Susan & Geoff: part II

Oh yes there is more! After the mariachi band escorted the whole party to the cocktail hour the festivities really got started. There were yummy Mexican nibbles, a firepit, wine, cigars,and of course a tequila bar. Yum and yum (I didn't drink any tequila though). Everyone had such a good time. I was a little sad to have to leave the next morning. Thank you Susan and Geoff for being such wonderful hosts and congratulations again!!!
Look at the bottom of the post for link love.












The Goodies:
location: Tides, Zihuatanejo, Mexico
location planner: Angelica Celestino
guest shooter: Sara Remington
wedding band, pendant & earrings: custom design by Anna Sheffield
lounge & reception design, invitations, menu, programs: designed by Susan Maxwell (that's one talented bride!)
dress: Monique Lhuillier
engagement ring: Cartier
shoes: Guiseppe Zanotti
emerald & diamond ring: my "something borrowed" from the bridesmaid Azita's grandmother

And now for something completely different....

I was Union, he was a Confederate, but that did not stop us from walking to the battlefield together hand-in-hand. It was an outright scandal.
This past Saturday I was lucky enough to accompany Tucker on one of his re-enactment shoots for an upcoming Nat Geo documentary. In order to be right in the middle of all the action we had to dress the part. It was such fun, although it does feel a bit eerie when your dressed as a Union soldier hiding behind a rock and having a line of Confederates shooting at you. Fortunately having my trusty 5D with my 70-200 lens with me marked me as an obvious civilian, so they let me live.
Everyone was incredibly kind, answering all of our questions, and firing off canons for us. After the public left both sides even invited us for dinner. That peach cobbler was divine! Now that's making history fun!

Special thanks to:
Jennifer Roger (President of NCWA)





This is Tucker doing his thing!

Susan & Geoff

Its finally here! The Mexico wedding. I am SO excited about this post. In fact I was so excited I have to make this a two part series. So be prepared for a lot of pics.
All the details were carefully thought out -from the jewelry made by Susan's friend to the surprise mariachi band after the ceremony (and you know how much I love details!) They even had a fake "traditional sombrero" toss after the ceremony, which I think should be a new standard for Mexican weddings! I could just go on and on, but I think everyone is more interested in pictures - am I right!?
I'll post all the links of vendors and helpers and other goodies with the second post.

Happy Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day I wanted to post more tips of how couple's in the Bay area are planning on making their weddings more environmentally friendly...

To avoid additional air travel and the GHG associated with it, we are honeymooning right in the park [they are getting married in Yosemite] – we will be going on a 4 day backpacking trip through the high Sierra mountains in Yosemite.

I bought my dress from www.Bridesagainstbreastcancer.org . The dresses that they sell have been donated by former brides. Proceeds from the sale go towards breast cancer research. Bonus, I collected dresses from friends and donated them to the event when I attended.

Our caterers use local and organic ingredients for the majority of the menu. The fish that we have selected is approved by the Monterey Bay Aquarium as a sustainable fishery and the chicken is free-range organic. All of the vegetables are from local farms and independent farmers.

Our “favors” and table assignments will be beeswax candles in small candle holders with the guests name and table on it – when people take them to their tables, they will serve double duty as table décor!

We plan on using disposable organic and compostable palm leaf dinnerware.

Using seasonal, locally grown flowers as well as incorporate as
many native Nor Cal plants as we can.

Using potted plants.

I'm making a shrug to keep warm that will be made out of recycled white and ivory-colored wool sweaters that I will felt in the washing machine.

On our wedding website, we will have options for gift-giving through a charity registry (giving donations in our name to some groups that we have supported or worked with in the past).

I wanted to find some unique re-purposed containers for the flowers, so we're in the process of finding a number of vintage silver-plated teapots, pitchers, and creamers/sugar bowls to use as vases for our centerpiece flowers and containers for floating candles or single blooms. I love tea -- it was one of the major pleasures of living in England for me -- and serving tea also figures very prominently in the Chinese wedding ceremony, so we are happy that we're able to incorporate some element of meaning into our centerpieces. After the wedding, we'll recycle the whole set of containers by offering them to some other local bride or event planner who might find use for them at their event.

[We are using a caterer that uses] 100% organic produce & meats and beverages, uses a bio-diesel powered vehicle to transport food, compost all scraps and recycle everything else, will donate a portion of proceeds to the Arbor Day foundation.

We will rent a hybrid to shuttle people around West Marin so they don't have to drive.

Using soywax candles instead of paraffin wax.

In an effort to find a gown that matches my values, I am scouring eBay and resale shops and websites for a ‘pre-owned’ or sample sale gown. It’s tough to find the right size and style together. If I end up buying a new gown, I will be seeking a natural fiber gown, made in the US or Europe without sweatshop labor. I plan to give my gown a second or third life by donating it to Brides Against Breast Cancer so they can use it in their fund-raising sales.

It would be scandalous if I had a post without a picture. Here is a image that I shot while Tucker and I made our way down the Oregon Coast last month....

featured on Étoile: by Bliss'd

I am so honored to be featured this week on Étoile by Michelle of Bliss'd. Now you can read embarrassing tidbits about me. Thanks Michelle!
Make sure to look at her blog for some fun wedding inspiration! She rocks!

I realized I didn't have any new pics of me for the post so Tucker and I ran outside a few days ago for the quickest photo session ever. He made me twirl so much, I actually had to lie down for 20 minutes. I still love him though.

Susan & Geoff - cruise

Thats right - more Mexico goodness! As a rehearsal dinner warm-up, Susan and Geoff invited all their guests on a sunset catamaran cruise. The ocean was calm that evening with a gentle warm breeze floating by. And the light was
G-O-R-GEOUS. Oh, I want to go back! Or at least take that light and ocean breeze where ever I go. What a wonderful relaxing way to start off the evening. Don't get me wrong - there was plenty of partying once the sun set, but that's a whole other story.
Here are some of my favs of the cruise....