Real Wedding: Pin Wheels

I've been wanting to share this wedding since I first heard from my friend that she was going to make all of the decor.  Out of paper.  Into pin wheels.  The idea was charming and the execution even more so.

Krista and Mike were married at a farm not far from our hometown.  In August, the corn was tall and ready to be harvested.  The overcast sky looked menacing but the rain held off.

In the distance you can see what I thought of as a unity bush.  The mothers each ceremoniously added dirt and then the couple watered it after their vows.

Alternating colors of pinwheels lined the aisle.  With the slight breeze forewarning rain, the pinwheels actually spun.

In addition to the pin wheels, Krista also decorated wooden die cut fans.  Before the ceremony we tried our hands opening them flamenco style.  I also found the location to be a great excuse to wear my boots to a wedding!

The pin wheel decor extended beyond pew liners.  Here's a closeup of an usher's bout:

These last three photos were taken by Krista and Mike's up and coming photographer, Emily Patton of Emily Photography.

The pinwheels made their first appearance in Krista and Mike's lovely engagement session.  The lighting here is just delicious.

Even Krista's bouquet featured the pin wheel.  I loved how she incorporated buttons and curly wire too.

This is one of my favorites from the day, Krista looks so happy and I love Mike's pin wheel bout peeking out!

Are you decorating your ceremony without flowers?  What materials are you using?

Mine at Last: Photo Booth

One of my favorite things at our wedding was our makeshift photo booth (aka fauxto booth, smile booth, etc.).  I see a lot of people asking on the boards if these are overdone or tacky.  Besides my former roommate, who was planning a wedding at the same time as me, we're the only two weddings that I've seen a photo booth at (she rented a real one that spit out the classic four picture black and white strips - very cool!).  If you love it, I say, "Do it!"

  

During the cocktail hour, my event designer worked with our photographer, Sam Hughes, to create a small studio space.  They tied a ribbon sign between two chairs, hoisted a few yards of fabric onto the backdrop stand that Sam brought, and then let the good times roll.  Our second shooter manned the booth and we've posted all of the pics on a Shutterfly website so guests can easily download or print them.  At first, friends and family gathered for nice shots.

A friend from high school and her fiance

My Aunt, Grandpa, and Uncle

Friends from the Navy who were recently married

Mr. Palindrome's Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins (who served as Ushers)

Friends from my consulting firm

Friends from the Navy

Friends from my hometown

Then the more adventurous guests started poking about our prop pile!

Friend from Bucknell (and also one of our readers) and her husband

Friend from Bucknell and her boyfriend (flying all the way from San Fran!)

Friends from Bucknell (two on the left also sang at our wedding and the two on the right are getting married in June!)

Palindromaid S and her husband

Motherdrome and friends

Fatherdrome and friends

Friends from church

Bison ladies representing

Denise and Palindromaid S

The groomsmen

Not to be out done, the Palindromaids strike a pose

I get in on the action

SIL J and I reenact our first dance dip

 SIL J and and I hear a fun song and then run for the dance floor

I've been mocking up photo books as gifts for family and I really love ending the books with spreads of these pictures.  It reminds me of everyone who came and shared our day with us and I think provided some fun for them as well!

Have you been to a wedding with a photo booth? Did you partake in the photo fun?

*Contest Alert* - Jenna Cole Photography

Jenna Cole Photography (the Jenna Cole of Mrs. Avocado fame!) is sponsoring an amazing contest for a couple to redo their wedding portraits. If you were disappointed with your photographs, or didn't have any photographs of your wedding, I encourage you to enter the contest (especially if you're in Texas or Chicago, although she will travel if costs are covered by the winning couple).  Click here for complete entry rules.

Source

Mine at Last: Bridal Portraits

There was only one time when I was truly stressed on the wedding day.  Hair/makeup ran late and I didn't notice because there were no clocks and I had handed my cell phone to one of the palindromemaids.  The 30-45 minute delay cut into our photography time and as a result, we didn't do any "neat" photographs.  I would probably be more bothered by this if we didn't already have an amazing engagement session.  Still, I jumped at the chance to shoot a Trash the Dress/Bridal session with Mariko (Mrs. Sushi!) when the opportunity came up.

We drove out to Lake Las Vegas during a Bee meet-up to capture some of these shots just after dawn.

We wandered around the very quiet village that reminded us all (Mrs. Snow Pea was there too!) of Spanish villas.

Mariko is so calm behind the camera that I was immediately put at ease.  I tried to channel all of the advice Tyra's given on ANTM, but I still found myself nervous about what to do with my hands and wondering whether I was smiling with my eyes enough.

When Mariko sent me the CD of images, she included some chocolate from her home town - Hershey!  Indeed, the sweetest place on earth :)

I plan on ordering a magnet or something similar so that Mr. Palindrome can put one of the pictures inside his locker at school.  Sounds funny, but it's one of the few places that he would actually be able to see it every day!

Thanks Mariko!

Lookin' Good, Good Lookin'!

I must have said that about 10 times to the future Mr. Palindrome during our engagement shoot.  Hubba hubba, that stud is going to be all mine!

You may notice that his hair is actually quite short.  The future Mr. Palindrome experienced what we women have been experiencing for years.  He went in for a trim and came out with nearly a buzz cut.  An  hour before our shoot.  One. Hour.  He was actually quite distraught as it had taken 4 months since getting out of the Navy to grow it out to a more civvie length.  Our photographer, Sam, did an awesome job reassuring him that it looked great.  I'll narrate the rest of the pics with the actual conversation we had while Sam was shooting.

The future Mr. Palindrome: "I can't believe this happened."
Palindrome Bride: "I can believe it, I told you to get it cut earlier this week."

The future Mr. Palindrome: "I mean he just kept cutting."
Palindrome Bride: "We've all been there. Welcome to the world of long hair."

The future Mr. Palindrome: "Was it because it was a male hair dresser?"
Palindrome Bride: "No. It's hair dressers in general."

The future Mr. Palindrome: "Do you think it'll grow out by the wedding? Is there anything I can do to make it grow faster?"
Palindrome Bride: "Prenatal vitamins."
The future Mr. Palindrome: "Seriously? Where do you get them?"

All photos courtesy of our awesome photographer, Sam Hughes. And a special shout out to Doumar's and their great staff that put up with us shooting around dinner time!

Photographer Magazine Spread

My photographer, Sam Hughes, currently has a wedding featured in the Hampton Roads Bride magazine!

(pic of layout from Sam's blog)
When my mom and I went to check out the suites and rooms where we had blocked them at the Waterside Marriott downtown, we picked up a few magazines as we waited. My mom was flipping through one and exclaimed: "This is your Sam Hughes!" Hahaha.

Sam scanned the spread to his blog which you can see here. If you're a Hampton Roads Bride, you can also pick up the magazine around town!

Saying Cheese

The long version of my photographer choosing story starts here. This is the short story right here!

Once we had decided to pursue a local photographer (Supporting local artists! Greener!), my mind jumped immediately to one particular photographer. I also researched a few more and added one to my shortlist. I spoke it over with Miss Planner, my wedding coordinator, and she investigated each further. She interviewed them and worked out pricing and suggested that I meet with Sam Hughes.

I had seen Sam’s work before and he was the photographer I was sure I wanted to interview prior to more research. Sam shot a friend’s wedding in May and I was in awe that they were able to keep their two beautiful proof books in addition to a CD will full printing rights.

At the interview, Sam and I talked for 2 hours about photography style, our work travels, and the aesthetic for the wedding. I was sold, Sam printed off the contracts, and I had a photographer. Easy, schmeasy. For the first time in my planning process, a decision had been made in less than a week, and I had signed my first vendor since hiring Miss Planner back in February. Woo hoo!

Here's my favorite candid from our friend's wedding:

Source: posted on Sam's picblog

On more from his blog that I loved:


Sam and I have a rad idea for the engagement session, but I'd rather surprise you! So stay tuned for the results in the fall!