Inspired Shoot :: A Garden Reception

Welcome back to the third and final installment of our inspiration shoot. For this last shoot we all got up at 5am (earlier for Jamie and her crew) to prepare everything, just for you . It was a good idea we did though, as even at that early hour it was still quite warm and humid–a very typical Virginia summer. But everyone, especially our lovely talent, handled it with aplomb.

Everything turned out beautifully, and today we’re highlighting the happy couple’s intimate reception held in the hidden-gem-of-a-garden at the gorgeous Clifton Inn. If you haven’t already seen them, be sure to check out the proposal, and the engagement party. Oh, and the awesome feature on What Junebug Loves!

Once again, our sincere thanks to the fab team for donating their time, talent, and goods to make this everything it could be. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Venue: Clifton Inn
Event Design: Simply Chic Events
Floral Design: Pat’s Floral Designs
Make-Up: Lora Elaine Kelley
Hair: Jennifer with Elan
Stationary: Rock Paper Scissors
Wedding Cake: Mahlia’s Creations
Signage and Calligraphy: Nichole Creative
Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza
Groom’s Apparel: J. Crew

Love the guests names written on mirrored end tables!

Love the ombre!

Whoo-hoo! And the happy couple rides off into the sunset. Or to lunch. Either way, they’re doing it in style thanks to our ’85 Baby Benz making its debut appearance.

It was worth all the sleep deprivation (yawn), mosquito bites (ouch), blood (damn mosquitos), sweat (lots of it) and tears (happy ones to be sure) -  we are so incredibly psyched about how fun this shoot was with everyone and feel so lucky and honored to have been a part of it all. Above all, we want to thank to the fabulous ladies of Simply Chic Events – Jamie, Jessica, Kate & Claire – it was ultimately your dream and inspiration and we can’t thank you enough for including us as collaborators on your shoot and trusting us to capture your vision. So when can we do it all again? Ha! ;-D

With Great Joy,
…a&b

 

Inspired Shoot :: An Engagement Party

Welcome back happy people! Did you get to check out the first part of our inspired shoot, a picnic proposal yesterday? Today we’re sharing the happy couple’s engagement party, hosted by Maya & Josh, who have gotten some press here of late, celebrating their anniversary, a Junebug feature, and of course their own wedding! We found Clifton Inn’s Colina Farm house to be the perfect setting for the festivities that evening.

We can’t thank our incredible vendors enough for all their hard work!

Venue: Clifton Inn
Event Design: Simply Chic Events
Floral Design: Pat’s Floral Designs
Make-Up: Lora Elaine Kelley
Hair: Jennifer with Elan
Stationary: Rock Paper Scissors
Wedding Cake: Mahlia’s Creations
Signage and Calligraphy: Nichole Creative
Bride & Groom’s Apparel: J. Crew

The perfect POP!

While the ladies gush over the ring….

the boys enjoy cigars on the front porch at twilight.

Oh, what’s that…you want more? Well, we certainly don’t want to disappoint you then. Come back tomorrow for the intimate and sweet garden reception full of gorgeous details. You won’t want to miss their getaway in a certain classic car, too!

 

Inspired Shoot :: A Marriage Proposal

We knew when we did an inspiration  shoot we wanted to do something different, something more than just pretty pictures of pretty things and pretty people. When we spoke with our friend and fellow wedding pro Jamie Sears of Simply Chic Events, we all conceived of something with a real couple, doing things that real people would do, keeping it as relatable as possible. Since we love us some great moments, we knew we wanted to involve some of our favorite past clients.

So we called up our dear friends Eric and Lora Kelley, whose wedding we shot back in 2008, and who were eager to return to the site of their wedding and serve as our primary models for this three part shoot. We did it over two admittedly sultry days at picturesque Clifton Inn here in Charlottesville. It was important for us to create a team of professionals who regularly provide the highest-quality work for their clients, and since our little ‘burb is often a destination for weddings, we thought how nice it would be to highlight some of these wonderfully talented and hard-working pros?

We’re so grateful to all the dedication everyone put in to it, for Brigitte and the entire Clifton staff for their hospitality, and especially for the inspiration and good old-fashioned hard work that Jamie and her team, including Jessica, Kate, and Claire brought to the shoot. The Simply Chic Events team wanted to show how you can take something you love (in this case, the modern and very current chevron pattern) and seamlessly weave it into not only your wedding day, but all your big events leading up to the big day.

We were all thrilled to see the shoot featured on the What Junebug Loves wedding blog yesterday and thought we’d share some more of our favorites from the shoot this week. First up, of course, a sweet picnic proposal!

If you’re planning a wedding in Charlottesville, we can’t recommend the following talented wedding professionals highly enough.

Venue: Clifton Inn
Event Design: Simply Chic Events
Floral Design: Pat’s Floral Designs
Make-Up: Lora Elaine Kelley
Hair: Jennifer with Elan
Stationary: Rock Paper Scissors
Wedding Cake: Mahlia’s Creations
Signage and Calligraphy: Nichole Creative
Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza
Groom’s Apparel: J. Crew

The shoots encompassed three parts, shot in order, starting with a proposal from Eric to Lora. After you look through all this gorgeousness, check in tomorrow for the couple’s happy engagement party (with a surprise appearance from another of our past clients). Enjoy!

Join us tomorrow when we have the Engagement Party for you!

xoxo,
…a&b

 

SnapHappy Photo Booth at the Dumbarton House Party

Did you already check out all the fab and fun detail and people shots from the end-of-summer party at Dumbarton House?  As we mentioned, of course, SnapHappy just had to attend, as well. Is a party really a party without a photo booth? We have our doubts.

We found some vintage inspired fabric for our backdrop and brought some fun 20′s inspired props with us. The gangster Tommy Gun was a huge hit with Bill, as well, as many of our fellow wedding pros. Ha! Not quite sure what that says about us. ;-D

Oh, and if you’re a Holland Photo Arts client and want this kind of fun from the SnapHappy photo booth at your wedding, just give us a ring!

A&B+K!

 

End of Summer Party at Dumbarton House

Every year we’re lucky enough to get to attend DC’s most stylish & fun party for wedding professionals. We always have so much fun getting to say goodbye to Summer and catch up with friends & colleagues as we all head into the busy Fall season. (Although, this year, we had a crazy busy Spring AND Summer season, too. Yea!) The sweet and stylish co-hosts, who always bring the par-tay: Jamie Sears of Simply Chic Events, Pam Barefoot of ATrendy Wedding, and Laura Weatherly of Engaging Affairs.

This year was even better as we got to photograph the Gatsby-inspired soiree at beautiful Dumbarton House in DC. There were lawn games, a cigar lounge, beautiful white florals with feathers, and even pie favors! Snap Happy made an appearance as well & we’ll share those fun pics later this afternoon. Guests were invited to wear white and we brought 20′s inspired photo booth props to keep everyone in the mood. A special shout-out to our assistant Karen for coming out to help and party with us. Woot!

Thank you so much ladies for inviting us to photograph one of your most gorgeous soirees yet! Do we really have to wait until 2012 for the next one?? ;-D

Hair by Giselle and make-up by Noor Kazoun for Jamie, Pam, Laura & yours truly! Such a treat!

You’re invited! Just gorgeous invitations from the Dandelion Patch.

Signage by Pretty Mail Calligraphy.

Nick Perez of Multiflor provided so many visual treats with his floral displays. Amazing as always.

Capital Party Rentals and Capital Decor and Events provided much of the beautiful furniture.

There’s an instruction we can get behind.

Pie sisters! Love that name.

These ladies (and gentleman–hidden) of Carte Blanche from Elan Artists did an amazing job entertaining everyone that evening.

Well Dunn Catering provided gorgeous treats that almost looked too good to eat. Yum!

The ladies presented an anniversary cake (baked by Kendall’s Cakes) to the happy couple (below)!

Kelly & Patrick – together for 20 years! Congratulations, you two!

Such a fun evening all around! Stay tuned for some of the fun shots from the world-famous SnapHappy Studio!