Thoughts on Photography, Six Months Later

Hi Hive! You don't mind if I do drive-bys every now and again, right? Promise I'll drop by when I think I've got something good for ya. Today I'm thinking about wedding photography... six months after the wedding.

Photography quickly rose to the top of my list of important things when we began planning. I knew I wanted something special, but I didn't know exactly what. Unless you are used to working with photographers on a pretty regular basis, most of us just know what we like when we see it. When I stumbled upon Luke's work, I just knew he was the one. It was sort of like falling in love at first sight.

Then you find the price for your dream. And it's usually higher than you hoped for.

To fit the constraints of budget, the only way to make my make my 2-shooter, 8-hour fantasy happen was to cut out the album option. My high-quality images would land in my lap on 2 discs, about 8GB worth of our gorgeous day.  Luke also included web-ready images, which were much smaller and included his watermark. This made recaping our wedding pretty easy breezy, but now it's all up to me to figure out how to present my photos outside of the internet.

Uploading the high-res images to photobook sites became frustrating when I learned that most hosts don't allow images over 10 MB-- almost all of my images are over 20 MB. That's huge. Luckily I was able to resize in Adobe Fireworks, but silly me then resized almost 100 images a little too small. *facepalm* So frustrating!

I tried uploading my resized photos to Picasa to use them inside of Blurb, but then Picasa-- without rhyme or reason-- continued to act up and reject my photos, causing me to almost throw my computer across the room. So I did what any good Apple user does-- I turned to iPhoto to make my album.

(screen captures by me, photos by Luke Snyder Studio)

Omigod, ya'll, it was so easy! There was no uploading and crossing my fingers it would work. I just dragged and dropped and changed layouts at will and iPhoto let me know if the photo size was too small to print well. The full-page photos are the only ones I used the super high-res images for. The hardest part was choosing which photos to include and trying to restrain myself from hitting the "new page" button too many times. I will report back on the quality when I see the finished product.

Photography editing is no walk in the park, even if you do have appropriate software. It takes a lot of patience and time and if you are short on both, think about adding the album options to your photography package. While at the time you think you will be able to work that out yourself, sometimes it's best left to the professionals!

Have you made an Apple photobook? How did it turn out for you?

DIY I Couldn't Resist Sharing

I know I said 'bye, but sometimes things are just too cute not to share.

This pretty DIY cigar box from Cathe Holden caught my eye and my first thought was, "some bride, some where will totally run with this".

(via Just Something I Made)

So wish I would have found this in my planning days. Cigars aren't really my thing, but being showcased in a pretty box would win me over. Packed with Cubans-- this is a winner!

Thank You

With my recaps written, it's time to step aside. *sniff, sniff*

I'd almost plan another wedding just to keep blogging for the 'bee, but then again, I'm happily wedding-ed out. I'm pretty sure Miss Sparkler is planning my dream city-wedding, so I'll live vicariously through her and all the newbees with their gorgeous and unique weddings.

Blogging here has been so much fun and I'm so thankful I had an entire hive of women to share this experience with. No matter how many years pass, I'll never be able to think of our wedding without also thinking of Weddingbee. You will be one of the first 'tings' of our wine glasses as we try to celebrate every wedding anniversary in Napa.

Thank you for following along with me-- just knowing you were on the other side of the screen was a comfort in itself. Sometimes all a girl needs to know is that someone is listening. With that said, remember to go easy on yourself. It's supposed to be fun! If it's not fun, take some time off to re-charge your spirit and come back to planning with a fresh perspective. On your wedding day, relish. every. minute.

You'll still find me lurking in bee's recaps, but if you miss me I'm @breezynunnz. Mr. Barrettes and I plan on enjoying our last few months on Guam before moving back to the States, where Charlotte, NC is currently at the top of our short list.

It's not the end... the wedding is only the beginning...

With love,
Mrs. Barrettes

A Napa Fairytale: Epilogue

After we rode off into the night (around the parking lot 2 times), the party was officially over. Darn.

There was a surge of last-minute goodbyes and a rush to gather all of the wedding stuff. Luckily, I wasn't in charge of anything and was able to enjoy saying goodnight to our guests. My ceremony dress and purple heels magically made it into our car, as did 2 cases of our favorite V. Sattui wines. Gifts, cards, boxes, and flowers were loaded up into a few different cars to be sorted later when we all recovered.

We have already discussed that while my groom could take a few turns around a parking lot, he wasn't hitting the road. I, on the other hand, ended up sober-Sally at my own wedding, which if you know me, is weird! Being too busy running around and making sure everything was going well, dancing, and chatting with guests means I never actually sat down to drink my own wine. I had a full glass at dinner and that was about it. I would put down and pick up my glass throughout the rest of the party, trying to drink it, but never managing to have it refilled. Which in hindsight, is actually perfect!

My MOH said he would meet me at our hotel to help with my husband, who by this point was...um...let's just say resting his eyes in the car. My parents drove us back down the wine trail to downtown Napa, where John and Steve were waiting outside of the hotel. Bless them. We carried him over the threshold.  I left my husband to be cared for by John, while Steve came with me to pull out a few bags from the mess in our cars.

Crap! Where is my wedding night lingerie? No worries, I thought, he's never gonna remember. We returned upstairs to our hotel room and I walked in to this:

Amazing. Groom face down in his tux.

John said he helped take off his shoes, but that was about all he could do. I kissed my helpers goodnight, sure to have a great time at breakfast in the morning, and sat down in the chair opposite my husband and just laughed. Not what I had in mind for our wedding night, but this was almost better. :)

I finally laid my head down around 1:30 AM, after peeling off my sleeping husband's tux and rolling him to his left side. I won't even mention what I cleaned off his tux jacket. Let's just say I earned the title of world's best wife, into the wee hours of the morning on my wedding night as I scrubbed the coat he was married in.

I could hear the universe whisper to me, "Welcome to marriage, darling."

The End.

(all professional wedding photos in recaps by Luke Snyder Studio)

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Want to go back to the beginning? Click here.

Highlights:

My Ensemble

First Look

Romantics

Here Comes the Bride

Ceremony, Part 1 of 2

Ceremony, Part 2 of 2

Costume Change

First Dance

We Dine and We Cheers

Father/Daughter Dance

Garter and Bouquet Tosses

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A Napa Fairytale: We Ride off Into the Night

10/10/10 was winding down and it was time to send us off into the world as husband and wife. The remaining guests gathered in the courtyard to wish us well, high-fiving us through their tunnel of love.

I envisioned rose petals for the send-off, but we improvise pretty well, and our families rallied with their centerpieces and arms.

Once we popped up on top of the stairs, Ryan mounted the bike and a small panic set into my excitement. "Can he drive?! Isn't he wasted?!" Once on the bike behind him, I seriously contemplated hopping off when he couldn't start it right away. I was honestly pretty scared. I remember saying, "Ummm..I don't think this is such a good idea", but no one seemed to hear me.

He assured me he was fine (which I knew he wasn't), but I figured if I was going to die, this night was as good as any. The engine roared, the guests did too, and a sudden jolt of cool air rushed past my ears.

(photos by Luke Snyder Studio)

Clutching my groom for dear life, we rode off into the night for the first time as husband and wife!

A Napa Fairytale: The Garter and Bouquet Tosses

I've been looking forward to sharing this one with you! I'm always the one to make the faces, but Mr. Barrettes definitely got into the spirit with the garter toss...

Someone pulled out a chair, a circle began to form around it and I was summoned to have a seat. (I also should have been reminded to change back into my purple pumps, but you know how things go.) My groom was quick to join me in the middle of the circle and I could tell by his face he was getting a little saucy. I whispered to him to try not to show the whole room my sous-vêtements.

About halfway down my thigh he decided to bite it and pull it down. Maybe I should wear these things more often! Glad it arrived in the mail that day or I would have missed out on the garter fun.

Cheating a little! I see those hands! Must have been my dancer calf. ;)

He was stoked when he got it off and he ripped the little white bow off of it-- with his teeth! I had purchased 2 so I didn't care what happened to it, but it was funny to see the little white bow laying in the middle of the floor.

He didn't waste any time in tossing it over his shoulder. The single men scurried to get near him and he launched it...landing it right in front of the only gay man out there! Yay, Dyl!

Next, it was my turn. I motioned for the ladies to come closer towards me, away from the light fixture. I could only imagine my bouquet ending up swinging from the ceiling.

Yes, I used my real bouquet. What's the point of throwing a fake one? I have gorgeous photos of it looking fresh and pretty, I didn't need to save them until they were dead.

My cousin, Olivia (the florist's daughter coincidentally) caught the purple pretties. She's only 16 so I'm hoping she isn't really the next to be married. Yes, yes, I know, technically every one should be over 18, but seriously, there isn't wedding police. ;)

Dylan, very gentlemanly, pushed the garter up her leg and everyone laughed and gave them a round of applause.

(photos by Luke Snyder Studio)

With that business taken care of, the rest of the night was left for dancing!

I know many brides and grooms balk at the whole tossing thing, but there was no question as to whether we would do it at our wedding. I like the tradition, I think it's cute, and it's suppose to be fun! Not to mention our guests loved it. It is a wedding, ya'll-- there is only one time in your life that you can be a bride and toss the bouquet, do it!

A Napa Fairytale: Impromptu Motorcycle Photoshoot

I went looking for my groom when the DOC told me it was time for the tosses. I didn't see him on the dance floor or in the courtyard so I made my way to the fountain, and lo and behold, the jokers were all gathered around the bike.

Naturally, I thought it would be a hot moment if I climbed up there with him. Those clever photographers always know where to be!

On their best behaviors!

We started out pretty tame, but then got a little saucy...

It was so funny! Amy was giving me directions and the groomsmen were all hooting and hollering... it was a moment!

We had one sweet, tender moment (which Luke captured beautifully), and we headed back into the barrel room with our wedding party in tow, ready to cause some ruckus on the dance floor!

I highly recommend a motorcycle at your wedding if you can swing it!

Post-Wedding/30th Birthday Chop

Hi Hive! I'm taking a brief intermission from recap-land to show you my new hair. 5 months post-wedding and 1 week to my 30th birthday, I decided to go big. The shortest I've ever worn my hair is in a chin-length bob, and I really wanted to buzz it short, but I have big ears and know I would have regretted that as soon as I did it. (Oh, the foresight that comes with being 30!)

I love it the most when I take the time to flat-iron it, but it's pretty fun to play with, and fresh out of bed in the morning I have a bit of Charlie Sheen going on. Winning!

It is perfect for the island climate and I swear it only takes me 10 minutes from shower to finished. Know what else? I get to spend extra time with makeup, which is way more fun for me to do than hair! I think I may keep the shortie style for a minute-- it's making me feel shiny and new. And nothing feels better when you're turning 30 than feeling shiny and new.

Did you do a serious chop post-wedding chop? Love it or hate it?

A Napa Fairytale: Fun with the Photobooth

I'm so happy I convinced Mr. Barrettes to tackle my photobooth project at the last minute! It added a fun extra element to the reception, despite its flaws. I mentioned here how it was made and what we would have done differently.

I'm sure my groom didn't plan on cutting the board (with what looks to be a cake-cutter) just before it was hung-- but ah, it adds character...at least that's what I keep telling myself.

There was a slight mishap when a guest tried to stand on some empty boxes in order to stand in the taller frame. The boxes slipped out from under her, and she ended up flat on her back underneath the board. As she fell, she grabbed the board and it broke a bit. Thankfully she popped right up with nothing but a bruised ego and we were able to put the frame back together!

Yes, that would be the groom trying to take a bite of the board. Things were starting to go south for him by this point.

Flashing the thumbs-up sign is really cool when you are re-creating a cheesy dance photo from your childhood. We may have done this exact pose 20 years earlier.

Overall, I'm so happy we had this at our wedding! Giving your guests places to hang out, other than on the dance floor is always a good thing.