I like to say that I "live vicariously through the dogs of others." I have three rescue cats, and a canine companion just isn't in the cards, at least not in the near future. So, behold, Volume II of brides, grooms and their beloved pups.
Props to the wonderful photographers represented here as well...
Emma
Casey and pup
Emily E
Cane Corsos
Ali
Jamie and Elana
Sally and Bailey. Photo by Marie Labbancz.
Ellie and Oscar
More from a recent holiday shoot, featuring floral magic from Beautiful Blooms...
Photos: Marie Labbancz
Hair: Architeqt Salon
Berta gowns: The Wedding Factor
Models: Reinhard Agency.
Just before the holidays I did a shoot with Marie Labbancz, Beautiful Blooms, Architeqt Salon and The Wedding Factor, featuring the latter's beautiful Berta gowns. The regal Madison courtesy of Reinhard Agency.
Lots of great images to share, but in celebration of the new season of Downton Abbey (yes, I'm addicted), I wanted to share these first because they so remind me of the beloved series. Can't you just see Mary (or even poor Edith) in this?
Got a request from Philadelphia Wedding Magazine to share my five favorite things, and this is how it went down....
Philadelphia Magic Gardens (a wonder of the world right here in PA, in my humble opinion), Superwoman photographer Sarah DiCicco, and pretty dresses from Philly Bride - what more could one want? This model was so Modigliani to me, so I did her hair and make-up accordingly....
These glorious photos were recently featured on 100layercake.com. Delectable BHLDN gowns (Tamsin was my favorite) taken at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts by Alison Conklin. Brilliant styling by Beka Rendell of Styled Creative (and The Styled Bride) - who else would something so cool with a bunch of stools that happened to be lying around?
In honor of Valentine's Day, I give you photos of my brides, some of whom are with their grooms, but all of whom are showing the love to their four-legged friends on their wedding day.
I would delight in having a dog, but we've recently become a three cat household, so that ship has sailed for the time being. Instead, I live vicariously through the loving person/canine relationships of others, and always want to know if my clients have pets, what their names are, etc.
With love for creatures great and small, Happy Valentine's Day!
"Spunky glamour on wheels" - that is the way I would describe Emily, who married Jamie in November. Photographer Daniel Moyer had a field day with the colorful backdrop that characterizes the Hotel Monaco in downtown Philadelphia. Here are just a few of those photos that delighted me.
Emily came to me as a daily wearer of false eyelashes, so she was used to a bit of cosmetic magic. Because of her already perfect skin, I was able to do maximum eye and still keep it looking real.
I was particularly moved by Jamie's expression when he first saw Emily - happy tears of "first look" love. And any bride who checks her make-up in the side mirror of a moped is a goddess to me.
Hair by my pal Amanda D'Andrea, Monique Lhullier dress from The Wedding Shoppe in Wayne, florals by Beautiful Blooms.
One of the aspects of my wedding adventures that I most appreciate is the special bond between mother and daughter. I feel very close to my brides, and to their moms, who are often around my age. This is a fundamental relationship worth celebrating, and I'm always moved by a beautiful photo of the bride and her mother.
Meet Christine and her mom Grace. Christine was married this October at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Photographs by Hudson Nichols Photography.
We knew there was magic in the sea air during this shoot at Mallard Island Yacht Club in Manahawkin, New Jersey. Featured in the Fall issue of New Jersey Bride Magazine.
Photographed by the illustrious Marie Labbancz. Hair by Brittiany Cunningham for Architeqt Salon in Philadelphia.
I had the pleasure of getting the beautiful and photogenic Caitlin Keys ready for her May wedding at the Merion Cricket Club, as seen through the lens of photographer David Campli.
The black and white photos of this venue, in particular, have a classic, old Hollywood quality that will be a pleasure to look at for Caitlin and her new husband Sam Pemberton for years to come. And how elegant is the long dining table pictured below? Need to see more of those at receptions.
Caitlin's exquisite lace dress was a Monique Lhuillier purchased at Saks Fifth Avenue Bridal Salon in New York. I was in love with this one and it fit her like a white kid glove. She looked utterly regal and like any good monarch, she was calm and serene throughout the preparations.
Hair by Allison for Amanda D'Andrea, flowers by Kristin's Wildflowers.
Thank you, Caitlin and Sam - wishing you happiness!
My beautiful bride Katie Stuhlemmer married her fiancé James Dunning last June. The wedding, which was attended by Ms. Martha herself, was held at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia, and is featured in the latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings - très chic!
Oh, the joys of a beautiful gown - I would love to see one of my brides in this Elizabeth Fillmore number (Amelia) we borrowed from The Wedding Shoppe in Wayne for this fun shoot. Sleek space courtesy of one of my former brides, Kimberly Dixon, who is the sales manager for the over-the-top condos at Pembroke North in Wayne....
Photos: Todd Zimmerman
Hair: Amanda D'Andrea
Bouquets: Ilonka Floral Decorator
Bling: Max Weiner
Model: Lynice
More blog-worthy engagement photos, this time of lovely Rachel Fendell and her fiancé Jonathan Satinsky who will be married on March 24th. This pre-marital bliss was captured by the one and only Alison Conklin.
Love the dreamy quality of these pictures, and Rachel's sparkling eyes. Plus, you've got to love the enthusiasm for rainy day shoots, which, as you can see, really paid off.
What's even more fun about this is that Rachel is good friends with Stacey Cutler, the bride-to-be featured in my previous post. The two met through through mutual friends and have, according to Rachel, "been gabbing about our weddings for months." She refers to Stacey as "the Philly wedding expert."
And if that's not enough in common, Rachel and Stacey are both marrying a Jonathan. Now that takes some planning!
I'm very honored to have received a 2011 Editor's Choice Award by Brides Magazine Philadelphia. According to the editors,"it's a way for them to officially recognize the amazing, forward-thinking, art-creating, call-returning, trend-making wedding vendors who inspire and delight" them. I'll take it!
Once in a while, wedding professionals get to "cross the road" and be the client. Case in point: Rebecca Richman (née Druckenmiller). Rebecca is a top notch wedding planner for the Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants team and married her man Dan last March.
Rebecca could not have been more at ease (expected, considering, but you never know...!) as she was getting ready. Because she's beautiful to begin with, we kept the make-up soft to accessorize her incredible blue eyes and porcelain skin.
Of course, I was thrilled that Rebecca chose me to do her make-up, and even more thrilled that photographer Laura Eaton captured it all on film.
I've been lucky to be involved in a some special photo shoots lately, at locations that were delightfully new to me. Case in point: my day with photographer Laura Novak, Beka and Kimberly of Styled Creative, and others to highlight the beautiful bone structure of a grand and revitalized theater in Wilmington, DE, The Queen. And I was thrilled that hairstylist Mike Rossmark was able to join us at the last minute.
All of the drama and textures of this unique venue make it an amazing backdrop for a wedding! You can see more of these photos on Laura Novak's blog.
Full credit goes to:
Photography: Laura Novak and Jason Thomas
Stylists: Styled Creative
Makeup: moi Hair: Michael Rossmark Gowns: Jennifer's Bridal Accessories: Houppette Venue: Live at the Queen
Wedding photographers beware: apparently the New York Times found my photography skills acceptable and agreed to publish my work.
Okay, here's what really happened in New York City in February of 2003: I took a picture of Alison after she came to see me for her trial run, and she liked it so much that she submitted it with her engagement notice.
Here's the original:
If any of you photographers want the details on my equipment and lighting technique (!) ... let me know....
Check out the Spring issue of Brides Magazine Philadelphia to read about my take on achieving the sultry and oft-requested Kim Kardashian visage. Not suprisingly, it's my raven-haired brides who hope to channel this look. Deep warm browns, pink cheeks, nude lips and tons (and I mean "tons") of lashes....
Most of the brides that I work with are looking for a classic, natural look. But then, most brides I work with are not Carrie Ann Theisen, the beautiful Ph.D. candidate who wafted into my studio one fine day...
The first time that I was contacted by Carrie, who was referred by friend and photographer Jenna Stamm, we determined that I wouldn't be available because of another wedding I was doing earlier on that October day. She contacted me again a few months later, asking if I could teach her how to do her own make-up for the wedding (Saints, preserve us!), and she also mentioned that her ceremony time had changed. Hallelujah! I could now make it to Bechtelsville in time to save her from herself. And I was so thrilled to be working with Jenna again, who was the perfect photographer for Carrie; quirky with an edge, and an eye for all of the rustic and whimsical details that made this wedding the stuff of editorial spreads.
Carrie, a tall, waifish beauty, is also a talented cognitive scientist who earned her doctorate from the School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh. Her dissertation was on "arbitrariness and systematicity in emergent communication systems" (Light reading? I think not....). She is a master of the German language and has studied Japanese, and was the recipient of a prestigious Marshall Scholarship to study in UK, an award that's given to only 40 graduate students yearly. Now that's what I call a "brilliant bride."
My favorite wedding ceremony shot of all time, because of the very well-behaved "Best Dog."
And of course, my favorite of the lot:
