WEDDING: St. Regis Officiant, Ensuite in Dana Point CA!

Monarch Bay Wedding Officiant in Dana Point, CA, originally uploaded by dj venus.

Congratulations to Jenny and Sean, married 5 June 2010.

The couple's ceremony took place in their own suite at the St. Regis Monarch Bay resort, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Karma, the couple's Maltese/Shih Tzu, was handsomely dressed, and attended the wedding [please see photo, in the groom's arms!]. On the human side, only immediate family members were present, who had travelled from as near as Southern California and far as Washington D.C. and New York.

venus, officant and Life-Cycle Celebrant® at A Non-Denominational Ceremony

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NYC Wedding Videographer Tim Alan Smith (TimAlanSmith.Com) filmed this amazing wedding at St. Ignatius Loyola in NYC in June of 2009 with the reception at the famed St. Regis Hotel also in Manhattan. We have filmed at both St. Ignatius Loyola and the St. Regis Hotel for NYC weddings many times, often on the same day.

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See title.

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Bridal Portraits Should Not Look Like Yearbook Photos

I have to admit, I was not pleased with my bridal portraits. My first reaction when I got the pictures back from the photographer was "Why do these remind me of my awkward yearbook pictures?!"

Exhibit A: The dreaded school portrait head tilt.
You remember this from middle school. The photographer says "Ok, now, angle your shoulders away with me, but turn your face towards me, and then tilt your head...more tilt, more tilt". All the while, you're thinking "Is this right? Are you sure this is going to look good?"

(school portrait from Lifetouch)

Exhibit B: Awkward pose with a prop.
Senior portraits all seem to have some sort of ladder, tree, or huge class year numbers to lean on. Is this supposed to make it look more natural than the head tilt?

(school portrait from Classic Camera Photography)

School portrait poses asides, I felt like the majority of the poses we did were completely unflattering to my specific body type and more importantly unflattering to MY DRESS.

Most of the shots were taken by the photographer kneeling on the ground and looking up at me, making me look, well let's just say "larger than life". As I was looking down at the camera, it also exposed a nice double chin effect. What bride doesn't want that in her pictures?


The photographer was also a big fan of having me stand away from him, and then twisting my torso to face the camera or at something behind me. I'm pretty sure this is supposed to make you look thinner. But that doesn't take into account that my dress' boned bodice will not twist *with* my body; it will stubbornly stay faced away, pinching my skin and flattening out my under arm. The result is that my side looks like flab is spilling out over the dress and my arm looks like it doesn't understand the word "push-up". Fabulous.


I did come out of the session with some good pictures. The photographer stood on a chair and shot down at me while I sat on the ground. There's no gorgeous backdrop, but these are the only pictures where I feel like I came off looking pretty and like myself. Look, no double chin!

The best picture of the day was a completely candid shot as we were walking to the car to leave.

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JUDGES COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL WEDDING FAIR THIS WEEK

The next Judges Country House Hotel Wedding Fair at Yarm is on 7th November 2010.

It's a great wedding venue - perfect for wedding photographs and for a great wedding celebrations on the border of North Yorkshire and Cleveland / Teesside.

One of my favourite weddings at Judges Country House Hotel at Yarm was Ian and Jennie's wedding between Christmas and New Year when it actually snowed!

The wedding was late in the day and of course it was almost dark as we came out of the church at Nunthorpe, and we headed across to Judges as the snow was falling heavier and heavier.

By the time the celebrations were over, I just knew that I would have to get Jennie and Ian outside in the snow as I was leaving.

It was about 11pm but they came outside, I put the camera on a tripod with a slow shutter speed and threw in a little bit of flash to balance everything up .... et voilà!

One of my favourite ever wedding photographs - at Judges Country House and Hotel at Yarm!


If you would also like me to be your photographer at Judges Country House Hotel on your wedding day I would be delighted to be part of your celebrations!

Ring for FREE on 0800 804 7270 or my mobile on 0778 7150966

MORE DETAILS ON MY WEBSITE HERE

MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF JENNI'S WEDDING HERE

My latest wedding news and photographs HERE

View recent testimonials HERE:

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

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Pakistani activist, politician and former cricket star Imran Khan argues that Pakistan's lack of an independent judiciary has created a style of modern-day feudalism in his country.

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Elections vs. Democracy: Post-Bhutto Pakistan and the International Community with discussant Imran Khan, the World Cup cricketer turned political activist and opponent of military rule in Pakistan. Ali Ahsan, associate officer in the executive office of the U.N. Secretary-General, provides commentary.

With the assassination of Benazir Bhutto at the end of 2007, an already turbulent country in the front lines of many of the international community's most pressing concerns - terrorism, nuclear weapons, development, and democracy - was thrown into even greater political turmoil. Parliamentary elections have been rescheduled to February 18, but will elections signify democratic change? And what are the stakes for the international community? - The Century Foundation

Imran Khan is Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek‐e‐Insaf Party (Movement for Justice). A former cricket legend, Mr. Khan was international cricketer of the year in 1989‐1990 and led Pakistan to a World Cup victory in 1992. He transitioned into politics in 1996 and is now an outspoken political opponent of the military regime led by Pervez Musharraf.

Born in Lahore, Pakistan in 1952, he earned degrees in economics and politics at Kebel College of Oxford University.

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LOUISE AND IAIN'S GREAT WINTER WEDDING AT JESMOND DENE HOUSE HOTEL

Iain and Louise are fun loving people ...... they love nothing but a good laugh and knew they didn't want to be stood around posing all day during their wedding celebrations - they would rather be with their friends and relatives having a great time - ideal for my style of photography.

We had a ball at their wedding at Jesmond Dene House Hotel in Newcastle.

I first met with them and their parents at the wedding venue when they were meeting with other photographer - they were there for Sunday lunch and to interview wedding photographers - no pressure then! Luckily for me, as I had travelled from another wedding in Leeds the previous day, they already said that they loved my work - and just wanted to make sure that I was the kind of man they could get on with.

I must have impressed all of the six strong interviewing panel and Iain rang me while I was in Barcelona the following week to say that he and Louise wanted me to be their official photographer - even though it was 2 years and months away!

We kept in contact throughout, at the time Iain and louise were working in Dublin, Ireland but all their plans centred around working and living back in Newcastle when their wedding took place.

I took some lovely pre-wedding portraits of them in Jesmond Dene a few months before the wedding and it was just like meeting old friends - relaxed and enjoyable, so when their wedding date finally arrived on 19th December, I was really looking forward to it!

I popped into Jesmond Dene House Hotel a few hours before the start of the ceremony - just to say Hello to Louise before things got going and she was already made up and raring to go, if not a little nervous!

Iain on the other hand was in a local pub to settle his nerves with some of his best friends, but I knew he was nervous. I dashed back up to the hotel and started taking some photographs of Louise in her Vera Wang dress she bought in Dublin and before long the registrar was ready to go, Iain was on site and the wedding was go ..

The cermony was short and sweet but fun, in the grand hall of the old schoolhouse at this exclusive use wedding venue and although light levels in winter are always low, the ambiance of the lights and the candles and high ceilings make for a very atmospheric venue, it just takes a bit of experience to create the right images.

After, the giant Jenga, giant Connect 4 got the guests in the mood for the fun to come and gave me an opportunity to grab some relaxed family groups and 10 minutes with the bride and groom before the reception. The cake was something to behold and created by Iain's brother, Anthony who is Head Chef at the famous Pumphouse Hotel in Durham. 110 individual cakes with a biscuit base, filled with chocolate mouse and spray painted and decorated - heaven!

The fun really started with the evening reception where party games were the mainstay of the fun - from musical chairs, statues and an amazing, frantic game of space hopper races really put the fun into a great day of celebration for Iain and Louise - they had such a great day with their nearest family and friends.

I hope you enjoy a SNEAK PEAK of a few of the images from their great day. Once Louise and Iain have returned from Dublin and enjoyed their Christmas break I shall post more. For relatives and friends, Louise and Iain will send you an e-mail link to their private gallery so you can view all the images from their wedding at Jesmond Dene House Hotel

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

JESMOND DENE HOUSE HOTEL, NEWCASTLE TYNE AND WEAR, WEDDING VENUE, EXCLUSIVE USE, INTIMATE WEDDING VENUES IN NEWCASTLE, WEDDING REVIEWS AND PHOTOS AT JESMOND DENE HOUSE HOTEL

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Beach related invitations

These invitations were created for a customer of mine. She ordered her save the dates from me, then came back later with an invitation idea. Her invitation idea was a custom project, and so it took a while for me to answer her emails. She was patient with me, and we went went through number of revisions. At long last, the end result was a 7 card invitation, plus response cards. Because this is a destination wedding, there was a lot of important and useful information to include.

The 7 cards are 5.5 inches square. Invitation and RSVP envelopes were printed. Because we went with a linen card stock, I did have a higher limit against how small I would make the text. Each card design is mainly text- a fun font for the titles, a more basic font for the information- and seashells.

Also because of the linen card stock, I recommended not going with a photographic cover image. The photo cover image -also created just for her project- that we considered using for the invitation cover card was something to tie in with the glossy front save the dates and thank you cards she ordered. The thank you cards (left) glossy front folded 5.5x4.25 inches. Generally for any designs involving photographic and full coverage graphics, people are happiest going with glossy cards.

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New Texas-Style Sweet Tea Signature Drinks

When I started gathering inspiration for my wedding, I kept coming across lovely images of sweet tea vodka concoctions served in mason jars. They were mostly weddings in South Carolina and the drinks used Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka. But wait, that's not made in Texas! So I disappointedly put them aside.

(images from Style Me Pretty here and here)

Say hello to the new Texas-born-and-bred sweet tea vodka: Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
Is your jaw dropping to the floor in awe and excitement like mine? The founders of SAVVY vodka and Sweet Leaf Tea got together to make a beverage named after Austin's favorite swimming hole using some of the best ingredients Texas has to offer:

• mineral-rich Texas spring water
• 100% pure cane sugar from Sugarland, Texas
• Clover honey from Austin’s Good Flow Honey Co.

My mouth is totally watering right now. I'm going straight to Specs or Twin Liquors to get my bottle.

Deep Eddy sweet tea vodka is a perfect base to the signature drink for a hometown Texas wedding! Try these recipes to see which one fits your taste and your wedding:

The Skinny Dip (via Austin Tidbits)

• 1 part Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
• 1 part Diet Sprite
• Twist of Lemon

Serve over ice in a tumbler glass.

72 and Sunny (via This Is Life in Austin)

• Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
• Lemon-flavored mineral water
• Wedge of fresh lemon

Deep Eddy Splash (via This Is Life in Austin)

• Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
• Splash of Topo Chico Agua Mineral

John Daly / Naughty Arnold Palmer / Mason Dixon (via Hip Hostess)

• 1 part Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
• 3 parts Lemonade

Serve over crushed ice and stir. Garnish with mint or lemon wedge.

Tea Mojito (via Hip Hostess)

• Mint leaves
• Blackberry syrup
• Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
• Club Soda
• Lemon Slices (garnish)
• Blackberry (garnish)

Muddle mint leaves, blackberry syrup, sweet tea vodka, and splash of club soda. Garnish with lemon slice, fresh mint sprig & fresh blackberry.

See even more recipes here.
Thanks to Austin Tidbits for the tidbit about Deep Eddy Vodka!

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