HOT Wedding Trend Alert: Belted Gowns!

These are NOT your grandmother’s belts.  (well maybe they are if your grandma was a chic happening lady!  It could be totally cool to wear a piece of her life with you!)  I am talking some seriously cool, beautiful, amazing, totally fabulous, sometimes “bling”ed out, always stylish belts!  A really amazing belt or sash can make even the simplest wedding dress look F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!!!!

Like this silvery gray stunner from yanethandco on Etsy:

Or this totally bling belt to add a little sparkle to your dress by IngenueB on Etsy:

Or maybe you are inspire by a softer satin look like this stunning satin sash with just a bit of bling by Untamed Petals on Etsy:

Then there is elegant, yet whimsical with something like this Vintage inspired satin flower and sash creation by GracefullyGirly on Etsy:

Or maybe you would think of using a belt / sash as a pop of color to tie in a colorful wedding theme with something like this stunning Teal Rhinestone Flower sash by peaceandglorydetails on Etsy:

Or MAYBE your dress stands on it’s own but you would rather wear a belt in your hair!  Today’s headbands seem to be the love child of the headbands we knew and loved as kids and a satin ribbon!  Something like this could be perfect from LoBoheme on Etsy:

At any rate I truly do this that this trend of belts and bows is fabulous.  It is the perfect way to add a little extra sparkle and pizazz to your wedding attire without altering your dress design.  Oftentimes, custom alterations can costs many hundred of dollars when adding a belt can cost as little as $25-100.  Not only is this cost effective but it could make the perfect heirloom.  So yes, let’s face it our daughter will be very unlikely to want to wear our dated gowns when they get married but these stylish belts can be added to their dress, hair or bouquet in the future to allow them to keep the tradition going in their own weddings.  Or better yet have a belt made from YOUR mother’s 1975 lacy number!  It’s puffy sleeves may not be cute but it could be the perfect “old” in your new, borrowed and blue repertoire!!

Maureen & Chad’s Southland Christian Church Wedding

Maureen and Chad were blessed with an AMAZINGLY warm January day.  It seems that my couples are lucky like that!  ( I like to call that blessed! )  We had plenty of time to run off to Keeneland for some beautiful photos with the couple before their candlelit ceremony.

There were so many unique and special touches to their wedding… It was like a photographer’s playground!  Maureen and Chad’s intimate wedding culminated in dinner at Malone’s, a fabulous cake by Brenda of the Sugar Forest and post wedding drinks at the Bigg Blue Martini!  Pretty perfect wedding day if you ask me!  Here’s the sneak peek!

Brittany & Caleb’s Ashland, Kentucky Wedding Photos

Brittany and Caleb were married in November, in their hometown of Ashland, Kentucky.  We traveled to Ashland to photograph their ceremony at the Historic “Chocolate Church” (First United Methodist Church).  Their reception followed at the Bellefonte Country Club.  Although it was a bitterly cold day (for November anyhow) and the skies spit snow at us all day long, the spirits were warm and our bridesmaids braved the cold to create some pretty awesome images for Brit and Caleb!   (Kudos to bridesmaids who are willing to take on for the home team! – no pun intended)

At any rate, the wedding ceremony was beautifully candle lit and yes, I cried, a couple of times as a matter of fact.  To see Caleb’s face light up when he finally got to see Brit turn at the end of the aisle… priceless.  Of course it is always an emotional moment to watch a father hand his daughter over, turn and walk away but that is another post for another day   Stay tuned!

Here is a sneak peek!  They had amazing details and their reception venue, and decor was stunning!  Of course I LOVED that they used enlargements from their engagement as decor!    Always makes me smile to see a print or engagement guest book because I automatically know how proud my couples are of their life, their love and their images!!

I loved that Brittany had tons of BLING!  Her necklace was fabulous.  Be sure to look for pics of it in the movie.  The back of the necklace had these long strands of crystals so every pic we took from that back of her dress had some bling in it!  I had never seen a necklace like that before I brides, I HIGHLY recommend it!  It photographed REALLY well and added a pop to each photo!

Their historic church was beautiful (quite dark- which any photogs know that dark church + no flash= tough lighting situation!) but there were lots of twinkling candles!!!

And of course the reception at the Bellefonte Country Club in Ashland was awesome!  The tables were draped in beautiful flower centerpieces, and even the CAKE had bling!!!  LOVED IT!

And yes, I could not resist.  Brit and Caleb had a stunning sparkler exit from the church and I snagged some spare sparklers to play with later at the reception.  I am just a big kid when it comes to wedding!  I think that your wedding should fulfill all your childhood dreams and should be one of the most emotional, spiritual, FUN days of your life!

Brit & Caleb’s Wedding Movie is still to come!  Check back later in the week for it!

Kristine & Steve’s Dayton Wedding

Kristine and Steve were married at St. Joseph’s Church in Dayton, Ohio.  After a brief (and hilarious) stop at Radio Shack to pick up Steve’s new phone we made our way to the Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark and Dayton Art Institute for some photos.  This wedding party was GREAT considering it must have been 100 degrees outside and we managed to narrowly avert some pretty huge storms earlier in the day!  The reception followed at the historic Hope Hotel on the grounds of the Wright Patterson Air Force Base.  Great fun was had by all and some pretty amazing photos are left to show for it!

Congrats Kristine and Steve!

What a beautiful location!  Such a grand old church … you cannot help but feel “spiritual” in a place like this.  I love churches that a huge long aisle!

The day started off with hair at Square One Salon and makeup by Liz Fenner… PS… if you are in Dayton you MUST try Square One!

There were, of course, GORGEOUS flowers… and the thing that made these special is that they SMELLED awesome!

I just LOVED this capture… nothing like the stolen glaces between two people about to be married!!!  The love is palpable. 

We chased away the rain so there was really no need for umbrellas but we paid homage to the rain earlier in the day with this photo at the Dayton Art Institute.

Then we stopped off at the Wegeryzn Gardens   TONS of fun places there to take pics… I wish it had not be so unearthly hot or we could have been there for hours.  Unfortunately we could only handle a few minutes in the 100+ degree heat!

We were able to steal a few minutes away from the rocking reception to capture a few shots on the base at Wright Patterson outside the historic Hope Hotel.

Kristine’s Bridal Session, Cincinnati Ohio Bridal / Wedding Photography

What could be better than a wedding day?  TWO wedding days!  That is precisely how many wedding days I have spent with Kristine.  Not of her own of course, but Kris was a bridesmaid in Josh and Liz’s wedding and in return Liz, my former bride, was a bridesmaid in Kris’ wedding.  I always think it is REALLY cool to have the privilege of photographing family and friends’ weddings.  That lets me know that we are doing something right!

At any rate… this is about Kris.  And her bridal session.  On a blistering hot day in Cincinnati we ventured out to create some fabulous bridal images and THAT we did!  Kris’ family is from Cincy thus the importance of having her bridal photos there   Their wedding was in Dayton, Ohio and those pics are soon to follow!