“The Big Kahuna” & “Delic” & Braedon – Wedding Highlights with Super 8mm from Life Stage Films

I’m from South Carolina originally and the low-country has a special place in my heart. There’s no other place quite like it – from the smell of the pluff mud to the egrets flying overhead to the Spanish moss blowing in the wind. When Andy and I got engaged we had to decide where to get married – and we had some great options. His family is a Partner in Lambert Bridge Winery in Northern Sonoma – so we could have had a wine country wedding or we could have chosen Atlanta where I was currently living. But after much debate we decided we wanted to share Fripp Island, South Carolina with all our friends and family.

It turned out better than we could have ever imagined. Our goal was to surround ourselves with all the people we loved and create memories that would last a life time. The time was filled with magical sunsets, dolphins, seashell hunting, low-country boils, oysters and bbq, cruising around on golf carts and bikes, cocktails …. all cumulatting with a sunset wedding overlooking the marsh. The sun broke through the clouds as we said our vows and then we all moved on to the reception at the Beach Club where the entire crew danced the night away to the sounds of GrooveTown!

It was a week we’ll never forget – made all the more special by the people that were standing by our sides. My Aunt and Uncle that live on Fripp surprised us with a guest appearance by author Pat Conroy at our rehearsal dinner . I’m still in shock… I cherish his books and go to them when I’m missing that special part of the world. Here’s the toast he presented us with:

“I would like to propose a toast to the bride, Paige Price and her very carefully selected groom, Andy Wilcox. I first came to Fripp Island in the summer of 1961 on a fishing trip with a Marine Colonel as his son. I had no idea by coming to this island before it had a bridge or a single house that I was stepping into my own fate. Five generations of Conroys have walked on this magic island which has always seemed a portion of paradise to me and a Hog Heaven to the Price family. Who could know that Paige Price, a woman who was extremely picky about men, would find her man waiting for her at the Lambert Bridge Winery in the other wing of paradise in Sonoma Valley, California. A love that spent her girl-hood on the beaches of Fripp and finds her bliss working among the grapes and the vines of one of the splendidly beautiful vineyard of Sonoma is a lucky love indeed. What story book ending is better than a southern belle hooking up with a man who spends his life making superb California wines – who could doubt such a vintage. Paige and Andy, tonight you are embarking on a new fate and a new beginning. All of us present tonight are part of your fate. I’m now part of your fate and you are the owners of the first written toast I’ve ever given on Fripp Island. Be happy for the rest of your lives.”

Cinematography: Life Stage Films / Ceremony Location: Ocean Creek Golf Course / Ceremony Coordinator: Becca McCoy / Reception Location: Fripp Island Beach Club / Entertainment: Groovetown / Catering: Proof of the Pudding / Floral Design: Laura’s Carolina Florist

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Becca McCoy, Coldplay, Fripp Island, Fripp Island Beach Club, Groovetown, Highlight Films, Jeremie Barlow, Laura's Carolina Florist, Life Stage Films, Neutral Color Palette, Ocean Creek Golf Course, Proof of the Pudding, South Carolina, Southern Weddings, Super 8, Wedding Cinematography
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Cinematography

Jay would argue that the first steps to our destiny began thousands of miles away in Wales, as a child. He vividly remembers looking at the world map pointing to the South China Sea and asking his Geography teacher…what’s there? Her answer wasn’t satisfactory and I suppose from this he was always interested in the “mystical, fog covered” world of South East Asia.

I had just transferred over to UWA from Singapore in 2007. Wanting to throw myself into finance lessons beyond the classroom, I agreed when a friend asked me to join him and his team in a competition – The UBS Investment (where incidentally Jay is now working) Banking Challenge. I was expecting a panel of old men, teachers perhaps, to judge us. Instead, I found myself in front of a man who took my breath away… His eyes were sharp with intelligence yet his face was soft. His diamond earring glistened at me. He looked very cool with his shaved head. I also enjoyed watching him grill my team mates… that is until a question was shot at me.

So our team did not win, but I won. That evening, in that room, I met the man I was going to marry.

It was as if after the moment I met him that evening, the floodgates of opportunities to interact opened up. I kept seeing him around and hearing about him. I heard so much about him. Things I approved of – he was known to be very intelligent. Other boys in school looked up to him saying he was a gun. He was a good friend. I even liked that he would offer to help the admin ladies out when they were busy. I thought it was cute his mother packed his lunch. I saw him around a lot too… Unfortunately, I was always too shy. Derek thinks everyone is going to laugh when they hear this because I am not really known as a shy person. I was shy when I was young but I had it trained out of me. It was as if just by looking at him, this man could impact my very core.

This part of the story Jay can explain his side. He noticed that I gave him ‘weird’ looks. Really, those weird looks were me smiling with my eyes down. I was telling myself ‘Lorraine! Be Confident!’ I could not even look at him in the eye. I would also be very quiet when he is in the same room.

I was not quiet about him though. I was telling Samantha about him constantly for almost a year to the point she was nearly in tears begging me to go talk to him already! I also told Mom about him. I told her one day “Mom, there is this guy in Uni. I’m going to marry him one day!” Mom naturally asked about him. She thought I was nuts when I said I hadn’t spoken to him yet.

After nearly a year we started, at Samantha’s urging, talking… electronically. By now we had “known” each other by seeing each other so much at Uni. I was going to backpack Indo-China… and Jay was backpacking Cuba and Central America. He asked if I was going to be in Bangkok at such and such date. I said yes but really I had to travel across borders from Laos and take the train to Bangkok to see him. All I knew was that I had to see him and talk to him face to face. It was urgent because I knew that he was not going to be in Perth anymore. He was going to be in Sydney. Then my chance would have been gone.

So on our first proper meeting, we met in Bangkok and we were going out to dinner… I had somehow made myself very comfortable with Jay. We were in a tuk-tuk, chatting and I had my legs over his…and I told him ‘Do you know…. that I am going to marry you one day?’ I believed it with all my heart.

Half expecting him to jump out of the moving tuk tuk (must have been why my legs were on his), I was surprised when he looked at me and asked me ‘Really? You want to marry me?’ I said ‘Yes…and I already told my mom.’

I didn’t stay very long – in fact I had to leave the next day to meet Samantha in Chiang Mai.

The GFC was a blessing for me. Jay decided to transfer back to Perth with Merrill Lynch. Things didn’t work out on a long distance basis. He didn’t believe in our fate as strongly as I did in the beginning. I was very disheartened and thought that I must have been wrong.

When he came back, I didn’t believe in a second chance for him but he told me ‘Our paths are intertwined. We are meant to be. It doesn’t matter what we do, we will always end and will end up together.’ How can you fight that?

When Mom met him finally, she told him ‘Lorraine knew she was going to marry you. She’s never said that about anybody else.’

14 November 2010 – Jay proposed in the room where I first saw him, filled with roses and a bottle of champagne.

Cinematography: Urban Light Films / Venue: Perth Convention Centre

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Australia, Australian Weddings, Chinese Weddings, Fusion Weddings, Highlight Films, Indian Weddings, Perth, Perth Convention Centre, Same Day Edit, Urban Light Films, Wedding Cinematography, Wedding Films
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Cinematography

Meg & Dan | A Wedding at Elkhart Lake from I Do Films

Dan and I got married on the most perfect summer day in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin – the same location where we had met six years earlier before my freshman year at Cornell.

I had always dreamed of having a tent wedding, so it was easy to settle on the beautifully-trimmed lawn at Victorian Village as the location for our reception. Using the warm, friendly, and vintage aesthetics of this family-run and family-fun resort as the foundation for our inspiration, my mom and I infused a little “Father of the Bride” and a few homemade touches to create a romantic and unforgettable Midwestern bash.

We started the day at my family’s home on Elkhart Lake, where Dan and I had a “first look,” but a very different kind. We were surrounded by my whole family while I came down the stairs and my brothers, dad, and Dan saw me for the first time. It was so special to have my whole family with us for such an important moment. The ceremony took place at Holy Name of Jesus in Sheboygan, where Dan had grown up and gone to church as a child. Our priest, who flew in from my family’s home parish in Los Angeles, stole the show with an incredibly touching homily that made reference to our “path” around Elkhart Lake. After the ceremony Dan and I took photos at a friend’s barn while our guests sipped homemade vodka lemonades and munched on Wisconsin cheese and meatballs.

Our 242 guests found their seating assignments on frames hung from vintage glass door knobs that Dan helped me power-drill onto a salvaged barn door found at my favorite antique shop, The Red Rooster in Plymouth. Dinner proceeded in a 60’ x 100’ century tent that glowed with warm rosy uplighting, ivory rice paper lanterns, and string lights. The tables were adorned with fresh roses, hydrangeas, and plenty of candles found at a local craft store by our florist Silvana Cassia of Twig Flowers. An oversize slate found at an antique shop and framed chalkboards found on HerMajestysPug’s shop on Etsy served as the menus for dinner and cocktails. To finish the look, we invested in a black-and-white checkered dance floor that exuded a snappy, jazzy feel.

A Beatles cover band called The Cavern Beat played four sets and kept the dance floor packed with guests of all ages. My mom always told me, “Meg, all you need for a great party are the two B’s: booze and a band.” She was so right!

Dessert included chocolate ganache cake from the bakery at the local Piggly Wiggly adorned with hydrangeas, an ice cream bar, and my mom’s molasses, snickerdoodle, and chocolate-chip cookies served on a three-tier cookie tower created with the help of a local carpenter.

We absolutely loved working with Anna and Jonathan Wheeler of Anna Page Photography, as well as Matt Buckman and Élan Villamor of I Do Films. Their ability to go with the flow, their attention to detail, and their cat-like reflexes certainly did not go unnoticed! Dan and I are so grateful to both of them for documenting our memories in such a beautiful and unique way!

Photography:  Anna Page Photography / Cinematography: I Do Films / Tent: Canopies Events / Band: The Cavern Beat / Event Coordination: Laura Cooper, Cooper Consulting / Floral Design: Twig Flowers / Ceremony Location: Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church / Caterer & Reception Location: Victorian Village Resort / Invitations: Bella Figura / Bride’s Dress: Amsale via Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang / Bride’s Heels: Vince Camuto / Bride’s Flats: Aldo / Bride’s & Bridesmaid’s Earrings: Anthropologie / Bride’s Bracelet: J.Crew / Engagement Ring and Groom’s Ring: Steve Quick Jeweler / Floral Hair Clip: Sara Gabriel / Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse / Groom’s Bowtie and Groomsmen’s Ties: Brooks Brothers / Hair & Makeup: Aspira Spa, The Osthoff Resort / Guest Transportation: Discovery Coach / Wedding Party Transportation: Stargazer Limousine / DJ: Matt’s DJ Service/ String Quartet: Jubilate String Quartet, kayesara@hotmail.com (Sarah Oftedahl ) / Guest Photo Station: Beyond the Booth Photography / Candle Holders & Flower Bases: Hobby Lobby & Pier 1 Imports / Framed Blackboard Cocktail Signs: HerMajestysPug / Ice Cream Sign: The Back Porch Shoppe / Cake: Natalie’s Pastries, natalieblattner@hotmail.com / Ice Cream: Scoops Ice Cream Parlor

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aldo, Amsale, Anna Page Photography, Anthropologie, Aspira Spa, Bella Figura, Beyond the Booth Photography, Black Tie, Bowties, Brooks Brothers, Canopies Events, Chinese Lanterns, Cooper Consulting, Discover Coach, Elkhart Lake, Etsy, Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Inspired, HerMajestysPug, Hobby Lobby, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, I Do Films, Ice Cream, Invitations, J. Crew, Jubilate String Quartet, Matt's DJ Service, Men's Wearhouse, Natalie's Pastries, Neutral Color Palette, Outdoor Weddings, Pier 1 Imports, Piggly Wiggly, Rustic Chic, Sara Gabriel, Scoops Ice Cream Parlor, Sheboygen, Stargazer Limousine, Steve Quick Jeweler, Tented Reception, The Back Porch Shoppe, The Beatles, The Cavern Beat, The Osthoff Resort, Traditional Elegance, Twig Flowers, Vera Wang, Victorian Village Resort, Vince Camuto, Vintage, Wedding Cinematography, Wedding Stationery, White Color Palette, Wisconsin
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Cinematography

Tammy + Erik from CinemaCake Productions

Within five minutes of our first date I knew Erik was “the one.” The evening went by too fast and left us both excited to see each other again. On our second date, we held hands and started to feel like there was something developing between us. By our third date Erik and I became inseparable. After that, the rest was history and within a few months he got down on his knee the night before we were moving in together and made me the happiest woman as I confidently said “Yes!”

We immediately started planning our wedding. I had the advantage of being immersed in everything bridal on a daily basis since I work in the industry and am a graphic designer. I already had a vision of what would be perfect for our special day. We wanted our wedding to be intimate, whimsical, elegant and traditional with a vintage feel with touches of gold, crystals, ivories and shades of pink.

Our venue needed to reflect our daily lives living in the city and we also wanted it to be convenient for all of our guests who would be coming from out of town and in some cases from around the world. After seeing a few venues, we absolutely fell in love with the Ritz Carlton. The architecture of the building is stunning and offered the elegant and intimate feel that we were seeking.

I designed two Save the Dates, each with a different engagement portrait. I had Two Paper Dolls print them for us. Two Paper Dolls took care of the rest our wedding materials. We wanted our invitations to look elegant, ornate and have a vintage feel. Our wedding invitation was letter pressed and engraved. It included a beautiful ornate design in two different shades of pink along with gold. We had custom stamps designed with our names along with gold metallic envelopes. Our programs and menu’s carried the same design. We used white calligraphy in all our wedding stationery. I had custom napkins made with our names.

Claudia Seyler was in charge of all my bridal party’s hair and makeup. She has a way of making anyone look absolutely natural and beautiful! She makes the experience fun and has a way of keeping me calm with her soothing personality.

I had always been a fan of Evantine Design’s work and knew that they were the only team I wanted to have create our wedding and make all our dreams come true. Evantine Design blew us away! They created the most beautiful wedding we have every seen, truly magical, a Fairy Tale come true. I felt like a princess that day!

I walked down the aisle wearing an incredible Kenneth Pool ivory silk taffeta strapless low waist wedding gown with a tiered skirt and gently curved neckline. Silver crystal beadwork adorned the empire, hipline, and skirt along with my Jimmy Choo champagne glitter shiny heels. Evantine Design created the most stunning hand-tied bouquet of ivory, cream and pale pink flowers composed of fragrant Stephanotis and Roses. Crystals were inserted into the Stephanotis. The bouquet was wrapped in embroidered crystal ribbon. My husband wore a Ralph Lauren black tuxedo with a small Rose and Stephanotis boutonniere. The stem was wrapped in black satin ribbon detailed with a crystal. My bridesmaids wore beautiful Lazaro Raspberry silky taffeta floor length A-line gowns. Their gowns had an asymmetrically pleated sweetheart bodice, self-band with flower accents with crystals at their natural waist. They carried gorgeous hand-tied bouquets with pale pink flowers with a touch of deeper pink such as Roses, Cockscomb and miniature Calla Lilies. The stems were wrapped in pink velvet ribbon detailed with pearl pins. Our groomsmen wore a deep pink-colored Rose to compliment the bridesmaid gowns.

Our guests were welcomed into a ballroom foyer lit up with warm ethereal lighting. They walked by long marble and iron tables that had a collection of candles and flowers, creating a beautiful, dreamy effect before entering the ceremony space. Our parents wedding frames were also displayed there. Once the entrance doors were opened our guests saw a beautiful aisle showered with rose petals along an ivory linen runner. Ivory organza fabric was swagged from our gold chairs with ivory shiny pillows to the aisle. Flanking the entrance to the aisle, two tall pedestals supported the large arrangements of flowers in classic low-profile stone urns with candles placed on the bottom. Further along the aisle, tall white-washed Spanish iron candle stands holding delicate designs of flowers were placed in progression along with low weathered iron candle stands holding beeswax candles and flowers and crystal droplets and crystal swags. Our chuppah had a unique design of six posts that were covered in soft ivory fabric. There was a stunning curtain of crystals behind the chuppah. All of the flowers on the chuppah were in shades of white, cream, ivory and very soft touches of blush. Roses, Hydrangea, Lilies, Peonies and French Stock were used as final touches along with crystals to make our ceremony into a magical place.

Our wedding reception design was simply breathtaking. Our guests were welcomed into a space with a spectacular view highlighting our beautiful tall cake based on a photograph I presented to the Ritz Carlton. Evantine Design put together a combination of traditional elements such as crystal candle stands and crystal floral/candle stands combined with white-washed Spanish iron stands, low ceramic bowls, silver trays, crystal pedestals and glass pedestals with crystal drops. Crystal swags were added to crystal stands and to Italian tall fluted glass vases holding flowers. Every table design was different. The mix of vessels and candleholders were beautiful and elegant in the room, the flowers commanded attention upon entering the grand ballroom. The flowers on the tables were a beautiful soft romantic blend of shades of white, cream, antique, silvery gray and soft blush. There was a combination of Roses, Peonies, Ranunculus, Tulips, Hydrangea, Sweet Pea, Lilies, Amaryllis and garden roses along with Lamb’s Ear and Hypericum Berries. Pillars, votives, floating candles, tea lights were displayed differently in each table with crystal, silver and glass candles as well. Our round guest tables were covered to the floor with ivory pleated shiny linens overlaid by ivory beaded tulle. Traditional glass charger plates with a gold trim were added to finish the look along with gold chairs with shiny ivory pillows. Our bridal family table was a long community table covered in the same linens as the guest tables. Various tall elements were added to the design to create two dramatic tall floral arrangements complimented with low designs and candles down the length of the table. Many candles were used as well. We had Mr. and Mrs. signs for the back of our chairs. Lighting played an important role both in our ceremony and reception.

Hiring Evantine Design is the best decision we made. They made our Fairy Tale wedding come true. It is such a blessing to be surrounded by such a creative and talented team that is truly passionate about their work.

We hired the fabulous Marie Labbancz to capture all of our special moments. She shot all of our engagement and wedding portraits. Since I am a graphic designer she was more than happy to let me design my entire wedding day guest book with our engagement photos. Working with her has been such an amazing experience. She is incredibly talented. Only Marie knows how to capture those spontaneous emotions in such a powerful and natural way. We will forever treasure all the beautiful memories Marie captured for us.

I had seen CinemaCake’s work in the past and was in awe with their films. I knew that the day I would get married that CinemaCake would be my ONLY option. The quality of their work is so consistent yet each wedding story is unique. CinemaCake has a way of telling a story like no one else does…. Their eye for detail is unlike no other. Every single video portrays the happiness, love and emotions of the day. It amazes me how they are able capture all the special moments in such beautiful ways, leaving me teary eyed all the time. The editing, music, story telling is always right on. We are thrilled with all of our wedding films and love watching ourselves as characters in our own love story.

Our guests danced the night away to EBE La Starz. They are such an incredible band. We loved how they interacted with all of our guests. We were grateful that they were willing to learn a few more songs that had sentimental meaning to us. They also did an outstanding version of “Marry Me,” by Train for our first dance. Our wedding favors were Godiva chocolate wedding cakes with raspberry pink ribbon that had our names written in gold.

There are no words to express how thankful we are to our incredible team. You gave us the best night of our lives. Our friends and family had an amazing time and are still raving about the beauty of all the flowers and how much fun they had dancing! Our wedding vendors made it possible for us to relax and enjoy our special day. The wedding was everything we could have dreamt of and more. Thank you for making our Fairy Tale wedding come true!

Cinematography: CinemaCake Filmmakers / Photography: Marie Labbancz Photography / Floral & Event Design: Evantine Design / Venue, Catering & Cake: The Ritz Carlton, Philadelphia / Entertainment: EBE LA Starz / Paper: Two Paperdolls / Bridal Gown: Kenneth Pool / Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair & Makeup: Claudia Seyler / Bridesmaid Dresses: Lazaro

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Ballroom Weddings, Candles, CinemaCake Filmmakers, City Weddings, Claudia Seyler, Color Palette Pink, EBE LA Stars, Evantine Design, Glamourous, Highlight Film, Jimmy Choo, Kenneth Poot, Lazaro, Marie Labbancz Photography, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Romance, romantic, The Ritz Carlton Philadelphia, Traditional Elegance, Two Paperdolls, Wedding Cinematography
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Cinematography

Photography by Andrew Chan Photography.

Van + Henry’s Same Day Edit from 31FILMS

Click here for the full image gallery!

Every girl looks forward to her wedding day, but wedding planning is something entirely separate from the celebration. Without a great network of friends, family and an amazing team to plan the actual events of the day, the stress levels can become pretty nutso. Looking back, Henry and I were so fortunate to have the support of our loved ones from the beginning.

From the time Henry started planning the proposal, the involvement of our loved ones was crucial. He popped the question on the Brooklyn Bridge, after our closest friends (most of whom flew in for the occasion) surprised me with a rendition of the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” against the skyline of the city that brought us together. Henry’s sister Kim offered to make our wedding cake and macarons that served as delicious favors. My sisters baked compost cookie favors with the help of the infamous Momofuku Milk Bar recipe. His mom created stunning bouquets and centerpieces for us, each one made with love. Friends also helped produce our Banksy-themed wedding invites and print the seating chart for the reception, which Henry designed to match the NYC Transit system. With these incredible acts of love, the wedding day was not only about us – it was about all of the people who cared about us, too.

Love and laughter filled our day, and with all of the craziness going on we would have been hopelessly lost without an unforgettable contribution from the crew at 31films. The SDE they edited captured not only the moments that we wanted (for me, Henry’s incredible vows); it also caught moments that I didn’t know we would cherish, along with images and expressions of the people dearest to us. Watching the film at our reception felt like receiving a gift from friends we’d known all of our lives, and we were so incredibly lucky to work with such a talented group of people. Andrew Chan Photography also hooked it up with some great shots of the day, allowing us a different and amazing vantage point of the wedding. Having worked with Andrew for our engagement shots, we knew that we were in great hands, and he definitely proved us right about that. We were amazed at the way he was able to step in and capture the joy and intimacy of each shot.

Weeks before the big day, Henry was offered a job opportunity in Houston, where we were having the wedding. This meant we had to pack up and move in the eleventh hour of wedding planning. All of the New York references in our wedding thus became our way of saying goodbye to the city where we met and fell in love, and it was unbelievable to us that we were going to be celebrating the day in the city that held our future. The best part about it was being able to look back, weeks after we were done with the wedding and the chaotic move, and cherish each moment of our big day, thanks to our brilliant photo and video studios.

Cinematography: 31FILMS / Photography: Andrew Chan Photography / Church: Annunciation Catholic Church / Venue: The Plaza Club

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 31FILMS, Andrew Chan Photography, Annunciation Catholic Chuch, Houston, Neutral Color Palette, Same Day Edit, Texas, The Plaza Club, Wedding Cinematography
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Cinematography

A Water Color Wedding | Coming Soon: Missy & Lauren… from Diva Productions

Click here to see the full image gallery!

After dating for several months and realizing that I had absolutely met my best friend, it was clear that we meant to be together. Our plans were to be in WaterColor to celebrate the holidays with my father’s side of the family. Having such a special, amazing time in one of the most incomparably beautiful places, it seemed like this would be the perfect time to ask. Unfortunately, we still did not have a ring decided upon.

In WaterColor, there is a classic candy shop from your childhood with a bunch of stuffed animals and other small toys, amongst which is a big Hello Kitty section. Missy absolutely adores Hello Kitty. On the bottom shelf, thankfully tucked away from desperate eyes pointed at a huge stuffed Hello Kitty, was a rack of faux-antique rings with Hello Kitty jewels. While Missy sadly walked out without a big mushy feline friend, I rushed back and purchased one of the rings, thinking I had found perfection right there. I could barely contain my glee as I skipped outside, trying to look nonchalant while already trying to figure out the best place to ask Missy to be my wife.

Every evening in WaterColor, my family lines up beach chairs and watches the sun magically go down over the Gulf. This would clearly be the perfect place! However, being December, the coast was quite chilly and not everyone who grew up in Miami Beach wanted to stay out to watch, even when given the option of taking my fleece and gloves for warmth. Thus, “Plan A” was foiled. However, being Christmas the next morning there was another opportunity for a special and memorable moment. When we woke up, earlier than the family breakfast, I told Missy that I had gotten her a gift that week. “When? I was with you every minute!” Well, not every minute. I then reached into my coat pocket to get the pink princess Hello Kitty ring still waiting for a finger and got down on one knee in from of the bed. Looking up at the still just-waking Missy, I asked, “Will you marry me?” We then had the most smiling-est, jumping-est, teary-est morning ever.

After being engaged there, the decision to have the wedding at WaterColor was simple; we wanted a wedding where people who loved each other got to spend as much time as possible with one another. WaterColor is phenomenal for family get togethers, and we were excited to introduce so many people to the Emerald Coast.

The concept of a modern beach wedding was matched by the style of all of our fantastic vendors, who absolutely made the day. And we could not have had a better band than Rubik’s Groove. Missy and I both love 80s music, and these guys were the most amazing event band ever. No one sat for the entire night. Even when the delicious food was served, people wanted to be dancing, not eating! All we have seen in the pictures of the tent are empty chairs and a full dance floor!

Cinematography: Diva Productions / Photography: Paul Johnson Photography / Event Designer & Coordinator: Jennifer Warwick-Lewis + Jennifer Fisher for It’s a Shore Thing / Venue: WaterColor Inn & Resort / Venue Coordinator: Cheryl Walton for WaterColor / Cake: Confections on the Coast / Florals: Nouveau Flowers / Officiant: Rabbi Richard Baroff / Band: Rubik’s Groove / Makeup Artist: Yvette Nation / Hair Stylist: Ashley Carter / Ceremony Guitarist: Hunter Dawson

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Ashley Carter, Beach, Beach Weddings, Cake Pops, Chinese Lanterns, Color Palette White, Confections on the Coast, Diva Productions, Florida, Hunter Dawson, It's a Shore Thing, Mirrors, Modern, Nouveau Flowers, Paul Johnson Photography, Rabbi Richard Baroff, Roses, Rubik's Groove, Santa Rosa Beach, Sunsets, Water, Water Weddings, WaterColor Inn & REsort, Wedding Cinematography, White Roses, Yvette Nation
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Cinematography

From the Bride… We married on 09/10/11 in NYC and had another reception on 11/11/11 in Taipei, Taiwan for family and friends who weren’t be able to come to New York to celebrate with us. We wanted our wedding to be a blend of everyone and everything we love from New York and Taiwan, and of course, to ensure everyone would have a great time. We fell in love with The Foundry, a metal foundry in the 19th century, as soon as we saw it on their website because of its old brick walls and beautiful ivy. The space aligned perfectly with our vision: historic yet contemporary, industrial yet organic, urban yet romantic, simple yet glamorous. It was the ideal venue for what we had in mind. We selected our colors: purple, lilac, gray, gold and bronze. This color scheme was infused through everything used in the event. We wanted to put as much effort as we could to make this event special, so we designed all our invitations, programs, menus, photo booth logos and favors by ourselves with a drawing of Brooklyn Bridge as our wedding logo on them. I also made all the wreaths for the flower girls. We knew we wanted some special details in the space to make it unique, so we asked the florist to create a structural yet organic piece using drift wood and flowers to hang in the main space, and we used fresh leaves as escort carts. We also used drawings of landmarks in NYC instead of table numbers. We picked ghost chairs to give the space a modern vibe while incorporating drift wood into the centerpieces to give a soft and organic feel. Our favors in New York were candles with different traditional Chinese symbols to represent our roots.

For our second reception venue in Taiwan, we fell in love with the ballroom in the Palais de Chine Hotel. With the neo-classical design concept, the ballroom has copper draping ceiling with 18 chandeliers. For colors, we used royal purple as the main hue and mixed with the deep blue and red of Taiwan. Everything was very classic and glamorous.

The most amazing and fun experience was with our cinematographer, Mr. Jose Ortiz, who flew all the way to Asia to shoot our reception in Taiwan. We went to different places that represent Taiwan for shooting the day before the event. It was raining, but we all had a good time. Through the lenses, Jose can see the world differently in an artistic way. The best part was Jose not only edited all the images from our wedding day in New York and the shooting we did in Taiwan, but also did a same day edit video using images from our Taiwan reception to make a trailer! All of our guests were wowed by the trailer and asked for more! We were very glad to have this special experience working with Jose in two different countries. We had many people coming from all over the world in both events to celebrate with us. With the loving support of our family and friends, our wedding was a magical experience!

NYC Vendors — Cinematography: Jose Ortiz Films / Wedding Photography: Xavier Munguia Photography / Floral Design: Petal Design Studio / Venue: The Foundry / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Dior / Groom’s Tuxedo: Gucci / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Wedding Cake: Black Hound New York / Caterer: Thomas Preti / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. + Taylor Creative Inc. / Photo Booth: IncrediBooths

Taiwan Vendors — Wedding Cinematography: Jose Ortiz Films / Wedding Photography: Oscarshoots / Floral Design: CN Flower / Venue: Palais de Chine Hotel / Reception Dresses: Tadashi Shoji + LinLi / Wedding Favors: Baggu

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Alfred Angelo, Baggu, Black Hound New York, Christian Dior, CN Flower, Gucci, Jose Ortiz Films, Linli, Monique Lhuillier, New York, New York City, Oscarshoots, Palais de Chine Hotel, Party Rental Ltd., Petal Design Studio, Tadashi Shoji, Taipei, Taiwan, Taylor Creative Inc, The Foundry, Thomas Preti, Wedding Video, Xavier Munguia Photography
Post categories: Destination Weddings, Wedding Cinematography

From the Bride… We married on 09/10/11 in NYC and had another reception on 11/11/11 in Taipei, Taiwan for family and friends who weren’t be able to come to New York to celebrate with us. We wanted our wedding to be a blend of everyone and everything we love from New York and Taiwan, and of course, to ensure everyone would have a great time. We fell in love with The Foundry, a metal foundry in the 19th century, as soon as we saw it on their website because of its old brick walls and beautiful ivy. The space aligned perfectly with our vision: historic yet contemporary, industrial yet organic, urban yet romantic, simple yet glamorous. It was the ideal venue for what we had in mind. We selected our colors: purple, lilac, gray, gold and bronze. This color scheme was infused through everything used in the event. We wanted to put as much effort as we could to make this event special, so we designed all our invitations, programs, menus, photo booth logos and favors by ourselves with a drawing of Brooklyn Bridge as our wedding logo on them. I also made all the wreaths for the flower girls. We knew we wanted some special details in the space to make it unique, so we asked the florist to create a structural yet organic piece using drift wood and flowers to hang in the main space, and we used fresh leaves as escort carts. We also used drawings of landmarks in NYC instead of table numbers. We picked ghost chairs to give the space a modern vibe while incorporating drift wood into the centerpieces to give a soft and organic feel. Our favors in New York were candles with different traditional Chinese symbols to represent our roots.

For our second reception venue in Taiwan, we fell in love with the ballroom in the Palais de Chine Hotel. With the neo-classical design concept, the ballroom has copper draping ceiling with 18 chandeliers. For colors, we used royal purple as the main hue and mixed with the deep blue and red of Taiwan. Everything was very classic and glamorous.

The most amazing and fun experience was with our cinematographer, Mr. Jose Ortiz, who flew all the way to Asia to shoot our reception in Taiwan. We went to different places that represent Taiwan for shooting the day before the event. It was raining, but we all had a good time. Through the lenses, Jose can see the world differently in an artistic way. The best part was Jose not only edited all the images from our wedding day in New York and the shooting we did in Taiwan, but also did a same day edit video using images from our Taiwan reception to make a trailer! All of our guests were wowed by the trailer and asked for more! We were very glad to have this special experience working with Jose in two different countries. We had many people coming from all over the world in both events to celebrate with us. With the loving support of our family and friends, our wedding was a magical experience!

NYC Vendors — Cinematography: Jose Ortiz Films / Wedding Photography: Xavier Munguia Photography / Floral Design: Petal Design Studio / Venue: The Foundry / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Dior / Groom’s Tuxedo: Gucci / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Wedding Cake: Black Hound New York / Caterer: Thomas Preti / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. + Taylor Creative Inc. / Photo Booth: IncrediBooths

Taiwan Vendors — Wedding Cinematography: Jose Ortiz Films / Wedding Photography: Oscarshoots / Floral Design: CN Flower / Venue: Palais de Chine Hotel / Reception Dresses: Tadashi Shoji + LinLi / Wedding Favors: Baggu

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | Comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Alfred Angelo, Baggu, Black Hound New York, Christian Dior, CN Flower, Gucci, Incredibooths, Jose Ortiz Films, Linli, Monique Lhuillier, New York, New York City, Oscarshoots, Palais de Chine Hotel, Party Rental Ltd., Petal Design Studio, Tadashi Shoji, Taipei, Taiwan, Taylor Creative Inc, The Foundry, Thomas Preti, Wedding Video, Xavier Munguia Photography
Post categories: New York City Weddings, New York Weddings, Wedding Cinematography