I never knew what it meant to have three kids, or to be alone with three kids. I have my sister here to help, thank the sweet Lord Jesus, but she has a social life and a part time job. Every moment is busy, from wiping booties to changing diapers to answering questions about why Jesus had to die on the cross. I don't know how Army wives do it, when their husbands leave for 18 months or longer. I am in awe of them and their tenacity.
This year so many things have become clear to me. I love my business, like live and breathe it. Like have to remember to put my family first most days because I can get overwhelmed by it all and up to my eyeballs in it all. ...everywhere I look I see pictures and light and how it falls and how I would place a subject if this were a portrait, not just my backyard or whatever. I also love my kids, like can't-believe-a-girl like me-got-super-great-kids-and-the sweetest, kindest, sincerest, most gorgeous and charming husband- when-I-was such a crazy and rebellious person, up until I met him. I don't think you can even use dashes and commas like that, but this is my blog and I don't really care, I am writing sort of phonetically or how I would talk...
So if you see where I am going with this, sometimes my life is a huge conflict of interests. I want to be super duper successful and over the top with it all...but at the same time I want to be this mom that like makes everything from scratch and fill my children with life lessons and knowledge and uses everyday to paint and color and learn and count...etc.
Will all that being said...this year I am doing an organic garden, with chicken poo and earthworms and tons and tons of stuff that I will probably totally mess up, but it will be a messy fun adventure as we mess it up...
I am going to try to balance my passion with my life and vice versa. Oh wow this has new year's resolution written all over it...
I want to travel a little more, enjoy family a little more and dig down and shoot some of the best darned pictures that I can. I promise to pour myself into your sessions, into your weddings and into your albums...this year I want to shock myself with my own creativity. I want to shoot every wedding like it was my own, or what I wish my own would have been. I want to pray more, live more, be more, cook more, shoot more, enjoy more, hug more, laugh more, watch more chick flicks, get to know my children more, my sister more, my neighbors more...learn to ride a riding mower, learn to compost like a fool...big year ahead. I want to argue about politics more...okay the last one is a complete fabrication. That is one thing I am going to none of, you heard it here! I will watch the news less and pray more, if I do anything.
Here are photos from an overnighter we just had this week with my sweet Beth, which we really needed! She always captures my children in such a beautiful way. Our children say they think they are siblings from another mother, and they are right. I love you Beth!
4 comments so far
Here is your first installment of "the dish". Each post will feature one of my brides, their day, and what
went right and what could have gone better. This is a beta test, if you will, so you may not see the same
questions each time. I want new brides to have unfiltered information at their disposal, and my
newlyweds to be able to relive the day again through this post. I absolutely love reading about how brides
develop the style of their wedding from undergarments, shoes, veil, venue,
the month, the entertainment...it all totally fascinates me. Thank you to those that are sharing with us, we
appreciate your advice and your openness!!
If you would like to participate, please send me an email and I will forward questions to you. If there are
questions you would like to have included, please forward them to me.
Jen + Dominique- married 7 Nov 09
How did you develop your wedding style or the look and feel you wanted the wedding to have?
I looked at pictures in magazines and online to get a feel for what I wanted.
I was also in at least 11 weddings and had an idea about what I
liked and disliked.
Did you know exactly how you wanted to look or was it a process?
It
was a process. I knew that I wanted a lace dress that was simple,
but elegant. I also wanted it to look classic/vintage. The birdcage veil idea
came from Ashley Brokop....thanks Ashley! The birdcage veil just topped it off.
Did you end up looking as you had envisioned?
Yes. I wasn't sure about my hair, but it turned out beautiful.
How far out did you start planning your wedding?
one year
Did you have a wedding planner?
I had By Invitation Only for the "day of" help. They also gave some ideas
along the way.
Did they do a good job?
Yes.
Were you a thrifty bride?
At times :-)
Where did you cut costs?
Video, cake, decorations.
Where did most of your money go?
Attire, flowers, photography
In
end, were the high dollar items worth their investment?
Absolutely! I
LOVE my pictures and loved my flowers. I also loved my
entire outfit
:-) I also loved my hair which was done by Jon Osbourne
in Chapin, SC. He did a great job!
Where did you purchase your gown?
Bride Beautiful in Altanta, Ga
Would you recommend the gown boutique to other brides?
Yes.
How many gowns did you try on before you found the right one?
Maybe six
What month did you get married?
November
Would you choose that month again?
Maybe....I really love the spring.
Where did you get married?
Saint Thomas More Catholic Church in Columbia, SC
Did you like the venue?
I would have done some things differently.
Where did you have your reception?
Was it catered?
The Mitchell House caters their own food
Did
you enjoy the food?
Yes! I got TONS of compliments on their food. The
Mitchell House really
seemed to know what they are doing and they did a
great job.
Their mixed drinks were also great.
How was the space?
Great space
Who provided your cake?
The Mitchell House
How many bridesmaids did you have?
six
Was that too many, too little- explain...
It was fine.
Did your husband play an active role during the planning stages?
Yes, he was very helpful
Are
there any tips you'd like to give to future brides?
Once you make a
decision, stick with it. Don't "over think" the planning.
Also, it is
cliche, but don't sweat the small stuff. It will be over before
you know it and so ENJOY!
Did you give away wedding favors or gifts?
Yes, praline pecans, roasted pecans and cinnamon pecans
After the wedding and reception were done, what was your reaction?
It is over so soon? I want to keep dancing!
What were your favorite photographs?
Why? Too many to count...I love so many for different reasons.
Ashley is a great photographer.
Did you do an engagement session?
Yes
If
you did, was it what you expected, or different and why.
I wasn't sure
what I was expecting. I wanted to make sure that we
had fun and we did.
Did you do a bridal session?
Yes
If
you did, was it what you expected, or different and why.
I didn't
expect it to be so tiresome...I have a whole new level of
respect for
models. Despite that, it was fun and I would do it all
over again. That
may be the only time in my life that I can be
a model :-)
Did you have your makeup done by a professional? If so who did you use?
Yes, I used Kristin Williams. I want
everyone to know that I not only loved
the way that she made me look,
but also the way that she made me feel.
She is so friendly, positive
and I found her to be "calming" on a crazy day!!
I know that sounds
weird, but it is true. She is great and I would recommend
her to anyone!
Did you go on a honeymoon? If so where to?
Yes, Maui, Hawaii. Need I say more...paradise. I have never seen
so many rainbows in my life.
What was your craziest shower gift?
Body chocolate with a sex book...from my sister in law.
What was your favorite gift?
I loved everything.
Did
you have any sentimental family items used in the wedding or reception?
No, really wish that I did. I made sure, however, that I bought
things
that I could pass down to my children.
1 comments so far
Thank you sooooooo much for the kind words Jen!! I am glad that I helped to make your day special ;)
(03.15.10 @ 06:39 PM)
4 comments so far
love me some Hilary!!
(03.08.10 @ 05:31 PM)Yay~ I just noticed this blog post! :-)
Ashley, not only are you the most talented photographer I've seen (and trust me everyone, I did my research on photographers), but you made these portraits fun, relaxing, and natural...You captured my excitement and joy of being a bride... and dang, you really captured my dress and all of the details I spent hours upon hours picking out.
To anyone looking at this blog and wondering which photographer to choose, there really is no choice... anyone who knows me knows my passion for photography and capturing "those moments"... and Ashley does that. Naturally and Perfectly.
Ashley, you'll continue to be my family's photographer at every milestone of our life!
This photo is AWESOME!
(03.09.10 @ 10:36 PM)Hil....you are so sweet ;)
(03.23.10 @ 08:36 AM)
Ashley, I was wondering if Bill left already, the separation is tough but I can't even begin to imagine how it must be with 3 beautiful kids. God works in mysterious (and awesome) ways and Shane and I are in the same place in Baghdad, I will email you with more info. In the meantime, hang in there girl, you're doing awesome!!!
(04.04.10 @ 04:39 AM)Ashley, you inspire me. :-) You're an amazing mom, wife... and absolutely phenomenal photographer. :-) Hang in there. Enjoy this... your rebellious years may just help you out right now. You learned how to do things your own way... and now you can near-perfect those qualities! :-)
(04.04.10 @ 11:19 AM)I have absolute NO idea what you must be going through... but I can only imagine. I barely know you, but you are an incredible person from the outside! I love reading about all of the candid moments in your life and respect you so much for being so REAL! Take care and love on those absolute adorable kids of yours! Wish you the very best!
(04.05.10 @ 09:48 AM)thank you for everybody that read this. I was sort of just venting and putting out there how I felt right now. So many times you have no idea what people feel about hard situations in their life...and so here is how I feel. I appreciate all the support and encouragement, I really do. God is Good!!!
(04.08.10 @ 09:32 AM)