My friend from college, Yogi, had a lovely wedding in DC … I wanted to share some of my favorite photos!!  Check out those Manolo Blahnik’s… classy lady!

Many of you saw my last posts regarding my matchmaking skills, as I claim TOTAL responsibility for the love between my friends Andrea & John.    Well, one thing I can’t claim is the vision behind this modern bucolic fairytale wedding at Cedarwood in Nashville, TN.   Cedarwood does weddings for a living, and they do it right!  Specializing in the “Chic side of Country,” they offer a breathtaking backdrop with their 1830’s antebellum farm estate.   Andrea & John had an amazing day with a perfect outdoor wedding ceremony deserving of a fairytale.  But I would expect nothing less from a fellow North Carolina gal!  I loved that they allowed their “child” (their dog) to be a part of the ceremony, as John involved the pup as part of his proposal.  Very fitting.  Check out the pictures from Angela Anderson Photography below.

Wayyyy back when (5 years ago), I introduced two of my friends to each other on Halloween night in Cincinnati. The rest, as they say, is history.  Andrea & John are a gorgeous couple and I just love their laid back style & influence. Check out their awesome engagement photos.  Their wedding photos will be posted next!  All photography by Angela Anderson Photography.

Do you ever talk to other women who are engaged and hear about the unexpected ways their grooms proposed? I love hearing stories from my brides about the men who plan something totally unique and meaningful whether than just blurting out the question during a normal dinner. Hopefully not a lot of guys out there are still doing that, but you would be surprised the stories I hear. That’s why I was excited to find that the local Aquarium here in Cincinnati (Newport Aquarium) offers Wedding Proposal packages. There are currently 3 options of how the Aquarium can make your proposal memorable:
1. The Penguin Proposal: It’s what you think it is… these cute, tuxedoed groomsmen may not make it to the wedding, but they can still help you pop the question. The groom and bride-to-be will get an exclusive, 20-minute encounter with three African Penguins, who will crowd around her while the groom drops to one knee. The Penguin House can accommodate up to 12 guests if you want to have family/friends watching your special moment.

2. A Very Engaging Dive Show: A fun date to the aquarium becomes the surprise of her life when the groom joins the audience for a seemingly normal dive show. When the curtains rise to reveal a diver in the tank holding a sign that reads, “Will You Marry Me?” the gasp you hear won’t be for air. The final step is simple – seal it with a kiss. Your special moment can take place in any of these underwater exhibits: Amazon, Coral Reef or Surrounded by Sharks.

3. The Behind-the-Scenes Tour: The aquarium offers a 40-minute behind-the-scenes tour of their facilities. Then, when she least expects it, the groom can give her the highlight of the tour – a proposal she’ll never forget.

What other creative and memorable ideas do you have?  How did your groom propose?

Well, the July 4th holiday is almost here and what better way to celebrate other than grilling out, watching fireworks, and getting a discount on stationary?! Check out Wedding Paper Divas sitewide sale for Independence Day and use the codes below for even more of a discount!  Happy Shopping!

Marie & Dave, both coworkers at my company here in Cincinnati, OH tied the knot in May, and I wanted to showcase some of their lovely photos taken by Steve Lyons. Their ceremony location, the Saint Mary Cathedral – Basilica was absolutely STUNNING and Marie’s choice of dress and decorations truly fit in with the elegant and timeless decor. The lace, the pearls, the beautiful purple bridesmaids dresses… Marie is a woman after my own heart! Dave is one lucky man! Enjoy!

With Father’s Day just around the corner, here’s a compilation of beautiful father-daughter dance songs to make even your daddy tear up.  Your Dad’s probably been thinking about this moment since the day you were born, so make sure it’s as memorable for him as it is for you.  Here is Get Married’s top ten song picks for your Father Daughter dance.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love good deals and cute stuff. Particularly stationary. Which is why I got more than a little excited when I discovered May’s awesome deal over at Wedding Paper Divas.

So, whether you’re planning a summer destination wedding or shopping for a dreamy autumn celebration, shop their May Sitewide Sale to take advantage of special savings on stylish wedding invitations, save the date cards, bridal shower invitations and more! Just enter the code WPDMAY at checkout to save $10 off orders of $75 or more, $25 off orders of $149 or more or $50 off orders of $299 or more. Plus, don’t forget to add free shipping to your order with the code FREESHIP. Offer expires at 11:59 pm (PT) on 5/25/10.

I absolutely love looking through photographer’s blogs to see engagement photos.  The love that you can see radiating from the eyes of each of the couples just makes me all warm & fuzzy inside.  But then, there’s something more.  There’s always something unique about each couple’s particular photos, besides the actual couple themselves… there is the outdoor lighting that just makes a photo standout.  That one moment in each day where the PERFECT lighting is available for photographer’s to take advantage of.  Sometimes it’s a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds, looking like the gates of heaven are opening at the kiss of a couple.  Other times it is the beautiful heat lightning that streaks the sky before a storm.  Whatever it is, there is always something beautiful with natural lighting, even if it is just the particular shadows that it is casting at that moment.  So, below are a few of my fave photos using natural available lighting. 

First through third image is Melody Smith of Twilight Images.  Last image by Rothwell Photography.

One of my friends from high school in Virginia has just gotten engaged, and I couldn’t be happier for him. What a small world, as it turns out, that he & his fiance have selected my favorite photographer (the photographer from my own wedding), Melody Smith of Twilight Images. I was so excited to see their photos from their engagement session. It looks like Melody had a ton of fun with them! What a great looking couple… congrats again!!

All images copyright of Twilight Images.