Friday, May 27, 2011

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY??

There are a few things brides dread on their wedding day and rain is definitely one of them.

Most pray for sun allowing for beautiful images outdoors with their new hubby, family and close friends. And if they’re planning for an outdoor ceremony and reception their prayers for a sunny day are even greater. Unfortunately when it comes to weather, there’s no guarantee.

With all the rain we’ve seen over the past few weeks it got us to thinking... Is rain on your wedding day really such a bad thing? Of course it never hurts to have a Plan B, such as a tent or alternate indoor venue when your Plan A is an open air outdoor space in case the clouds appear, but when it comes to your pictures rain can make for some fun and really unique photos if you’re willing.


Chicago based photographer
Kenny Kim had this to say about photographing couples in the rain -

There is an old saying "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." At every wedding, there is going to be a surprise waiting us around the corner. Regardless of what that surprise might be, we as wedding photographers try to make the best of all the situations. Inevitably, we are going to have days where Mother Nature will try to hinder the day. Instead of being discouraged by the situation, I think of it as an opportunity to get creative with photos. A wedding day is not about the weather but it is a celebration of a couple's commitment to spend the rest of their lives together. Capturing their emotion is more important than having nice weather. When humans lose one of their senses, the other senses heighten. As a photographer, when we are faced with limited options, our creativity gets heightened and often times we tend to see things that we did not notice before. Some of my favorite photos from weddings have come from days when it rained.

So why not go with it? Don’t let the rain ruin your wedding day! Find some fun rain boots, colorful umbrellas, and show the rain who’s boss. And last but not least, remember the Italian saying “Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata” which literally translates to “Wet Bride, Lucky Bride”. Traditionally, if it rains on your wedding day you will have a very fortunate marriage. The rain symbolizes abundance and good luck which will spill over onto the new family.


Photo Credits: Braedon Photography

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Brookyn Winery

I can't think of a better way to discover a new venue than by being invited to have dinner there with 30 friends. And it seems I just can't stay away from Williamsburg -- did you know that it's only 7 minutes from Manhattan (my GPS told me)? Anyway, the currently zen Josh Friedman of Elan Artists invited us to check out the Brooklyn Winery. Even though their own first wine press won't be ready for a few weeks, we delighted in the space, the music, the food, the atmosphere and the company. And I loved experiencing some new vendors whom I am delighted to share with you!
I couldn't have loved the floral designer Kathleen (Kat) Hyppolite more. I wanted to take her arrangements home but decided not to be one of those guests....
The mismatched and charming plates are from Props for Today, the favor was a bottle of delicious ginger syrup to make our own specialty cocktail at home. Sweet!
Our newest Wedding Librarian, Victoria Kasten, sips a specialty drink.
The details. The super-lovely waitresses were in theme, and that kind of discreet detail makes a party stand out. Perfect!
Told you I love floral designer Kat. We both polished off our delish desserts.
One of the many precious vignettes created by Kat and designer Jillian of 100 Layer Cake. Brava!
Faces behind the art. Jillian of 100 Layer Cake, wonderful Mel of Mel & Co. photography and Josh Friedman, impresario and leader of Elan Artists.
Some of the stylish musicians that Josh arranged. He brought in the Hot Sardines, Ambient Dulcimer (I'm crazily obsessed with Max), and the Freak Owls. Cool music, love the band names.
Ah, and the food. The ladies of Radish created a springtime feast that we loved. Family-style and beautifully presented, food that's fresh, simple and lovely beats fussy and over-prepared ever time. Thank you Laura and Amy!

Allan Zepeda, who has shot many events for me and shoots for Mel & Co., captured the evening perfectly. He makes every event more festive just by being there.