Wedding Highlight Film: Lauren Kay and Adam Soufleris

All weddings that I have the opportunity and fortune to be a part of always touch me in one way or another. I have to say that this one, however, touched me in so many ways. Working closely with Lauren Kay and her effervescent and graceful mother, Kristine truly impacted me. I am so appreciative when I, too, can learn or re-learn, what is at the heart of love for your partner and love for your family. Lauren and Kristine reminded me of that in so many ways.

I urge you to watch this highlight film all the way through; it's worth your time and heart! Such beautiful gestures, a marvelous backdrop at The Ringling Museum of Art; even a surprise performance of "All you Need is Love" during the recessional! {as inspired by everybody's favorite romantic comedy, Love Actually!} And for the record, my FAVORITE vows in my career. Just beautiful!

Lauren & Adam's Wedding Highlight Film - by Jeffrey Stoner Video from Jeffrey Stoner Video on Vimeo.

I adore these ladies! They are forever embedded in my heart.

More of Lauren and Adam's wedding goodness will soon follow as they have been selected as a feature for The Knot's national publication as well as their Florida publication...stay tuned!

*Wedding Planner: Lisa Stoner|E Events* *Video by Jeffrey Stoner Video* *Images Courtesy of Garrett Nudd Photography* *Floral and Decor: Botanica International Design Studio* *Venue: Ringling Museum of Art*

Wedding Highlight Film: Ashley Jacoby and Greg Ostrowicki at The Ritz Carlton, Buckhead

Sooooo many lovely details from this wedding at the exquisite Ritz Carlton, Buckhead, but my favorite is one that cannot be seen. Though this reaction below from Ashley and Greg during their ballroom reveal comes pretty close! Amy Saltzman with A Legendary Event was my fearless partner in all things decor, and I'd work with her 365 days a year if I could!

The fact is, however, that this was my second wedding for this family, and the relationships that I have had the great fortune to make with the Jacoby family during both planning processes have the most value to me.

Okay, enough with the mushy stuff...Look how the reveal above evolved into the evening you'll see here in this video below.

Ashley & Greg's Wedding Highlight Film - by Jeffrey Stoner Video from Jeffrey Stoner Video on Vimeo.

Enjoy! xx, LS *Images Courtesy of Garrett Nudd Photography* *Video Courtesy of Jeffrey Stoner Video*

A Wedding "Plan B" to Love!

For those who worry about making a rain call which brings your wedding inside, this was the "Plan B" for my couple Erin and David. No less intimate, no less beautiful. We brought all of our design elements inside and it worked is spades. I adored this wedding!

*Image taken at The Ritz Carlton, Sarasota by Garrett Nudd*

Real Weddings- Childhood Sweethearts & Destined to Be Together

This past weekend, I had the greatest fortune and honor to experience one of the most touching love stories formally unfold before me.. Patti Rego and Daniel Chapman were seemingly destined to be together forever. With a long, beautiful story of their parents befriending each other in Spain through their college years, only to maintain and nourish a friendship and bond between the families that would see them through their respective marriages, children, families and the like. In my career, I cannot recall feeling so inherently moved by such circumstances,not only because they merely exist as facts, but because everything {and I mean everything}was so incredibly authentic. I am still on my "warm fuzzy-high!" and cannot wait to see formal images and video from my perfectly picked photographer and videographer, Garrett Nudd and Jeffrey Stoner. I wish you all a love like Patti and Danny's ... xoxo

Real Weddings: "The Mom Edition"

Love my MOB's! I love how that, in these two images, there is a room full of people, activity and conversation. To which person are each of my brides looking at ...? MOM. xoxo *Images Courtesy of Garrett Nudd and Damon Tucci*

Real Weddings: "The Mom Edition"

There's no better time than this upcoming weekend for me to honor all of the wonderful mother's I have had the tremendous fortune to work with over the years. As the mother of two breathtakingly beautiful {inside and out!} daughters, I especially love and appreciate when the photographers I work with capture that moment between a mother and a daughter. It's always so touching, so moving and so very inspiring ... To all my "MOB's," past and present, Happy Mother's Day! You all inspire me greatly! xoxo *Images courtesy of Garrett Nudd*

Noteworthy Wedding Vendors- Garrett Nudd !

I've made wonderful connections and acquaintances by way of wedding industry colleagues along the course of this marvelous career of mine from all over the world and country.

Every now and then, I'll listen reeeeeeeaalllllly close to that inner voice in my head when I feel like something or, in this case, someone is just different. I remain grateful that I took heed and listened to that voice 5 years ago when I {almost didn't!} met Garrett Nudd. Now, I get to rock weddings out with a phenomenal photographer that is a close and dear friend and have gained an extended family to make my fortunate situation almost surreal.

After our first {seriously, almost didn't happen!} "introduction," our first friend date was in my office with his delightful and lovable wife, Joy and their adorable baby, Graycen. To my extreme pleasure, they've added to this deliriously happy brood with sweet, you-can-just-take-a-bite-out-of-her-cheeks Campbell ...

If I have the pleasure to speak with you, please ask me about the day I met Garrett. It's a good story, and I'm so glad it's ours to tell-

In a nutshell-- Garrett Nudd!

Itching to work with: I'm blessed to work side by side with my lovely and talented wife Joy. It works so well for us and it makes our life together significantly more rewarding. There's honestly no one else that I'd rather work with day in and day out. Otherwise, if I were to interpret the question as who would I like to photograph.... lately I've really been itching to do some portraits of various current pop-culture influencers. Adam Levine of Maroon 5 has rushed back into the spotlight with The Voice, colorful British golfer and fashion designer Ian Poulter, tv personality Jimmy Fallon, film stars Kera Knightly and Anne Hathaway, more singers/musicians than I have room to list but at the top would be Phil Collins and Jon Bon Jovi (not necessarily together). And last but not least, do I dare admit that I think I'd enjoy photographing the cast of the ridiculously overly popular Twilight saga? Not because I'm a raging fan like many others that I know, but it's just that they all seem to be so genuinely nice. ;-)

Fashion obsessions: I love shoes, which a lot of people who know me already know. And I'm also really fond of belts. When I'm traveling I usually pack a different belt for each outfit.

Beauty must-haves: well that's fairly obvious...hair glue, of course.

Office/Work must haves: a generous bounty of dark chocolate and peanuts. When your office supply list consists of more food than paper/ink/pens/tape/staples, etc., you know you're in trouble.

Speed dialing: Joy, my parents, my in-laws and Paco's Mexican restaurant in Winter Park, FL for take-out.

Can't get enough of: Just about anything from Trader Joe's.

Jonesing to: Return to Europe and spend all afternoon sitting at a sidewalk cafe just watching people while sipping an over-priced European soda.

Current work project: remodeling our studio & boutique in Chattanooga. It's a never-ending labor of love.

Current personal project: positioning our family to be in the running for our neighborhood Yard of the Month... just kidding! Let's see, something that's actually attainable.... To be honest, my current personal project is trying to teach myself to intentionally seek out ways to make a difference. I was at lunch with a friend years ago when I worked in corporate communications and he commented, "look at all of these people hurrying around on their lunch break. Every one of them thinks their job is the most important job in the world." It's easy to become self-absorbed, especially when we're busy, but it's important to take time and observe others.

Necessary extravagance: I'm pretty simple. My only consistent upgrade is paying an additional $1.79 to add guacamole to my tacos at Chipotle.

If I weren't a photographer I would be: a magazine editor or a college professor teaching writing, public relations and photography. Each year I spend two weeks teaching a photography intensive at my alma matter and it's something I eagerly anticipate every year. I love watching light bulbs turn on in people's heads.

In my bag: In my Think Tank camera bag I have a mix of both Nikon and Canon camera gear. It's a hot complicated mess in there. Plus, it makes wedding guests think I'm really really good. I can't figure it out, but camera brands (like computers: mac vs. pc) are so polarizing for lots of people, as if you shoot one brand and I shoot another, than I'm superior to you. Blah, whatever. So if an ammeter photographer wedding guest approaches me with their camera and asks me what I'm shooting, I tell them Nikon and Canon and usually they raise their eyebrows giving me enough time to sneak away and get back to work. In my golf bag I have Calloway irons, a Taylor Made driver, and my putter is a classic old Wilson 8802 that I've used since I was in high school.

Recent discovery: I thought that having a child in kindergarden would automatically generate lots of free time with her being away for 8 hours a day, but all of a sudden it makes life for our family really busy. Joy is an amazing mom and she juggles everything so gracefully. We both help out by volunteering in the classroom as often as time permits.

Craving: Pacos in Winter Park, Paxia in College Park, No Mas in Atlanta. Yes, they're all Mexican restaurants.

Fun, fearless and frivolous flashbacks

There are quite simply too many to list, but my four favorites (in no particular order) are:

1. Doing the giant inflatable slip-n-slide at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island with Joy, you, Jeffrey, Jessy and Bligh
2. You and Jeffrey surprising us at our Cobblestone Rue grand opening in Chattanooga
3. Celebrating with you and Jeffrey at your post-wedding shindig in Winter Park
4. The never-ending vendor dinner at Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman thanks to the imaginations of Jessy Rivers and Joy Nudd and the generous hospitality budget of Tami Corday.

A Wedding of Heritage and Romance at The Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island

I feel like we bundled heritage and romance and were gifted the beautiful results of this emotionally charged wedding.

My bride, Debby is admittedly reserved and prefers to shower her family and friends with love and affection instead of being in what she would refer to as "the spotlight."

I understood that. Great thought and planning went into how I could not only deliver a stunning wedding worthy of the family's investment, but one that would resonate with Debby and Michael to reflect them appropriately. I knew that I had to make her feel as comfortable and beautiful as possible on this day, incorporate special elements that I knew made her happy, and the rest would effortlessly fall into place.

And so it did. Her gown was her mother's reworked to suit this new bride in her way. The breathtaking venue, The Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island was a childhood favorite vacation for Debby, and the sophisticated and elegant touches courtesy of Botanica, Design Elements, American Audio Visual and AFR made her feel at ease.

Debby's parting words to me that evening...?

"For the girl who didn't want all of this, I just don't want this day to end." Me either, Debby... This kind of wedding experience is what it's all about.

Debby & Michael's Wedding Highlights - Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island from Jeffrey Stoner Video on Vimeo.

* Image Courtesy of Garrett Nudd Photography *

* Video Courtesy of Jeffrey Stoner Video *

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words ...They Do!

I can just look at this image of Natasha and Louis just moments after they said, "I Do," for moments on end. Planning weddings that prompt images and thoughts like these is what I live for!

I wonder what swirl of loving and celebratory emotions were going through their heads and hearts as they were about to lead their recessional ....

*Image Courtesy of Garrett Nudd*

A Wedding Ceremony Reveal That Warms The Heart!

These 35 seconds where I privately revealed the ceremony site to Debby Hyatt-Rosenblatt and her mother Susan were absolutely priceless to me...

Every bride and her family deserves to feel this way from the moment their designs are revealed until they bid their guests farewell. This ceremony and chuppah design was the result of my always flawless collaboration with Ian Prosser of Botanica International Design.

I consider a reaction like this my emotional payment in full. Mazel Tov!

*Video Reveal Clip Courtesy of Jeffrey Stoner Video*
*Images Courtesy of Garrett Nudd*

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words ...Wedding Moments in Time

Amongst the millions reasons extraordinary, quality images captured by seasoned and experienced photographers are invaluable is the ability to literally and figuratively "freeze" time with one swift snap of the shutter.

While perusing the countless images I have for the weddings I have designed, I keep getting pulled to this stirring photograph by Garrett Nudd of the exquisite Jacqueline London and her mother as they made their way down the corridor to the chapel and ceremony.

I knew of their unyielding mother-daughter bond, but looking at this makes me pleasantly wonder...

What was said? What were they thinking? What were they FEELING?

Pride? Joy? Love?

I'm thinking ALL of the above!

Anatomy of a Wedding- Furniture Rental

Of all of the many details that can go into designing a wedding environment, one of my favorites has to be incorporating furniture whenever and wherever I can.

During the first dance, after dinner and during the dancing, a comfortable and beautiful furniture grouping can make all the difference in look and vibe.

The grouping below was designed in collaboration with AFR Furniture Rental for a wedding at The Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes, Orlando.

Central Florida vendors: Don't miss the AFR Event Furnishings Networker: History Happening on August 18th! I can't wait to see what they have in store for us!

*Image Courtesy of Garrett Nudd*

Wedding Decor- "Let There Be Light(ing) ! "

And the planner said, "Let there be light!"

Lighting can make all the difference in the world in your overall wedding design "look."

A remarkably affordable option when considering dramatically enhancing your space, you can select your lighting ambiance to be purple, pink, amber, blue ... You can even have the color change subtly throughout the evening to compliment the mood.

If you can swing it, consider the "pin-spotting" on your table arrangements as shown here.

Now, that's the "good" kind of drama!

*Image Courtesy of Garrett Nudd

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Our NYC Elopement- Riding in {OUR} Style!

We had to come home and face the {glorious} music some time, and we definitely wanted to celebrate our marriage with our family and closest friends.

We really kept a low profile for about 10 days after our return and so no one. {We had a hearty and healthy Spring wedding season to thank for that!}

It was great fun to poke our heads from an overhead balcony and call out to our loved ones that we would join them monetarily. We had Jeffrey's beloved motorcycle tucked away out of sight from anyone, and we couldn't think of any better way to make our entrance.

VROOM ...!

*Images Courtesy of Garrett Nudd*

Wedding Moments- "Her Heart Belongs to Daddy."

He sees her for the first time as a bride.

He releases her in confidence to her love.

He rejoices with her as they celebrate a new life ...

(and as I understand, a new one, baby Emmie is on the way at any moment)

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

*Images Courtesy of Garrett Nudd*

N E W W E B S I T E !

I am so thrilled to share the new website!

For the new website, I craved a highly visual, inspirational, user-friendly and non-invasive {no music anymore!} website to share with potential clients, existing clients and, quite frankly, anybody looking for some design "eye candy."

Special thanks to the talented {video AND web design!} Jeffrey Stoner for his TLC and patience throughout the process!

This is one of my favorite images featured on the website by friend and photographer, Garrett Nudd ...

Destination ...Cayman! {The magazine, that is!}

Proudly sharing the honor with Garrett Nudd, Joy Nudd, Tami Corday & Jeffrey Stoner of Lisa & Keith's Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman wedding which will be published in "Destination Cayman" magazine! What a memorable, gorgeous wedding and couple ...

This publication will be distributed throughout the island and on various US airlines with routes to Grand Cayman...

"A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words ..." Wedding Moments in Time

Knowles Chapel in Winter Park, Florida, July 31, 2010:

Natasha Recksielder and I are captured moments before the church doors were thrown open to herald her procession towards her husband, Louis Cianfrogna.

This day was long and eagerly awaited by the couple, family and friends. I was in deep thought and gratitude and I wonder ...what was Natasha thinking about in this very moment?

*Image courtesy of Garrett Nudd**

Erin Sembler and David Eichenbaum: Wedding Video Highlights!

A most gratifying wedding experience for all fortunate enough to get to know Erin Sembler-Eichenbaum & David Eichenbaum.

The date was New Year's Eve, and I was armed with a stellar team: Ian Prosser of Botanica, Garrett Nudd, Joy Nudd, Jeffrey Stoner / Stoner Video, Shannon Caine with Beautiful Music, Room Service & the prestigious Ritz Carlton, Sarasota. Think of your love, focus on your commitment to that person, make them your priority as Erin and David do, and enjoy ...

Erin & David's Wedding Highlights from Jeffrey Stoner Video on Vimeo.

Lisa Mallaiah and Mitch Scott- Wedding Video Highlights!

Wouldn't you love to be this *rich?!?*

Lisa and Mitch are rich in love, family, traditions and custom ...

I dearly hope you all find such richness in your lives as well!

**Special thanks to Rainer Flor with Simply Cinematic for this beautiful highlight piece**

Lisa & Mitch: Cinematic Movie Trailer from Simply Cinematic on Vimeo.