Who: Jackie & Bobby
What: Engagement Session
When: February 22, 2007
Where: Historic downtown St Augustine, FL

It’s way past my bedtime and I’m still blogging - so you’ll have to forgive my image selection… I just relooked over my pull for the blog and noticed that they’re always kinda kissy-faced - LOL Oh well, I guess I’m in a kissy mood… Too tired to change it up now - maybe I’ll add some more tomorrow so you can see their FACES and to prove we had them do more than simply suck face

Charles saw this - I think it’s kinda irreverant - I dig it:

Notice the sightseeing train speeding by in the background? Totally coincidental on the framing:

Who: Tara
What: Bridal Session
When: February 21, 2007
Where: Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville, GA

We met up with Tara on a not-such-nice-weather day in Thomasville, Ga at (one of my favorites) Pebble Hill Plantation. I don’t know exactly why I love this place so much… I just do. I always have. The drawback is that I still go there so often I am trying to find new ways to use the space. Unfortunately, the rain kept us from straying far from cover so I didn’t get to do everything I wanted - but I’m still really happy with the shoot. Of course, with a pretty girl like Tara it is hard to mess up!

Who: Susie & Lee
What: Engagement Session
When: February 18, 2007
Where: Eden Gardens State Park

Y’all have seen the adorable Susie (I call her Suzy Q around the office - which I had never told her, but I guess she’ll know now!) on here a few posts back for her bridal session - now here she is again with fiance Lee in tow!

Toward the end of the session, Charles asked the couple if they had any ideas or specific requests they were hoping to implement in the shoot and Susie piped up with her “pinkie promise” shot idea. She asked if we could find a way to incorporate their pinkies, hooked together like that (which is one of their little “things” that they do - you know, the cute things you do BEFORE you are old and married - LOL - just kidding!!)… and this is what we came up with on the fly. Can you guess which idea is Charles’ and which is mine?

Soon-to-be-weds

Who: Mia & David
What: Wedding Day
When: February 17, 2007
Where: St Rita’s Catholic Church
AND Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

Yesterday we shared Mia & David’s gorgeous rehearsal dinner with our blog readers - which was really awesome, right? We thought so, too. I remember heading back to the hotel and saying to Charles - if I wasn’t already excited enough for their wedding, I’m totally jazzed now! …

We started the day with Mia at her family’s home in Sandestin:

Yvette Nation did an awesome job with Mia’s makeup. Yvette, by the way, is an amazing makeup artist that we’ve had the pleasure of working with on several occassions in and around the Santa Rosa Beach area and is highly recommended! Contact us if you’d like her phone number.

I just wanted to share these because I liked them so much!

David

Ceremony at St Rita’s Catholic Church in Santa Rosa Beach, FL

I adore the way Mia’s big sister is looking at her in this moment:

I do!

Dining by candlelight

That’s the wedding cake in the middle of the gigantic wine encased glass room!

The entire team over at It’s A Shore Thing pulled out all the stops for this reception!

The head table

Who: Mia & David
What: Rehearsal Dinner
When: February 16, 2007
Where: Sandestin Marina
AND Marina Cafe in Destin, FL

Is it just me or are rehearsal dinners and post-wedding brunches beginning to rival the wedding reception for most spectacular event? Don’t me wrong - I’m not complaining! (Not one bit!) Actually, I think it’s really fantastic. Think of it this way - why, when all of your family and friends are in town for the wedding day activities, would you ever try to limit your together/celebration time to a mere 4 to 6 hours on one day?

I think Mia & David were thinking the same thing when they planned their fabulous rehearsal dinner at the Marina Cafe in Destin, Florida. It wouldn’t be right to post all of these gorgeous detail shots and not mention their awesome coordinators over at It’s A Shore Thing that helped it all come together so beautifully!

Charles and I started that afternoon at the Sandestin Marina where the bridal party was about to board their boat to take them around the coast and over to their final destination at the Marina Cafe in Destin. Yep, they were arriving in style to their rehearsal dinner - but just scroll down to see what happened next!

The yatch:

The boys showed up first - this shot taken by Charles kind of reminds me of the Rat Pack!

A lovely sunset departure:

We raced over (by car) to Marina Cafe so we would be setup in time for their arrival. This is the view that greeted us onto the deck:

They’re heeeeere:

And then it was magic. Mia and David were greeted by a big crowd of family and friends on the back deck, who had been anxiously awaiting their arrival. David took the microphone and gave a nice welcome speech and at the end he said “and now for a little surprise!” It really was awesome because just then you heard a pop and fizzle and saw the light - FIREWORKS!!!

A guest standing nearby said to his date “And can you believe - this is only the REHEARSAL!?” LOL Amen, brother.

They even had heart-shaped fireworks!

Nice ambience:

Maybe my favorite detail - these were hanging from the rafters throughout the space! This is exactly why I *heart* It’s A Shore Thing! Visit their site It’s A Shore Thing.

Soon-to-be-weds:

Mia - from what I gather - was rehearsing a dance, as taught by David’s mother (in the ladies bathroom!!) - that had been performed by brides for their grooms for generations within his family:

A nervous Mia - about to dance for her groom in front of everyone:

Mia is a trained dancer - she had nothing to worry about:

Mom and Dad looking on in the background:

We ended the night with my favorite - speeches! I always love hearing the funny little stories and touching moments from family and friends: