Kristin's Bridal Preparations

It always surprises me when some bride's say that they don't want to have their bridal preparation caught on film.  If photographs of this part of the wedding are so important, why wouldn't the actions and sounds be equally important?  Hopefully this bride's prep will have more bride's thinking it's important to have video there.

I am completely in love with Kristin's Bridal Prep segment! It has the beautiful dress, the spectacular shoes, all the blingy details and of course all the girls sharing the excitement along with her (especially her adorable little girl, Scarlett).  I hope you enjoy it as well!

If you enjoyed this clip, please make a comment here on the blog and/or post to our Facebook Page.

Jessica + Lee: Great Time at the Grandview

Jessica looking out the window at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel before leaving for the church

Jessica and Lee were married at the United Methodist Church in Poughkeepsie and had their reception at The Grandview.  We first met Jessica when we filmed Kristin and Hunter's wedding in 2008 when she was one of Kristin's bridesmaids.  This time their roles were reversed.  We were looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces and we weren't disappointed!  What a great group of family and friends!  We felt so privileged to be a part of their wedding!

Jessica and Lee's rings and invitation

Just Married!

I had been anxiously awaiting this wedding since our first conversations with Jessica and Lee.  From the color scheme she described to all of her ideas for the details, big and small, she made me excited to see it all come together.

Our day started with Jessica and Lee as they were getting ready.  I can't wait to get to edit all the footage from Jessica's Bride's prep together for their final film.  Jessica and the girls all had so much fun together that morning (as seen in the preview clip below).

Jessica's beautiful Sottero and Midgley gown!

Jessica's Sottero and Midgley dress was beautiful!  The bodice was covered in lots of intricate, sparkly, beaded detail.  The back was a lace up closure.  The fabric had a sheen that intensified the sparkle in the bead work as well as all the sparkle of the jewelry that she wore.  It was a gorgeous dress and she look radiant in it!

Bracelet and Engagement Ring

Wedding Day gift from Lee to Jessica.

Jessica's jewelry was a mix of old, new and very new.  The bracelet pictured was given to her by Lee the night before the wedding and was followed by the set above the morning of the wedding.  But that wasn't all folks!  At the alter as they exchanged rings, Lee gave Jessica one last new piece of jewelry.  A wedding band different from the one she was expecting to see.  All the guests saw was Jessica's look of surprise followed by a slap on Lee's arm.  The guests burst out in laughter.  It wasn't until later that we all found out what he had done.  Jessica's engagement ring is pictured above next to her bracelet, but if you want to see the wedding band with it, you can see the picture above with both of her rings as well as Lee's wedding band.  When you get a look at Lee's wedding band, you'll see the bride wasn't the only one with some bling.

Great Grandma's ring with Jessica's Engagement Ring and the Headpiece she wore.

Jessica's Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue was a mix of her things with family heirlooms.  Her Something New was her dress, of course.  Her Something Old was her great grandmother's ring seen in the photo above with her engagement ring in the background.  Her something borrowed was a family heirloom handkerchief passed down through many generations on her mother's side of the family.  It's pictured below with her great grandmother's ring, seen peeking out of her something blue, the fabulous shoes she wore under her dress.  I love that brides are going less traditional with their shoes and allowing for a touch of personality and vibrant color!  The last piece pictured above is her headpiece.  All beautiful details for a beautiful bride!

Jessica's Awesome shoes, Great Grandma's Ring again with a family heirloom handkerchief, Engagement Ring and Shoes

Jessica did all her prep at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, hair, make-up and getting dressed.  It was a good thing they had use of two adjoining rooms and one across the hall.  All the bridesmaids and her parents were there with her as well as myself, her photographer (Kristine Palmer), her hair stylist (Maria) and her Make-up artist (Amy from MAC).  Every time a bride gets into her gown and the girls are helping her, someone inevitably asks, "How many people does it take to get a bride dressed".  The answer, for any of you wondering, is everyone in the room and nearby.  Most gowns are more tricky than you would think.  As Jessica got into her gown, she had one girl holding the dress in place while her mom and two other bridesmaids worked on the lacing in the back.  For good measure, there were two other bridesmaids standing close by in case they needed an extra set of hands for anything and more on the bed at the side ready to grab anything they asked for.  It was a group effort very well done!

No matter how many weddings we film, I'm still amazed by the transformation that happens to our brides!!  When we first meet them, they come dressed in their normal, everyday clothes with hair and make-up done the way they normally have it and they look great.  They are excited to talk with us about their wedding and constantly smile throughout the meeting. 

On the day of their wedding, they get into their gown and there is a unique glow that washes over every single one of our brides and we're so glad we get to see this.  Of course, they look fabulous; that goes without saying.  What you don't expect is for this already happy girl to get even happier.  Her smiles are brighter and the excitement is infectious.  Even though there are nerves sometimes present, it can't overcome this glow! 

When you have this phenomenon paired with awesome lighting and a room full of people close to the bride, it's really hard for me to stop shooting.  These are the moments that the bride, her husband and the family will look back on years down the road.  As you can see in the stills below, Jessica was an absolutely stunning bride!!  

Photo op before leaving for the church

This was our first time working with Kristine Palmer Photography and we had a great time working alongside her!  She was as enthusiastic as we were about capturing all of the details and the fun that day.  She was easy to work with and fun to be around!  Please check out Kristine Palmer's Pictures of Jessica and Lee's wedding on her Facebook Page.  Though all her shots are beautiful, a must see is the shot she took of Jessica and Lee on the dock outside The Grandview.  Absolutely perfect shot!!

 

The day was very emotional for a lot of people, but the most outward show of emotion came from Jessica's sister.  Her toast as maid of honor at the wedding was one of both sincere sentiment and comedic wit (I wish I could have fit it into the preview clip, but there will be more posts to come on this wedding, I'm sure).  

She spoke about their time growing up together and called Jessica her role model.  Later she told the tale of how Lee approached the subject of marrying Jessica with their father while on a hunting trip.  She called Lee brave.  

They also shared a touching moment together in the elevator on their way out of the hotel that only Kristine and I were witness to.  They had a few glances at each other that was like a conversation in and of itself, like they knew what the other was thinking.  Then before anyone could cry, there was a smile and a kiss for good luck!  It's moments like these that I'm happy to be there with the camera rolling!  There moments are priceless!

Here is the preview clip from Jessica and Lee's wedding.  If you are a wedding peep checking my post out, you may see a familiar face dancing in the crowd at the reception near the end of the clip.  This must be the year for professional photographer cameos!

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave a comment here on our blog and/or on the wall of our Facebook Page and please remember to "like us" while you're there!

Here are just a few of the details from Jessica and Lee's Grandview reception.  What a beautiful set up!  One of my favorites was the grass and petals with the escort cards.  Vibrant pink next to a fresh grassy green.  How could you go wrong?  The centerpieces from The Greenhouse at Rhinbeck were gorgeous; tall, full, earthy and very dramatic.  Not like your standard, everyday centerpiece.  

Uplighting is really becoming popular at weddings and I'm glad to see it!  When you add uplighting to your decor, you can transform any room into your unique space. The lighting and monogram gobo, supplied by their DJ Enriquez Entertainment, added to the drama and washed the walls in a purple glow.  There is nothing that adds mood to a room more than lighting.  The first thing most people think of for a romantic mood is candles, right?  Well it's for good reason.  The soft, warm glow sets a mood.  Lighting is so important! 

Candles on the tables with clear "bubbles" and a close up of the rock and moss detail in the centerpieces

The four-tier cake was topped with a heart engraved with their names and wedding date

It has become a tradition for this group of friends to begin their reception with high-energy entrances.  The music was pumping and with each introduction the stunts got more elaborate (I didn't pull stills for all these, but just to give you a few examples; one pose a la Charlie's Angels, two awesome piggy back rides and one groomsmen that attempted to pull a switch-a-roo on a bridesmaid last minute by twirling into her, but she won in the end).  You'd think that after all that, Jessica and Lee would be upstaged, but no!  They tore into the room together to The Time by The Black Eyed Peas like an explosion of unrestrained excitement and began dancing as soon as they reached the floor.  When things calmed down, they began their emotional first dance.

Above I mentioned Jessica's sister's toast, but Lee's brother also gave a toast to remember.  One of the most memorable comments was about Lee dating Jessica and how he introduced her to the family and friends.  His brother started to notice that an increasing number of his friends were coming back to him talking about this girl his brother was dating.  He said, "He's dating this girl.  That's great.  I haven't met her.  That's screwed up".  After thinking about the order in which the friends were introduced to her, he said he "realized what Lee was doing.  He was breaking her in!".  The crowd broke into hysterical laughter!

One last memorable moment from this very memorable reception; Jessica and her Dad shared a surprise parent dance.  They started off dancing to Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, but after a short time, they were performing their best air guitar to Back in Black by AC/DC and showing off their favorite dance moves to Hey Ya by OutKast.  It was a real crowd pleaser!

Jessica and Lee, congratulations on a beautiful wedding day!  Thank you for allowing us to be a part of it!




The Details

Ceremony Location: United Methodist Church, Poughkeepsie, NY
Reception Location: The Grandview, Poughkeepsie, NY
Photographer:  Kristine Palmer Photography
DJ and MC: Andrew Enriquez, Enriquez Entertainment
Florist/Centerpieces: Craig from the Greenhouse at Rhinbeck
Jessica's Dress:  Sottero and Midgley

Melissa + Rob: Take Two at Marist and The Walkway Over the Hudson

You can plan every last detail of your wedding from the venue down to the type of fork you eat with, but one thing you can never plan for is the weather.  When Melissa and Rob got married, it rained, so their plans to do photos at Marist College, where they met, changed last minute to group photos in the church and a quick set of photos during cocktail hour when the rain let up.

We wanted to make sure that they had the photo session they intended for their video, so we took them out the following week for a post wedding session with their photographer, Annette.  The great thing about a post wedding shoot is you can take your time and do things you would never dream of doing on your wedding day for fear of getting dirty or mussed up.  You also have all the time you want, so no rushing to fit it all in.  It's all very relaxed and fun and you end up with video footage and photos that might not have been possible on the day of your wedding.

Since Melissa was taking the time to get back in her gown for a second time, I showed up early to grab some shots of her getting back in the dress to start this "Take Two" segment.  When we got to talking about it, I suggested to them that we do more than one location since she was already dressed.  I offered them the opportunity to include a stop at the Walkway Over the Hudson as well since that is where Rob proposed to Melissa.  Once we got them out there, they were having so much fun, they would have agreed to go anywhere in their wedding attire.

There will be plenty more to come from their wedding day, but for now, here is 

Melissa and Rob's Take Two session at Marist College and the Walkway Over the Hudson.

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave a comment here on our blog and/or on our Facebook Page (don't forget to "like us" while you're there).

Anytime we've had a bride and groom on the walkway it's been great.  The crowds are so welcoming and warm.  We had several people give them well wishes and ask to take pictures of them and with them, but the group that really struck us were the cousins visiting from Florida that were creating a human chain across the walkway for a photo.  They asked if Melissa and Rob would join them for a photo.  What fun!

We're so glad that Melissa and Rob decided to go out with us!  We were so excited to go out and shoot it!!  It was so much fun and the footage is priceless!

Allison + John: The Time of Their Lives at Mohonk Mountain House

Allison and John were married at Mohonk Mountain House, one of our favorite places.  With it's breath-taking views, beautiful gardens, warm and welcoming atmosphere, pristine forest hillside hiking trails, serene bench look-outs and rich historic details inside and out, this is a unique location for a Hudson Valley wedding!

BRIDAL STYLE AND FUN

Our day began with Allison and her girls as they prepared for the wedding.  What a fun group!  I was expecting this based on my meetings with Allison, but it was laughter and fun between a few very touching, tearful moments the whole morning.

 

 

Allison had several special details including a handkerchief that belonged to her grandmother which she wore tucked into her garter.  She was helped by her mom and her twin sister as she put on her final details.

THE GREAT RING CAPER

Just after I finished filming the rings and placed them back in their beautiful box (they're resting on the top of it in the still above), we were getting ready to send them up to the guys for the ceremony when we noticed that the box was empty.  There was a short moment of "where are they?"  Not to worry, everyone kept their cool while the search was on and got a really big laugh out of it when the flower girl revealed she had them in her hot little hands.  Apparently she wanted to be the bride.  It was such a cute and funny moment and it definitely doesn't happen at every wedding!  We were glad we were there to share in it!

THE PERFECT LOOK

   

Allison was so calm, easy going and excited that she smiled the whole morning.  I don't think anyone ever had to ask her to smile.  But just when you thought she couldn't get happier, she got in her gown and began to glow.  Her Rosa Clara gown looked great on a hanger, but once it was on Allison it transformed into fabulous.  For those of you familiar with the Salome model, she had the neck line altered into a sweetheart shape.  She was so comfortable and natural in it that you'd think she wore it everyday.  What a perfect dress for her!  And let's not forget the shoes.  Super cute polka dot heals that screamed personality!

THE FUN NEVER ENDS

These moments really capture the fun of being with Allison and the girls for their prep.  LOVE the "I'm Getting Married Bitches" cups.  It really shows that they all have a fantastic sense of humor.  Then in the midst of having some photos taken in front of the fireplace, one of the girls asked her for a booty pop and another decided to smack her.  Allison just broke out in laughter.  This is the way to spend the moments before you get married, super happy and stress-free having fun with your best friends.  I wonder if the boys had as much fun as the girls?

Allison's Bouquet, made by Meadowscent Florist, was not only beautiful, but smelled so good.  She couldn't help but share with everyone in the room.  The colors were so vibrant and they were really fresh.

READY TO GO

We don't always get the opportunity to be with the bride as she makes her way to a first sight because often they are two different locations.  What a treat to get to walk the halls of the Mountain House with Allison and her entourage.  Along the way we met up with her Dad as he got a first glimpse of her all dressed up for the wedding.

 

TEARS AT FIRST SIGHT

Allison and John Decided to do their photographs before their ceremony, so we set up a first sight for them on the porch overlooking the lake.  Pictures and first looks before the ceremony are becoming very popular with brides and grooms not only because it allows them to enjoy more of their cocktail hour, but because it allows more time to get creative with their photos and creates less stress because of the rush to fit in all the pictures in an hour.  Though some couples think it will spoil the magic of that moment at the alter when you first see each other in your wedding attire, if you look through the stills from Allison and John's first look and ceremony, you'll see that all the emotion and magic were still there for them.  Allison was between tears of joy and laughter most of the time, with a couple stops at blissful love in between, once John wiped the tear from her cheek.  They're so cute together!

Off to the dock and the other picturesque surrounding areas for photos with Jean Kallina of Hudson Valley Photography.



THE MAIN EVENT

 

Though they had planned for an outdoor ceremony, you just never know what the weather will be like in April.  This is the beauty of Mohonk Mountain House as a location.  Because it was just a bit too chilly for an outdoor ceremony that day, they set up the ceremony in the grand parlor.   A gorgeous room that overlooks the lake.  No compromises with this setting at all.

As guests arrived they were welcomed by the lake view out the giant picture window and the music of Jeff Armstrong, who continued to play music throughout the ceremony and onto the cocktail hour.  Their officiant was one of their friends who was performing her first ceremony ever.  She did a wonderful job!  There were plenty of fun moments even through the ceremony, but my favorite part had to be when Allison vowed "to encourage, support and inspire (John) to lead a life of learning, exploring and expanding of yourself, not your waistline."

 

Allison and John lit candles they made themselves with the likeness of family members in memorium.

THE PREVIEW CLIP

Check out their preview clip here which features their fun and loving vows to each other as well as the many details of their wedding and, most importantly, the dance stylings of John, who impressed with his many dance moves including the robot and his best impression of John Travolta in Stayin' Alive.  Everyone else was pretty impressive too!  Jimmy Lutz of Lutz entertainment got them on the floor and kept them moving.  It was a great party!

If you liked what you saw here, please leave us a comment here and/or on our Facebook Page (and don't forget to "like us" while you're there!)

INTRODUCING THE MR. + MRS.

SHE'S CRAFTY

Allison put her stamp on every aspect of the wedding.  Here are a few a few more DIY items by our crafty bride, Allison (with a little help from her groom, John, of course).

Programs were printed, crafted and pasted by the two of them.  They looked so pro you would never know they were a DIY project.

Allison and John also made all of the cards and envelopes for their well wish jar using scrapbook papers. They asked their guests to write words of advice to them.  They plan to open one every year on their anniversary.

 

They made favors for each guest to take home.  Heart-shaped candles were nestled in sheer fabric pouches and attached to homemade cards with their picture and a message.

 

The votive candles on the tables were made by Allison as well as the needlepoint monogram with their wedding date.  Allison said that she was doing some needlepoint to relax as she was getting  her hair done that morning as well.  She's one crafty girl! 

 

Allison had given the staff at Mohonk two pictures of cakes she liked and asked them to take her favorite elements from each cake to make the design for her cake.  We were standing nearby when she first noticed the cake's decoration.  She was so happy with their interpretation of the designs.

THE TIME OF MY LIFE

Allison and John shared their last dance of the day to (I've Had) The Time of My Life complete with a lift and a kiss surrounded by family and friends.  What a perfect way to end their perfect day!

The Details

The Location: Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, NY
The Photographer: Jean Kallina, Hudson Valley Photography
The Ceremony Music: Jeff Armstrong
The Reception Entertainment: Jimmy Lutz, Lutz Entertainment
The Dress: Salome, by Rosa Clara
The Flowers: Thersea, at Meadowscent Florist, in Gardiner, NY