The E-Pics Scheme

Here's the thing, DF does not like taking pictures. For every 20 pics we take together, we usually get 2 where he looks normal (as in not making face, staring in a different direction or looking pissed). He gets annoyed when I bust out the camera, and consistently says, "We have plenty of pictures of us". I'm kind of a camer-a-holic, it's always with me. But with DF being so resistant-it's hard to feed my addiction.


Enter the e-session dilemna. I want them. And I want them to be good! And of course I want our wedding day pictures to show the beautiful DF-not the camera-shy DF. In one of my first conversations with Terra Tabbytosavit, she encouraged me to get DF on the e-pic bandwagon. She said she had plenty of experience with camera-shy fiance's and knew that e-sessions were the best way to get him to come out of his shell.

photos: Jasmine Star

We both started to ponder. What could we do that would make DF more excited about having a camera in his face for three hours? I instantly thought: sports! Baseball! San Francisco! Giants! I knew that making our engagement pic location DF-friendly would make it so much easier for all involved. A few phone calls, a connection to AT&T park and it looks like it may happen after all!

photo: Jeff Youngren Photography

photo: Ed Pingol Photography

This last set of shots is from AT&T park. There are some great places around the park and I'm really looking forward to the ballpark plus urban setting. Since our wedding will be in the country, I'd love to give the e-pics a more big city feel. What better place than one of our homes away from home?

So we have the where. Now we must decide on when!

A Beautiful Table

I found myself swooning over every detail of this table.
mmm. Candles.
Tucked lavender. DF loves the smell of lavender...
The little wood box is so perfect.

All photos: Ryan Phillips Photography

The Story of A&B, Part I

Within two hours of being at work this morning about ten different things when very, very wrong. I was running in about ten different directions when I got a call from DF. He told me he was waiting outside my office. Since our door requires a pass, I ran out to see what was up. We often go to lunch together, but it was a little early. I was kind of annoyed, but also glad to escape the chaos of the office for the moment. I saw the flowers before I saw him. A beautiful purple hydrangea plant in a gorgeous brown basket. Tears came to my eyes as I realized that he had remembered our three year anniversary.
source

Originally, I didn't intend for this blog to get very personal, but I have enjoyed others' posts about their relationships and their own love stories, that I thought I'd give a cliff notes version of ours (ok, turns out I went into a lot of detail-so I decided to break it up so it's not a novel)

I've mentioned before that DF was the fourth person I met through match.com. MOH and I joined match together when we moved to Northern California from San Diego. I was living in a brand new city, my new roommate had a boyfriend and I was bored, curious and in a place where I was very open to new possibilities.

I actually really enjoyed the first two guys I met on match. The first guy wasn't looking for anything too serious-we went out a few times, had our fun and realizing we were both "just looking"-we moved on. Guy #2 was a total sweetie. Or so I thought. He took me on a really great date-very well thought out, very romantic and very fun. I was totally into being wined and dined. We had a pretty immediate physical attraction, but our conversation wasn't the best. When he cancelled our plans to meet again I was kinda bummed.

Ok, I was a lot bummed. The night that I was supposed to be out with him (he cancelled the day before) I was home alone and feeling pretty pathetic for being so upset about a guy I barely new. I logged on to match and started to read some emails that I had previously ignored while I was busy having fun with guy#2. I saw a short and simple email complete with happy faces shaped like baseballs. While I thought this guy was probably not looking for anything serious (his profile had one very cropped, very blurry picture), I decided to write back. I got a response about twenty minutes later. Yeah-definite creeper, I thought. He's home on a Saturday night too? But, we were instantly exchanging witty emails. He already had me laughing--and intrigued. After three emails back and forth I realized I was flirting via Internet! I went to bed that night with a smile. I was completely caught off guard by this short but sweet exchange.

Talking Terra Tabbytosavit pt. II

So I've been omitting critical information from this blog for months and months. I mentioned Terra in my initial photography post, but never returned to discuss how my photographer-search was progressing. In a nutshell, after our first phone conversation, Terra and I continued to email quite frequently. Terra emailed brand new shots and slideshows directly to me along with get-to-know you type information. I had a few questions for her, plenty of compliments and gradually our emails transformed from courteous future client/vendor exchanges to friendly fan/appreciative photog notes to downright personal emails between wedding aficionados. Of course I took advantage of her sincere efforts and tried to get as much information from her as possible. She started to read my blog, I kept up with hers and since March we've emailed several times per week.

While most of our emails revolve around her work and the wedding world, it was clear from the beginning that Terra was not trying to hard-sell me. In fact she wrote to me as if I were a colleague, or friend. She has been super supportive of my dieting efforts, of the bar exam and just about everything else I fill her in on. It has been so fun getting to know her!

Admittedly, I actively shopped for other photograhers, just in case Terra was swooped up by another October 2009 bride, but in all honesty no one compared to her and I would have been heart broken if we were prevented from hiring her. My photography wish list was this:

1. Natural, consistent talent with a true understanding of lighting.
2. Northern-California based.
3. 8+hour package with album within our budget
4. Not too edgy while not too traditional. Someone who can do a little of both.
5. Personable, happy to be a photographer!


She's 5 for 5 people! So after six-plus months of long, information-filled emails we finally met for a brunch date during my weekend trip to San Francisco. Terra was just as delightful as I had imagined, despite the fact that she had just shot back to back weddings on Friday and Saturday (yes she is a crazy woman!). We talked and talked (I was slightly hung-over from MOH's birthday the night before--sorry Terra!). It was so lovely, and there was never any doubt that she would be the perfect fit for us. Laid back yet driven, bubbly and sure of herself.

Finding a photographer was so much harder than I could have imagined. I had to really look at DF and I as a couple and find someone who would be capable of capturing the true "us". We are far from models and DF is not a "picture person" but I know that Terra knows exactly how to handle couples like us--in fact she's told me exactly how she's handled couples like us! And has even shown me visual examples. Have I mentioned how lucky I feel to have found her?

Talking Terra Tabbytosavit

We have a photographer! I have so much to say about Terra Tabbytosavit, but I thought I'd introduce her by allowing her images to speak for themselves. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have found such an incredible person to capture our wedding day!

365

We are officially one year out from our wedding day! It's going to go by SO fast, but at the same time...it feels like forever away! I am so excited for wedding twin, Kate! She will be married tomorrow evening and I'm wishing her the most beautiful day! The forecast is calling for some morning showers--but I know it's going to clear up and make for some fantastic photos. Rainbow anyone? Her wedding is going to be absolutely amazing!

Loving the back-shots right now!

Photo: Terra Tabbytosavit

I have a pretty exciting weekend ahead! Hope you do too!

Little Lovelies

Love this shot. Love the size of her bouquet (exactly the volume I'm thinking for the bm's). Love her hair. Love and envy her back.

This image is from the above couple's reception. I fell in LOVE with the way this table is set up. I love the colored table cloth under a layer the organic-looking overlay. The chocolate brown in the center really finishes it off. I'm guessing the monogramed napkins were favors. WOW!

Photos, Ettaindustry via Frolic! and Crosspollination


Cannot get over this gorgeous cake. The flowers are perfect. Notice the rustic serving set and platter.

Image via: Style Me Pretty