Good Morning, friends!

Holy heavens, do I ever miss blogging! It’s going to happen again. Eventually. This forever lingers on the back burners of my mind.

“You should really be blogging more.”

“Geez Bailey, why haven’t you posted more wedding & engagement awesomesauce lately?”

“Why are you taking slightly-over-a-day to respond to emails instead of your usual 12 hours or less?”

Don’t worry. None of these questions are coming from friends. Or even clients. Nope, they’re all coming from inside my perfectionist little pea brain.

So right now, I’m trying to cultivate more patience with myself. And keep reminding that inner voice that, “HEY! You are planning a pretty awesome wedding. And it’s happening in less than three weeks. And you guys are not about traditional. Everything is intentional, authentic, perfectly fitting for you two. It’s not a cookie cutter affair. So everything takes more time, more energy, more love. You’re going to be exhausted. And you need to be patient with yourself.”

One thing my soul truly needs: more therapy time with my camera. More earth. More nature. More this:

In other news, it has been bustling over at the flower shop with Mother’s Day, prom, and big milestones (we were voted runner-up for MN’s Best Flower Shop). Although I’m only pouring my heart into flowers a few days a week, it has been so busy-busy!

A couple of weeks ago, the wedding season kicked off with Shayne & Ryan’s gorgeous wedding-in-the-woods. As I steadily work through their images, I find myself giddy with excitement!

In this season, I already see a shift. A shift in my art, my skill, my approach. This work is lighting my heart ON FIRE!

Even if your head is clouded with doubt, remember: you CAN create the images you dream of! It takes work & purposeful change, but you can do it! Here is one image of Shayne & her maids that totally has my heart.

In other random news, we bought a car this weekend! Perfect timing, right? With a wedding just around the corner…ha! It had to happen, though. Poor dear Turquoise Jeep has been strugglin’. Big time. But we’ll miss his vibrant quirks. Sorta.

To my dear couples, and brides in particular: Reality check. It does get crazy. Engaged people are some of the busiest folks I know: planning a wedding, working a job (or two or three), finishing school, maybe owning a business, managing the feelings of fam & friends, and just figuring life out. Being tugged in a million directions, with no real control over the little things.

A note to you (& to self!): Don’t sweat the small details. Let ‘em roll like water off a duck’s back. Be totally in it for the ride, but don’t expect to steer the whole time.

And most of all? Savor every moment.

Image by Gina Zeidler (our inspiring wedding photographer).

XOXO,

A First Look moment.

“What the hey is that?” you say? Well, my dear. It’s a moment, or series of moments, in which you & your betrothed see one another for the first time on your wedding day. In a gorgeous, intimate setting. Just the two of you. Like it was meant to be.

As a wedding photographer, my heart is all about beautiful imagery, connecting with my couples, and making their big days awesome. During our initial coffee date, I always take time to address the First Look. This post expands on a few of the things I tell every couple.

So how, exactly, will a First Look moment rock your world?

1. It gives you time to shake those jitters out.

“I remember walking up to him and thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this is it!’” says 2012 bride Audrey. “I was super excited to have our private moment with just us.”

2. Capturing that First Look moment results in some of the most gorgeous, emotional images in the bunch.

Everything from tears to giggles to speechlessness. It’s all real & authentic, and that’s why I love the resulting images so much.

“The first look allowed us have a private moment together before all of the commotion of the day started,” says 2012 bride Jenna.

During this time, I typically shoot with a longer lens so that I can keep my distance & allow you to just be in the moment together.

3. You’ll be free to enjoy the social hour following your ceremony.

Your guests will be happier, & your event will have a nice, natural flow to it. If you’ve ever been a guest at a wedding, you know all about the lag time that occurs when all of the photographs need capturing between ceremony & reception time. Show your guests you love ‘em by keeping those in-between photos to a minimum! You’ll keep your guests (plus you & your wedding party) happy!

Bride Audrey reflects, “We loved having our first look, since we planned on doing (all of our) photos before the ceremony. It gave us the time to just be together & enjoy what the day was going to hold.” Amen, sister!

4. Having a First Look moment in no way (& I repeat: in no way) takes away from the significance of seeing one another down the aisle.

This is so important. In fact, having already seen one another actually enhances the aisle moment. You’ve shaken out those jitters, taken a few deep breaths, giggled & snuggled your way into chillaxed, lovey-dovey mode. You can be fully present & just soak in the atmosphere: that space full of the folks you cherish most.

5. You get to spend more time hanging out with your best friend on your wedding day.

And isn’t that kinda the point? Holla!

Here are a few words from 2012 bride Jenna on their First Look: “We chose to do a first look moment because we wanted the first time we saw each other on our wedding day to be special & the timing of events did not allow for us to see each other for the first time walking down the aisle (And frankly, I didn’t want to wait until 5 o’clock to see my sweetie in our wedding day!).”

Bailey’s Bride-to-Be Insight

As a bride-to-be, my heart totally aligns with dedicating time for a First Look on the wedding day. My fiancé & I are doing the same for our wedding this June! And although we cherish our wedding party members, we still request that they hang back until it’s time for group photos. No peeking, even! We consider the First Look to be a sacred moment for us & our photographer.

How I Roll My First Looks

Prior to your day, we’ll have a timeline established down to the minute. I always build in plenty of cushion time for the First Look, and will scout the area for a perfect, beautifully-lit First Look location.

Soon after the bride is dressed & ready, I will sneak away & fetch the groom. We’ll find our way to the spot, & I’ll chat him through what’s going to happen. His little-kid-on-Christmas-morning energy is always infectious.

If waiting to see one another is a non-negotiable, and you’ve already learned about everything a First Look moment has to offer, then awesome! Make the decision that speaks to your heart, & know that an awesome sauce photographer will be able to capture the images you need — no matter what.

XOXO,

 I am a story teller. A believer. A never-give-up-er.

Five years ago, I met a boy from England while working at summer camp. What began as a summer romance has turned into forever.

I believe that true love can overcome oceans of distance. I believe in saying “I love you” every single day. I believe you’re never too old or too busy to hold hands (fingers laced, not hands cupped). I believe that tickle fights should be a part of every couple’s fitness regimen.

And I am peached as punch to call myself a 2013 bride alongside you other wonderful ladies.

I am in beautiful company.

XOXO,

A quick micro-blog post for this Octobery weekend!

Life has been busy lately. Crazy busy. Like, back-to-back double-header wedding weekends busy. 

New changes are kicking in: my yard is layered in crunchy leaves, my soul is fueled by a new job in a creative environment, and my heart is patiently awaiting immigration progress. For those new to this blog, my husband-to-be is a Brit and we are currently navigating the murky waters of the immigration process.

Deep breath: it will all work out.

I am the sort of person who sets her mind to something and can’t be derailed. I get a rush from making things happen, especially when my abilities are questioned.

“Exactly how are you going to do that?”

Watch and see.

So, the sky is misting this morning, the yellow maple leaves hang sparse on the neighbor’s tree outside my office window. Hoping for a few rays of sun to emerge. A drive up the North Shore sounds good for the soul today, along with some chai tea.

After this post, I’ll head to the kitchen and rouse the kettle (the electric kettle, that is). This baby is my favorite kitchen appliance, if I can have one. Everyone on the British Isle has an electric kettle, and I don’t understand why they didn’t make the leap across the pond with Harry Potter and the Ghostly Beatles. In my humble opinion, everyone in America should have an electric kettle. And that’s my campaign for today.

I’m off to brew a cuppa.

XOXO,

Four years ago today, I met my now-fiancé at an all boys summer camp where we both worked. He came from England, I from the Upper Midwest. You betcha.

One year ago today, we exchanged our three-year anniversary gifts. Both were wrapped in small brown boxes. When we opened them, we each found a piece of custom engraved sterling silver jewelry.

Now, here comes the twilight zone part. A few weeks earlier, he and I had independently contacted Allison Cecil of Monkeys Always Look about our respective gifts. My fiancé and I were 100% clueless about this freaky coincidence until our anniversary day.

He designed a heart necklace made of sterling silver, etched with a birch bark pattern, and engraved with the exact coordinates of our first kiss.

I designed a ring made of sterling silver, also etched with a birch bark pattern, and engraved with our initials on the outside, with our anniversary date carved on the inside.

Spooky, right?

We found Allison (Monkeys Always Look) on Etsy. There are over 800,000 shop owners on Etsy. We both (unknowingly) chose the same jewelry maker, and she created wonderful pieces that will stay with us forever. 

If you’re looking for something personal and beautifully crafted for your significant other (i.e. wedding rings) check out Allison’s work. She’s fantastic.

Monkeys Always Look :: Etsy Shop

Monkeys Always Look :: Website

By the way, that location (a peaceful strip of sand on the south shore of Lake Superior) would turn out to be our proposal spot the coming New Year’s Eve.

XOXO,

So, for those of you who haven’t heard the scoop yet, I too am tyin’ the knot. Woot!

In a nutshell: It happened on an overcast New Year’s Eve afternoon, on the snow-laden shores of Lake Superior. Although plagued with laryngitis, I happily croaked “yes” to my best friend in the world. A stellar start to 2012, to say the least. 

Of course, one of the initial questions was: “Who’s gonna be in the wedding party?” I knew from the start which ladies I wanted beside me, but I needed some time to cook up a fabulous way to pop the question.

A few months ago, I fell gaga, head-over-heels in love with these adorable handmade boxes crafted by Bethany of Rinse.Repeat blog. They are pretty darn fabulous, and I couldn’t help but be inspired to put my own spin on Bethany’s project (Thanks, B!).

Check out the results below!

My ingredients & their sources:

:: Boxes from Michaels

:: Scalloped paper from Michaels

:: Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Satin Spray Paint in Catalina Mist

:: Krylon Clear Satin Varnish

:: Martha Stewart Crafts Multi-Surface Chalkboard Paint 

:: Vintage map poster (for lining the box & for the paper heart envelopes) from Paperchase in the UK

:: Heart-shaped cookie cutter from The Blue Heron Trading Company in Duluth, MN

:: Ice cream stickers (three of my girls & I met scooping ice cream at our first summer job) from Michaels

:: Map alphabet stickers also from The Blue Heron Trading Company in Duluth, MN

:: Cloth heart ribbon from a small gift shop in Cardiff, UK

:: One brown paper lunch bag for wrapping the tubes of (yes) Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers

:: Hemp twine (found at any craft shop)

:: Three airplane bottles of Maker’s Mark to celebrate!

:: Images of this bridesmaid dress by Coralie Beatrix (aka Sophie Pearl Originals)

Consider creativity when asking your ladies and gents to be by your side on the big day. Make ‘em feel crazy special.

Show me what you got!

XOXO,