New Year's Eve Inspired Wedding Shoot at The Roundhouse

We're published on Reverie Gallery Blog!

Check out this beautiful New Year's Eve inspired Styled Shoot we did at The Roundhouse.

Check out the whole post here: http://reveriegallery.com/black-tie-new-years-eve-wedding-inspiration/

PRODUCTION TEAM:

Planner/Designer: Elite Wedding and Even Planning

Photography: Alicia King Photography

Florals: Hops Petunia Floral

Hair: Annaliese and Co.

Make-Up: Meredith Hayman

Dress: Ever After Bridal

Papers: Flyaway Paperworks

Cake: Abby's Dessert Bar

Rentals: Durants Party Rentals

Grace's Bridal Prep

We've have the greatest luck in getting to work with some of the sweetest couples and Grace and Jimmy are no exception.  When we found out they were animal lovers, we knew we would get along great!

When we were planning their wedding film and going over the details of what was important to include, their dogs, Baloo and Betty, were at the top of the list. Their dogs are a big part of their lives.  As you'll see in the film clip below, photos of Grace and Jimmy together and together with the dogs are all over their home. Their sweet dogs were also included in their engagement photos.

Tragically, the month before their wedding, Baloo passed away. Grace decided to have him walk down the aisle with her, in spirit, by including his name tag on her bouquet.  We knew that we could find a way to honor Baloo in their wedding film and her bride's prep segment was the perfect place.  Among all the details, excitement of getting ready and the bright smiles, especially from Grace, you will see clips of both Betty and Baloo.

Here is Grace's Bridal prep featuring both of their dogs. We hope you enjoy it.

There is more to come from Grace and Jimmy.  To see clips as soon as they are up, please stop by our Facebook page and like us.

Anniversary Project: Krystle + Nick

Three years ago, we had the pleasure of filming Krystle + Nick getting married in front of their family and friends here in New York, but next month, they will be celebrating their four year wedding anniversary. Wait. What?

Krystle and Nick had a beautiful, small elopement ceremony on the shore in Hawaii, where Nick was stationed with the Army. Almost a year later, they came to New York to have a vow renewal ceremony and reception to celebrate with their family and friends. Seeing the moments when Krystle and Nick were lost in each other that day, it was clear how much in love they are and nothing has changed. Well, maybe a few things.

Their three kids, Morgan, Veda-Lynne and Logan, who were in the wedding, got older and bigger and Krystle and Nick welcomed another boy, Thomas, into their family just over a year ago.

They are also back on the mainland now, currently in Georgia, but duty calls, so the family will be moving again at the end of the year. Such is the life of this happy Army family.

We wish lots of love and continued happiness to Krystle + Nick on their anniversary as they celebrate with their adorable kids!

Anniversary Project: Jennifer + Matthew

Jen and Matt were married ten years ago in our most favorite time of year, Fall. They had the Fall theme woven into many aspects of their wedding, from the colors in the bouquets and the bridal party dresses to their pumpkin centerpieces and maple syrup in glass leaf favors. Jen was also our first DIY bride. She bought leaves and customized her escort cards. When we filmed her bridal prep, she gave me a handful of leftover leaves to incorporate into the cover art design for her DVD.

 

Their wedding was also memorable for the dancing. We'll never forget the fun guests had on the dance floor, from the enthusiasm the family showed while dancing to every Michael Jackson song to the friend that did the worm for them twice. It was high energy all night long. We had the opportunity to catch the family on the dance floor again when Matt's sister, Laura, had us film her wedding four years later. It's always so much fun to film a wedding, but even more when the family and guests are having such a great time. This family will always be remembered by us for their energy and fancy footwork!

Jen and Matt's film was the first where we could incorporate the bride's and groom's pets. When they got their video back, they were surprised we were able to capture all of their pets in the video, especially Tyler, their cat that hid most of the time in the upstairs bedroom. We've always thought of our own pets as family members, so we have always made sure that when pets are present as we film weddings that they should get screen time too. Since Jen and Matt's wedding, we have filmed countless weddings where pets have played a role in the film and each time our couples are happy to have the memory of their furry family members in their films.

So, what have Jen and Matt been up to lately? Here is what Jen wrote to us:

Ten years of marriage has been fun, and very challenging. We have three kids, one dog and three kitties.

 Our dog Jake is now quickly approaching 14 years of age.  Our cat Tyler is now 12. We lost our cat Brix to kidney failure almost 3 years ago, so Matt decided to surprise me with our newest kitties, Leo and Ginger. They were rescued from a hoarder who had hundreds of cats in her home and in a storage unit. They just turned two. 

Our son, Nicolas, turned nine in July. Amelia, our daughter, will be seven in December and Nolan, our youngest, just turned four in September. 

I am a stay at home mom now and I love being home with my kids. They are growing and changing so quickly. Matt is still a financial planner and works very hard, so I can be here with the kids. It's not always easy (almost never actually) but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Congratulations to Jen and Matt on ten beautiful years together!

Published: The Wedding Chicks Blog!

Today, our video is featured on the Wedding Chicks blog!

Follow the link to check out the full post:

http://www.weddingchicks.com/2015/10/09/colorful-rustic-wedding-fiesta/ 

PRODUCTIONS TEAM: 

Planner/Designer: Angela, Elite Wedding and Event Planning

Rentals/Designer: Tammy, Hudson Valley Vintage Rentals

Flowers: Dancing Tulip Floral
Cakes & Catering: Abby's Dessert Bar
Paper Goods & Calligraphy: Flyaway Paperworks
Beauty: Heaven On Wheels Spa and Wellness
Venues & Officiants: Winding Hills Golf Club

Photographer: Custom by Nicole

10th Anniversary Project: Katy + John

 

This week, Katy + John celebrate their 9th Anniversary.  These two have been up to quite a lot over the past 9 years, from a new house and a new business, for Katy, to two daughters and a busy life for all.  Even though nine years have past, it still seems like we filmed their beautiful wedding at Onteora Mountain House yesterday. So, what have they been up to since their wedding day?

Shortly after Katy + John were married, they purchased the house across the street from them (the owner, in turn, purchased their house). They had a crazy ‘swap houses’ day where they moved everything from their old house to the new house and everything from the new house to the old house. They then went into renovation-mode, and practically gutted the house, and added an addition. 

In the same week that the construction crew arrived to start working, John and Katy discovered Katy was pregnant with their first child. That same week, they moved out of the new house and into her mother’s house for nearly a year and a half while construction was ongoing. Their first child, Annabelle, was born in October 2008. They moved back into their new house in May 2009. Baby number two, Maggie, was born in April 2011.

Immediately after their honeymoon, Katy started a new job as a Creative Director at a local marketing firm. In February 2009, Katy started her own design business: Katy Dwyer Design, as a side business, and in 2014, she was able to make it her full-time job. Katy continues to work as a designer and creative director, and her business grew by leaps and bounds. She has newly partnered with a colleague and started a brand new local marketing firm, Hand in Hand Marketing, just this August. 

Professionally, John is still at Quilty, Dwyer, and Larkin Insurance Agency, and is currently Vice Chair of City of Kingston Planning Board (of which he’s been a member for over 7 years). A member of the Ancient order of Hibernians, John got involved with a group of Hibernians who wanted to build an Irish Cultural Center in Kingston in 2011. The Irish Cultural Center Hudson Valley is a non-profit group dedicated to promoting and preserving Irish and Irish-American heritage and culture. The ICCHV purchased land on the Kingston Rondout in 2013 and hopes to build the center in the near future. In March of 2013, John was honored to be chosen as the Grand Marshal of the Kingston St. Patrick’s Day Parade. 

With two kids in tow, their favorite activities include attending Irish Festivals, or any other local activities (Gardiner Cupcake Festival, Apple Picking, Farmers Markets, local zoos, etc.), and when vacationing, they make it their mission to explore local breweries and wineries. They’ve taken three ferry trips from Cape May to Delaware to visit the Dogfish Head Brewery, and love seeing their friends from their favorite Seneca Lake winery, Atwater Vineyards, every year at the Hudson Valley Wine and Food Festival. They make a yearly trek (sans kids) to Katy’s college town, Bethlehem, PA, for the Celtic Classic, and have twice made it out to John’s alma mater to see his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes during football season.

Congratulations to Katy and John on the beautiful life they've created with their two adorable girls! We wish them continued happiness and love in the future!

10th Anniversary Project: Laura + John

Laura and John were married nine years ago today.  We loved Laura and John the second we met them.  We found that we had a lot in common; preserving of and appreciation for the past, rescue animals, creativity and crafts being among them.

 So many things about their wedding excited us!  They were getting married where we had been married just three years before and were excited to go back and experience another wedding there. Their wedding was going to be a mixture of vintage romance and diy chic and many of the details and activities were going to be personalized, which we love!

Laura planned to have vintage family photographs on display, vintage-styled decor and accessories and my favorite, her bouquet was a gorgeous recreation of her grandmother's bouquet from the 1940's. Rather than tossing her bouquet at the reception, Laura presented it to her Nana.  It was a sweet and sentimental moment, the ones we love the most!

Another standout moment was when Laura and John read Words of Wisdom. Each table had a floral box in which guests were to write some advice to them for their marriage. Many couples do these types of things, but no one ever gets to hear the advice, so they read a few random cards for their guests at the wedding.  When it came time to edit their film, I asked Laura to send me some of the advice they were given, so I could incorporated a few into their film. They served as a great transition between segments and, in a way, mimicked the activities in each segment. It's still one of our favorite personal details that we put into a film and it's unique to only their film. This is why we love our job so much!

Of course, we have to mention all the crafty details.  Laura spent a lot of time crafting many items for the wedding including pink tissue paper flowers and coasters for the cocktail hour tables, scrolls and escort cards for each of her guests, personalized table names with photos and descriptions of their significance and her programs and invitations. A lot of work and it was all worth it for the personal touch it gave their wedding.

Their vintage theme gave me the opportunity to use black and white during some segments and play with some effects that we don't use very often.  I especially loved the look of the black white and sepia toned shots with the color effect that left her bouquet pink.  Kind of a fun effect that gets really overused now, but these shots are still so pretty and it was a perfect fit for their vintage look.

So what have they been up to since their wedding? We heard from Laura last year when she was looking for another copy of her wedding film. She is very much like us in that she likes to have several back-ups of everything, just in case.  When we saw her, she was as pregnant as she is in the photo below.  Just a short time after we saw her, Laura and John welcomed their daughter, Aliceen, to the world.  She is now 18 months old and cute as a button!!

When we fist met them, both Laura and John were in the beginning of their careers as special education teachers and they were volunteering with dog rescues, both of which they continue to do today.  When they got married, they had a rescued greyhound named Freeda, as in Freed-a Greyhound - yes, they share our sense of humor too. 

Later, they became interested in agility training and adopted two Jack Russel Terriers named Avery and Hidee.  Currently they are working with Russel Refuge in Rhinebeck, a shelter specializing in Jack Russel dogs and puppies that are surrendered or found in local shelters.  In 2014, Russel Refuge suffered a devastating fire, in which 13 dogs Laura and John knew perished. After the fire, Laura and John adopted Tink, an older dog that survived the fire.  She is the latest addition to this big, happy bunch.

Along with the updated photos, Laura sent us her own words of wisdom:

"We believe we all have choices in life and John and I try their best to choose love and happiness each day. It's brought us through 9 fantastic years."

Now, that is great advice! 

Happy Anniversary, Laura + John!

Brittany + Daniel: Sunset Ceremony and Super Fun Reception at the Falkirk Estate

As promised, here is some more from Brittany and Dan's wedding.  These two are so sweet together and you can see it in every frame of this film clip!  From the anticipation of seeing each other when Brittany gets ready, through their first look and photographs, to their sunset ceremony and awesome reception the two of them are always laughing, smiling and having fun together.

If you're planning on writing your own wedding vows, you can take a lesson from these two.  We've witnessed many personalized ceremonies over the years, but these two made some unique and fun promises to each other that we've not heard before.  It just speaks to the couple they are and their commitment to having both love and fun in their lives.

Here is a highlight clip from Brittany + Dan's Wedding.  Hope you enjoy!

If you watched this clip, please let us know what you thought by leaving a comment on the blog or on our Facebook post.  If you liked what you saw, please follow us on Facebook.

To see more from this wedding day, you can view Brittany's Bridal Prep.

And they lived happily ever after....

Beautiful Memories 10th Anniversary Project: Andrea + Nick

Today, Andrea and Nick celebrate their third wedding anniversary as a trio with their son, Blake. If you follow our blog, you may be familiar with Andrea and Nick. We did quite an extensive blog post on the many DIY details from their very colorful wedding and shared a few video clip, including one of the surprise Zumba Andrea did with the girls. Here is a look back at that moment.

So, what have they been up to since their wedding? First and foremost, they became parents. Andrea and Nick are a sweet, super fun, not afraid to be silly couple and they did many fun photos throughout Andrea's pregnancy.

We already knew that Andrea is a crafty and creative gal, but she is also very digitally savvy. She's been dabbling in photography for quite a while now.  With a bit of help from Nick and her mom, she photographed her own maternity pictures.

Along the way, she also documented the growing size of her belly, while holding a chalkboard with some details about the baby's progress, their thoughts and other cool tidbits.

 

When the day finally arrived, they were excited to finally welcome Blake to the world, one week overdue.  It looks like this click happy couple couldn't help themselves.  I'm pretty sure the photo on the top right is a delivery room selfie.  So cute!

Andrea also documented Blake's first year in photographs, month by month to show his growth. This adorable little boy is going to have the most amazing pictures to share with his kids one day, thanks to mom, with a little help from dad. 

When I asked about how their lives have changed since Blake's arrival, Andrea offered the following:

"Our lives have gone from "easy living" do as we please whenever -in regards to going to dinner, hanging out at the ball field, hanging with our friends, running to the store "quick", etc...  It allllll changes...and it's hard and exhausting BUT we also have been shown the true extent of love. Of course we love each other and our bond is still so strong, but the love and bond we have with our little boy is indescribable. Sometimes we can't imagine having another baby because how can we split that attention and love, but then we think we won't be splitting anything.  It'll all just be doubled; the amount of love, the amount of laughs (and tears), the hugs and kisses, etc...

The extreme change in lifestyle and the exhaustion that comes with it is sooooo worth it. Advice to newly married couples looking to start a family: take that trip you've been thinking about, take a random weekend road trip, go grab some drinks some night together because all that gets tricky. That being said, the new highlights are watching his lil face light up when we bring him to the zoo...when he spots the airplane in the sky...when he sees the swings at the park... life is more about the little things...things we never thought would be such a big deal."

So, when I said that Andrea "dabbles" in photography, it may have been an understatement. She has been taking photos for a while.  Below is a sample of her work. 

Since Blake's arrival, she hasn't been able to photograph for others as much as she'd like, but it's all to spend the free time she has with Nick and her beautiful boy.  This just means that Blake becomes the subject of Andrea's photographic creativity whims. Not a bad life for a cute baby.

When not at work, Nick can be found playing on the softball field, taking apart and rebuilding mopeds or putting together things for his son, like his play set and crib.  Andrea has been spending time rehabbing old furniture pieces for the house, like the dresser turned changing table for the nursery, and, of course, she is often crafting.  This fall they will be attending four weddings, for some of which, Andrea is crafting for showers and parties.

I want to end this post with one final thought from Andrea:

"As Blake gets older, it'll fun to show him the wedding video and see his reaction.  He'll probably tell us we can't dance, we kiss too much, mommy's hair is funny looking and the music is horrible, but he'll be able to see that his life all started with true love and happiness.  Not just between us, but by all the family and friends he'll recognize in the video."

Here are the highlights from Andrea and Nick's wedding three years ago.

Congratulations to Andrea and Nick!

To see more from Andrea and Nick, follow the links below:

Andrea + Nick's Colorful Wedding at The Lazy Swan: View Video Stills + Highlight Video

Real Reactions: Watch their ceremony, along with Andrea + Nick

Surprise Zumba: Andrea + Nick's Wedding at The Lazy Swan: Video Stills + Video