Austin-Wedding-Photographer-Ed-Kelley-Photography-Blog

Bridal Bowl 2012

The 2012 Ultimate Wedding Giveaway had the final THREE contestants working hard to win their wedding. Each couple had to compete for the number one spot.

The Bridal Bowl started off with the couples designing their McMurtrie’s Farms white T-shirts. This was just for fun. And also for later when they were going to get soaked with the green dyed water balloons! Yes – down and dirty, but so much fun.

The couples were introduced to the crowd. Let me introduce you to them….. in no particular order – we have:

Nubia and Robert Liz and Lance Courtney and Fabian

And then the games began.

They had to compete with a scavenger hunt, toilet paper wedding dress design, three legged race, Ring in the haystack (my favorite), an egg race, newlywed game, and a water balloon dodge ball.

They all all winners! They all made it this far and they all worked hard to win the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway. In the end only one couple can win the Grand Prize and that couple would be Courtney and Fabian! Congratulations!

Now I know that the other couples were given some amazing runner up prizes too! So they all win. YEAH

So- if we do this wild and crazy Bridal Bowl next year- what games should we have the couples play?

Leave your ideas in the comment section below.

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Summer Vacation at Niagara Falls

The United States Waterfalls at Niagara Falls painted by Ed Kelley Photography

The Falls at Niagara- painted by Ed Kelley Photography

Summer vacation is just around the corner and it’s time to start planning! One of our favorite places has been Niagara Falls! And we would go there again! Now that’s pretty good.

There are a lot of places that we have been blessed to visit, and there are a lot of places that we are hoping to be blessed to visit. And some of the places we have enjoyed, but every once in a blue moon there will be a place that we would love to go back to … and Niagara Falls is one of them.

There is the famous Horseshoe Falls that you can see from the Canadian side. Just the sound of the water is amazing. Then there are all the rainbows from the mist of water. It’s a sight to see.

Also from the Canadian Side, you can see the United States and the falls. These falls are spectacular. It is amazing that you can put on “rain” gear aka trash bags so your clothes won’t get wet and walk down a zillion flights of stairs to the bottom of the falls. Brave souls I’m thinking.

To the left of the falls there is Rainbow Bridge. It is the bridge that connects the United States to Canada. And by the name- you can guess that you are going to see rainbows. Sometime double rainbows. It is an experience of a lifetime.

You can kick your experience up a notch and go on the Maiden Mist- boats that drive up to the Horseshoe Falls. Just the power of the falls is amazing. We tell everyone that you just have to do it. You can also go on a tour that takes you behind the falls.

So if you are looking for something that everyone will enjoy this summer- I would put Niagara Falls on the top of the list.

If you like this blog- please leave your comments below.

Want to use this article in your Blog, E-zine or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement:

Wedding Photography experts Ed and Denys Kelley publish “Beyond the Studio” e-zine. Get your FREE Report on “The TOP 10 Secrets you need to know before you hire your Wedding Photographer” at www.edkelleyphotograph.com

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Why it is okay to see each other BEFORE the ceremony

We are so very excited to have Shane Serangue from Life Productions as our GUEST BLOGGER today!

“Why its OK to see each other before the ceremony”

Seeing your groom before the ceremony can be FUN

Over the years I have had just as many couples decide to see each other before the ceremony as I have who decided not to. Basically, its a personal preference and there is no wrong or right answer. But if you are on the fence about it and you are thinking that it would be nice to see each other but are worried about tradition, here are some thoughts that may help you with your decision.

The first look and walking up the aisle are two different experiences - When those doors open and you enter the church and begin your walk up the aisle to meet your groom, the whole congregation will be looking at you, including your groom. At that moment, you are walking up to meet him and become his bride. Him having seen you before the ceremony in your dress for the first time has nothing to do with the magic of this moment. Its no longer about the dress or the flowers, its now just about you and your walk to meet him.
You get to enjoy the moment together – Seeing each other before the ceremony is fun and intimate. Other than the photographer and the filmmaker, who try to make themselves as unnoticeable as possible, you are alone together. Your groom turns around and sees you up close and shares that single intimate moment with you and only you. Its a great time to share your thoughts, hug, kiss, laugh, cry… whatever you want to do, because its just you two.
Let’s Party – Seeing each other before the ceremony also means less to do after the ceremony. You may actually be able to get all the pictures done before the ceremony even begins enabling you to go straight from ceremony to party in record time. If you are still planning on taking pictures after the ceremony, there will be a lot less pictures to take so you will still be able to get to the reception quicker and join the fun. You could also schedule to have your pictures taken before the ceremony and then spend a few minutes after the ceremony with the filmmaker to get those cool creative shots that you saw in the other films that you loved so much.
It may be the only time you actually get to spend some alone time together – Seriously, other than your vows, you really will not be talking to each other much during the ceremony. Then at the reception, you will probably be spending a lot of time together but face it, its a party and everyone else will be wanting to talk to the bride and groom to. Everyone will be wanting to dance with you and family members will be introducing themselves to you and there really will not be much alone time for the both of you until you make your getaway.
Get rid of the stress for a few moments - There are a lot of things going on before the ceremony… the florist, the caterer, the photographer, the filmmaker, bridesmaids, groomsmen, aunts, uncles, cousins, Mom and Dad!! Wow and its all happening so fast. There are a lot of things that you want to be sure are being done right and it can be very stressful. The first look is a good time to relieve some of that stress, even if its just for a little while.

© 2012-2012 Life Productions
Want to use this article in your E-zine or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement:
Filmmaker Shane Zerangue publishes the “Life Productions” weekly e-zine. Get your F*REE E-Guide: “5 Most Important Things to Know when Hiring the Perfect Filmmaker!l” at www.LifeProductions.net

: Shane Seranque

What separates my films from other videos is that I and my team have the experience to know when to look for those moments and what to look for on your wedding day that will allow us to create a wedding film that reflects the day the way you created it. Because we do this full time and weddings are our primary focus, it is incredibly easy for couples to contact us either by phone, email, or social media. And because of our experience, our couples are able to relax and just be themselves on their wedding day and focus on the love that brought them to that moment.

We have worked with dozens of couples over the years and have created emotional and fun wedding films for them that they enjoy and treasure. Let me create the perfect wedding film for you!

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Wilco Group

What a beautiful night for a moonlight romance

What a beautiful night! This picture was taken on one of the many balconies at the Georgetown, Texas Courthouse. We had the pleasure to be there for a meeting. It was a spring evening, not only was the moon full, but the weather was great. What a wonderful place to have a small wedding.

There were so many places that I could imagine a photo of a bride, or bride and groom, and the wedding. The interior has spiral staircases. The rooms are filled with so much history. I even got to see where the old vault was.

The Georgetown Courthouse is run by the Williamson Museum. The ladies were filled with all sorts of tidbits on the history of the courthouse. One story that I thought was so sweet was the one were the bride’s mom and dad had been married there, so she knew she wanted to be married there too.

Can you imagine the romance of the wedding being held and the couple steps out onto the balcony? The moonlight shining on their faces. Love is in the air. Ah yes- I am the romantic ….but then should all weddings be romantic?

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