Last week I was so excited to meet up with three of my couples from years past who all happen to live in SF... (my favorite city!!...  even more than New Orleans... but if NOLA were in Cali... it might be a toss up)

My weekend started Friday night with Amy & Michael... an incredible couple that lives in SF and Australia... but travels all the time in Asia... and had their wedding on Mackinac ... can you believe it.  I was able to photograph their wedding in Fall of 2008... it is was so much fun to reconnect .. they've now convinced me I need to start shooting in Australia and China... sounds awesome!!



Then it was a Saturday lunch with Michelle & Jeff at the classic SF joint Tadich Grill... I met up with these two a year and a half ago at a coffee shop in SF... then months later I was photographing their touching wedding in Ventura...  I had such a great time I could have sat and chatted with them forever (even if they are PC/Nikon users... I won't hold that against them)!!

About a month ago I was part of a very special wedding... my two friends Heather and Brevin got married!!!  It was supposed to be raining... all day...was there even a drop.. nope...!! 

It was a gorgeous Mackinac Fall Day... and what made this marriage even more special was that it was an islander wedding through and through ... Heather and Brevin, met on the island... fell in love on the island... and were now married  on the island....

This wedding reminded me again why I love being a wedding photographer... I get a secret glimpse (although only a tiny one)... of how a couple acts when it's just the two of them...  I get to meet with the two before all the craziness...  in the midst of the craziness... and then, I get to be with them right after the ceremony...  when all the build up is released and they can relax with each other ... it truly is a special moment... and with Heather and Brevin I was able to see (in my mind at least) ... what makes them work so well...  there is such a sense of comfort between them... a sense of  acceptance for who each other is... and a feeling of family... especially with their ADORABLE little boy Kaden... a tight little unit of three.. that no one can truly understand but them.

Heather & Brevin... thank you again soo much for allowing me to be a part of your beautiful day. You two truly do have a bond that is beyond words.  May you have years of happiness, love, and may this bond just grow stronger!!  (btw... did anyone take pics at the Mustang or the Grand ... now those would be some goodies... ;-)

Love,
A 

I have to say... this was probably one of the coolest packages I did all year...  I met Jenni and Kris over a year ago at the Mackinac Island Dream Destination Wedding Weekend...

Together we decided the best package for them would be to do an Elopement/Honeymoon package... since they would be staying on the island for a few extra days... I thought hmmm... lets photograph the two of you doing other fun things on the island... sooo the day after there touching intimate ceremony at Mission Point Resort and carriage ride...  I met them with my tandem bike and we went for a fun little ride up into the island around the fort and to Arch Rock...  then that evening they had a very special dinner planned at the Grand Hotel...so before there dinner we went around the property sneaking some pics (and some kisses ;-)...

Jenni & Kris... It was such a joy to spend not one but TWO days photographing the two of you!!  You two are a true example of symbiosis... you are so comfortable that you make others comfortable too... thank you for bringing me along for your Mackinac adventure... and even letting me be a WITNESS... that's a first!!

Love,
A

SO...  I am not one to do wedding shows... honestly.. in my opinion.. its unnatural...100 brides in a conference room with 200 vendors... can we say overwhelming.. nothing like what a wedding should be like... brides keep their heads down... as not to be dragged into a booth by a pushy vendor when... especially when the bride already has that service...

Now... don't get me wrong... I have many friends who love these expos... its like a reunion for vendors... and if your good at talking to strangers... Which may be where my bias comes in...  this is going to be surprise to most... BUT...  I'm kind of shy... I know most people would never believe it... an expo is like torture to me.. not only a room of strangers... but a room of strangers where I have to talk about myself.

WELL.. now to my point...  THE ONLY EXPO I do... is this one... its AWESOME.. .and completely natural as a wedding should be.  The Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau hosts an annual "DESTINATION DREAM WEDDING WEEKEND" on Mackinac Island.

Let me just tell you...  this weekend takes place all over the island. It introduces every couple to more than a conference room in a hotel but intmately lets each couple visit every venue... and at each venue different vendors (like myself) will be around to chat.  There is even a mock reception. 

I have to say I actually have a blast doing this show.  Not only have I booked a few weddings but more importantly I have met amazing couples who have ultimately become my friends!!

If you happened to go last year... and remember the little extra surprise you got from me... this year... something different and I think even better...  don't worry if your not coming back...you just might get one in the mail anyways ;-)

Sooo.. if your debating about going this to the expo ... I say DO IT... even if you have everything booked already it gives you a much better understanding of the island and a chance to see your vendors!!

Hope to see you all there!!

Love,
A

Mackinac Island Destination Dream Wedding Weekend
October 9-11th
Mackinac Island, MI
You can get more information by contacting Chris West (chris@mackinacisland.org)

OH MY GOODNESS... this was by far the coolest shoot I have ever done...  in the ocean (not just them... Me too!)... in Mexico ... the day after an AMAZING wedding...

Elizabeth & Will were  splashing around... having fun... loving on each other..and not caring about a thing in the world except for having fun and being in the moment... and these pics can definitely show it.

Elizabeth and I had been talking about this shoot for months...  Will, I think, may have been a little hesitant at first (and he wasn't even wearing the dress)... but the minute the volleyball court came into play... he was all about it...  he just kept asking...  "can I throw her in yet... can I throw her in yet ..."

SO MUCH FUN... man I love my job!!!

Take a look...