Happy Wedding Day to Jill and Aaron!!

Happy Wedding Day to Kelsey and Justin!

Happy Wedding Day Emily and Alex!

The day is finally here!  When I saw the engagement pics go up on Facebook at Christmas I knew the year would go by quickly but man… it has flown.  I remember Emily as a little girl dancing with her Daddy at our Wedding.  She was just a little older than Owen is now.  To me, that feels like yesterday!  I know I will turn around and it will be my own kids that are headed down the aisle.  We are SO happy to officially welcome Alex into the Schmidt Family and know that he will continue to make Emily a very happy woman for the rest of her life!

Congrats you two!  Today is the day you have been dreaming of for 8 years!  I pray that God will bless your life together and that today you will be able to take time to enjoy the day because it will go by far too fast!

Happy Wedding Day to Brad and Ashley!

Today is a big day in the Wedding world.  Any day that has a “significant” date is always a popular and busy day for wedding professionals!  Today happens to be 9/10/11.  AND it is Ashley and Brad’s wedding day!  We are packing up and will soon be headed to Ashley’s hometown (Bardstown, Kentucky) for their beautiful wedding!  Ashley has worked her bum off planning this important day and we are honored to be a part of it!

Not only that, but after all the cruddy weather for the past few weeks I know that MOST of the Lexington brides HAD to have been on edge!  But… low and behold… THIS is what we get today!  Furthers my philosophy that God smiles on Wedding Days!

These are a few of our faves from their Engagement Session on Ashley’s parent’s land in Bardstown!  Look for wedding pics coming SOON!!!

CONGRATULATIONS Ashley and Brad (and Caiden too!) we will see you guys in just a few short hours!

How to be a good bridesmaid

After many years of photographing weddings we have seen some good bridesmaids but a WHOLE bunch of not-so-good ones too. So… we thought we would share a few tips that we have learned along the way on HOW to be a good, nay, GREAT bridesmaid!

BEFORE THE WEDDING:
1) DO offer to buy your dress, shoes, accessories, etc. If you have accepted the honor of being a bridesmaid, then you have accepted the responsibility that comes with it. Do not make your friend feel badly about not having enough money for XX. I have seen many a bride’s dream ruined by friends who were too cheap to do what she asked. IF you cannot AFFORD being in the wedding… politely bow out before the planning starts. She will not disown you because you are a poor college student. I promise!

2) DO be a good friend and offer to help with the planning, crafting, decorating etc. Being involved in the process also helps to make you aware of the bride’s WISHES so that you can help handle decisions on the wedding day!

3) DO help plan, host and attend the bridal events such as showers, bachelorette party and bridal luncheon. While at the showers be cordial, meet family members and friends and get to know them. Offer to record gifts for thank you notes, helps find chairs for seating… basically whatever needs doing… its YOUR job! Not the bride’s.

4) DO be on TIME to all wedding events including showers, parties, luncheons, rehearsal and ESPECIALLY the wedding DAY! If you are unfamiliar with the area ride with a friend or get directions beforehand!

5) DO give your friend a gift. NO the bridesmaid dress and gracing the wedding with your presence does NOT count!

6) DON’T be left at the reception without a ride. Make arrangements ahead of time to have your car moved… when the photographer is trying to get GROUP photos directly after the ceremony is NOT the time to be coordinating your ride!

7) DON’T leave your stuff “in the room” before the ceremony. Go ahead and move it to your car or the reception location (if close to ceremony). It takes up valuable time afterward trying to coordinate moving cars and crap.

8 ) IF you are an honor attendant be prepared to give a toast / speech. This is customary and “winging” it is not always best. Even an outline of what you will say is good. Tell a cute story or two but do not yammer on for 15 minutes… no one in the crowd needs to hear about every party at college.

9) DON’T sneak off to smoke, drink, make out with your boyfriend or check your facebook.

10) DON’T be high maintenance. The bride comes first. Your hair, makeup, dress, flowers, shoes, spanx, etc are second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. It is your DUTY as a bridesmaid to be DRESSED ON TIME, makeup finished, and READY to help the bride put on her dress for photos. The word bridesmaid itself infers that you are to be a MAID to the BRIDE… so do it…. and with a smile.

11) DO wear comfortable shoes. Yes so those 6 inch Jimmy choo heels may be cute for clubbing but you, need to make sure that on the wedding day you are ABLE to run errands for the bride, carry her train, flowers, accessories, etc if need be and most of all… WALK DOWN THE AISLE without looking like you are going to topple over. Especially if your friend is getting married outdoors… please feel free to find a COMFORTABLE pair of shoes to wear. Most of the time the bride could care less if you are in cute sandals.

12) Make a checklist for yourself and the bride of the things that she might need on the wedding day. Bobby pins, safety pins, a small purse for makeup touch ups. You can download our suggest list for the Bride’s emergency kit here:  BRIDAL EMERGENCY KIT

13) DON’T COMPLAIN!!! Seriously… if it’s 110 degrees outside… we all know noticed. The bride, who is likely under 10 layers of tulle notices the most. It is her PERFECT day… don’t mess it up by being whiney. Take one for the team, bring a hankie to wipe the sweat off your forehead, touch up before the reception and go with it.

14) DO actually TRY to have fun. It shows in the photos if you feel like the bride has taken a hot poker to your backside to get you there. Yes… so you paid $100 for a dress that you will never wear again but it’s your best friend’s (or sister, or cousin, or sister in law, or somebody remotely close to you) best day of her life. Enjoy it at least 1/10th as much as she is.

15) DO feel free to cry at the ceremony. It’s OK! Don’t try to choke back the tears if they come. That makes you look like a pug in the pictures. neatly wrap your hankie around your bouquet and gently pat away the tears as they fall but remember KEEP SMILING lest you break out the “big ugly cry” in front of 200 people.

16) DO smile at the camera as you walk down the aisle… LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPHER for them to get a pic… you don’t need to stare down the aisle at the groom… he’s not yours! LOL

17) DON’T get drunk! Have a glass of wine, but don’t get trashed. If you feel the need to get hammered… hit a bar afterward.

18) DO be the life of the party. Get involved in the dancing, cake cutting and toasts. The more pretty colored dresses the couple has around them.. the better their pics look! Sing at the top of your lungs. Hoot and holler when the couple enters the reception. Dance like no one is watching. Request your favorite songs from the DJ.

19) DO feel free to tell the bride everything is alright…even if it IS NOT!!!!!! Seriously. You think I am kidding but it will eventually work out. Remember to be positive no matter what because things can turn around really quickly. Storm clouds can blow over and the sun can shine in a matter of minutes. Remind the bride that this is her special day and that no matter what she still walks away with the best prize!

20) DON’T stress the bride out by asking her 1 million questions. Make a decision and move on. She doesn’t care whether you wear the pearl or diamond earrings. If she did she would have given you something specific to wear.

21) DO find childcare. Seriously. Especially if both you AND your husband are in the wedding party, PLEASE find someone to watch your children. Even if they ARE in the bridal party they will likely need a method of transportation to reception and someone to watch them during photos. There are only a few photos with the kids and then they are dismissed and NEED to go. Having a screaming 2 year old on your leg is not the ideal situation for a bridesmaid. Also, if they are used to an early bed time… prepare to have someone take them from the reception. It is your responsibility to STAY throughout the entire reception!!!

22) DO learn how to bustle the bride’s dress and DO IT! Don’t leave her standing with the photographer and run off to PARTY. Stay put until you are dismissed.

23) DON’T procrastinate. Perform your duties. Make purchases on time. Write things on your calendar and DO NOT forget. Also, do not get pissed if the bride turns into a “bridezilla” the week before the wedding. She is stressed out. Take her for a lunch and a massage but don’t “drop out” of the wedding when you decide she is uptight.