… on Facebook. I’d like to try something new with our Facebook page.  Sometimes I want to add much more information and stories of the images we’ve captured.  I’d like to share some of it via our Facebook page.  Find out what was going on in this image below.  Join us!  Misha Media Facebook Page.  Click on “like” and join in on the conversation.  Comments and questions are welcome!

As soon as we arrived in Calabria, Italy, we photographed Lisa & Rinaldo for a quick engagement session a couple of days before their wedding. They chose the beautiful Diamante, Calabria which is located on the southern part of Italy (on the boot). We made it just in time for the sunset.  Considering that their wedding was in a couple of days, Lisa and Rinaldo were so relaxed.  We enjoyed spending the day with them and learned all about the Calabria region.  It was so beautiful, I asked them how they can ever leave Italy to live in Chicago.  I loved it so much!  There was this boardwalk area along the coast and it was so alive! There were so many places to eat, shop, live bands playing, and many people strolling along the boardwalk.  The Italian way of life is really laid back and all about family and friends.  Afterwards, we had a nice little dinner on the boardwalk, just chatting the night away.  Wedding photos coming next… but if you join us on Facebook, you might see some sooner than later… just sayin’!  =D

Sweet sweet love between Jennefer and Alan.  They celebrated their nuptial by having two ceremonies.  A traditional outdoor ceremony along with a Lao ceremony also known as the Baci Ceremony.  It was our first time covering a Lao Ceremony and we were very excited!  We love learning new cultures and different ways of celebrating the unity of two people.  Congratulations to Jennefer and Alan!

Thank you for sharing your day with us.  We had so much fun documenting your day!

xoxo Michele & Andy

Facebook it or Twitter it!

Jennefer and Alan started their day at the Oak Brook Hills Mariott Resort.

Jennefer actually wore three wedding dresses!  A traditional Lao wedding dress along with two dresses by David’s Bridal.

Flowers by Phillips Flowers

Jennefer and Alan wanted to see each other prior to both ceremonies.  Here’s the reveal…

Read more about the Lao Ceremony traditions here.

Once the officiant was finished with the prayers, Jennefer and Alan pay respect to the elderly.  The elderlies then start the tradition of tying a white cotton thread around the bride and groom’s wrists.  The food (hardboiled egg) and fruits symbolizes many different things in the Lao culture.

“In Laos, white is the color of peace, good fortune, honesty and warmth. The white cotton thread is a lasting symbol of continuity and brotherhood in the community and permanence. The baci threads should be worn for at least three days subsequently and should be untied rather than cut off. Usually it is preferred that they are kept until they fall off by themselves.” Pom Outama Khampradith, Bounheng Inversin, and Tiao Nithakhong Somsanith

Their cake topper was a bobblehead!

Congratulations to Rowena & RJ!  These two are so much fun!  They’re college sweethearts and met at DePaul University.  RJ has a degree in music and on the night of his proposal to Rowena, they “stumbled” upon an a capella group in Navy Pier… While the a capella sang”In the Still of the Night,” as requested by RJ,  he got down on his knee and proposed to Rowena.  Our grooms are getting so creative with how they pop the question, I seriously wish I was there to capture the proposals.

It seems that we’ve been pretty lucky with the weather here in Chicago.  The night prior to their wedding, it rained so hard that it flooded many streets downtown.  It was a very stressful ride to get downtown since they closed off the expressways and some roads, but we all made it ok.  The rest of the day was seamless and went off without a hitch!

A special thank you to our past clients Eric & Mashelle and also Vanessa Frosch for referring Rowena & RJ to us!  Also, Yazy for doing a superb job second shooting…

Last but not least, thank you Rowena & RJ for sharing your day!

Join us on Facebook for early teaser photos or if you just want to chat and post on our wall :)  and we Tweet too!

xoxo Michele & Andy

Such a fun ring shot… You should have seen the look on the bartender’s face when all I wanted were two cherries!  =D

Old St. Patrick’s Church

This little boy caught my eye as Andy was taking a photo of the bridal party.  Hope he continues photography… He was so interested in it, he avidly took pictures the whole day!

Other Vendors that we had the pleasure of working with:

Flowers by Kabloom Merchandise Mart

Music by Jay Garcia

The Dress by Enchanted Bride

Bridemaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal

Invitations: Eagle Print Chicago

Cake by Take the Cake

Videography by Studio 2 Photography

Reception: InterContinental Chicago O’Hare

Transportation by Chicago Trolley

After traveling via planes, trains, segways (yes, segways!), and automobiles, we are back!  We had such a great time photographing Lisa & Rinaldo’s wedding in Italy!  Tons of blog posts ahead of me and lots of catching up to do.  We are back in full swing… stay tuned!  A special thank you to the clients and future clients who waited for us to get home to meet… See you all this week!  Here’s a sneak peek of Lisa & Rinaldo’s wedding…

… and the Colosseum inRome, Italy

We’re en route to Italy for Lisa & Rinaldo’s wedding! We are so honored to be able to capture their wedding in Italy!   We’ve never been there and we’re very excited!  Past, present, and future clients, please email us if you have any questions or concerns.  I will not have access to my phone so please no messages or texts.  We will have internet access and will return emails and inquiries as soon as possible.  Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Here is Lisa & Rinaldo’s save the date card… It’s an Italian Passport!  How cool is that?!  These photos were taken with my Canon G9 as my “baby” is all packed and ready to go!  I will updating our blog with photos of beautiful Italy, through my eyes… stay tuned!  Ciao!

xoxo Michele & Andy

Did you know that we now photograph high school seniors??   Read this post if you’re interested in becoming one of our 2011 High School Senior Spokesmodels!  Mandi (aka Amanda) was our very first high school senior session.  Mandi will be representing Misha Media for Bartlett High School. Mandi is a beautiful girl inside and out.  I loved all of the outfits that she brought and had so much fun helping her mom with the styling.  I seriously wish we had this when I was a senior in high school.  haha… but it’s ok, my job keeps me young at heart =D

xoxo Michele

my fave (above)

Congratulations Shirley & Dn. Zachariah!  Shirley & Dn. Zachariah wed at Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Palos Hills and had their reception at the Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows.  Lots of traditions throughout the day and tons of very vibrant colors!  Loved it!  Thank you for sharing your day with us!  We had so much fun photographing you and your guests.

xoxo Michele and Andy

JJ Orange Productions

and a special thanks to Erwin for assisting!

Laren & Anthony are engaged and will be wed later this fall.  They currently live in the east coast so they flew in  for a few days to get all of their wedding planning done, along with their engagement photos =D!  Thankfully, we had a beautiful HOT summer day for their session at the Buckingham Fountain in Chicago.  Ok, maybe it was a little too humid, but that’s Chicago for ya… Laren & Anthony, thank you for a fun engagement session!  Andy and I had a great time with both of you!  Can’t wait to photograph your wedding when it’s about 30 degrees cooler (hopefully)!

xoxo Michele & Andy

Something that is unique about Laren & Anthony is the way they hold hands, in their own special way, that only they know how to do…

This is why you want to capture the little ones… take a look at Nico & Jack from a couple of years ago when I photographed them…  Wow, have they grown since then!  Now, they are two little boys who love to play wtih Transformers and “Plants vs. Zombies” on the iPad!  Another fun session with these two…boys will be boys!  Thank you for allowing me to capture Nico & Jack again.  It’s always a pleasure =D

So handsome!

Boys will be boys!

Do you remember those days when we’d run just for the heck of it and race each other just ‘coz?  Oh to be young again!

This is so Nico!  Cute!