Fave Reception Decor- 2011 Weddings

Lighting!!!!!!

I'm very excited to put on my Art Major/nerd hat and so let's be blunt and just jump into this:

The Stubblefields and the Hermans!!!!

Fill empty space and transform a venue's walls with lighting! Let's face it, color is the best way to make people FEEL differently! Ever look at a photo and think, "WOW! she looks REALLY cold!" chances are... the photo has a blue cast, hue, or tint to it- evoking the viewer to feel chilly. It's the same reason every designer on HGTV warns guests of painting a small kitchen bright red, yellow, or orange and making a heated space feel hotter. It's psychology... seeing warm colors makes people feel warmer the more intense the color. Probably no wedding designer is better known for successfully using lighting to transport people to a fantasy land for a reception than David Tutera on his WE network show,"My Fair Wedding". Tutera doesn't just think of light as "something to keep us from bumping into each other in the dark", but rather as a tool for helping people feel happy and festive or romantic with his down-right painterly use of colored lighting. See Tutera's work:

http://davidtutera.com/event_photos-new.php?g=14&a=91

The Stubblefields transformed what is already a spectacular venue, the Auburn Cord Duesenburn Auto Museum of Auburn, Indiana and punched some pizzazz into the reception hall with purple and gold, and white lighting from multiple light sources (including the incandescents with which the hall is equipped), namely around the hall's entrance. Add those gorgeous white feathers to reflect the light (remember elementary and middle school art class? the color white reflects all light back at the eye while the color black absorbs all) and a lit dancefloor canopy and you have spectacular decor! Notice the shot from the outside of the Museum... it was a drab gray day (good luck rain! :D), but instead of shoving guests into a dreary, windowless box, this hall features a mirrored primary wall of faux windows to reflect all of the light yet again.

link for the hall: http://www.acdmuseum.org/BanquetCenter/Pages/default.aspx

And THE Hermans! As an artist, it is so refreshing to work with people who "get it" and understand the technical aspects of the trade. Eric, our groom, and bride Christina met while working for the Bryan Municiple Utilities video and communications department. This dedicated groom also rigs the lighting for the Bryan theater and was able to bring some work to the party by setting up lighting that changed throughout the evening! Again, it filled space and really dressed up the Williams' County Veterans' Memorial Building at the county fairgrounds in Montpelier, Ohio. The changes in lighting just took the site to a whole new level and kept the energy going. Even with natural light filtering in through windows and a set of doors, I have never seen this hall look so festive and spectacular! And as for the technical aspect: the more light the better the photos/video. So remember kids, there are exceptions to rules, but for the most part: Don't just Dim the lights for "mood" , ADD the Right Light! Well worth it!

link for the hall:

http://williamscountyveteransmemorial.com/

Fave Guest Activity - 2011 Weddings

Guest Activity

Most couples have a "kiddie table" or "teddy bear/candy toss" to help spare the little ones boredom at the reception and incorporate them into the fun and games.

Though I have not seen the animated feature, "Tangled" (I know... so many of you are gasping in surprise), I am told our favorite guest activity is in the film.

What to do with kids and kids-at-heart? give them fire! haha, even better... FLYING FIRE! :D Seriously though, guests at ..................................the Dennis wedding! had a great time lighting paper lanterns ("sky lanterns" or "wishing lanterns"), making a wish, and setting them off into the night.

Fave PhotoVenue - 2011 weddings

Say "Cheese"! - Photo Venues

As mentioned in previous posts, from the very first moment we sit down with a couple we try to get a feel for their unique interests and personality as a couple. Incorporating this makes photos memorable for couples and guests. It also helps we photographers flex our creativity and get pumped for the big day.

Some of our favorite photo venues for bridal party portraits after and before the ceremony include:

The Hancock wedding! Nicole and Rod had a blustery March afternoon shoot that took us to the rolling landscape on the campus of Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio. Opting for a more more geometric and abstract landscape, naked trees and weathered vegetation looked GREAT, and complimented the bride's dress perfectly.

See the campus at: http://www.defiance.edu/pages/info_campus_map.html

The Strine Wedding! The Historic Sauder Village and Museum of Archbold, Ohio was a treat to visit as an adult. Probably every person who attended elementary school in one of the surrounding counties can recall that exciting field trip to the museum as a child. I'll admit it, at 28, I still enjoyed photographing and strolling around the quaint little workshops that, when in season, are home to period artisans and re-enactors. Shannon and Cory were a big fan of the covered bridge on-site, a standard for any wedding shot at this location, as well as a large weeping willow next to it. We really wanted to incorporate the willow once we spotted it since a large willow graces the couple's font yard of their Bryan, Ohio home. Elizabeth and I both fell in love with the wooden doors on one of the museum shops!

For more information please visit:

http://saudervillage.org/History/default.asp

It's those Hermans again!

The Home of mama and papa Herman (Bryan, Ohio) had a huge hill with a valley wooded with many tall and beautiful deciduous trees. As the July afternoon sun dipped low, the golden hour lit the scene and made for a wonderful backdrop (random sticks were also used in centerpieces for tables at the reception)! Thank you again Diane!!!! :D

And finally... The Stubblefield Wedding! In our previous blog Fave Gift: Pay it Forward, we shared Kate and Jeremy's love of baseball. With the help of the Auburn, Indiana Parks and Recreation department, we were able to take the boys to the field and snap some great shots to reflect their shared bond. AND we even beat the rain! :D No game delay for us!

Thanks again Auburn Parks and Rec!!!

http://www.ci.auburn.in.us/index.php/residents/parks-and-recreation/

Fave Hams-- 2011 Weddings

Fave Hams!!!!

As photographers, we absolutely LOVE people who cut loose and get silly in front of the lens! They are the groomsmen who corner the bride to serenade her with a rendition of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling", spunky kids, and even spunkier grandparents who know how to kick up their heels. Thank you to these people who helped lighten the mood on the dance floor and quell those wedding day jitters with jokes and little grins that scream, "betcha can't guess what I'm going to do next... "

Herman Wedding

Meet Andrew Herman, Bestman and brother of the groom who not only can pop bubbles but also play practical jokes in the middle of the ceremony. When asked for the ring this jokester whipped out a HANDFUL for poor Eric to have to sort through to find the actual wedding band for Christina! Just wondering, is a future in priesthood still likely? lol. Can't wait.

Stubblefield wedding

This couple was the first on the dance floor!!!! So adorable and they were whipping around like teeny-boppers! Such a treat to watch (and I am so jealous... all my husband does is sway ala junior high dance style)! Did we mention the dj played a remix that was at least 5 minutes long!? And they made it NONSTOP the WHOLE TIME!!! If that does not motivate you to keep with the "be more active and get fit" New Year's resolution, we don't know what will! :D

Dennis Wedding

Drayden, the bride and

groom's son/ringbearer can sport a mohawk and definitely is NOT camera shy! (but then, with fun parents like his... we're not really surprised ;)

Jacobs Wedding

At first Alexis was a shy little flower girl but after a few formals- WOW!!! DIVA! ahahahaha. And we were not complaining. I caught her peeking at me in the beginning while smelling her hydrangea bouquet and got a flashback of watching Bambi, "you can call me flower if you WANT to..."

and finally, the most limber groomsman we have seen!!!!! (I can't even do this... he did like 3 of these and cartwheels!!!) Also from the Jacobs wedding:

Fave Cake- 2011 Weddings

Happy New Year!!!!

Time to welcome a new beginning, a fresh start, another chance (note to self: another calendar I need to find on clearance...).

Ace of Images will be posting several blogs featuring our favorite facets from the celebrations we were happy to be a part of in 2011. ALL weddings were AWESOME!!! Literally, it was a FABULOUS year! So much, in fact, that it took days of trying to decide which wedding fit each category. After much deliberation, we have come up with our selections. IT WAS SO DIFFICULT! lol. How difficulut? We didn't worry about narrowing down to #1 in all categories... some things are just too good to leave out! We just want to hammer that home -- all of our couples did a splendid job and were a delight to work for you! And please remember everyone was "best" in each category... these are just our personal highlights that feel deserve a second look :D

And please stay tuned for a forthcoming contest! (cue the Carly Simon, "Anticipation") A "YOU win it; THEY win it" opportunity as our way of saying thank you and sharing some photolove. :)

But now to begin the 2011 results:

Cake:

The JACOBS wedding! Our most recent shoot, this wedding is still in editing but we found it an absolute must to show off an outstanding cake (and plug an awesome, creative, ubernice vendor-- Kristy Clouse of The Bake Shop in Fayette, Ohio)