A couple of weeks ago we met with Jodee and Todd for a Trash the Dress shoot.  Jodee and Todd were married out of state in Louisville, Kentucky last October and Jodee contacted us because she wanted one last shoot in her dress before she either sells or donates it.  She also just wanted to make some fun photographs with Todd where they didn't have to worry about timelines or getting the dress dirty :-)!

We met up at the Mesa Arts Center (a really cool location for shooting) and finished up in the Superstition Range.  We have to give props to both Jodee and Todd because it was sooooo disturbingly HOT ..... 105 degrees hot!!  Needless to say we had to take many breaks for water and shade so no one would end up in the hospital with a heat related illness :-).  They really did an amazing job and never once complained.  We even let them have fun at the end of the shoot at the Arts Center, allowing them to take a dip in one of the many fountains.  Made for fun photos too :-)!

Jodee and Todd, it was such a pleasure meeting and working with you both!  You were so nice, fun to be around and wonderful at posing for the cameras :-).  By the way, I just have to throw this out there because I was thinking it the whole day and never mentioned it ... I really think Jodee looks like a young version of Jodie Foster - who agrees??  Thanks guys and enjoy!

Payvand and Jeremy were married on April 25th at the Hilton in Chandler.  They had a traditional Persian Ceremony and it was simply breathtaking!!!  We absolutely adore photographing cultural ceremonies!  It is a wonderful way to learn about and experience the customs and traditions of other cultures throughout the world.

The sofreh table is the most ornate component in the persian wedding and this one was made by Payvand's mother, who did a beautiful job.  Some components of the sofreh table include the Mirror (of fate) "Aayeneh-ye Bakht" and two Candelabras (representing the bride and groom and brightness in their future) placed on either side of the mirror.  The mirror and candelabras are symbolic of light and fire, two very important elements in the Zoroastrian culture.  When the bride enters the room her veil is covering her face and when she sits down and the veil is removed the first thing the groom should see in the mirror is the reflection of his bride-to-be.  The sofreh is also decorated with a multitude of grains, nuts and spices each with it's own symbolic meaning.

Other notable components of the ceremony include a shawl of fine fabric held over the couple's heads by happily married female relatives and two sugar cones "Kalleh Ghand" made out of hardened sugar which are grinded together over the bride and groom's head (over the shawl held above their heads) throughout the ceremony to shower them in sugar, symbolizing sweetness and happiness.  A cup of honey to sweeten life is set on the sofreh and immediately after the couple is married they each dip a pinky finger in the honey and feed it to one another.

Payvand and Jeremy, let us start by saying you make an absolutely stunning couple.  It was truly our pleasure to not only be your wedding photographers but to take part in such a magnificent event.  Thank you for the opportunity!!  Hope you enjoy the photos ... there are sooo many more where these came from :-)!!!

Payvand's dress was Exquisite!!

Terry and Glenn were married at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale on April 19th under very sunny - and rather warm - skies.  They had a Jewish ceremony at sunset with their daughters, Jamie (Terry's daughter) and Lyndsey (Glenn's daughter), at their sides and it was absolutely beautiful!  Their Huppah was gorgeous as was their Ketubah (wedding contract.)  Their Rabbi requested that we not take photographs during the ceremony but we were able to capture some lovely images at the beginning and end, including the breaking of the wedding glass.

The details of this wedding were spectacular including a seperate wedding cake at each table.  They opted for the hotel to provide custom lighting for the reception and chose the colors to match that of sunset.

Terry and Glenn, we enjoyed working with you both so much!!  Thank you for choosing us as your wedding photographers and we hope you enjoy the sneak peak :-)!!

Ginny and Buddy got married on April 18th under beautiful blue skies at the Pioneer Living History Museum in North Phoenix.  This was the coolest wedding - modern chic meets wild west ... how fun!!!

This was seriously a fun wedding and quite inspirational from a photographer's perspective.  Visually it was eye candy ... rustic, old buildings, historic little church (which by the way, we have always looked at from the I-17 and thought how cool it would be to photograph), horse-drawn carriage, dusty stampede from a mock round-up, stunning vintage style wedding dress, Stetson hat, and shoes, shoes, shoes from the super-chic to electric blue glitter to cowboy (or in this case, girl) boots ... man this was a fun wedding!!!

A few highlights - Buddy was so sweet when he shed tears over the first sight of his bride; Ginny's dad bought a really cool pair of shoes to match her really cool pair of shoes; Ginny's cousin, Lisa, is a chef and made the cake herself - AMAZING; this wedding marked the retirement of the carriage driver and his horse, Zeus, was set to retire along with him after one more gig.

Ginny and Buddy, thank you soooo much for having us as your wedding photographers and for trusting us to make some very fun images!!  We truly enjoyed your wedding and getting to know you both ... best wishes in life, you are an amazing couple :-)!

Well, I am finally home from my visit to the East Coast, but only temporarily ... we leave again tomorrow for another week in sunny Florida for another destination wedding!  I actually made the trek back to Arizona to photograph Stephanie and David's wedding this past Saturday.

The ceremony was held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix and the reception was held at the Tempe Mission Palms.  This was a first for me.  It was the first one-hundred percent photojournalistic wedding I have ever covered ... that's right, not one posed photo in the bunch.  The couple was very clear on this point.  They simply wanted their wonderful day captured as it unfolded with no interference!  And by the way, the "napkin hats" everyone is wearing during the reception ... there is definitely a story and a reason behind it all, though it was not necessarily planned :-).

Stephanie and David were wonderful to work with and it was a pleasure serving as their wedding photographer.  Thank you both so much and I hope you enjoy Savannah (one of my favorite Southern destinations!)