Bridal Portraits

Once I was dressed, Melissa (our Photog) took a few "bridal portraits." When I look back on them, they make me feel a little narcissistic, but at the same time, I'm very glad to have them. What I like most about many of them, was Melissa's editing. She is able to make my skin look soooo good. When in fact I'm wearing minimal foundation/cover-up, and I suffer from rosacea. It is so nice to see myself with somewhat "flawless" skin…teheheheh :)

This one is kind of neat:


I like this one because you can see my eye makeup and how minimal it was… As I've mentioned before, I did my own makeup as I wanted to wear very little - so happy I went with my gut and didn't pay a professional to cake it on!


I think I look really calm in this one…and I also think I look a lot like my Dad too:








In this one I'm pretending to be looking out the window for my husband to be…lol:



Depending on your photographer they will give you lots of direction, or very little. I think Melissa fell somewhere in between. She provided some ideas on posing. For example the ones of me on the bed and looking out the window. But in terms of facial expression, she didn't really direct me too much on when to smile etc.

It was a little awkward for me to be the center of attention. Who knew, eh!? Who would have thought that on my wedding day, everyone would be looking at me and talking to me..lol… When we were doing the bridal pics my sister, sister in laws and mother in law were all in the room with me. Luckily it was a large suite so they were able to sit on the couch etc…and although I love them dearly I was still a little shy to have them all staring at me…lol…yes, I know, I'm a little weird.

Anyhoo, my photog did let me know that I’m a little quick to move my head between shots…like I didn't hold my smile long enough…or I shifted my eyes a lot…well, it was because I was a wee bitty nervous. Oh well, she was still able to get lots of pics :)

Other "Getting Ready" Pictures I Love

Our Photographers gave us hundreds of pictures, and although we cherish them all, here are a few "getting ready" pictures that I really love.

One of the more "classic" pics as one of my facebook/blogfriends commented - the "putting on the necklace" picture:


It really is a lovely picture. And if my mother had been there, it likely would have been her putting it on. However, it does seem appropriate that it was my big sister. She, after all, was like my mother to me growing up. My Dad raised myself and my two siblings as a single parent when my Mom got sick. My sister was the one who came with me to Brownies and helped me make a Father's Day gift…and she's the one who taught me how to put my hair in a ponytail…so it was really neat to have her do it up.





I love the following picture, because it is probably the sexiest picture I have…lol…I'm just being honest here! It looks like I'm really curvacious and bodacious :) I worked pretty hard in the weeks leading up to my wedding day to not only ensure I fit into my dress, but also so I felt great in my dress. If I had of just purchsed a larger size, I wouldn't have had to worry about it …or if I had choosen a more a-line dress (like the Mikella dress that was my dream dress…but was also $1300 before taxes and alterations) I wouldn't have had to worry about it so much. Anyhoo, hindsight is always 20/20, right?



The following pictures are of my lovely Bridesmaids. They were so patient waiting around for me to get dressed and while I was taking my "Bridal Potraits." They really are beautiful girls.

Meg:


Steph reading the card Patrick gave me:


Karen:


Finally, here is a pic of my beautiful new Mother In Law:

Bridal Accoutrements Etc.

Before the photographer arrived I tried to get out some of the final little details that I would like captured on film. My worry was that it was going to look too contrived. I can appreciate why many Brides like seemingly staged accessory pics, but I was trying to avoid "posing" my own accessories as much as possible.

The following pic is somewhat posed though ;p…I did place my little purse (that my Aunt/Godmother) made for me as well as my garter.


It just so happened that I placed them on top of my "wedding file". I had been working on the file for the last two years. At one point it was bulging with ideas/clippings/notes etc…but once the wedding day came I only required:
-Day Of Itinerary
-MC Itinerary
-Vendor Contacts
-Hotel Reservation
-Honeymoon/Flight Information



I think it is appropriate that I have a picture of it…the wedding evolved out of that simple purple folder ;)

I'm a little surprised that I'm posting the following toe pic…as I'm not a big fan of my toes or toes in general! But, I received a handful of them…so I thought I'd post what I deem is the "cutest toe pic"…lol. One of the things that got left off of the "to do list" and out of the budget was a pedicure. I *heart pedicures…but I ended up running out of time…and running out of budget - it is just one of those things that I didn't place as a top priority. I would have loved to have my toesies pampered - especially for pics like this…it is another one of those "oh wells":


Brides can have as many accoutrements or a little as they like. I like to think I fell somewhere in the middle. I did have a veil (see veil post ;), but no tiara. In place of a tiara, I had a small hair comb to add a little je ne say quoi to my hairdo when my veil came off (which was immediately after pictures).


I also had my lovely little purse that my Aunt Mary crochet for me:


As well as my DIY garter (I just had one to toss… My hubby did end up taking off the "Harris" pin as he wanted to keep it. But I have no idea where it is :(


And of course my bouquet:


And although not really an accessory, I had my "Day Of" itinerary on me as well:


I even have a picture of my sister/MOH getting good use out of it ;)


Finally I wore the pearl and diamond earring that hubby gave me for Christmas the year we got engaged and the pearl necklace he gave me as a wedding gift:


I don't have the most charismatic movements…so I don't have any of those gorgeous pics of me putting on my shoes - you know the ones I'm talking about - where the Bride elegantly leans down to put her shoes on? Or pokes her toes out from beneath her dress for one of her bridesmaids to put her shoes on… I do have this pic:


don't forget the foot petals!:




My shoes were so badly ruined they were thrown in the garbage at a gas station on the way to the airport the night of our wedding/morning after our wedding.

Over the next little bit I plan on doing a recap of our wedding day…but as I get organized for those, I'll leave you with a couple "teaser" pics ;)

Pro Pics Coming Soon!

I just recieved an email from our Photographer this morning...it sounds like the pro-pics are almost ready...hopefully by early next week! I'm headed out camping this weekend...keep your fingers crossed that they'll be ready soon!