This is one of many exciting posts to come... I am back in action and going full speed to make this blog that I love so much more of a priority in 2011 :) I decided to create a list of my goals for 2011 and my blog is listed on the top-5, so I'm excited for what is to come and for all of my readers out there to be inspired to not only create a beautiful and inspiring wedding for you and your groom, but to also be inspired Creatively in your every day lives! I will also be posting more DIY home ideas for those of you who have followed my blog and are now Newlyweds, you can get inspiring ideas for the home you and your newly-hubby are creating!

Anyway, back to this exciting post... I have a huge obsession with Photobooths at weddings and it is one thing I am bummed we didn't end up doing at my own wedding. There are many great new vendors out there that will bring an actual photobooth setup to your venue, have each photo strip printed, and give you and your guests a copy (which is great and convenient)! If your like me and you want to put that pricy photobooth budget towards the food being served, these are some great DIY Ideas that you, your groom, and Bridal Party can have fun creating for a very low cost!

If your Photographer includes an Assistant to shoot with him or her on the big day, you can ask your Photographer to have his Assistant focus on taking fun photobooth shots of guests during your Cocktail Hour. If you don't have the luxury of having a Photog with an Assistant, you still have many other options... Purchase an inexpensive bulk amount of disposable cameras or go with fun Polaroid cameras for your guests to have fun being creative and taking turns at the photobooth. Plus guests end up wanting to take some on their own digital cameras as well.

These days there is no more of the old school way of setting disposable cameras out on the table, the bar has been raised when it comes to creativity, so have fun and make it as fun as can be for your guests!

The most simple way to create a photobooth is by having a long patterned fabric or drape, hung by either a photo stand, or strong string/fishingline if its an outdoor wedding like the one pictured by Photographer JoseVilla. If your wanting a fabulous patterned design made of beautiful fabric, check out the online store of DropItModern (professional Photographers tend to use theirs most often).

Most recently I have noticed custom photo walls made like the two pictured with frames, they are so retro but so modern all at the same time!! The one shown in purple was done by TheStudioBooth. Have fun if you attempt to make this one on your own. ~Have an INSPIRING day~

I fell in love with this unique company I came across, called Modern Bird Studios; Turning your Engagement Pictures (or any photo for that matter) into amazing wood art to have as a special keepsake art piece is really only clicks away... So convenient! I am actually thinking of ordering one for myself, but instead of using our engagement picture (since we already have a large canvas of it) - I'll be ordering a photo of our sweet lil doggie Merlot to be transformed into wood art. The possibilities are endless, but I really wanted to share this unique find with all of you Brides wanting to bring more unique elements into your wedding! Another great idea is to transform your parents or grandparents wedding photos into Modern Bird Studios Wood Art to display at your wedding, or as a gift to loved ones to say thank you for being part of your special day - it's definitely not a gift they'd already have; very original! Check out their site, i'd love to hear what you all think of their unique woodwork.

photo credits above: SwankBoudoir, kya1993, Sarah.Anne, Emma Moore Photography, PussycatPinups

photo credits above: PussycatPinups

When it comes to choosing gifts for friends and family its hard enough to figure out a special gift to give... When it comes to getting just the right gift for your Groom To Be - now that's a tough one to figure out!!! I absolutely love the idea of giving the one-of-a-kind gift of professional Boudoir Photos of yourself. It is the perfect gift to have a female photographer take pictures of you, create a small album, and have the wrapped album privately delivered to your groom just before he is supposed to walk down the aisle (what a nice surprise)! Remember, YOUR GETTING MARRIED... this is a fabulous way to have your future Husband looking forward to not only the honeymoon - but more importantly spending the rest of your lives together~

I had the honor of Coordinating this featured Wedding... Sheri and Will recently tied the knot at The Irvine Hilton Hotel. Both Sheri and Will are currently in medical residency on the other side of the country and have a large amount of family located here in Southern California. For the Bride and Groom, this was their destination wedding. The day was filled with love, tradition, elegance, and endless fun on the dance floor! I was so thrilled to hear from Sheri, The Bride, that their amazing Photographer Henry Chen had posted a sneak peak of their Wedding Photos on his blog. Ahhh... I just love the photos and most of all it makes me smile to see that Henry did such a phenomenal job at capturing the true essence of their special day for them to enjoy! Thank you Sheri and Will for allowing me to be part of your Wedding; Congrats~

Special thanks to these fantastic Vendors for making the event possible...

Wedding Planning & Coordination: The Royal Engagement
Sofreh Aghd (Persion Wedding Display): Maleki Bridal
Photography: Henry Chen Photography
Catering: Party Organization Masrour Catering
Videography: RayJoyce Studios
Dancers: Khordadian Dancers
Hair & Makeup: Yana Beauty Studio
Chiavari Chairs: Elegant Chiavari Chairs
Flowers: Commerce Flowers
Officiant: Dr. Kamyabipour
Cake: Van's Bakery
Music: DJ Parsia

I recently blogged about vendor TJ Taylor Photography and everyone has seemed to love the amazing shots I shared with you guys... Since I love to give you more of what you love ;) Here are some more favorites of his work that i just think are show stoppers. They completely took me back in time to the good ol' classic days with their vintage style and the awesome technique TJ used. Enjoy this goodness:

Photo by Caroline Tran

Azusa Wedding Location
710 & 720 East Foothill Boulevard
Azusa, CA 91702
www.lindleyscotthouse.com

"This Georgian-style home was built in 1911 by famed architect Robert D. Farquhar for the manager of Foothill Ranch, Charles Lindley, before being passed to pioneering educator, Mabelle Scott Anderson. In the spirit of great estates, the home is sheltered from the outside world by tall trees, green hedgerows and wrought iron gates. A curving loose-gravel driveway climbs to the stately two-story home, painted a cheery yellow with green shutters and white trim. Columns support a small dormered portico, and bushes along the perimeter add balance and color.

Opposite the house a wide expanse of lawn features a majestic cypress and a California Oak, and other foliage contributes to a lush garden ambiance. A private park elevated by a decorative stone foundation is a pretty backdrop for the dance floor, which is set with a canopy and twinkle lights. The Main Lawn has plenty of room for an elaborate reception and a lovely wedding ceremony.

Some brides continue the nostalgic theme by arriving in a horse-drawn carriage; but most often the bride and her attendants prepare upstairs in a Victorian-style dressing room. The bride descends the classic staircase in the Lindley-Scott foyer, then steps outside and follows a walkway between the trees to meet her groom at a storybook staging area—a pair of white picket fences with potted plants and flowers, bordering an arched arbor and a stained-glass inset. While the bridal party and family make use of the picturesque grounds for photos, the guests can stop and smell the roses in the Rose Garden to the right of the house. Another ceremony option is the adjacent Rose Lawn, accented by large Jacaranda trees situated around the perimeter of the lawn; but you’ll be all smiles if you use the fragrant blooms as a natural backdrop for your vow-taking.

This old estate has recently added “something new”: The magnificent Carriage House & Lawn. In a private area ringed with hedges and trees, a carpet of manicured grass is crowned by a white gazebo, a romantic setting for wedding ceremonies. Fashioned to coordinate with the main home, the Carriage House’s white-columned portico welcomes guests into its elegant interior. Formal receptions flourish in the lavish ballroom, where vintage-style chandeliers suspended from lofty ceilings illuminate the dining and dancing. A wall of French doors opens to a cozy patio that overlooks the beautifully landscaped grounds.

Unlike at some private estates, an event at Lindley-Scott House is “one-stop shopping”: everything you’ll need for a stylish reception is included in your wedding package, like choice of wedding cake and linen colors, even a keyboardist! All you will have to do is thank your guests for coming, and receive their enthusiastic compliments." SOURCE

Ceremony Capacity: The garden holds up to 200 seated.

Event/Reception Capacity: The facility accommodates 200 seated guests indoors in the Carriage house.

Fees & Deposites: A 25% nonrefundable deposit is required to reserve your date. 50% of the total is due 90 days prior, and the balance is due one month prior to the event. Rental fees range $1,500–3,000 for the reception site. Meals range $35–70/person; tax, alcohol and an 18% service charge are additional. There’s also a $1,200 ceremony setup fee.

Availability: Year-round, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, until 10pm.

What's Provided: Catering, Alcohol, Tables/Chairs, Linens, Silver, Wheelchair Accessible Restrooms, Oak Parquet Dance Floor, Brides Dressing Quarters, Parking, Outdoor Lighting, Cleanup, Bar Services, and event a Organist for ceremonies.

Photo by Caroline Tran

Behold the wonderful magic of infrared wedding photography! . . .

Infrared photography is the process of using filters on or in the camera to record unique invisible light. I was inspired to learn infrared photography for weddings after seeing images in a book by photographers Patrick and Barbara Rice. ALSO a great inspiration is the infrared wedding images from Scott A Nelson, photographer. BTW, what makes infrared wedding photography COMPLETELY unique is that the effect can only be produced using filters in your camera! It CANNOT be produced in post-production with editing software.

Originally, capturing infrared wedding images with film cameras was complicated - "bracketing" and screw-on filters. You literally shot 'blind' and then hoped for the best when you brought the film to the lab to have it processed. Not to mention that weddings are a huge time crunch. Screwing on/off filters to your lenses and setting up the bracketing was a great waste of time.

Last year I had an old Nikon D1X digital camera converted for infrared wedding photography. The results are as great as film ever was for infrared and 100x easier and more time efficient.

So how come the effect of infrared cannot be reproduced in Photoshop? As many times as I have seen a 'recipe' online for creating 'realistic digital infrared' through Photoshop, it has NEVER come close. The major reason for this is that infrared light reflects off of every single thing in your scene differently! The leaves, the flowers, the lapel, the eyes, etc.! All reflect differently to infrared light!

Infrared wedding photography takes a bit of practice to get down. There are not many wedding photographers doing this, but it should definitely be considered when you are looking for the professional that is going to cover your wedding. This technique will separate the rookies from the professionals! You can be confident that your photographer is technically proficient with their cameras and is aware of photo tecniques that will make your final album look 100x more wonderful.

This article was written by Orange County Wedding Photographer, Steve Hoffmann. His work can be viewed directly at www.hoffmannphotographer.com or his most recent events at his blog www.hoffyblog.com.

The official pictures are in from La Boheme Photography from the recent May Wedding of Kevin & Candi Crawford... and they rock! First off, I have to say the event was a great success and couldn't have been done without my Amazing Team (thank you Maria and Kathy for your creativity and hard work)! Candi and Kevin chose the beautiful Ceremony location of Waverly Chapel in Santa Ana, CA and Reception Venue of Springfield Banquet Center in Fullerton, CA. The ever so crafty Bride, Candi, came up with the fun Scrabble Theme that was so fitting with the proposal story...

When Groom, Kevin, decided to pop the question, he decided to ask Candi to be his Wife during a playful game of Scrabble (which they always seemed to enjoy playing). Towards the end of the game, he spelt out the words "Will You Marry Me" and had Candi in shock when she finally figured out that he was actually asking HER to be his Bride!!! She chose to use the Scrabble elements throughout the design and decor of their Ceremony and Reception. From the escort cards, to place card settings of hot glued scrabble pieces with each guest name on a wood playing rack, to the scrabble text in their invitations and programs, this was one fun wedding that brought their story to life in such a special way.. Enjoy a peak at the pictures by La Boheme:

For the last five years I have been photographing events using exclusively digital format! The learning curve from film to digital is complex and extended, but let me share with you why this has been such a wonderfully freeing experience.

2) Unlimited Exposures – When I shot film I was subconsciously counting $$$ in my head. That’s because each time I pressed down on the shutter release it would cost me another $1.00 of film developing/printing. Another miracle of digital allows me to shoot well over 3000 digital exposures at a wedding! No longer do I think about the bottom line. I am free to record history in an almost unlimited manner.

3) Exposure Flexibility – After film is recorded it can be very costly to adjust exposure on a negative. In fact, the easiest way was to actually scan the negative and create a digital file out of it! With the digital miracle . . . Underexposed? Overexposed? Photoshop.

4) Multiple Copies of your event – Talking about feeling secure. . . Within 24 hours of the end of your event there are already multiple copies of your event! For example if I am shooting a wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, by the time I board the plane the event exists on flashcards, on the hard drive of my powerbook and on a set of DVD’s. Up to this point I have never lost anyone’s digital files, but I could tell you many stories of how labs lose/destroy rolls of film. As well, I would be extremely nervous traveling through hotels/airports/x-ray machines if your event only existed on one set of film rolls.

5) Black/White and Touch-ups – “Hold on while I change to my black and white camera.” When I shot film I had one camera devoted to black and white film. With digital I shoot all of my events entirely in color and decide later what will be converted to black/white or sepia tone. As well, with digital don’t worry about blemishes, stray hairs or random people showing up in the back of your pictures – Photoshop. ;)

This article was written by Orange County Wedding Photographer, Steve Hoffmann. His work can be viewed directly at www.hoffmannphotographer.com or his most recent events at his blog www.hoffyblog.com.