Redhook Brewery Newlywed Shoot :: Sophie & Johnny

Redhook Brewery Engagement Shoot Woodinville, Washington fun playful happy 

"He's asked me to move to Chile to live with him. Should I stay here in America and get a graduate job or should I sacrifice that and go be with him? I don't know what to do. What do you think I should do?" Sophie had just finishing recounting her South American love story to me. There we were, sitting in my parent's living room, she was staring at me, twirling her gorgeous curly hair between nervous and excited fingers, and waiting for an answer. 

They'd fallen in love in Valparaiso, a colourful ocean-side city in Chile, which Johnny calls home. It wasn't an easy feat for a Chilean man to visit his girlfriend in America but he had jumped through all the govenments' hoops, paid the bank-breaking fees, called-in once-in-a-lifetime favours and made the long journey....all to see his love, my dear friend Sophie. With any other couple I would have felt unqualified and uncomfortable to give any advice but as I stared back at Sophie, my best friend from high school Spanish class, I could see the answer in her big blue eyes. She was overwhelmed and her vision was cloudy but I could see clearly for her. She didn't need my advice. She needed me to tell her what she knew deep down inside but was afraid to proclaim. So I said it without any hesitation..."Go."

She left my house that night bubbling with excitement — she couldn't wait to tell Johnny and her dad that she was moving to Chile! There was no doubt in my mind now that these two were meant to be together. Someday, I would get to meet her true love for myself.

Autumn of 2011 rolled around and the announcement was made....WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!!! "Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I hollered through a sketchy Skype connection. Then came the question, "Will you be our photographer?" This question was an easy one..... "HECK YESSSSSSSSS!!!!" and then the next question, "Will you be my bridesmaid?" and "YESSSSSSSS AGAIN!!!!!"

After the interviews and the paperwork Sophie & Johnny were together at last, married and in Seattle. I couldn't make it to their first wedding at the courthouse (I was in Scotland) but I've heard it was the most beautiful day of their lives. 

This coming Saturday, 25th August 2012, Sophie and Johnny are getting dressed up again, this time for their second wedding bash! It's a big one this time with all the family and friends, bridesmaids (myself included - woot woot!!) and a crazy cool cake! 

We never got the chance to snap their engagement photos so this week, before a funky night of Redhook Brewery trivia, we set aside an hour for their "newlywed shoot." I love photographing these two — they have the most beautiful happy smiles :D In this photo below they are practicing their first dance that they'll be performing on Saturday. It's a traditional Chilean Cueca.

Oh you two! I just love your guts! And Sophie - the Mrs. Gorgeous Award goes to you! 

Slam-dunk high-five!

Sophie & I predict that Johnny & Miggy will become best friends too! We'll all live happily ever after. That's the plan anyway. Fingers crossed :P 

Smoocharooo!! I'm seriously exited for Saturday you guys!!! It's going to be beautiful fun.

To see more photos from Sophie & Johnny's playful and smiley newlywed shoot at the Redhook Brewery in Woodinville, Washington, check out their slideshow below.
The groovy tunes are "Honesty" by Hannah Miller provided by TheMusicBed.com.

"You Park LIke an Ass" Note

"You park like an ass." Not exactly the lovely note you'd like to find on your car. Fair enough...I did a crappy parking job but in my defence... I was driving my grandma's massive Cadillac that has the turning radius of a blue whale. I'd thought I'd done a good enough job in that parking lot but some stranger felt differently and made sure I knew it. He'd written it on masking tape and stuck it to the trunk. What a loser thing to do.

Luckily, I was returning to my car after a fabulous date with my new photographer friend Cheryl Ford of Cheryl Ford Photography. We met at Starbucks, strolled through Molbaks and visited the Party Store (all while chatting about the wonderful world of running your own photography business — it's so nice to have someone to talk to who's in the same boat...finally). I was in a good mood so the nasty little note didn't phase me too badly but just imagine... if I'd been having a really bad day, that note could have been the last straw.

What compels people to be such jerks?! If they really wanted to speak their mind, they could have written, "I realise you're driving a big car but I'd really appreciate it if you could please park more carefully next time. Although I'm sure you had no intention of doing so, you seem to have taken up two parking spaces and it was difficult for me to park my car. I just wanted to let you know so you could be extra careful in the future. Thanks. Have a lovely day." What's so hard about that, eh?? Just be nice people! Honestly.

Anyway, I have a new photographer friend and I really like her :D I'm so excited to start working with her this fall!

"

Emily's New *Bling* *Bling*

My beautiful maid-of-honour Emily is engaged!!!!!!!!! Her sweet boyfriend James proposed to her today with a picnic that included scrabble pieces :D We've been talking about this day for so long, wondering if/how/when he would propose— I can hardly believe it's finally here! So that's 3 of my 7 bridesmaids engaged/married this year!!! Kaitlyn, Sophie & Emily! Sophie's wedding is next weekend, Kaitlyn's is November 17, & I can't wait to hear Emily & James' plans!!!

Emily is such a supportive friend. She's a sporty girl (really into her korfball) and she loves being crafty — we have fun inventing Christmas gifts together. Two years ago we created homemade advent calendars and even went the extra mile to cook our own candy cane!! FIY :: unless you know what you're doing I don't recommend this. We basically made shards of sugary glass that were too painful to eat :P

Last month Em came to our house for a girly sleepover and the next morning she agreed to let me photograph her. What a cutie! Her laugh makes me so happy.

For the month of September, I'll be on a long business trip in the UK. I can't wait to swing by and check out Emily's new bling* bling* in person!! Yay! Congratulations girly! I'm so happy for you :D

Yorkshire Wedding at Danby Castle :: Nick & Fire

Sitting there beneath the castle ruins I imagined all the people that had walked through these rooms hundreds of years ago. I stared down at the oldest known example of a sink with a drain. I laid on the grass as roosters strut by, children chased each other in all directions, and cats swished their tales as they basked in the much appreciated sunshine. Nick and Fire's wedding day in the heart of Yorkshire was such a relaxed day, full of children and laughter. The celebrations began with a traditional English tea party — vintage cucumber sandwiches all the way! Their outdoor ceremony was joined by a downpour of rain (perfectly timed of course — the thunder clapped and raindrops began to fall right after the celebrant read the verse about nature and rain!) and they danced the night away with a ceilidh.

Fire's wedding dress was designed by Jane Bourvis in Portobello, London and I really don't need to say that it was stunning (it speaks for itself) but IT WAS STUNNING! It was made of small bits of vintage fabrics saved from the 1800's and 1920's. How incredible is that?! She looked like she belonged in that castle. 

Up inside the castle throne room I found Fire and her mother. The wedding dress was slipping over Fire's head and her mom (who was helping her to dress) was struggling to figure out which way was up. On her first attempt, the train ended up in the front. ha! Five minutes later, in walked the best friends and Fire was being tugged, tucked and lifted — hands coming at her from all directions. 

The Father of the Bride.... (waiting) 

With such gorgeous red hair, no wonder she has the nickname "Fire". 

I'm still in love with these delicate details of Fire's dress. GoRG!!!!

Before the guests arrived I snuck into the vintage tea party marquee. Bunting and 100 teacups — so many of my girlfriends would walk into this room and instantly feel like they'd died and gone to heaven — it was the epitome of a British summer afternoon. High tea is Fire's favourite British tradition so that was the perfect touch to their day.

When the guests started to arrive the kids were EVERYWHERE bringing so much laughter and joy to the day. I love photographing children because they're so playful and pull such great faces.

The little munchin on the left side was cute but let me tell you about the other two — this little girl and the boy in the middle have been inseparable since he was  about 18 months  old.  They ran around together holding hands, hugging and dancing — my secret wish is that someday they get married and I can be their photographer!

Oh the years without teeth — how I seriously don't miss you! :P I love seeing women of different generations together — especially when they're laughing like this. It makes me so happy.

And then it was time for the ceremony. The violin began to play (with the help of some little hands) and the guests gathered round into a circle. Nick & Fire had a humanist ceremony that included hand-fasting! It was the first time I'd witnessed a hand-fasting ceremony.

Instead of a guest book, Nick & Fire had their guests signing the backs of puzzle pieces. When the puzzle is all assembled it mades a big wooden tree that will hang in their living room!

Every party needs a princess dress!!!!

To see more of Fire & Nick's wedding check out their slideshow below....

Fire & Nick :: Thank you so much for including me in your day. I loved meeting your families and being surrounded by the countryside left me feeling so happy and refreshed. Your day was so full of special details and reminded me in many ways of my own wedding. I hope your wedding celebrations in America go splendidly! 

PS: That little hole in the wall is the oldest known example of a sink with a drain — at least in England if not further afield. How cool is that?!?!