Alright, here's the baby! Everybody calm down.

Okay, okay. So, I thought it would be unprofessional to talk about our new little baby girl here on our Archway blog, but Brian reminded me we're not that professional anyway! Really, we end up sharing in the lives of our clients, so why not share the most wonderful event in our life with you?

So, here she is, Ellie June. AKA: Miss Ellie, Ellie-bean, Ellie-button, June bug, Snuggle bug, Ladybug, smellyelliebelly. Daddy needs to load some more pics up there - the picture page is all that works so far. She had her own website before she was 24 hours old, and has already had two professional photo shoots, thanks to Stephanie Zettl and Gina Kelly - can't wait to get some of those loaded!!

So, I was still filming weddings up until 38weeks, and I got back to doing some editing 2 days after we got home from the hospital. Still, I'm having trouble getting into a rhythm with my project schedule. Ellie has certainly turned our lives upside down! Really, I'm trying to take advantage of working at home and when I'm with her, I'm with her.

Brian has taken to his new role as daddy. He got baptised with "fire," let's say, with changing diapers. His first time, just a couple days after we got home, she basically exploded on the changing table between diapers. He even cleaned it up! He's still a little timid with handling her - just not wanting to hurt her. He doesn't believe me that she's really not all that delicate. She's just 6 weeks old now and weighs over 11 pounds already!

It would be great to get some VIDEO loaded on her website... Or, maybe we should just start working now on her photo and video montage for her wedding. Ha!

We did find out we were having a girl at about 20 weeks. We were sooooo happy! We really were both hoping for a girl in our hearts, but hadn't really talked about it. So, we drive home together, pretty much speechless. We went our separate ways doing errands or whatever, and it hit me. I called B right away and screamed into the phone as soon as he answered: Oh my God, we have to pay for a wedding!!! :) Here's hoping the next one's a boy.

Kara & Brian 11/23/07

This one even made the Post-Dispatch! 16 attendants on each side, my friends. Brides who have already had your day, the thought of it must make your blood pressure rise, imagining everything Kara went through in planning - and execution - of her day with such an enormous wedding party. Well, she did it, and is no worse for the wear. I knew it would be hectic, but I really didn't imagine it all could have gone as well as it did.

St. Peter's Cathedral provided a gorgeous backdrop for the ceremony, which, thanks to family members presiding, was sentimental and humorous...just perfect for the couple. We're practically honorary parishioners - not to mention honorary Catholics - after participating in so many wedding ceremonies at the Cathedral. :) It's so beautiful and translates very well in the film. Such a huge wedding party introduced a few new challenges, but everything should work out smoothly in the final edit.

Zettl Photography was on the scene with wide-angle lenses a go-go for this one, I'm sure! I was amazed at how quickly and calmly Stephanie was able to get all the shots done at the church. Bravo to her, Mary (Kara's coordinator), and the wedding party and families! I'm not sure it went so well once every one was out and about with some celebratory beverages in them, but Kara and Brian will have some spectacular pics from the church for sure! :) Stephanie and Peter are so great to work with and so talented. I've probably gushed about them before, but it's so great to work with professionals who understand that everyone who is involved in the day has the potential to actually enhance their work and the overall experience of the day. They respect what we do as an art that is supplemental to what they do - and, of course, we feel the same. Steph and Peter! Alright, enough of the love fest.

We only accompanied everyone to the first photo stop after the ceremony, which was the Shrine. Brian and I had to high-tail it to the reception venue to make sure the photo montage was set up and running in the lobby and get two huge projector screens and the video set up to show their Love Story for their 500+ guests! What a great idea, though. The montage was shown at their rehearsal dinner as well as in the lobby for guests to enjoy as they waited for the banquet room doors to be opened. The Love Story film was a surprise for everyone. Yes, a group of 500+ can be rambunctious and a difficult to quiet down, but it sure went over well from where I was sitting! People were laughing and reminiscing...Brian ate his first ever salad (a barter the couple made: she would climb a mountain with him and he would eat salad before she would walk down the aisle) on camera for all to see and enjoy. Too funny! Well, I guess I got a little ahead of myself here.

Orlando's in South County hosted the reception - yes, aaaalllllll of it. Three rooms, I believe. The lobby wasn't quite big enough to accommodate everyone who was waiting, so doors opened up a little early. The room was beautiful - splashes of red in all the right places. The cake, decorated with red and silver Christmas Tree balls. The food was spectacular. The entertainment was full of energy and got the room hopping. Boom never disappoints. What a party!

This was certainly one for our record books - and probably for everyone involved! I'm still just shaking my head in amazement that everything went off so well. Really...it defies logic. We just couldn't be happier for Kara and Brian, and hope this is just the beginning of a long friendship. Go Irish!!! :)

Wendy & Justin 11/3/07

Wendy is a down-to-Earth, everybody's best friend kind of girl, and Justin is a regular BelleVegas guy's guy. Hard to believe these two are on the cusp of hoity-toity living as part of the Major League Baseball world! I know that Wendy will help keep Justin's head out of the clouds. He does deserve a trip to the stratosphere once in a while, though. :)

Spending time with Wendy and her girlfriends as they got ready in a cramped space at the quaint little church in Edwardsville helped me realize just how genuine this girl is. I remember instantly connecting with her at our first ever meeting so long ago, and I felt like I was just one of the girlfriends in that room. I just happened to have a giant camera on my shoulder. All of her bridesmaids were just as delightful, and Wendy seemed completely stress-free and full of bridal glow.

Mike Nichols handled the photography, and he brought a studio back-drop with him to get formal portraits with a studio feel. Pretty cool! Also, he had an assistant with him who focused on journalistic coverage of the day while he took care of staging portraits and other formal shots. They were great to work with!

The reception was held at the American Legion in Edwardsville, and this group had such a great party! I had to hear about it from Brian, as we had another of our videographers relieve me for the reception so I could go home and put my feet up. (8 months pregnant!) But, I know I'll get to enjoy some of the fun as I capture and edit the footage.

So, the baseball season is over - Justin came VERY close to going to the playoffs his rookie year! Now the lovebirds are hitched AND proud new owners of a home. Whew! What a whirlwind! Congratulations to the newlyweds. It was so great getting to know you two and celebrating with you.

Donna & Doug's Film

What fun, what fun!! Oh my goodness, I knew it would be great the day of, but then Donna and Doug picked some really fun music that I knew would be perfect with the footage. Now, you have to be careful picking "today's" music for your wedding film. I mean, make sure you like the tunes, 'cause you're stuck with them for life! The songs weren't too trendy - not too "top 40," so I think it worked out really well for them. I got to use a song from Cake, believe it or not! You can see that one on the samples page on our website. I'm so inspired by the music the couples choose, and I think that clip really illustrates that.

Beyond that, the difference it makes in the film when a couple is able to relax and enjoy their day and each other never ceases to amaze me. I don't have to try and create romance and magic between the bride and groom - Donna and Doug oozed adoration for each other! The times when I really notice this are times that a Wedding Coordinator has been hired. After so many weddings, I can't deny this as fact - it is not coincidence. In this case, Donna hired Sabrina with Proposing Dreams, and Sabrina and her assistant took care of the details so Donna and her loved ones could enjoy the day. I was able to get great sound bites from Donna because she wasn't frantic about this or that, I got some nice footage of her hanging out with her many bridesmaids before the ceremony, and the rest of the day was filled with love, romance, and fun because of the lack of stress! If you are an upcomming bride, please consider investing in a professional coordinator!

Favorite memories from the film: The ring bearer beating the pants off the groom and the groomsmen playing poker before the ceremony. They used salt and pepper packets as chips, and that kid was on fire! :) Chatting with Donna about her sweetie right before the ceremony; her huge, infectious smile and fantastic giggle. Doug, crying like a baby while Donna and her dad walked down the aisle. (I used a picture-in-picture effect because I just couldn't cut away from either camera angle - so sweet!) "You look beautiful...that's the understatement of the century!" he said as they walked up to the altar together. Urban picture time with Michelle from Under Grace was soooooo much fun, and turned out to be such a unique addition to the film. Thank you to Gibbols' management for letting me borrow some costumes! Also, The Royal Dump wenches came out and had some fun with us too.

I let Donna know that I hoped she was even half as happy with her film as I was! What a great couple to work with...there are so many components that can effect the finished product, and for this one, everything just fell right in line. We couldn't have scripted it better!

Gwen & Josh 10/27/07

This was the third sister's wedding we've had the honor and pleasure to document for this particular family. Brian joked with the MOB, "So, what are the plans for Thanksgiving?" We feel like we're part of this family! It's so much fun to be able to see past clients and catch up a little bit. It's also interesting to see how very different the sisters' weddings are.

The ceremony was held at St. Peter's Cathedral in Belleville, IL. Gorgeous church! Brian always gets a beautiful shot from the balcony, and I'm able to shoot from the altar, between the huge marble columns. The footage always turns out so beautifully from this location - and the photographers love the architecture, too.

Speaking of photography, Steve Seebeck thinks outside the box. He utilized natural lighting and interesting architectural details throughout the cathedral, and I can't wait to see the photos. I'm sure it makes his job even easier to have such beautiful subjects to shoot as Gwen & Josh. I'm sure every shot will look like it came from a bridal magazine. Steve is gracious and thoughtful to work with - that's so important for the movie! He's very relaxed and enjoys his work, which helps put the people in front of the camera at ease. I just can't compliment this guy enough.

Windows on Washington hosted the reception - one of our favorite reception venues, of course. They care about the event and their clients, and it shows. The room was beautiful, of course, and the food was phenomenal. Pleasure Groove provided the entertainment, and they lit the place on fire. Brian was super impressed by their professional set up: very nice sound board, drum cage, personal monitors...let alone the unbelievable vocals.

Gwen split her daddy dance between her real and step dads. This family is a shining example of how to GET ALONG after divorce. It brings tears to my eyes every time. The evening was just a lovely combination of sentimentality and celebration, as the drinks flowed and the guests absolutely crowded the dance floor the entire night.

What a party!! Congrats, all.

Lindsey & Richard 10/13/07

Their love began at Penn State. Him, a volleyball player; her, a swimmer...ah, summer games!

Well, the Coronado Ballroom was the backdrop for the entire day. What a gorgeous venue! Brian had been there before, but this was my first experience. It's so nice for the wedding party and guests when both ceremony and reception can take place in the same location - makes for an easier day on everyone, I'm sure! The venue was spectacular and the food was unbelievable.

Shelli and Aaryn, Alred Wedding Consultants, were busy tending to details and keeping watch for us, the photographers, and the gentelmen to arrive. These girls always have everything under control. Shelli ran around a bit too much for a gal 6 months pregnant, but who am I to point fingers? I understand there were some issues in getting the wedding party transferred which caused some delays, but that was nobody's fault. I know delays in schedule put added stress on the wedding party and especially Tim (Artisan Photography), but events began on time and everything was taken care of, thanks in large part, I'm sure, to Shelli and Aaryn. Lindsey arrived, glowing and excited - what else matters?

The day really couldn't have gone more perfectly for us, as far as the movie is concerned. A special gift from Richard lit Lindsey up even more (diamonds, of course)! Bridesmaids squealed in delight when Lindsey donned her gown. Proud daddy came in and exclaimed, "Awesome!" with arms outstretched. For the ceremony, the hoopa was well lit but not back lit, so our cameras were able to capture everything - not just sillouettes! Lindsey cried beautiful tears during her vows. The inter-faith ceremony was so so special, and our audio feed was flawless. And the reception! Touching toasts, good lighting (so important for us) during special dances, and this crowd knows how to party!

Fabulous Motown Review provided the entertainment. These guys know how to whip a crowd into a frenzy and keep the party going. Songs flowed into each other without a lag in between - two separate vocal teams split the night: one female and one male. I just don't even know how to describe it - they worked the crowd and worked the stage so masterfully. The party didn't stop until the last minute, and I don't know how those guests were able to walk out of the place. They danced HARD! It was so fun to watch, and I don't even know these people. I can only imagine the laughs Lindsey and Richard and their families will share as they watch their guests having such a great time.

Funny moments: during picture time with the ladies, it was hard not to notice the naked girl showering in an apartment window right above their heads. Note to the ladies: a slightly frosted window does not make up for a curtain. I'm just trying to help. :) During the ceremony, a groomsman's yarmulka fell off his head and the groomsman behind him caught it and immediately held it in his fists as though nothing happened. Brian and I were both focused on the Bride and Groom at the time, though. Wouldn't that have been great to capture!? The guys did a great job holding in their laughter. Not really funny moments, but the traditional chair dance with the Bride and Groom up in the air and a rousing dance to Hava Nagila have got to be at the top of the highlight charts for all receptions we've filmed as a company!

I'm thrilled we were there to make sure all these memories are enjoyed for a lifetime for these families. They were all so gracious and I can't imagine that the day was anything less than the day of Lindsey and Richard's dreams. Congratulations to all of you!

Amber & Tim 10/06/07

We're friends of Amber's parents, so we were already looking forward to the day - and we knew it would be a party! I felt so badly about the heat, but, after all, we are in St. Louis. Personally, I had a really tough time with it (thanks to hormones, I'm sure), but Amber, Tim, and their wedding party seemed to take it all in stride.

Christ Church Cathedral is gorgeous and very hospitable. A friend of the family, Pastor Joe, performed the ceremony, and it was meaningful, touching, and fun. It's great when someone with personal knowledge of the couple can perform the ceremony. I can't wait to watch the footage. Amber had trouble getting Tim's ring on, it seemed, and she laughed and said, "I told you so!" So, I bet there was some more fun conversation that we couldn't hear...but I get to enjoy it all later. :) I'm pretty sure they were chatting a lot, so I hope they were saying cute and sweet things that I don't have to censor too much. We shall see!

The reception was at The Cedars. Fantastic venue! Beautiful chandeliers add to the ambiance of the room, the food was wonderful, plenty of room, large dance floor, adequate and nicely kept bathrooms, and I love a stage! I'm sure it's great for the DJ, too, but we love when we can get a different perspective of the dancing, and I'm not climbing on too many chairs these days.

Speaking of the DJ - Ed from Night Magic did a phenomenal job. (Well, he's from Night Magic - duh. www.nightmagicentertainment.com) He even helped us with a few fun things we wanted to do for the movie because the crowd was soooooo great and into doing anything fun...WOW. Usually, I get to kick my feet up a little and let Brian cover the party footage (I've been the main one covering everything up 'till then - usually out in the heat, so it's my time to cool down with a beverage and be an extra pair of eyes for B), but there was so much fun going on that I probably only sat for a song or two! I even did a little Electric Slide with Amber and danced with her dad, too! Boy, did I pay for all of that the next day. Yikes!

I should back-track a little here, because one of my favorite parts of the day was picture time - in between the ceremony and the reception. Yes, it was HOT. Yes, we got separated from the wedding party for a little bit (still had plenty of time). BUT, my goodness, did Shea (Capture Photography www.capturephotoz.com) and I get so much great stuff during picture time! My, my, my. Amber and Tim were up for anything, and we had plenty of time, so everyone was relaxed and able to let creativity rule! Shea downloads a large handful of his favorites from the day and plays a slide show on his laptop during receptions. I couldn't help but loiter by that table and enjoy the show myself. Shea was more than willing to hear my suggestions and very sensitive to my job, making sure I had what I needed as well. It was a pleasure working with him, and I'm sure both of our finished products will reflect how well everyone worked together. Amber & Tim - and their families - will have pictures to treasure forever.

Well, back to the reception. I can't thank Amber's parents enough for being such gracious hosts - Sandy even came over to where the four of us were sitting (2 videographers and 2 photographers) to make sure we were able to eat and that we were comfortable. Oh, goodness - and the Maid of Honor's toast was so much fun. Amber's dance with her dad made me smile the whole time ("My Girl"). They twirled and laughed through the whole thing. Precious. So many wonderful moments. Oh, yes...and Tim, calling Amber to the middle of the dance floor by herself and making her dance to "Mr. Roboto" was unforgettable. I was so glad, though, when he came out there, doing the robot with her after a bit so she wasn't all by herself.

Congratulations - I hope you two will always be as fun-loving and full of life as you are now!!