all wedding planners are designers, but can direct you to a designer if need be.
Do you do destination weddings as well as local?
If you count Wisconsin, I do destinations! I would love to do more destination weddings, but currently I do most of my events in the greater Twin Cities.
How many hours does a typical day-of planner work?
I am sure it varies from planner to planner, but my day-of package entails 30-40 hours of work. The day of can be 10-15, plus all of the preplanning.
If you have to trim a budget, how do you go about doing that? What goes into the decision making?
I think about what the bride and groom value, and trim everything else. For example, if they really really want letterpress invitations and the budget is already maxed out, we may have to cut from decor or somewhere else to accommodate. However, a well planned budget from the get go should account for all those expenses.
What is your favorite hidden gem wedding business in the Twin Cities?
I love Gold’n Treasures, it is literally a hidden gem. They are a jewelry shop like no other. As you enter the shop in the basement of a brownstone, you are greeted with dum dum suckers and diamonds. It is great!
For vintage rentals, which I love, the up and coming Lime Canary Vintage Rentals is a great resource.
What is your favorite first dance song?
“Stay with You” by John Legend. It was my first dance song, that is probably why.
What colors do you see being big for 2012 and 2013? Any other trends we should be aware of?
Colors – metals, bright colors and mixing and matching. A pale blue with a neon turquoise or something like that. A big trend I am seeing is creating lounge areas in the reception space. Oh, and my favorite trend, pre-ceremony cocktails! I really like to plan non-traditional weddings so the rules go out the window, I like to think of my brides as trendsetters.
What wedding tradition do you wish would go away? What tradition do you love?
The tradition I wish would go away is definitely the dollar dance. It just isn’t right. One tradition I love is using a signature flower for the bride and groom. This flower is only n the bride’s bouquet and the groom’s boutonniere and nowhere else in the arrangements or decor.
So there you have it! I can’t tell you how through all the weddings we have photographed, we have realized how invaluable a wedding designer and planner can be. Gretchen immediately puts you at ease and really does have the talent to wow your guests. Go look up Rocket Science and follow her blog for fun ideas!
Ryan and Katherine
Ryan and Katherine were married today!
We started the day with the guys and ladies getting ready at separate locations. Ok, the ladies were getting ready, the guys were dressed and watching the Michigan game ; ) Katherine’s bridesmaids had literally traveled from all over the world to be here, and they enjoyed helping her primp for the big day. She looked simply flawless in her Nicole Miller gown from Rush’s Bridal, and her gold Kenneth Cole shoes were the epitome of style. All of the bridesmaids wore a sparkly soft gold shoes of varying styles, which looked great with their tailored dresses.
The ladies hopped into the Black Tie Limo for a quick photo session in Excelsior and then headed over to St. Martin’s by the Lake for the ceremony. I love this little church, and the architecture was made even more charming with a garland of flowers going up the hand rails to the front doors. Ryan was all smiles when he saw Katherine for the first time that day, with her chapel length train creating quite a vision as she walked down the aisle. The ceremony went well, even with two toddler flower girls, and the couple shared an excited kiss at the end. After the ceremony, we had time for some photography.
Zinnia Design Florals created lovely arrangements that embraced Katherine’s purple color scheme, while adding a bit of delicate fern to represent their love of the outdoors. The bouquets stood out beautifully against the bridesmaid’s bright dresses. The guys were simply dapper in their tuxes, and ready to pose. The pashminas that were meant for the maids if the day got cold ended up around the groomsmens’ necks which immediately upped the cool factor for pictures.
After pictures, it was time to greet friends and family at The Lafayette Club. The space was beautifully designed with draping, modern floral arrangements, tall glass pillars topped with candles, and Queen of Cakes created a true centerpiece for the room. A friend, Aaron Rice, was the DJ for the night, and the grand march was awesome. There was even exuberant confetti throwing by one of the groomsmen. The delicious meal wowed the guests and then it was time for the dance. THE DANCE. I swear we were going to bust through the floor, this group was crazy! We had jumping, spinning, dipping, suspender play, the Dougie, the Worm, and quite the acrobatics. Katherine and Ryan were on the dance floor almost the entire time, having a great time.
Ryan and Kath, thank you SO MUCH for having us be a part of your day. Here are our favorite images, enjoy!
Casual Chic
Brynn had her senior portraits today.
She is on the swim team at Edina, and has a calm, low key personality. I wanted to portray that calm and casual attitude in her images, getting a balance of smiley ones as well. We had a good time walking around and talking about the colleges she is looking into and general life questions. Brynn’s sister is the fashionista and helped put together the outfits, and I think she did a fantastic job!
Here are my favorite images, enjoy!
Baby Love
Mike and Stephanie had their pregnancy session tonight.
The gorgeous golden light was perfect for an evening walk in Loring Park. Stephanie has about three weeks to go in her pregnancy and looks great! Both she and Mike are quick to laugh (especially at each other) and I had such a good time hanging out with them. I will admit, I made them stare awkwardly at each other as much as possible, because the laughter afterwards made such a great picture ; )
Mike and Stephanie, here are my favorite images, enjoy! And have a healthy, happy delivery!
Water and Fog
Today, Kacie and Jim had their engagement session.
These high school sweethearts have been dating for 12 years and are tying the knot in just two weeks in Duluth. I simply love Duluth, the beautiful scenery, laid back lifestyle, and cooler weather. Today, however, the weather decided to show us what she was made of. Earlier in the day it was simply gorgeous, but too bright for pictures, so we waited for the late afternoon. We started out on a train bridge near the couple’s house and Kacie impressed us all with how she walked the rails in her heels. We were also accompanied by Sierra, the four month old puppy, who was able to stay still long enough to pose for a couple pictures.
We noticed the sky was getting really overcast and hurried down to Park Point for more pictures, but within a half hour the entire city was engulfed in dense fog…you couldn’t even see the end of the pier! And, of course, since the fog was so bad, it took ships twice as long to go under the lift bridge, which I got stuck on the wrong way of TWICE! Then the misting rain started =) Throughout it all, Kacie and Jim were upbeat, and ready for anything…including running down to the bridge while we were stuck in traffic for an impromptu picture in the fog. Now THAT is how to make the most of whatever nature throws your way. Fabulous!
Here are my favorites, enjoy!
Retro Beauty
Hannah had her senior portrait session tonight.
Since Hannah lives in Lonsdale, we found a location half way between her and the cities…and though it was a wacky one (and one of my new favorite spaces to shoot) we made it work for us. Hannah has a ton of personality and is an America’s Next Top Model addict, so she was simply easy to photograph. I just let her do her thing while I clicked the shutter. We had the most perfect light and Hannah did a fabulous job on her hair and makeup, so I barely had to do any editing on the images at all. I turned a few into a vintage style to work with the sets we used during the session.
Hannah, here are my favorites, enjoy!
Tom and Kate
Tom and Kate were married today!
When I first had a consultation with Kate, we discussed the dilemma she was facing. How to work the wedding theme around Tom’s favorite colors…maroon and gold. Tom is a die hard Gophers fan, and the wedding date was chosen partially because they wanted to have it before football season started. When we arrived at the wedding, we found their compromise was to have the colors be dark pink and light gold, with a Gopher themed photo booth. Their marriage was already off on the right foot, successful compromise =)
Both the ceremony and reception took place at Centennial Lakes in Edina. Kate is a huge Disney princess fan, especially of the Little Mermaid, and is easily distracted by all things pink and sparkly…so it was no surprise that her dress was a ballgown covered in detailed beading. Her gown was doubly special as it was purchased through a Brides Against Breast Cancer event. Kate and Tom were very fun to photograph, and we enjoyed walking around Centennial Lakes enjoying the gorgeous weather. After group and family pictures, it was time for the ceremony.
Kate walked down the aisle to a beautiful instrumental piece from the Little Mermaid. There was a fantastic reading by one of the groomsmen that was very entertaining, and then the couple exchanged vows in front of Kate’s childhood pastor. Though there had been the threat of rain all day, only a few drops fell at the end of the ceremony, but Tom and Kate were so busy dancing down the aisle to “I Feel Good” I don’t think they noticed.
The bridesmaids and groomsmen spaced themselves out along the path to guide guests to the the reception. Guests enjoyed a very nice lunch catered by Lunds and Byerlys, a Buttercream cake, and hand made chocolates. Centerpieces full of pink blooms purchased from the farmer’s market graced pink tables with gold runners, and guests used both the inside and outside space as well as the photo booth. It was a lovely Sunday afternoon wedding.
Here are my favorite images, enjoy!
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