I had the amazing pleasure of working with Diva Productions shooting Kim & Joe’s wedding out at the Hilton in Sandestin.  Kim & Joe decided on a destination wedding, so it was one of the many brides that I didn’t get to meet face to face before hand.  I knew from her bubbly, yet laid back & cool, calm & collected personality over the phone, though that she would be a blast.  Seriously, she has the type of fun personality that can shine like crazy even over the phone… you know those types that within the first five minutes you’re giggling going “girl, let me tell you…”?  That’s so her .  Well, you should have seen the look on my face when I walked in the room to photograph her on her wedding day, and saw that not only did she LOOK just like a friend of mine, but she had the same sweet, funny, bubbly, awesome personality as well – she was even more fun than I thought she would be, if that’s possible!

Kim came quite a ways, with some of her closest friends & family & put a lot of hard work & effort into an amazing destination wedding here in Destin, and a little clouds & wind (or a lot) wouldn’t put a damper on her day   We managed to escape the rain, but not the wind, and it was really a beautiful day after all  It was absolutely beautiful… Kim has amazing taste, and I don’t think she could have picked a more perfect location.

So here is a little sneak peek of her destination wedding at the Sandestin Hilton Spa & Golf Resort in Destin… starting with her amaaaaaazing dress!  I really really really loved this dress.

Poor Kim got slapped by the wind, but I swear she’s the only person I know that can get away with looking so awesome when windblown!

Lovely!  Hope you all enjoyed it, and this just goes to show – in Destin, the weather is always unpredictable, but even our “overcast” days are amazing

They are such a sweet couple, they met young and have stuck by each other through thick and thin… following each other through college and across the country.  It was so much fun to spend all day with a couple with such enthusiasm for life, big dreams, big aspirations, and a relentless pursuit of happiness.  And of course, Andrew is an artist & budding actor, so that was right up my alley!

Congratulations Ashley & Andrew – you guys deserve so much happiness, much of it you already have, but I have a feeling there is so much more on the horizon for you both

Ashley’s dress was absolutely amazing.  I love love loved it!

Ashley is amazingly beautiful… and so photogenic.  I could have photographed her all day…

What I loved about Ashley & Andrew is how comfortable they were with each other…

One of my favorite places to photograph at Bentley’s on the Bay is this beautiful little tree.  I love the way it hangs down.  We stuck around there quite a bit!

And here you’ll see… Bentley’s has an amazing area that is perfect for photographs.

And I just have to explain this next photograph, otherwise you will think I’m certifiably nuts!  I don’t normally take these kinds of pictures at weddings… ok… confession… I do.  I have this weird tendancy to run into all kinds of creatures (just check through my blog archive… lizards, grasshoppers, you name it).  And so at this particular wedding, out on the beautiful back patio of Bentley’s on the Bay, I see this creature.  Initially I yell “BAT!”.  Only to quickly get corrected by a 4 yr old that it was in fact Tinkerbell.  :)  This crazy little creature (moth?  Butterfly?) flew all over, loving the lights of course, landing on people, letting anyone and everyone hold it!  It was pretty interesting… so I just thought I’d share it

And of course, no wedding blog post would be complete without the video/slideshow

Vendors:
Wedding/Reception Venue:  Bentley’s on the Bay
Photography:  Bella Vita Photography
Dress:  White One by Pronovios
Shoes: BCBGeneration
Flowers:  Winn-Dixie
Cake:  Publix
DJ: Gene Cox- Pro Music DJ
Hair/Makeup:  The Blonde Bellagio

]]> http://bellavitaphotos.com/blog/2010/05/bentleys-on-the-bay-wedding-ashley-andrew/feed/ 0 http://bellavitaphotos.com/blog/2010/04/florida-park-wedding-fudpuckers-destin-reception-kimberly-jason-married/ http://bellavitaphotos.com/blog/2010/04/florida-park-wedding-fudpuckers-destin-reception-kimberly-jason-married/#comments Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:19:58 +0000 admin http://bellavitaphotos.com/blog/?p=941 Wow, so this blog has been a LONG time coming.  First off, I apologize to everyone (especially Kimberly & Jason) for not posting more lately!  This crazy little thing called work (and life) have a nasty habit of getting in the way & blogging always seems to fall to the back burner.  I have a vague recollection of making a New Years resolution to NOT let that happen.  Well…  I’ll keep working on it haha!

Anyways, enough with my rambling (another nasty little habit & New Years resolution there lol), and on with this story!

Another thing a long time coming has been Kimberly & Jason’s WEDDING!   I met Kimberly when she booked her wedding… what?… a year and a half ago!?  At least?  By the time the wedding had rolled around I was really excited for it, more than I am usually!   She is absolutely, hands down, probably one of THE sweetest people I have EVER met, and let’s just say Jason is an extremely lucky guy.  She loves him completely & entirely, and one look at the smile on his face during those vows and you could tell the feeling was absolutely mutual  Let’s face it – we see a lot of weddings, and I still cry from time to time.  But folks… I was wishing I had tissues at this ceremony.  Mother/son dances are usually my weakness (blame the mamma in me), but occasionally a ceremony does me in, and this is definitely one that had me in tears.

Kimberly has this amazing personality, though – and she kept me laughing all through the day, right on into the ceremony.  Gosh, how I wish I were a videographer for their “First Dance”!  They played a mix of songs, and took turns doing everything from the robot, to “Vogue”… the list goes on.  It was hysterical!  These two are definitely meant to be together, and I found myself really “missing” them after their wedding!  So Kim – I know you’re reading this – let’s do lunch or coffee or something!  But… after May! LOL (Busy wedding month & all).

They are from the area, and had an absolutely beautiful little ceremony at Florida Park in Niceville (well, actually Valparaiso), which is my newest favorite place ever.  The weather was perfect, the leaves were still autumn-ey looking, but the flowers were also blooming already, and it was just perfect!

Ok, so I know she’s wiggling in her seat right now, on with the pictures huh?!

The day started off with absolutely perfect weather at Kim’s mothers house.

After getting ready at her mom’s house in Niceville – we headed over to one of my favorite places – Turkey Creek in Niceville!

Kim looked absolutely amazing that day, and of course, Turkey Creek always has the most beautiful light.  Fabulous combination

My favorite shot at any wedding… the groom looking at his bride, taking it all in… it says a million words

And here you can see why this is one my most favorite places to photograph now.  It was a little wet from some recent rain, but amazing light, beautiful background, perfect trees & leaves, insert an amazing couple and you have a happy wedding photographer

After the wedding, we took a fun little trip around town and had a blast!  I was so excited that I finally got to photograph in this little corner of Niceville before heading out to Destin for the wedding reception.

I love this little place… and turns out Kim is an avid reader, so it worked out really well.  By the way… check out those pink converse  And… also featured – her “man of honor” and the best man!

So… I could have put in a few of the hilarious wedding dances… but as soon as I saw this one, I changed my mind.  Who knew there was anyone else in the room…

By the way, I have to tell you guys.  The wedding reception was at Fudpuckers out in Destin, FL.  Having had my OWN wedding & reception at a bar, I was totally stoked (cause that almost always = party!).

I had a tough time narrowing them down, so of course my other favorites are here in the video

(P.S. – you can hit “HQ” to switch to lo-res for faster loading!)

Fudpuckers
http://www.fudpucker.com
20001 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, FL 32541
(850) 654-1544

We started out at Eden Gardens, though – and then hopped over to Seaside, which is conveniently just over Hwy 98 & down 30A a bit.  It was a little crowded, but that’s not really that unusual these days!  It’s just a big contrast to the slow quiet pace of Eden Gardens!  But no worries, Jaclyn & Adam are from Atlanta, so I’m sure it was nothing in comparison to the hustle & bustle of a big city like Atlanta!

Anyways, here’s an awesome little sneak peek.  And I’m obviously infatuated with purple lately cause I was totally loving Jaclyn’s sweater!!!

I absolutely cannot wait for them to have their destination wedding, so far from all the details it sounds like it is going to be amazing & I can already tell they are such a fun couple!  I am getting pretty anxious for this wedding season to finally kick off so I can see it!   And although they’re not getting married at Eden or Seaside, they are getting married in what I would consider THE most amazing church on the Emerald Coast – St. Rita’s! Everyone around, Catholic or not, knows St. Rita’s – it is so beautiful!

Congratulations, Jaclyn & Adam!

Kristin & Chris are an absolutely adorable couple though, and it’s easy to see exactly why they are such a great match when they’re together.  Initially it seems like a classic case of opposites attract – Kristin is this totally girly, fashionable, organized and classy girl – and Chris is totally a man’s man, laid back & easy going, taking it one day at a time.  Kristin works an office job, Chris spends his days out on a boat getting dirty & catching fish.  But yet… they fit together so perfectly – like two little puzzle pieces.  They are so much fun to be around and I really really loved being a part of their big day.

They decided to get married at the Four Points Sheraton down on Okaloosa Island – just a hop & a skip from Destin’s Fishing Village where Chris works.  The Four Points Sheraton is like the little hidden gem of the Emerald Coast – it’s on the Island so it’s out of the way of most of the hustle & bustle of Destin, but still close enough to the heart of Fort Walton Beach.  It sits on the main road, but what you don’t see is that behind it is this gorgeous little garden area that leads down to the most beautiful white beaches and gorgeous emerald water.  You really get the best of both worlds with their green grass areas & gardens AND the beaches!  We tried to utilize every bit of it, too!

Also – there were so many little details of Kristin’s wedding – I couldn’t possibly post them all in this blog but I’ll highlight some of my favorites, including her absolutely awesome deep purple shoes!  I absolutely love the colored shoe trend, and the purple has by far been one of my favorites!  Very unique, very awesome and so very Kristin!  Purple shoes + Kristin + Chris = one very happy photographer and make for one awesomely cool wedding

These flowers were so gorgeous. The colors go together so well, and are my favorite color combination for this fall!

Now, here’s where I have to brag on Chris a little bit.  I love this man.  I really do!  This man, are you ready for this ladies… made all the men’s boutonnieres himself!  HOLY CRAP!  Now, how many men do you know that can or will do this?!  That is some serious L-O-V-E!  I gotta give him some props – it is well deserved.  He not only made them, but made AWESOME ones, and did a helluva job!  Now, I will have to say – this far exceeded my expectations, and I do not think it is in any way reasonable to expect most men to be able to do this.  Which makes Chris that much more awesome   Yay for Chris!  I love that he totally got the colors down pat (yes, he coordinated that himself), and that they represent him so amazingly being that he is a fisherman.  (By the way – the purple is also partly a way of incorporating their love for LSU, that’s right – he’s a good ole’ southern boy!).  A *crafty*, thoughtful, manly man.Ok… that’s taking it a bit too far… I’ll stop now   You’re welcome, Chris!  Oh, and can I just also throw in here that Kristin got TWO rings on her wedding day?  How freaking awesome is THAT?!  (Hubby – are you reading this?!)

And in case you didn’t get a chance to see what absolutely AMAZING blue eyes Kristin has from their engagement pictures… check it out here.  We had some awesome weather, and something about being on the beach really makes her eyes pop:

And this is the best… at the last few moments of sunset, when everyone is waiting & it’s finally just them… and they relax & fall into their own little world for a few moments…

So if you’re considering visiting the area, or checking out wedding venues, don’t let this one slip past!

Four Points by Sheraton – Destin/Fort Walton Beach (located on Okaloosa Island)
Highway 98 East
1325 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 243-8116

And here to finish it off is the video…

Kristin + Chris – Married! Four Points by Sheraton from Bella Vita Photography on Vimeo.

Anyways, Tama had an awesome wedding with quite the bridal party & a “House Party” – apparently this is a Texas thing  A true Texas girl, she had a great show of support from all her friends & family – many of them also coming in from Texas.  To make it even better… Dustin is from a little town not too far from where I grew up in North Carolina, so needless to say I felt right at home!  An added bonus, another one of my beautiful brides (who is next on the “To Blog” list), Kristin, was a guest at the wedding.  I love it when that happens!

We had been hit with a little cold snap before the wedding (although nothing like the cold we’re suffering through now!), and even had a cold windy snap after wards, but as it goes… the weather was absolutely amazing the day of the wedding.  It never fails  And of course, it’s always a little windier on the beaches, but of course… perfect perfect weather, and a perfect beautiful breeze.

So let’s get on with this show and see some pictures from the day of!  Starting with my favorite trend of 2009… Shoes to match your colors!

What an amazing couple Dustin & Tama make… you can see sparks fly when they’re together

Here’s the couple, Kristin & Chris, who I had the pleasure of photographing at their wedding just after this wedding.  I love this picture because every time I see it I can’t help but think “Sometimes you feel like a nut, and sometimes you don’t”.  That totally sums this couple up lol.

Getting back to Tama & Dustin – this next picture just gives me goosebumps.  You’d think nobody else in the world existed in this moment…

As you can see, the beaches, the ballroom everything was gorgeous.  If you’re considering having a wedding locally or even a destination wedding, this is a fantastic place!

Check it out:

Embassy Suites by Hilton, Destin/Mirimar Beach Hotel
www.embassydestin.com

570 Scenic Gulf Drive
Destin, FL 32550
(850) 337-7000

And of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a little video.

Tama & Dustin – Married! from Bella Vita Photography on Vimeo.

In the days after my grandfather’s passing, it was a therapeutic blessing to be able to sit around their kitchen table sifting through pictures.  Old pictures, new pictures, professional pictures, snapshots, torn pictures, carefully mounted pictures.  They all hold a special meaning.  Of course, some held up better than others, but I couldn’t help but also feel a sudden urge to send everything on my hard drives & discs at home to the print lab.  What will our children be doing 50 years from now?  Hopefully not sitting around some computer looking at digital copies.  There was something really awesome about running my fingers over the edges of every single picture.  Holding the same picture they held, they got in the mail, that they got handed down to them from their aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, mother, father, etc.

It’s really a lost part of our culture, the printed photograph.  It was amazing to see some of the old pictures, and how they’ve changed.  A huge stack of polaroids, which completely confused my children.  Little flip books from the 20’s, which have been lost in our “bigger, better” culture.  It’s just so amazing.

And really, now… all we have left are those pictures.  A few other sentiments… but his generation didn’t keep much “stuff”, not to mention it’s really his face, those pictures of him loving his grand children & great grandchildren that I really want to hold on to.

And so – that’s another resolution of mine – I am printing every single picture I take of my kids.  I want those prints.  Forget the discs (I’ll still archive them, I am a techie deep down beneath it all).  But, I want prints.  Boxes and boxes of pictures, for my children to sit around with, and wonder what on earth we were thinking with that hair do, that outfit, that car, that kitchen wall paper design.

For my clients, friends & family who do want to make sure that they’ll have a print that will last, that looks great now (and later)… I usually recommend a consumer lab:  MPIX.  But please, if for no other reason, consider having a big box of family prints… don’t even consider a disc for your main way of keeping pictures, as an archive perhaps, but not your main archive.  Get prints.  Put them in a box.  And every once in a while, sit around the kitchen table and reminisce

And just for grins, here is the last image I have of my grandfather with my two kids:

Stay tuned, I’ll be catching up on blogs & such soon!

And, despite crazy windy cold weather, the day was beautiful at the Emerald Grande overlooking the Harbor Walk and Jetties on Destin’s beautiful Emerald Coast!

So here is just a quick sneak peek of their wedding day.  Starting with Tara’s dress… I looooove love love this dress!  She calls it that fluffy-ness “cupcakes”, I call it whipped cream.  Whatever it is – I love how the top so perfectly contrasts & compliments the bottom (whipped cream) half!

And seriously – if you knew how brutal that wind & cold was in this alley way… you’d totally tell Tara that she was a trooper for this shot!  It was actually down in Harbor Walk, which sits just below the Emerald Grande overlooking the Harbor (hence… the conveniently named “Harbor Walk!”).   In fact, even with the wind, the weather was still so beautiful, the Harbor Walk below the Emerald Grande was absolutely packed with some sort of festival going on!  Which is actually part of the charm of the Emerald Grande, everything is at your fingertips & there is always something going on!

The ceremony took place on the balcony/back deck of the Emerald Grande, also overlooking the Harbor & Jetties of Destin.  The wind was even crazier on the deck during the ceremony than it was down in Harbor Walk, but the view of the Gulf was amazing!

One of the things I love most about weddings at the Emerald Grande is the absolutely beautiful ballroom.  We’ve had the pleasure of shooting several weddings here, and it’s always stunning.  Jackie & Brandy over at the Emerald Grande do a fabulous job of making sure everything goes off without a hitch!

A huge congratulations to Tara & Brandon   You guys are so awesome!

And of course the video

Tara & Brandon – Married! from Bella Vita Photography on Vimeo.

And of course, if you haven’t visited the Emerald Grande in Harbor Walk Village here in Destin, you really should!  Commander’s Palace has fabulous dining, the Emerald Grande has an amazing spa, and there are so many things surrounding the Grande that you could stay in the immediate area, never leave, and be a-ok!  The Camellia Grille is one of my favorite restaurants near the Emerald Grande.

In the meanwhile, check out the Emerald Grande for a weekend stay, or even your wedding & reception!

Emerald Grande
10 Harbor Blvd
Destin, FL 32541-7374
(850) 337-8100

]]> http://bellavitaphotos.com/blog/2009/11/emerald-grande-wedding-photographer/feed/ 3 http://bellavitaphotos.com/blog/2009/11/waterscapes-destination-wedding-photographer/ http://bellavitaphotos.com/blog/2009/11/waterscapes-destination-wedding-photographer/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:49:28 +0000 admin http://bellavitaphotos.com/blog/?p=780 I had such a great time photographing this wedding at Waterscapes on Okaloosa Island between Fort Walton Beach & Destin – perfect weather, perfect day, perfect location, perfect couple!  Although the day started off running a little behind, things ran smoothly & ended up absolutely beautiful! Justine & Mark came all the way from Missouri for their amazing Destination Wedding on the beach, so I’m sure the nice warm weather & day on the beach was a nice break from the weather they’re probably having right now. I’ve never actually been to Missouri, but let’s just say that I hear it’s cold!!!  All of the flowers, decorations, setup, and catering were provided for and/or arranged by Destin Wedding Company.

So let’s get on with the story, shall we?!

Justine & Mark had their Destination Wedding at Waterscapes – I’ve passed by it a million times but I had no idea they had such a big property back there… it made for beautiful pictures!

And my favorite flowers in the whole world… orchids!

Haha, I sure hope these were Mark’s boots and not just some buddy’s!  Either way they were super cool!!!

This shows the gorgeous color of the bridesmaids dresses, next to her flowers which were of major importance to Justine… and it just so happens that this is Justine’s little sister, who might I add was also the life of the party! HAHAHA

And that first look… nothing else compares…

That night, as the sun set, the sky was absolutely amazing.   This shot is actually AFTER sunset… showing the deep blues of the sky and also the awesome cake:

And I love this… here is Sam – he was the minister but he’s also a DJ!

A huge thank you & Congratulations to Justine & Mark – you guys were so awesome & your friends & family were a blast!  It was a great relaxing laid back wedding!  We even broke out onto the dance floor for just a few minutes before tackling the little obstacle course on the lower pool (which we jumped into as well).  Rumor has it everyone else dove into the pool after we left!  We’re so bummed we missed it!  We tried getting folks to jump in before we left, but no luck!! Ah well!!!

Congrats, and heres the slideshow!

Justine + Mark – Married! from Bella Vita Photography on Vimeo.

By the way, if you are looking for an awesome beach resort, or location for a beach wedding & reception, Waterscapes is one of our little known secret gems on the coast here in Destin.  It’s actually on Okaloosa Island, between Fort Walton Beach & Destin, and you would never ever realize from the street that Waterscapes has SO MUCH back there!  The property is absolutely beautiful, the beaches are gorgeous, and the pools are fun for anyone with a family, or coming on their own for a relaxing weekend!

Check them out:

Waterscape by Resort Quest

Everywhere I go and everyone I meet, is always commenting on my big “blueberry” eyes. I hear my mother always politely saying “thank you” and looking at me with a huge warm smile. If I could say “thank you” to any one person, it would be my late Great Grandma Bonnie. My mother always says she was a warm spirited, loving, and kind person. Great-Grandma Bonnie, was always known for her “blueberry” eyes and always received comments from everyone she met. Sadly, she lossed her battle with Lung Cancer, and I never had the chance to look into those loving “blueberry” eyes, that everyone commented on. As my mother lays me down to sleep at night, she always wispers in my ear, that Great Grandma Bonnie, is looking down from heaven, with a big smile on her face. I know Great Grandma Bonnie is smiling down, because she passed her “blueberry” eyes to me. I know she is proud of me, for being apart of a charity that can help those who are suffering from Cancer and maybe give them one extra day on earth with the people they love the most.”

Thank you,
Bella

Thank YOU Bella & Emily

And here is beautiful little Bella, with her amazing blueberry eyes:

Thanks again to all the parents who brought their little ones out for their portraits to benefit the American Cancer Society & don’t forget to purchase your calendar now!