Real Weddings: Brittnie Holt and Jeff Faine at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Hi, hello, hey there and, most importantly, I'M BAAAAACK!!!! Excuses, excuses, but the whirlwind of dizzyingly beautiful weddings, galas and events have had me, well, preoccupied. But, i really am back! This past weekend, I had the greatest time executing months of planning and design for Brittnie Holt and Jeff Faine. I'll let the imagery speak for itself, but here are some of my favorite highlights: * Those flower girls! Simply put: OMG!!! And such moxie they had, I adored them!

* I tore a page from Ellen while watching the Oscar's, and yep...I had 20 pizza pies delivered in the last hour, and if you wanted a piece you HAD to be on the dance floor. {We'll have to wait for the video to be done to see that!}

* I'll say it to my grave: Have a "Plan B that can rock your world. We were supposed to have an outdoor gazebo ceremony and dinner dancing under the stars with some extra glow with market lights. Florida weather had something else in store for us, and my goodness, did you see how GET LIT reworked the market lights? It was everything!

I'm so, so happy to be back! I missed "virtually" talking to all of you, and so tickled you came back to read too! xoxo

*Images Courtesy of Jensen Larson Photography* * Floral and Draping by Raining Roses Productions* * Lighting by Get Lit Productions* * Venue: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel* * Design: E Events by Lisa Stoner* {That's me!}

Your Band Leader Should Look Like This!

I love when I have the opportunity to work with Ricky Sylvia with The Buzzcatz-- Always prepared, unparalleled professionalism and incredible style and personality to top it all off, he and The Buzzcatz make my job incredibly easy. I think this says it all: "Thirty five years and thousands of shows & miles later, the jovial front man still commands the stage with an energy & enthusiasm that clearly shows his passion for performing." And, though I'd like to be selfish and keep them locally in Central Florida all year long, Ricky and his wife Kara divide their time between Winter Park, FL, and Orange County, CA; where he has launched a west coast version of The Buzzcatz. So, California ...Your welcome! Happy Friday, friends! xoxo *Image Courtesy of Jensen Larson Photography*

A Portofino Bay Hotel Wedding-Sneak Peek!

I had the utmost pleasure {for the second time!} to work with the Watzka family for their youngest daughter, Kylie's wedding to the debonair Nathaniel Drummond.

We make a great team, the Watzka's and I, but I most certainly did not accomplish this traditional, sophisticated, lush wedding all by myself...

Endless gratitude goes out to Pearl Beach Paperie, Jensen Larson Photography, Simone Rosas, Greenery Productions, Jeffrey Stoner Video, Shannon Caine, Orlando Wedding and Party Rentals, Party Flavors, Kaleidoscope Event Lighting, The Buzzcatz, Brainchild FX, Photo Mingle and, of course, the luxurious Portofino Bay Hotel

.

I love these initial sneak peeks, and look forward to even more beautiful imagery, as well as a quick video trailer ..."Coming Soon!"


Cheers!

Set the Scene: Wedding Stationery

I love "setting the scene" everywhere I can when designing and planning a wedding.

It is said that the tone for your wedding or event is set immediately with the invitation. I couldn't agree more! I advise my clients to take every effort to carry that idea or "tone" with regards to wedding stationery all the way through--Invitations, escort cards, menus, etc.

Here, in collaboration with Darcy Sang of Pearl Beach Paperie, we took our client Jennifer's inspiration {which was actually artwork featuring still life!} and incorporated the colors and vibe from that piece. She wanted an opulent, European-style "feast" and the paper accurately reflected all of her sensibilities.

She was thrilled, I was thrilled and so was ..."Weddings Unveiled!"

*Images Courtesy of Jensen Larson Photography*

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

I just love getting lost in this image so perfectly captured by my friends and colleagues, Eric Larsen and Jen Sens with Jensen Larson Photography ...

We had this breathtakingly beautiful day setting the scene for this visually stunning and detailed wedding at Cà d'Zan Mansion in Sarasota, Florida.

Sunset, wine, gourmet food and love abound. What more could you ask for?

UNBRIDLED: My favorite wedding friends like...Eric Larson!

This week you will be able to better acquaint yourself with the insanely talented Eric Larson. He and his lovely wife Jen Sens are amazing photographers and own their photography and portraiture business, Jensen Larson Photography,that I have had the great opportunity to work with on some very beautiful weddings. And, as no surprise, we have managed to have some crazy-fun in the process!

Jennifer Sens and Eric Larson specialize in location photography for portraiture, golf, travel and limited wedding commissions. Their imagery is recognized for its intimacy, honesty and sophistication. They are based seasonally in Florida and Colorado. By working as a team they multiply their experience and talent. Jen and Eric have the knowledge gained from a combined 30 years working behind the camera and have photographed everything from the world’s smallest dog to the great wall of China.

I love these two professionally and personally; I think you will too…

• Itching to work with: In our wedding photography, I’m hoping to work with more Colorado couples as we starting service there seasonally. I’d love to work for Garden and Gun Magazine and I’m itching to photograph golfer Rocco Mediate.
• Fashion Obsessions: Hugo Boss shirts always fit my long arms and are tailored around the middle. Just because you have a big wingspan, doesn’t mean you should have to wear a tent.
• Beauty must-haves: My cousin Jill at Nube Nove salon in Thornton park cuts my hair. I know it’s time to go in when Jen tells me I’m starting to look like a “professional video game player.”
• Office/Work must haves: Pandora Internet radio keeps us sane. We also love our Nespresso machine. Our lovebird Mango keeps us company and we try to keep her off the keyboard, which she loves to rip keys off of.
• Speed dialing: My beautiful bride and business partner Jen Sens.
• Can’t get enough of: Jason Lytle’s new album Yours Truly, the Commuter. • Jonesing to: Get started on our backpacking adventure in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana next week. Hopefully the snow will melt a bit so that the 30-mile trail we want to do is open.
• Current work project: We just did a marketing shoot for Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and we hope to do more for that new client. I am also working on getting our stock photography archive key-worded and online.
• Current personal project: Working on my ribs. I love grilling on our patio when we are in Florida and I’m looking forward to using the Pits and Spits smoker we have access to in Colorado.
• Necessary extravagance: The Ravenous Pig in Winter Park. I love taking family and friends there. We also can’t get enough of the super-fresh Heart of Christmas Farm eggs sold at the Audubon Park Community Market. They are sort of expensive (for eggs) but so fresh the yolks are orange.
• If I weren’t a photographer I would:do something else creative with a tangible result- it might involve making furniture or food.
• In my bag: At the moment my bag holds a Canon film camera loaded with black and white, a Canon digital camera, three prime lenses, my inhaler, my Whitelines notebook, my phone and my Aviators.
• Recent discovery: El Coqui Mexicano off Bumby. It’s a tiny BYOB place serving some serious Mofongo.
• Craving: Fat Tire beer. I indulge my serious “beertooth” in the summer when we are able to sample Colorado’s finest.

*Fun, fearless and frivolous flashbacks*
{Share 3 personal memories between you and I}

1. That meeting we had with that horrible couple that you eventually had to”fire” stands out in my mind. They seemed to be A) not in love and B) really annoying. The groom wanted to talk about the cameras he owned and the bride wanted us to quote her on a gigantic wall print of herself. When her fiancé suggested it be of the two of them, she said, only half joking, “Why would I want to look at you every day?”
2. That time Jen confused you and the Ritz-Carlton’s Jennifer Sharpe during a wedding. Not only do you ladies look sort of similar but you were dressed almost exactly the same that day!
3. When you talked the Winter Park Police out of shutting that wedding down early. I would love to know what you said to them.


Thanks, Eric! I think I'm going to buy you one of those Fat Tires beers soon, and tell you exactly what I said to those Winter Park Police!!