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Ella & Ben’s engagement session part I

This goes better with some good music so feel free to hit the play button:)

When Ella & Ben contacted me and asked if I would be available to document their wedding I was as happy as a wedding photographer can be when the possibility of shooting a wedding is offered. Then I got to know them better and I realized how lucky I am that they’ve chosen me. Their love story is a fairy tale and they will have a wedding to match it. I wish the wedding was sooner.

The past weekend I made the 6 hours trip to Kalkaska,MI to shoot their engagement session. We had a great time together and they prepared very well for this. 5 outfits and 6 locations. We got up bright and early at 6am and didn’t stop until in the afternoon.

I hope you’ll enjoy their proposal story and first part of pictures from the engagement session. Too many pictures for just one post:)

It’s the best proposal anyone could ever ask for: He created a scavenger hunt for me, sent me to the first clue then mysteriously disappeared. I had to solve clues that led me to various locals and friends who had clues, then ultimately out to the theater where he was on the stage freezing since it was the off season and the building is so old, built in the 20’s and so we don’t heat it in the winter. The orchestra pit was literally sheer ice and I slipped as I made my way up to the stage. He gave me a flower and read to me from a book of Pablo Neruda’s poems (he’s my favorite!) and then handed me the book telling me that I could choose the next one he would read. I opened the book and there, sewn into a small square that he had cut out of the corner, was the ring. He got down on one knee and was crying, it was just beautiful.

How can you not be romantic when you lived most of your life in a place like this

Kalkaska, Michigan lake

Engagement pictures taken at dusk

On the bridge

Engagement pictures on the lake shore in Kalkaska, MI

Engagement photo session

We got on the boat and had fun getting these pictures

After we had so much fun on the lake it was time to hit the town for some other cool locations for the rest of the session. Kalkaska is also known as the Trout Town. Apparently there’s a huge trout festival held here each year and they have a huge trout fountain:)

Picture taken by the Trout fountain in Kalkaska,MI

Some strobist fun

Engagement photosession poses

On the train tracks

If you liked it so far I am sure you will enjoy the second part of this engagement session. But that’s in a future post. Here’s a sneak peek:

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As Joe McNally likes to say, more tk

Ella & Ben’s destination engagement session – preview

Ella & Ben's engagement session in Kalkaska, Michigan

My 4th of July weekend

Spent the weekend at a cabin on Lake Erie with some friends. Lazy barbecuing time mostly but we did go to Cedar Point on Saturday which was an adrenaline rush. The rides there are crazy. Too crazy for me:) I did enjoy the bumping cars though.

Lake Erie Beach in Huron,OH

Colourful chairs on the beach

Sunset on Lake Erie

The victory was ours

Misty

There’s no need for a reason to have your pictures taken. Some of my favorites from a “feel good, be a model” photosession I did two weeks ago:)

Innis woods portrait session. Columbus,OH

Summer portrait

Portraits

Jenni & Zane – a pink wedding

Last Saturday I shot a wedding in London. London,OH that is:) Now that I started with this London I hope one day I will get the chance to shoot a wedding in London, UK. Hopefully I didn’t confuse you with so many Londons.
As I was saying Jenni and Zane got married and I was there with Stacy to document it in pictures.

And this is their wedding day story:

Glass with makeup brushes

Bridesmaid getting her makeup done

Bridesmaid makeup

Bride's piercing

Bride getting ready

Bridesmaid and flower girl with bride getting ready

Wedding dress details

Bride Getting her earrings on

Bridesmaids helping the bride to get dressed

Bride getting dressed

Bride getting ready, bridesmaid ties laces for wedding dress

Flower girl getting ready

Bridesmaids having a good time

Bridesmaid with bouquet

Boots

Groomsman cooling off with a fan

Groomsmen getting ready

Groom getting nervous

Father of the groom with the groom

St. Patrick Cathedral - London,OH

Boy cooling off with an electric fan

Cooling off

Wedding ceremony

Getting married

Mother of the groom

Receiving line

Best man gives a speech

Bride and groom first dance

Groom dancing with his mother

Wedding guest

Wedding guests

Tiki Bar

Wedding table decorations for a beach themed wedding

Wedding fruit bar decoration

Candy Bar

Wedding cake for a beach themed wedding

Cake topper with palm tree

Church: St Patrick Church in London,OH
Party: Choctaw Lake Lodge

And the winner is…

Thank you, thank you for all your wonderful stories. I must tell you, while reading the comments, I remembered the days we were planning our wedding. The joy of starting a life together, the stress to be within our budget, the search for the “perfect” everything! I was really touched by every story and I enjoyed reading every one of them. I couldn’t really decide on just one winner so we are giving away 5 veils and I really hope you will enjoy it in your wedding day.

And the winners, in no particular order:

If only I could look as glamorous as your Mrs! She and the veil are both truly stunning. Linked to you from Offbeat Brides. I would like to be considered for this veil because it is simply divine and I would feel like a movie star on my wedding day. As a matter of fact, I believe I would wear it more than once. I’d invent reasons to wear this cunning confection. To the grocery! To the PTA meeting! To any and all doctor appointments! On beer runs! You see, I *need* some glamour in my life!

PS your photos are divine.

Dear crossgirl, Do take a picture when you’re going to the PTA meetings! And no, we don’t like doctors, so no need to wear the veil at the doctors’ appointments. By the way, tell me the color of your choice!

Thank you so much for posting this giveaway, it’s such an uplift for brides that just can’t seem to find exactly what they are looking for! When we find little things like this it reminds us of how beautiful and fun are weddings are supposed to be (not filled with stress!). I just wanted to say that I am a tomboy, through and through. My fiance has had to put up with a lot of that thus far (thank goodness he loves me for who I am) I’m one of the few women that I see driving a truck in the city. I’ve given up my boy cargo shorts for him and have tried not to wrestle with him so much (after all I grew up with older brothers, what else do I know). However, this veil would be a perfect accent to my very plain white wedding dress (too much glam is not for me :o ) It would also be a great way to show my feminie side to my future husband, after all he is marrying a woman (not a ‘tom’boy) and that’s just what I want to give him. Thanks again!

Dear Sadie, I’m glad you’re not wearing white pants instead of a dress! So, hope this veil will make you a very happy woman!

I would love the vintage veil in Ivory. I have been searching for the perfect veil, and have yet to find it. We are having our ceremony in the zoo Butterfly house. Our reception will be held at a old Masonic temple, with a secret handshake door and all =) We have been together since 10th grade in highschool, (13years). He propose while were in Paris on Pont Neuf. Let me tell you it was a total suprise…i mean it did take 13 years =)
We want to have a wedding completely centered around fun and individualism. I will be wearing a 1940’s recreation tea length dress, made by an etsy artist, with patent leather red and white heels…I think this veil would really top the outfit off.
By the way do you travel to Michigan? That is where our March 2010 wedding will be.
Thank you so much for offering this contest! It’s been a pleasure to tell you my story!

Dear Leanne, 13 years? That’s a long time. I hope that seeing you walking down the aisle in your beautiful gown he will see what he missed in all these years!

Once upon a time, there lived a girl who met a young, bearded boy. After several years of courting and punk rock shows, the two decided to wed. Jubilant, the two began wedding planning. At first, the journey was smooth and enjoyable. However, a dark cloud settled over the land the first time the bride-to-be opened up Martha Stewart Weddings. The girl had to cover her mouth to stifle a scream. There, amongst the photos of flowers and puppies as ring bearers, were mountains upon mountains of a horrifying substance that looked like cotton candy gone wrong. “What have these women done that has caused them to be punished so? Why do they have these clouds of white surrounding their heads and covering their faces! Are they virginal beekeepers?”

The girl’s future mother-in-law, the bestower of all bridal magazines, laughed gently at the girl. “My child, these are veils! They make women beautiful on their wedding day!” The girl, shell-shocked, staggered backwards. “But… but… Why would anyone do something like this to themselves?” “Tradition, my child,” the mother explained. “Tradition.”

After politely finishing her afternoon, the bride stole away to the magic tower of Alternative Options to Oppressive Tradition, the one place where she could truly be herself to plan her wedding. She ran to the crystal ball and summoned up the oracle Razavan. “Oh wise Razavan, please help me! I want to be beautiful on my wedding day, but I abhor atrocious veils!” At first, there was no answer from the oracle, and the girl began to cry. As her tears fell down and formed a pool in the stones, she realized that there was a thin layer of delicate netting across her vision. Looking down into the pool, her eyes grew wide as she took in her own beauty. Where before there had only been a slightly outgrown pixie cut, there was now the most glorious and beautiful thing that she had ever seen! The birdcage veil (cough, cough) fell perfectly in an asymmetrical line over one eye, giving her a gentle air of mystery while still complimenting the feminine aspects of her face. The joyful feathers complimented her playful nature, and the delicate jewels sparkled like the tears on her cheeks that were now tears of joy.

“Oh, blessed day! Oh, wonderful life! Oh, wise, wise, Razavan! I will name my first-born child after you for your graciousness!” The bride gathered up her skirts and frolicked home from the tower. She and her groom-to-be had a glorious yet classily understated wedding in which there was much rejoicing. Looking back as an old woman, the bride was known to tell her children, “Yes, I owe my happiness to the great Razavan. Yes, young one, your namesake. Know this and be proud.”

The End. Thank you, and good night.

Dear Sarah, Say with me: R-a-z-v-a-n. You made a very good point. I loved your story so much!

Thank you for the opportunity to win something so special and beautiful. My fiance’ and I are getting married on September 26th, a week after I finish a round of chemotherapy. I have a wig, and am wearing a very simple dress, an ivory sheath by Nicole Miller that I got on ebay. I really am not up to doing a lot for the wedding, so I would really love to wear your pretty veil in ivory. I guess you can say I’m pretty much focused on how I will look, and not worried about the rest, I hope it will all fall into place. I’m not feeling very good about my appearance, but of course I would love to look like a princess for my love on our special day…
Bless your heart.

Dear Lisa, I wish you all the best in the whole world. You will be a princess at your wedding. Again, my good wishes go to you and your family. You are a winner without having me to say it.

Congratulations to all the winners! I will email you shortly for the delivery information.
For those who haven’t won, stay tuned for my next contest that will be announced in the near future. Remember to follow me on twitter or to subscribe to my rss feed if you want to stay up to date with my blog:)