Stefanie & Brett's wedding was another one of the June days when the weather was going to do what it was going to do...Rain! There were glimpses of sunlight through the day and a full deluge just in time for the ceremony. This was one of the more casual weddings I've had the pleasure of shooting...at Le Club Avenue in Long Branch, NJ...Stefanie & Brett wanted a very relaxed and hip feel to the day...nothing too orchestrated or fussy. I have to say I like their thinking. One extra note on the Stolnicks...they have a very interesting story behind their new last name. Both Stefanie & Brett decided that they would change their last names...choosing a family name from Brett's side, that would not have been carried into the next generation of his family tree.

I'd like to send a few extra thanks to Chelo Keys who helped me out this day as my second shooter....and to 2 of my favorite folks to work with...April Beer who performed this lovely ceremony & Giancarlo who DJ'd the night away.

"I love the rain most when it stops"....these are the words of a song I've fallen in love with by Joe Purdy. I know Carrie was hoping the rain was going to hold off for her wedding day during one of the rainiest Junes ever. Carrie & Jason had been planning an outdoor ceremony in the gardens of Skyland's Manor.  We don't always get our wishes fulfilled, but as I always try to remember...the day is about coming together to celebrate...rain or shine. And so as the downpour came, Carrie & Jason walked a slightly shorter isle, amidst tons of friends and family, inside the gorgeous mansion of Skyland's Manor. And happily, as they walked arm in arm, back down the isle, the sun was shining again...enabling us to take some lovely garden photos and enjoy an amazing pink sunset.
Here's a glimpse of some of my favorite shots created that day....and their slideshow.

Julie & Vince flew in from the California, to be surrounded by their family and friends, when they celebrated their marriage @ the Englewood Women's Club. The weather was once again cooperative...I seemed to be rather lucky with the weather gods...and showers held off for their outdoor ceremony. Julie and Vince took great care of the guests...providing everyone with fans and parasols to counter the humidity... they focused on offbeat details and unique flowers, beautiful food (Vince is a Chef) and a vibrant jazz band made the event a rather sweet day for everyone. What I loved most about their wedding day, was that the day flowed with an ease that allowed Laura & I to relax and take it all in. So here's a look at some of my favorite shots from Julie & Vince's wedding...and their slideshow.

I'm really loving some of these more mysterious feeling photos...this one's by Laura.  

this was one of the most unique cakes I've seen...hand painted and DELICIOUS!

Thanks to all the great folks who came together to make this a beautiful wedding day:

Floral arrangements by Antheia Floral Design

Music by Lapis Luna

Catering by Bacco

Event Decoration by Opulent Creations

Cake by Jollybe Bakery

Hair & Make-up by Boushelle

Officiant - Tony Zekka

Niki & Fred had the good fortune of having one of the only dry days in June for their wedding. They were married on 06/06/09 @ the Skyland's Manor one of the loveliest locations in Northern New Jersey. Laura & I arrived early so we could enjoy the landscape before things really started moving through the day...in my opinion, there is nothing more luxurious than a sumptuous natural environment. Here's a few of my favorite shots from the day. Congratulations to Niki & Fred...may everyday of your marriage be as beautiful as this one was.
 

I've had a great Spring season of shooting...making a lot of new portraits for my couples who are marrying this year...and enjoying spending time getting to know some new families...and overall having a grand time enjoying the blessings of my job. So here's a quick look at some of the portraits I've loved creating with the help of some very willing people.

This weekend is the wedding of Niki & Fred...we had a great afternoon picnicking together at Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown. Couldn't have asked for a nicer day...maybe just a tad hot but a perfect blue sky. Hopefully this Saturday will be equally fantastic weather.
 

Coming up next week will be the wedding of Julie & Vince...they live out on the west coast and were just in for a short trip to finalize details for their wedding. SO just before they headed back home, we met up at Liberty State Park for a portrait session backdrop of NYC. I had a  great time getting to know them each a little more and seeing just how silly Vince can be. We spotted a large flock of geese and decided it would be fun to make them all fly and shoot...so off Vince went running into a perplexed bunch of birds. Hilarious! Nothing like chasing big birds to make yourself at ease in front of the camera.

not sure if Vince is doing his flying geese impression or that Karate Kid pose

That same week I spent a day with Stefanie & Brett wandering around their town...Hoboken. Most people really aren't that comfortable with having a camera pointed at them for more than 30 seconds...and Brett had proclaimed that from the start. So it took a bit of strolling and cajoling and goofing around...and I think I may have changed his mind. Stefanie had no problem...she loves photos and the camera loves her face. She is simply filled with light and love of her world...and it radiates out in her smile. For all the time they've lived in Hoboken, neither had explored the Lackawanna train station...so I gave them a tour of one of my favorite places from way back when I lived there ( a long long time ago).

I am absolutely thrilled to share that 2 of my Fall weddings are featured now on Style Me Pretty blog. I've been revisiting both couples wedding photos,as I am currently designing their albums. It's amazing how I can fall in love with new images every time I return to files. Here's a couple of images I just adore.

Michele & Chick who were married in November @ the Harold Pratt Mansion in NYC.

And Jaclyn & Kevin were married in October at The Mezzanine in Newark, NJ.

Dearest friends...
I share this piece of writing with you, as that is what I am being guided to do....
feel free to share it with anyone you feel might wish to hear it.
This came to me just last Saturday,
while I was taking part in a weekend workshop...The Journey to Creativity.
I can share with you that it was a profound and opening experience of discovering
what has been the source of a block I have felt for so long.
My arms are wide open and I am breathing deeper than I have in a very long time.
I send you all blessings and a reminder... that you are magnificent.
love to all... Lauren

Love is your power source.
It is fearless, boundless, immense
         and filled with beauty.
You are always this love.
And as you embody and breathe
         into this love,
the gratitude fills you
    and breaths outward.
It fills the air and heals all that you are
    and all that it reaches.
It is always and forever and unending.

This is you, your gift, your joy, your blessing.
It is everything and nothing but love.
You have no reason to worry or fear.
There is nothing to fall into or out of.
It is only a skin that imagines
    it is separate from allness.

Explode. Dance. Sing. Share All. Everything.
Vibrate and be the vibration.
Explore and be the exploration.
Go wherever it takes you and know
    that you as love,
always protects, always creates, always heals.

Embody and share what this love is.
Laugh Freely. Cry Freely. Yell. Scream.
Do not resist, as there is nothing to resist.
There is only love.

Smile.