I am delighted to be featured as the Special Event Rentals Planner of the Month for October!

As part of the feature, I was invited to design a table in their showroom which will be on display until the end of the month. An earthy colour palette of green, ivory, bronze and gold is anchored by sleek black chiavari chairs and matching dinnerware. The lace overlay and romantic rosette details on the backs of the chairs and in the wine glasses add vintage undertones to the look.

Check out the Special Event Rentals website and pop in to their showroom located at 6010-99 Street (Edmonton, AB) to start planning the décor for your upcoming wedding.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner

Holly + Ben are one of the most relaxed couples I have worked with! They are both so easygoing and calm – there was no doubt in my mind that they would enjoy their wedding day to the fullest.

Their outdoor ceremony was held at Ben’s family acreage just outside of Devon, AB. The property was absolutely beautiful as the family had worked hard all year preparing for the wedding. Their efforts definitely paid off – the lawn was perfectly manicured and gorgeous flowers were in bloom everywhere! Here’s a shot of the lovely trellis that served as the focal point for Holly + Ben’s ceremony:

Holly + Ben chose a really unique format for their wedding reception. After the ceremony they held a private dinner for their bridal party in the Fantasyland Hotel’s L2 Grill before heading upstairs to join guests at their cocktail reception. This gave them the opportunity to spend some quality time with their closest friends.

Here’s a look at Holly + Ben’s relaxed, fun-loving day, courtesy of Shandro Photo:

Check out Shandro Photo’s blog post on Holly + Ben’s special day, and while you’re there be sure to spend some time looking at their awesome work!

Jennifer

Photo Credit: Shandro Photo.

Nadia + Steve are getting married next August, and they’ve chosen one of my favourite photography teams to capture their special day – James Design Studios (JDS). I’ll admit I’m a bit biased as JDS shot my own wedding a couple years ago, but their amazing work speaks for itself!

Steve just returned to Edmonton after spending a few months in Eastern Canada, so last week was the perfect time to take their engagement photos. These two are so in love and they’re truly best friends – I think it shows in the photos!

Check out the full post and more beautiful couples in love on JDS Photography’s blog.

Jennifer

Despite all the rain we’ve been subject to in July, the 17th was sunny and warm for Tammy + Chris’ wedding day. The late afternoon ceremony was held at the Christian Reformed Church of St. Albert, and it was followed by a fabulous reception at the St. Albert Community Hall.

Tammy knew she wanted the décor to be sexy and chic with a little bit of ‘bling’ – other than those brief instructions she gave me free reign to design the room (a wedding planner’s dream)! One of Chris’ requests for the wedding was to have a wedding pie instead of cake – it was a great personal touch.

Ashgrove Catering served a delicious meal, and the gorgeous flowers were arranged by Panda Flowers St. Albert. Thanks to Gayeung for assisting me, and to Jenna and Darla for helping with setup.

Here’s a shot of the Hall before:

…and after the transformation:

Tammy + Chris: thanks for allowing me to share in your day. Enjoy your weekend at the Hotel Macdonald!

Jennifer

Nicole + Ryan were married on July 10th at Grace Point Church of God in southeast Edmonton. Nicole was such an elegant, graceful bride (which is no surprise considering her dance background). The music at the ceremony was performed by Erica Viegas – an amazingly talented local artist.

Here’s a look at Nicole + Ryan’s beautiful day, courtesy of Harm’s Photography. You can see more of Harm’s work on his Facebook Fan Page.

Nicole and her honourary bridesmaid!

…and here are a few more shots of the reception room at Edmonton’s Royal Mayfair Golf Club, beautifully decorated by Elegant Touches. Flowers were arranged by Kelly of Kate Ashton Florists.

Congratulations, Nicole + Ryan! Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your day!

Jennifer and Krista

I had the pleasure of working with Infused Studios on a 3-day convention earlier this year. The creative eyes behind the cameras belong to Anthony + Rina, who not only capture spectacular photos, but they seek to tell your love story through imagery. When I sat down to chat with Anthony + Rina, what really stood out to me is how much they strive to personalize the wedding photography experience for each and every couple they work with. I hope you enjoy getting to know them!

Quick – give us your best Tweetography (ie. tell us about yourself in 140 characters or less)!

Visual Poets :: Love stories are our inspiration & it is an honour to tell them. Big kids at heart, we love to have fun, eat food & travel.

Why did you become photographers?

Rina :: After getting my Bachelor of Design I worked primarily as a graphic designer. I also did some art directing and fashion/ commercial photography. There was a disconnect between myself and the models and after I shot my first wedding I realized why. Capturing a pretty face is one thing; capturing true love and the connection between people is entirely different. It’s more challenging and also more rewarding.

Anthony :: I never owned a camera as a kid. I was raised in a traditional Chinese household, so my career path had 4 options; doctor, lawyer, accountant or engineer. I chose to be a mechanical engineer and became a successful project manager at a reputable oil and gas company within 3 years of graduation. Deep down something was missing – I knew there was always this yearning to express myself artistically though I never had the chance…until Rina came into my life.

She introduced me to her collection of camera equipment and I was instantly hooked. It was like an addiction, every day I would be excited to get through my day at the office because then I could get my photography fix at night. I was intrigued with the idea that I could express myself and create art without limitations, equations, or constrained by the laws of physics. On one chilly October afternoon, I gazed out my office window and asked where I saw myself 20 years down the road…I knew intuitively that I couldn’t see myself like my boss across the hall. The next day, I handed in my resignation letter and never looked back.

Who have been the biggest influences in your life (photographers or otherwise)?

Rina:: I look for paintings and drawings for my inspiration. Monet for his Impression of landscape paintings. Picasso, Degas, da Vinci and Michelangelo for pushing body movement. Dali for creating the surreal and unnatural forms of life. Also music videos and movies.

Anthony :: One of my biggest influences are movies…and especially ‘chick flicks’ because they have the best cinematography and lighting. C’mon, I mean who can forget epic scenes like the boat scene from “The Notebook,” or even the forest scene from “Twilight?!”

What are some wedding day photography tips that couples should keep in mind?

• Before booking a photographer, make sure you see an entire wedding that they’ve shot. Teaser images from blogs & website don’t convey how well a photographer can capture a wedding.
• Plan to schedule at least 2 hours to spend time with the photographers (ideally, we’d love to have 4+ hours)! And if there are people that you want to have photos taken with, let us know beforehand so we can be on top of it for you.
• Select based on who you want as a guest at your wedding. Yes, we’re there to work, but really, do you want to hire someone you don’t like to attend your wedding?
• When considering your photography budget, instead of choosing a price point choose the style ‘musts’ that you want. Then look at who photographs in that style and work out a price range from there. It’s heartbreaking when couples choose based on price and aren’t satisfied with their images — after all, you can’t redo your wedding day!

Do you have a favourite wedding or wedding moment that you’ve photographed?

Every wedding that we have shot so far has been an exciting moment — our clients are beautifully unique. Photographing the epic “pearl harbor” moment at the Cold Lake municipal airport with the plane flying in the background while Kylie and Warren kissed stands out. We had one chance to get the shot and it turned out exactly how we imagined. Anthony got the shot and Rina was so excited she jumped in the air and whacked him on the head with her telephoto lens!

What’s in store this year for Infused Studios?

• We’ve shot 3 destination weddings so far and are shooting across Alberta through to the fall.
• We’re shooting inspired engagement sessions with our couples and continuing our pursuit of artistic expression.
• We’re also looking out for new studio space but this summer we’re immersed in love stories!

What’s unique or interesting about you two?

Rina:: My closest friends know that I’m goofy, VERY clumsy and still a kid at heart.

Anthony :: I’m dorky, VERY easy-going yet a deep thinker at the same time.

Together :: We love watching classic Disney cartoons and we have a combined collection of stuffed animal friends around our place.  =)

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Here are some amazing images by Infused Studios. You can see more of their stunning work on their website and blog:

Thanks, Anthony + Rina!

Jennifer

More and more couples are choosing to break tradition and see each other before they walk down the aisle. While this change of format isn’t for everyone, taking photos before the ceremony offers a few key benefits:

• Calm those nerves: If you’re the anxious type, hanging out with the bridal party beforehand will help you relax before the ceremony;
• Feeling fresh: You (and your flowers) will look your best during photos;
• Gone with the gap: If your ceremony and reception are being held at the same venue, taking photos first makes a lot of sense and saves your guests the painful wait in between events;
• Capture the moment: You can still have a wonderful first moment together, and your photographer(s) can ensure it’s captured at all angles.

Check out these adorable pictures of Jacqui + Steve’s first look at each other (photos by the talented Kelsy Nielson):

…and here’s a look at their stylish, modern wedding held at The Westin Edmonton last summer:

Think about it – this might be a great option for your wedding day!

Jennifer

Photo Credit: Kelsy Nielson.

I had the pleasure of meeting Cosmin and his wife Ioana last November. They are wonderful, genuine people and if you follow his blog you’ll learn quickly that Cosmin is a spunky character! Oh, and he takes some pretty awesome photos too!

Quick – give us your best Tweetography (ie. tell us about yourself in 140 characters or less)!

I have a camera and I’m not afraid to use it!

Why did you become a photographer?

I didn’t take a picture until the age of 24. At that point I started to work on cruise ships and visited some of the most amazing places. I just felt the need to show my family and friends all of those places and the only way was to take pictures. The rest is history…

Who have been the biggest influences in your life (photographers or otherwise)?

That has to be my wife! Yes, definitely! Everything I was able to accomplish in the last 10 years it’s because of her love and support. I wouldn’t even be in Canada if it wasn’t for her. Also I like to believe that I’m learning every day from all the people I meet. It’s amazing how much you find out if you open your eyes and ears.

What are some wedding day photography tips that couples should keep in mind?

Stressing on the wedding day is not going to help anybody. It’s a good idea to have somebody – like a professional – to keep things organized. You should have only beautiful memories from the day, so just enjoy it!

Do you have a favourite wedding or wedding moment that you’ve photographed?

One of my favourite events I’ve had the chance to be part of was my first East-Indian wedding. It was a 4 day one and I got to know the family quite well and I got attached emotionally. It was an extremely overwhelming experience!

What’s in store this year for Cosmin Danila Photography?

4 weddings and…another wedding, and another one, and so on. It’s going to be a crazy busy summer! I’ll also be travelling more for weddings, which is good, because when I grow up I want to be a destination wedding photographer.

You’ve been married for 10 incredible years. Any marriage tips for the newlyweds out there?

It’s an obvious one, but I have to say it: LOVE each other. If you do, everything else falls into place. And don’t be afraid to show it! I consider love to be contagious and soon enough it will work in everybody’s advantage!

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Check out some of Cosmin’s gorgeous work below and on his website:

Thanks for sharing, Cosmin!

Jennifer