We got home from the shoot and I had to give myself a little pep talk. I’d been planning it for so long. I tend to build things up in my mind and idealize things, so I almost had to prep myself for a huge disappointment. I just knew all my previsualization and dreaming had probably set me up for a big let down. I sat down at the computer and watched the images pour in. Yes, I’m a little rounder than I’d like to be, and yes, I realized for the first time that I apparently grow a few extra chins when I laugh, but… other than that, they were PERFECT! David looked perfect, but he always does. (That sounds like a compliment, but it’s really more of a complaint.) The photos were great! Why was I so surprised?

The perfection came from a few people in particular. The biggest contribution of time and effort came from Sally of Sally Stauffer Bridal Design. I went to her six months ago and briefly described what I wanted in a dress… and she MADE it! She sat down, drew a sketch, took a few measurements, and BAM! Custom wedding dress!! As someone who struggles to sew a button back on a shirt, this absolutely amazes me. I wanted something with a retro late 50’s feel and the dress turned out to be something very Betty Draper, which I absolutely LOVE! Here’s a look at another dress that Sally made from scratch, and Sally also did some major alterations for my friend Rachael’s wedding dress.

Another very cool contribution to the shoot was a custom headband made for me by Melissa of Cordelia’s Bridal Jewelry and Hair Fascinators the same person who runs Plume Crazy for Headbands that you’ve heard me rave so much about. Sally provided Melissa was scraps of fabric from the dress and she was able to make something that matched perfectly.

The photos themselves were taken by Allison Bollman and Stephanie Witte. Allison assists me as my 2nd shooter and right hand woman at weddings, and Stephanie has filled in about four times when Allison couldn’t make it. So, I guess she’s my left hand woman? They are both incredibly talented, but even more importantly… patient with me and my little quirks.

I have to thank a few people for small contributions or attempted contributions. Penny at DC Haircrafters helped me grow my hair out a little and helped me know what to do with it to make the headband sit right, etc. I love her!! My friend Kelsey lent me a picnic basket. My little sister Meghan attempted to help me get a baby blue 1950’s pickup truck for the shoot, but that fell through. My friend Shannon didn’t really contribute per say, but she did take me on a three mile walk the day of the shoot and it helped me stay calm and not burst from anticipation. (I’m a little bit of a type A personality. Just a tiny bit…. The fun kind!)

Finally, I have to thank David who didn’t just support this idea… he liked it! He had fun doing it! He even said that if I wanted to do another one in a few years he’d be up for it. I have the best husband ever! I know a lot of women have to fight to get their husbands to dress up, and posing for photos is perhaps the male equivalent of leg waxing. (ONLY because most men have worked with AWFUL photographers who yelled at them in the past and made it feel like a chore. I DON’T DO THAT! Most grooms love me. Just sayin’….) Anyway, the two of us had so much fun we almost forgot we were posing for photos. A couple times Allison and Stephanie had to wait for us to stop laughing so that we could carry on shooting. The entire experience was awesome.

One last thought, I sometimes forget what it’s like to be in front of the camera. It was a good reminder that my clients need a lot of reassurance, because the process is awkward! It just is! But a little bit of awkwardness was worth it. I have images now that I LOVE and I’m excited to frame, hang, print, and cherish for the rest of my life.

Here’s a reminder of the image I showed you on Monday.

And here are a few new ones for you….

Melissa made the headband with a removable Russian Blusher or Bird Cage Veil. I just love the netting. Bird cage veils are my absolute favorite kind of veil.

I contacted several different Warsaw area florists to see if anyone would want to do a bridal bouquet for me, and I kept getting shot down or they wouldn’t call me back. Maybe they didn’t realized even though I wasn’t a real bride I would pay them in real American dollars. Anyway, I finally just gave up and arranged my own flowers. I wish I could link to an amazing florist at this point, but I can’t…

You may remember that I used to make a lot of slideshows. I don’t do that anymore, so don’t ask me to. BUT… since this project was personal I made one for myself.