Vera Beautiful

During our recent trip to Florida, we were lucky enough to do several incredible photo shoots. One of my favorites was of bride Cece in her slinky, pale pink, silk Vera Wang gown and I wanted to share some of the images.

Cece's flowers were created by Carole from a Garden of Earthly Delights.

Her hair & make-up, as well as those of bridesmaids Lauren and Katie, were done by Ashley from Up Do's for I Do's.  All the girls are wearing pearl jewelry by both Kim Reyes Wearable Art and Kourtney Pulitzer. The pix were shot in downtown Delray Beach.

Cece and her girlfriends really captured the sunny spirit of southern Florida to me. They were gorgeous, glamorous and radiant.

~ Rissa

Green-er

We attend a lot of events and one thing that is incredibly striking is the amount of waste involved. Weddings and parties create a lot of trash and are not usually very environmentally friendly. Experts say that the average wedding can create 14.5 lbs. of carbon ~ as much as the average American creates in an entire year. So that said, I'd think that anything, even one thing, you can do to be less wasteful would make a difference.

I know, I know ~ it's already overwhelming to plan a wedding, nevermind also trying to make your wedding eco-friendly.  But you don't have to be a dirty hippie to have a greener wedding. Seriously! It can still be chic, upscale and downright gorgeous ~ while having less impact on the Earth.

We've seen lots of great ideas at real weddings as well in magazines and at wedding shows. Last spring one our brides used potted magnolias as her table centerpieces, and folks were able to take them home and enjoy them. Several of our brides last year decided against favors and instead used that part of their budget to make a donation to local charities.

Here are some more great, greener ideas...

* Look for reusable items as decor. Potted plants and flowers are one idea. You could try stylish glass cylinders of  live goldfish as centerpieces, or artfully arranged fruit. All of which can be given away to guests.

* Rent as much as you can ~ things like linens, vases, chairs, tables, plates/glasses/silverware. It can be reused and you won't be stuck with 25 matching vases to store in the attic.

* Instead of traditional paraffin candles, use beeswax or soy candles. They are readily available everywhere now, even Target and Kohl's!

* Use recycled paper for all your invitations, place cards, menus, announcements and other stationary. Consider an online RSVP through your wedding website to cut back on paper. Many designers also offer stationary printed with soy and veggie based inks, which are as bright and clear as any traditional ink.

* Search for florists that source their flowers locally and organically. And if you go with more traditional centerpieces, either give them away to guests or have a friend take them as donations to local nursing homes or hospitals, so folks can continue to enjoy them.

* Make a donation to charity instead of giving favors to your guests.

* Ask your caterer if they offer any organic food, or could source your ingredients locally. Inquire if your caterer and bartender if they can recycle food/drink containers. Finally, see if the caterer will box up leftovers from the reception to give away to family & friends instead of the food ending up in the trash. Waste not, want not. 

* Go with local or organic wines, liquors and beers for your bar. Maryland has many well-known vineyards and breweries  - and even an organic winery - Black Ankle Vineyards!

* Consider a dress made from organic silk. Canadian designer Adele Weschler offers an entire eco-couture line.

* Release butterflies, throw dried herbs or use live doves instead of sparklers for your send-off.

* Instead of going with the usual registries at Macy's or Bed Bath & Beyond, try an antique shop like Retropolitan in Ellicott City, or a store with eco-chic options, like Nest in Clarksville or bluehouse with locations in Inner Harbor East and Towson.

We are also lucky enough to work with several other vendors  who are committed to making events greener.  Carole at A Garden of Earthly Delights is very serious about eco-friendly weddings.  Paul at Dionysus' Kitchen was one of the first in the catering biz to offer local and organic options in menus. Michael at ZBest Limos can tell you about their new hybrid SUV limo options. Ellen at LoCoFlo offers only Maryland-grown flowers.

Another great green vendor is event planner Lori Hill.  Lori specializes in planning greener events and has shared some of her wonderful tips for brides: 

* Invitations ~

Print on 100% post consumer recycled paper that is non-chlorine bleached. Encourage guests to recycle their invitations. Use paper with embedded seeds so that guests can plant the invites and enjoy the flowers that grow from them. Use a reply postcard (no envelope) and forego the inner envelopes. Use corks from wine bottles as escort card holders. Instead of escort cards, stamp guests' names on stones.

* Transportation & Venue ~

Transport guests with hybrids or bio-diesel vehicles. Choose a destination that requires minimal travel. Encourage guests to use mass transit & provide information, passes and maps in guest packages. Choose a venue that requires few added decor items such as a botanical garden,  a farm or a seaside resort. Hold the ceremony and reception at one place to minimize driving.

*Decor ~

Use local, seasonal and/or organically grown  flowers that minimize damage to ecosystems, conserve biodiversity, and eliminate cross-country shipping. Choose centerpieces and decorations such as living and/or flowering plants that can be reused.

* Food & Beverage ~

Work with caters who can provide locally & organically grown food, wine & liquor. Opt for vegetarian or vegan meal options. Provide filtered water served in glasses instead of bottled water. Ask the caterer to compost unusable leftovers or ship them to a local farm. Donate leftovers to a local shelter.

*Wardrobe ~

Consider vintage dresses for the bride and bridesmaid. Purchase vintage rings, or ones made from 100% recycled, reclaimed, responsible gold.

*Gifts ~

Provide guests with handmade gifts, such as pottery. In lieu of gifts for yourself, ask for donations to a favorite charity.

See... a greener wedding doesn't mean granola. All this should get you started and headed in the right direction. Happy planning & stay green !

~ Rissa

Making Dreams Come True

There are people who like to vacation, and those who yearn to travel. Travelers love to delve into a new culture for the first time; to see new light at sunrise on the horizon, to taste new flavors, to exlpore the fabric of a society that makes up its individuality. To get lost in a place and a people, and embrace the unfamiliar.

I knew I was a traveler even at a young age. My parents took my brother and I on many vacations: together we explored over half of America as well as Canada, England, Scotland, France, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa. At 17 I experienced my first solo adventure ~ a 60 mile canoe trip in Canada. There is nothing I love more than going to a new place for the first time. You see things differently in this first visit than you ever will again. No matter how many times you go back, it will never be like that first exploration. You truly see the place with new eyes, so to speak. And for more than a decade, it has been my dream to both travel and make pictures of the places I go.

Being a photographer marries perfectly with my dreams of travel. This year I have been lucky enough to travel or am going to travel all over the world. And I'm also lucky because now I can share some of it with you. I'm launching my first online gallery of fine art prints for sale. Hosted by two of our favorite companies, Collages.net and Facebook! The site will be available only for the next four months at which time it will be replaced with an new online gallery from another locale.



Traveling renews my spirit and gives me an appreciation for both my destination and the familiarity of home. I hope you enjoy stepping off the beaten path as you explore my pictures from Costa Rica and can experience some of the magic of the rainforest for yourself.

Thanks for sharing in my dream --
~Nathaniel

Spring Wedding Shows

Brides & Grooms & Moms-of-Brides ~

Wanna meet us in person and eat loads of wedding cake samples? I mean, why not, right?

Check us out at these wedding shows in the next month...

Sunday March 29th

The International Bridal Show @ Pier 5 Hotel

11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 711 Eastern Ave. Baltimore, 21202

Shows is focused on international and ethnic offerings, and includes multiple lectures and a fashion show throughout the day.

Thursday April 2nd

The Bridal Happy Hour @ the American Visionary Art Museum

5:30 p.m. to 7:30p.m., 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, 21230

Free to all registered brides! A fun and funky evening ~ very hip!

Sunday April 5th

Ultimate Bridal Show by Beginning Two End @ Best Western Baltimore

2 p.m. to 5 p.m., 5625 O'Donnell St., Baltimore, 21224

Meet local vendors and get lucky with prize drawings every 30 minutes!

Admission fee applies.

Sunday April 19th

Bridal Showcase @ Historic Oakland Mansion

2 p.m. to 4 p.m., 5430 Vantage Point Rd., Columbia MD 21044 (across from the mall)

A local classic! This show fills the mansion and the outdoor patio area. Always fun!

Admission fee applies.

Sunday April 26th

Bridal Accessories Sale & Wedding Expo @ Columbia Hilton

1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., 5485 Twin Knolls Rd., Columbia MD 21045

Gowns, cake and other fabulous finds all afternoon!

Admission fee applies.

Hope to see you all out and about this month!

~ Rissa

MIA

Recently I learned that MIA has more than one meaning. In addition to being a gorgeous woman's name, Mia, it can mean "Missing In Action" -- which is the abbreviation I've always know. But is also short for Miami, as in Miami, Florida ~ the hottest city on the east coast. I'm going into all this ridiculous detail for a reason. Bear with me -- I do have a point.

In my mind I have written about a hundred blogs since the last one, but none have made into reality. We've definitely been missing in action here. And MIA is also appropriate because we spent a portion of this past month working in Miami, FL. So, yea, we've been MIA. Partially in MIA. (Though I haven't met any women named Mia in the process...)

So at the beginning of March, we had just finished our four February weddings (as some of you know, Nathaniel did one of those in Costa Rica! More on that from him, though...) and all the carry-over from the January wedding shows (consults and such). 

The beginning of March saw Baltimore under a blanket of snow. But in Miami, it was in the high seventies with clear blue skies and white crystal beaches.

We packed up our cameras -- and Brittany, Carole (from a Garden of Earthly Delights) and Ashley (from Up Do's for I Do's) and headed south. We did 14 shoots as a team in 3 days. I think it may be 3 of the longest work days I have ever been through. And one of the most incredible experiences ever! We had models and clients, a closet full of designer gowns, pearl jewelry on loan from Kim Reyes Wearable Art, more jewelry on loan from Kourtney Pulitzer (granddaughter of Lily Pulitzer!), and of course ~ the incredible floral creations of Carole and the always gorgeous hair & make-up stylings of Ashley!

After all this work was done, we hit the beach. South Beach, that is! It was my 34th birthday and we celebrated by lounging around and -- honestly -- getting sunburned. 

A few other highlites of the trip: hanging out with Leslie Gray Streeter! Leslie has been one of my dearest friends for almost two decades now. We met in York, PA when we both worked a small newspaper there. She's now a reporter in West Palm Beach and is generally a local celeb there. Always cute, funny and smart, Leslie is the best pal a girl could want! And she and Brit treated me to a wild backless dress for my birthday, as well as a fun night out in Miami Beach! Another highlite for me was  the incredible and cheap Cuban food. The flattened, grilled sandwiches were ssooooo good and if I could get away with it, I'd probably live on fried plantains. But really... the best part... being in a beautiful place with Nathaniel and everyone else. Nothing quite as cool as getting to work and play with the love of your life and some of your bestest girlfriends.

So we've been MIA. But we're back and back at it. Stay tuned... more is on the way very soon!

~ Rissa

PS We've also fallen in love with another MIA. It's MIA radio out of Miami. We play it all the time in the office!

Why I love the USA

Seriously, can you imagine another country where it's legal to make your President into an emo kid? Love that Freedom of Speech amendment!!

He kind-of looks good with this hair. Wonder what other world leaders would say...? I know the girl at Office Depot would love it. She was so busy on her cell phone talking to someone about "how fine Barack is," that she could barely make my copies! With all that giggling, you'd think he was gonna pick her up after work and take her out for dinner. (I suspect this was not the case, tho...)

For all you ladies that love Barack, this one's for you!
~ Rissa

PS I did not do this Photoshop job! I wish I knew who did, but instead found this randomly online with no credit of any kind. Love it tho! Laughed for quite some time on this one!!! Did you Photoshop this picture???

Eat Out & Support a Worthy Cause

On February 10, 2009 from 6pm -11pm, The Greene Turtle in Mount Airy, MD will be hosting the "Funds For Friends" event. 10% of all the proceeds from business brought into the restaurant during those hours will be donated to local charity, Maryland For Our Military.

Nathaniel & I think the world of this group. In fact, we donated 100% of the proceeds of the 2008 Thank You Calendar to Kathy and the work she does at MFOM. Many groups support soldiers, but MFOM is unique because of the truly personal attention each soldier and his/her family gets.

According to Kathy (who heads MFOM), support for our troops has gone down in the past year. In fact, MFOM has had more requests for help than ever before locally and from Iraq and Afghanistan. These soldiers need all the support they can get. So please spread the word about this event and stop by to enjoy some Greene Turtle fare (we adore the queso pretzel appetizers and Nathaniel thinks the beer list is amazing) while putting your meal money on double duty as a fundraiser for the troops.

Several Marines and soldiers from Walter Reed will be coming to the event to enjoy the evening. So stop by, have dinner and take this time to say "Thank You" to those who would put themselves in harm's way to protect our way of life!

See you there
~ Rissa