Trish and Harris are very cool people.  She's a sommelier and he's a chef, in DC.  If they lived closer I would hope and hope for a dinner invitation to their house.  :)  I believe people who are passionate about food and wine are passionate about life in general, including love and family.  (Surely an appreciation for the good stuff in life carries through to all sorts of things.)  It certainly seems so with Trish and Harris.  It was a pleasure spending the day in the midst of all that good taste, and delectable love.  

Tiger Lily Flowers does beautiful work!

Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota is such an elegant venue.  

After the ceremony and cocktail hour at the Ritz-Carlton, the party moved to the tented reception on the bay, at the home of Trish's parents.  It was stunning, and personal!

Maria Brady of Choreographed Events did an amazing job of designing and coordinating this event.  Everything was so seamless, and so very beautiful!  We also enjoyed working with A Wedding Moment Cinematic Films.  Their work is gorgeous!

The star of our party (see post below) was without a doubt Bash Booths.  It is a super stylish and ridiculously fun photo booth.  Everyone had so much fun with it and we loved that we had an awesome collection of pictures of our friends without having to hide behind a camera all night.  The booth has options of black and white, color, and even has a video option.  How perfect is that for wedding well-wishers?  It delivers instant strips of 4 photos, just like the booths of my childhood.  Except there are two strips, one for them, one for us.  Love!!!  Don't party without it!

Below are just a handful of images from the booth...  

Michael and I

Kehrin of Jet Set Wed and Charmed Weddings.  My vote for best dressed.  :)

Sam and Ashley of Ashley Brockinton Photography, Kelly McWilliams of Weddings by Socialites with her hubby Kelly.

Kerry, Karl and Nanette of Luminaire Foto, Michael, Jamie and Bryan of Jamie Lee Photography, Tori Lawless of Edison and Ford Winter Estate

Karl and Nanette of Luminaire Foto

Jamie and Bryan of Jamie Lee Photography

Kerry, Tori, and Michael

Marlon with Angelina of Angelina Arts Photography

Shelly with Jen of WedPerfect

Tarra, Kehrin, Kelly, Ashley, Ann-Marie of IHeart Films, Me, Jen

Steven and Ann-Marie of IHeart Films

Sir Daniel and David of Salon Tease with friend, Kehrin, Me

Michael, Kristin, and Ray

John, Michael, Mandy, Me, Alyssa

Tarra, Me, Ashley

Jen, Me, Stacy of Set Free Photography

We have been feeling nothing but grateful these days...  For our family, our home, our work, our amazing friends and peers.  While November was a hectic time to throw a party (this is our busiest time of year in SWFL wedding world), we decided all of these blessings warranted a true celebration and so we threw a little party...  A Very Vintage Autumn Soiree.  We asked our guests to dress the part in any ensemble fitting of 1920's to 1960's (Too many great possibilities in there to narrow it to just one decade!) (Stay tuned for Bash Booths pictures of everyone!) We cranked up the tunes of old school crooners and swingers (playlist included Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Count Bassie, Duke Ellington, Edith Piaf, Ella Fitzgerald, Fred Estaire, Glenn Miller, and Louis Armstrong.)  Such fun!  The night flew by and at the end of the evening we found ourselves once again thinking how lucky we are to be surrounded by so many wonderful people.

I love to put pieces of our lives on this blog when possible because I find it helps us connect to clients that are like-minded souls.  (Makes for very fun shooting!)  Which is why I have included in this post images of our home and the party decor.  As Frances Mayes so perfectly explained in Under the Tuscan Sun,  when a woman asks of another woman "What is her house like?"  "We both know she really means what is she like?".  :)  So here you are...  This is what I (we) are like.  At least this recent Autumn.  

Pretty obsessed over this grey I painted last summer.  Sunburst mirror from Wisteria.com.  

1.  On our mantel.  Old and new books.  My stepfather (previous used book shop owner) has gifted some really cool finds over the years.

2.  The buffet in our entry.

3.  Poms from BHLDN.com, ornaments from ZGallerie. 

4.  Signature drink:  Caramel Apple Spice.  When I gave my talented friend Jen of WedPerfect a collection of liquors and said make something tasty please she certainly delivered!  She also saved my sanity by coordinating logistics like catering, fluffing poms with me at midnight, and taking care of the rental set up on the day of.  Thank you, Jen!

5.  Entry.  Circle garland from BHLDN.com.  

6.  Floor mirror behind our round sectional.

7.  Another view of the entry.

8.  The menu from Chef Rob of Hungry Like a Wolf catering was unbelievable!  I'm still craving it!  

9.  Our family room.  Those tiles are by Sid Dickens.  I've been collecting them for years.  One more to go to make this set complete! 

This was the first time in years Grant had some fun in front of the camera.  He must have REALLY liked his costume.  :)

We really loved his costume because it reminded us of this:

Our little Evie was asleep for much of the night, so we ended up dressing her up again and taking her picture yesterday.  Sweet little lamb!  

There are also a couple of fun pics of these cuties at the pumpkin patch on our Facebook Fan page!

I love lavender...  I love it for the simple beautfy of it, but more so for the memories of it wafting through the air on our honeymoon in Napa Valley, and always for the smile it brings me as it is synonymous with my mom's French country style.  (Somehow packages from my mom even manage to arrive dripping with the scent of lavender.)  So you understand why I was especially smitten with Katie and Rick's lavender infused beach wedding.  The silvery purples were glamorous and earthy all at once, a little like Katie herself.  Simply divine.

It was the windiest of days at Longboat Key Club & Resort!  At times the wind was a little much to take, but it yielded the above image- my personal favorite from the day.

Lovely sea glass inspired wedding by Weddings by Socialites...  Kim and Greg's ceremony may have been moved indoors on account of rain, but it certainly didn't dampen their spirits!  Of course, it helps when you are marrying the love of your life and your back-up location is this gorgeous!  We love the classic understated style of South Seas Island Resort .  Kim and Greg are so sweet together.  We were so happy when the rain clouds cleared a bit and we were able to get out for pictures post ceremony.       

This event was made even more fabulous with the help of Kakes by Karen and Signature Florals.

I love how sweet and expressive Jessica and John are!  Check out their amazing LaPlaya wedding day!

Florals by Lyfe of the Party, Cake by Ella's Cakes.  Beautiful work as always!

Anne and Jeff; things you can tell just by looking at them...  they are fashionable, adorable, in love with each other and their pup.  They have easy, sincere smiles...  They were wonderful to work with!  Such a beautiful, touching day, made even more lovely by Charmed Weddings, Marco Beach Ocean Resort, Botanicals on the Gulf, and Ella's Cakes!

It was a true joy to photograph Christina and Benjamin's wedding at the Sarasota Ritz Carlton.  They are incredible musicians...  we love their cd "The Reasons We Try". Check them out here: Nini and Ben.  Their friends are wonderfully talented too.  It was an especially touching moment in the day when during their recessional down the aisle, several of their friends serenaded them with the sweetest song.  It was also such a pleasure working with planner Anna Pohl.  The sunset terrace looked amazing!  She was so on top of everything yet laid back too.  Awesome traits to see in a planner!  Our favorite touches were the awesome VW bus the wedding party arrived in, the celebration flags at the ceremony, and the lit draping on the sunset terrace.  Beautiful!

Quite some time has passed since I first saw this flick, but I recently caught it again and I can't seem to get it out of my head. It is sweet and funny and sad and stylish and romantic in an unconventional way and if you haven't seen it before, you just must.  You just must. After rewatching it I had to have the soundtrack and it too is delightful. Enjoying muchly.

We had a great time with Molly and Nick at their Tallahassee wedding.  As much as we love our favorite, more familiar venues, it is always a joy for us to get out of town and shoot somewhere entirely new.    

 

Ceremony:  First Baptist Church

Reception:  Southwood House

Planned by:  John Gandy Events

Deirdre and Sean's new family was created in style. This was our first time working with the amazing team of Mary Kenealy Events and it was such a joy. Just look at this gorgeous tented reception space at The Crosley Estate! I especially adore the anemones in the floral arrangements and on the cake. Such sweet blooms! 

Deirdre carries herself with such grace. We love her style.

Their baby boy is so adorable, I could just eat him up!

From our little Evie.  :)

There are times in the beginning of most new bride's planning when the prospect of planning a wedding is completely overwhelming; the choices too vast, the hard and fast decisions seemingly out of reach.  Sometimes all you have to do is begin.  Find one thing you truly love and build from there.  That is how it happened for Kelley.  She started with these fabulous shoes and the rest fell into place to create a wedding mixed of old world romance and modern glamour.  Notice the rose blooms carried throughout with the prettiest shades of pinks and neutrals.  It all comes together for a wedding of effortless elegance.  So if you're stuck as I was, try this.  Choose just one thing.  Shoes, the dress, a flower, color, pattern, era...  and begin.  And remember to enjoy it!  While the wedding may seem forever and a day away, you'll be amazed at how fast the waiting will go.  Before you know it, you will be standing before the love of your life... saying "I do".

The Vinoy proved to be the perfect setting for this rose tinted affair.

I love the look on Jeff's face as he watched his bride being photographed.  This is a man in love.