I remember being really inspired by the idea of the “signature cocktail” when that started to get popular a couple of years ago. I’ve seen it done a couple of times really, really well. But a beautiful cocktail, no matter whether it’s a signature one or not, can be a work of art. I had a little fun with some different ones recently and I thought I’d share how fun they came out.

It’s no secret that I love color at weddings, but what a better way on a hot summer day to cool people down and add pops of color to the party than with a cool, bright-colored drink?

Garnishes are such a fun way to spice these up, too — play around with things until the colors really pop, and you’ve got something good going on.

I’m really into yellow this year, so I was loving this pineapple juice concoction above.

What great ideas do you have for signature cocktails, or a colorful cocktail hour, at your wedding? I want to hear those creative ideas! I hope you’ve all enjoyed these four installments of inspiration — coming soon, real inspiration from real weddings as they begin for 2010.

You remember Sunday, right? Blue skies, warm afternoon? It was the perfect day for Bridgeport Village’s first-ever bridal event, so we headed down to soak up some sun and check it out. I thought I’d share my favorites from the day.

Portland Bride & Groom played host while lots of vendors set up in the main gazebo and in individual stores throughout. It was fun to walk around and check out who was waiting to share in each store. There were also tons of samples (cake and chocolate and wine) to be shared.

I’ve gotta say — this place always photographs well. Those pink trees are going to be in full bloom in about three weeks, and I can’t wait to get back to see them in all their glory.

This phenomenal cupcake display was living inside Crate & Barrel, and it was provided by Sweetest Thing cupcakes. They were so cute!

I think my favorite all day was Megan from Fieldwork. She was super nice, and her flower arrangements were impeccable. She uses vintage containers to anchor her arrangements, and they were full of style. The above and below photos are of her work.

Megan displayed her work inside Silverado Jewelry, which is a new shop in Bridgeport Village — go check it out! They have tons of great local and nearby jewelry designers. It’s been awhile since I’ve lusted like that over some gorgeous and unique jewelry.

It’s so fun to be rounding the corner toward wedding season! I can’t wait to see these vendors and more this year as I work on a big collection of wonderful weddings.

Flowers are arguably one of the most romantic details at any given wedding. They’re flowers, after all, and their feminine forms and gorgeous colors make for beautiful details.

I had these bright, summery bouquets made for this shoot and I love all the bright colors and blooms in the arrangement.

I loved how the ribbon wraps around the stems were different colors here. Great idea for customizing bridesmaids’ bouquets and making them unique.

I really admire florists and their ability to make beautiful arrangements. I also love the feel of a bouquet in the hand. It’s like holding one makes you walk like a bride!

I hope you enjoyed pretty pictures of flowers day on the blog! I can’t wait to see the wonderful and original bouquets at all my weddings this summer. Come back next week for another inspiration post, this time featuring cocktails!

If you know me personally, you probably know that I love to bake. My most proud baking moment was winning the cream pie division of the Portland Pie-Off last year (watch out, 2010!) and Eric and I had pie from Baker & Spice at our own wedding. It should come as no surprise, then, that I’m usually pretty smitten with the beautiful desserts served at weddings. I had a little fun last week with desserts and thought I’d share this as part two of my inspiration series. Enjoy!

One thing I love about couples these days is that they go out of their way to do unique, personally meaningful things on their wedding days. I’ve seen lots of cool things on the dessert front, but I’m pretty taken with the variety I’ve seen. A little something for everyone is the name of the game. These two cakes are small (the white layer cake is only 5″ around and the bundt 7″) and I love how they could be part of a larger dessert buffet for a crowd.

This is a Martha Stewart cupcake recipe that I adapted — that’s right, these aren’t just for show. It’s a lemon cake (with both fresh lemon juice and zest in the cake) and a lemon-orange glaze. I love the very homemade comforting vibe of a bundt cake, and it’s a perfect fit for people who aren’t crazy about frosting.

The other small white layer cake is also a Martha Stewart recipe — it’s a coconut layer cake and it’s also super delicious (yes, I did extensive sampling throughout the baking process).

A little DIY tip from this photo shoot: I made the tissue paper poms following this Martha Stewart tutorial. They were really easy to make and they add such a festive feel. You can hang them or set them on a table for a touch of whimsy.

Yum! Is your mouth watering? Looking over this post makes me really excited to be photographing creative desserts all summer long at the weddings I’m so lucky to be a part of. Check back next week for another thing I love to photograph: flowers!

Ask any of my brides: if there’s one item at a wedding that inspires me, it’s the shoes. On a wedding day, you can usually find me before all the action has started, rummaging around trying to find the bride’s shoes. I always love to get photos of them. For the next five weeks, I’m going to do an inspiration post on Thursdays that shows you my favorite single elements from weddings, starting of course with shoes (they are my favorite, after all). Hopefully they’ll help some of you brides with some ideas or if nothing else, be something fun to look at on your visit to my blog.

There’s something about bright-colored shoes that I can’t get enough of. I bought five pairs for this shoot.

I loved these yellow ones, with the teal background. Can you tell I had some fun playing with shoes?

That’s our new Le Creuset Dutch Oven, in a perfect coordinating blue. I couldn’t help but incorporate it.

I think these green shoes were my favorite of the bunch.

Yay for shoes! I seriously can’t wait for this year’s weddings and all the beautiful shoes I’m going to come across. Come back next week for another item I can’t get enough of at weddings (or in life) — desserts!

A KISS album, that is. Trust me when I tell you that you want one. I’m offering these albums in all of my wedding packages this year because I feel it’s important to have something real to hold and touch and remember with.

This one, with all its sassy hot pink leather, is mine. It’s a sample that I’ll use to show to clients this year, and it features the lovely, bright-colored wedding of Shannon and TJ, this past September.

The albums are thick and luscious, with the softest leather you can imagine. My sample album is a 10×10-inch model with lots of upgrades, like extra spreads. The entire album was designed by me, too.

Look at all those colors! These albums come in red, brown, pink, white, navy blue, lime green and black.

After all that, they come wrapped in these pretty slipcovers and they’re ready to share. I love them, and just wanted to share! Get ready, 2010 couples, for your very own!

Since January 4 (which was the day most of you went back to work after your holiday breaks), the inquiries have been flooding in. Since so many people get engaged over the holidays each year (yay!), there is always lots of interest right after the first of the year.

Some wedding vendors call it “engagement season.” I think it’s exciting. One thing we take for granted as wedding vendors, however, is that we do this every year. The people inquiring about packages and availability are doing this for their first (and only) time. Ever, for most of them.

So I thought it might be helpful to share some tips with all of you freshly-engaged guys and gals about how this all works (or should work) and how to get the most out of this time of fierce planning and anticipation.

When do I hire a wedding photographer?

A wedding photographer is a big piece of the planning process that is your wedding — I’m not just saying that because it’s what I am (honest!) — it’s really true. As such, it should be part of the first wave of arrangements you make for your big day.

You have to start with the venue, logically, because until you have it reserved, you can’t be 100% sure of your date. Then once you’ve got that nailed down, start your search. When you find a wedding photographer you love, book them before they can fill your date with someone else’s wedding.

Note: This is especially important for brides getting married in July and August. There are only nine weekends this year in that range, and tons and tons of people who want to get married then because of the usually-stellar Oregon and Washington weather.

How do I choose a wedding photographer?

It can be daunting to start out fresh searching for a photographer for your wedding. Instead of taking it to the gods of the Google search right away, try talking to your friends. Think about people you know who got married in the last several years and ask them what their experience was like. If they had a great one, they may recommend their photographer. If not, you’ll know who to steer clear of. Your wedding coordinator will probably also have some suggestions for you.

All that said, you want to find a photographer whose style you love, since that style will undoubtedly find its way into your photos. Once you’ve found one or two that you want to check out, let them know you’re interested and ask for pricing information, to make sure their vision is in line with your budget.

I wrote another advice post about a year ago about how to choose the right wedding photographer for you, so if you haven’t read that, check it out by clicking here.

What’s the process of hiring a wedding photographer?

This one differs just slightly from photographer to photographer, but let me give you the basic rundown, which I am taking from my own business, my fellow photographers’ businesses and my experience trying to hire one of my own back when I was a bride.

This process usually starts with you reaching out to the photographer and letting them know you’re interested, and asking for information about their packages.

Remember that when you contact a photographer to ask about availability, they’re going to give you the most up-to-date information, but it has a short shelf-life. In a month where there are thousands of people planning their weddings and asking vendors about their availability, there is a high chance that there will be others asking about your date (although many photographers, like myself, will call and give you the first right to the date in the event that someone else does want it).

Some people choose to book right away, but most people prefer to meet face-to-face with their photographer (when possible) to get a feel for what they do and how easy they are to get along with, as well as seeing some of their offerings and products in person. Then you’ll usually have a chance to sign a contract and put down a deposit to secure your date, which I’d recommend doing just as soon as you know you want to hire this person.

What if they’re already booked?

If you have your heart set on a photographer and someone beat you to the punch on your date, it can be a terrible feeling. But photographers (at least here in the Pacific Northwest) are part of a supportive community and most photographers you love will be able to point you toward someone who has a similar style and pricing options. Ask the booked photographer if they can recommend someone they’d trust and you’ll most likely get a great recommendation.

Enjoy your time out there planning and have fun! I remember how fun it was to be planning my own wedding a couple of years ago and I can’t wait to see what all you engaged couples come up with this year.

I have been so inspired by the Portland business community’s efforts to raise money for the Haiti relief efforts that I’m jumping in too — through Jan. 31, anyone who books a wedding package will see 5% of their purchase go straight to MercyCorps and their work in Haiti — that’s from $120-$210 per couple.

It’s moments like these we’re reminded that we’re all people and that banding together makes me feel so hopeful about what people are capable of.

It’s the time of year when wedding planning is on the brain, which means it’s also the season for bridal shows. I go to a few each year to stay up on the trends and to meet my fellow wedding vendors and The Art of Weddings in Portland is a fun one because it’s so small. I went late last week armed with my camera so I could share what I found — some really beautiful stuff, plus the itch to plan my own all over again. Check it out.

The girls running Punch are not only effortlessly cool, the vintage details at their booth drew me right in from the front door of the show. If their weddings look anything like their booth, these are the people to talk to. Below, part of their table featured Miss Zumstein Cakes & Desserts (so cute!)

To say that I have a girl crush on Sarah Seven would be a bit of an understatement. She’s cute, she’s peppy and her designs are absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous. If I was a little savvier back when I got married, she would have been my go-to gal. Sarah specializes in one-of-a-kind, limited run and custom order gowns and dresses, plus special occasion wear.

The Armory building (home to Portland Center Stage) was such a perfect spot for this show — I love the lobby there and how open everything is.

Sometimes, wedding cakes are really beautiful and taste like cardboard. Sometimes, they’re delicious and they look like crap. None of the cakes at this show had either of those scenarios happening. I think if I had to pick a favorite, I’d say the super-perfect creations at Allison Kelleher’s Cake Design were stunning — below is vanilla raspberry and it was absolutely mouth-watering.

Below left was a close runner-up for me, plus the definite hands-down winner for cutest business name: Le Cookie Monkey. Amber Darrington from Le Cookie Monkey was so sweet and seemed like she’d be a complete delight to work with. The photo below on the right is some flower arrangements by Studio del Fiore, which did really cute stuff at the wedding show and seemed really versatile.

I also wanted to mention Duchess Clothier, whose hipster suit combos would be perfect for just about every Portland groom I know (check out their cool vintage frame display below right) and Westcoast Event Productions, who had several tables around the show set up in awe-inspiring colors and linens and dishes that all made me swoon.

Thanks for coming along to the wedding show with me! I know some of you are planning weddings and I thought it’d be helpful to see what sort of cool vendors there are. My biggest recommendation to you brides is to find vendors you get along with and want to spend time with — that’s what I’ve found is key for a real chemistry (and some new friends!) while you’re planning that wonderful wedding.

I wanted to take one more day to share with you some brilliant ideas I saw this year between all the weddings I attended, plus some ideas on how to improve on those ideas for 2010 weddings and beyond. Let’s just jump right back in!

2009 Trend: A Splash of Color

I’ve got to admit, there’s not a whole lot more fun as a wedding photographer (especially in Portland, where we have more than our share of dreary days) to show up to a wedding and see bright pops of color. I saw quite a few fun, colorful touches at weddings this year, like Anna and Alex’s purple decorations (above left) and Anna’s brilliant, bright bouquet (above right). Below left is Jody and Jeremy’s Tiffany-blue cake (complete with bling) and below right is one of Shannon and TJ’s bright bouquets — there were a whole array of them in peaches, pinks and purples and all were handmade by Shannon’s amazing mom.

Make it 2010: Go for the cool combination

I’m all in favor of keeping the color in 2010 weddings — I say the more, the better. It shows such a vibrant side and definitely looks great in photographs. This year, why not think outside the box with the actual combinations of color? Take your color cues from unusual sources or play around with an application like kuler from Adobe to come up with something unexpected. My vote? A rich turquoise with mustard yellow and purple accents. Think jewel tones. And after you’ve picked those colors, please call me. I want to photograph all that color.

2009 Trend: Unique locations for portraits

I had several couples this year set aside time for an extended portrait session on their big day away from the action. In Jody and Jeremy’s case, we took a walk in cute downtown Centralia and they danced in the middle of an abandoned street. Below, TJ and his groomsmen taking a jump on a cool bridge in Bothell Landing, a few miles from the wedding site. I loved these opportunities to incorporate a new location into the wedding-day photos, and they also gave the bride and groom a few minutes to play and have fun without the wedding coordinator, minister or mom rushing or stressing them.

Make it 2010: Bring in some contrast

There are so many options of places to go on your wedding day (if you set aside the time — that’s key). But where to go? I’d love some big-time contrast between the sites. Say for example that your 2010 wedding will be held at a country club with very formal, traditional touches throughout. Why not escape beforehand and take some photos in an industrial setting, or sharing a milkshake at a local diner down the road? If the wedding is country, go urban. If the wedding is on the beach under the wide open sky, why not opt to go inside somewhere for a more cozy setting? The variety is endless here — use your imagination.

2009 Trend: No matching!

It’s been cool for a little while now not to make your bridesmaids matchy-matchy. Alisia did it subtly (above left) by putting her bridesmaids in the same color, but drastically different styles. Andrea told her bridesmaids (below, shoes above right) to wear gold, yellow and brown. That was the only guideline. Didn’t they come out cool? When you don’t force your bridesmaids to match, you’re likely to have happier friends plus they end up in things that set them apart as individuals instead of lumping them together.

Make it 2010: Keep one element consistent

By keeping one element the same, you identify these wonderful women as your attendants, but you still don’t stifle their individuality. For instance, what if they’re all wearing the same dress but you tell them to wear their own shoes, and to think unique! You could end up with a variety of jewel-toned and bright shoes while still maintaining an air of uniformity. Uniting with color is a good way to do this, just make sure you’ve picked a color that’s standard (like the blue dresses above) or that will be OK even if all the shades aren’t the same (like with Andrea’s yellows, golds and browns). Or how’s this for a new one — have custom headpieces with flowers, feathers etc. made for each girl that will unify the group, but then let them wear whatever dress they want in a certain color family.

2009 Trend: Early send-off

Two of the couples I worked with this year did one of those traditional send-offs in a way that doesn’t happen much anymore — they did it in the middle of the celebration. For Andrea and Paul (above left), they were announced into the reception hall and welcomed with bubbles, and Annie and Dan (right) were showered with bubbles on their way from the church to the reception (in her dad’s 56 Cadillac convertible, no less). These worked great because everyone who was there for the celebration was still present, so it made these send-offs much more impressive (not to mention photo-worthy). I loved these moments!

Make it 2010: Think outside the box

I totally advocate for newly married couples to do a send-off (or a welcome, or whatever you want to call it) in the middle of the celebration — ideal timing is between the ceremony and reception. But why not incorporate something new? Try having your guests sprinkle flower petals or paper confetti in your wedding colors, or go old school with birdseed (check with your venue, some won’t allow it). Why not have your sendoff through a tunnel of people with big palm leaves, forming a roof on the tunnel? With a little imagination, this age-old moment could be really new and modern.

I hope this week has given you newly-engaged  couples lots of food for thought! It’s been really fun reliving some of the fun celebrations I got to attend last year, and it makes me so excited for what’s to come this year! Next week on the blog I’ll be sharing some fun portrait sessions, including one with my favorite floral designer!