Day After Session

Last weekend I photographed this really fun and loving couple in the Mill Valley area. These images were not taken on their wedding day, but after their wedding. This made for such a relaxed portrait session, it was a great day!

I offer this sort of session (called a "Day After Session") to all of my brides and grooms. It is a great way to get beautiful portraits in settings that may not be at or near your wedding site. I love doing these kinds of sessions for newlyweds- they are so relaxed and still in honeymoon mode.

Here are a few images of Jimmy and Jaime, I will share a few more later this week. Jaime and Jimmy, Congrats to you both- you are so much fun and your love for each other shines. Enjoy!

Budget Minded Ideas

I came across a great article on MSNBC about a New York couple that decided to keep their wedding budget at $20,000.00. Apparently the average cost for a New York Wedding is $46,000.00! One idea that I thought was great was renting a cake. I know- renting? Really? Apparently they rent Styrofoam cakes with little cutouts so you can put a real piece in for the traditional cake cutting. Then you can have the cake taken back to the kitchen and have your caterer serve slices of sheet cake purchased from your local bakery. If you need a suggestion for that- try Icing on the Cake in Los Gatos- they will not disappoint!

CakeRental.com's price for a 3-layer cake is $150. Every additional layer is $75. They also allow you to design your own cake, I think the fee for this is $250. So check it out, it could be a great way to save some dough!

Here are a couple designs from their site...

Need a gift for your out of town guests?

How about a bottle of wine with a custom label waiting for your guests when they arrive at their hotel? Stoney Creek Wine Press offers personalized and custom wine labels. They offer many services, you can buy one of their pre-designed text labels where all you have to do is edit the text. Or, say you LOVE one of the engagement photos that I took of you and you want that featured on the label, you can upload the image and use one of their pre-designed image labels. Another option, if you are a design superstar, is to design and upload your own label that they will then print for you. The forth option for those of you that know what you want, but can't design it yourself is to have the very capable staff do it for you.

They offer all sorts of wine ranging in price from $10- $50 per bottle. From Pinot Grigio to Pinot Noir and Sparkling Wine, they have a good range.

I love this idea. So much so that JD and I used it years ago when we got married up at Edgewood in Lake Tahoe. JD and I got our wine at a Half Moon Bay Winery that has now changed it's name. It is now known as La Nebbia Winery and still offers bottle and cork days. We got to watch as our bottles were filled and corked. The price has gone up since we did it, but it is still reasonable at $4.95 for a 750ml pour. You can provide your own clean bottles. I made my own labels- they were fine, but not nearly as cute and professional looking as those done by Stoney Creek Wine Press. It was nice to have that day with JD- who doesn't enjoy a beautiful day at a winery in Half Moon Bay?

When your guest arrives after their long journey to their hotel room, and see a lovely, personalized bottle of wine, you know their wheels will start turning and they will get so excited for the festivities that are ahead. They will feel welcome and thankful that you thought of them. What a nice way to show your appreciation for them coming from afar to celebrate with you!

Need a Break?

Everyone needs a break from their normal websites from time to time. Be it while you are perusing the internet for brilliant ideas for you wedding, working at the office, or reading about all the wonderful or tragic things going in the world- we all need some sites to check out that give that brain a break!

When I am in need of some zone out time the first place I head to is Perez Hilton. I know it is trashy, I realize there is really nothing to gain by visiting this site- but it is so darn addicting. I need to keep tabs on Amy Winehouse's health and Lindsay and Samantha's romance. You know Perez will be the first to tell us when those gorgeous Jolie- Pitt twins arrive. I just like to keep tabs on my peeps, ya know?

Oh, and then, every Sunday, my other favorite guilty pleasure is Post Secret. It is a community art project where you can send in your anonymous secret on the back of a postcard.

So if you haven't checked out those sites, and you need a break from what you are doing, give 'em a try.

Rent Your Wedding Jewelry!

So, if you have seen Sex in the City, you are well aware that you can rent- yes that is right- rent a lovely Louis Vuitton purse for a week, month or longer. But, did you know you can also rent jewelry? Bag Borrow or Steal offers gorgeous jewelry, perfect for weddings in their Wedding Shop on their site.

Wouldn't this Myka Vintage Inspired Necklace and Earring Set be perfect for your outdoor garden style wedding?
They also have super cute special occasion handbags and sunglasses. Just what you need to finish off your look! If you sign up soon, you get 1 week free and are entered to win a stylish purse featured in the SATC movie.

Or, if you are still looking for the perfect gift for your bridesmaids, why not get them a gift card from Bag Borrow or Steal? Then your best girlfriends can look stylish all summer with a Betsey Johnson Tote or Jimmy Choo Sunglasses.

Oh, one more thing, did I mention they are having they are having their semi annual outlet sale? You can save up to 50% on carried jewelry and handbags!