Kelly + Chris = MARRIED!

On 5/22, we photographed Chris & Kelly’s beautiful wedding at St. Peter & Paul and reception at the Columbia Club. They had so many gorgeous details and surprises for us to shoot, it was a lot of fun! Check out Kelly’s gorgeous necklace (above) and shoes!

The church looked stunning!

They really like artsy shots and creative angles, especially since Chris is an architect! Loved this one in black & white…

Bubbles + carriage exit! 🙂

Doesn’t Kelly resemble Cameron Diaz?! WOW!! 🙂

They are soooo adorable together! 🙂

After their carriage ride, we stopped by the monument for a few photos…

Thistle & Moss did a great job on their flowers!

We love shooting at the Columbia Club, it’s such a gorgeous venue!

I LOVED their centerpieces!!

Isn’t this cute? 🙂

Chris popped the champagne bottle!

Rose petals in the champagne glasses?! It doesn’t get any classier than this! 😉

Chris surprised Kelly by singing to her before their first dance, isn’t that sweet? 🙂 (He was REALLY good!!)

The window light was so perfect for silhouettes…loved this shot of Kelly!

Joel Nowacki from Track Seven was their DJ, he was a super nice guy and even took some pics of them and posted them to facebook after the event…we both happened to shoot at the same time and got this awesome shot! (We planned it, right Joel?) 😉

LOVE LOVE LOVE this!

Another cool silhouette!

This poor little guy was so tired, he fell asleep before the party even began! LOL

But this cutie was up and dancing on the dance floor long into the night! 🙂

The view from the 10th floor at the Columbia Club is amazing!

They surprised their guests with a candy buffet later in the evening…everyone LOVED it!

And of course, my first thought was “RING SHOT!” 🙂

Chris actually made that shirt (“I love my hot wife”)…isn’t that adorable?! 🙂

The Columbia Club really knows how to make the couple’s wedding night special! Monogrammed chocolate strawberries + extra pieces of wedding cake + champagne = no detail overlooked! 🙂 Love it!

Hope you guys had a blast on your fabulous honeymoon!! More pics coming soon! 🙂

10 Tips for Looking Fabulous in Your Wedding Photos!

1. Do a trial run with your hair stylist & make-up artist before the wedding. Look through the make-up artist’s portfolio and really look at each image. Does the client’s skin look flawless? Are they shiny in photos? Is the make-up blended well? Do the brides in their portfolios look the way you want to look? If so, then you’ve probably found a great make-up artist for your wedding day make-up. Have them do your make-up before the wedding though so that you can see if you enjoy working with them and so that there are no unpleasant surprises. Some make-up artists include a trial run in their wedding day fee, others charge extra, but I think it’s an extra expense that is well worth it. (This goes for your wedding day hairstylist too) Peace of mind is everything when it comes to your wedding day!
2. Find a make-up artist that specializes in airbrush make-up. Airbrush make-up is no longer reserved for the red carpet stars! Brides all over the country are seeking airbrush application because not only is it light weight make-up that makes the skin appear flawless, but it lasts much longer than traditional make-up and it helps avoid the forehead shine in your photos. Karen Hall & Company specializes in airbrush make-up in Indianapolis and travels all over the Midwest and beyond for weddings, contact her today for a consultation and trial run!
3. Avoid red lipstick on the wedding day. Unless you are doing a very specific, themed look for your wedding (old Hollywood glam, for example) I always suggest that my brides avoid red lipstick, especially if they like the look of black and white photos. Not many people think about this, but the red pigments in the red lipstick will actually turn your lips black in black and white photography. Just another tip from a seasoned pro. 😉
4. Hire a full-time professional photographer. Everyone is looking for ways to save money on their wedding nowadays, especially in our current economic climate, but fabulous photography is absolutely priceless. A professional photographer will guide you through the entire wedding process with ease, know what to expect on the wedding day, have back-up equipment on them, be able to handle all kinds of lighting situations, and know how to pose you to make you look your absolute best. Did you know that by turning your body at an angle and shifting your weight to your back foot while pointing your other foot forward, you can instantly lose 10-20 pounds through the camera? Yep, it’s true. A seasoned pro should be able to tell you these kinds of tricks and secrets so that you look AMAZING in your photos.
5. Avoid salty foods at your rehearsal dinner. The night before your wedding is not the time to begin to feel like you’re retaining water! We all know how awful that feels so just remember to keep your salt intake low the night before the wedding so that your dress fits perfectly the next morning.
6. Remember to eat breakfast and stay hydrated! So many brides forget to eat the morning of their wedding or they don’t stay hydrated throughout the day. Most people get pretty cranky when their blood sugar is low or they begin to feel dehydrated so don’t forget to take care of yourself. We always bring a small cooler of cold waters and some granola bars with us to take care of our brides and grooms in case they forget to eat or drink, I think it’s the small things that mean the most. 😉
7. Bring a touch up kit with you on the wedding day. We always suggest that our clients include powder, lipstick, lip gloss, a comb and a mini can of hairspray in their touch-up kit or purse. Have your maid of honor be in charge of keeping it nearby in case you need a quick touch-up after the ceremony.
8. Wear comfortable shoes! I can’t tell you how many of our clients have been overly appreciative of the extra slippers that we include in our emergency kit once they realize that their shoes are killing their feet half way through photos. Make sure you wear your wedding day shoes around the house to break them in, and don’t forget to put grippy steps on the bottom of your shoes so that you don’t slip and fall down the aisle. Some brides opt to bring a second pair of shoes (or slippers, flip flops, etc) to the reception so that they can change their shoes after the grand entrance into the reception, which I think is a great idea!
9. Have someone carry your garter for you. Most of the garters that we’ve seen are really tight and totally uncomfortable. Put it on your leg for a photo during the getting ready process and then give it to a trusted friend (or put it in your purse/touch-up kit) to carry with you throughout the day, and then put it on right before the garter toss at the reception. That way you aren’t uncomfortable all day long.
10. Smile and have a good time! Laugh and let loose in front of the camera…just be yourself and show off that wonderful love that you have for each other. The happiness and affection will show through in the photos that you’ll treasure for a lifetime!