Fave Ceremony Venue - 2011 Weddings

Fave Ceremony Venue

Well kids we are down to our final look at 2011. I could just be honest and say, "all of them" haha. Seriously, we were blessed to be a part of some beautiful ceremonies at gorgeous sites. My personal top two are very different from the size of the venue to the weather.

Kristina has such a vibrant personality; it was only fitting that the Dennis wedding colors were royal red, white, and blue. She and Dustin's ceremony at the home of "Aunt Gaylea" and "Uncle Jim" Guilford was absolutely gorgeous featuring hundreds of red roses and bouquets created by the bride's cousin. Rosaries were hung in a nearby tree in remembrance and to honor faith. Members of the Guilford family even provided vocal music for the ceremony. I believe it was Gaylea who mentioned how special it was to see Kristina pass through such a revered right of passage beside the pond she played in as an adolescent and had formed so many other happy memories already. Planning for this wonderful event was provided by

Baci Designer Stationery + Events.

Switching gears from an outdoor fall wedding, we have the Hancock wedding held at St.Mark's Lutheran Church of rural Defiance, Ohio. As previously mentioned, Nicole wanted a small, intimate affair that was as tastefully simple as possible. She more than succeeded! :) This venue was a natural fit for the couple as it is where our groom, Rod, serves as a deacon. The stain glass windows of this small country church and its cream walls definitely created the perfect mood for their ceremony.

Please click the photo below to view a slideshow of these two venues. Congrats again to our couples! and more importantly, THANK YOU!

Fave Reception Venue - 2011 Weddings

Fave Reception Venue

Our couples in 2011 had swanky taste and knew how to make the most of their reception venues, that's for sure!!! We would like to highlight two in particular that are memorable!

1) the Strine wedding chose Founder's Hall (Archbold, Ohio) partly because of its on-site location with Sauder Village and the Village Inn (fabulous place with a huge pool room and loads of gorgeous woodwork!). What stands out most to me was the FABULOUS customer service of the staff. We like to check out locations for the ceremony and the reception if at all possible prior to the wedding day so we can get our gear list set accordingly for any lighting situations and learn the do's and don'ts of shooting locations and so on.

Shanon, Cory and I were able to meet at the inn, then travel across the parking lot to visit the hall and even step inside the actual banquet hall under staff escort who was very informative.

On the wedding day, Elizabeth and I were more than welcomed by staffers on hand for food preparation, daily operations, and event coordination. Every employee we encountered was more than helpful, genuinely took the time to answer questions and offer suggestions, and helped us get situated before the festivities. As if this were not enough, the hall is very spacious with beautiful wooden architecture (staying true to the rustic feel of the Sauder campus) and features a GORGEOUS, massive iron chandelier!!!!! :D So spacious, in fact, it was also the wedding venue -- a definite perk for guests. No finding the way to the hall in a different town, guests remained seated and the Sauders staff commenced serving the hors d'oeuvres !

2) The Hancocks preferred to keep their day as no-fuss and low-key as possible. Their choice location -- Kissner's restaurant in downtown Defiance, Ohio offered a relaxed atmosphere for classic dining. I LOVE Kissner's antique feel (not vintage, not retro... it's antique.... ) with its tin ceilings, beautiful dark wood and Victorian, tall and slender windows. Nicole and Rod's reception was held in the second floor banquet room available for rental. The base level of Kissner's (site of daily business) is frequented by locals looking for that hometown feel and is a lunchtime hotspot attracting area businessmen and women (right before the golf course on somedays! lol).

Kissner's

524 Clinton St.

Defiance, Ohio 43512

See this link for reviews on this area business as posted on Urbanspoon:

or:

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/240/1134971/restaurant/Ohio/Kissners-Defiance

Please click on the image below to view a quick video of these two locations :D

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 Remembrance - 2011 Weddings

Honor Thy Loved Ones

2011 was probably the most memorable year for Ace of Images (so far ;) because it was chalk full of emotion. Every step of the way there was a story worth telling. Being a part of the bride and groom's day really is special as a photographer because we get to see some of the most intimate moments between those involved. Whether it be pinning on some family heirloom jewelry or just taking a moment to pause and say a prayer, we are grateful for the opportunity to witness and capture these intimacies which are, in my opinion, the purest and most genuine examples of love.

Again, all of our events this year were happy occasions; we would like to reflect on our favorite remembrances of those who have passed and could not physically be present at the couple's ceremony.

The Hermans incorporated materials from their grandparents' homesteads noting,

The wood planks for the cake table were cut from his grandparents back yard tree

that was a favorite climbing tree when growing up.

Jacob Rausch - Cousin of the Groom did the grandparents memorial flowers and he

is an award winning floral designer who is a freshman at University of Toledo. He

has fun doing it on the side as a hobby. and has worked for a florist during the

summer.

*** a grandmother's favorite flower and wheat-- a staple grown by a grandfather

were incorporated in the bouquets

while the Dennis wedding featured a wonderful poem shared by the bride's aunt before the dinner blessing as well as symbolically placing a red rose on each of two chairs left unseated in the front row of the ceremony seating. Jim Kozumplik, best man of the Jacobs wedding, shared memories of the groom's parents and noted that he knew one of the reasons Natalie was the perfect partner for Mike was the bride's shared traits with the groom's mother -- kindness, acceptance, and unconditional love. As you may guess, Elizabeth found ourselves weeping often.

Fave Gift - 2011 Weddings

Pay it Forward

Kate (Neidhardt) Stubblefield has always been a sweetheart (sassy if you listen closely) so it only seemed fitting and natural to see her use her big day to help others. While most couples look forward to any dollardash that will fill their pockets for a little extra spending money on the honeymoon, Kate and Jeremy remembered to help others. I wish more people had this much heart and empathy during a time that is so focused on planning for a day all about their relationship and their love and their future, to remember those who need a helping hand. It does not surprise me to see Kate marry a man equally dedicated to a cause near and dear to him...

While discussing photo options, I always ask what the couple has in common that we may use for photos, to make it more than just a portrait, but something relating directly to what makes them "THEM". The Stubblefields enjoy sports, softball and baseball in particular. Most of Jeremy's groomsmen, I learned, were buddies he grew up playing ball with. As a sport photographer for the Crescent-News for 5 years now, I can attest to the lifelong bonds kids form during sports seasons (it's great to see and one of the biggest life lessons learned through athletics in my opinion). He also coaches softball.

Information about the Stubblefields' donation graced each table on materials designed by the bride's sister-- a PROFESSIONAL Graphic Designer in the corporate world by day who got to flex her creative muscles and the more "fun" side of her education for her little sister's big day. Fabulous work I must say! See the links below for more about their chosen charities -- "Wish Upon a Wedding" and "RBI" (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities).

www.wishuponawedding.org

courtesy the Wish Upon a Wedding site:

"The world's first nonprofit wish granting organization providing weddings and vow renewals for couples facing terminal illness and serious life-altering circumstances, regardless of sexual orientation"

http://web.mlbcommunity.org/index.jsp?content=programs&program=rbi

courtesy RBI site:

MISSION:

Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) is a Major League Baseball youth outreach program designed to:

• Increase participation and interest in baseball and softball among underserved youth
• Encourage academic participation and achievement
• Increase number of talented athletes prepared to play in college and minor leagues
• Promote greater inclusion of minorities into the mainstream of the game
• Teach the value of teamwork

GREAT JOB Mr. and Mrs. Stubblefield!!!! The world and Ace of Images thank you! :D