this blog will no longer show updates. we’re going to a blog-site only web presence. i’m excited about this because my website was being neglected and i hadn’t updated it in over two years! for me, there’s no sense in updating a blog and a website. yay for cutting down on responsibilities!

i received the magazines that cindy and peter’s wedding was featured in this week! it’s always so exciting to be published in magazines and it could not be done without the exquisite taste of those i work with. they are beautiful inside and out and their wedding was beautiful as well!

to see more of the design go here

{back of the album}

wedding venue: Piazza in the Village

i actually built an action inspired by penny’s wedding appropriately titled “penny.”















yes, that is snow! and they were freezing.






gorgeous details!!

penny and josh, it’s been so much fun working with you two and your families! thank you for having us be a part of your special day!

Receiving Bride at Her House

On the day of the wedding, the procession of the groom’s family is led in specific order. The first person would be the representative of the groom’s house followed by the groom’s father, the groom, then the rest of his family and close friends

In the procession, the groom, his family and friends bear elaborately decorated lacquer boxes, covered in red cloth. Inside these boxes are gifts representing the wealth that the groom’s family will bring to the bride’s family. Gifts are betel, fruit, cakes, a roast pig, fabric, and an abundance of jewelry for the bride. Usually, the number of gift boxes varies between 6 or 8, but never 7 or 9 since it is seen as bad luck. However, it depends on personal view and might be reduced to 2-3 boxes.

Upon arriving at the bride’s home, the procession lights fireworks to alert the bride’s family, who then lights its own round of firecrackers to welcome the groom’s procession. Members of the procession are introduced to the bride’s family, and the bride’s family introduces its members to the procession. The groom presents his gifts to the bride’s family, and he is given permission to greet the bride, who is finally brought out.

The permission ceremony begins in front of the bride’s ancestor altar. The bride and groom burn incense sticks, asking for permission from the ancestors to bless them. The couple turns and bows to their parents, gives thanks for raising and protecting them. The bride and groom then bow to each other.

A formal tea, candle ceremony and speeches follow. While tea has always been an essential part of Vietnamese life, Vietnamese tea culture is not as complex or ritually rigid as its counterparts in China, Japan or Korea. Nevertheless, a traditional wedding is about the only time in a Vietnamese person’s life that a formal tea ceremony is essential.

The bride and groom, in front of all their guests, will serve tea (or wine) to their parents. Each parent will then give advice about marriage and family to the couple. A candle ceremony will follow, symbolizing the joining of the bride and groom and the joining of the two families. The groom’s gift boxes filled with jewelry will be opened by the groom’s mother, who will then put each piece on the bride for good fortune.

Event planner (they did everything from flowers to lighting):  Tom Stringer from Darryl and Co,
Videographer:  31 Films,
Hotel: The Houstonian
Cake:  Susie’s Cakes,
Planner:  Summer Hutchens from Summer for your Memories,

Dress: Vera Wang / Shoes: Christian Louboutin

such an emotional first sight…{above}

congratulations cindy and peter! i’ve loved every minute working with you two!

****stay tuned for cindy and peter’s traditional tea ceremony photos.*****

thank you preston, jessica and your wonderful families! we so enjoyed getting to be a part of your special day!

jessica is the owner of hot poppy couture here in fort worth. they’ve got some seriously cute clothing…and amazing decor complete with vintage mannequin heads and gold stripes- fabulous. go check them out!

this is blush, a swanky night club in the wynn hotel. how cool are these lamps that change color??

what’s vegas without a tough bouncer dude with a mohawk?

jessica’s gorgeous dress from bliss bridal salon in fort worth

i can never just do one shoe shot, and one ring shot…especially not if the shoes are these chanel pumps.

getting my stylin’ on i’m pretty sure preston was wishing i would hurry up at this point…poor guy had to deal with 3 days of having a camera in his face.

***i got to design a wedding announcement for jessica and preston that i can’t wait to share with you all, so stay tuned!***

kate and brian, you both were such a joy to work with. your wedding day came with ease and your family and friends were a pleasure. enjoy your sneak peek and thank you for choosing me as your photographer!

{above} i love how the light bounces off of the walls and stairwell…

{above} i just had to shoot the rings on this program…does the pattern look familiar?

such a gorgeous dress!!

my husband has some skills…he’s responsible for shooting the image above, AND this image below!

i could shoot at Greystone Hall nearly every weekend and not get tired of it.  It is the most beautiful wedding venue!

thank you matt and naomi!!

i really like the feeling of these two images of arden and paul- so classic and beautiful!

the beautiful and uber talented makeup artist hilaree hawkins doing her thang