The Rabbit, and True Love.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a very nostalgic person.  I cherish memories, and I cherish objects that hold memories for me.  And I’ve never quite gotten over certain things from my childhood, including my very favorite childhood toy:

Meet Pinky.  I was one of those kids who had one toy that was more important than any other toy.  In fact, each of us three kids had a stuffed rabbit that was gifted to us by our godparents and named after its color.  Yes, “Pinky” was actually once pink…  She’s not so pink now, though.  In fact, the grey shade in these black and white images is pretty accurate, save for one small slice of perfectly pink fur preserved beneath her round, flattened tail.  Pinky accompanied me everywhere in my childhood.  She required search-and-rescue missions whenever I left her somewhere, like on a city bus or at the YMCA after swimming class.  She had several careful procedures to re-attach arms and ears, and I’m pretty sure she nearly lost her head a few times.  She went through several button-noses before my mom finally gave up and Pinky became permanently nose-less.  Whenever there was a tornado watch, Pinky was one of the two things I grabbed before running to the basement with a flashlight and a radio (the other was my very much alive cat, Tippy).  During my college years, she traveled with me from our childhood home to New York City, Milwaukee, back home, and finally to Madison, Wisconsin.  She and Tippy were my comfort on nights when I was homesick, lovesick, stressed out, and unsure.  She never left my room, even when I got married.  Pinky is still one of the few items I would run for if I smelled smoke in the house…  And I have been guilty of storing her in a fire-proof safe in our master closet between her occasional adventures outside…and into…our bed.

Yes.  I still sleep with Pinky.  Sometimes.  Even after 31 years, she still manages to fit perfectly under one arm while I sleep.

When my husband was young, he had a similar best friend.  His toy rabbit was named Flip and now resides in a box in his mother’s house (at least, we’re pretty sure).  Perhaps that is why he’s so tolerant of my ridiculous desire to keep her close some nights.   See, my hubby is not so much a fan of anything that very likely has over three decades of accumulated dust, dirt, germs, and let’s not consider what else living inside it.  There have been a few half-serious protests on his part (he refuses to call her by her name and refers to her as “the rabbit”), but as long as she stays on my side of the bed (or under my pillow) he somehow gets over his disgust at my vile stuffed toy and cuddles me anyway.

That right there is true love.  A very OCD, germophobic grown man who loves me so very much, he risks the plight of what may come from sleeping in the same bed with a three-decade-old stuffed animal.  Maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ve shown him that I love him and need him as much as, if not more than, my dear Pinky.

 

First Date Plus Eight….

On May 28 of 2005, a tall and handsome guy picked me up at my apartment downtown Madison.  I had agonized over a new outfit, and was a little bit nervous when his sleek, black BMW rolled into my driveway.  I was impressed that he’d made dinner reservations.  When we arrived at our table for dinner, the poor waitress had to come back no less than four times to get our order because we were talking too much to check out the menu.  After dinner, he took me to a friend’s house where they were having a bonfire.

Eric allegedly went home that night and told his close friend, “I’ll probably marry her.”

The night he had walked into the restaurant where I worked and we met, I remember thinking “I hope he comes back; I could marry a guy like that.”

And he came back.  And asked me out on that simple, but wonderful first date.  And the rest is history.  That day was eight years ago.  In just a few months, we’ll celebrate five years of marriage…  And I still agonize over what to wear on our dates!

And to top off my sappy little post with a cute photo, here’s one of our first photos together.  Real professional, huh?

To all of my couples, and all couples everywhere…  Every once in a while, reflect on that first date.  It’s where it all started…

A Modern Take on a Vintage-Inspired Scene

If you remember last month’s “modern shoot throw-down,” you may be eagerly awaiting this post.  Or, maybe not.  Either way, I’m excited to share what our fabulous team came up with for this concept shoot!  This shoot’s theme was vintage-inspired, and Jenny from Lavender Hill Events did a fabulous job of envisioning a beautiful scene in an outdoor setting.

Of course, I was accompanied by Bobbi Petersen again, from The Salty Peanut Photography.  She and I had such a blast running around together and shooting the details, the tablescape, the models, the fashion accessories- oh how fun these shoots are.  We’re pretty convinced we need to take on this creative outlet together more often.  Like perhaps on a regular basis.  Each of these shoots is such a great opportunity to learn about new vendors (or see our favorites in action), see an idea through to reality, practice our craft, and let our imaginations run free.

And so, here’s what we came up with this past Monday.  Enjoy!

I just love it when a shoot kicks off with amazing shoes.  I know it’s gonna be a good one!

Wedding Shoes by Boston Store
Special occasion shoes at Boston Store
Beautiful black shoes with feathers

Can you tell I adored these black feather-detailed shoes?  I would LOVE to own them!

Vintage Style Black Wedding Shoes
Madison wedding photographers
Boston Store Madison Wedding Photographers
Creative wedding shoes WI wedding photographers

A little ribbon bow can make a set of bangles so cute for detail shots.

Wedding bridesmaid accessories WI photographers
Wedding day accessories by wedding photographers

One of my favorite accessories from the shoot was this Lionette bracelet.  I will own this some day.  Oh yes, I will.

Lionette Jewelry in Madison Wisconsin
Lionette Jewelry Madison Wedding Photographers
Earrings by Lionette New York
Lionette NY earrings

Is there anything more “vintage” than pearls and rhinestones?  Love!

Wedding day jewelry Madison wedding photographers
wedding pearls wisconsin photographers

I took this opportunity to take a photo of my own very beautiful wedding rings.  And sssshhhh- don’t tell anyone they’re lab-created diamonds!  I absolutely love them, they sparkle like crazy, and they’re MOISSANITE!  To see some in person, check out The Diamond Center where we got our rings.

The Diamond Center Madison WI

This dress from Vera’s House of Bridals was absolutely stunning.  A little lace, a lot of flowy tulle, and a beautiful sweetheart-esque neckline.  How romantic!

Wedding gowns Madison WI Vera's House of Bridals

This shoot gave us the chance to work with Amanda from Alluring Blooms.  She does such a fantastic job bringing a vision to life.  LOVED the anemones!

Bridal bouquet by Alluring Blooms

This versatile birdcage veil was wonderful.

The Lionette bracelet went so beautifully next to the bridal belt from Vera’s!

Vera's bridals wedding belt

A brown suit from Moda Italy here in Madison was perfect for this vintage style.  The three-piece is BACK, baby!

Kathy from Sugar Pear Design created a gorgeous stationary suite for us, with vintage sheet music inside the envelopes.  How elegant.

Madison wedding flowers

Don’t you LOVE the dreamy way this gown sits and flows?

Wedding fashion in Wisconsin

One of my favorite shots from the shoot…

Lionette NY Bridal Earrings

Our sweetheart’s table was filled with delicious goodies from Madison Sweets and Batch Bakehouse.  You can bet we indulged when the cameras were put away.

These chocolate-raspberry pies were absolutely to DIE for!

Madison sweets and treats Batch Bakehouse
Madison wedding florists floral designers
Wisconsin florist and floral design for weddings
Madison WI wedding stationary

One of our favorite local rental shops is Event Essentials.  Loved the linens they let us borrow!  Thanks guys!

Madison Wisconsin event rentals linens

Our “newlyweds” were in heaven with their own cellist to serenade their little dinner.  Perfect!

Madison WI mens clothing

I loved the shoulder on this dress and the amazing headband borrowed to us by James Coviello, a wonderful designer out of NYC.

Wisconsin special event fashion

Loved this boutonniere with the paper flowers made from sheet music!  A combination of Amanda & Jenny’s talents!

Madison florist and wedding planners
Bride and Bridesmaid bouquets by Alluring Blooms

Remember, there are a few other blogs to check out!  See how each of us approached this shoot:
The Salty Peanut Photography
Lavender Hill Events
Barry Chic

And here’s to our AMAZING VENDORS!  Check them out!
Concept & Coordination: Lavender Hill Weddings + Events
“Modern” Photography: Red Gecko Studio
“Vintage” Photography: The Salty Peanut Photography
Fashion and Styling: Barry Chic
Hair: Brideheads
Makeup Artist: Jade Jacobson
Venue: Private Residence in Brooklyn, Wisconsin
Floral (bouquets, boutonnieres and table arrangements): Alluring Blooms
Linens and Chairs: Event Essentials
Sweet Treats: Batch Bakehouse and Madison Sweets
Stationary Suite: Sugar Pear Design

Our Models:
Bride: Brittinia DiMattia | Britnuggit@gmail.com / www.greenmartini.com/dibrittinia
Groom: George Staruch | gstratch@gmail.com
Bridesmaid: Kayla Baake | kayla.baake@uwalumni.com
Cellist: Anne Ritter | aritter1@madisoncollege.edu

Accessories and Other Pretty Bits!
Those AMAZING earrings on the bride and bridesmaid plus bride’s bracelet: Lionette (available exclusively in Wisconsin) through Barry Chic
Cellist’s belt and headband: James Coviello
Music Stand: A la Crate Vintage Rentals
Bridal Dress, birdcage veil and bridal belt: Vera’s House of Bridals
Grooms Suite, Shirt and Tie: Moda Italy
Cellist’s dress and bridesmaid shoes: Middleton Dress Co.
Bride’s, cellist’s and groom’s shoes and bride’s pearl necklace: Boston Store
Additional Accessories: our closets and our imaginations!

A Proposal: Molly Said Yes!

I absolutely ADORE shooting proposals.  And the only thing that could make it better is knowing and loving the two people who are starting their lives together!  Last night, my fabulous second shooter and editing guru, Nick, asked his beautiful girlfriend Molly to be his wife.  Here’s how it all went down…

 

Madison proposal photography
Wedding proposal photographer
Wisconsin wedding photographers
WI wedding photographers

 

Madison Wedding Photographers Throw-down: a Modern Shoot!

I am super-excited to reveal this fun and beautiful shoot for you, but first: a little explanation is in order.  You see, this wasn’t an ordinary shoot.  It wasn’t for clients; it was just for me!  Well, me and several other industry friends.  Every so often it is a good idea to do something that allows you to step out of the box and create something different.  And so, a team of wonderful Madison wedding professionals got together and we did just that!

A short while ago, my friend Bobbi and I had a conversation about shooting and editing styles. Bobbi is the fabulous photographer behind The Salty Peanut Photography in Sun Prairie and she shoots weddings just like me! Her style, however, is drastically different than mine. We had a great chat about how we love that brides and grooms have such a wide variety of photographers to choose from here in our amazing state of Wisconsin. But that raised a question… Should the style of your WEDDING necessarily match the style of PHOTOGRAPHER that you choose?

We decided to put this to the test, and so came to life two very different styled shoots.  Bobbi’s style is soft and vintage-inspired, and my style is very contemporary and bold.  The shoot you’ll see today was styled with a very modern, bright, and bold concept.  Next month, we’ll work on a vintage-styled shoot.  Then, we’ll both shoot each of the concepts.  Of course, our images will remain true to our styles regardless of the shoot.

The point?  To show that no matter the style of your wedding, you can choose a photographer whose style suits you- whether they match or not!  Vintage photographer on a modern wedding?  Definitely!  Modern photographer on a vintage wedding?  Sure!  Or, if you prefer- a modern photographer for a modern wedding and a vintage photographer for a vintage wedding.

So here you go- my take on our bold, bright, and modern shoot.  Enjoy, and scroll all the way through for a link to the same concept photographed by The Salty Peanut!

Let’s start with some amazing details!  Like this gorgeous cake from The Rolling Pin Bakeshop in Fitchburg.  Dripping with jewels, this was one of the first inspirations for the shoot!

the rolling pin bakeshop madison wedding cakes

One of my favorite local stationers, Sugar Pear Design, created a fun set of custom paper products for us, including this adorable and modern invite with RSVP.

sugarpear design madison wisconsin stationer wedding stationary

We got to use some amazing floral designs by another favorite of mine, Flora Designs by Jamae!  Both Jenny and I love working with her.  I loved the copper metal wrap with the bamboo shoots around the stems.  Gorgeous!

flora by jamae madison wi wedding florist

How fabulous is this boutonniere??  LOVED IT.

Wisconsin wedding flowers

Another really exciting aspect of the shoot was brought by Lisa Barry of Barry Chic.  Lisa is a personal shopper and a stylist and is going to be offering her services to wedding clients beginning this year.  She added some lovely input on the attire and the accessories.  She also borrowed us some of the pieces from her Lionette Jewelry showcase, and they added some pizzazz to the style for sure!  I love this line of very contemporary jewelry, and I can’t wait to build my collection now that she sells this designer eye candy here in Madison!

Lionette Jewelry NYC

These amazing earrings are to die for; especially the ones on the right below, with the blue gemstone spikes.  GORGEOUS, and probably next on my list…

Lionette Jewelry Wisconsin Madison WI

Lisa also helped us nab some fabulous shoes from Boston Store- loved this bold blue pair with the gemstone-encrusted heels!

Boston Store Madison WI blue wedding shoes

We began the day inside our downtown gallery, home of the Wilson Street Wedding Group.  Loooove it!  We’re offering our amazing space to brides who are looking for a unique and beautiful place to begin their wedding day in downtown Madison.  It was awesome to see it in action, filled with our hair and make-up gurus!

Angela from Rockabetty’s Salon gave the girls beautiful hair (and did a little work on our groom, too), while Jade Jacobson did a stunning job on their make-up.

Wisconsin wedding photographers

Our couple sure did look lovely when the team was done…

Madison wedding photographers

We were so grateful that Steenbock’s on Orchard allowed us to set up our mock-party in their intimate space.  Loved shooting there, as well as in and around the Wisconsin Institute of Discovery!

WI wedding photographers
Steenbock on Orchard wedding photographers Madison WI

Jenny from Lavender Hill Events did such a fantastic job visualizing the whole shoot and getting things put together.  I thought this tablescape was beautiful and unique!  What do you think?  LOVE!  And that menu and the little escort cards- Kathy, you done outdone yo’self.

Lavender Hill Events Wisconsin wedding planner

Such a beautiful centerpiece, too!

Wedding at Steenbocks Madison WI
WI wedding photographers
Wisconsin wedding photography

Our groom, George, was just SMASHING in this tux from Nedrebo’s.

Barry Chic Fashion stylist Madison WI

A fun combo of gemstones and succulents in Brittania’s hair was a really unique look, don’t you agree?

Wisconsin wedding photographers

Jenny threw together this little accessory at the last minute, just for fun- and Lisa’s intern, Kate, added the earrings!  LOVE!

Madison wedding photographer

This wedding gown from Marah’s Elegant Bridals was SO BEAUTIFUL!  Covered in sparklies…  Just my style!

Discovery Institute Wedding Madison WI

All kinds of Barry Chic styling goin’ on in this next shot.  Love those bracelets!

Our gorgeous bridesmaid, Caroline- so cute!

Lisa threw in a cool twist at the end with a change into black-on-black with a blue bow-tie.  Don’t you love it??

Madison wedding photographers WI Wisconsin

Thanks so much for taking a few moments to see MY take on shooting a modern wedding.  Now…  Don’t you want to know what it would look like through Bobbi’s lens?  Well don’t hesitate!  CHECK IT OUT!

Click here to see Bobbi’s shots from this shoot- with a little vintage flavor added in!

Click here to read Jenny’s wedding-planner take on the day!

And Click HERE to view Lisa Barry’s thoughts on styling for the shoot!

May 23, 2013 - 11:42 am

A Modern Take on a Vintage-Inspired Scene » Red Gecko Studio - [...] you remember last month’s “modern shoot throw-down,” you may be eagerly awaiting this post.  Or, maybe not.  Either way, I’m excited to [...]

April 18, 2013 - 6:51 pm

Runway and Aisle Unite - [...] Click her to see what things looked like through Mandie’s camera [...]

A Sneak Peek at a Stylish Scene…

With only a couple more days before I leave on a European adventure, I spent today in the midst of friends and fun and creativity.  I had the pleasure of working with an amazing team (including Jenny Sligh, my favorite wedding planner from Lavender Hill Events!) on a super-special styled shoot.  More details about the purpose behind this shoot are coming on Thursday!

We had so many amazing details to choose from, like these FABULOUS earrings by Lionette Jewelry.  This couture line is offered exclusively in Wisconsin by Lisa Barry of Barry Chic, and let me tell you…  I’ve got my eye on more than my fair share of their pieces!

Madison Wisconsin Lionette Jewelry Fashion Photographer

Anyone who’s familiar with Rolling Pin Bakeshop in Fitchburg will understand why I was sad that we couldn’t splurge on a REAL cake…  This is a GORGEOUS demo cake that they created for our shoot.  It was dripping with beautiful gemstones!  The frosting smelled so good.  By the way, their lemon-poppyseed-raspberry cake is TO. DIE. FOR.

Madison WI wedding cake bakery wedding photographers

We had some gorgeous models with us for the shoot, showing off this sparkly gown from Marah’s Elegant Bridal in Mount Horeb!  Gorgeous!

Wisconsin wedding photographers

And what’s a bridal shoot without a handsome groom, huh?  Here’s a teaser, ladies.  Just enough of George to know he made a dashing groom in his tux from Nedrebos…  Check back on Thursday for more eye candy!  And how about those Lionette earrings?  They add some sass to the bridal look, don’t they?  And that uber-modern boutonniere from Flora by Jamae?  That girl is wicked talented.  Wait till you see the rest of the florals!

Madison WI wedding photographers

This shoot was just SUCH a blast.  But there’s more to why that is…  Because I got to work alongside Bobbi Petersen of The Salty Peanut!  That’s right, two photographers throwin’ down together…

Bobbi & I really enjoyed working side by side and getting creative!  Check out Bobbi’s post to see her sneak peek!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
W e l c o m e
G e t   S o c i a l
L o v e   L e t t e r s