Saturday, April 4, 2015

Wedding Pro Feature: Jaimie & Natalie Photography

Dear Diary,

These two professionals bring me an immeasurable amount of bliss. As an added bonus, they are also talented photographers. I hope you have as much fun getting to know them as I did.
Bride and Groom Kissing
Business Name: Jamie & Natalie Photography


Social Media Links
A few words about yourself
Jamie’s the husband. Natalie’s the wife. And, conveniently, of the same splendidly happy marriage.

Their philosophy about their work is that it should be displayed—not just left on a hard drive. As a result, their clients relish their photos in one-of-a-kind albums, canvas gallery wraps, and print wall art.

These two pride themselves on being a couple of the most unique wedding photographers in Colorado Springs. Their goal for every client is summarized in one single F-word. (That would be “fun,” for all you fellow potty-mouths out there.) Their ability to attract like-minded, superb people to their business is uncommon. Their photography style is real.

Jamie and Natalie’s biggest love is writing about themselves in third person.

Engagement photo sunset
Black & White bridal photo
Airplain engagement photos
How long have you been in business?
Jamie & Natalie Photography headed out of the business womb in 2013.

What inspired you to start your business?
Jamie and Natalie have taken a pointed interest in couples, engagement, and wedding photography in order to provide a righteously amusing and customer-service-oriented experience to cool peeps. This whole bit started after they scoured the Colorado Springs area for a photographer (for personal use) who would unleash on them a challenge volley of witty banter. To say that the well was dry is an understatement. Having excelled in high school economics class, they found that the supply was not available for the demand. What better reason to start a business?

Who is your ideal client?
The ideal clients for Jamie & Natalie Photography are couples who have mastered kickassery in life. By that, we mean they are comfortable in their own skin, genuinely in love with and respect one another, don't take themselves too seriously, surround themselves with healthy relationships, and value photography as art to be displayed—not to be hidden on their hard drive. Ultimately, they just need to think we're hilarious. Oh yeah—and they must love a good stiff one. (A drink! Sheesh!)
Engagement Photos
Engagement Photos
What inspires you in day-to-day life?
Although we're inspired more on a week-to-week basis, we're willing to entertain this question. We are inspired by our daughter, Tenley, to be better parents. We're inspired by our mistakes to learn. We're inspired by the speed of life to enjoy it. We're inspired by our cliché answers to not be cliché.

What is your "style?"
Our style of photography is not traditional, nor trendy, nor entirely photojournalistic, but there are aspects of all of those styles that yield a result that is natural and timeless. When you're sharing a moment with your grandchildren 40 years from now, your photos will be as relevant as the first time you opened your wedding album as a couple.

What is it like to work with you?
Working with Jamie & Natalie Photography is like riding a unicorn through a rainbow atop a road made of marshmallows. Topless. Sooo...pretty flippin' awesome.
Engagement Photos
What should couples expect when working with any true professional in your field?
Each couple's wedding day provides professionals with a one-time shot at making things count. Couples working with a true professional wedding photographer should expect, at a minimum, a business license and insurance coverage. Boring and remedial? Yes. However, trusting someone to photograph this once-in-a-lifetime event without checking these basics is like ridin' a roller coaster without a jockstrap. It's just a terrible idea. But seriously, your photographer will either add to your day or subtract from it.
Engagement Photos
What is your favorite moment in your career so far?
We've traveled to South Carolina to photograph a breathtaking wedding on a historic plantation; we've used our photo booth to give back to our community at Christmastime; we were a part of a local celebration of love for LGBT couples. And we've created true friendships along the way. Our favorite experience thus far is too hard to choose because we know there are many more amazing moments ahead of us.

One piece of advice for engaged couples:
You'll spend more time with your photographers on your wedding day than any other guest, including your own family members. In addition to assessing their work, be sure you can hang out with these people all day. In your underwear. Yep—they're gonna' see that.

What is one thing on your bucket list?
Jamie wants to ride a camel. In Egypt. With Natalie. Natalie wants to drink a beer in a Scottish pub. In Scotland. With Jamie.
Engagement Photos
Photo Booth Fun

Friday, April 3, 2015

Wedding Pro Feature: Infinite Pixels By Angel


♥ Business Name: Infinite Pixels By Angel Photography

Website

♥ Social Media links 
Blog
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+ 
Wedding Wire


♥ A few words about yourself:  We are a husband and wife team! We love what we do and so grateful that we have the pleasure of capturing beauty for a living.  We find each wedding to be more exciting than the last and try to make each one the best one that we have ever photographed.

♥ How long have you been in business? About 5 Years

♥ What inspired you to start your business? For me Photography has always fascinated me it’s ability to capture as Bresson-Cartier put it “The decisive moment”. There is that one split second moment that captures the essence of a person or moment and to me that is such a powerful thing. Capturing that moment in time to enjoy forever!


♥ Who is your ideal client? My ideal clients is a client that is turned into a lifelong friend. They’re not a specific group of people, but people who have a few things in common…My ideal clients realize that photography is an important expense for your wedding day, and for LIFE beyond the wedding day. It doesn’t matter to me if my clients know the difference between a 5D Mark II and a EOS 1-DX, but as long as they care about their photos enough to hire a professional (me!) to take care of them and deliver a long-lasting, memory-invigorating, enduring version of their wedding day instead of settling for Uncle Bob or Cousin Stacy, that’s what’s important.

♥ What inspires you in day-to-day life?  Capturing feelings not just an appearance and helping people see the beauty in themselves and make them happy.

♥ What is your “style” ? Photojournalism, Storyteller, Candid and Contemporary


♥ What is it like to work with you? We are very fun to work with and you will have a great and fun time with us and we are very invisible during every photo shoot, you won't even notice that we are there and taking pictures. We make your special day stress free since we are very detail oriented and capture every little detail and moment of your special day.

♥ What is your favorite moment in your career so far? Bride and Groom First look and Wedding Ceremonies.

♥ One  piece of advice for engaged couples: Don't let the stress of wedding planning get into you have fun enjoy this special time in your life! Hire a wedding planner to make your wedding day a joyful and stress free day!

♥ What is one  thing on your bucket list? Photograph a Wedding in one of the Islands of Hawaii.



Monday, March 16, 2015

Wedding Pro Feature: Love Story Vintage Rentals

Dear Diary

One of the best parts of being in the wedding industry is meeting all of the extraordinary professionals that make each wedding so spectacular. I had the pleasure of meet Jenna of Love Story Vintage Rentals last year. I absolutely love working with her. She will infuse your wedding with timeless love and romance. The delicate details bring ordinary wedding decor to the next level. I recently asked that she share a little bit about herself with me and my couples. So without further ado ladies and gentleman, meet Love Story Vintage Rentals.






♥ Business Name:  Love Story Vintage Rentals

Website

♥ Social Media Links:
Facebook
Instagram

♥ A few words about yourself:  My name is Jenna Hager and I grew up in Minnesota where I attended college.  After graduating with my Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, I moved to Colorado Springs to pursue my career and be near the mountains which I love so much.  I've resided in Colorado Springs since 2007.  My husband (Matt) and I share a love for snowboarding and got married last August in our favorite ski town, Vail.  I love to spend my free time hiking in the mountains with my pups, snowboarding, attending as many concerts as possible with my girls and hunting for treasures to add to my collection.

♥ How long have you been in business?  Love Story Vintage Rentals was established in 2014.

♥ What inspired you to start your business?  As I was planning my own wedding, I realized how much I truly love décor and design.  During my hunt for vintage china and décor, I started to get curious about where these items have been before ending up in my hands.  Each item in my collection has been loved dearly and has it's own story, and my dream is to share these items with others who are creating their own love story.

♥ Who is your ideal client?  Love knows no boundaries - I am up for anything!

♥ What inspires you in day-to-day life?   Love.  Absolutely 100%.  There is a song quote that I live by, "I live for love and laugh a lot, and that's all I need" - Kenny Chesney

♥ What is your “style”?  I love anything vintage, floral, antique and rustic.  Elegant but aged with love.

♥ What is it like to work with you?  I love to hear about my client's vision.  If my client needs some help developing that vision, we talk about what they like and what they don't like.  Once we have a direction, we can start the design process.  My goal is to take ordinary spaces and create them into their own unique vision that reflects who they are.

♥ What should couples expect when working with any true professional in your field?  Couples should expect open communication, timeliness and trust with their professional.


♥ What is your favorite moment in your career so far?  I had such a great time working with Ileen on the "Love is a Gift" wedding.  So many great professionals came together (through the amazing planning by Ileen!) to donate services for two weddings for two very deserving couples - and it was so beautiful!

♥ One piece of advice for engaged couples:  In the planning of my own wedding, I got so caught up in trying to please everybody.  But a good friend of mine put things back into perspective for me when she said, "Your wedding day is your day, and others are there to share in your day."  Stay true to who you are, and if you are having a great time, so will everyone else.  Joy is so contagious :)

♥ What is one thing on your bucket list?  My husband and I would love to travel to Europe. There is so much history and it would be totally romantic. :)


Saturday, February 14, 2015

White Bridesmaids Dresses

Dear Diary,

Trend ALERT! I'm surprised to say that I am not appalled by the upcoming trend of white bridesmaids dresses. Yes, you heard me. White. There are a few traditions that I hold dear and that was one of them.


The trend was kick started by the high profile weddings of Kate Middleton, Kim Kardashian and Peaches Geoldof.


The upside? Using all white will give your bridal party a timeless elegant look that is suited to any season.

Is there a downside? Nope, nothing that can't be avoided. The common concern is that you will be overshadowed on your big day if all the ladies are in white. The easy fix is just to make sure the your gown is more distinctive than the bridesmaids.  They're dresses can all be in the same style, a shorter length, or less ornate than yours.


You can also completely break tradition by wearing a colored gown while your bridesmaids wear white. Gold, blush, truffle and champagne are all excellent options. White gowns on your closest gal pals might even make you stand out more than if they were wearing a more traditional color!


I also recommend that all the dresses are the same shade of white to keep things cohesive.


Does this mean you can wear white if you're a guest to a wedding? No... that is still a faux pas for now.




Photo Credit:
Mosepens Studio
Priscilla Valentina
Tulle and Chantilly
The Knot
Aisle Perfect
People Magazine
One Magnifique Day
Wed Book

Friday, December 5, 2014

The Naked Truth About Naked Cakes

Dear Diary,

They’re stunning, unique, tasty and scandalously clad. I’m seeing naked cakes everywhere and it’s not hard to see why. They’re beautiful and make quite a statement. There are some things a couple should consider before purchasing one of these risque beauties for their wedding. I talked with baking pros the world over for their thoughts on naked cakes and on half dressed cakes. This is what they thought you should know!

NakedCake-EstherSweetHome

1. Fact: Your cake will dry out so make sure you and your baker have a game plan. Here are some pro tips to consider:
  • The cake should be baked at the very last minute to ensure freshness.
  • The pros are divided on this but, some recommend adding a syrup coating to the outside of the cake. Syrups can be flavored in a number of ways and can help retain the moisture. The downfall is that it diminishes the integrity of the cake’s nod to minimalism and some people might not enjoy the texture of the syrup/cake combo.
  • Dulcie Blue Bakery recommends getting the cake a bit larger than you need it to be. Then if there is severe drying, the edges can be discarded and not a single guest will notice. Be sure to have your wedding planner inform the serving staff that this is okay!
  • Beware the sun!!! These cakes are lovely and seem to fit perfectly with an outdoor venue but the hot sun will accelerate the drying process! If possible keep the cake indoors until it is time for the couple to make the traditional first cut.
NakedCake-DulcieBlueBakery
SugarFlower-DulcieBlueBakery
  2. Be mindful of “fresh elements”
  • Fresh fruit sure is pretty but the color and juices can bleed into the cake! To keep it neat and lovely Sweet Pea Cake Co. says be sure to ask for a layer of icing to act as a barrier between the cake and fruit. It can also be a good idea to use separators if you want a lot of fruit. This will prevent squishing.
  • Wood and fresh flowers are often added by the florist or by a stylish DIY couple. Thanks to Iced and Dazzle I will be much more conscious of letting clients do this in the future. These elements are not sanitary in any way. They are not cleansed of pesticides or inspected for critters. Ew. Please make sure that if you use these things you have them cleaned first. On a traditional wedding cake the fondant layer is pretty tough, but a nice spongy naked cake is much more absorbent. To avoid this all together, use sugar flowers.
mrobin


3. There is no icing so it’s much cheaper right? Wrong.
  • Because of the care that goes into creating this type of cake expect to pay the same amount if not more than the traditional cake. Icing and fondant actually help stabilize your cake. Without it there is a bit more work involved. You can have a cake that is both trendy and delicious but having your cake and eating it too may cost you.
  • There are several baking pros who do not like the integrity and taste of their product being compromised for a trend and will only make naked cakes under extreme protest. This could also raise the price. If you are in the Colorado area looking for a baker who is willing to make a naked cake you can contact Indulge Bakery in Lafayette.
4. Another fresh trend to consider is the equally lovely half dressed cake. They have a similar look to a naked cake but are roughly covered with a crumb coating of butter cream or ganache.
ValentinesNakedCake-TheMakery-

Thank you to all the wonderful baking artists that contributed their time and knowledge!

Dulcie Blue Bakery Sweet Peak Cake Co.
Miss Ingredient Cassidy Budge Iced & Dazzle
Indulge Bakery
The Makery Cake Co.
Hopscotch Bakery
M Robin Cake Design
Esther Sweet Home

Leaf & Crumb Bakery



Yours Ever After,
Ileen



 More Info

Five Ways To Avoid Becoming Bridezilla

Dear Diary,

When people ask what I do and I say that I’m a wedding planner, the first thing they say is, “Wow, I bet you meet a lot of bridezillas!” Truthfully, I don’t. I give my brides five very simple steps to follow to help them avoid becoming this cliché. We’ve all seen that girl on TV… beautiful hair and make-up, designer gown, nostrils flaring and that big angry vein popping out of her forehead as she flings the closest object to her perfectly manicured hands across the room, but honestly what bride wants to be her? We joke about bridezilla, but how do we really avoid it when emotions and stresses run high? Besides hiring a phenomenal wedding planner to take your stress away *wink, wink* here are five surefire tips keep you centered during the planning process.

5. Take a Time Out
Don’t forget the wedding will only last one day and, as important as it is, it isn’t the only special time in your life. The entire engagement should be a fun and memorable experience. Take time off, get away from the checklists, craft stores & Pinterest boards and spend some much needed time with your future hubby. Make a rule for yourself to follow like no planning or wedding chatter on Fridays or after a certain time of day. This will help you to focus on the reason you’re embarking on this journey into madness in the first place… your love for each other.

 Keep Calm and Don't Be a Bridezilla-Wedding Planning Tips

4. Avoid any friendly fire

You aren’t the only one who is stressing about your wedding. Odds your friends and family are nervous too and want it to be just as wonderful as you do… that being said when you get upset with them remind yourself “WE ARE ON THE SAME SIDE!’’ This is true for your wedding vendors as well. No one wants to ruin your wedding. So instead of “off with your head,” try saying something like “I’m really frustrated right now but I know we can find a solution together.” This will not only will this keep you from breathing fire and ruining your lip-gloss but it will keep the locals from running for the hills.

3. Know you can’t control everything nor can you do this alone
Realize this… accept it and embrace it. Honestly, although you might not think so right now, you don’t want to have every single detail and every single task resting on your shoulders. It will become overwhelming very quickly. You will need help.


2. A wedding is about love
That being said; support each other through the process. Listen to one another's frustrations and opinions. Everyone needs to vent and everyone has their own point of view. All ways keep in mind your wedding is only one day your family and friends are a lifetime gift that you must cherish.

1. Breathe

Pause often to take a deep breath and reflect. So, your linen came in and it’s robin’s egg blue and not quite baby blue… wait for it… wait for it…. yup the universe is still in tact. Shocking, I know. Taking a moment to enjoy a few cleansing breaths can go a long way in keeping the bridal beast at bay.

BONUS! A Positive affirmation for the moments when you can feel the beast begin to rise from within. If you’ve never tried something like this before you may feel a little silly but trust me and give it a try it really helps!
Take 3 deep cleansing breaths, state the affirmation slowly and confidently, then breathe again before responding to what has frustrated you.
“I am surrounded by love. I choose to stay calm and let the stress leave my body. I will have a joyful wedding.”

There really isn't much more to it. Together you can get through it.  



Yours Ever After,
Ileen



More Info