(geez I hope my Italian is right)...  "bo?!?"

Okay ... where to begin..  I really can't put into words what a life experience this wedding was. First (before the mushy stuff) the back-story... how the heck did I end up shooting an Italian Wedding in Ibiza Spain...

Well, the bride, Nadia, and I met over 12 years ago while I was studying art in Firenze.  We instantly became friends (especially since I loved her nose ring and HAD to have one... so we were forever bonded when at the age of 20 she took me to a 75 yr old pharmacist to have my nose pierced.. she even drew the dot on my nose where the future hole would go)... so... fast forward 10 years... I'm back in Firenze ... and we re-connect over a coffee... then last year when I was back in Italy she tells me... "I'm not engaged.... YET... but when I am ... be ready to be there"... so less then a year later... there I was...

...40 Italians over taking a small Spanish Island.. with an Italian Couple... a Spanish Priest and an American photographer...  "madonna".  It was AMAZING... the longer I was with my new Italian friends the more I realized how universal weddings are...  language really doesn't matter. What is going on between two people who love each other... and their family and friends that are their to celebrate them... is the same... whether its Italian, Spanish, or English.  Granted...  listening to these wedding speeches in Italian was MUCH MORE entertaining  than any other wedding I've ever been too.. and I don't even know what they were saying... all I know is hands were flying... laughter was echoing... and it was like watching a tv show unfold... I was just waiting for the food fight to begin (but the cake was really way to good to be wasted on a fight... so instead "mange mange")

I honestly felt so honored to have been a part of this small intimate weekend.    The minute I saw Nadia and how beautiful she was in her dress moments before walking down the aisle...I couldn't help but tear up...  it was definitely a weekend of touching moments and TONS of laughter... geez those Italians know how to laugh smile and have fun (no wonder I love them so much)!!

The four very fast days I had in Ibiza will forever stay with me...thinking about how our lives take shape... how friendships can  last longer than one would ever think across oceans, language, and cultures ... and how the world really is a small community when we focus on our similarities...

THANK YOU ... Nadia and Filippo for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your amazing weekend. Even from this "American girls" perspective its clear to see the joy between the two of you... how much fun you have together... and the clear love!!  To see how all your family and friends are caring, funny, and incredibly loving is a clear sign of the two of you!!! I am so excited to have a new group of "amici de Florentina"... am I making up Italian again? (u get the idea)...

Baci
A

 

My first slide show of 2010 ... remember that beautiful and sweet wedding last month in Kona... take a look.

One quick shout out to Kathleen Akaka... she was their AMAZING wedding coordinator. so wonderful to work with.  If you or anyone you know is getting married in Kona.. this is the woman you want coordinating your beautiful event... Divine Goods Hawaii

Rachel & Elie...  doing this slide show took me right back to Hawaii... thank you again for asking me to be a part of your intimate and touching wedding.  Enjoy!

Love,
A

Click HERE for the slide show...

WHAT I LEARNED ON THE WAY TO PARIS...

I left for Paris on Sunday.. on my way I learned three things...  I know this may be random...  but it's what I learned...

1)...  Wearing all white to a wedding doesn't have to be a faux pas...  I sat next to a lovely lady from Amsterdam who was recently married.. (I only wish I would have grabbed a couple of her pics)... she had the most beautiful Ibiza wedding.  She asked all of her 50 guests to wear all white... and it gave the whole event not only an incredibly beautiful aesthetic but also such a sense of softness, love, and tenderness...  it is hard to explain ... but if you are looking to do something different... think about it.   I was especially interested in seeing her pictures because I will be flying back across the Atlantic in May to photograph my own Ibiza wedding...

2)...   Pictures truly are memory keepers.. obviously I believe this and knew this... but it wasn't until I experience it first hand (yet again) that I remember how amazing the feeling can be.  I was in a taxi heading to my hotel in Paris when we drove through a plaza... I instantly remembered it... not only did I remember it.. I remembered the EXACT photo I had taken of this plaza 12 years ago... and not only did I remember the photo... but I remembered what I thinking, what I was doing.. and where I was in life (ironically enough photography was the farthest thing from  a career  for me... funny what 12 years can do)... I wish I had the photograph to show you.

3)...  Rescue Remedy Sleep, Calms Forte, A Glass of Wine, and Airborne Sleep .DOES NOT equal sleeping on the plane

So, that was my trip there... day 1... 4 of us girls converge upon Paris from four different flights all leaving LAX and Arriving Charles De Galle... don't ask why we didn;t fly together... we haven't quite figured that out yet.

After trying to sleep off the jetlag.. it was off to Muse D'Orsay...  (to see my favortie Toulous Latrec)...  and dinner with a French friend... 

Day 2.. TODAY...  we awoke had a lovely lunch ... checked out Pere Lachaise.. where I saw Oscar Wilde's tomb... this cemetary was amazing and Oscar is ALWAYS inspiring. And then... I was soo happy to meet up with my dear dear dear Parisian friend Diana...  (you look amazing... and always make my day... so happy to have had the time with you my sweet).

AND TONIGHT... the BIG EVENT... watching the Sparkling Eiffel Tower at exactly midnight as my amazing, inspiring and beautiful friend Britainy turned 30.. (I truly feel honored to be a part of your celebration and to be a part of your life)

SO...  One more day in Paris... till its off to London... tomorrow's agenda  a portrait shoot of an opera singer at the Bastille Opera house... then off to the George V to cheers Brits official birthday.

Here are a few pics... enjoy...  drop me a note...

May you all have adventures and find a few friends along the way... it sure does make the world small.

Love,
A

Oh and along the way... TONS of croissants, pain au chocolates, and cappuccinos!!



 

So I had mentioned last week that I was so excited to be heading to Kona Hawaii to photograph Rachel & Elie's wedding.  It was even better than I had imagined. It was so fun to see these two again.  The last time I saw them Rachel was a bridesmaid at her best friend Michelle's wedding on Mackinac ... and here I was months later with them in Hawaii... man I love my job!

I arrived to the rehearsal and was instantly welcomed by their family and friends.  Everyone there was so incredibly warm and welcoming. It is just a testament to Rachel and Elie.  The ceremony was one of the most intimate ceremonies I have ever witnessed... everyone circled around the hoopa.. everyone was involved with the ceremony by reading and just by being so close.  It was incredibly touching. 

Now I'll be honest I don't usually go through all the pics before I blog... I quickly pic a few of my favorites and that's it. Well, for some reason this time I've already looked through all the pics... and you know...  I have never felt this way... I walked away feeling like I know Rachel and Elie even more ... seeing the procession of images... the looks they give each other... the little touches between moments... it is clear that these two are not only madly in love... but incredibly comfortable  and happy with each other.  Some couples are bubbling over with excitement... some couples are filled with butterflies in anticipation... Rachel and Elie seemed to be truly serene.  I loved it!!... then again being on Hawaii doesn't hurt!!

Rachel & Elie,  thank you so much for asking me to be a part of this incredibly intimate and beautiful celebration of your love.  I truly feel honored.  I can't wait to meet up with you again.. maybe for a little reunion in SF!!!

Love,
A





 

Okay... this is going to seem like a random post... but.. such is my life sometimes. I've been a little behind with blogging and I completely skipped chatting about my trip to the island back in February...  and then last week I was in Hawaiii...  so hence the title within one month I went from snow covered below zero weather of Mackinac Island... to 85 degree palm tree covered island of Hawaii.... (obviously I have an island thing.. I love them whether hot or cold) .. there is just something about the island life... 

So... My Presidents Day-Valentines Day-Chili Cookoff weekend on Mackinac....  It was an island first for me... flying into the island in the dead of winter... granted I was hoping to experience the infamous ice-bridge...  but to no luck ...this winter the lake never froze... needless to say even without the usual freedom TRUE islanders look forward to year round...  most were still in high spirits  ... and ready for the annual Chili Cookoff  (granted the three bars (Sinclairs, Mustang, & Village Inn)  open helped with the dispersion of such "spirits")...   but all was not lost, beautiful sunsets, great friends, and awesome chili was still to be found in abundance.  As always, Mackinac never ceases to amaze and surprise me... even after ten years I constantly discover new joys on the is Magical place.

(You'll notice the last pic is a collage of people.. these are just a few islanders that always make me smile and keep the island going year round when the rest of us are scared of the winter  ... a few are missing (you, for example Mary... how were you not in any of my pics :-)... but I just wanted to pay props to these awesome people who always welcome me anytime of year. also...  Heather & Chris...  you'll be soooo missed!!!)