lauren’s bridal session…after the wedding | beebe, ar wedding photographer
July 29, 2010 | Filed Under bridals, weddings | 1 Comment
Can I just say that I LOVE this session?! Lauren and I met up last weekend for an after the wedding bridal session. We had so much fun. No worries about getting her dress dirty, we could do whatever. By the end of the session I was dripping with sweat but it was so worth it. Don’t you think…?
Thanks Lauren for putting your dress back on for me despite the heat. I’m already excited about seeing you in a year or two for maternity pics!!
dear brides… | little rock wedding photographer.
December 12, 2009 | Filed Under tips, weddings | Leave a Comment
This is why I LOVE first looks. J* explains it better than I ever could so go take a look at her blog and see what I mean. And if you don’t know what a first look is take at look at this.
this is awesome!
September 5, 2009 | Filed Under tips, weddings | 1 Comment
cake tips | arkansas wedding photographer.
July 5, 2009 | Filed Under tips, weddings | Leave a Comment
Found these tips here on Corey Ann Photography’s blog.
These tips are seriously helpful because as a wedding photographer I get asked this question a lot! How do we cut the cake?!
The one thing I see a lot of bride and grooms stumble with is the cake cutting. It’s definately not something you do every day and it’s not something you get to rehearse!!! So here are some tips on how to cut the cake and some cake ideas in general.
1. Cut immediately! One new trend I am seeing more this summer is couples are starting to cut the cake right after they make their grand entrance into the ballroom. I think this is a spectacular idea!!! The attention is already on you and everyone should be seated at this point so no one should miss the moment. Sometimes after dinner people leave or tend to get into the groove of visiting (and so does the bride and groom) and hate to be taken away from whatever they are involved in to do the cake. It also gives the caters time to cut the cake so that when its time for cake no one has to wait for it! Finally, if you have a fragile cake, it lessens the chance of a tumble from the cake getting too warm.
2. Remove all non-edibles! The current trends have cakes almost as dressed up as the brides! Make sure that all ribbons, jewels and any other pieces that are for decoration only are removed from the section of cake you intend to cut. I’ve had a few couples not remember this and it could have been scary!
3. Cut from the bottom layer! This makes the cake remain stable if it is a tiered cake and easier for you to get your slice of goodness out and ready to eat.
4. Cut in a V and remove with a server! Make cuts into the bottom layer in a small V and remove with the cake server. Grooms put your hand over your bride’s hand as she slices and dices.
5. Have a Plate AND fork(s) at the cake table! I don’t know about you but I hate having sticky fingers and oftentimes you won’t get the chance to wash your hands right after. Having a plate and a fork makes the moment sweeter and cleaner for you both (and lessens the chance for stains on your formal wear). If you can’t have a fork make sure that there is a damp napkin at the table.
6. Play nice! Even though I can’t say much since I didn’t play nice on my wedding day, it really does make for nicer pictures when you play nice. No matter what you do groomies, don’t take tips from that video on You Tube and make your bride do a header into the cake. You will pay for that for a lifetime!! 
7. Include the kids! If you have children and want to include them in some of the wedding day festivities this is a great family event!! Have the kids ‘help’ cut (help meaning placing their hands ABOVE an adult whom is cutting) and give them a bite as well.
8. Enjoy the cake! Don’t feel like you have to take one bite and run away. As a lover of cake, I fully condone you actually FINISHING your slice of heaven. This could very well be your only slice of cake and after all these months of researching the cake and taste testing, you better be able to remember how good it was. So savor the moment and feed each other more than one bite – it’s OK!
9. KISS! Finally, kiss after you eat the cake! Nothing is sweeter than a kiss from your sweetie with sugary goo on their lips! YUM! Oh…. it also makes a great photo op!
kelley + justin | arkansas wedding photographer.
May 30, 2009 | Filed Under weddings | 2 Comments
Last weekend I had the honor of 2nd shooting for Misty Johnson. We headed to Batesville to a gorgeous outside ceremony at the bride’s parents’ house. It had been raining all week so Misty and I were both praying for no rain! Our prayers were answered because the rain held off all day.
Here are just a few of my favorites from the day…
Congrats you two! The wedding was beautiful and I had such a fun time photographing you!
jess + caleb are married at last! | arkansas wedding photographer.
May 2, 2009 | Filed Under weddings | 1 Comment
Jessica and Caleb were married on April 18. Here is a quick sneak peek of their day.
The girls getting ready at the salon.
The bride’s mom. She also doubles as a stylist!
The groom.
Jess and Caleb saw each other before the ceremony for some portraits. Love when my couples do this! It gave them some quiet time together and I got some cute shots.
The whole bridal party.
The mother of the bride and mother of the groom. Aren’t they cute?!
Ceremony time! The bride and her dad walking down the isle.
Thanks Jessica and Caleb for letting me be a part of your day!
jessica’s bridals | arkansas wedding photographer.
April 18, 2009 | Filed Under bridals, weddings | 4 Comments
Jessica and I did her bridal session a couple of months ago, but of course I couldn’t post them then since we didn’t want her groom to stumble upon them. They are getting married today so it’s safe now 
Isn’t she such a stunning bride?!
Warning: Picture overload ahead. I loved just about every image I took of her so I had a hard time narrowing it down for the blog.
This post office look familiar?? We did her engagements here too.
lindsey + kyle are married!
October 4, 2008 | Filed Under weddings | 1 Comment
I photographed Lindsey and Kyle’s wedding a couple weeks ago. Lindsey had such gorgeous details! Here are a few of the faves…
See, awesome details!
I thought this little note the bride’s sister left was so cute!
Sexy shoes!
Getting ready…
The girls.
And finally Mr. and Mrs.!
The gorgeous rings.
lindsey + kyle | wedding teaser.
September 24, 2008 | Filed Under weddings | Leave a Comment
More coming soon!
Hope you two are enjoying yourselves on the beach!
tips to a photogenic wedding.
August 7, 2008 | Filed Under photography, weddings | 1 Comment
I found this post over on Darbi G.’s blog. She was one of the many photogs I met while in Dallas a few weekends back. There are some really awesome tips here and I recommend it to any bride. It’s that good!
You can find the original post here.
Do You Want a Photogenic Wedding?
by: Darbi G.
1. Location, location, location.
Location sets the mood, location maintains the mood, and location impacts memories. Location ALSO affects your photographs. Most churches aren’t sources of fabulous lighting. But you have tons of control over where you choose to have your reception. One of the best decisions I made was to find a venue that had floor to almost-ceiling windows. That meant that there was good lighting up until the time to dance. PERFECT for photos. AND perfect for me, the bride, to take in all the faces of those I love who were around me…and to see that all the hard work I put into the reception details paid off.
2. Be aware of sunset hours. And plan accordingly.
Because good photography revolves around good lighting, sunset times are crucial to know. After you choose your date, look up what time the sun will go down here. The two hours prior to sunset are what we photographers call “the golden hours.” Why? Because the lighting is perfect and soft. GOLDEN. So now that you know what time the sun sets…what to do then?
Well…if you’re not seeing your honey before you walk down the aisle, and you want to get stellar pictures of just the two of you…and pictures of the entire wedding party doing something fun and cool outside, schedule the ceremony so that you still have at least 1.5 hours of sunlight to play with. If you’re doing a receiving line after the ceremony, don’t start counting that 1.5 hours until that is finished. Receiving lines typically last 30-45 minutes (Even if you swear you’re going to get through yours in 15 minutes, it just doesn’t work.)
On that same token, if you’re having an outdoor wedding without shade, steer clear from ceremonies that take place when the sun is directly overhead. First of all, it might be hot for your guests (assuming it’s during late spring/summer months). Secondly, direct sun causes harsh shadows and washes faces out. So instead, aim for that time in the afternoon when the sun has started going down in the horizon. Sun coming in at an angle makes everything look better. To guests…and to your eyes when you look at pictures later.
3. Your photographs should be a priority. Therefore, whom you choose for a photographer should not be a light-hearted decision. Weeks or months after the wedding, when the buzz has worn off, you will have your photos to look at and relive the best day of your life. If you don’t have good images, you’ll be upset. You might even cry. And you might be filled with that deep sense of regret because you cannot go back in time to get those coveted images with your best girl friends, or with your husband, or he with his friends, etc. It’s done and over with.
But if you go into the wedding planning with a timeline that takes into account the photography, you’ll be so happy. On the day of, and for all the years to follow.
Here is a timeline based on how long “events” typically take on the day of the wedding. This is based on the bride and groom not seeing each other until the ceremony. (Don’t forget to allot for time it takes to get from event to event and place to place….) If it looks like there is too much time designated for something, that’s a good thing. Everything always takes longer than planned.
2-3 hours: girls at salon or wherever to do their hair and makeup
2.5 hours: girls putting on dresses/finishing touches (guys getting ready during this time)
35 minutes: group girl shots
35 minutes: group guy shots
35 minutes: any other shots that would be easier to take before the ceremony
30 minutes: all bridal party members should have this time to chill while ceremony guests are being seated
30 minutes-1 hour: Ceremony
45 minutes: receiving line
30 minutes: formal pictures with family (for 15 groups)
1-1.5 hours: wedding party pics and bride & Groom shots. (if you choose a location that is close to the reception or the ceremony site, that works perfectly!!!)
And then it’s reception time. Tips for THAT are below.
4. Ceremonies don’t have to be boring.
There aren’t many ceremonies from which guests walk away and say: Wow. That was a great ceremony.
Why? Because so few couples stray from the traditional elements. Tradition is beautiful. But it’s even more beautiful if it’s complemented by something that screams who YOU are…as a couple.
I know a lot of what you can and cannot do is based on the religion or the site rules. But you can still inject some flavor by:
+ Writing your own vows
+ Choosing music that means something
+ Having special dedication moments
+ Using readings that speak to your relationship
+ Having friends/family sing
+ Taking time to plan small details such as programs, ceremony favors, lighting embellishments
And most of all…don’t be afraid of humor!!
5. What you put on your feet matters.
Most people can’t see the bride’s feet. But that gives you even more reason to want to show them off!! Put on some shoes that are comfy…but that also play up to the feel of your wedding. Even just wearing a pair that are in your wedding colors can do A LOT. And it will make the bride feel sexier, too…
6. The little things count.
One of my favorite parts of weddings is the details. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to bring it all together. Make things yourself. Check out Etsy.com to get inexpensive, but personalized elements for your wedding day.
Such as:
+ Guestbook
+ Favor tags
+ Ring presentation dishes/pillows
+ Flower girl baskets
+ Garter belts
+ Cake toppers
+ Bouquet charms
+ Photo display
+ Candles
+ Gifts
+ Card holder
AND SO FORTH!!! The possibilities are endless. You’ll be surprised how far the little things go in making a wedding FEEL and LOOK special.
7. Receptions should be the icing on the cake.
This is the time in which you, as the bride and groom, can really make an impression. Good food, free drinks…those are great to have. But the one piece of advice I can give to you… is… if you can’t a afford a kick-butt cover band (we couldn’t!!) HIRE A DJ.
I know, it’s probably tempting to save the $700-800 and get a friend to just push play on that iPod. But a good DJ can make a difference. If I’ve heard one thing about our wedding time and again, it’s that our DJ, James Cloyd of Complete Music, absolutely ROCKED. Seriously. He worked the reception and I didn’t have to worry about a thing. The guests had TONS OF FUN. Because of him!
The timeline of the reception had a lot to do with it. I’ve been to many receptions at which it’s stop and go all night. And the dancing that everyone wants to do just keeps getting pushed back. Before the bride and groom know it, everyone but a few close friends have bailed.
I asked my DJ to write our own timeline. I told him what all I wanted to do, but I wanted him to put it in the order that he, as a DJ, thought would work best for the guests. And he loved that I asked it! Because now he could finally use his own expertise. Man, he NAILED it.
This was the order of our events. And it went sooo smoothly. I highly highly highly recommend anyone who wants to steal it to steal it.
+ Cocktail hour (while wedding party was getting pics taken)
+ Guests take seats/wedding party introduced
+ Bride & groom immediately cut cake (only cut it…don’t serve it!! Photographer takes the pics)
+ Father of bride does welcome toast
+ Blessing
+ Dinner served
+ Toasts
+ B&G restroom break/make rounds to visit
+ Cake is served
+While people are eating cake:
–Specialty dances (b&g, father/daughter, mother/son)
–Bouquet/garter belt toss
+ Wedding party dance…
+ Dance set of music
+ Second set: During this time, I urge you to go outside or somewhere on premises somewhere with your photographer for a few more shots of just the two of you
+ Dollar dance/other traditions like this
+ DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!!!
By pushing everything that is considered an “event” into the beginning, this keeps the momentum going. If people want to dance, they will get their chance without having to wait all night long…or without having to start dancing…get in the groove…and then have to abandon the dance floor so you can throw your bouquet, etc.
And don’t be afraid to spice up the reception even more with your own customs, or fun things like a candy toss for the kids (so they don’t have to steal the bouquet/garter belt) etc. Again, use your wedding as a way to show guests who you both are!! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime party that you are throwing for those you love the most.