Ashley & Casey

Ashley and Casey Donovan were my first wedding of 2012.  They were a super-fun couple at their engagement shoot back in early December so I knew the wedding was going to be just as fun.  As I posted to Facebook when I got home, it’s not a fun wedding until someone spills beer on you.  Nasty as that sounds, it means everyone was dancing up a storm and having a great time.  I want to wish Ashley and Casey much love and happiness.

 

 

Vendor Information:

Dress and shoes: David’s Bridal
Bridesmaid’s dresses: David’s Bridal
Mens ware: J Ferar from JC Penny’s.  Shirts and ties from Express
Hair: Shear Inspriation’s in ConwayMakeup: Kandid Scott did my makeup for wedding.
Cake- Stephanie Meadow.
Music: Jared Haney.
Invites/programs: GotPrint
Venue and Caterer: Peabody Hotel
Paper lanterns and tissue paper: Oriental Trading

New Year’s Eve with Allison and Adam

 

I could not think of a better way to spend the start of 2012 than celebrating with Allison and Adam.

 

 

Vendor Information:

The Dress: Paloma Blanca, Low’s Bridal in Brinkley
Shoes: Badgley Mischka, Nordstrom
Veil: Hand-made, by the bride’s grandmother
Bridesmaids dresses: J Crew
Mensware:  Men’s Warehouse
Hair: ShaRhonda Adams
Makeup: Alicia Mauldin
Flowers: Curly Willow
Cake: Blue Cake Company
Music and lighting: Central Arkansas Entertainment; Pianist, Pam Smith; Vocalist, Jeremy Wilson
Invites/program and other paper items: Hobart’s Printing
Davors: Donation in honor of guests to Wounded Warrior Project
Reception and Caterer: Clinton Presidential Center and Forty-two restaurant
Transportation: Vintage Motor Car Company (car), The Princess’s Carriage, Rose Bud, AR (horse drawn carriage)
Videographer: IOU productions, Monroe, LA
Photographer: MOI at Photography by KES Weddings

Love at Any Age

The vast majority of my wedding clients get married young.  And when I say young, I mean younger than me.  I turned 40 *GASP* on Tuesday so most of my clients are typically in the 20s and 30s.

 

Wendy and Jim are the exception.

 

Jim e-mailed me in July asking me about my services.  Since Jim is from Oxfordshire, UK, his English (true English) was a bit different than most of my typical inquiries.  I often get spam e-mail from people overseas wanting to book me ASAP and then they ask for my banking info.  Yea….right.  Since Jim said specifically when (December) and where they were getting married, I felt this was legit.  So I called the venue, The Lookout Point Lakeside Inn in Hot Springs, and verified they were real.

 

Since the Lookout is a B&B, they only needed two hours of time.  I’ve shot at Lookout several times and I was been happy to tailor something just for Jim and Wendy.

 

So we got things booked and it was life as usual until their December wedding.

 

When I arrive at the Inn, I found two women looking at the wedding cake in the parlor.  One lady appeared to be in her 20s and the other a little older, perhaps late 40s.  I saw them and assumed the younger woman was Wendy.  But after listening to them for a moment, I realized that Wendy was the older lady….and I was delighted.

 

After making introductions, Wendy and Christina headed upstairs to get dressed.  Christina was Jim’s niece.  I photographed Wendy for a bit and then headed down to meet Jim.  He reminded me of my dad.  All smiles and loving life.  After all, he was getting married in less than an hour.

 

After countless young couples, it was so refreshing to meet and photograph someone a little older.

 

The wedding was small, less than 10 people.  In attendance was: Jim, Wendy, Jim’s sister Karen, her children Christina and James, Christina’s husband Kevin and their cute-as-a-button son Grant and Gwen, a close family friend. A unique thing about this wedding is that per British tradition, when the bride comes down the aisle (or stairs in this case) the grooms back is turned until she meets him.  Also, during the toast, the first toast is to the Queen, not the bride and groom.  It was just a little different.

 

And unlike older couple who often remarry at their ages.  This was their first wedding.  Jim is 57 and Wendy 48.  I asked him to tell me how they met.

 

“Wendy joined a web site that I was on and I got in touch with Wendy.  We then talked on the phone, then we met in person.  Quite early on, we both knew we were right for each other.  Then I proposed on Feb., 14, Valentines Day, which took Wendy by complete surprise.  We were thinking of getting married at Christmas time in America, so we could share our special day with the family.  So we finally decided on Hot Springs, as it was near to where my sister Karen lived.  We then looked at venues in Hot Springs, and our first choice was the Lookout Point Inn.  And the rest is history.”

 

I want to wish Jim and Wendy many happy years of love and marriage.  They have proven that you can find love at any age.

 

Brook & Jeremy

 

The week before Christmas, I headed back to one of my favorite out-of-state locations for Brook and Jeremy’s wedding, Kennett, MO.  I’ve had some fabulous clients from Kennett and it’s a fun place for a wedding.  Their service was at The Opera House and the reception at a nearby Church gymnasium.  While gyms are not the prettiest place for a reception, Brook and Jeremy’s decorators transformed that space into something really special.  They also proved you can have a wedding close to Christmas and it NOT be in the token red and green color theme.  Brook and Jeremy chose purple and silver and the results were so perfect.

 

 

The Wonderful Vendors

Dress: MAGGIE SOTTERO from Joy’s Bridal– Sikeston,MO
BM dresses: Alfred Sung from Dessy
Menswear: Calvin Klein also from Joy’s Bridal and formal
Hair and makeup: Brooke Hodges and Mandy Sutton of Ashley’s Salon, Kennett
Cake and Flowers: Lou Greer, Marked Tree, AR
Invites: Scherer Genius, Kennett
Programs: Mom, Inc. :-)
Favors: Oriental Trading
Caterer: The Traveling Wisk, owner: Pat Mitchell
Coordinator/wedding planner: Tana Stewart (reception) Wedding: Becky Crawford
Photographer: Photography by KES Weddings

Shawna & Lee

 

They say if it rains on your wedding day, it’s good luck.  If that’s the case, then Shawna & Lee will have a long and very happy life together.  For their big day at the end of November, it rained…and rained…and rained.  For Shawna, who had meticulously planned for months to make her OUTDOOR wedding a perfect event, the weather had other plans.

They chose An Enchanted Evening in Roland as their setting.  I was there the week before photographing Lisa and Zack’s big day.  But with the rain, everything had to be moved indoors.  Friends and family and the venue scrambled to get everything inside in time for the service. Shawna nearly cried when she saw how perfect everything was.  It was so perfect, you’d think she planned an indoor wedding from the start.

Rain or not, it was a perfect wedding and she looked stunning!!  Lee was pretty darn cute too!  Congrats to you both.

 

 

The Wonderful Vendors:
Dress: Allure Couture. Purchased at Conway Tux and Bridal
Mensware: Perry Ellis. Perry Ellis Outlet Store “Boston”
Hair: Utopia Salon in Bryant
Flowers: Tipton and Hurst
Cake: Blue Cake Co.
Music:  Mark David (acoustic guitar)
Invites: By Invitation Only
Favors; Homemade (Draw string bags with Hershey kisses)
Caterer: YaYa’s Euro Bistro
Lighted Orbs: Eventures
Rings: Kyle and Rochelle
Photography: Moi, at Photography by KES Weddings

Lisa & Zach

Lisa and Zach had an absolutely lovely wedding on a late fall day in November.  Instead of using red, yellow and orange, the usual fall color palate, she chose to mix things up a bit with a deep fire orange and purple.  It was an excellent choice.

The service and reception was an An Enchanted Evening in Roland, Arkansas.  This was the first time I had photographed here and I really liked it.  With a near 180-degree view on Pinnacle Mountain, it was a very nice setting.

The hardest part of this wedding was waiting on the reception.  As Lisa and Zach said their vows, the caterer was grilling smoked sausages from the dining area below and the luscious scent was wafting upwards and it made everyone hungry.

A unique touch was Zach’s father gave them each a huge flower lei from his native home of Hawaii and it was an incredibly fragrant lei.  So so lovely too.

The best touch?  The music.  Lisa and Zach chose to do their own iPod playlist and any reception with CCR, Elvis and the Violent Femmes gets my vote for the most eclectic mix yet!!

 

 

Vendor Information:

Dress: Sottero and Midgley, Low’s Bridal and Formal in Brinkley
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Bridesmaids chose their own styles:  Bill Levkof;  Alfred Sung, The Bridal Cottage in NLR; Mori Lee, Low’s Bridal and Formal; Antonio Melani, Dillards.
Tuxes: Reaction by Kenneth Cole with Rio Chocolate Vest, Men’s Wearhouse in Little Rock
Hair and Makeup: Amber Westbrook (Bride’s Sister)
Bride’s Hair Accessory: Holly Sutton, Fancy Pants Hair Bows on Etsy
Flowers: Jo Stoltz and Sandra Curtis (Family Friends)
Ceremony and Reception Decor: Jo Stoltz
Catering: Jo Stoltz
Cakes: Debra Brown
Cake Topper: April Hiler, April Hiler Designs on Etsy
Favors: Homemade Caramels from Cat’s Candy in Rector, Arkansas
Music: Zach and Lisa’s Playlist
Invitations: Invitation Consulants
Programs: Designed by Bride
Guest Book: Emily Hendren, Lazy Lightning Art on Etsy
Photography:  Photography by KES Weddings
 

Kelly & Matt

 

Oh how I love fall!  I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love fall weddings, especially outdoor weddings.  I don’t like the heat… not one single bit.  I got married myself in November for a reason.  But there are countless reasons to get married in the fall, aside from warm days and crisp nights.  Another obvious reason is the built-in color pallet.  But some brides choose to get married in the fall and steer clear of the hues of red, orange and yellow.

 

Not Kelly and Matt.  They used natures perfect colors and ran with it.  I shot their wedding on the last Saturday in October on the perfect day.  They chose the home of Matt’s parents and the venue for both the wedding and reception.  They live on a gazillion acres in Ferndale so there was no shortage of room.

 

With a service starting a sunset, and a smile on their faces that was endless, it truly was a perfect event.  See for yourself.

 

 

Vendor Information:

Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Low’s in Brinkley.
Belt: Proposal’s – Little Rock
Alterations: Connie at Natural Steps
Shoes: Vince Camuto, Dillards
Bridesmaids dresses:  Cynthia Rowley from Proposal’s in Little Rock
Menswear: Suits from Jos A Banks and ties from Greenhaw’s in Little Rock
Hair and makeup: Hair: Alicia Perry – Tower Barber Salon and Makeup: Angela Alexander
Flowers: Becky Clement – Inspired by Nature
Cake/cupcakes: Mary Moses
Music: Ceremony – Arkansas Symphony String Quartet. 
Reception – The Blue Silk Bank
Invites and other paper items: Molly’s Paperie
Doggie beverage napkins: Party Basics
Caterer: Catering an Affair to Remember
Coordinator/wedding planner: Mrs. Shelia Vaught
Hostess and family gifts: The Full Moon

 

Bridals with Kelly

 

I shot Kelly and Matt’s engagement photos in late May at the location of their wedding.  WOW!  What a location!  I could not wait until October.  I knew it was going to be stunning.  But for the engagement session, it was such a sticky hot and miserable day, but we made it through.  You can see their engagement photos here.

 

So I was counting the days until it was time to shoot her bridals in the fall.  They were married at the end of October in what was a perfect wedding.  I’ll have their wedding posted in a few days, but here are her oh-so-lovely bridals.

 

 

Vendor Information:
Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Low’s in Brinkley.
Belt from Proposal’s – Little Rock
Shoes: Vince Camuto, Dillards
Hair: Alicia Perry – Tower Barber Salon
Makeup: Angela Alexander
Location: Whisperwood Ranch.  A private home.

Ashley & Adam Engagements

I hate hate postponing photo sessions.  But on the rare occasion, the weather forces me to do so.  For our first scheduled session with Ashley and Adam, the weather geeks were forecasting 1-2 inches of rain and lots of wind.  So we canceled.  As you can imagine, we got no rain and it was a total wasted opportunity.

 

So we moved the session back a few weeks and oh my…the weather could not have been more perfect.  We shot at one of my all-time favorite locations, Scott, Arkansas.  I cannot tell you how much I love this place.  It was an overcast day which is perfect weather for photos and right as the sun was starting to set, the skies cleared for a perfect sky.  See for yourself.

 

Jessica & Curtis Engagments

Jessica and Curtis contacted me a few months back seeking engagement photos and bridal photos.  They are getting married on a cruise in September 2012 so they were just needing the e-session and bridals.  I tried my best to convince them they needed to take me along for their photos but oh, well…it didn’t work.

 

Regardless, I loved meeting them and shoot their e-session in Roland.

 

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