“Bridal portraits are an opportunity to capture a bride at her best without the pressure guests waiting on a wedding reception.”

Source: TexasWeddings.com.

This is a fabulous way to visually articulate the style and look you want for your portrait session and pairs perfectly with our request for images that is part of our Wedding Worksheet we use for all our clients.

…because bridal portraits should be just As You Wish.

As the founder and coordinator of a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity and chair for five years, Lori Luza has much experience with Silent Auctions. Our setup allows your volunteers to input data as the donations are procured. This data is then used to create all the printed items needed for the auction: bid sheets for both the auction area and the cashier station, item tags, thank you notes for both donors and patrons, checkout slips, and receipts. Our system will ensure a smoothly running sale at your event, leaving your staff and volunteers to focus on the collection of items for the auction and ticket sales.

Contact As You Wish today for a customized bid.

Check out the post on Lynn Michelle’s amazing blog!

• Use 3-4 times as many jars/candles as you think you need. You can never have too many candles for an effect like this, especially if it’s your dinner/dancing area for the reception.
• Use a medium weight wire. The thinner stuff is easier to work with, but it is not as sturdy around the neck of the jar.
• Be sure the wire handles are wrapped at least two full times around the neck of the jar.
• Be sure the wire handles are 12-18″ long and/or use large S hooks (available near the wind chimes in the garden area of home improvement stores) to keep the candles a safe distance from leaves and twigs.
• “Curl” the ends of the wire so no one gets scratched when hanging the jars.
• When you attach the wires, loop ribbons matching your wedding colors (2-3 per jar, 48-72″ long doubled over so the final streamer is 2-3x as long as the jar/wire unit) through the wires and let them dangle at various lengths beneath the jar. This will create a pretty effect when a breeze comes along and makes the jars pretty before the sun sets.
• For the ones you want hung higher in the tree, loop string over that branch, tie one end to the wire handle, and tie the other end near the trunk of the tree. When you get ready to light them, you can loosen the string at the trunk, lower the candle and light it, and use the string to raise the candle back to it’s place in the tree. You can even loop several over branches and tie them all to the same spot in the tree. This also makes cleanup after your event easier.
• Put a layer of sand in the bottom of each jar to stabilize the candle so it won’t slide to the side when a gust of wind comes along.
• Use votive candles instead of tea lights. You’ll need to light the candles pretty early (else you’ll have a ladder up as guests are arriving) and tea lights only last for 4 hours. Since guests are at weddings for 4-5 hours, you’ll need more time, anyway. Even cheapie-cheap votive candles from the dollar store are fine since you don’t have to worry about them dripping or smelling nice. In summer, consider scattering a few citronella candles among the others (and certainly keep some of that pretty-smelling Off in the rest room for guests to use.
• When you are done, list the jars with wires and ribbons on iList, Craigslist, or eBay. There will be a couple getting married next year that wants to do the same thing. You could get back up to 50% of your investment.

See our other tips for outdoor weddings.

(and thanks to Twitter users for pointing out this great site, today. I feel bad for those who were just taking snap shots in front of the hotel and were “asked” to stop.)

This site is a great resource for anyone who has concerns about having their photograph taken in public. It’s written from the perspective of the photographer, but the rules still apply.

was invited to The Nest’s Grand Opening, so I offered to shoot the event for her.

In celebration we share; in each other, we care.

The alpacas were wonderful to meet and to greet!


Even when “stuffed” they have coats all a fluff!

Their coat, when spun, makes dressing for winter fun!

Door prizes galore, from lots of local stores!

Susan is greeting; all about she is fleeting!


Handwriting analysis a popular “psychoanalysis”…

…and the food! oh my! Everything I must try!

Susan, a great hostess, didn’t forget! She gave favors to all of the guests

A firepit was built in memory of one…

…and our weatherman, Bob French, a few songs he had sung.

A spa blessing like none that you’ve ever seen…

…and the firepit dedication was a tear-jerking scene!

Of course, it’s not a party until something gets broken


New friends to love, and a bond that’s unspoken

It all come packaged in this place truly blessed


This woman and her hero? They offer The Nest!

Congratulations, Susan and Raymond. I can’t wait to come get a massage!