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How to dress for an engagement portrait session

 

Your clothing for the engagement session can either break it or make it. It's not enough to just have the best engagement photographer or perfect lighting, the outcome of your engagement pictures also depends of what you and your partner are wearing. What you wear is going to influence how comfortable you are moving around and how you and your fiancé look together.

Wear comfortably and be comfortable

The first and maybe most important consideration when you choose your clothes for your engagement session is to choose a style that reflects who you are and that makes you comfortable. Don't dress up to much if it's not you, it might make you feel uncomfortable during the photo shoot. It doesn't mean that you have to wear the "sweatpants" that your wear every other day, you want to dress up a little bit, just don't overdo it, be yourself and be comfortable.

Try to avoid to go out the day before the engagement session and buy a new outfit in a rush. Make sure that you have worn the outfit a few times before and that you know what it fits right and that it makes you feel good. The day of the engagement shoot is not a day for experimentation.

Look good on your engagement photos!

The Colors and Patterns

Your garments colors and patterns are very important for how good the engagement picture turn out. Choose colors that are solid and not to bright. Avoid complicated patterns or any letters or symbols on your clothes. The key here is to keep it simple. You don't want to wear any clothing that's competing with the person and drawing attention to the clothes instead of the faces of the engaged couple.

The Shoes and the Accessories

Show Off Your Shoes! This is a piece that's very important. Make sure that the are well polished and/or clean. You can have a perfect outfit, but if they shoes are worn out and ugly, it weal break the look of your engagement pictures.

Great accessories and jewelry can give your outfit a very nice touch and it's a great way to show your style, but don't were to much of it, a nice scarf, shirt cuffs and nice watch can go a long way. Make it personal!

Show Off Your Best Assets

If you have a favorite part of your body, go for it and show it off! Have fun with a shorter skirt and and high heels to show off your beautiful legs. then have your photographer capture the perfect photos that best show your long legs.

We often like to color-match what you are wearing with the background!

Dress for the Location and Time of the year

You want to choose a outfit that won't clash with your surroundings and the "theme" of the engagement shoot, this will make sure that the photos look natural and not strangle staged, and of course dress according to the season and weather, nothing kills a shoot quicker than an engagement couple in t-shirts and mini skirts during a cold windy Dallas winter day, believe me I know!!

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Alcohol & The Wedding

Weddings!

They are one of the most important and by far joyous moments of our lives. At IGOR wedding photography we have had our fair share of nervous brides and grooms. It is important to remember that this day goes by faster than you would expect and we want you too cherish every moment of it!

It is okay for brides/grooms to feel anxious and have those pre-wedding jitters, It is also more than okay, to partake in one glass of champagne, that can ease the nerves (hand your photographer a glass while you're at it ;) , but in our experience it is best to limit yourself to one glass not a bottle, you have the entire night for celebrating and you still have too make it down the aisle and through your wedding portraits in the best shape possible.

I've unfortunately had my share of inebriated brides, but more often it's the groom who has decided to celebrate a little to early!!! And can barely make it through the ceremony and although at IGOR wedding photography we make sure you get Bride & Groom portraits, it can be difficult when the groom is not coherent, the bride is now stressed out and you still have several hours before the reception is over. So try to not start the drinking to early!

It's important to pace yourself with the drinks! Weddings are meant to be fun and most of all memorable, so please go ahead and enjoy a glass or shot before the wedding if that's what you want, just make sure that you hydrate in between, and then have another glass of your favorite beverage when the toast to your marriage begins with friends and family, and then try to wait for the next drink until all wedding activities such as first dance, cake cutting and bouquet/garter toss and portraits of Groom/Bride have occurred. Then enjoy the rest of the night however you please. Even if that means not remembering your wedding night ;)

If you have a groom..or Bride that likes to party like it's 1999 ( R.I.P Prince), It might be a good idea, to let guest or the bar know not to serve him/her alcoholic beverages, or tell the bar to make the drinks not as strong, with half the amount of alcohol servings.

And always make sure guest have a designated driver, if you are providing an open bar, or provide them with a place to lay their head for the night.

Let's start a new trend..

#RememberYourWedding

Great party at a Dallas Indian Wedding Reception!

 

 

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Engagement Session in Downtown Fort Worth

This Fort Worth engagement session featured below was a really fun shoot for IGOR wedding Photography, we love when our couples put thought into their outfit choices and really express their style and personality, it really can complete a picture when effort is put into dressing well!

We started at the Trinity Park located in Fort Worth, we’ve shot here several times before, it’s a good choice for anyone who enjoys what nature has to offer, it includes lush greenery with plenty of trees, a pond with ducks & geese, hidden bridges and train tresses. Our engaged couple chose to bring a prop for us to play around with and it added a great touch to their love story!

Our second engagement session location was at a college campus, also located in downtown Fort Worth, known as the TCC Campus, this was a change from the first site, being more urban, with cool water features, an open walkway, architectural structures and scenic views overlooking a bridge. the TCC campus offered us an opportunity to create a more modern and romantic feeling for our engaged couple as the sun began to set with a styled fashion influence.

Please contact IGOR wedding Photography today for a one of a kind Engagement or Anniversary session!

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Bridal Portrait Session at the W Hotel in Dallas

 

I have never shot at the W Hotel before, but while driving in Dallas I had passed this hotel with it's vertical high rising structure and funky, urban features many times before.

This hotel is any photographers dream, or anyone who appreciates cool features like mirrored walls, modern furniture and vibrant up-lighting. This was the perfect location for our fine art bridal sessions!

Our gorgeous bride Julie, featured here had a stunning dress that we really wanted to do justice, as well as capture all of the neat features that W hotel has to provide.

The W hotel has a stairwell, that gives a small ode to Texas with a toy horse & cowboy curtain framing the window in which we got some brilliant natural light.

While waiting for the sunset, we took advantage of the light outside and placed our bride in these cool swinging wicker chairs on W hotel patio area, to capture her natural beauty as well as some detail shots, such as her beautiful shoes.

As the sun started to lower in the sky, we decided too take a ride in the elevator to a level they called 'Altitude' once reaching the floor, I understood why, we were at least 30 stories high and the wind was howling.

Greeted with cloud covered walls, we moved outside to see a blue infinity pool. The winds were probably at their highest this day but Igor Wedding Photography sought this only as a creative challenge, to produce some true Fine Art Images.

Our Bride Julie, mentioned the 33rd floor. We once again got on the elevator, after arriving on the 33rd floor, Julie relayed that this is where she was having her wedding reception. The walls are textured metallic mirrors, and is like a swanky, luxurious club, but the real standout of this room is when you transition to outside, with amazing panoramic views of downtown Dallas.

We choose this area to give our Bride Julie some stunning Bridal Imagery of her dress and encapsulate the scenery of downtown Dallas.

As we were leaving and saying our farewells, the Photographer in me never stops my eyes from wondering to top what I just created, after seeing that I was surrounded by floor to ceiling mirrors, I asked my bride to just look at herself & admire her own beauty in the ceiling mirrors, to create a last look to wrap up this session.

 

If you would like to experience Igor Wedding Photography, and create one of a kind Fine Art Photos, please contact us right now to book your Bridal ,Engagement, Boudoir or Wedding photography today.

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An Indian Wedding at Southfork Ranch

 

We love to shoot Indian weddings in Dallas, and this Indian (Hindu) wedding in particular was one for the ages. Indian weddings usually last several days, they have a lot of guests, they incorporate a lot of traditions and rituals, and most importantly they are a lot of fun, with an abundance of colorful clothing, decorations, plenty of food and with much joy, singing and dancing. Weddings are one the most important celebrations in Indian culture, and they know how to celebrate it in grand style.

Rachna and Prasad's Hindu Wedding Event lasted 3 full days!

I'm here trying to briefly explain how this Indian wedding was celebrated, not all Indian weddings have the exact same rituals and traditions, and I'm sure I have forgotten some parts of it, but this is how essentially most Hindu weddings unfold.

Day one: The Pithi and Mehndi Ceremony, at Noah's Event Venue in Las Colinas, Irving.

First on day one was the Pithi ceremony for Rachna, the beautiful Indian bride.
It's a cleansing ceremony, generally held one or two days before the wedding, in which the bride and groom are rubbed with turmeric paste in a beautification process.
It's a celebration of love and happiness for the one's who are being married where the relatives come and prepare for the ceremony. The Pithi ceremony indicates that now the girl or boy has entered into adulthood and is ready for the marriage. The groom also has a well-planned Pithi ceremony, but in this case we only covered the Rachna's Pithi.

After the Pithi ceremony they started the Mehndi part of the ceremony, which is a casual event where henna paste ("Henna Tattoo") is placed on the guests, family and the bridal parties hands/feet in intricate patterns. Mehndi is one of the sixteen adornments of the bride,  it's a women's function, which takes place a midst musical beats of Dholak, with women singing traditional songs for a prosperous marital life of the bride.

After the ceremony they had dinner and social mingling with the guests.

 

Day Two: The Ceremony for the bride's family at the SLPS Community Center in Irving.

This was a full day of rituals, ceremony and gift giving in front of more than 800 guests. Including the Mayara, also called the ‘Maternal Uncle’s Ceremony,’ , where the uncle brought gifts for the mothers of both the bride and the groom, including the dresses and jewelry they where wearing at the wedding day.” This is also the first time during the 3 days that the groom and bride saw each other. There was also a large buffet dinner after the rituals and a lot of social mingling.
 

Day Three: The Indian wedding Ceremony (Vivaah Sanskar), at Southfork Ranch in Parker.

The Indian culture celebrates marriage as a sacrament (Sanskara), a rite enabling two individuals to start their journey in life together.

In order to best understand an Indian (in this case a Hindu) wedding ceremony is to think about it as a romantic story where the bride and groom arrive separately and meet and fall in love. The traditional host for the wedding ceremony are the bride's parents. The groom and his family are the guests arriving. The ceremony shows the transition for the Bride and the Groom, from the first stage of their lives, to their second stage of their lives as a married couple. Indian weddings are also about two families being brought together socially, with as much emphasis placed on the families coming closer as the married couple.

 

This is how this wedding day unfolded:

Baarat (The Groom's Processional):
Prasad, the groom arrives at the venue in a car with a lot of dancing and cheering from the guests and family members.

Ponkvu:
Bride's mother receives the groom and performs a traditional puja to offer her blessing. She will place a clay pot on the ground during the Baraat for the groom to step on and break, This will assess his strength before he takes the brides hand in marriage, this is an important symbolic part.

Jaimala, the Pre-Wedding Garland Ceremony:                                                                          Bride and groom exchanges garlands as he arrives. The Families lift up the bride and the groom on their shoulders. The groom is lifted higher than the bride to show that the bride cannot take the groom from his friends and family.

Madhuparka:                                                                                                                                 The groom Prasad walks then with Rachna's mother to where the ceremony is to be held (the Mandap). His feet are then washed and the bride's brothers and sisters then tries to steal his shoes, if they succeed, the groom must then offer money to get them back. This was a wild part of the day, they really tried to steal his shoes, it's no joke!
The groom went to sit on the stage until the brides arrived.

Kanya Agamana:                                                                                                                                The bride Rachna is then walked down the aisle with her uncle, with one flower girl and no bridesmaids. She then sits across from the groom with a sheet (the Antarpaat) in between so they can't see each other. Once the sheet is lowered, family members started trowing flowers at them in celebration. The couple them exchanged garlands for a second time, this time at equal level.

Madhupak:
The bride’s father now offered the groom yogurt and honey as the expression of welcome and respect.

Kanyadaan:                                                                                                                                         The Brides father now performed the Kanyadaan by tying the hands of the couple together in a marital knot (the Hast Melap) he ties a marital knot between the bride and the groom. With this gesture, the father of the bride is giving away his daughter to the groom.

Mangalphera:
The couple then walks around the fire four times in a clockwise direction representing four goals in life: Dharma, religious and moral duties; Artha, prosperity; Kama, earthly pleasures; Moksha, spiritual salvation and liberation. The bride leads first, signifying her determination to stand first beside her husband in all happiness and sorrow.

Then the Groom tied the Mangal Sutra (beaded necklace) around the bride's neck, after that the Bride with the groom's help touched 7 betel nuts with her feet.
The groom then applied a small dot of vermilion, a red powder (Sindhoor), to the bride’s forehead and welcomed her as his partner for life. They are now a married couple!
Then the married couple went to the front of the stage to bow to family and friends to get their blessings.

The rest of the day was more like a traditional American wedding day, they had the family photos taken, that took some time since it was a large family.
After that they couple went to clean and change clothes while the guest and family had a casual cocktail hour with games for the guests to play, by the famous Southfork Ranch Mansion (from the TV soup opera Dallas).

After the cocktail hour the wedding reception started with speeches, entertainment, cake cutting and a lot of dancing and singing.

This was certainly a wedding to remember! Contact us today if you are getting married and need stunning wedding photography coverage!

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Once Upon A Tynan: Trinity Park Engagement Session

 

"A Fairy Tale Engagement Photo Session"
We too believe in Happily ever afters and Fairy tale endings!

Trinity Park Engagement Photography

Our bride Sara and our Groom Seth were so much fun to work with, when planning for her engagement shoot, she asked for somewhere woodsy, possibly with bridges, to go along with their Fairy Tale wedding theme.
She decided on Trinity Park for her engagement session location, and it was a perfect location! Trinity Park is located in Fort worth conveniently near the Botanical Gardens, it provides an array of backdrops from the large overgrown, winding trees, to charming bridges, a duck pond and a great view of the Downtown skyline.


Sara & Seth stay true to their faith and had us incorporate pictures with her grandmothers bible and her and her groom in prayer. We love to stay true to what captures you as a couple in your natural state.


At Igor Wedding Photography, engagement sessions are a way for us to really connect to our clients and express their love through our creative Imagery, every once awhile we let Sara see what we were capturing and her words were "Oh my, that is like right out of a movie"!  They were really open to different Ideas and even climbing trees to allow us to be creative .


Contact Igor Wedding Photography today and let us capture your "Happily Ever After Love story"!


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A Rainy Botanic Garden Engagement Session


We get asked pretty often by our couples "What's the best place to choose if we want a variety of places to shoot, with greenery and foliage"? and although we have several green locations to choose from our standby choice is often the Botanical Garden of Fort Worth, it's often convenient, inexpensive and the variety of backdrops is endless. Our couple Pi & Kyle, wanted their session to be fun and casual.


Pi and Kyle were very outgoing and it came across in their engagement pictures, at Igor Wedding Photography we do not let bad weather get in the way or reschedule, we invite the challenge, as the saying goes.. " A little rain never hurt anybody" and the rain often makes for some fun, and interesting shots, and it applied to this day as well, they met and graduated at FIU, so the umbrella served as a significant reminder of where they both fell in love and played a part in shielding them from the rain as well. We do not often use props, but we believe if it helps in telling your story or holds some symbolic meaning, then by all means they should be incorporated, and, it is always fun to try something new and creative.

Contact Igor Wedding Photography today and let us capture your story and create some amazing Imagery!

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Linh & Tommy: Vietnamese Betrothal

We love celebrating events from different cultures, and no event is too intimate or to large for us to carefully document at Igor Wedding Photography.


The event featured here is a Vietnamese Engagement dinner, also known as a Betrothal ceremony, they had this special event at their parents home in Irving, TX, this ceremony is a public announcement that the couple is preparing to marry and that the focus is on each other and usually combined with an engagement party (le dinh hon). It began with future bride Linh changing into a beautiful hot pink dress, traditionally worn at Vietnamese ceremonies called an ao dai, her really close friends dressed similarly but in different vibrant colors, they prepared the table with Vietnamese cookies and traditional Asian sweets.


Guest began to arrive, and they exchanged endearments, it also included the exchange of several symbolic gifts wrapped in red for good luck and a time to receive blessings from both families. Gifts often include Asian areca nuts, betel leaves, tea, cake, fruits, wines, a roasted pig, and other delicacies that are beautifully arranged and carried by unmarried women and men to the future bride’s home. If the future bride’s parents accept the gifts, it's a sign that they approve of the upcoming marriage between the couple.


After the gifts are accepted, the future bride was walked down the hallway by her parents, it was a beautiful moment that we were honored to be able to capture. The couple proceeds to light incense for the ancestors and serve tea to the elders for both families. Usually then the bride would prepare a feast for both families at their parents home, but in our couples case they just went out to for a restaurant dinner afterwards!


As you can witness from these photos, at Igor wedding Photography we really enjoy Asian and multicultural weddings and events! Contact us today!

 

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The Portrait & Legend Of Sankta Lucia

 

Today on December 13th, it's Sankta Lucia (Saint Lucy) day, and to honor this beautiful Swedish tradition, I created my version of the Swedish Sankta Lucia.

For many, many years Lucia has brought faith, hope, and a reason to believe in good things to come during the darkest time of the year.

Santa Lucia will bring us light and hope in the darkest day of the year.

Her legend stems from Syracuse on the island of Sicily. It is thought that during a time when the rulers of the land did not look favorably upon Christianity, a woman named Lucia had devoted her life to God and the poor. She gave her entire dowry to the poor, and the man she was to marry was very upset by this. Lucia was put on trial, refused to renounce her Christian beliefs and was declared a witch. She was to be burned at the stake but when the guards tried to light the fire it would not light. Ultimately, she was stabbed, became a saint and legend.

Several countries in Europe celebrate Saint Lucy day. I grow up with this holiday tradition in Sweden and it's very close to my heart. I hope you like my Sankta Lucia tribute!


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Ashton Gardens: Lauren & Brent's wedding, Corinth, Texas


I've shot a few weddings in my time, okay.. a lot of weddings and every once and awhile I meet a couple who redefine love for me , and show me why I initially began this venture. While I love the creative, artistic side of photography, weddings like Lauren and Brent's help me to fall in love all over again with my profession. It makes me happy!

The event venue was an absolutely beautiful chapel by the name of Ashton Gardens, located in Corinth, Texas. It's a unique chapel, with distinctive floor to ceiling windows, surrounded by plentiful gardens ,fountains and lush greenery.

Our Bride and Groom , opted to do a first look, featured here. This is an event I love to capture, not many couples choose this , often the bride not wanting to reveal the dress before the ceremony, but if you are wanting to capture those tear jerk moments, with no one around, I find that this is the best way to get them! This moment allows for an intimate moment for you and your spouse, for the realization that everything you have been waiting for, where your lives join and continue as one. This very day!

 

Every picture captured with Lauren and Brent invoked love, and the couple nearly forgot I was there! They were simply lost in each other, and everyone else around them felt it too!

At Igor Wedding Photography we love to tell love stories through beautiful photos, are you looking to capture beautiful imagery of your romantic wedding day? Contact us today, let us help you tell your story with our fine art wedding photography.


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New Proposal Trends - Proposal Photos


When making wedding plans, having a photographer isn't even a question that needs to be asked.
Why not start documenting from the very beginning? The Proposal.
It's an equally important day, that is personal and very special.

Remember that although you are discussing marriage and possibly documenting your groom/bride proposing to you, the element of surprise can still be included in keeping the moment, time and place a well kept secret.

The proposal can sometimes be thought of as "The best day ever" it's the beginning of your future together and not only will you have the stories to tell your family, friends and loved ones you can show them, it will be as if they were present and reliving every moment with you.

The proposal photographer you choose for your proposal (hopefully your wedding photographer as well)  he should ask you things like how did you two meet, exactly what moments you want captured, anything significant he should know, take a detailed walk through of the location to find the best spots to secure himself, and maybe even offer up ideas and suggestions . He should also be discreet and capture every moment to the second your fiance drops down to their knee, to the moment your partner says Yes!

You need to hire a great Dallas proposal photographer to get those proposal photos that you so deserve!

Also, remember when proposing to your significant other, the bigger the gesture doesn't always mean better. Don't over think it, residing with simplicity and genuine emotions are going to relate so much more to your partner. Go with just an intimate setting with the two of you, it helps calm the nerves and for you to just focus on the reason for you being there and the task at hand. Try going to somewhere you two frequent or a place you've always discussed visiting and haven't gone yet.

Thinking about popping the question to your special loved one ? Want to make it even more special and relive this event forever? Contact proposal photographer Igor today, lets capture your beautiful proposal photos!

 

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Sunset bride at the Fort Worth Botanical Garden

We always enjoy to photograph weddings and bridal portraits at the Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth, it is the oldest botanic garden in Texas, a 109 acre living museum with over 2500 species of native and exotic plants, providing endless variety of scenery for weddings, bridals and engagement photos.

Our beautiful bride Charity chose the "Lower Rose Garden", at the right time of the year this garden has thousands of fragrant rose blossoms that pleases the sight and the senses. The highlight of The Rose Gardens is the grand entrance, that gives a European elegance and scenic views of the entire garden, originally inspired by Italy's renowned Villa Lante.

The rose gardens is the perfect outdoor settings for weddings, bridal portraits and intimate parties.

View our sunset bridal session at the Fort Worth Botanical Garden below !

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Bridal Photography at Marty Leonard Chapel in Fort Worth

 

The Marty Leonard Community Chapel is an intimate location for Wedding and other life affirming ceremonies with it's architectural build and interesting angles making it a breathtaking location for artistic imagery. The Marty Leonard Chapel, is a favorite on the list of Igor Wedding Photography, because of all the interesting places to shootit makes for unique images each and every time we are invited back.

Featured is our stunning Bride Kaitlin and along with the Marty Leonard Chapel that offers a serene, natural light lit venue, and a little extra TLC made the Imagery included in this blog, simply a work of art. We love this venue for our bridal photography sessions!

Still looking for a wedding chapel venue? Have a look at the Marty Leonard Community Chapel you won't be disappointed with it's open spacious views, and sun bathed Chapel, and it is conveniently located in Fort Worth, Texas. Choosing this location, guarantees for optimal opportunities to create Fine Art Imagery.

If interested in truly, one of a kind masterpieces, that take a little more attention to detail and care from our studio, contact us today about creating Fine Art Bridal Portraits that are uniquely tailored, crafted just for you. Use a Fine Art Print for your wedding reception, placed by the guest book or as a beautiful artful canvas for your home.

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Engagement Session at the Hollow Hill Farm Event Center

 

When looking for a home country feel with all the classy elements you couldn’t find a more perfect wedding venue with all the qualities you need then at the Hollow Hill Farm Event Center in Weatherford, TX.

This wedding venue crafted out of love is a family run business with unique features such as the ‘Old Town’ which includes a western replica of a Jail house, a School and a vintage store displayed with trinkets, fully furnished rooms with beautiful hand-made touches, such as The Bunk house (the grooms room) and The Cantina (the brides room). The attention to detail is amazing on all the buildings, decor and landscaping.

Artistic Engagement Photography in DFW

The country landscapes this venue provides are breathtakingly beautiful, you could have an outdoor ceremony at their Pavilion or in the romantically lit Barn House.

When approached by our Bride to be Sascha and her fiance Brad she relayed to us she wanted something country inspired, preferably a red barn for their engagement photos. Hollow Hills Farm is the first venue that came to our mind, since this venue provides the perfect country backdrops and scenery to create timeless country engagement and wedding photography.

Enjoy a few photos from our fun and country inspired engagement session!

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Fort Worth Water Gardens - A Modern Bridal Session


Looking for the perfect modern location for your Engagement or Bridal portrait session? Be inspired by the Fort Worth Water Gardens, an unique urban park and fee free location with a variety of photo backdrops to choose from.

Featured here is our beautiful bride to be Danielle, the elegance of her bridal gown was able to be showcased with the simple backgrounds of the Fort Worth Gardens - at the quiet, "blue meditation pool" that is encircled with cypress trees and towering walls and at the "aerating pool" that features multiple illuminated spray fountains under a canopy of large oak trees, and because at Igor Wedding Photography we love to incorporate modern lines and beautiful architecture as well, the pools, concrete walls and the vertical depth of the stairs added a dramatic, yet modern flair to her bridal photos.

We would love to talk to you about any ideas , locations or any questions you may have, The limit is never to far, we like to be pushed outside the box of creativity. Contact us soon about your upcoming bridal portraits, engagement session or wedding, let's make something special together.

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Ceremony Vows

Thinking about writing Vows on your own ?
Find a quiet place to reflect on your relationship with your significant other, when did you first meet ? How did you feel when you first saw him/her ? Let these emotions inspire you as you write your vows. Below are questions to consider while writing :

  • Why did you decide to get married?

  • What hard times have you gone through together?

  • What have you supported each other through?

  • What do you want to accomplish together?

  • When did you realize you were in love?

  • What do you most respect about your partner?

  • How has your life gotten better since meeting your mate?

  • What about them inspires you?

  • What do you miss most about them when you're apart?

  • What qualities do you most admire in each other?

 Come up with something you promise to do each day or promise to do in the future.
This is the whole purpose of writing Vows and reciting them to each other , "Include promises that are broad in scope, such as 'I promise to always motivate you,' also something very specific to the two of you, like 'I promise to say "I love you" every night even if you are away on a business trip.

A Dallas Bride writing a love letter to the groom.


Write everything out and start structuring a speech:
You have all your bullet points now, it's time to try to make it all flow together and to write a first draft, probably the first of many.  Affirm your love, uplift your partner, offer promises and close with The final vow. Write this almost in the format of an essay ,where you write a short love story, then come back to it at the end.
 

Do away with Cliches:
You have a first draft or two, it's time to make edits. Borrow from poetry, books, religious and spiritual texts, even from your favorite romantic movies, but try not to let someone else words compete with your own, Remember that your vows need to sound like they come from you and that they define your relationship.
 

Too Personal?
It's your wedding day and family,friends and loved ones are present to hear you solidify your bond, so be aware that everyone wants to feel included in this moment. That means putting a cap on inside jokes, deeply personal anecdotes and obscure nicknames or code words. If you are not sure and trust a best man or maid of honor to read it aloud back to you, hearing your words may help you revise your vows, and get the feel for how something comes across, ask for their feedback as well if you feel comfortable.
 

Fight the urge to write a novel :
Vows are so important, but they should not run on and on where someone will have to eventually cue the music. Say all the meaningful things and then wrap it up. This is also why reading it aloud will help you edit, if you run over two minutes, it's time to edit. If you have more to say , write it in separate message with a gift and have it delivered to your fiance on the day of your wedding.
Fin
You've written epic vows, you have tears in your eyes from crying or laughing, either is good.
Now read it aloud with her or him in mind and rest easy that you have one more thing checked off your wedding list.

 

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The Hall Of State Wedding in Fair Park, Dallas

 

Once in a while I do a styled wedding or bridal shoot together with some great wedding vendors. I only do it if I have a strong concept that I want to photograph and if it's something that I have never done before.

The reason for doing this glamorous styled wedding shoot at The Hall Of State in Fair Park in Dallas was to capture a wedding in this stunning venue and to showcase it's architecture and to combine it with a luxurious wedding party. The theme and style had to be classy and glamorous with a mixture of both vintage and contemporary fashion feel.

It was a pleasure to work together with Dominique from the Luxe Society Event Group on this styled wedding. We had a really strong vendor team for this shoot, including an amazing Galia Lahav designer gown, provided exclusively by Neimann Marcus Bridal Salon in Dallas. The pretty Bridesmaids dresses were provided by Pence & Panache, the unique jewelry by Kendra Scott and the sharp Groom and Groomsmen suits by J. Hillburn in Dallas. Please see below for the other terrific Dallas wedding vendors that made this shoot so fantastic.

 

If you want to see the entire The Hall Of State Wedding Gallery with all the angles, poses and decors, please visit the following gallery: www.dallasfortworthphotographer.com/hall-of-state-styled-wedding

Wedding Photography: IGOR Photography
Photography Assistant: Victoria Hamilton
Cinematography: Steward’s Productions + Gaurav Sitaula
Bride and bridesmaids: Margosha Kr, Kayci Cole, Mika McCroan
Groom and groomsmen: Steven Busby, Zak Jones, Gino Vigil, Grant Farmer from The Dragonfly Agency in Dallas
Make up & Hair: Jenny Niemann (Carpe Diem Bride) + Vivienne Vermuth
The Gown: Designer Galia Lahav | Neiman Marcus Bridal Salon
Bride’s Earrings + Hair Accessories: Neiman Marcus Bridal Salon
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Pence & Panache
The Suits: J. Hilburn
Jewelry: Kendra Scott
Cake Artist: Celebrity Bakery
Floral: Vella Nest
Linens + Tabletop: Celebration Event Rental
Bar & Banquette: Suite 206
Throne Chair: DFW Lounge Rentals
Decor: Gold Dust Vintage + Luxe Society Event Group
Lighting: It’s Your Night
Gift Wrap: Courtney Corbeille
DJ: Fitz Lauder

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Wedding Planning I do's & Dont's

 

1. Relax , Okay it is easier said then done but try not to be a super bride, It's easier to think you can do the wedding planning nuch better than anyone else , but you should try to relinquish some tasks to the rest of the bridal party, family and groom (if he's interested:)

Don't arrive at the big day with unpolished shoes, unassembled party favors and unstamped invitations.

Something you might not know, Is that people want to help with your wedding planning! Especially your bridal party, they want to relieve some stress from you and make this an event to remember.

Do take a spa day, relax and drink a Mojito or 2!

2. Cash bar? This notion can actually come off a little rude and off-putting.

The last thing guest want to do is to flip open their wallets when trying to enjoy a celebratory event. Your wedding! Ask your cater for lower cost options, for example only serve beer and wine instead of mixed cocktails that are steep in price. If you want to include a variety of drinks you don't have to include Top-shelf liquor . When invited to a wedding party you don't want to have to pay for the "fun".

3. Don't keep your guest waiting.

It's understandable that there are things that absolutely need to be done or can't be helped. But one thing that you can do to minimize the down time in between is try to make the ceremony and reception in the same location, if not relatively close. If the locations have large gaps, try to accommodate and provide transportation.

Taking formal pictures after the ceremony? Have your wedding coordinator or wedding photographer have a list on hand of the pictures and the arrangements you must have, all other pictures can be taken later during the reception. Remember, while guest are dancing or eating you can always use these moments to borrow your photographer and take some romantic pictures with your groom .

4. Don't watch a marathon of HGTV and" DIY" your entire wedding.

While I do envy the creative, spunky bride, ' DIY" needs to be in moderation, unless you really just enjoy these things then I say "Go for it!" but once again this is your day, and I highly advise delegating these tasks to other members of the bridal party. The idea of DIY is to save money and make your wedding one of a kind, but if you aren't the really hands on type of bride and you are just trying to save money, then DO beg, borrow or simply buy the rest of the things you need. Some DIY creations can end up being more stressful in the end.

Last but not least

5. Do include your fiance.

This is as much his day as it yours, although most people put the emphasis on the bride, this is a life changing event for the two of you.

Don't get stuck on deciding between mini sliders, crab cakes or flower arrangements, instead focus on your future together and in having a great time, in the midst of all this wedding planning ask him what color he wants to paint the bedroom. Try to avoid wedding talk for 24 hours and plan a date night that centers on the both of you.

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Wedding Rehearsal dinner at Sambuca in Dallas

 

Matt & Melissa's wedding rehearsal dinner at restaurant Sambuca in Dallas. I wish more couples would hire a professional wedding photographer to capture the wedding rehearsal dinner/party. It's always such a fun and casual way to get some great candid photos of family and friends. As you can see there was a lot of fun and laughter at this wedding rehearsal. Look at the last awesome candid photo, "We now declare this Holly Pizza delicious", LOL!

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Green is the new White, Eco-friendly Weddings

 

Want to leave a green foot trail on your big day?

We have compiled a list of fun and inventive ways that actually cushion your bank account, accommodate your guest and add lasting memories to your wedding in an Eco-friendly way.

When it comes to being more Eco-friendly most people associate this movement with more cost but it doesn't have to be.

  • Glam-squad

Did you know there are environmentally conscious makeup lines, with green in mind? For instance a company named RMS $36, the product not only nourishes your skin, they put special care into the packaging which is made from recyclable glass & recyclable aluminum lids.

- The Lip Bar Lipstick $20, sounds like a lot but compared to other brands like Mac, they are about the same price, except The Lip Bar provides the ecological factor, using natural & organic ingredients.

  • Say Cheese - Eco-conscious Wedding Photography

When it comes to our wedding photography, we try to leave a green thumbprint in many ways as well! Here at IGOR Photography we provide you a link to a gallery that lets you, friends, family and loved ones access your pictures, share and download them and choose the ones that you want printed or framed. Try to cut down on the paper-trail by asking your photographer for digital photos. That way you can look at them online and choose which ones you would like to print, before requesting them all to be printed. If you want more ways to be Eco-friendly, you could also see if your photographer fits your green values with this simple check list.

Does your wedding photographer use:

- rechargeable batteries,

- non-toxic ink

- 100% post-consumer waste paper

- LED or CFL bulbs

- Recycling

Are we there yet?

Not only do we want all of our guest to arrive on time and safely at the given destination, but why not add a green stamp to it as well? We can kill two, or 3 birds with one stone with these simple ideas.

Have you choose a venue for the ceremony or reception yet? If not, try to choose a venue that can be acceptable for both or if it has to be two different locations try to make them close and have one large van that can transport everyone in one large or a few short trips instead of everyone taking their own car. Carpooling, or an energy buss/trolley work for this purpose as well to cut down on emissions.

  • Be Charitable.

Be Eco-chic. Most brides never think of this last option and for some it may not even be an option! But if you are one of the few who decide that you took pictures of your beautiful gown and that's the  best way it will be remembered, you possibly would like to donate your gown after the big day. Let someone else make memories of their own in your dress.

other options:

- Family gowns have fit and altered.

- Eco-friendly wedding designers (they exist)

- Eco-couture gowns

-One time wear bridesmaid dresses

  • Something to remember me by.

Party favors:

This simple element of every wedding can be extravagant or as small as you'd like, but let's be honest most of these trinkets are destined for the garbage can, adding to the already amounting waste we have in the world.

Think green! Give gifts that are sure to be used or at least re-gifted.

- Soy candles

- Potted plants

- Edibles

Charity Donations:

After all, wedding favors can cost upwards of hundreds of dollars for all guest, another non tangible idea could be making a small donation in honor of each guest to a charity that is important to you and your groom.

No matter what your style and taste, there or endless ways that your wedding can echo volumes to the contribution of the green revolution.

　

　

 

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