The Metcalfs - Wedding and Beyond

Welcome to my second installment of my experience with relationships built at the start of planning to become a team member for the wedding and it flourishing into friendships that allow me to become a part of a past couples futures.
Meet Shannon and Josh.
Shannon is the longest member of the event planning team at the University of California, Merced. My shop was just a few doors down from her office. I can't remember which came first, professional needs for events or her inquiry about her wedding being held later in the year, October of 2008. Over the course of the next few months we met to discuss her wedding floral details. She has exquisite taste and I was swooned over her details and her romantic vintage theme. The wedding took place at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys, CA. Her colors were deep reds, rich green foliages, with touches of a burnt orange. To add to the vintage touch we used cut crystal votives and footed urns. All wedding images were done by one of my favorites....Joel Flory!






After the wedding, I began getting to know Shannon more with our professional connection. She allowed me the opportunity to be a part of Michelle Obama's UC Merced Commencement in May 2009. It was the most unforgettable weekend of my life. We had 4 weddings already booked, over 55 centerpieces for the various events on campus as well as the podium decor, my then 6 month old daughter cut her first tooth and it was 116 degrees. I was given a plaque from the Commencement and it hangs next to my desk as a reminder... if I can make it through that, I can do anything. Shannon and staff did an amazing job with the amount of events, details, guests, etc they had to pull off in just 5 weeks of planning!! Since, we've worked on countless events from both me providing the florals for the UC and also the other way around. Shannon has an event planning business, Shannon Metcalf Events, which she has been able to coordinate weddings along side me.

Now we flash forward to the day after Thanksgiving, 2010. I'm 38 weeks pregnant and I believe judging at her cute belly, she was approx 28 weeks and her and Josh were expecting their first baby! These are a few of my favorite photos from their maternity session.




May I now present you to the sweetest, most alert newborn I've met. This is baby Case! Mom and Dad are sure going to have their hands full with the phone ringing off the hook from the little ladies. He's one handsome little boy...









Shannon and Josh, thank you for the opportunity to be a part of and capture glimmers of special times in your lives!

Introducing ~ Custom Flower Halo's for Photo Sessions

Of course it doesn't hurt to have such cuties to always model for me and to also make the most of an updated family photo. I had made one of these for one of my stylish customers to bring to her sister for her baby shower. Now her baby is 4 months old and she called and asked for a mini version which of course gave me the urge to make some cute custom fresh flower Halo's for Antonella and Francesca. We ran down the street to the open field and let them start hammin it up for the camera. Email me if you are interested in family portraits and custom fresh flower Halo's for girls of all ages start at $25.00.

The Madrugas - Wedding and Beyond

I have been saving this particular entry until I got a new layout going on for my blog so we can take a good look at some big pictures! Jessica and Morgan are the prime example on why I love every aspect of my job. Since expanding my wedding territory to down here in the valley, I now have the potential to not only build lasting friendships out of my clients but the fun part is to continue to watch their lives grown and help capture moments through some photography.

I met Jessica sometime early 2008 when she booked our services for the flowers for her wedding. We spent endless amounts of time on her unique color palette since her wedding was the end of August not to be too summery and not to be too fall. Ivories, greens, chocolate brown, burnt oranges and touches of a deep pink.

They had over 300 guests attending so we tried to have some extra fun with the ceremony decor and the escort card tree. They also chose to switch up the centerpieces. One with a large low square vase and heavy votives and the other with a candle scape.

For the ceremony site, we hung long strands of orchid lei's about 12' long with flowing simple satin ribbons in ivory, sage green and chocolate brown with a crystal to weigh it down and strands of crystals for some extra bling. Then down the isle a thick scatter of petals in ivory, raspberry pink and burnt orange.



Our escort card display was a blast to make and was also possible due to such a large amount of wedding guests. We hung long sage satin ribbons from the tree and also weighed them down with a crystal. At the top of each row was a chocolate sparkly letter so the guest can all cruise around looking for their cards which were all attached with a cute copper swirly clip.

Reception





Now we flash forward to their future together and October 2009, I was able to squeeze in some maternity pictures just 2 days before the TWINS got here!





Now introducing....Piper and Holden!! We finally got to snap a few at 3 months.





And we then got the entire crew when the twins hit almost 8 months.








Thank you Madrugas for letting me capture moments in your lives!