2011 has come and gone and all our “brides” are now newlyweds.  So what now?  We haven’t seen many of you in months and quite frankly, we miss you guys!  :)  From what we’ve heard many of you miss us too!  What better way to bring us all back together again than with a giveaway?  Plus we know that you want to brag about your wedding photos…  So here is your chance

The long and short of it:

1. Go to our Facebook Fan page and like our page.
2. Go to the Best of Weddings 2011 tab.
3. View Results and”VOTE” button to vote for your favorite image(s)!!

Simple as that!  :)

There will be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner all of whom will be decided by popular vote on our Facebook page.  If you were an SS&G bride, you are already entered in the contest and there is no need for you to do much of anything other than bring out the vote for your image!

VOTING

Voting ends February 13, 2012 and the winner will be announced on Valentine’s Day, February 14th .  What’s more romantic than winning a HUGE package of free stuff made from your WEDDING photos?   Who can vote?  Anyone and everyone who has a Facebook page!  If your DOG has a Facebook page… I guess we will count him too

Here is the important part… YOU need to get out there and do some leg work to WIN!

1. Get anyone and everyone you know to go over to our Facebook page and LIKE the page.(Any votes from those who don’t LIKE our page also will be disqualified).
2. Go to the Best of Weddings 2011 tab.
3. View results and vote for your favorite image by clicking VOTE.
4. The couple whose photo has the most VOTES on February 13 will be declared the winner!
5. Claim your AWESOME prize!!!

PRIZES

So what’s in it for the couples??  Oh boy!!

1st Place Winner will receive

• 16×20 Gallery Wrap Canvas
• 8×10 Custom Coffee Table Book
• Highlight DVD Montage Video
• Complimentary 1st Anniversary Session
• Your choice of 10 Digital Negatives with Rights

This package valued at $1600

2nd Place Winner will receive

• 16×20 Gallery Wrap Canvas
• Highlight DVD Montage Video
• Complimentary 1st Anniversary Session
• Your choice of 10 Digital Negatives with Rights

This package valued at $800

3rd Place Winner will receive

• 16×20 Enlargement Print
• Complimentary 1st Anniversary Session
• Your choice of 10 Digital Negatives with Rights

This package valued at $470

**All winners will be allowed to choose their favorite images to be used as their prints / books.  The DVD Montage Video will be artistically selected by Troy and Amber… we know you trust us… we shot your wedding!**

Good Luck and have a Happy New Year!

Congratulations AMY SHORTRIDGE!!!

Feel free to contact that studio to claim your

free 11×14!!! (*PS we still have your engagement one too!!)

My life has taught me a great many things.  My journey has led me down paths that I NEVER thought I would go down.  I have met people… wonderful, amazing people.  I still maintain that no matter the situation, the PEOPLE I meet along the way are my Heavenly Father’s biggest blessing to me.  He always puts just the RIGHT person in my life at the RIGHT time.  I can say… He has done it once again!

Each year, we give away a FREE wedding.  WHY?  Well because we CAN… that’s why!  I will not be the man who buries my “talent” in the ground.  I have been given a gift.  I know that this life, this journey, this talent… it isn’t ME at all.  I know this because… every now and then.. I step back and look at those breath taking photos and realize… they are beautiful beyond my own means.  So I choose to share this gift.  I wish I could do it more often and maybe … someday… God will bless me with the means to do so.  For now, I do what I can.

It has been a whole year since we last gave away a wedding!  I had been really praying and asking God to put that perfect couple in our lives and soon… I mean we are nearing the end of 2010 here God!  (no rush now!  LOL…)  And then, in my mailbox came this photo:

A soon to be bride and groom.  Allen and Lindsey.  Lindsey and her family have been a blessing to our family and my husband’s for a great many years now.  It made my heart happy to see their smiling faces on their SAVE THE DATE card.  I knew right then that my prayer had been answered.  These two young people are unique.  Lindsey and Allen grew up together at the same church. Lindsey felt the calling of mission work in her life the summer before her senior year of high school. She surrendered to that calling and has gone overseas many times as the Lord guided her. She has spent many summers overseas as well as a two year commitment in 2006-2008.  Since returning home for school, her and Allen’s friendship developed into a deeper connection. Allen is currently a plumber with an amazing servant heart. They were engaged in June of this year and went on their first mission trip together in July.  What a way to start a life long commitment!   Their hearts were joined together in prayer and tears as they realized that this is indeed the calling for their future. They are getting married on Dec.11, 2010 and plan to continue their education and serve here in America until they are given a clear calling on timing and location from the Lord.

What makes this couple unique is not that they have a heart for missions, but that they actively minister through it.  They have not chosen the “pretty” mission field.  Lindsey has been to places that brought tears to my eyes when I heard she was leaving.  These places are not nice, pretty or EASY to be ministering in but she has been there and I am sure they will continue to go there together as God provides for them to.

It will be our honor and privilege to be Allen and Lindsey’s Wedding Photographers on December 11, 2010.

CONGRATULATIONS ALLEN AND LINDSEY!!!

You have won a FREE WEDDING PACKAGE (valued at $3850) including:

Unlimited Photography Time on your wedding day.

TWO photographers

Pre-Wedding Romantic Photo Session

Bridal Session

Images from ALL THREE Sessions on a Printable Hi-Res DVD

and

Schmidt Studio and Gallery

Proudly Announce the winner of the 2009 Love the Skin You’re In Contest:

Kyndal Curry

The Runner up is:

Angel Rose

Kyndal has won a complimentary Portrait Session from Schmidt Studio & Gallery and an opportunity to work in correlation with SS&G and The Wedding Center on their next Prom Promotional Shoot!  Kyndal and Angel… please contact the Wedding Center c/o Deata Gregory for more details!

View the entire gallery of the participants from the weekend here:

http://www.kentuckystudio.com/client/the-wedding-center-cassandra-stone-prom-contest/

When this story was emailed to me I immediately found myself in tears.  I knew right away that I needed to move my regular “September” Giveaway to now.  Beauty of that is… I can do that!  That is because I own the joint!  LOL

Here is the Email I received:

Amber, Here is the story of Randa Stovall and James Bush. They are both attending Asbury Seminary. Randa is majoring in counseling and James in divinity/pastor.They met in their orientation group when first entering college about 4 yrs ago. James lost his father at the age of seven and was raised by his mother. He is now 23 and has been diagnosed with chronic leukemia. A cancer that will never go away. It cannot be treated with radiation or chemotherapy. His medication without insurance is $3.300 monthly. He is about to lose his insurance because he has reached the age not covered by his mother’s plan. The challenges these two young people are facing and will face does not seem fair. But, we both know that life is never fair and there is a purpose in all things. James considers his cancer a blessing because it has given him empathy………something that is a must for a pastor. I can’t even imagine how Randa feels. She knows that James will not grow old and gray with her. His future is certain. They both hold on to the hope and promise of seeing each other in heaven after James crosses over to the other side of this life. Their faith is strong and unfailing. Randa and James are so in love. You can see it when they look at each other and you can feel it in your heart. I feel so blessed to be apart of their wedding on Aug 1-09 at Estes Chapel. A story like this will put the trivial things of the day into perspective.

Coming from a mom who stands at every single wedding, watches the bride dance with her daddy and wonders if Kyleigh will make it there… I of course… was in tears.  I can relate to so many parts of their story.  I know what it feels like to sit in the hospital and watch your child be in pain.  I know what it is to have to choose house payments or hospital payments.   I also know that I have the power to change their situation even just a little bit.  People ask me WHY I do this.  Why do I give away these free weddings?  I do it… because I can.  Because I am able to… and because I WANT TO!

I am sure an official “story” of Randa and James will be along shortly and I will post it then but for now.

Congratulations Randa and James… you have won a FREE Wedding from SS&G :

Two Photographers

Unlimited time on your Wedding Day

DVD of Images

8×11 Proofbook

Engagement Session

Bridal Session

This is a package valued at $3850.

The evening culminated in a reception with catering by DaRae’s and cake by Tinker’s.

It was our privilege to be a part of their amazing day!