Allison & Jake chose The Reserve in Longview, TX for their special day. The Reserve has a rustic, charming atmosphere and Allison & Jake’s Wedding was the perfect fit. Family and friends gathered for the outdoor ceremony timed with the setting sun. The resulting images were absolutely breath taking. Following the ceremony was the reception, aka the party, held in the beautiful hall. The decorations were superb and the complimenting colors made the captured images extra special. Thank you Allison & Jake for allowing us to be a part of your special day!

Dana & Thor’s special day was held at The Filter Building at White Rock Lake in Dallas Texas.  It was a beautiful setting for this wedding ceremony and reception.  The bride and groom were easy to work with and their wedding party was game for a few fun photos.  When I suggested the groomsmen do something silly they had fun ‘beating’ the groom.  This was  beautiful, fun, lighthearted  event and these images are a small sample of some of my favorites.

I very much enjoyed shooting Valerie and Wade’s wedding recently but struggled designing this album for them. The struggle was only due to the fact that I was trying to stay within the confines of the page capacity of their 40 page wedding book. Try as I might to make this design work inside of 40 pages this wedding album screamed to be 50 pages so I just went with it. Once they saw the design they agreed that it had to be 50 pages. I gave them a good deal on the upgrade in page count and this custom design is current in Italy at our book maker being custom bound and printed.

The images from this wedding are a beautiful  testament to the love between these two.  Valerie and Wade were super easy to photograph.   Valerie’s very large family was well organized and Wade’s clan was a joy to work with as well.  The resulting images speak for themselves.  Thanks Val & Wade for inviting us along on this beautiful occasion. It was a pleasure to be part of the merriment!

Wedding Details:
Ceremony: St Jude’s Catholic Church
Reception: Cedar Creek Country Club
Florist: Capt B’s

The day started at one of the Maids of Honour’s house where the Bride was getting ready.  This wedding had not just 1 but 4 Maids of Honour as well as 4 Best Men.  They were all such good friends, no one was slighted a ‘prime position’.  We arrived to the normal activity of Maids of Honour, Bride & Flower Girl all in various states of primping.  The dress was on display in the front room and the dress maker was on hand for last minute alterations.  It was a fun atmosphere with everyone trying to make the bride laugh to expel some of her nervous energy.  She told everyone, “I feel like I could run 5 miles…… and I’m not even a runner!”.  That got a round of laughs.

When the limo arrived to transport the Bride to the ceremony, it was not the usual limo.  It was a large bus, stretch-style limo with room for the Bride to stand up!  She really liked that part.  Once the Bridal party was ready they all piled into the very tall limo and off to the ceremony they went.

The Bride & Groom chose to have their wedding and reception at the Heard Museum in McKinney, TX.  The skies had been threatening with grey clouds all morning but as time for the ceremony approached the weather was perfect.  The garden were beautiful as the wedding party made their way to where the officiant was standing.   It was an intimate gathering full of close friends and family.  The love in the air was very apparent.  There were tears of joy and hearty pats on the back once the ceremony was complete.  Mr. & Mrs. Prater were simply beaming!

The reception following was an elegant affair overlooking the city of McKinney with Dallas in the distance.  The wedding party arrived to hoots and hollers as they were introduced and made their way into the reception.  Food was served, toasts were made and dances were danced.  The Bride and Groom chose a choreographed dance (which we got to see a sneak peek of as the Bride coached the Groom a bit before being transported to the reception) as they stepped onto the dance floor for the first time as a married couple.  It was a flawless entry into couple-dom.

The toasts were plenty as each Maid of Honour and each Best Man toasted the Bride and Groom and the good times flowed like the frozen margaritas and champagne.  The DJ played a variety of music, most suitable to shake your booty to which everyone was doing by the dozens.  It is truly a pleasure to be able to capture special moments like these with people so obviously in love and surrounded by wonderful friends and family.  Enjoy the images, they were a joy to capture.  Congratulations Meredith and Chris!

To view all the images from Meredith and Chris’ Wedding please go to Pictage – Meredith & Chris

This is the Wedding Album Design for CJ & Susan.  Their wedding was  at Elm Wood Gardens in Palestine Texas with a very fun reception to follow on a party boat on Lake Lewisville.

I loved spending so much time with the same people and getting to know them just a bit better. Both couples scheduled plenty of time for their portraits. It is such a pleasure to be able to work in an un-rushed manner. It allows everyone to relax and allows me to be creative and give my clients a large variety of fun portraits. My advice to bride’s and grooms planning their weddings. Always schedule ample time for your wedding photography…..you will not regret it in the end.

Okay sorry I got a little side tracked there. Ashley & Susan planned a joint wedding reception on a large party boat on Lake Lewisville. What better way to set the mood for your reception then watching the sun set as you float out for 4 hours of dancing, fun, laughter and some very touching moments. Let me just say there was not a dry eye in the place during the toasts. Yes, even me who witnesses similar exchanges on a regular basis had to hold back a few tears.

Ashley and Scott and Susan and CJ your wedding ceremonies and reception were beautiful, moving and just a while lot of fun. Thank you for letting us be a part of it!

www.ElmwoodGardens.com
www.facebook.com/Elmwood Gardens

LittleChapelInTheWoods
www.facebook.com/LittleChapelInTheWoods

You can see all of the images from both wedding ceremonies and the reception here. http://pictage.com/905212

A  fall shot of the beautiful  wedding and event venue the Victorian House, Kaufman Texas

It’s no secret that planning your wedding can be as stressful as it is exciting.  So how do you pick when there are so many to choose from?   Should you have the ceremony and reception in the same location?

Here are some important things you may wish to consider when choosing a venue. Of course, you need to decide which of these is most important to you as you make your decision.

1.Cost – the cost of the venue overall – compare closely and be sure to find out what all is included, and what is extra.  Some venues have hidden charges that are not always visible on their price list; these could include service charges, gratuities, extra guest fees, extra time fees, etc.  In the Dallas area, for example, many venues have a 15 to 25% “service charge” on top of their normal package pricing.  Ask each venue to give you a complete quotation up front so you know what you are expected to pay.

2. Location/space – The rule of thumb is that 75%  of your invited guests will attend. That is, if you invite 100 guests (about 50 invitations), you can realistically expect about 75 to attend if the venue is within a couple hours’ driving distance of your guests’ homes.  (If many of your guests are out of town travelers, that percentage may be smaller.)   Therefore, consider the 75% rule when choosing your venue space.  Does the venue hold that many seated guests at one time?  Also, if the reception and ceremony are held in the same place, you will not lose guests in between the two events.

3. Reputation – Many online resource sites offer review sections for local suppliers.  See what other people are saying about that venue and exactly what their complaints are, if any (sometimes you must consider the source! Some people just aren’t happy no matter what.)

4. Lodging – If the venue is a bit of a drive for most guests, be sure there is on-site lodging or at least several hotels within 10 minutes of the venue.  You certainly don’t want guests to drive tired, or heaven forbid, after drinking.   *TIP* – many hotels near your venue likely offer a discount if you are having an event nearby.  ASK FOR IT.

5.  Ambience – The décor and “feel” of the venue is usually the major deciding factor for most couples.  If you like a formal atmosphere, a large hotel may be to your liking.  If you want something more elegant but comfortable, a mansion-style location might be more suitable.

No matter what location you choose, remember that many items on their price list can be negotiable.  Some venues offer discounts for off-peak days and times.   It never hurts to ask what amenities they can offer you for free or at a discount, especially after you’ve visited several venues and are aware of what the competition is offering!

Thank you to April Bishop owner of The Victorian House, an event venue located in Kaufman Texas, for providing this helpful article about choosing a venue for your wedding. The Victorian House should be on your list of places to visit if you are planning an East Texas Wedding.

April Bishop
The Victorian House
3950 FM 987
Kaufman, Texas 75142

www.thevictorianhouse.net
www.facebook.com/The Victorian House