Monday 28 February 2011

Cynthia+Derek=Breathtaking | Old San Juan YOU+ME Session

Puerto Rico Destination Wedding Photographer

Yes, it's true! Love & marriage is one big leap of faith!

On our YOU+ME session, Cynthia & Derek jumped, climbed, spun & ran all over beautiful Old San Juan. Just a few of our favorites from their super-fun day-after session.



I really like this set of moments... serene,



and silly :)







Late afternoon sprinkle, and then, a little rainbow peeked out for all of about two minutes - good thing Chris had his polarizer with him!



My fav.



Rich colors after the rainfall.











Dramatic backdrops work really well with super-couples willing to rock-climb in their wedding gear!



I'm thinking a really, really big canvas....



Congrats, C+D!

Best Wedding Sites Magazine

Last month we introduced you to the new Style Me Pretty E-Glossy, and this month we would like to introduce you to another digital magazine; Best Wedding Sites.  We are especially thrilled to have one of our photo shoots featured (see pages 24-25). This photo shoot was a big step out of the norm for me- very whimsical.  Thanks to Ashley Brockinton, Signature Florals, and Marina Village Resort for being our partners in this collaborative project. Just click the cover to read the digital!

Are you loving the digital magazines?  We are.  And I will personally love them more when I get my hands on an ipad!

Wedding splurges and over the top ideas

Reading through some of my favorite magazines today, I started imagining over the top ideas and splurges that I would love to see and experience.  What would you love to do?

A concert
How cool would it be to have a vocalist do a very short performance between cocktail hour and dinner at your wedding?  Maybe 3 songs or so, 10-15 minutes maximum.  But really cool amazing songs that everyone could watch and enjoy.  Something like At Last by Etta James, Crazy Love by Brian McKnight and You and I by Michael Buble. I would just fall in love all over again. So romantic and unexpected.
Excessive Flowers
I'm talking adding floral focus points just because. I do not mean centerpieces on the dinner tables.  I mean add tables just so they can have flowers on them.   Big gigantic flower arrangements that make everyone go, "Ooooohhh, that is gorgeous"
Flowers by Signature Florals
Calligraphy
Wouldn't you agree that calligraphy just makes everything that much prettier, polished, and decadent?  I would add calligraphy to everything if I could.  Not just envelopes, escort cards and place cards.  I'd do menus, vows, invitations, welcome letters, programs, maps, display cards/signs...
Amuse Bouche & Wine
One of the reasons I love my favorite restaurant is that when we are seated, we are immediately served an amuse bouche and a 2 sip pour of wine or champagne.  I feel so fancy and special
Dinner Ushers
This is really over the top, but how cool would it be to have someone greet each of your guests at the entrance of your wedding dinner, escort them to their seats and hand them a beautiful menu (with calligraphy of course).
Chef Sebastian at South Seas.  Photo by Impressions
Your chef, the keynote speaker
Even with the simplest of dinners, when a chef describes his creation, you are immediately taken to a place where you just can't wait to enjoy the flavors.  How fascinating would it be to have the chef come out between courses and describe what you're about to dine on?  Suddenly Chicken Piccata is the most gourmet mouth watering dish you've ever wanted to experience.

Again, over the top and splurges.  But you know, we all can dream can't we?

Sunday 27 February 2011

How to describe your wedding

What is your designers aesthetic?
Once you get past making your guest list and finding your venue, you'll be at the point where you'll need to start describing your desired aesthetics to the creative professionals you're considering hiring. This would be your event designer and planner, florist, lighting designer, stylists (attire, hair, and makeup), stationer and calligrapher. Forgive me if I left anyone out. I am not including photographer and videographer here because I consider them creative artists yes, but of the documentary rather than design element.
What is the best way to do this? With words and pictures. Here are some words to start with:
Lush, Airy, Glamorous, Sparkle, Pretty, Shiny, Contemporary, Modern, Exciting, Architectural, Chic, Elegant, Sophisticated, Polished, Subtle, Fun, Matte, Refined, Cheerful, Bright, Romantic, Vintage, Organic, Retro, Rustic, Garden, Soft, Beach, Open, Intimate, Fresh, Whimsical, Heavy, Light, Natural, Festive, Clean, Unstructured, Casual, Timeless, Textured, Styled, Charming, Reckless, Tropical, Tranquil, Exotic, Classic, Serene, Old World.
By the way- all these words were used by our clients in their pre-consult questionnaire.  One day I'll have to share with you the celebrities, movies & television shows they mentioned as well.
Back to work.  Write down the words that speak to you about your wedding. Also write down others that come to you on your own. For sure add colors to the list. Then, go rip out pictures from magazines, flag pictures in books, and save blog images that define these words.
Compile all of these and you'll have a foundation that perfectly describes what you're going for so that your creative professionals can use their talents to create something unique and very you.
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Saturday 26 February 2011

6 Florida Gulf coast islands great for weddings

I am a fan of lists.  Particularly favorite lists.  Here are my favorite islands for weddings on the Gulf of Mexico and a place to get married on each.
Cocktail reception at Gasparilla Inn
  1. Captiva: South Seas Resort. Island luxury, yet anything but stiff. Who to call: John or Teresa
  2. Sanibel Island. Casa Ybel Resort. Natural and vintage. Relax here. Who to call: Jessica or Jen
  3. Boca Grande: Gasparilla Inn. Perfected elegant beach town. Sophisticated beach Chic. Who to call: Lindsey
  4. Cabbage Key: Cabbage Key Inn. Undisturbed natural beauty. Party in peace. Who to call: Ken
  5. Useppa: Useppa Island Club. Tropical Garden Escape. Who to call: Jasmine
  6. Pineland: Tarpon Lodge. Take over the place. Frozen in time.Who to call: Shohreh
Ceremony on the docks of Tarpon Lodge. Photo Credit: Impressions Photography
Please note that I don't have a single favorite on this list.  I love and recommend each of these islands and venues for very different reasons.  For that reason alone- I highly suggest you consider them all!

Wednesday 23 February 2011

Our new Studio!

We've been working for months on the new planning & design studio...here it is!
Thank you iheART films for making this video!
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Friday 18 February 2011

Cynthia+Derek=Breathtaking | Destination Wedding Photographers

Puerto Rico Destination Wedding Photographers



Cynthia+Derek! They're like a super-couple - always impeccably dressed, never flustered, know the whereabouts of every Iron Chef in the world at any given moment, and hike Machu Picchu in their spare time when they're not creating alternative energy sources for impoverished communities. Yes, they work hard, play hard, and love hard.

We've been fortunate to know them for over three years now even since Cynthia's bridesmaid Louise got married to Ben.  And we'd already done two fun YOU+ME shoots with them - so we were super-psyched join them & all their friends in Old San Juan for their Puerto Rico destination wedding. They had a great group of wedding professionals who helped make it an amazing day including Puerto Rico event planner  Myrna Serrano,  florals by Festivo , cake by Lourdes Padilla,  and imported from Vancouver, our favourite Vancouver makeup artist Nadia Albano and my sister  Vancouver wedding videographer Laura Ann Cinema (check out her highlight reel from Derek+Cynthia's day!).

Here are a few (okay, lots!) of our favs from their day.













Fav getting-ready photo ever, I think... Love the excitement of Louise, Letitia, Robin, Cheryl & Tiffany!



Timeless portrait.



Derek & his boys get ready in their own way.







El Convento.











Married!



A champagne toast and a self-described "inappropriate" speech by Mark.







Photo shoot pit stop - celebratory drinks in an Old San Juan bar.









So inspiring to shoot in a new city- loved the locations in and around Old San Juan.









These guys know how to work it!



And how to have fun :)





Simple and intimate reception.







And some final night shots of the wedding party.













See?! Told you - too many favs! Which one is your favourite?  Congrats Cynthia &Derek! Your breathtaking Puerto Rico YOU+ME session coming up next on the blog.