THE BRIDE'S CAFE

Andrea & Wes - "E Session"

Check out Andrea & Wes's Engagement Session here!

Brooke & Hap's "E-Session"

Check here to see the beautiful engagement session with Brooke & Hap!

Shelly & Ted's "E-Session"

Click here to see more of Shelley & Ted's engagement session...you don't want to miss it!

Sneak Peek: Stephanie & Steven's "E-Session"

Check out Stephanie & Steven's beautiful and fun engagement session here!

Sneak Peak: Lorraine & Tommy's "E-Session"

Check out Lorraine & Tommy's beautiful engagement shoot here!

 

Sneak Peek: "Engagement Session"

Make sure you check out the AMAZING "E-Session" of Yume & Jimmy here....you're gonna love it...see you there guys!

Sneak Peek: "E-Sessions"

Happy Monday Guys...to see more of Shannon & Josh and Stacy & Jeff's engagement session shoots, please head overhere to check out the full stories...lots of beautiful "eye candy"....see you there!

 

 

"E-Sessions" with Laura Novak

Welcome back to our second feature on "Engagement Sessions" with the beautiful images of Laura Novak....Laura's work is always STUNNING and there is always a beautiful story to be told ...Laura sent me Nicole & Charles' engagement session images to share with you...Enjoy!

 

Meet Nicole & Charles...they are such a cute couple....Laura shares a few "E-Session" tips with us..."1) Have fun with it!  It's natural to feel nervous but try to see it as an opportunity to enjoy some much-needed alone time with each other... 2)  Wear clothing that is comfortable and flattering...I love Nicole's dress and it's so country chic...perfect for the lavender garden....  3)  Choose a meaningful location.  Since Charles is from France they chose the lavender garden to remind him of home. Other great location suggestions might be where you are living, where you met or where you went to school together...you will have the photos forever so document what you want to remember about this stage in your life."

 

 

 

What a gorgeous location...beautiful shot Laura!

 

Meet Wilma...isn't she the cutest!

 

Nicole shared with me that Wilma was so excited to be in a massive field in the country that she refused to let the lavender take its calming affect on her!

 

 

 

 

Nicole shares their day with us..."Originally Charles and I wanted to take our engagement photos in and around Philadelphia.  We LOVE our city and can't wait to share it with our international guests, some of whom have never been here before.  Since we are having our ceremony and reception at a beautiful mansion outside of Philadelphia, we thought it would be great to have some urban photos for the engagement session.  However, having originally toyed with the idea of getting married in France, we still wanted to bring a bit of the South of France (where Charles is from) into our wedding day.  I'm a huge detail-freak and had a lot of very specific ideas about how to turn our wedding into a shabby-chic French meets Great Gatsby-esque garden party, incorporating lavender and various other Provencal elements into the day.  So when Charles and I stumbled upon Carousel Lavender Farm in Bucks County, PA, I immediately called Laura and asked if we could change our original plans to shoot in the city.  We thought "Save the Date" cards with a photo of us playing in an amazing lavender farm would be the perfect foreshadowing of the lavender-filled festivities to come!

"There's Something About Laura"....With Laura, it's crazy how you feel like you're just hanging out with a really good friend you've known for years.  She is so laid back and just a pleasure to be around.  We never felt like we were posing, even when she gave us the occasional instruction as to where to go or what to do.  She just let us be ourselves and have a good time!  It also didn't hurt that we were surrounded by the potent scent of ZEN-i-fying Lavender :)."

Thanks SO much Laura and Nicole....your "E-Session" is beautiful and I'm so excited to see the wedding...this was a great "sneak peek". 

Guys I am excited to share with you that Nicole is the co-founder of Nice People Theatre Company, located in Philadelphia.  They are focused on intellectual, thought-provoking, Philadelphia premieres that entertain, educate, and enrich the artistic fiber of the Philadelphia theatre community.  Their upcoming show...Psalms of a Questionable Nature will run from October 25 - November 9th....Nicole is offering a pair of tickets to one lucky TBC reader in the "area"....just leave a comment letting me know that you would like to go and I'll announce a winner on Thursday evening!

"E-Sessions" with Elizabeth Messina

I love the "Real Weddings" that I feature on TBC...seeing the couple's wedding stories come to fruition and being able to share it with you guys is truly a pleasure....the special moments before the wedding are also wonderful to capture and I am excited to share them with you...so today the beautiful and amazingly talented photographers....Elizabeth Messina and Laura Novak are sharing their "Engagement Sessions" images with us...up first is Elizabeth....I am always excited when Elizabeth stops by the cafe for a visit...her work is breathtaking and there is always a story to be told through her images...Enjoy!

   

Meet Isabelle & Daniel...they are such a cute couple....Elizabeth shares her thoughts on "E-Sessions" with us..."There is something so special about the time before a couple weds...it's a time so full of excitement and love...most people know how important beautiful wedding photographs are...for me, the moments before a wedding are just as special and I am thrilled when I have the opportunity to photograph a couple during their engagement.  It's an opportunity for me to see how they interact when nobody is around and to see their personal style.  It also gives me a chance to really connect with a couple which is so important to me when I photograph...not only do they get images that will always remind them of this special time in their life...it also enhances my ability to truly capture their story on their wedding day.

These photos were taken in New York City in the spring...Isabelle & Daniel are just the sweetest couple.  They both had such affection for each other.  I was moved by their obvious love and I must say that Isabelle has the most wonderful taste in shoes!  Shooting in New York was especially important for them...it's where they live...part of their story.  Their destination wedding this winter will be a joy to photograph...but I will always remember our beautiful day in the park!"

 

 

Elizabeth is right...Isabelle has excellent taste in shoes...LOVE THEM!

   

   

 

How cute is this...such a fun shot!

 

 

 

This is so sweet...Elizabeth got a shot of Isabelle with her dad!

 

 

Isabelle wanted to share her and Daniel's day with us and what it was like working with Elizabeth..."Working with Elizabeth was a dream!  When she arrived the day of our engagement shoot, after weeks of talking on the phone, I felt more connected to her than ever.  She was always warm and lovely, but being with her and with Daniel made me feel so comfortable and prepared for our big day.  Both Daniel and I loved her and felt the tension of being photographed quickly fade into a happy relationship and even a desire to be photographed:)  For two people afraid of the camera, this was clearly unusual and wonderful to know that something irreplaceable was being created.  I felt happy and beautiful in her presence with a great enthusiasm to see her pictures.

When I did...presented in Elizabeth's fantastic and personal style, I cried.  She captured my life and love, better than I could have ever imagined it.  I was in heaven!  I simply cannot wait for our wedding day.  Having these photographs is one of the greatest luxuries I have known, and yet, I cannot imagine not having them in my life.  We are using our favorite shots for our rehearsal dinner and we're even using one of her brilliant shots as part of our favors.  Getting to know our photographer before our wedding felt resonate and joyous.  We cannot wait to enjoy our wedding day with someone we adore and whom we know will capture our love.  Elizabeth's photos are magic....We cannot wait!!!"

Elizabeth and Isabelle....thank you both so much....the images are SO beautiful and it was a pleasure sharing your stories with the readers...Isabelle congrats to you and Daniel and we can't wait to see your "wedding story" told by Elizabeth.....check back later guys for our "E-Session" with Laura!

Meet Stewart & Darryl

Meet Stewart & Darryl....they will be getting "hitched" on tomorrow and I have the pleasure of designing the florals for their big day.....I'm so excited about their wedding...it is taking place at Stuart's family farm and guys it is GORGEOUS.....it has been a blast working with Stewart these past months and I can't wait to see everything come to fruition.  Stewart is the owner of The Yarn Lounge...make sure you check out her site....It's totally "hip to knit"!

The amazing and oh-so-sweet Eleise Theuer is the photographer for the wedding story and you guys know how much I love Eleise......she sent me the images from Stewart and Darryl's  engagement session to share with you today...okay...I'm off to make some magic with the flowers....Stuart & Darryl......I'll see you both tomorrow...can't wait!

 

Stewart and Darryl....they are the cutest couple!!!

 

 

 

Thanks Eleise for sharing the beautiful images with us today....I'll see you tomorrow...xoxo!