April 21, 2014

Featured by Glamour and Grace || Romantic, Vintage Wedding at Maison Montegut

April 21, 2014/ Kourtney Amelia

Designing her wedding reception to "feel like coming home" to her mother's house, Mary made sure to select decor details that spoke to her heart. All the crystal, lace, silver, mercury glass, and family photos were brought in by her mother for this truly romantic event at Maison Montegut. We are excited to announce that our film has been featured alongside the work of their fantastic New Orleans photographer, Mark Eric, in the blog for brides who love vintage and handmade details, Glamour and Grace.

Enjoy their full film below. Mary's personal touches and gifts for her groom and family will have you misty-eyed in minutes, I promise! Plus, every location seems like a scene out of Downton Abbey, between the historic venue locations and the classic Victorian outfits worn by the bridesmaids and ring bearers.

For a full look at the beautiful photography from the event, you must check out Mark Eric's blog. Here's a little sneak peek at why we think he's one of the best wedding photographers around:

Bridal Prep & Groom Prep: The Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans

123 Baronne St New Orleans, LA 70112

(504) 648-1200

Ceremony: Christ Church Cathedral

Reception: Maison Montegut

Event Planner: Elyse Skansi, Tying the Knot Wedding Coordination

Photographer: Mark Eric

Catering: Joel's

Florist: Iris Floral and Event Design Studio

Cocktail Hour Music: John Royen Band

2nd Line Band: The Jaywalkers

Reception Entertainment: Crystal Clear Band

April 15, 2014

Lubbock Wedding || In Joy and In Sorrow || Kelcee + Andrew, the full film

April 15, 2014/ Kourtney Amelia

Kelcee and Andrew are the kind of people who are known for "bringing spice" to everyone's lives. They are smiling adventurers who delight in their friends; they are never short of being entertaining, and they are reliable allies. Their West Texas wedding is filled with the kind of fun details that, while not common, are consistent with the cutest of weddings -- they had a University of Texas "track-and-field" themed groom's cake, quirky photo-booth props, a buffet with southern delights like pickled okra, a surprise choreographed mother-son dance, and a whole troupe of adorable flower girls accompanied by one tuxedo-clad, flag-waving ring bearer.

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What might surprise you about their story is the sheer strength of their love, because while Kelcee and Andrew are both bold, witty people, their boldness is matched by their kindness. In fact, Andrew's mother Sharon stood in front of the crowd at the rehearsal dinner, and in her speech, she confessed that several years ago when she found out Andrew was dating someone she didn't know, she "researched" Kelcee among her friends and relatives to find out what this young lady was like. What she learned of Kelcee's compassion and character was so overwhelming that it caused her to say, "we loved you before we even knew you."

Several months ago, Jones was initially contacted by Andrew's mother Sharon to film this event. We are often contacted by parents, so what made her call unique was that we had already filmed her daughter's wedding a few years ago, and she was now interested in having us film her youngest son Andrew's wedding. We already consider this job to be an honor and a privilege, but it is truly humbling to be invited into the life of a family repeatedly and see their legacy bloom to the next generation over the years.

The weekend began with a hunting-themed rehearsal dinner at Caprock Winery, just outside of Lubbock, TX. Andrew and his groomsmen had spent the afternoon getting their final fittings for their tuxes, and joined the whole party for the rehearsal at the church. As guests rushed inside to escape the (unseasonably) wintery West Texas wind, they found the comforts of a crackling fire, sweet potato soup appetizers, a live guitarist strumming love songs, and wine stored from ceiling to floor. Their menu included a top tier signature salad with goat cheese coulis, micro field greens, spiced pecans and mandarin oranges with roasted maple syrup, followed by a grilled beef tenderloin with Texas Tech signature sauce and cedar planked salmon garnished with fresh dill and rosemary, roasted potatoes and winter vegetables. The dinner was capped off with toasts, a molten lava cake, and gifts of boots for all the groomsmen.

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The surprise wintery weather met the groomsmen on the golf course the next morning, but nothing could squash the men's happy spirits as they played golf and enjoyed one another's company. Jack-rabbits sprinted in and out of the scramble as the sun melted the frost off of the greens, and the Cash Foundation clubhouse staff was quick to deliver coffee and hot chocolate to keep the group warm.

Kelcee, on the other hand, spent her morning getting ready at the church. Amidst the bridesmaids in gold dresses and flower girls learning how to use their petal wands (see the video, it's pretty cute!), Andrew's mother and father had a special gift they presented to their new daughter-in-law: a bracelet with heirloom gold and jewels from Andrew's family heritage. The jewels were set in a cross charm that was modeled after the cross that stands on the altar at the church where the ceremony was happening. They had done the same thing for their eldest daughter, Elizabeth, and for their second son's wife, too.

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This bracelet and many other details were specifically chosen to honor their loved ones and friends who had passed away. The groomsmen each wore a special lapel pin in remembrance of Kelcee's brother who had died when Kelcee was young from a congenital heart defect, and Kelcee also gave Andrew a special pocket-watch and coin to honor one of Andrew's close friends who had passed away. Andrew and Kelcee shared with us that this was how they chose to represent that even though these special people couldn't be at the wedding, their love for them was very present and very real.

Kelcee & Andrew's story of how they have cherished & supported each other by giving honor to their loved ones who have passed away is affirmation of the power of love. In their wedding vows, they promised to support each other in joy and in sorrow, and in many ways, they already have. Their love is a strong reminder to us all that grief and loss can be comforted with compassion, and that life is fullest when we live purposefully, taking every opportunity to share joy, tenderness, and affection with each other in a close-knit community.

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Ceremony Venue: First United Methodist Church Lubbock

1411 Broadway Lubbock, TX 79401

Rehearsal Dinner Venue: CapRock Winery

408 E Woodrow Rd Lubbock, TX 79423

Reception Venue: The Historic Baker Building

1211 13th St Lubbock, TX 79401

Florist: Box of Rain Floral

Reception Entertainment Band: The Atlantics

Photography: Helen Byrd

Wedding Videographer: Mason Jar Films

p.s. join us on facebook! We'd love to hear from you.

April 15, 2014

We've been featured! Rustic Lake-side Wedding || Once In A Lifetime

April 15, 2014/ Kourtney Amelia

[pix_dropcap]W[/pix_dropcap]hat an honor! An online German bridal magazine (similar to Style Me Pretty) has featured Kellye & Dustin's wedding video & story as an example of true romance. Who could argue with that when they see that these childhood sweethearts exchanged personalized vows like these?

"I promise to kiss you

first thing each morning,

and last thing each evening,

so long as we both shall live."

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Click here to see the perfect rustic wedding photos that Genya from Vue Photography took at the event. The famed Tara Wilson (who has been featured on morning shows like the TODAY show and many more!) of Tara Wilson Events coordinated and designed this backyard soirée.

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Ceremony & Reception Venue: Private Home

Event Design, Styling & Coordination: Tara Wilson & Lee Anne Jackson of Tara Wilson Events

Photographer: Vue Photography Catering: Sissy's Southern Kitchen

Florist: Branching Out

Reception Band: The Good Nights

Cake: Cake Walk Bake Shop

paper goods: Blue Eye Brown Eye

Bride's Dress: Monique Lhuillier

Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin

April 10, 2014

The Most Overwhelming Moment in a Wedding || Embracing a Good Cry

April 10, 2014/ Kourtney Amelia

We've all seen it before -- the impending cry. At a moment when you least expect it, a bride or groom will suddenly become hushed -- their face will start to scrunch a little, or a once-resolute chin will quiver, or, with no warning, a huge crocodile tear will start that rivery path down the side of a cheek. When Adam read that note from Natalie, his bride, we knew we had just witnessed a truly special moment (and you can, too! watch their full wedding film!).

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Some people enter their wedding with a certainty that they will or won't cry at some point over the course of the day. In our experience as wedding professionals, however, the emotions can hit a bride or groom at any point, and suddenly, there's no turning back -- if you're a bride and you're in the make-up chair, your artist will have lots of great suggestions to prevent your make up from smearing, like, "look upward" or "hold tissue just at the edge of your eye, but don't press or wipe, just let it absorb." Some people don't want to cry, and are determined not to, and they fight it---I've heard some people comment that they are afraid of the "ugly cry" face they might make. I happen to be of the firm belief that when it comes to happy tears, there's no such thing as an "ugly cry." Happy tears are only beautiful. So embrace the happy tears! These are precious moments, and you need to live in the moment, fully aware of what you're experiencing on your wedding day!

Here's a beautiful moment where Tara opened up her gift from her groom - a Cartier Love bracelet. Her happy tears were so sweet, it's the moment we chose for the opening scene of her wedding film. Alex chose to give her this bracelet both because she had always admired it, but also because their relationship started with the gift of a bracelet. Watch her full film here.

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In the spirit of embracing a beautiful cry, we want to share this next wedding video clip from the heirloom feature commissioned by one of our recent clients. Kellye is a bride who, with an open heart, truly embraced the emotions of the day, and one of my favorite moments from her wedding came during her father's toast. As he spoke about how he's looked forward to this day, he described that as Kellye grew up, waking up to her presence in their home everyday was "like Christmas morning, every morning." And if that wasn't enough to melt your heart, what happened next most certainly will.

Don't you just love that? We also thought that the confetti guns were a great way to celebrate the wedding ceremony kiss at an outdoor backyard wedding. You can watch the full wedding video here.

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"It doesn't get any better than this"

April 08, 2014

Second Line Tradition - Moments from weddings at The Roosevelt + The Ritz-Carlton

April 08, 2014/ Kourtney Amelia

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If you've never experienced a NOLA celebration, well, then let me tell you something - they do weddings right in New Orleans. Weddings are already unique amongst parties in that they are always a cheerful celebration of the joining of two circles of families, friends, and communities, and then adding the tradition of a second line just amps up the celebration level. What is a second line? A basic description would say that it is an informal parade of wedding guests lead by a live brass band through the streets of New Orleans. But those words don't do it justice, because what a second line does is something bigger.

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Imagine, for a minute, that it's the end of a wedding reception. You've spent the day being pampered with close friends and family, sipping mimosas, getting ready in leisure, taking portraits with everyone from your closest college friends to your great-great aunt, making sincere wedding vows, enjoying cocktails and home-style cajun cooking, and dancing the night away to live jazz, and now it's time to leave. But just because it's time to leave the wedding doesn't mean it's going to be over so soon. As you gather your things to leave, the sounds of a trumpet, tuba, and trombone are wafting through the halls to the ballroom. Suddenly, a whistle guides you to handkerchiefs, and you're dancing down the street following this band, waving your handkerchief to the beat of the music. As you dance through the french quarter streets with your wedding party, other NOLA residents wave and join in to dance with you for a few minutes. Some of them will join your parade for the entire time! Half an hour later, you can't wipe the smile off of your face from the fun that you've had. Everyone you pass by cheers along with you, because everyone knows: this is special, and worth celebrating.

Here are some scenes from second lines we've filmed in the past: