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Last year, I received an e-mail from a fellow photographer and mother of a newly engaged daughter getting married. Jill's words meant so much to us and we just knew we had to be apart of Melanie and John's wedding. Melanie and I chatted over the phone, through e-mails about her engagement to John, and all the future wedding details to come. I immediately felt as though we were friends and I was excited to personally get to meet Melanie and her new fiance John for engagement photos. We checked both our schedules and it seemed we just were not able to find time to photograph engagements. We would just have to meet the day of the wedding. The second I met Melanie, I knew the day would be calm and smooth. Melanie and John's sweet sweet hearts remind me really why I LOVE photographing weddings.
I cannot say enough good things about Melanie and John and both their families. Stephen and I felt so welcomed and loved that it didn't even quite feel like we were working a job. We felt like we were a part of their ceremony and we were friends partaking in the celebration. The ceremony and reception were held at the Bakersfield Museum of Art.
Melanie and John, thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your friendship and marriage. I can't wait to photograph you both next year again! To see a slideshow of the wedding day, please click HERE. |
| I definitely started tearing up as I watched Melanie and John's first glance. I love this photo because Melanie simply was breathless as she saw John. |
| I love these two shots Stephen took. |
| We headed over to the The Padre Hotel for some wedding portraits before the ceremony. |
| On the way back to the venue, we stopped on a side road to take a few outside photos. |
| The ceremony was TOO sweet! I loved watching them both tear up as they looked at each other. |
| The cake was amazing. I loved the cake topper. Perfect for the both of them! |
| Melanie, you are seriously the most beautiful girl inside and out. |
| I love this shot of Melanie as she listens to her maid of honor and best friend give her speech. |
This past month, I posted a free wedding (photography) giveaway contest on my blog. The contest is still open to any couple getting married in 2011 and the winner will be announced on August 5th. I just wanted to remind every couple that has already submitted to the contest or plan on submitting to the contest, please make sure you follow EVERY step that is listed HERE to ensure that your submission will be considered.
I have been overwhelmed by the amazing stories I have read thus far and I cannot WAIT to announce the winner on August 5th!! Please check back on August 5th to see the winner! Remember, JUST by entering the contest you will still be granted 10 percent off any package I offer for your wedding. Even if you do not win, you'll still receive a little something helpful for your wedding budget :)
Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Here is a sneak peek from yesterday's wedding. :) Happy Sunday!
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This past Sunday, Stephen and I had the amazing opportunity to share in Heather and Jason's wedding in gorgeous San Juan Capistrano. We packed up our car and headed out from Phoenix to be a part of a beautiful wedding.
Only a few weeks earlier, we photographed Heather and Jason in Temecula for their engagement session . I knew from the beginning that their wedding would be amazing and it WAS nothing short of perfect.
The day went smoothly and the weather was more than comfortable. One thing I adore about this couple is how much they smile. I think I smiled through my camera at them the ENTIRE time. They really are just such a joy to be around. Everything from the vows to their first dance just about brought me to tears. These two are seriously one of a kind. You don't find many people who are THIS happy and THIS joyful to be around. I left the wedding feeling so honored to have witnessed such a gorgeous ceremony. I cannot say enough good things about Heather and Jason!
To start the day, Jason and Heather had their first look at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano. We walked along the old hallways and tattered floors and tried our best to soak up the charm of the beautiful mission. We then headed back to the ceremony site at El Adobe and the day was nothing but perfect.
Heather and Jason, thank you for being such amazing clients and friends. We are so excited to watch what God will do in your lives. We have no doubt you both will change the world and leave a large fingerprint on the people's lives you will touch. Thank you for your kindness and love!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful week! Happy Wednesday!
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| Seriously... nothing but smiles. Just LOVE IT! |
| 9 bridesmaids. ALL beautiful. |
| I loved how excited everyone got to dance. This was a heather sandwich. |
Last year, I announced that I would be giving away our services on someone's wedding day. I read through various e-mails about many peoples lives and found myself in tears as I read about so many different stories. I was thankful to even have the opportunity to share in others e-mails and chose someone that I felt really deserved a free wedding.
I feel so honored to even have the opportunity to do what I love and I want to share this gift with others around me. Last year, I chose a couple whose e-mail truly brought me to tears. Their story was moving and their wedding was incredible. I knew that I had chosen the right couple and I felt so honored to have even witnessed such a beautiful ceremony. It was more than I even imagined and I am so excited to be doing this again!
This year, I want to do the same thing. I am looking for a couple that feels they TRULY deserve a free wedding. The rules are simple.
*The couple must be getting married in 2011
*I must be available on your date.
*The chosen couple will be given a wedding package that includes : 8 hours of wedding coverage, up to 1,000 images on disc for printing or viewing and ALL edited images posted to an online storefront for viewing or purchasing. A second shooter will also be included. (Upgrades can be purchased)
*The wedding can be ANYWHERE. If the wedding is anywhere outside of the Metropolitan Phoenix Area, all travel expenses must be paid for by the bride and groom.
*This contest is only applicable to new inquiries.
If anyone is interested, I would be HAPPY to send over what all this includes but FIRST you must ,
*Leave a comment on this post with your NAME, WEDDING DATE and LOCATION and e-mail me at stephanie@stephaniefay.com with WHY you feel you deserve to win a free wedding. Please tell me your story and why this is important to you! The winner will be selected by ME and I will be giving the wedding away to the couple that I feel most deserves this.
*Please send me a photo of you and your fiance for the final winner announcement.
*Please provide WHERE and WHEN your wedding will be as well as the VENUE the wedding and reception will be held at.
If none of this information can be provided, please do not inquire. You MUST have a venue chosen and a determined date to inquire.
The winner will be chosen based on the most deserving story. I want to know WHY you think you deserve to be given a free wedding. Tell me your story. Be detailed and honest! I want everyone and anyone to submit an inquiry!
I can't wait to hear from everyone! I hope that I can give back to someone that truly deserves this! The WINNER will be announced on AUGUST 5th, 2010.
Even though you may not be picked to win this contest, a 10 percent discount will be given (please inquire to see our collections) for ONLY those that have submitted to this contest. We still want to thank you for submitting to our contest! Please inquire for more information.
The photos below were from last years free wedding giveaway. I still adore these photos! |
This past week, I had the amazing opportunity of working with three beautiful Irish women, Aisling, Aoife and Deirdre , who work hard to help better the wedding industry. I was first contacted by Aisling when she read on Weddings Online that I was staying at the historic Dromoland Castle and looking for a couple to photograph on the grounds of this gorgeous place. A couple was found, times were arranged, but everything changed when the couple was unable to meet us as planned. However, everything worked out even better when the three ladies pulled together a fabulous shoot at the Killruddery Estate. I had seen this estate in countless movies : Becoming Jane; The Count of Monte Cristo, and even more famously Far and Away. Since 1618, The Killruddery Estate has been one of Irelands most gorgeous treasures and is still home to the 15th Earl of Meath. The gardens are the oldest in Ireland, retaining the original 17th century style. When I heard about the possibility of using Killruddery, I was in awe at the thought of being able to shoot on the same grounds I had seen in some of my favorite movies!
Aisling hand makes her own amazing jewelry and her business is called "Rangoli." She also runs a faublous wedding blog.
Upon hearing from her that she wanted to feature my shoot on her blog, I was more than excited to begin.
Aoife and Deirdre own their own business called the The Bridal Lounge and their spunky yet professional personalities make them an awesome team. Aisling, Aoife and Deirdre all helped me pull together my dream shoot in the incredible country of Ireland.
When I learned that engagement sessions are not common in Ireland, it was hard to believe more people wouldn't want to use take advantage of their beautiful countryside. We all chatted about how important engagement sessions are, not only for creating keepsakes for the bride and groom, but as a great way to get to know your photographer.
During this photo shoot, we wanted to convey to all our blog readers around the world just how beautiful and memorable engagements can be. As photographers, it helps us get to know the client on a more personal level. In turn, as a client, you walk away with even more images of you and your fiance to keep forever. Why not enhance your engagement shoot with props and outfits to bring together a more creative photoshoot? Every girl wants to feel beautiful and an engagement shoot is the perfect excuse!
For the shoot, the gals found a fabulous store known as Covet (The Borrowers Boudoir), from which to rent clothes. The shop provided us with two stylish dresses with shoes to match, for our idea of the "Atonement" shoot. Deidre provided us with flowers from her business Ruby and Bloom, and the old vintage books and props. They were perfect.
We wanted to give our newly engaged couples a few tips while thinking about planning an engagement session. These sessions vary from the traditional to the creative, each as different as the couple's individual styles.
*Rent an outfit to make your engagement session creative and unique
*Have a friend do your makeup and hair
*Gather flowers to use as a prop
Engagement shoots need not cost extra money to be creative. Finding a place that will rent things or even borrowing clothes/props from a friend, can help you achieve the look you want for less.
Think about your personality and possible props that might enhance your engagement shoot to be specific to you and your fiance. No matter where you live, you can always find a special place to have your engagement session. Because this shoot was at the beautiful Killruddery Estate, we felt it was appropriate to have a more sophisticated look. The outfits, the shoes, and the props all seemed to fit with the location. Think about where you want your shoot and what you want it to look like, and convey that to your planner or photographer to pull together your dream engagement session.
Jewelry and hair piece : Aisling Nelson at Rangoli
Makeup: Aoife Callaghan
Hair: Lorraine Browne
Dresses and shoes- Covet (The Borrowers Boudoir)
Flowers- Deirdre Hynes at Ruby & Bloom
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| The matching bracelet went perfectly with the hair piece and dress. Not to mention the beautiful gold Christian Louboutin heels were stunning. |
| I am OBSESSED with this gorgeous Fendi dress!! |
| I fell in love with the The Killruddery gardens! They are just breathtaking! |
| The bracelet is another piece that Aisling made. |
| Even though this photo is almost exactly the same as the one above, I fell in love with how the dress was flowing with the wind. |
| A little champagne always makes things a little bit better. |
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