Rachel + Patrick: Avondale Villa

Rachel and Patrick were one of those couples that oozed love.  So it is not surprising that the wedding day was so perfect!  Rachel had chosen one special friend to be in her wedding party and together with Rachel's mom, got ready at the beautiful Tutwiler Hotel.  It was a calm, relaxing wedding day.  (That is almost an oxymoron, huh???)


 


After a few photo sessions (with Marsha Perry Photography) around the hotel, everyone traveled to the wedding site, Avondale Villa.  This was our first time shooting there and I have to say, by far, one of the best venues!   There is just something about it.  


 


The schedule from I Do, I Do Wedding Planning was padded in such a way that we had plenty of playtime with the couple.  (Which we love!)  After an intimate wedding ceremony, the couple enjoyed a perfect reception and a perfect honeymoon at Disney World!  I enjoyed living vicariously through all of the pictures on Facebook of their week-long adventures!  


 


Other wedding professionals:  Chris Amerson with Amerson Events, Scot Wedgworth for flowers, and Vintage Auto.


 


Check out their wedding day highlights!


 


Walter ThamesComment
Insider's Tips: Tip #36 - False Eyelashes

Quick and simple tip for you.


 


Everyone does false eyelashes for their wedding and why not, the results are amazing!  I really can't believe the difference!


 


I was talking with a bride who was getting her makeup done by Jessica with Tour De Glam.  It was suggested to remove the eyelashes that you use a Qtip and warm water.  Easy does it!  But what if you forget to pack Qtips and your honeymoon night hotel doesn't provide them?  Jessica says that you can easily remove them using warm water in the shower to moisten and then pull from the outside inward.  


If you are careful and remove the way she suggested, you can use them again when you want to feel gorgeous!


 


And I would think that you are less likely to lose any eyelashes in the process!!!! 



 

Meredith + Dale: The Sonnet House

You might recall last July for our anniversary trip, John hired the most amazing and beautiful makeup artist, Meredith Brown.  Well, Meredith is not only our friend now, but she first was our bride.  


 


We were excited about the wedding day for many reasons, but mainly because we were able to be a little out of the box.  We shot the entire day with our 1970s Super 8mm camera.  I can't wait to see how the footage turned out.  The film must be sent off to a lab for processing.  Now don't worry, we shot the ceremony with "real" video cameras too, just in case the 30 year old film missed a beat.


 


She and Dale had a beautiful wedding at The Sonnet House.  The food was great, flowers were beautiful, it was just a perfect day!


 


Planner: Molly Shook.  Photographer:  David Shirk with Unplugged Photography. Flowers: Carol Riley with Lillie's.  Catering: Kathy G. Cake: Dreamcakes.  Hair and Makeup: Jessica Lazarus and Kerri Bunn. Ceremony Music: Cahaba River Strings.


 


Great times!  


 


Here is a snippet of her vintage wedding film!


Lindsey + Jordan: American Village

Another beautiful Spring wedding day!  Lindsey and Jordan exchanged their wedding vows in front of their friends and family at the always gorgeous, American Village.  A naturally beautiful venue makes our job easier (don't tell anyone).  


 


Together with Brandon & Stacey Gresham with Gresham Photography, we captured the day perfectly.  Flowers were created by Carol Riley of Lillie's.


 


The couple ran for their honeymoon through bubbles and Auburn Shakers!  

Shea + Gerald: St. Francis Xavier

Shea and Gerald had the best music of any wedding!  


 


We met Shea's mom, Kristin, through our association with Red Mountain Theatre Company.  So it was only natural that Kristin ask RMTC's top soloists to be a part of her daughter's wedding.  Beautiful, beautiful music during the wedding ceremony at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church!!!


 


The quaint reception was held in the penthouse of the same building as the Theatre's Cabaret.  It was a gorgeous rooftop reception.  We worked for the first time with Brendon Pinola, who was assisted by Daniel Taylor from Daniel Taylor Photography. I love how everyone in the industry helps each other out!  It was a fun day. 


 


One more fact, the hairdresser for the day was just off the Shrek Tour!  Fortunately for all involved, Ogre hair was not created!

Leslie + Bart: Zamora Temple

I met my best friend this past Saturday.  She had a beautiful dress and big expressive eyes, and was by my side the entire night to help me film the reception.  Little Bit was only 2 1/2, but I completely fell in love with her.  And I am serious half of my footage she helped me with!!!  She loved to pan the camera back and forth and back and forth.  I think the footage is going to look AMAZING!  


 


My BFF was the youngest niece of our beautiful bride, Leslie.  She and Bart picked a beautiful April Saturday to get married.  They were surrounded by family and friends for a great ceremony and reception.  They even had a caricature artist for guest favors during the reception!  Other vendors to thank:  Jill and Jason from Photography by Jill, Jan O'Donnell (cakes), and The Heather Hayes Experience (band).


 


What a fun night!

Walter ThamesComment
Insider's Tips: Tip #34 - Choreographed 1st dance.

Another tip from John!  This one might be a little controversial too, so call him not me!!!


 


Don't have a choreographed first dance.  Wow, I know, right.  Dance lessons are half the fun leading up to the wedding, but keep reading, he has a few points to make about it.  I personally have seen some that I have really enjoyed and they were done well.  The audience will even show their support by ooohhing and ahhhing.  But being the good wife that I am, I will let him have his say.  


 


From John:


Unless you are trained ballroom dancers, then the choregraphed first dance is for the audience, not for the bride and groom.  The first dance should be a time that you as a very new couple can look back on the day and talk about it.  Look around the room and see your reception and anticipate the evening.  


 


It is not a time to be counting, one, two, three, four.  One, two, three, four.  You wonder how we know that you are counting?  We can read it on your lips in the video.  We can see that you are not caught up in the magical moment of the first dance, but you are trying not to fall down or trip.  


 


The traditional sway, aka the middle school sway, is a classic for a reason.  Anyone can do it.  And we can get better footage because you are spending your time looking into your husband's/wife's eyes.  You only get one first dance, fill it with romance.



 

Walter ThamesComment
Insider's Tips: Tip #33 - The Unity Candle

Come on baby, light my fire.

I know, it's pretty cheesy, but you are still reading....

The unity candle.  I know that when John and I were going to get married, we told the families that we were not having a unity candle.  At the time I didn't realize that it was going to cause WWIII.  My goodness, I just didn't want to deal with another thing during the ceremony.  I wasn't denouncing my religion!  I understand the symbolism and I can appreciate it.  And we see it all of the time and it is very beautiful.  But here are four issues.  And the last is the kicker!

1 - Wide candles or thin candles in wide glass containers don't work.  In order to get the middle candle to light (while you are your groom are standing up there in front of 300 people), you practically have to turn the wide candle completely upside down.  The wic is just too far apart.  And now you have melted wax all over.  Practice at home if you don't believe me.  Sometimes it is a good thing that the Lord's Prayer is very long when sung as a solo.  

2 - Parents don't understand which side to light.  I know that the church lady goes over this during the rehearsal, but once again, remember all of those people you are standing in front of.

3-  Half of the time, a lighter (fine for grilling out, but not so great for a wedding) is left to use for the Unity Candle.  Sometimes this lighter is left on purpose with a ribbon around it.  Or sometimes, someone forgets to light the "starter" candle for the parents and a guest gives the parents their lighter to use.  In case you don't know, most moms don't know how to use a lighter or how to turn off the safety switch.  

4 - And finally, the last little piece of information that I have about the unity candle.  Several years ago,, I was speaking with Alene Gamel with I Do, I Do Wedding Planning about unity candles. She told me that they don't have a religious background at all.  I didn't believe her.  Remember the WWIII that I almost started with my crazy ways????  Well, she was right.  Google it.  The Unity Candle was popularized by Luke and Laura's TV wedding in the 70s.  Here is one article..

I would like to end this tip with a reminder from a previous tip.  Shorten the unity candle song, if you can.  If all goes well, you do not need 4 minutes to light one candle.   

 

 

Walter ThamesComment
Vincent + Vicki: Stonebridge Farms

We meet a lot of couples in this business that are completely and totally in love - after all, they are getting married!  But never I have ever seen a couple so in love with each other as Vince and Vicki. 


 


The wedding was more than combining of two people, it was a much more significant for Vince and Vicki.  It was the combining of two families.  Vicki has two children in their 20s, and Vince has two beautiful little girls that look at Vicki with love in their eyes.  You can easily tell the feeling is mutual.  


 


It was an unusually cold April Saturday, but everyone was thankful that the heavy rain and bad weather had passed the area the day before.   Vince and Vicki were married at St. John's in downtown Cullman and then greeted their guests at Stonebride Farms just minutes away.  The guests were treated to a variety of food stations from a grits bar to sushi, they had it all!  The most meaningful event of the night was a heartfelt toast by the bride's son.  The toast was well received and brought tears to Vicki's eyes (which makes for good video!!)  


 


The reception also consisted of the best groom's cake I have EVER tasted.  I am not a big chocolate lover but I heard that the cake was cheesecake, so I had to taste it.  I don't know who Miss Bessie Buell is, but at 80 years old, that woman can make a cake!  


 


We worked with a photographer team, Paul and Michelle Johnson, out of Florida.  They were great to work with - the best part was that we got to play with the couple and have lots of great photo opportunities!  There's a tip for you, allow extra time in the timeline for your photographer and videographer to get creative.  You won't regret it!


 


As the happy couple was leaving for three weeks traveling the world, they toasted to romance.  I think we all could take some notes!!!


 


Here are the beautiful photos from the photogs! 

Walter ThamesComment
Claire + Josh: Canterbury & Old Overton CC

The most organized bride to date.  I even had my timeline two weeks before the wedding!  I couldn't believe it!  Claire had planned every last detail of her wedding day and kept everyone on top of things throughout the day.  From the bridal party getting ready at Canterbury United Methodist Church to leaving on the favorite mode of transportation for the groom, the day was flawless.  The groomsmen were even dressed and ready ONE HOUR before they really needed to be for photos.  WOW!  Brides, we might can get a copy of the email that Claire sent out to all of the groomsmen because something she said worked because they were not only on time, but also WAY early!


 


We got an amazing shot of the bride walking down the aisle to her groom during the wedding ceremony.  This task is sometimes hard to do at strict churches, but we got it!!!  Beautiful, heartfelt ceremony.  The reception was quite a party, including a performance of "Proud Mary" from the bride's mom and band!  


 


The perfect day ended with sparklers and the couple riding off in a golf cart (something that we had not seen before) from their wedding reception!  


 


Walter ThamesComment