Happy Independence Day!  I hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy the great weather and maybe even catch some of that elusive Seattle sun. 

I couldn't think of a better day to share our big news ... Azzura was voted the 2009 Best Photographer for by the Seattle Bride Vendor's Poll!  This is a huge honor, and Ken and I were nearly speechless when we found out.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the wedding professionals who cast their vote and made this dream come true!

As we strolled along the Carillon Point walkway, Ivy coyly asked how often I update the blog and casually mentioned that they would have internet access during their Honeymoon in Hawaii. Jerry and I both burst out laughing, and Jerry started teasing her that it was 'her day, not her week.' We all got a good giggle out of it, and I have to reward her enthusiasm with a little teaser of some of the gorgeous photos from the day!

    The waterfront breeze made Ivy's dress come alive - she looked so cute with it swirling around her!     How cute is our little ringbearer, Logan?  He was one of the best 2-year-olds anyone could ask for!

The Supporting Cast:

Location: The Woodmark Hotel on Carillon Point
Day-of Coordinator: Laura Gram, Simplicity Events in Seattle, WA
Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero 
Florist: Tanya Stone, Elements in Bloom 
Hair and Makeup:Salon Maison 
DJ: Tom Denman, A Sound Celebration 
Cake: Matt Jones, Starry Nights Catering 
Officiant: Rev. Patricia Stimac, A Heavenly Ceremony 
Linens: L&M Chair Covers 

I am so fortunate to have joined many of the top wedding professionals in the world at the Ritz-Carlton in Grand Cayman for three days of fun (and a little rum!)  Kathryn, Rebecca, and Rochelle at Engaging Concepts outdid themselves, and wedding gurus Michelle Rago and Celebrations threw fabulous parties that kept my roommates and I dancing for later than any of us intended!

Preston Bailey, Darcy Miller of Martha Stewart Weddings, the world-famous cake designer Sylvia Weinstock, and many other amazing talents were so open with their experience and insights.  I owe a special thank-you to Sean Low, who impressed me beyond measure with his business savvy and surprised me with kindness by sharing ideas on opportunities to make Azzura even better.  I'm hoping to bring Sean out to Seattle for some one-on-one consulting in the next year, so maybe we'll get to see more of him soon.

An unexpected benefit of the trip was getting to know Renee Metty from It's Eventful and Daniela Fagét from Bella Signature Design, both based in Seattle.  Although we knew each other from networking events and weddings this was really our first chance to relax and hang out together.  After closing down the farewell party thrown by the talented Jo-Anne Brown, we spent most of the night talking, laughing and encouraging each other. They are both amazing women, and I can't wait to work with them more!

At Daniela's urging, I took some photos of the farewell party.  They really just give you a glimmer of the design skill of the Celebrations team.  Believe it or not, this party was held in the hotel conference room!  The walls were basked floor-to-ceiling in beautifully lit draping, and white leather furniture was brought in to create a swanky club atmosphere.  

 The bar was created using a glass top perched on tall cylindrical vases filled with goldfish and lit from below using LED lights.  So clever! The centerpiece of the room was a 7-foot starfish adorned with gerbera daisies.  Can you imagine waking up one morning and thinking 'hmmm... I wonder where I can get an 8-foot block of styrofoam that I could carve a starfish out of for tonight's party?' 

In addition to the many wedding celebs, I got to meet Ken's cousin Karen who has lived on the island for many years with her husband Steve.  Karen reminded me alot of Ken - full of energy, loves animals, and overall just a really sweet person.  The ironic part is that she and Ken haven't seen each other in nearly 10 years, and it turns out she is coming to Seattle next week!  I'm trying to orchestrate a little family reunion so she can see her 'Kenny' again.

My favorite adventure of the trip was swimming with the stingrays.  The Grand Cayman has a crystal blue cove of waist-deep water brimming with rays and tourists anxious to get a glimpse of one another. Once I got used to being surrounded by four-foot wide rays I quickly fell in love with them.  They were the coolest animals you can imagine, with the friendly personality of bunnies and bellies that felt like portobello mushrooms. They loved to play, be petted, and even conceded to be held.  It was a magical experience, and I hope to return someday! 

According to island lore, kissing a stingray gives you seven years of good luck, so when in the Caymans ...

A special thanks to Jen from Jennnifer Driscoll Photography for the above photo! 

Last week was such an adventure, and a study in contrasts: I (Tania) went to the Caymans to visit with some amazing wedding professionals from all over the world, and Ken went on a cross-country dirt bike trip for a week of roughing it with the boys.  The only thing our trips had in common was that we both had a blast!

I'm pulling together some of my favorite photos from the Cayman trip (as well as our amazing weddings from this weekend), so stay tuned!

I'm on the road again!  With fresh pedicure and a cute new sundress, I'm off to visit with some of the people I most admire in the wedding industry - Preston Bailey, Darcy Miller, Sean Low and Lara Casey to name a few.  A group of some of the most creative minds in the world of weddings are gathering in the Grand Caymans for four days of swapping ideas, sharing experiences, and lifting each other up to start the wedding season inspired.  I have been SO excited to be a part of it, and I promise to share lots of photos when I return!

You may remember that last month Ken traipsed down to Portland to visit with Jesh de Rox, an extraordinary Canadian photographer.  Jesh has this unique way of seeing things that got Ken's imagination rolling, and by the time Ken got back to Seattle he was so excited to photograph he could barely stand it.  Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long - seven years in the making, Rebecca and David joyfully tied the knot on May 9th at the Bastyr University Chapel in Redmond.  As soon as I saw the images from the wedding I couldn't stop smiling - they were flat-out gorgeous, and represented a subtle but distinct evolution that went a step further in reflecting their relationship as well as the events of the day. 

I create a collection of seven of my favorites (plus one for good luck) in celebration of their seven years together.  I hope you love them as much as I do - enjoy!

 This image of Rebecca with David's mother is so sweet!

Rebecca has the most captivating expressions - I love both of these images of her.  When I look at them, I see her gentleness mixed with her strength.  Such a beautiful combination!

 Nothing says 'celebrate' like a freshly popped bottle of champagne!

These last two are some of David's favorites.  There is something magical that happens when you truly 'let go' and embrace the moment - not the future, not the past, but the perfect present that you are in.  These images capture that spark, and they remind me to find the magic every day in my own life and the lives of those around me.   

Felicia and Julius were the perfect 'happy couple' on May 24th - Felicia has this infectious smile that had me grinning ear-to-ear as I edited the photographs.  Since Julius is from Georgia, Felicia recently relocated to Atlanta.  This made the return to Seattle a unique celebration in many ways, including being reunited with her close friends and family members and getting to share Seattle with Julius's crew.  Congrats - Seattle will miss you both!  Can you say gorgeous? Who says guys can't get ready in style?  I love the Burberry tie .. so classy.   The ceremony was so touching.  My favorite moment was when I heard Etta James sing 'At Last' after the exchange of vows ... only to realize that it was actually one of Felicia's bridesmaids singing.  American Idol, watch out!   The right photograph is my absolute favorite of Felicia and Julius together ... it makes me smile every time I see it!   The boys from Atlanta taught us all some new moves - the dance floor was packed all night, and even I was tempted to bust a move.  (Fortunately for the innocent guests I was able to control the urge, but just barely!)

The Supporting Cast:

Locations: First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue and The Harbor Club Bellevue 
Coordinator: Events in the City
Wedding Dress: Brides by Demetrios 
Florist: Aria Style and Express Yourself with Flowers 
DJ: Joshua Fields (aka DJ Skiy) 
Cake:  Mike's Amazing Cakes 
Linens: Seattle's Best Chair Covers 
Videographer: Bogle Video Productions 

One of my favorite moments of a Wedding Day are when the bride and groom see each other for the very first time. Without the pressure of all their guests watching, sharing those few moments together is one of the best parts of the day. Larissa and Steve had their first glimpse in a cabana overlooking the ocean - how is that for romantic?

Steve is a fairly stoic guy, but he melted when he saw Larissa. (If he tries to blame it on the 95 degree weather, don't believe him!)

These are two of my favorite photographs from the day - I love how you can see how comfortable they are together, and how much they embraced the joy and emotion of the day.

When Kimberly (my assistant) and I arrived at the Hacienda del Mar in Cabo San Lucas, it took our breath away.  'Tropical Paradise' is about the only word to describe it ... we are so blessed to be able to photograph in such an amazing place, and Larissa and Steve were the epitome of the relaxed, fun-loving spirit of Cabo. 

This is the scene as we drove up to the resort ... 

Larissa's suite was on an upper floor, and this is the view from just outside her room.  The weather report had predicted rain, but as you can see the day was crystal clear - which was quite a relief, considering the ceremony was on the beach! 

Larissa found her dress at La Belle Elaines, and it fit her perfectly.  My favorite touch was the sash, which created a slightly whimsical look that tied perfectly to Larissa's personality (no pun intended!) 

As soon as the dress was on, we decided to celebrate!  Larissa's mom popped a bottle of bubbly that Steve sent over as a pre-wedding gift, and the day began.  (Much to our surprise, Larissa's mom opened the bottle on the terrace, sending the cork flying into the courtyard ... fortunately no by-standers were hit and we all got a good laugh out of it!) 

Not every man can look good in mint and rose accessories, but Steve would have made James Bond proud!  Since it was 95 degrees in the shade, most of the day was spent sans coat and with a Corona in hand. 

Down to the last detail, Larissa did an amazing job of pulling together finishing touches that cleverly integrated her theme color of fuchsia.  The adorable clutch on the right was custom created for the event by Himi of 'David and Chiyo', and the feathers in her hair were dyed with a clever polka-dot pattern by Etsy designer Chelsea of 'Oh My Deer'.  So cute!

Steve's neices, Madison and Makenzine, were two of the best little flower girls anyone could ask for.    They were nearly inseparable all day, and I loved these photographs of them because you can really see how close they are as sisters.  (Check out their little sparkle shoes - adorable!)

Tomorrow I will share 'Part Dos' with some gorgeous photographs of Larissa and Steve, starting with their first glimpse.  :)  

I honestly can not remember the last time I had such a challenge choosing photographs from the blog for highlights!  There are so many images from our trip to Cabo that I want to share, which is why it has taken a few extra days to pull them together ... I keep finding more that I want to show!  So, for those of you waiting with baited breath to catch a glimpse of the Cabo wedding, my revised plan is to split the images into several different posts, starting with the 'getting ready' photographs that I adore.  

Our trip to Cabo was absolutely amazing, and the wedding day was perfect.  There are so many images to share!  I will be posting my favorites (and sharing a few stories) Monday (correction: Tuesday), so stay tuned ...

There are days when I wake up convinced I have the world's best job ... today, my assistant Kimberly and I are hopping a plane to Cabo San Lucas to photograph the wedding of Larissa and Steve, a super-fun couple from Seattle.  We only get to stay during the week since we have weddings in Seattle this weekend, but we are SO looking forward to the sun, the sand, and the fabulous drinks adorned with tiny umbrellas. 

I promise to share lots of photographs of the trip, and Ken was sweet enough to get us a little video recorder so I might even be able to share some of our adventures in action.  (Ken is holding down the fort in Seattle this week.)  I don't think internet access will be readily available so the blog will be quiet this week, but I will share lots when we return!  In the meantime, here are some images of the resort where Larissa and Steve are getting married.  Perfecto!

"Every child is an artist.  The problem is remaining one."

                                                                                 - Pablo Picasso

Last week, Ken had the incredible experience of joining Jesh de Rox, a Canadian fine art photographer, in Portland for a four-day journey into Jesh's unique approach to photographing couples.  The seminar had caught our eye a few months ago, and we were enamored enough with Jesh's photoshop skills to invest the time to learn his techniques.  Little did we know just how much he would share - not just about the technical aspects of photography, but also some of the underlying philosophies and psychologies he uses when creating his unmistakable imagery.

Ken and I were reminded of just how powerful photography can be, not just as a tool for capturing an event, but also as a catalyst for sharing an experience - a series of passionate, honest moments that ignite from within.  Yes, Jesh's approach is admittedly a bit ephemeral, but it was refreshing at the same time.  It reminded me of how important it is to care - truly and deeply - about our clients.  Not just what they look like, but who they are, as individuals and as a couple.  It reminded me to seek genuineness in everything that we do, and in the photographs we create.

Thank you, Jesh, for sharing your passion!

The soft symphony of a Spring shower created the backdrop for Luigi and Marcus's Wedding Day at Benaroya Hall.  Although it the slightly soggy day was a bit of a surprise, they didn't let it put a damper on their day!  From the moment we arrived at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel to photograph them getting ready, we saw an unmistakable sense of joy and calm surrounding them.  The day was truly blessed, and we are so grateful to be a part of it. 

This is one of my favorite images of the day ... it is actually taken from a larger street scene, but I recropped it to show the gentle emotion in Luigi's expression.  I can almost feel them taking a deep breath, listening to the rain, and letting the simple peace of the moment wash over them. 

Luigi's has an absolutely infectious smile - her excitement shone through so naturally, and Ken said that she was one of the sweetest brides he has ever met.

I love the spontaneous moments of a wedding, like this one - the love in her face as she embraced her sister, Jeremy, is irresistible!

Benaroya Hall has two amazing Chuhley artworks that are lit at night, casting the two ends of the hall in a warm glow. They are so fun to photograph, especially since after dusk the reflections create the illusion of multiple sculptures. So beautiful!

The Supporting Cast:

Accommodations: The Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Locations: The Church of Christ Chapel and Benaroya Hall
Wedding Dress: Brides by Demetrios 
Catering: Wolfgang Puck
Transportation: British Motor Coach

Andréa and Ryan chose the perfect sunny Saturday to marry at the Marina Park Pavilion on the Kirkland waterfront. It was so much fun to walk around downtown, then switch scenes to the docks for photos with the bridal party!

Can you believe this weather? Summer has finally arrived!!

This was the moment Ryan saw Andréa for the very first time. I love the joy in Ryan's expression.

Andréa looked simply gorgeous - the image on the left is my favorite of the day. I loved the loose curls in her hair - so fun and natural!

Andréa did an amazing job of coordinating all the details, down to tying the custom matchbooks to each individual sparkler for the reception exit. Cute - and smart!

Andréa even got matching parasols from Bella Umbrella for the bridesmaids in spring-green, ecru, and chocolate - who would have thought that umbrellas would be so useful on a sunny day?

The Supporting Cast:

Locations: The Marina Park Pavilion in Kirkland and The Golf Club at Echo Falls
Day-of Coordinator: Jill Glasgow, All the Details Wedding Planning
Wedding Dress: Amanda's Bridal Boutique
Florist: Stadium Flowers and Thelma McGowan 
Band: Seattle String Ensemble
DJ: Brian Dale, Wavelink Music
Cake: Kelli's Creations
Officiant: Len Smolen
Linens: Grand Event Rentals
Transportation: British Motor Coach
Umbrella Rental: Bella Umbrella