BP + PWS = OMG!

All I remember from our trip to the tux shop to pick out invitations, was flipping through hugemongous books from the stone age, filled with invitations mass produced in some third world country by someone who was probably more interested in staying alive that day than the uniqueness of our wedding invitations.

I stayed coherent (read 'sober') for about three pages of these books, and then everything blended together and I ended up in the fetal position in the corner of the tux shop. At no point in my life have wedding invitations excited me in the least bit.

Until Paper Wasp Studios came along and ruined it for me. :o)

Kristin Owens is amazingly creative, extremely sweet, and her work is incredible. From custom designed invitations, programs, thank you cards, announcements and anything else you could possibly want, Kristin's designs will completely compliment and enhance your special occasion.

Tysen and W.T, Montana

One of the absolute biggest joys we get out of being photographers is meeting new people, making new friends, and crossing paths will those whom we would normally never encounter.

It is because of photography that we found ourselves on the shores of Flathead Lake in Polson MT, with two of the kindest and sweetest people we've met in our travels. Tysen and W.T. had one of the most beautiful weddings I've seen, in one of the most spectacular locations you could ask for.

I still get goosebumps when I remember it. It was in fact the only time I've teared up during the toasts to the bride and groom. You know how hard it is to take pictures and cry? Well..it is. We somehow have ended up with a standing invitation to visit Tysen's parents when we're up that way, who in fact are wonderfully sweet people as well. Though I'm not sure how I'll justify the wedding photographers dropping by for a visit....but I'll worry about that later.

This....was as perfect as a wedding could be. And with that I shall stop mooshing...and show you some pictures.

B

Outstanding In Our Field...

Seriously. This is us out standing in our field.

There was a rumor that the picture before this one was of me licking the 70-200 2.8 IS L lens...but that can neither be confirmed nor denied. Who would lick a $1600.00 lens....honestly.

Ok ok, it's not OUR field. But it was a field behind a very cool old barn we shot a wedding at this past weekend in Missouri. And this of course is where I'm supposed to insert some neato pictures of that wedding...but they happen to be in line behind the Montana wedding, which is still in the oven. And then we can start sorting through the 1577 pictures from this weekend. Yay!

I've noticed, especially since a friend pointed it out (yo Andrea...) that there's an unnerving rash of people out there labeling themselves as professional photographers. They walked into Wal-Mart, picked up a Coolpix camera, took some shots of some friends, posted them on myspace and POOF! Instant professional photographer. It's really quite amazing. Ok no, it's actually really scary. So...just check out your photographers, wherever you are.

And now it's time to feed the hamster so he'll run fast enough for the computer to run Photoshop.

B

Friends. With Benefits.

No silly, not like that.


I was fortunate enough to attend an event hosted by the gracious Sam Stokely and his lovely wife a few evenings ago. It was a meet and greet at the new Stokely Event Center (www.StokelyEventCenter.com) which is a great location for meetings, events, receptions, etc.

There were several vendors present, and as always I love to find the ones that are different than everyone else, that are outside the box in the services they offer and the level of professionalism they bring with their product or service. Alright, that's actually a fancy way of saying I love to go and eat all of their food....

But seriously...

When Julie and I got married, we didn't have a budget. No, we weren't rich. We were so poor that we couldn't even afford to have a budget. So my ever gowing list of friends and vendors is simply a wish list of people that I would have LOVED to had at our wedding, and most likely will use for our second wedding. (Yes you're allowed to have more than one wedding with the same person.)

For those of you that are considering offering a bar at your reception or event, check out www.bluelabelbartending.com . I'd seen their website several times, and was really glad to meet them in person. They simply are the best at what they do. From personal meetings to help you plan your event, to helping out in every way possible to make your day a complete success...these guys rock.

A complete and wonderful surprise was my introduction to Aroma Divina Espresso Bars (www.aromadivinaespresso.com) I can honestly say it was some of the best espresso I've ever had. Add to that the iced latte, cappucino, and iced coffees I consumed that night.....I was extremely hyper. But, it was all really, really good.

Now, let me pause here and say something ...unprofessional. Tell the kids to leave the room....

I have an allergy. Just one. My allergy is to conceited, stuck up, snobby, rude and arrogant people. Even more so if they try to pass themselves off as wedding vendors of any kind. They make my right arm twitch really fast in sort of a backhand motion, which isn't entirely polite in public.
Let me state this again.....your wedding day is one of the single most important, happy, exciting days of your entire life. It's magical, wonderful, romantic, beautiful...everything that you always wished and hoped that it would be. And to have any stress or complications added to it by some schmuck that has the people skills of a constipated warthog....isn't something you should have to worry about.

All of that to say, the people and businesses that are on our site, or that I mention in my blogs, are people that I have met with personally, worked with personally, and that I trust completely not to screw up your day.

Because when your photographer shows up late in shorts and a t-shirt, dragging his entire family along with him...(behold our wedding)...or the bartender himself is so intoxicated that he's more intent on groping the bridesmaids than serving your guests ( photographed this wedding)....your wedding day can become less than perfect really quick.


But don't take my word for it....

*Cue Reading Rainbow music *