I was thrilled to shoot Deanna and Aaron's gorgeous, detail rich wedding at The Hermitage Foundation. Jill Brown of Sunkissed Events planned all this fabulousness, and Leslie Hartig designed the gorgeous florals.  My favorite wedding band in the world, The Jangling Reinhardt's entertained us all til the wee hours.

Go check it out at Janie's site!!

For today, an inspiration board.  

1)  First up is the relatively new Chrysler Museum of Art's Hot Shop.  I have taken several classes there, most recently a one week glass blowing intensive.  It's an amazing space, they have free demonstrations every day the museum is open and it is well worth your time to visit. I promise you'll be hypnotized.

2)  A pair of chartreuse Laboutin's because Spring is around the corner.  I can't wear towering heels (they make me too tall) but I can admire them : )

3)  I'm reading a fascinating bio of Millicent Rogers.  Millicent was a woman of fantatstic style and I am enjoying very much her curiosity and 'can do' nature. In the photo on the right she is hand dying fabric on her stovetop in New Mexico. I've done that before.  I hope it turned out better for her than it did for me ; )

4)  A Verdura cuff.  One can dream.

5) Dante Marioni, Benjamin Moore and Janusz Pozniak will be blowing glass at the Chrysler February 29th through March 4th.  Try to make time to see these Gods of Glass in action.  

6) I'm going to New Orleans for the first time in March, with a fun group of photography friends.  Oh, the    things we are going to eat!

7)Kate Spade earrings.

8) A piece of glass by Benjamin Moore.  The orange installation above is by Dante Marioni.

Have a lovely weekend!  xo~e

I was really pleased with this shoot, and want to thank editor Kim Wadsworth for the fantastic styling and Mia Byrd for her help as well. Also Brenda Mihalko is the crazy talented designer who pulls the entire magazine together.

The red pagoda umbrella featured on the cover is mine.  I got it at Bella Umbrella and every time I carry it I get tons of  compliments. 

xo-eleise

I had to resist the urge to steal away with Virginia's Ferragamo's.  

The wonderful Antonia Christianson was the planner for this lovely event. The flowers were by Dick Fore.  

Julianna and Jedd chose to have a first look before the ceremony.  

Quite possibley my favorite wedding cake ever.  And the wallpaper that inspired it:

Loved this in color and b&w,  so you get to see them both : )

I knew I needed to start blogging again when folks were calling to see if I was dead.  Answer: I'm not dead yet.

Aaaand, I'm still shooting lots of weddings in lots of wonderful, wonderful places. Soon you will see a gorgeous wedding in Mexico, another in Costa Rica, a beautiful wedding in Baltimore, DC , New York, and all over Virginia.  In other words, despite the lack of blogging, I've been busy.

First up, Deanna Casey is married!  Deanna is a lovely friend of mine and a fellow wedding photographer and it was a special thrill to photograph her absolutely gorgeous wedding at the Hermitage. I also recently shot Deanna's sister in law Julianna's wedding at the Old Cavalier.  Wait until you see that amazing wedding.  Michelle Kilgore coordinated, and Julianna and Jedd flew in a brass band from New Orleans to celebrate with them.  It was so fun.

I also have lots of news I'll be sharing on the friends and family front.  So many people I know and love are doing wondrous new things I want to show you.

First up, my sister has a new website and it is smokin'!  Go visit it here and then let her know what you think.

And a few bridal portraits of lovely Deanna, taken in my garden.

xo-e

I really, really, really, really, really loved Deanna's Queen Anne's Lace Bouquet.

Dana has brilliant taste in shoes.  Yes, both pairs are hers.  There are some pretty spectacular clothing changes coming up....

Dana gave Nonye a very special wedding gift which made him very happy.

  Dana looks nervous, and maybe a touch queasy.  Here's the thing.  There are SIX HUNDRED PEOPLE in the church waiting to watch her get married.  I would be nervous too!

I think about three hundred of the guests had cameras, but that's a story for another day :  )

Nonye is Nigerian, and one wonderful Nigerian tradition is to rain money on the couple, pretty much throughout the evening.  I'm not talking about a few dollars pinned to a dress, or a dollar dance, I'm referring to an almost constant deluge of cash raining down throughout the evening.  I have never seen more money in my life. The floor was an inch thick with money many times.

Dana and her beloved Father.

Nonye and his darling Mother.

Chocolates from Vosges as favors.  Dana is a major foodie.

Antonia Christianson Events did a wonderful job coordinating this wedding.  Lee Snyder made the gorgeous flowers, Charlie Pike lit the Portsmouth Renaissance up like a purple Christmas Tree, Kim Wadsworth ensured that Dana glowed like the beauty queen she is all day long, and I'm sure I've forgotten many others.

And my wonderful second shooters and assistant were my saving grace that day.  Many thanks to John Cachero, John Wadsworth and Melissa Inman. 

There's nothing as beautiful as an engraved  invitation.

Catherine and her sister and brothers.  Beautiful family.

Nate and his groomsmen.

Catherine and her beautiful Mother Betsy.

What a lovely, fresh, classic wedding.  It was such a pleasure to shoot.  And what lovely families Nate and Catherine have.  A wonderful, wonderful day I was thrilled to be a part of.