{Real Engagement} Jamie & Eamon - Carnival Love + Bubbles

You know when an image just stands up and SLAPS you - the colors pop, the love jumps off the page, the pose is spontaneous and perfect....yeah that kind of slap! Well, welcome to today's Real Engagement session with Jamie and Eamon, coming to us from Joe Elario Photography out of Albany, NY. Talk about unique - I simply adore the carnival setting for this super cute couple who happen to be grade school sweethearts!  This shoot transports me back to junior high when the county fair was THE place for young love to blossom. Carnies, cotton candy, and holding hands on the ferris wheel. Sigh.

Photographer JP Elario says, "I loved working with this couple! Jamie and Eamon have been dating for 10 years, these guys got together back in the eighth grade! A true love story right? And with all the fairs going on, I thought I must do an engagement session at one. I just knew all the colors and scenes would not disappoint and boy, was I right. Sure we had to deal with the carnies and wow, they’re a unique breed to say the least but all in all, it was a kick ass session."

These colors make the whole shoot. What a great location! I think this picture is my favorite.

Or maybe this one! It is so hard to choose!

JP: "What's a fair without a carousel? Jamie & Eamon let me buy them a round. Although standing backwards and shooting did make me a little dizzy, the shot was totally worth it."

JP "took care" of a bubble guy early on in the shoot and was bound and determined not to let those bubbles go to waste! I think they work so perfectly in this setting, soft and delicate, throwing off small soapy rainbows of light. LOVE it!

Can you imagine how hard it would be hard to choose a favorite group of pictures from this session? According to JP, this one is his favorite! I love the out of focus colors and lights in the background; Jamie and Eamon just pop right out of the image! 

JP: "The blue light is always the good stuff." I would have to agree on this one in particular. Amid the colorful flashing lights, carny calls, rollercoaster screams, and impossible to win games, Jamie and Eamon are almost like the eye in a hurricane, the energy is around them is frenetic and lively but their love is peaceful and steady.

This has to be one of the most enjoyable engagement shoots I have seen in a long time, and I get to see a lot! Amazing composition, color and just plain fun! I can't WAIT to bring your their wedding photos next week!

Thanks so much to JP for letting us share this light up your heart Real Engagement session. Joe Elario Photography is a fabulous father and son wedding photography team known for their style, stellar reputation and reliability. The duo is available to shoot weddings & events in Albany, Saratoga Springs, Lake George, & NY.  Personally, I am super smitten with them already, quick to respond, easy to work with and awesome sense of humor.

What are some other unique and visually interesting engagements session locations? Leave us a comment below! You can also join the conversation on FACEBOOK and TWITTER. We'd LOVE to hear from you.


Have a deLightful day - Go with the good stuff,

P.S. If you have a Real Engagement or Real Wedding you would like to be featured, take a look at our photo submission page for all the important deets!

CREATE THIS: photo inspired DIY challenge: Mr. & Mrs. Wedding Banner

Our Inspiration Photo

The photo that launched a thousand ships or so the story goes! I spotted this gorgeousness when nosing around the wedding web the other day. I fell head over heels in love with the Mr. and Mrs. banner idea and it totally inspired me to get out the DIY tools just to see if I could figure out how to make it.  Why? Because DIY wedding projects are economical, practical, and just plain fun!  Plus, I am a craftaholic and I need a little fix.  Thus was born: 

{CREATE THIS: photo inspired DIY challenge}

Photographers capture so many wonderful, imaginative wedding DIY projects, from banners to decor, flowers to favors, even handmade dresses for the super adventurous. And thankfully so because we will need a fabulous new inspiration photo for our next installment of CREATE THIS, which will be a regular category here on dLA. BETTER YET, what photos are inspire YOU? Issues a challenge to the Creative Department here at dLA and send your best photo inspired DIY idea!

 Mr. and Mrs. Wedding Banner:

 

This project is actually pretty easy when you have the right tools. You will need:
- black paint
- craft paper, cardstock
- letter stencils
- scissors
- ruler
- ribbon
- plastic bag
- paper clips

1. Cut craft paper or cardstock into the size you want.  I created 6 x 7 rectangles to correspond with the size of my stencils. I actually created my own stencils but you can purchase pre-cut stencils at any craft store.

2. Paperclip one of the letter stencils to your rectangle. Practice with centering the letter if the sizes aren't the same.

3. Pour out a small amount of black paint into some throw away container. (I used the top of a butter tub.) Make sure your table and clothes are protected.

4. Scrunch up a small section of the plastic bag, maybe 2 inches or so, and dip lightly into the paint. Dab off the excess on a scrap piece of paper.

5. Very gently tap the paint into the stencil, holding down the edges with your finger to keep from smudging the lines. Use protection around the edges if the stencil is smaller than your paper.

 ( I know the picture looks sort of gross!)

6. Repeat 5 until the entire letter is filled in, paying particular attention to the edges. My letters were trial and error and have a few smudges on them from wayward paint and plastic bag!

7. Let each letter dry. In the top corners, make a small vertical cut, the same size as you ribbon (my ribbon is half inch) about an inch or so away from the edge.

8. Pass your ribbon through the cuts to make the sign and VOILA, you have now recreated the inspiration photo wedding banner!

Photos by M. de Oliveira

What I love about weddings is that they are full of possibilities and imagination; anything you see or dream can be your reality! So when you come across a must have decor idea, have a flower fantasy, and find a to die for favor, remember that it can done with a little time, patience and brain power! Or just send us your inspiration photo and we can figure it out for you!

Happy Planning, happy crafting,





PS: If you like what we do here, we'd appreciate it if you would LIKE us on FACEBOOK and FOLLOW us on TWITTER! We have great conversations going over there that you won't want to miss!

{real couple} Trash the Dress Session in Brazil

Hello de Lovelies, welcome to some wedding gorgeousness! I am so excited about this Trash the Dress Session we received from Almiro Bacha in Laguna, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Originally, I was planning to use this vibrant yellow and blue shot in yesterday's post (Old Blue Trucks and the Newlyweds) but after seeing the rest of the post-wedding photo session, I knew Gustavo and Camila deserved so much more!


Now, to be honest, I'm not much of a trash the dress kind of gal...I totally dig getting dressed up in your gown to take post wedding pictures, but to purposely ruin a dress, doesn't do much for me. OK ok fine...maybe it is cathartic for some brides but if you spend thousands on a wedding gown to ruin in 10 seconds, well that is dang stupid to me. (Check out our post on how to get your dress for less.) Unless, as it turns out for this couple, you rent a previously trashed dress to further trash! Super fun and brilliant, here's why....

Brazil, as we know, is a land of sea and sun and beaches, full of historical architecture and gorgeous landscapes, all perfect for wedding pictures. Problem is almost ALL weddings in Brazil start later in the evening, say 9-ish, meaning daytime, sand and surf shots are almost impossible! So after you've gotten some sleep, you rent a dress, grab your sweetie and head off for yet another day in front of the camera! And VOILA...you have today's Trash the Dress.  Seems like a much better plan and so much more fun to me!

 

I so love this couple and this session reminds me of the time I spent in Laguna this past winter (Brazilian summer.) Ok actually I got married in Laguna and almost found myself sitting in this exact same water.  But let me tell you, Brazil IS as beautiful as it seems here and they know how to throw one hell of a party!  Thanks again to Almiro Bacha for this amazing session!

Would you do a Trash the Dress session with your own dress or would you rent one instead? Leave us a comment below. Or head over to FACEBOOK to join the conversation.

Enjoy the weekend,

{Friday's Photo} For Love and a Truck

I have always had a serious love affair with Old Blue Trucks! Why? No idea but I can't get enough of the style, the old fashioned look and the faded almost chalky paint color as blue fades to a slight gray. I photograph them, covet them and wish I could have had one at my wedding. Sigh, I heart you, OBTs. 

For today's Friday's Photo(s) I thought I'd share some of my favorite "Old Blue Truck" and Newlywed photos for a little stroll down memory lane. 

{This picture started it all! The bride's smile is infectious.}

 via Green Wedding Shoes from Our Labor of Love

These days colorful, old fashioned truck photos are super popular with wedding photographers, event planners, and newlyweds; they are romantic, whimsical, perfect for rustic, outdoor, backyard, intimate weddings.   

{Do you think he played that guitar for his gorgeous bride?}

via Love This Day Events 

{I love the bride's petticoat! Something about the wanton abandon of the kiss makes me swoon!}

via Heart Love Weddings

We love kissing, hugging, posing in these vehicles because they transport us back to a simpler time, a time of innocence and fun, when soda pop came in a fountain, girls got pinned by the boys, and these trucks ruled the road.  Plain and simple, old trucks make for gorgeous wedding photos, and we love gorgeous wedding photos; mementos to last a lifetime.

{My kind of OBT!!}

via Elizabeth Anne Designs

 {I so HEART this candy apple red! The groom's yellow bout and those Chucks really pop.}

via Benfield Photography

via Fiore Fresco

Are you using an old car or truck in your wedding shoot? We'd love to see your pictures and share them over on our FACEBOOK page!

Have a lovely weekend!

P.S. Did you know you can now Follow de Lovely Afffair on Twitter? Come over and join the conversation! Lots of great inspiration and ideas going on over there.