“Happy Wedding Day,  Nicole + Sean!”

We are off to spend the day at the Charlotte City Club with some of the Queen City’s finest professionals.  AND!!  I cannot wait to see what Weddings and the City’s Designer, Lindsey and our lovely bride, Nicole have in store for us to capture.  They have been busy bees designing tons of eye candy (see below)!!  EEK!  I am certain I will find it hard to move the camera away from my face for even a brief moment today.

Congrats to our lovely couple!!  See you shortly!!

~ xo ~

]]> http://www.kristinviningphotoblog.com/happy-wedding-day-nicole-sean/feed/ 0 http://www.kristinviningphotoblog.com/bridal-party-styling/ http://www.kristinviningphotoblog.com/bridal-party-styling/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 11:24:42 +0000 kristinvining http://www.kristinviningphotoblog.com/?p=6748 Hello lova’s!

It’s me, Lindsey Regan Thorne here again.  I wanted to pop back into KV’s blog one last time before she’s back at it.

Today’s topic is a part of my job that I absolutely adore.  Bridal Party Styling.  Awwww, it’s like music to my ears.  Like I said, I crush this part of my j-o-b.  I love it even more when I get crazy clients who let me get super creative.

Here’s a little style board that I put together!  I’m dying to mix up styles and printed dresses.

Xo’s, suga-sweet-honey-buns!

~ LRT ~

Oh!  We can’t leave the little guys out, now!

This past week our Fearless Leader (yes, of course, Kristin!) set sail with her family and Micky Mouse around the Caribbean!  I am a wee bit jealous!  What could be better than beaches, crystal-blue water, family and Disney?!

So, with The Boss out of the office, Steve and I threw a huge party in the studio!  JUST KIDDING!  However, we did have the opportunity to meet our GORGEOUS New Year’s Eve bride and groom in the studio (which is basically a party, right?) WE CAN’T WAIT to capture all the amazingness of their NYE wedding!!

Without any photo shoots scheduled for this past week, I was forced to deal with some serious KVP team withdrawals!  Especially missing my home-girl… Lindsey Regan Thorne.  You can imagine how excited I was when Lindsey asked me to help her with a few photos for a blog post! I was ECSTATIC to have the opportunity to take pics of this beauty and her cutie patootie outfit!    I am sure you already know Lindsey, she’s our mega-talented stylist!!  Earlier this week, Lindsey was a guest blogger here on KVP where she gave us a sneak peek of an upcoming-engagement-session styling!

Check out her blog post and the pictures we took on her blog …HERE!

Luckily, Kristin returns today and we can’t wait to hear all the great stories and see the photos from her trip!  I am sure a blog post will be in order.

The trifecta (KVP + WATC + LRT)  is back in action this Saturday for Nicole + Sean’s  Uptown wedding that I’m sure will be a stunner!

Until next time, I leave you with a few photos of Lindsey!

xo, Allison

Whootie-Tootie!  LRT here, folks.  Who knew I’d make an appearance while the Mama of all Bears was tanning her tush in the sparkling caribbean sea?!  You jeal?  I sure am!

I feel like I need to give myself a formal introduction… so here we go…

Hi!  I’m Lindsey Regan Thorne.  A former bride of KV’s, turned wardrobe stylist, makeup and hair artist… all in one ‘lil package!  I’ve been Mama Bears ‘all in one’ for going on 2-1/2 years now.  There’s nothing more rewarding then making others feel pretty.  I love what I do with all of my heart.  

Did I do ok? One of the areas that Mama Bear and I join forces on is engagement sessions.  She adores getting a couple in front of the camera without the hustle and bustle of wedding day.  Just in their raw element… with a little clothing help of course.  Some couples want to capture their engagement just as they are… without a lot of fuss.  Just them, a few good outfits and pretty surroundings.  Others come to KV wanting blown out productions, also known as “themed shoots”.  We roll with both.  We love both.

Below is the ‘styled look’ for a client that we’re shooting in a few short weeks.  They love Mad Men… she adores the fashion from that era and he feels manly when sporting his tailored Hugo Boss suit.  We’re so excited to capture their love story in a mid-sixties setting.  Mini dresses, t-strap heels, gloves, clutches, bold pearls and crystalized necklaces, matching suit, just been shined shoes and what look wouldn’t be complete without a briefcase and fedora.  In my opinion, two items that will never grow old.  Guys, if you’re looking for a way to swoon your woman… bust out a fedora and dust off that briefcase that your grand-daddy gave you.

We’re looking forward to traveling back in time and I sure hope Mama Bear is enjoying her current travels.

Xo’s, LRT

- now for look two -

“Remembrance…”

This is a big one.  Grab a cup-of-joe and sit back, relax and enjoy.  Christine shared her heart.  This one is for, “Cubby!”

“I love you beyond words, Christine + John.  Thank you so much for choosing KVP!  WE are the blessed ones!!!”

*******

Our wedding ceremony wasn’t exactly what I had envisioned during our seven months of wedding planning, but I wouldn’t change a thing.  It is exactly the way I want to remember it, my wedding day was magical and perfect to me.  It is a day I will never forget, a day that I will remember and cherish forever.  It was a day filled with God, Love, Family, Friends and Angels.  Rain or shine what more could a girl ask for?  I waited a long time to marry John, but I truly believe that he is my soul mate.

Words cannot begin to express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to you and Steve for your amazing and God given talent of capturing and preserving memories for a lifetime.  You are truly blessed with the awesome ability of capturing memories through photographs so that the pictures tell a story, a story that you want to relive forever.  You guys are truly the best!

So, I have taken some of the next part from my thank-you note to Alli Hall, but I wanted to share with you as well.
The most important thing to me on my wedding day was having our families and loved ones present and having butterflies released at our ceremony.  I know you knew that the butterfly release was in remembrance of my brother, but I’m not sure if you fully understood why I chose to use butterflies and the importance of the butterflies on my wedding day.

My brother was ten years older than me and he died unexpectedly on June 4, 2003.  He and I were very close, he was like a father figure to me and he was always very protective of me.  I always assumed that he would be there on my wedding day.  I struggled with his death for many years, but truly believe he is now in a much better place.

Not many people know this, but when he died, we had not spoken since the day before my sister’s wedding in September 2002.  He had issues going on in his own life at that time and sadly, we were not fully aware of them until after his death.  Long story short, he was in my sister’s wedding and called the day before her wedding and informed us that he would not be coming for various insignificant reasons that did not make any sense at the time.  This created a lot of sadness and drama in my family at the time.  As the peacekeeper in the family, I thought I could talk to him and make him change his mind; I thought he would listen to me if I told him how hurtful it was to our family and most importantly, how hurtful it was to my sister.  After that didn’t work, I told him, “If you don’t come to her wedding, consider yourself with one less sister.”  I was not successful in convincing him to come to her wedding.

Tears are flowing as I’m typing this; it is something that I try to forget.  Many people don’t know this and it is not something that I am proud of, it’s not one of those learning experiences I can “make right.”  I am so very sorry for the words I said to him and I wish I could take them back or make it right.

After he died, I felt a lot of regret and guilt.  About a week after he died, I started seeing butterflies everywhere.  They would land outside the window on the 21st floor of my office Uptown and would stay there for many hours during the working day.  They would stay on my shoulders while I walked down the street and I could not shoe them away.  It was definitely noticeable and I didn’t understand it at the time.  I Googled “Death and Butterflies” in July 2003 and still have the print-out of my search results.  I read so many articles that said, “The butterfly is the most frequently mentioned After Death Communication sign.  It is a spiritual symbol for life after death because of its metamorphosis, or transformation, from a caterpillar that crawls on the ground to a beautiful, almost ethereal creature that flies through the air.  It has also become a symbol for personal growth and spiritual rebirth.”  

During the grieving process, the butterflies confirmed for me that there is life after death and I think God sent the butterflies as a way to console me.  The butterflies and this concept helped me deal with the guilt and regret for the horrible things I had said to my brother, things I can never take back.

Under the search results, there was a link to “butterfly releases,” I had never heard of these before, but I said at that time that I wanted a butterfly release on my wedding day so that I felt like “Cubby,” our nickname for my brother, was with me on my wedding day.

I promise you that I’m not trying to bore you with the details, but I don’t think you can fully understand the impact of your photographs and what you captured that day, without fully understanding the importance of the butterflies.  It was a healing day for our family.

I fully expected Ballantyne to make a call on the weather on Friday,  and I was definitely aware of the fact that there was a 60% chance of rain & thunderstorms on Saturday.  Instead of making the call on Friday, which would have been the easiest thing for their staff to do, they graciously waited until noon on Saturday to make the decision to do it inside.  I was devastated, but completely understood the reasoning behind their decision.  After I looked at the ceremony site inside, I went back up to my room and cried by myself for a moment.  I wasn’t unhappy with the back-up site; I was devastated that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to feel my brother’s presence through the butterflies during our ceremony and vows on our wedding day.

I went onto the balcony with my sister to get some fresh air; I think Lindsey was out there too.  I didn’t want my sister to know how upset I was inside because I didn’t want my family to feel sad on such a joyous and happy day.  I prayed hard for God to help me find peace with the decision to do it inside.   A few moments later, we spotted two butterflies flying near the Atrium area outside.  I said to my sister, “If they fly up here, I think it’s a sign that we should do it outside.”  On a side note, I wasn’t able to order the butterflies from the NC butterfly farm because I was told they wouldn’t fly until mid-April, at the earliest.  The butterflies flew towards our balcony & I had a few glasses of champagne….

I called Alli, the wedding coordinator at Ballantyne, to tell her that we wanted to do it outside.  This required Ballantyne to juggle two different set-up’s, vendors, lay-outs, etc. all because I wanted butterflies.
Kristin, in light of everything, you kept saying, “Go for it!”  Thank you, I will never forget that.

I am still moved every time I think about our slapstick ceremony – flower girl basket left in the hotel room, my brooch falling and breaking right before the ceremony, rain drops, lightning, dark skies, skipping straight to the vows, our Best Man dropping the rings, saying “I will” instead of “I do,” a happy champagne buzz, the butterfly pooping on my dress, etc… – I wouldn’t want it any other way and I’m so happy that I decided on Alan Daly at the last minute to capture it all too!

On a side note, our neighbors told us the next day that we had golf ball size hail at our house at that time; our house is approximately eight miles away from Ballantyne.

The most memorable part to me was having John and our families and friends truly feel God’s presence through the butterflies at our ceremony.  I have a sense of peace knowing that my brother was right there with me (or ON me) during our ceremony.  One of the butterflies stayed in my hand throughout the whole ceremony, even when we kissed and John dipped me.  After we said our vows, one butterfly flew from my heart to my sister’s shoulder.  I think that God was trying to let us know that we shouldn’t worry about her wedding either – he was there with her too.  I don’t know how else to explain it.

I realize that this is very long and drawn out, but I wanted you to fully understand the impact of the memories that you captured for us.  I am eternally grateful.  You may think about photography as your career, but I see it as your calling!

With Heartfelt Love & Appreciation,
Christine & John

*******

To my wingman, Steve – THANK YOU – Always!

Videography – Crown Alley Films
Flowers – The Place for Flowers
Prelude, Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Music trio – Charlotte Strings for Events
DJ – Split Second Sound (Levar)
Minister – Rev. Rebecca Nagy
Hair & Make-up – LRT (of course
Wedding Coordinator at Ballantyne – Alli Hall
Dress & shoes – J. Majors

Boy…do I know this moment with my very own little nuggets.  Little ones!  They have a mind of their own.  When they’re done, they’re done!

“My friend, Alan, giving amazing direction!”

“A charming romance…”

Straight candy.  You know – that real sugary kind that puts you in a state of bliss?  Sooo…meet Kendall + Matt.  They are the ultimate lollipop!!

Their beautiful fall wedding will be here before we know it.

Until then…we hope you enjoy this little preview of their recent spring session!

Mmmm.  Mmmmm.  Good!  Thanks little, LRT for once again beautifying top to bottom!

~ xo ~

We have just wrapped up an amazing weekend here at KVP!  Team Steve + Susan headed up a lovely wedding at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte while Team Me + Woody took on the Outer Banks.

My-oh-my.

So much love.  So much beauty.  So very little time.

Today we cull through the day.  Marrying the images together to complete the perfect story.

I couldn’t help but share a priceless photo, captured during the First Look.  “The moment she is unveiled gets me every time!”

Congrats Jen + Win.  We had the time of our lives!!!

~ xo ~

It’s a double header weekend for us here at KVP – and we could not be more thrilled.  Team Kristin + Woody are shortly on our way to the Outer Banks to capture the lovely Jen + Win, while Steve stays back with Susan here on the home front to capture this incredibly delicious duo…Amy + Gary.

Yesterday (yep, YESTERDAY!), we scooted around uptown taking engagement pix.  Uptown is their “backyard” – so it was perfectly natural that we get out in it!

A huge CONGRATS to our beautiful couples this weekend.  We wish you a lifetime of happiness.  Happy Wedding Eve!!!!

THANK YOU, little “pea” for your Be Pretty ways.  They looked AMAZING!!  xo

~ xo ~

Look Two!

I mean, really?  HOLY COW!  We get to photograph these two on May 19th.  And the best part?  Their inner beauty is even HOTTER!

{can I say, “Hot!” enough?}

We scooted out to photograph Bita + Stephen…a little NYC style.  Perfectly fitting for this lovely couple – as it is their favorite city.  And it was just in time…we left just a few days later.  They totally got us in the groove!!

Thank you, Bita…you HOT little thing.  And I mean, LITTLE!  Double zero?  Come’on!  I totally skipped that one.  I went from 6x to an 8!  ha.  And Steve…dude, you totally brought it.  Super HOT!

Thank you, LRT for the FAB job as always.  My little “Pea!”

And to Osso.  Thank you for being remarkably accommodating.  We very much appreciate everything.

Ballantyne Resort…here we come!!

~ xo ~

Meet Jen + Win.  Two of the absolute sweetest beings you will ever meet!!

And here we are…

Just about seven months later and I have failed to share their gorgeous mountain engagement session from this past fall.

And…

They are getting married THIS WEEKEND!

“Shame on you, Kristin!”

But better late than never, right?

A bit later this week, Woody, Lindsey Regan Thorne, Drew + myself will all head to Nags Head, NC.  WOOHOO!  Our first wedding in the Outerbanks.  I could not be more thrilled than to see these lovely, lovey cutie-patooties!  I know one thing – there will be little if any direction when it comes to “show me some love!”  They simply can’t keep their hands off of one another.

LOVE IT!!!  Totally LOVE IT!!

“Jen and Win…enjoy this incredible week.  This time next week you’ll be basking in the heavenly sun…reliving right here, right now.  Soak this time up.  I promise you will want it back!”

See you Friday!  Eeek!

~ xo ~