Kismet, St. John

I had the opportunity to coordinate a wedding last month at Kismet on St. John. To say I was blown away by its beauty is a complete understatement. It was Ahhh-Maaazzing (channeling my inner Oprah).

My bride actually lucked into this villa. She had a different villa reserved for the wedding but unfortunately, there had been a fire a few months prior to the wedding and the owners of the villa did not think it would be ready in time for her event. I could tell she was disappointed but at the same time, the owners of her originally villa reached out to Kismet and they were able to secure this villa for her at the same price. I feel bad saying this, but that fire was the best thing that could happen to her! Not that her original villa wasn't great, but Kismet is just the most amazing venue, completely set up perfectly for a wedding. Check out the pictures!






It had this awesome look out tower (seen in picture above) that you could climb out of and walk around on the roof. This is their photographer out there grabbing some bird's eye photos.



If you're interested in having your wedding at Kismet, let me know! I have some insider information on how to grab a great deal on it (and no! it does NOT involve setting other villas on fire!).

Hola!

Yes, I am back from Mexico! I've been home for almost two weeks now. I'm always very slow to start blogging again after a vacation. It's a reminder that the vacation is over! Another delay was caused because the little diorama's that I purchased to share with you broke on the way home. My wonderful husband fixed them for me last night so I could finally blog them!

I'm a huge fan of Mexican art & culture. The little town we stayed in had THE MOST AMAZING GIFT SHOP EVER. I know I've told you all about my tendency to hoard things. But I'm not a trash hoarder, I'm a shopping hoarder. If I could buy everything in this store, I would have (and probably would have been served divorce papers upon my return home...shortly after covering my house with shelves to display everything). I'm not kidding, this shop was so cool, I even took a picture of it:

Doesn't it make you want to go inside??



And here are some of the things I just had to bring home to share with you. Love them!




The entire family gathered one night on the beach so we got a family photo of everyone together. Five "original" kids, five spouses and eight grandchildren, two very happy grandparents:



And there just so happened to be a wedding taking place at the end of the beach! After the ceremony, the couple took a walk with their wedding guests, serenaded by a mariachi band, that went right past us on the beach (I had actually bought my diorama's a few days earlier - who knew the exact same scenario would play out on the beach a few days later!):



And before you ask, no...we don't have mariachi bands in the Virgin Islands! I wish we did though!

It was pretty amazing that everywhere I looked, I could hardly get away from work. The stores with their brides & grooms...the wedding taking place on the beach...and get this, on a visit to the Maya Ruins with our girls, I turned around and saw THIS:



That's right, he's proposing!! I already had my camera out so I started snapping photos right away and then asked my husband if I had a business card on me. He laughed and called me an ambulance chaser but NO, that's not why I wanted a card. I told them to email me so I could send them the photos but sadly, they haven't yet. I didn't have a card on me and maybe they forgot my business name...so if you know anyone that recently got engaged in Mexico - let them know I have their photos for them!!

And one last photo because it's so darn cute...my girls, Marley and Maya, in front of the Mayan Ruins (and yes, we did partially name Maya after the Riviera Maya!).

We go to Mexico now!

My father-in-law is celebrating his 70th birthday this year and has invited all the family down to their condo in Akumal. I have never been but have been dying to go, ever since my first date with my husband when he told me his parents had a condo in Mexico! Finally, about 8.5 years after that first date, I finally get to go!



I bought my daughter Maya this dress from The Gap once we bought our tickets. I thought it was a perfect Mexico dress. I tried it on her when it came in the mail and she insisted on wearing it even though I begged and pleaded with her to take it off, as I wanted to keep it nice for Mexico. Of course, she won the battle and it has been a popular choice in her weekly wear. She has never forgotten my pleas though and every time I take it out of the closet to put her in it, she says, "we go to Mexico now??" - all excited to hop on that plane and go right now!

We'll be gone until the evening of the 10th but I will have my laptop with me. I just don't know how great the internet connection will be in Akumal. Please excuse any delays while I'm away! Enjoy your Fourth of July weekend and well....Adios!

A few random photos for a rainy Monday...

This bride liked my blog post of the seahorse tote bags and decided instead of filling up their welcome bags, they would be rolled up and had the guests place settings attached to them. Know what was really cool about these tote bags? She had one for each guest from Cafe Press that reflected their personality or a funny story from their past together. Guests had an awesome time untying their totes and showing each other what they had.


This guy was hanging out by a tree next to the reception - by the end of the reception, he had eaten all the pink flowers!


Guests stamped out a congratulations to the bride & groom - the bride was greeted with this as she made her way down the stairs to the beach...


I love Caribbean Rum Balls for welcome bags...


And all these other fun goodies...but see that bag of chips? Do not send those in advance - we can get them so much cheaper for you here! I noticed the bride spent close to $40 in express shipping just for a small box of chips! Yikes!


This is why I say not to send sunscreen in advance - she got very lucky that it didn't explode more than it did (you will not have a happy wedding planner on your hands if I'm washing sunscreen off all your goodies!).


Our new chalkboard sign to "warn" guests that there is rum in the punch...you have no idea how many toddlers I see parents almost give their first rum drink to!

An Indiana Wedding...

As all of my clients and Facebook fans know, I was off island for about a week at the end of May. I often go up to Indiana to visit family & Target (yes, I very much miss Target) but I rarely go at the busiest time of the year for us here in the islands. But a very dear friend of mine from college was getting married and I just had to be there...especially when she asked me to photograph the wedding for her!!

I absolutely love photography. Everything took shape when I was pregnant with my daughter Marley. I really wanted to capture some great photos of her growing up and purchased a nice amateur camera that at the time, I thought was WOW! Over the last five years, I've learned a lot about the differences of "a nice camera" and "professional camera". I've also learned that it doesn't make that much of a difference in a nice camera and a pro camera if you know what you are doing, have the creativity to make something work and well, Photoshop isn't a bad thing to understand either (which I am light years away from fully understanding!). Last year I upgraded to a full frame, pro camera and often have it with me at wedding to capture the fun details that I want to share with other brides. I've even shot a few weddings here when no one in our budget photography team was available.

As a wedding planner, it's a lot of fun to step outside of my coordination role for a bit and wear a different hat. I had an absolute blast at Shanna's wedding playing the photographer. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to edit even a 10th of her images, but these are a few of the teasers I sent over for her (fortunately, she is a very understanding friend while I wade through our busy June!). I hope you enjoy the teaser as well and would love any feedback!

Right before walking down the aisle


A fun little photo prop I brought along


I wanted to share this one because of the milk glass. Shanna's grandmother spent a year prior to the wedding collecting antique milk glass to use as centerpieces. The reception was held in a rustic old barn and the combo of the hydrangea, milk glass and old barn feel was so awesome and huge difference for me - I'm used to starfish and beach glass!


So far, this is one of my favorite images of the ones I've edited. I love the emotion on her father's face as he hugs his baby girl...but did you notice the guest seated at the table in the background? The what her father is holding in his hand? I love the little bit of comedy infused in such an emotional moment. I remember taking this image and it was the first one I pulled up on my computer - I was so excited about it!

Shepherd Hooks

I've seen a few island weddings that incorporate shepherd hooks for the ceremony - usually with a hanging jar either filled with candles (not always the best idea for a beach wedding) or flowers. I've also seen them with pompador flowers, which is always pretty. But in all my years of wedding planning, I can only really recall two brides that did the same. I was shopping around online today and contemplating buying some hooks & hanging mason jars...but is this a trend that is here to stay? I figured I'd better hold off until I get more requests (currently I have none!). It's hard to resist shopping for stuff so cute though...





I really love the idea! Just waiting for a bride to come along and say, "let's do it!"

Sand Dollar Estate Wedding

We do a lot of weddings at Sand Dollar Estate. It's a wonderful venue, has it's own beach (which is not always there, depending on the water level), and two great decks for dancing & dinner. I always love it when brides bring a photographer with them from the mainland...it's very interesting to see an "outsiders" take on things. Kristina & Brady sent me a link to their photographers blog over the weekend and I wanted to share it with you here. Their photographer, Jules, brought along her twin sister, Joy, the help with the event. I LOVED the fact that it was twin sisters in business together! I grew up with parents that ran a business together (and still do) and my husband and I are partners in our businesses. I love family operations. Seeing two sisters work together just melted my heart. I can only hope my girls can grow up and get along enough to work together one day too! Many days, the "getting along" part seems impossible!

Kristina put a lot of work and thought into her wedding. She was an Etsy girl, which you know I love! Here are some photos I took of the event as well...

Chalkboards everywhere! And fun straws and umbrellas for the drinks at the bar (this was the second set of umbrellas, the straws were gone before I got a photo):



Beautiful blue wooden hearts to decorate the appetizer table:



Wooden birds for the bride & groom's chairs at the dinner:



I'm so glad Etsy wasn't around when I got married...I'd still be paying it off!