It just seem like a few days ago when Barb and I photographed Kate and Jimmy’s engagement session around Kate’s home – an amazing vista overlooking the Laurel Mountain Valley. Most of the leaves had already fallen but there was beautiful color and light.

We’re really looking forward to their winter wedding at the Rolling Rock Club, the planning of which is in the very capable hands of Sheila Weiner at The Event Group. More to come soon…..

After having so much fun with Brooke and Nate at engagement session at Kennywood Park, we were really looking forward to wedding day.

What a beautiful wedding! We had so much fun with everyone. There’s something special about a great band. Nationally famous celebrity band Sound Connection from Washington, DC (when Donald Trump wants music for New Year’s eve, he calls Sound Connection) had the guests in a dancing frenzy.

Brooke looked amazing in her Monique Lhuillier gown from Kleinfelds. Their cake from Silvia Weinstock was an incredible work of art. Hepatica provided the gorgeous florals, Mosaic the beautiful linens and settings. Cana Films captured motion imagery throughout the day.

Brooke and Nate had a wonderful honeymoon in Hawaii. Thanks so much for allowing us to share your wedding day!

Congratulations!

There is no doubt that the floral details that Michele planned with her parents (yes, her Father Jody gets credit too!)  and Michael at Blooms Florist were second to none.  Protege rocked the night away and Gordon & Barbara Shu provided video coverage.  What you might not realize is what an absolute pleasure it was to share this happy day with Michele and Dan’s Families!  Many thanks to all of them – we wish Michele and Dan all the best life has to offer.

Starting several days before wedding day with Sangeet, loosely translated in English as “sung together” or “singing with instrumental accompaniment”, Riti and Jon celebrated Sangeet at The India Garden.

Sangeet is so much fun – like a dinner and dance with the singing of traditional Indian songs, joking with the couple, dancing and playing the dolkhi, a two sided drum.

What a great time! – it’s been a while since Barb and I have been to the India Garden – the food was great and we LOVE Indian food! Our usual weekly hangout with friends is The Taj Mahal, who catered Riti and Jon’s reception.

Mehndi, the traditional application of henna, is an ancient ceremonial art form tradition was held at Riti’s home. It’s also a time of celebration – great fun and more food!

A Sikh wedding ceremony or Anand Karaj is a bit different than a traditional hindu wedding. Starting with the wrapping of the men’s turbans, the Baraat procession follows the groom to the temple where the families meet, hug exchange flower garlands and celebrate this Milni ceremony with tea.

The groom has to barter his way into the temple before he can cut through a ribbon barrier. And his shoes disappear, bartered for or barefoot when he departs.

Indian weddings are a joyous, boisterous day of dancing and celebration. If you’re fortunate enough to attend, get your rest and bring your appetite! Like Barb and me, you’ll be treated like family. Thanks so much to Rita and Jon’s families for the honor of allowing us to document this wonderful occasion.

Like coming back from vacation and looking at life and work with a fresh start, it takes some time and a step away for me to think about our recent weddings.

It was extremely hard to look through 40,000 photographs from our 2009 weddings to pick 3 or 4 from each wedding that tell the essence of a couple’s wedding day.

We’re going to go back and post more photographs from each wedding. We know our brides and grooms like to look at weddings for ideas, whether dresses, tuxes, cakes or details.

But I wanted to include photographs that spoke to me – that captured a fleeting moment in time. I see a part of myself in each of these photographs – they represent how I felt about each wedding. Of course we photograph families, friends ceremonies, dancing and details. But I think the most meaningful photographs are those when a bride or groom is not aware of the camera, let down their guard and reveal their true personality and feeling.

We’re unlike any other vendor at a wedding. Florists and cake artists drop off their work and leave, rarely interacting with the bride and groom. We spend a lot of time together with our couples from our initial meetings and engagement session through wedding day. We’ve built a special relationship that allows us capture moments like these -  our couples have to be comfortable with us to let us into their world and become a part of their friends and family.

We’re so busy during wedding season, processing and editing, photographing engagement sessions, running our business. It’s very long hours and we move from one task to the next without thinking. This little January break has allowed me to step back and reflect – to realize again how much I love my work.

Barb and I have been married for a long time – 25 years this August – and like anything life becomes routine. But every week, in a way, we renew our vows. We see the love and affection of our newlyweds and steel a glance at each other and nod. It brings back that moment when Barb first walked down the aisle and thet flood of emotion and love.

We would like to thank all of our couples for trusting us to tell the story of their wedding day. You’ve enriched our lives. We can’t wait for this year’s wedding season!

It was a big challenge for the families and bridal party to make it in and out of The Renaissance Hotel during the G20, but everything worked out and everyone finally arrived.

Their ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral was followed by a reception at Le Mont, which Candace an Matt chose to showcase the beauty of Pittsburgh’s skyline. Barb and I always enjoy working there – it’s a beautiful room and the staff and service are always efficient and professional.

It was drizzling most of the day and chilly, but the bridal party were good sports and forged outside at the West End Overlook. We had a lot of fun.

The Finesse Band with Sal Richetti, one of the top bands in the city were in rare form – they really sounded great and the guests responded – a super fun party and the end of a perfect day.

Le Mont provided their cake, Gordon Shu the videography, Bloomingdalia the florals, Molly’s Trolly the transportation and Candace’s gorgeous gown was a Stephen Yearick creation from Ann Gregory.

Candace and Matt just returned from what they said was an amazing honeymoon in Greece.

Slideshow follows:

Barb and I were shocked at how busy it was this past Sunday, what with the Steeler game (better to have gone to Kennywood). It took about 20 or 30 exposures to get this shot in between people coming and leaving – OK NOW!

I’ll share more, once all of their photographs are ready (I did share this one with Brooke and Nate from the back of the camera).

Brooke and Nate will be getting married next June with a ceremony at Heinz Chapel and a reception at The Carnegie Museum’s Music Hall Foyer. We can’t wait!

It was an amazing wedding weekend at Nemacolin Woodlands resort, starting with a rehearsal dinner at Mulligans at Mystic Rock. The party on Friday continued with Casino Night – a special event for their friends and family with real casino slot and table games. It was so much fun with baskets and prizes for the play money winners.

The guys began wedding day with a round of golf at Mystic Rock golf course, one of the top courses in the country, while the ladies primped at the Spa.

The weather was a little questionable that morning, but the rain held off and Leann and Jason said their vows on the beautiful plaza courtyard deck overlooking the property.

A reception followed in the Grand Ballroom – the room was beautifully decorated by Something New Florals from Canfield Ohio.

Leann looked just amazing in her Kenneth Pool gown. It was gorgeous.

No Bad Juju, a fantastic band, provided the reception entertainment, while Creative Cakes, who always come up with unique and beautiful designs, really outdid themselves.

Here’s a highlight story of Leann and Jason’s incredible wedding weekend.

Slideshow