Three days of Rivini. Three days of pure, perfect silhouettes majestically embellished with exquisite hand-beading and a sprinkle of sparkle. Three days of Rita Vinieris’ incredible talent for blending crisp lines with breathless femininity. At Mia Bridal Couture. Starting Thursday. Appointments are a must, make one you shall. This is the Houston unveiling of Rivini spring 2013, after all. ’Nuff said.
Photos: Rivini
The answer is, “No.” Because it’s SO much more than that. Although we watched (and, admittedly, wept through) Storyteller Series Chapter I—featuring the utterly adorable John and Stephanie —we’ve got to admit, we were just a tiny bit skeptical, what with all the hype surrounding A&A’s Video Productions’ release last night of the second installment in its limited-edition wedding series.
But once we got to view “Mi Companera de Viajes”—Liza and Virgilio’s much-anticipated wedding film—we were blown away. We asked A&A’s Lisa Ray just how the film team is able to capture so many incredible, intimate moments, and transform them into a motion picture worthy of any cinema’s silver screen. “We like our clients to think of our process being similar to the process of the documentaries we see on television and in the theaters,” she told us. “Although our mission is to objectively capture the naturally occurring events of the day, our level of preparation leaves no part of the process simply to chance. Sometimes we may ask our couples to re-enact certain moments, but we never simply direct them. Authenticity is of the utmost importance, and therefore we can influence the outcome, but never control it.” However complex the process, the result, we must say, is pretty extraordinary. We can’t imagine a couple who wouldn’t want this kind of document of their big day—and the many days, hours and moments leading up to it. We’d love to know what you think of this intense and exciting new approach to wedding filmmaking—please share your comments here.
Think your love story might be Storyteller Series material? Contact A&A for details on how to create some movie magic.
Now, dim the lights, cue the hankies, and press PLAY.
Mi Compañera De Viajes – Chapter II of the A&A Storyteller Series from A&A Video Productions on Vimeo.
Behold the amazing laser—truly a bride’s best friend. First it whitened our wine-stained teeth. Then it became our can’t-do-without waxing alternative. And now? Now it’s bringing us some of the most ah-mazing paper creations we’ve ever seen (with our laser-corrected perfect vision, thanks). Such crisp edges, such smooth curves, such lacy loveliness—like those scissor-cut “snowflakes” we loved making as kids, only crafted with, well, laser-like precision. We love laser-cut wedding invitations, save-the-dates, stationery and favor packaging so darn much, it’s hard for us to imagine a time before the dawn of the laser. Which, incidentally, sounds like a sci-fi flick our future fiancé would be, like, totally into.
Credits: (Photos from Top to Bottom, Left to Right): Avie, Wood & Grain, Chartula, StoreyShop Etsy Shop, Wedding Star, Paper Orchid Stationery, Boris & Doris, 2 Paper Dolls, Made By Julene, Cookie Bits Etsy Shop, Seven Swans, The Hummingbird Card Company, Cutture
We’re engaged in a major love affair with watercolor at the moment. The dreamy, soft-edged, ombré effect of this art form (think Paul Cezanne’s landscapes, Paul Klee’s abstracts, Georgia O’Keeffe’s magnificent flowers) is just so perfect for spring and summer weddings, we can’t get enough. Look for it in custom save the dates and wedding invitations, billowy chiffon destination-wedding dresses, table linens and plates—even shoes! And don’t forget to talk to your florist about creating a WOW watercolor effect with flowers like parrot tulips, peonies and hydrangeas. Lovely stuff!
Credits (Photos top to bottom, left to right): Ever After Papery, Anthropologie, Ovadia & Sons, Delia’s, ALDO, Printerette Press, Becky Hill Photography, Jen Aitchison
For their engagement session, Houston couple Myra Salinas and Blake Beck chose the University of St. Thomas in Houston’s hip Montrose neighborhood. And they chose Barett Delyon Henry of Civic Photos to shoot their timeless and evocative photos. Shoot locations included the Freed-Montrose library and the historic Link-Lee Mansion—along with normally nondescript sites like a university parking garage, which the to-be-weds transformed with their exceptional style and expressive affection for one another. Henry says he was struck by how fashionable the pair were—“Some of their wardrobe didn’t even make it into the session, but they were quite prepared”—and how expressive. “They really jumped into letting their emotions out,” he says. And we jumped at the chance to showcase this emotional visual document of two people deeply in love. Our thanks to Civic Photos, and our happiest wishes to Myra and Blake.
Photos: Civic Photos
Photos: Courtesy Amy Atlas ~ Johnny Miller Photography
Have you read “The Sweetest Thing,” our absolutely delicious dish session with the amazing Amy Atlas? If not, you really oughtta, cookie–it’s chock full of sweet ideas for doing an unforgettable dessert table at your wedding. Here’s another thing we highly recommend you do: Take an early lunch this Friday, and GO SEE AMY ATLAS LIVE AND IN PERSON! The doyenne of dessert displays will be on hand at Williams-Sonoma Highland Village at 11 a.m. signing copies of her fabulous new book, “Sweet Designs: Bake It, Craft It, Style It” (Hyperion, 2012)…an exceptional bridesmaid, MOB or MOG gift for the baker or hostess-with-the-mostest in your life. Better yet, grab your mom or his or your BFF, and bring her with you to Williams-Sonoma, then hit your favorite Highland Village dining spot to ogle your new books over lunch.
We love Amy Atlas AND her awesome new book so much, we’re gonna sweeten the deal with an equally yummy BOOK GIVEAWAY! Two of y’all will each win a copy of “Sweet Designs,” just for 1.) *Liking* us on Facebook, and 2.) Emailing us with your name, fiancé’s name, wedding date (real or imagined) and wedding venue. Email must be received by midnight TOMORROW, TUES. JUNE 19. Winners will be notified Wednesday morning, and will find their books waiting for them at Williams-Sonoma on Friday, waiting to be signed by the goddess of goodies herself. How sweet is THAT?
Photo: Archetype Studio
Such a treat to have brilliant photo stylist and event designer Tamara Menges on the blog today! Menges, by her own account, sees “beauty in everything, whether it be a piece of fabric or a particular chair, or a rusty old can.” And we can’t help but see beauty in her. We asked her to reveal the methods behind her magic—and explain why professional styling is a MUST if you’re aiming for an unforgettable bridal, engagement or boudoir shoot!
Houston Wedding Blog: What, exactly, does professional photo styling entail?
Tamara Menges: Professional styling is a unique approach to a photography session. It’s basically the use of props to tell a story that is then captured by the photographer. To me, it’s imperative that I convey an actual “story,” and I use that word A LOT when I’m designing and conceptualizing a project. It has to make sense, obviously, but it also has to speak to the client.
HWB: How do you figure out a couple’s “story”—what do you need to know about them?
TM: I ask a lot of questions: what they do for fun, how they met, where he popped the question, etc. Their styling should reflect who they are as a couple, and it should be yet another part of the story that is being told through the photography. I work one-on-one with them, then, after the consultation, I brainstorm with my team, put an inspiration board together and submit those ideas to the couple or bride. Of course, some like to be surprised!
Photos: Callie & Co. Photography
HWB: Tell us about a couple of your favorite recent shoots.
TM: My absolute favorite engagement session was with a couple who are both very strong Christians and wanted to use their Bibles in some of their images. For them, I designed an entire setting based around their faith. I found an old church pew from the 1800s, I made multiple burlap pillows with their favorite lines of scripture, a large cross out of re-claimed fence posts, and a pitcher and bowl to symbolize washing of the feet, along with many other elements that tied into their beliefs. I named this shoot “A Faithful Engagement.” It turned out perfectly!
Another favorite was really outside the box. It was a gothic shoot that we titled “’Til Death Do Us Part.” My inspiration was crows. I knew I wanted it to be unexpected. I kept the color palette clean, with black, white and gold—red and dark purple were too expected! Perfectly enough, Natalie Harris Bridal and Evening had a design of a white gown with images of trees on the fabric! I went for an elegant gothic approach, not a scary one.
Photo: Sarah e. Evans Photography
HWB: Sounds gorgeous! OK, so how much can we expect to pay for your services—and why are they worth the investment?
TM: Given the amount of research, thought, and hands-on work that I put into each shoot, my pricing starts $300. [HWB ed note: bargain alert!] This includes the above, along with props needed to complete the concept. Photo styling is a good investment simply because it expresses and captures their personality and story in a unique way. Most people don’t realize how much thought is put into a styled shoot, but that is why they turn out so interesting. I have a bit of an outside-the-box approach to styling shoots, so I often push my clients a little further than what may seem typical, and the end results are images that they are excited about for years to come!
For more pix from Tamara Menges Designs’ “A Faithful Engagement” shoot, click here! To get in touch with Tamara herself, find her here!
Behold the dessert pop. It’s cake—or pie, or cookies, or “toaster pastry,” or cheesecake, or cupcakes, or French macaroons—on a stick. The color and decoration options are pretty much endless. Ditto the presentation possibilities. It’s a bite Heaven (or two or three or FIVE, depending on how long you linger at the dessert display, and how many pops you pop into your pie hole). Everyone goes nuts when they see them. And you can even have yours in the shape of miniature tiered white wedding cakes, if that’s your thing. In a mouthful: It’s wedding dessert perfection. Behold!
Credits (Photos From Top to Bottom, Left to Right): Bakerella ~ Favor Ribbons ~ Lil’ Miss Cakes ~ Cakewalk Desserts ~ Duff Goldman ~ Sweet E’s Bake Shop ~ Bakerella ~ Bakerella
