Real life couple, Hayley and Dillon pose in this beautiful California styled shoot from Elle Lily Photography and Videography. The invitations set the tone for the floral inspired shoot with hints of watercolor touches throughout. Hayley looks beautiful in her custom gown while Dillon is absolutely adorable in her leather bow tie and suspenders. Just the right mix of casual and elegant.
As the date for our next Indie Wed event approaches, it is hard not to think about all the couples who will be getting not only married, but those who will also be getting engaged. The holiday season is the most popular time of the year for engagements! After the holidays pass, we fall pretty quickly into Valentines Day. Did you know that February 14th is the single most popular date for weddings in the U.S.?
For anyone who is looking for an uber romantic wedding idea for V-day nuptials, the Empire State Building is hosting their 20th annual Valentine’s Day Contest. Not one but three lucky couples will win a wedding (or vow renewal) atop the Empire State Building. (Any Sleepless in Seattle or Affair to Remember fans out there?) Our friends with Red Envelope, along with Pro Flowers have been asked to be the lead designers for the three weddings.
In anticipation of the contest, Red Envelope approached Indie Wed to curate a collection of our favorite items from their wedding gifts collection. We happily obliged, picking items with the theme “Date Nite At Home” in mind.
clockwise from top left… personalized mason jar kitchen towels,I could totally imagine a night home with your sweetie, cooking dinner together then curling up on the couch with some beer and popcorn for a late night movie. While these 5 items were chosen from their wedding collection, honestly there are so many interesting gift ideas throughout the whole site, many of which are created by independent designers in the U.S. (check out their rotating Meet the Makers section)
To enter the Empire State Building Valentine’s Day Contest, simply head over to their facebook page for more details. Entries must be submitted by December 5th.
Note: Indie Wed received no compensation of any kind for this post. The items selected were based on our own opinion of fun and useful gifts for a newly married couple.
Engagement shoots are always fun but how about one where the bride to be doesn’t even know she is getting engaged! When photographer Latisha Carlson of Latisha Lyn Photography sent over this super sweet shoot, I knew I had to share. For weeks Latisha and the future groom, Drew, planned this surprise pop-the-question under the guise a a simple styled photo shoot.
Latisha escorted the lovely Brenna to the surprise destination blindfolded where Drew was eagerly waiting with a hand-painted sign that read “hello best friend”. How sweet.
When Drew fell to bended knee and proposed, I just love the expression on Brenna’s face. Such an important moment and one that usually doesn’t get captured on film. This is something they can cherish forever.
Congratulations to this happy couple. Hopefully we will get a chance to see the wedding photos as well. And thank you to Latisha for sending these are way. So adorable. Now I want to get engaged all over again…. Did you have an interesting or unique engagement? Do tell!
Tuan H Bui Photographer and Carlene with Naturally Yours Events are collaborating on a contest for a FREE stylized engagement shoot. Tuan will do the shooting and Carlene will do the stylizing. This contest is packed full of awesome free stuff, like free makeup for the shoot and two deluxe prints made for the winners.
For more information and to enter – please visit Tuan’s blog to submit your info or you can meet Carlene at Indie Wed on January 28th and enter in person.
Every day my inbox is filling more and more with incredible engagement sessions and real weddings. When I saw this one, I was so excited. They are the most adorable duo and look like the type of couple I would want to know and hang out with. When Emma from Honey Honey Photography sent this over I had to post it as soon as I could.
When the Redlands, CA couple, Melissa & Johnny, contacted Emma, Melissa was prepared with an inspiration board filled with images from film stills to Anthro catalog pages. She wanted a casual feel but something that toes the line between a visual diary and a vintage editorial lookbook.
I mean look as those masks? What struck me about the images was the fine art photography feel. A mix somewhere between William Eggleston and Cindy Sherman perhaps? The couple wanted to spend the day doing things they loved to do together which involved hanging out at home, picnics in the park, visiting antique stores and a vintage book/record shop. (Believe me, if I showed you all the amazing photos Emma sent, this would be the longest post ever!)
I am hoping that once they get married, Emma will send pics of the wedding as it will be just as beautiful I am sure. As Emma told me, “Their wedding will be held at a museum park where several historical houses stands (Very big fish, the movie, inspired) in March, so it looks like a little neighborhood, with rented vintage furniture, white christmas lights, and lots of DIY goodies. It’ll be a very small and intimate wedding!” Do you think I’ll get an invite? ;)
As a part of the new Indie Wed blog, I want to feature real weddings and engagement shoots from around the country. We are starting off the new year with an adorable photo session by Austin based photographer Love Caryn Photography. The cute couple, Marianne & Kyle, live in College Station, TX while Kyle works on his PhD. Marianne hails from Colorado while Kyle is an Illinois boy at heart, this twosome wanted to show their love of travel in this engagement shoot.
TIP: When taking engagement photos, make sure you talk with your photographer about your style, interests, etc so that you have a photo session that embodies who you are as a couple. You don’t want to look back on your photos and feel like they were forced or you were playing a part that just wasn’t you. Fortunately for Marianne & Kyle, they had a photographer who really wanted to capture their fun, quirky personality along with their love for traveling.