In The Lens Photography

Vintage Gown Shopping

2011-04-21T16:23:00.000-07:00

I really love vintage "anything" so when I found this article on Vintage Bridal Dresses at the RuffledBlog I was so excitedand couldn't wait to share.....

Vintage Gown Shopping Tips

Invest in a good tailor to take your measurements. Remember to bring the undergarments and heels that you will be wearing on the day-of. Keep in mind that you will be looking for a dress with slightly larger measurements to account for the different sizes, vintage typically fits smaller as well as to leave room for alterations. A good tailor should be able to remove or add sleeves, change the neckline and back closure, more on that below. Remember you can’t find two of the same when shopping for vintage wedding dresses, so don’t let it pass you by if you love it!
Some gowns may be too fragile to endure wearing for the whole day then dancing, especially delicate Edwardian cotton dresses dating 100+ years old. If you have your great-grandmother’s or your grandmother’s dress, and would like to honor it but can’t wear it, put it on a dress form for display at your reception or display photos of your family on their wedding days. We love the idea from this vintage wedding we featured a few years ago.

Not all vintage wedding dresses can be altered. Check carefully for rips, stains and other flaws. If you’re shopping online, read the listing description carefully or ask the seller directly. Minor defects are common in vintage dresses, especially the older they are, but often times they can be repaired. However, flaws such as sweat stains are irreparable. Gowns that are much larger than your size can also be very challenging to alter. If the gown is too large, a seamstress may have to nearly sew the gown from scratch which would certainly increase the overall cost.
Most vintage boutiques have already done the bulk of the work for you by handpicking vintage wedding dresses that are in excellent condition, in style, and ready to wear. Don’t hesitate to check out these shops if thrifting is too daunting of a prospect for you.

Paula of Mill Crest Vintage shares a few tips on what can a good tailor can do:

Add length: With banded inserts into the waistline or even added fabric to a hemline that complements other elements on a dress (like lace for example), length can certainly be added if the dress is too short. It really only takes a bit of imagination, creativity and someone who understands construction.

Add room in the bodice: Other things a good seamstress should be able to do might include recreating a back to a dress, change the button or corset closure, add invisible zipper, add bones or a bra insert in the bodice, shorten the skirt of a dress via the waist so as to not interfere with the integrity of a specially or intricately trimmed hemline, remove and replace a lining so as to add room.

Alter a neckline: A good seamstress can alter a neckline and even alter the silhouette of the gown. Other things that can be done is add gussets to create room in the bodice, add, shorten or remove sleeves, a add an attached petticoat or crinoline, reinforce and/or replace beading/sequins and buttons… many things that seem like they cannot be repaired can easily be repaired with the right seamstress. We have done all of these types of alterations for our brides…and it is truly one of the best parts of working with vintage.

Now go out and find your special vintage dress...

What a great quote....

2011-03-01T14:48:00.001-08:00

“The best gift you can give is a hug:
one size fits all and no one ever minds if you return it”

What a GREAT quote .....

Wedding Sites

2011-02-12T11:22:00.000-08:00

Just launched today... Google now has personalized wedding websites... a wedding planner, calendar, photos etc... just for Brides-to-be... check it out and let me know what you think!

Book Your Wedding Now....

2011-02-07T23:38:00.000-08:00

Engaged? Book your wedding and receive a GREAT and very useful gift.... A Wedding Planner...

Everything from lists, calendars, schedules and contracts can go in here.....
Rated as one of the 5 BEST wedding planners in Bridal Guide Magazine.

Featuring ...

* 3-Ring Binder

* Business Card Holder

* 14 tabbed sections

* 40 worksheets to record details

* Worksheets double as contracts

* Budget, Expense Worksheets

* Time Schedules, Checklists and Calendars

* "To Do" Forms and Delegating Duties list

* Pockets for Receipts, Swatches and Brochures

(Value at $35)
Can be seen at Borders and Barnes/ Noble Bookstores....

Visit our website..... Book Your Wedding ...
Receive Your Wedding Planner....

Ways to "leave" your guests in Ahhhhhh

2011-02-05T16:03:00.000-08:00

Give a lasting impression with a fabulous send-off....

There is always…

Cans and Ribbons tied to a car….
Bubbles being blown as you stroll through…
Throwing of rose petals, rice, bird seed, confetti and wands with ribbons…..

If you want something special and something your guests won't forget ....

A retro spin on confetti, give your guests pre-made paper airplanes to toss as you make your escape.

Have a fireworks display over a nearby lake or a field!

Be the last to leave and be sure to thank each guest personally as you hand out favors!

Have one final song with everyone dancing on the floor!

It's not a party until someone breaks out Silly String!

Hand-held party poppers (containing flashy tinsel streamers) will gave your exit a celebratory burst.

Blow your guests away by hiring a private helicopter to whisk you off to your hotel!

With a bit more romance, how about a hot air balloon to take you up, up and away!

Enlist the help of attendants to create a blizzard of confetti as you dash for the limo, a Ticker Tape Parade!

HAVE FUN....

Album Designs

2011-01-30T17:36:00.000-08:00

Designing a Bridal Album... if you have a CD of images and you want an album done... let me know.... LOTS of ideas....Love being creative

I love these colors.... Anna Marie had a quaint little country wedding and reception.... with Orange-Red, Harvest Yellow and Moss Green as her color scheme... she was walked down by her father BUT delivered to him in a 1936 red truck...oh my gosh... so cute....

Woooo Hoooo

2011-01-26T15:12:00.000-08:00

We won the Bride's Choice Awards 2011 from WeddingWire! This means we are in the top 5 percent of Wedding Pros nationwide. Thank you to all my Brides and Brooms that helped us get to the top..... YOU are the BEST....

Happy Birthday

2011-01-26T15:06:00.000-08:00

To a new friend... Heidi at Wishful Thinking Photography...... Yahoo, you go girl...

Santa

2010-11-19T01:55:00.000-08:00

We were the offical photographers for Santa tonight... it was so much fun... and Santa was such a great guy.... he recited the story..."The Night Before Christmas".... West Albany Choir sang Christmas songs ... it was an Open House for the Ray's Market strip mall.... The children were running around having so much fun... they had food, drinks, presents from Santa, candy, raffles and we were lucky to be a part of the fun, we took pictures of kids with Santa... the children smiled with Santa and a few cried... and the babies, oh my gosh, as they slept so did Santa.. great pictures.... here are just a couple

Wonderful Trinkets As Guests Gifts...Or Even As A Great Wedding Gift

2010-11-05T00:06:00.000-07:00

Are you planning your Wedding or going to be a guest at one?
Here's a wonderful idea...

Give the wedding couple some Holiday Decorations as a wedding gift.... It's the right time of the year, the holidays are right around the corner, it's their first Christmas together AND odds are that they don't have many if any decorations at all to bring into the marriage.....

Holiday Decorations are unique and will get used over and over, year after year. Buy them on sale (plan ahead) and have them on hand all year long. A nice thought even for Weddings that aren't close and around the Holidays... Trust me, they will never get duplicated and they will never get returned. Be unique and the couple will never forget how special the decorations are.

And Brides, you too can even collect Holiday decorations and to give yours as Guests Gifts. How pretty it would look to have a tiny holiday ornament by each name card or place setting....Just a little something that your guests will see each year and remember your wonderful day..

Hint Hint .....
Start next years planning right after the holidays this year.... Great Discounts .....
Have fun shopping...

Cool Cake Toppers

2010-11-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a cake topper that adds that special touch to your cake?
What a really cute idea.... personalized cake toppers.... they can look just like you and your groom... Hair color, length, style, glasses, eye color, beard, no beard, beauty mark, tattoo? You get to choose...

I have never seen these before.... Why not let them make one for you? Cake toppers for any occasion - weddings, engagements, birthdays, anniversaries ...

I love them..... Artlocke Designs .... and so will you....

More Fun Facts

2010-10-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

*Engagement Ring

The Engagement Ring as we know it has been around since the 1400s and was first found in Medieval Italy. It was believed that giving of the ring was a commitment on the man’s part to purchase the woman as his bride.

*Wedding Cake

At one time it was traditional for a ring to be baked and hidden in the cake. Whoever got the piece of cake with the ring in it, could look forward to a whole year of happiness.

*The Bouquet

When Brides first started carrying flowers, they were a combination of fragrant herbs whose strong aromas were believed to keep the evil spirits away.

*First Dance

The first dance of the Bride and Groom was to represent the start of their new life together.

Something To Think About ...

2010-10-28T20:46:00.000-07:00

I just read an article that said 4,153,237 people got married last year. I don't want to start any trouble or anything, but shouldn't that be an Even number? ...

Wedding FUN Facts

2010-10-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

Here are a few fun wedding facts... I will be posting a few each day in between photos of weddings and engagement sessions..... and other misc things.... ENJOY
*******************************************************************************

*Kiss

The first kiss a bride and groom share at the close of the ceremony has carried special significance through the centuries. Many cultures believed the couple exchanged spirits and souls with their breath.

*Dress

Traditionally, brides did not wear white wedding gowns. Through the 18th century, most brides just wore their Sunday best to their wedding. Red was a favorite during the Middle Ages in Europe. Other colors were worn for symbolic reasons: blue meant constancy and green meant youth. As years passed, white was worn as a symbol of purity. Today, white merely symbolizes the wedding and is worn by any bride, even in second marriages.

*Throwing of Rice

One of the oldest wedding traditions, the custom of throwing rice, originated with the ancient Hindus and Chinese. In these cultures, rice is the symbol of fruitfulness and prosperity. Tossing it after the ceremony was believed to bestow fertility upon the bride and groom. Today, rice tossing is being replaced by the more “green” friendly birdseed, rose pedals, sparklers or bubbles.

*Veil

Mystique and romance has surrounded the veil for more than one thousand years. Originally, the veil is thought to have been used to hide the bride from evil spirits and abductors. But a more romantic interpretation evolved later which believed that the bride's face beneath a veil symbolized youth, modesty, and virginity.

Sweet Treats

2010-10-26T01:52:00.000-07:00

Try something different for your wedding day.

By: Marie Hernandez

When it comes to wedding desserts, Oregon is getting creative. The traditional tiered wedding cake is tried and true, but we all know that wedding desserts–just like weddings themselves–aren't one-size-fits-all. The unique and delicious wedding cake alternatives (or, if you're anything like us, additions!) that we've been seeing lately:

DOUGHNUTS

Sugary and plump, flaky and delicious, your favorite morning treat has come to weddings. But if you're picturing rows of plain glazed and chocolate varieties on your catering table, don't fret -- these doughnuts are high-style, amped up versions of the original. Take, for example, Red Star Tavern's gourmet Red Velvet Doughnut dessert, available for weddings catered at the restaurant or Hotel Monaco. The plate consists of red velvet doughnuts beautifully adorned with ice cream and chocolate sauce -- and a little birdie told us their working on a wedding "cake" version! (Of course,Voodoo Doughnut -- as famous for its kooky doughnuts as for its wedding services -- does special event doughnuts, as well.)

FONDUE

Fondue is a fun and delicious way to get your guests talking. Pearl Catering offers dessert fondue from Urban Fondue for weddings. You choose from chocolate, caramel cognac, and Marionberry cheesecake fondue -- the perfect accompaniment to fresh fruit, pound cake, and dried apricot provisions.

MINI TREATS

Miniature versions of everyone's favorite desserts are quickly becoming a presence on reception tables.Whether you are looking for elegant miniature cakes, tarts, or cupcakes, Papa Hayden has miniature desserts down. And what could be more satisfying than having a cake to yourself?

SUNDAE BAR

Your ice cream sundae bar is sure to draw a line. Have your guests choose their favorite flavors and toppings (nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, banana, whipped cream...the possibilities are endless!). You can DIY, or you can leave it to the experts at Ben & Jerry's.

You may also want to consider espresso catering post-dessert. Not only does espresso catering feel indulgent and luxurious (not to mention, unique), it will give your guests the boost they need to dance the night away!

With a little bit of creativity, you can transform the already wonderful wedding dessert into something extraordinary.

How about a vintage photograph of your parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents as a cake topper? Portland's Miss Zumstein came up with this genius way to pay homage to your ancestors, all on top of stacked 10'' and 7'' tiers of baby blue fondant.

Kiss of France
When gifting baked goods, presentation is KEY…. Simple Cuppies become gâteau au chocolat with Satin and Grosgrain Ribbon ($5).

Get creative and enjoy your day.....

Hi there....

2010-10-24T06:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, giving this another go.... I would love for you to follow me... I'll be posting Fun Wedding Facts... Hints, Tips and Info on how to have a great wedding, helping you to be as Stress Free as possible... LOTS of images of weddings, engagements, details ....

Let's start off with a few "fun" wedding pictures.... these 2 adorable kids were so cute... the wedding was at White Spires Church in Albany and the little Ring bear just wanted to kiss and kiss ... and the little Flower Girl wanted to "take pictures"... the "camera" she is using is my TRIPOD... but of course she had a wonderful imagination and just laughed and giggled as if she really was taking photos of the Ring Bear... I could have watched them all day... so darn cute....

Matt and Lisa's Wedding....

2010-06-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh... so much fun.... the weather was sunny and warm... the venue was wonderful... their wedding day was perfect... the Bride's colors blended so beautifully with all the green backgrounds....

What A Way To Leave On Your Honeymoon... weeeeeeeeee

2010-06-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

***********
Mike and Anna were married yesterday.... and this is the way they left their reception.... Too Cute....
Drive Safe....