Jess Van Allen- Featured Photographer

Jess Van Allen is the photographer I'm both most familiar and comfortable with. She's been the woman behind the camera lens for all the most important events in my life- she was the artist responsible for my head shots, my senior portraits, my bridals, and most importantly my wedding day. I suppose that makes my bias toward her work obvious, but if you'll permit me I'd like to tell you why. Jess has the most incredible eye for detail. Whether it's noticing that your hair isn't falling quite right and helping you fix it, or the ribbon it took you two weeks to pick for your bouquet, or catching your brand new husband's real smile- that smile he saves just for you, you can trust her to make sure that every little aspect of perfection is frozen forever in time. Jess has a distinctive style to her work, but more importantly, her pictures always embody the essence of her subject. Every time I see a new wedding she's shot I feel as if I get to know the bride and groom on a level that is more intimate than I could have imagined. You can tell just by looking if the couple is goofy, classic, intelligent, or funny, and always you can see just how in love they are. I've often said that I never look as beautiful as I do when I'm in front of Jess' lens- she knows how to make someone feel like the perfect mix of supermodel and princess, and who doesn't want to feel like that on their wedding day?

Jess says of herself, "I would say that I am a photojournalist with artistic flair. While I get those great shots to hang on the wall of your new home or give to your grandparents, I also capture the tender looks, secret whispers, and passionate kisses in between poses. While your standing in the receiving line, chatting with relatives or eating your dinner, I'm taking pictures of your flowers sitting on the table, the groom playing with his new wedding ring behind his back, the details of the back of your dress... the little moments of your day... captured." She's based in Arizona, but she loves to travel!

I couldn't resist putting in one of the shots from my wedding! You can see Jess' work either at her site or at her blog.

Anne Pearson- Featured Photographer

Anne Pearson first came to my attention when a friend of mine told me she had found the perfect photographer to shoot her December 2008 wedding and all the pictures that go with it. As you all know, I'm obsessed with weddings, and I wanted to know more about this person that my friend would trust implicitly with preserving all those wonderful moments associated with this incredible time in her life. So, being the girl that I am, I checked out her blog. I must have spent at least two hours pouring over posts and pictures of a woman I had never met, never even heard of until that day, and I came away shaken to the core. The pictures were emotional, soft, and beautiful in a way you rarely see and the voice was down to earth and friendly. What a perfect combination for anyone's wedding!

Anne says of her style, "I like to coin my style as Rustic Elegance with a touch of vintage flair and a bit of romanticity. I am in love with deep rich colors, textures, and a great black and white where the depth makes you want to crawl on in to the capture. I strive to create portraits that make one feel like curling up with their favorite person and soft blanket on a porch swing to watch the moon rise and the fireflies dance. (not that I see many fireflies here :) I believe in what I do and that's why I do it. Its not about the money or the time, its about making "that time" stand still for the rest of forever with the captures I create for my clients...turned friends." Anne is based in Utah.

Peacock Themed Wedding

First off, who doesn't love the look of a peacock feather? They have such vibrant, beautiful colors and there is something almost magical about the way they naturally seem to shimmer. A lovely choice to base the colors of your wedding on. Apparently this is becoming quite popular, which is nice because it makes it easier to find classy examples for you. However, because I fell a little in love with it, today will only be about bouquets and centerpieces. More will be coming I promise!

Love this in general... Right now I'm very much so wanting one for my front door. It's delicious. I think it would look lovely lying flat on a table with a tall, chunky (I'm envisioning either silver or acrylic) candle stick in the center of it.

This would bring so much drama with so little work! Plus, you would save a ton going with this rather than fresh flower centerpieces.

I'm especially fond of the way the peacock feathers peek out from between the flowers in this bouquet and the teal gems in the center of the stephanotis.

This one has a lovely mix of tropical flowers and the peacock feathers don't become overwhelming.

This is my very favorite thing I found for you. I think this bouquet is phenomenal. The flowers pick up all the right color notes from the feather, the feather is displayed in the bouquet without the bouquet becoming too fuzzy, and something about the shape of the bouquet reminds me of a peacock fan. Overall, I think it's wonderful... maybe even DeeLovely.

Best Bits of My Wedding

I guess this is technically "Best Bits of My Wedding: Part One". When I was planning my wedding I remember looking at all sorts of lovely pictures in magazines and online and just wondering if that would really work out as well in "real life" and especially as a bride on a budget. So here are some of the ideas that I incorporated into my big day that worked out wonderfully (perhaps I'll even give you the "Worst Wedding Day Bit" someday, when I feel strong enough).

This is my gorgeous little sister & bridesmaid Morgan. Here she is sporting what I lovingly dubbed the bracelet corsage (turns out it's a real thing, but known as a corsage bracelet... who knew?). I was inspired by an antique bracelet that had a porcelain rose on a pearl bracelet. I thought it was divine. For my bridesmaids we went with a more modern version- stretchy, three-stranded pearl bracelet from Claire's (they were so inexpensive!) and hot glued artificial orchids to the little silver clip backs you can get a craft stores. We clipped on the flowers and the girls all coordinated and had their hands free to dance the night away at the reception. Now the corsages can be unclipped and the girls can wear the flowers in their hair and the bracelets separately. Bonus- these bracelets were also part of their bridesmaids gifts. Lovely!

This is similar to the bracelet I was inspired by. So cute!

Something similar done with real flowers on a stretch rhinestone bracelet. Love the extra bling!

I loved this picture! It reminds me of the head wreaths for flower girls, but all grown up. A slightly smaller circle of flowers would probably work better, but the idea is still so pretty.

These flowers look a little tacky, but I loved the bracelet they are on. You really could find a way to put flowers on any bracelet that coordinates with the look, feel, and budget of your wedding!

I found quite a few of these beaded stretch bracelets turned corsages. I think the organza ribbon is nice because it gives the feel of a classic wrist corsage without the stuffy, 1950's prom look.

Dark Purple

I love collages in general, but I especially love the idea of one demonstrating the look and feel you are looking to create for your wedding. Some people call them inspiration boards, I just call them a good idea. It keeps you focused and it helps you to communicate to your family and your vendors exactly what you want.

Here are a few inspiration boards (and just some great ideas) for a dark purple wedding.

I love how streamlined and classy everything is in this collage. You KNOW just by looking at this that there won't be any tacky use of tulle or anything of that sort.

Love love love! The different shades of purple keep this look from becoming overwhelming. The use of different sizes and materials of containers give it a softer romantic feel while the repetition keeps it from looking like a yardsale table.

Floating candles in dark purple water? Gorgeous! Never seen center pieces quite like that. I love them!
Is it just me or are these unbelievably cute? They'd make great favors.
Really only two things from this one- 1. The silver really offsets the deep shade of purple nicely and 2. That cake stand is phenomenal!
Modern yet elegant. Not quite the color of purple that I like though.

Blue and Yellow Wedding

I had a request to do a post based on this collage... It's a tough color scheme to find things for, but it looks so classy!

Love so many things about this collage- High lights: The groom's funky yellow socks matching his bride's shoes. And the yellow sting of pearls. So lovely. This collage makes me think of a not-so-stuffy Yacht club.

So I began my search... first off- it's difficult to define just what this shade needs to be called. I went with cobalt blue, midnight blue, or sapphire blue when searching. I couldn't find anything quite right with both shades. So I searched separately and these are the things I loved most. Let me know if I'm on the right track Larissa.

Love the simplicity and the way the ribbon wrapping looks here. Perhaps with a large yellow flower instead of the odd shade blue one.

Gorgeous! Not at all the cookie-cutter yellow rose bouquet we've all seen a million times. Made of Yellow cymbidium orchids mixed with yellow ranunculus. You could have the stems wrapped in the correct blue, but I think it looks more stunning monochromatic.
Sapphire jewelry for you (and maybe the moms)? Yes please! It doesn't have to be expensive either- several companies offer really good sapphire fakes for not much more than you'd spend on cheap clear crystal jewelry from the mall or the bridal store. I like JTV's line Bella Luce. I've seen the sapphire stones in person and they're very convincing.

In the same vein... wouldn't the bridesmaids all look lovely in citrine drop earrings? Bonus- you get a built in bridesmaid gift and the girls all coordinate perfectly.

You can't go wrong with a candy bar! Especially at a Mormon reception (you know there will be lots of happy kids) and when your color scheme is so easy to find candy for.

Not a bad look for boutonnieres. I think it'd look even better with ranunculus to coordinate with the bouquet above.

Not sure I'm digging on the daisy ones, but I think those yellow calla lilies look ravishing in vases filled with lemons!

And the final, quirky thought on the topic... Wouldn't it be adorable and insanely memorable to leave your reception in a classic yellow taxi rather than the standard limo? Love it!