E-Sesh in Brazil: What does yours say about you?

Engagement sessions are THE place to express your personality, highlighting what makes you a super awesome couple, showing the world your love and what you love! The following photos aren't fancy or fru fru or overly artistic, they aren't shabby chic, or muted chroma, or full of vintage typewriters and burlap banners. But they are full of us and us is what really counts. (I know I know, I shouldn't share my own pics but I REALLY want to make a point and...well, I really like them and I think you will too.)

As you all may know, I went off on a fabulous nine month honeymoon to travel Latin America with my hubs and get married again for his family in Brazil. It was some adventure and a great lesson in how to be a partner.

For our wedding, we had the opportunity to work with an amazing photographer, Almiro Bacha, who insisted we do an engagement shoot. Well, I've been there, done that, (this is our second wedding) been traveling for almost three months and have no e-sesh worthy clothes. But we did it anyway...and so should you, if you are considering NOT doing an engagement sessison.


Why? Comfort, comfort, comfort. Most of us feel a little shy with a camera in our face, kissing our sweetie in front of a perfect stranger, acting completely unnatural, in ackward positions and poses. It will only get WORSE on your wedding day. But the process does get easier, you start to lighten up, laugh, relax, work it, enjoy the posing and preening and come to love your photographer. Your wedding day will thank you! It is much bigger and more important but it all starts with that engagement shoot.



The hubs and I decided we wanted the best of Laguna, Santa Catarina, Brazil, the family's hometown, for our pictures; the beach, the colonial feel, the port, the history. For one set, we chose Mr. de Lovely Affair's grandmother's house, which is where his parents fell in love. So sweet! 

What does our e-sesh say about us? We are just two normal people, getting married in a gorgeous, exotic place surrounded by family and friends. It says, this is who we are, where we come from, and where we are going.

I hope you love these as much as I do and they give you inspiration to be yourself, let your photographer lead you but make it your own, and enjoy some kissy face time with your hubby to be.

Before they were "courting", Mr. de's mother used to wait in this very window for his father to walk by on his way home from work. We thought it would be cute to recreate the moment for them. It was fun hanging out that window waiting for my sweetie. His mom cried when she say these pictures! Score one for the daughter-in-law!

Laguna is an old colonial town filled with great architecture and colorful buildings. We wanted to capture that feel in our session to remind us of our time there. This is the old town hall, where the Laguna declaration of independence from Portugal was signed. It is now the town's musem.

The port used to be an important economic thoroughfare for Laguna; now it is great for taking photos!

All photos courtesy of Almiro Bacha in Laguna, SC - Brazil.

Remember, engagements shoots are just as much about you as they are the photographer. At the end of the day, you are the one with the pictures and what do you want them to say about YOU? Ours say, we love our family, we love our community and we love each other. What more do you need?

Thanks for letting me share and get a little gushy! I wish I could post all of them. If you enjoyed this post or any other, please leave a comment below and on our FACEBOOK page too! You can also join the conversation on TWITTER.

Have an excellent day,

P.S. E-sesh photos have so many practical uses for thrifty brides. I liked ours so much so that we actually used these photos as wedding decor and then gave them away to family members.

{Beach Wedding Week} DIY Favor, Make Your Own Sea Glass Candy

Well here we are again for Beach Wedding Week's Thrifty Thursday, all the good stuff on the cheap. If you want easy, inexpensive, and fun DIY wedding favors that will be a big hit with your guests, how about your own sea glass candy? You can make it any flavor and color you want to correspond with your wedding colors. Pretty tins or shells make great holders, add a tag and finish it off with some ribbon and you have a super tasty way to say thank you!  We love this DIY wedding favor idea for a beach themed celebration and thank Intimate Wedding letting us share their recipe.

Reception: Sea Glass Candy Favor

You will need: 2 cups granulated sugar, 3/4 cup water, 3/4 cup corn syrup, 1/4 – 1 tsp. flavoring oil (Raspberry and rootbeer were used here but the choice is yours) Icing sugar (to coat cooled candy for that weathered look)

Step One: Grease a cookie sheet or cake pan with butter. Measure ingredients.

Step Two: Pour granulated sugar, corn syrup and water in a medium saucepan. Place over medium heat and stir until sugar dissolves.

Step Four: Without stirring, boil the mixture until a candy thermometer reads between 300 and 310 degrees. (This will take about 30 minutes.) Drop a small amount into ice water. If it separates into brittle strands its ready.

Step Five: Remove from heat and let boiling subside.

Step Six: Measure flavoring oil and pour into candy mixture. Also add food coloring if desired. Blend with a wooden spoon. (You’ll notice that it will get really steamy for a few seconds.

 Step Seven: Pour onto greased cookie sheet or cake pan. Let cool. The fridge works well.

Step Eight: Cover hardened candy with parchment paper and tap with a mallet to shatter candy into small pieces. Make sure to spread the pieces around after breaking.

Step Nine: Use a basting brush and coat candy pieces with icing sugar.

Step Ten: Place into favor tins. A cupcake form works well to keep them all together. Tie with ribbon and adhere labels. One reader suggested using a shell to hold the sea glass candy and then wrapping the whole package in tulle or tissue paper.

So there you have it, super simple, easy way to create a sweet beach themed favor for your wedding reception. It is creative and different and sure to be a hit with your guests. Edible favors are a big wedding trend for 2012 and these little yummies definitely won't be left on the table by accident.

Your reception is the best place for lots of personalized DIY projects because people will be spending more time here than any other place. It makes sense from a branding perspective to bring as much of you to the party as possible. Just make sure you have enough time and don't bog yourself down in glue and glitter. Make sure you check out our other Thrifty Thursday post on DIY Save the Dates - Message in a Bottle.

 Happy planning and Happy DIY!


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P.S. Leah commented at Intimate Weddings about a couple problems a few people were having with this recipe. She says:

If you live in a humid place, this toffee will be sticky, it’s a fact of life and nothing you do will prevent it! Keeping it in an air-tight container in the fridge will help prevent stickiness in humid places. But also, if you do not cook it for long enough, it will remain soft and pliable once it ‘sets’ which may also contribute to stickiness. In terms of color – if you take the mixture off the heat before it turns amber your colour will be truer to the original colouring. However the less you cook it the more likely it will not set rock-hard and may remain soft and pliable as I mentioned above.

　

　

　

{Beach Wedding Week} Not your everyday Engagement Session

Happy Valentine's Day dearest de Lovlies, here on our second day of Beach Wedding Week! I hope this day is full of love and sweetness for you....and chocolate hearts. Despite the bad rap it gets from some, this is a day, above all others, to express to your sweetie and loved ones why they have captured your heart. Enjoy the sappiness! If you are in need of last minute Valentine's Day cards, we have some free Valentine's printables and projects perfect for you. Easy, Peasy!

Speaking of capturing hearts, this engagement session from Caitlin Wood of Photography by Caitlin, in Newport, RI, hit me in the sweet spot. I love love and this was a little tear jerker for me. Why? Because it is not your everyday engagment shoot. This couple let their passion for life and each other dictate this special moment. For avid surfers and beach lovers Bridget Butler and John Ruggieri, these photos capture exactly who they are as a couple.

This is one of my favorites because you know they are so happy at this exact moment!

My husband and I tried surfing on our honeymoon and were, well how do you say it, less than successful. Kudos to Bridget and John, for a couple that plays together, stays together!

While John and Bridget weren't originally going to have an engagement session, they were happy to work out the jitters with Caitlin before their wedding day.  E-sessions help couples feel comfortable in front of the camera and allow photographers get a better idea of the couple's personality. And you never know, all these awesome photos may come in handy for their Save the Date or as reception decorations. What better way to personalize your wedding celebration than with photos of doing exactly what you love with who you love.

Thanks you to Caitlin for these super awesome photos...a perfect additional to our Beach Wedding Week. You brought the good stuff and we look forward to featuring your work in the furture! Caitlin is available for weddings, portraits and all the important moments of your life.

Contact information:

Photography by Caitlin
491 Thames St. Newport, RI.
(401) 480-0466

Hope your rest of the week is de Lovely; join us for more Beach Wedding Week as we gear up for great wedding inspriation and Carnaval here in Brazil!

xoxo,

{Beach Wedding Week} Our Photo Inspirations = Wedding Tingles

Happy Monday Lovely people! Welcome to Beach Wedding Week here at de Lovely Affair, in honor of summer here in beautiful Brazil (known of course for its amazing shoreline) and hopefully to bring a little warmth your way.  I know the East Coast may be getting slammed with a winter storm as we in the Southern Hemisphere are preparing for Carnaval! Plus Valentine's Day is coming up this week, so this a perfect way to celebate both.

While searching for ideas and inspiration for our beachy brides, I came across these fabulous photos that gave me the 'wedding tingle', you know, sort of like Spidey Sense but in a good way.  These wedding photos embody everything that is good about your wedding day, the joy, the passion, the love, the pure happiness that comes from enjoying this time with family and friends and your sweetie. They are also just awesome photos that make me smile...I mean who doesn't love the beach and romance?

I hope these get your beach wedding creative juices flowing. Tune in this week for a beach engagement, DIY projects, nontraditional beach ideas, and of course a de Lovely Real Wedding. Be on the look out for our retro beach wedding inspiration board created just for you.

Enjoy the beginning of your week!

Photo courtesy of Bali WWW



Photo courtesy of Ruffled Blog

Photo courtesy of Travel Guide Hampton Roads

Photo courtesy of Ruffled Blog

Photo courtesy of Intimate Weddings

Photo courtesy of Articles Base

P.S. Remember to join us on FACEBOOK for more great wedding inspiration!

And to get you ready for Valentine's Day, check out our free printables and projects.

{Monday Eye Candy} Life's a Beach....

Happy New Year Lovlies! I hope 2011 brings you unimaginable joy, overwhelming happiness and lasting peace.

As the winter settles in and my fluffy down coat remains a constant companion, I thought it might be nice to share some warm wedding thoughts this week....enjoy the sunshine!

How about starting off your day with this gorgeous eye candy from a rustic beach wedding designed by Lisa Vorce of Oh how Charming and captured by the talented Elizabeth Messina.  I absolutely love the hanging stars and white linen panels encasing the tables of the reception area and flowing softly as the alter canopy.  The sand colored linens and rattan elements add an air of simplicity, elegance and romance. I wish I has been invited to this wedding!

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