a tale of three cities

boujour, i'm blogging from Paris today.  I seriously love saying things like that.  I'm in Europe for Patrizia and Mirko's wedding next weekend.  I've known them forever and am so excited to photograph my beautiful friend as a bride.  I haven't downloaded any of my wandering through Montmarte yet but here are a couple from last year.  Happy Friday everyone, oh la la Suzanne

In the spirit of travelling adventures.  Three iphone pics, three cities,  name them.  The winner gets a gold star. Mike doesn't believe me, but I have always been highly motivated by gold stars.easy guess, canada, destination wedding photography

Kiss and Tell : Bridal Advice with Julie

Julie and Mike are a multi cultual couple who embraced their ethnic traditions. Their wedding consisted of a Jewish ceremony as well as a Korean ceremony. Their wedding was modern, stylish and sophisticated. When Julie and Mike first saw each other, it was an emotionally charged moment. Suzanne said she felt her heart in her throat. They are a quirky couple with a wicked sense of humor. Meet the calm, relaxed and stunning Julie and hear what words of wisdom she has to offer!Dos Besos,Katie from the Wanderers

1) How did you mentally prepare for the big day?

-When I was in grad school (a long and tedious six year process), my adviser often told me to "keep [my] eyes on the prize, and to never lose sight of the big picture." I think this was a great life lesson, because it is easy to get overwhelmed in the minutiae. Mike and I had a ton of details to be worried about, and the last three weeks leading up to the wedding were especially stressful. But I tried to remain focused on the big picture and all of the love I felt for the man I was about to be married to!

2) Did you have any events surrounding the wedding. I.E baseball game, rehearsal dinner, brunch, bachelorette party? Tell us about it.

- Our wedding was somewhat of a mini-destination wedding, as we are from LA, Mike's family is from Philly, and our wedding was in SD. So our wedding day actually became a wedding weekend. We a tour of Petco Park, a morning run, a rehearsal dinner, an after party at the Solamar, and a post-wedding breakfast! It was so much fun, and I was so grateful that I had an amazing mother and father in law that planned all of these events! My bachelorette party was a cruise to Mexico that my girlfriends planned, it was so much fun!

3) What is something that makes for a great wedding day?

-The best part of the wedding day was the sheer emotions in the air. I didn't think I would feel so happy and emotional, but I couldn't stop crying (happy tears) and laughing all day. I never felt so happy in my life.

4) Did you see your spouse for the first time before the ceremony or during the ceremony? How did you feel?

-Suzanne staged our first sighting at the Solamar. She had Mike face the wall and told me to call his name when I was ready. I didn't expect to feel so nervous, but I did! When I called out "Schaaarfy" (my nickname for Mike), our eyes met from across the room and we both teared up, because we were both so happy and excited. He cried and said, "you look so beautiful," and I never felt so beautiful in my life.

5) What is one of your favorite memories?

-I will never ever forget Mike's vows to me. They were simply put, brilliant. He had all of our guests laughing and crying! My favorite line is: "For the last 2 and half years, all the best parts of my days have involved you: watching your morning stretch which is invariably accompanied by sounds that can only be described as a cross between the cries of a teething toddler and the mating call of some tropical bird..." When Mike said his vows to me, there was not even the slightest doubt in my mind how much this man loved me and how much I loved him.

6) What song do you most remember on the dance floor?

-Our first dance! "Fake Empire" by the National.

7) What is a piece of advice you wish you had known before the big day?

-Someone told me to "enjoy the moment," and I really tried to enjoy every second of it, but there were definitely some meltdown moments, and I really wish I didn't have those specific moments, and was able to really enjoy every minute of the day. (But it was really stressful!)

8 ) Weddings are wonderful, but share some marriage tips please!

-Always be your partner's best friend, and try to always be the best person you can be. Never forget how you felt on the day you married your partner. :)

Guest Blogger : Organic Elements : A Lovely luncheon at the Prado

Today's Guest Blogger  :  Sharon Mintz of Organic Elements a.k.a Olivia's momRecently we were thrilled to decorate a fun little social gathering with some beloved friends and vendors. The room itself a the Prado was rich with dark woods so livening it up with color seemed like a natural fit. We went with a bright orange, bright pink, green and white them to match the venue's rich Spanish undertones while adding a contemporary twist. Enter Sabrina of La Dolce Idea, who started the transformation with tasty treats as well as lovely trays and napkins denoting each table's setting and array of gifts. We brought in some matching garden style florals, each floral had its own combination of flowers and vase wrap custom to the recipient's favorite flowers. CAKE designed a stunning little cake with gorgeous detail as well as fun little cupcakes for all the guests to take home. Courtney of Brightly Designed decked each vendor's creation with stunning paper products, from adorable cake flags to gift boxes as take home containers. Check out these amazing shots by She Wanders, each capturing a fine detail produced by an exquisite vendor.

Hugs,  Sharon

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WORDS OF WISDOM

I love to hear about the wide range of opinions and ideas in the field of photography.  Here are some of the most interesting phrases I've heard..."Nothing happens when you sit at home. I always make it a point to carry my camera with me at all times... I just shoot what interests me at that moment." - Elliott Errwit

"I always thought good photos were like good jokes. If you have to explain it, it isn't that good." -Anonymous

"While there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it proves to us how little our eyes permit us to see." -Dorothea Lange

"There will be times when you will be in the field without a camera. And, you will see the most glorious sunset or the most beautiful scene that you have ever witnessed. Don't be bitter because you can't record it. Sit down, drink it in, and enjoy it for what it is!" -DeGriff

"It is one thing to photograph people. It is another to make others care about them by revealing the core of their humanness." - Paul Strand

I love Suzanne's photograph of this animated work of art in Chicago... it seems as though he wants to give some advice... xoxo Jessica from the Wanderers

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