Engagement Session - Aud's favs :)

Hopefully you interested parties had the chance to check out Andrea's post on me and Javs' engagement session. Some of her favorites were definitely our favorites too - but we picked some to 'remember' that she didn't - so I thought I'd share just a few with you guys here :)

That and, I learned a lot from the session. (Don't worry I won't give you a play by play, but maybe some final thoughts if I can pull them together at the end of the post!)

*WARNING - this post is picture heavy*

Left A good one of us being us. (its funny - even with them just following us around and snapping shots, I can definitely still tell when we look unnatural vs when they caught us in a really natural moment)
Center Neither of us ever realized just how high I'm looking up to give this man smooches - but I like this one because the angle caught the Studio Theater sign. Feels right that Javs and I would be smooching outside of this theater :)
Right- We're back home - right in our doorway. A bit rosy from the cold, but smiling at each other.I think Javier is looking good. And I'm looking intent. Its just kind of cute.

Left - I think we both look super genuine - also I like that its more of a close up and the bright colors
Center- Don't you just love this pic of Javs? I can't wait to frame it and put it on my desk. I'm gonna marry him.
Right- Another one of our real moments - this picture was the end of a simply, ridiculous series. It started with Andrea suggesting that we almost kiss - you know, you've seen those kind of sultry looking shots of the couples so close - well I just started cracking up cause I - apparently - can't by sultry. After I laughed out loud Javs pulled me in for the real thing ;)
Outside one of our favorite Logan Circle spots: Studio Theater. We just look happy.
Left- One of the only shots we got with my fun signs :) I like it though - just us on the sofa (more of those shots to come)
Center- We really gave Andrea a hard time about putting us in this door frame. Since we were going for the whole 'us' thing (selecting our apt as our location, etc etc) we were laughing at how un-often we pause in that door frame. These ended up some of my favorite shots from the day! (maybe we should hang out in that door frame more often...)
Right- There weren't too many of the two of us both looking at the camera, but this was one we both really liked :)

I love this picture. Its us. On our sofa. (Which is where we are a lot of the time.)And I think this is the winner from the whole shoot. Its just the us I wanted captured.

**Advice Alert** If you can, do. (have an engagement session with your photographers that is.)

I totally understand that its not always in the budget. We were lucky and it was included in the package we got with Andrea and Brian ('included' is so funny to me because we really probably ended up paying for it in the package, but it also wasn't something we could remove and pay less for - funny how that works out in sales sometimes, but that's another post...) N-E-way, I think it was beneficial mostly for the a) time we got to spend with Andrea and Brian and b)being able to actually see some results. 1) It let us understand their style a bit more while they were getting to know us a bit more too. I think this makes everyone more comfortable, but will also help them as far as what will and won't work for you guys as a couple. 2) Being able to see some pictures, how they actually turned out, really helped us have a better understanding for what we want on the day of. Andrea has suggested we tell her our favorite 10 pictures from the engagement session and why. She said that will help her focus on the big day - and make sure she gets shots we want.

I've also already been able to admit to her that I've changed what I thought I wanted a bit. (that's confusing, I know) But I stressed so much that we wanted 'natural' shots that she and Brian really shied away from giving us direction during the engagement session. Now I'm seeing that we probably missed out on some (yes - slightly posed) but really cute shots. (glad I learned now!) So I've already been able to chat with her about it - and feel comforted knowing that they'll direct us a bit more day of. It was awesome to find all this out before getting my wedding pictures back and thinking 'I wish...'

Now, if its not in the budget and you can't do it - I totally understand. I've seen other bloggers suggest going through your photographers portfolio and picking out the shots that you like (organizing them by time i.e. ceremony, reception, etc or by style i.e. lighting, angles, etc) and sharing them with your photographers at a meeting before your wedding. I think this helps accomplish a lot of what I described above - they'll get to know your style/what you like and you can provide them with clear examples of what you're looking for day of!

**Advice Alert** You guys have to know what you want. Oh - and tell your vendors!

Sounds so simple doesn't it. But I'm amazed at how much I've struggled with this. The engagement session is a great example. I wrote that lovely post all about my DIY signs and how excited I was to use them and then....we didn't use them. Yes, we got a few pictures with them, but I didn't make it clear to Andrea and Brian that this was something I really wanted to try. I totally do not blame them - I never spoke up. I think I said something like 'these are some signs I made if we decide we want to use them' and that was it. No wonder we didn't end up using them! And its not because I'm shy (exactly - you guys know I'm not) its just that in these 'wedding' moments - its easy to get caught up (remember I told you guys on day 250 that I'm trying to savor them) well I'm getting caught up in the savoring and I'm forgetting that I probably have stuff I'm supposed to be doing. (like telling our photographers to bring those signs when we head outside cause I want them in my pictures!) Again - glad its a lesson I've learned now (and not later). For me I think it means we need to 1) do more thinking ahead of time and 2) write stuff down. I've kind of laughed at brides I read about the come prepared with the 'must have pictures' list - but now I understand. If I had thought more about what I wanted (a good picture of the two of us looking at the camera) and told Andrea/written it down and handed it to her - then you're sure that your vendor knows! (and you're much more likely to get what you want!

I really am happy with so many of our pictures (don't think this was a failed engagement session) but - I'm equally appreciative of what I learned from the whole experience - it means I know our wedding pictures are going to be AWESOME :)

Andrea's Engagement Session blog!

now I know you have all be stalking Andrea's blog since my post yesterday....waiting with bated breath for the full post from our photographers on our engagement session...no? just me?

well either way - here it is! Click the link to see Andrea's post and some of her favorite shots! Javs and I are going to scour the 100+ photos she sent us from the session to share some of our favorites with you soon!

http://www.andreahubbell.com/blog/2012/2/8/audrey-javier-a-washington-dc-engagement.html

maybe we can convince Javs to do a post on his perspective of the engagement session experience :)

Sneak Peak --- > Engagement Session

Friends! Andrea posted a sneak peak of our engagement session on her blog last night :)

http://www.andreahubbell.com/blog/2012/2/6/audrey-javier.html

I hope that means she is almost done editing them and will send us more soon! Then we can share any awkwardness with you guys.

You can kind of see the awkwardness in the one on the left....I'm more smiling and laughing than kissing Javs back - but what can you do....

something next to normal

Wedding trends: they’re everywhere. And they’re powerful. I find myself totally succumbing to some of the current wedding trends without explanation. Like, why am I so much more attracted to this instead of that? But I am. I don’t want that, I want this (I really do)!

this = mason jar : that = a regular vase

A trend right now in engagement shots seems to be signage. Evidence:

Now, Javs is not the keenest on the contrived photo. It was actually what we looked at most when selecting our photographer – we wanted someone who worked hard to catch the natural moments of the day. Now engagement photos lend themselves to a certain amount of illusion. (How often do you just sit around and smile at each other for that long anyways…) but I did think there were some elements that we could work on to help make our pictures more ‘natural’ (or as natural as they could be).

I think one thing to help was asking our photographers to come to our home to take some pictures. Outside of Cvent walls, its where I spend the majority of my time and certainly where we spend the majority of our time together. Maybe our at home (literally) setting will help put us at ease!

Now, I’ll admit that I may have fallen a bit for the engagement photo signage trend. I do think its kind of fun to put that little thought bubble or caption to a photo that helps deliver its message. You know, like those rare episodes were the coyote would hold up a sign (because he never spoke) to let you know what was on his mind. I loved those episodes - I momentary glimpse into the soul of an otherwise silent coyote. (okay – slightly dramatic, but you get it). But when I talked to Javs about ‘props’ for our session he was more than skeptical. (Maybe it was my use of the word ‘props’ that contradicted so clearly with his ‘non-contrived’ hopes.) But I kept thinking that if I could find something that was really us and really gave a glimpse into whatever it is we’re trying to say with our engagement pictures that he might be on board because it wouldn’t be contrived.

Enter Next to Normal.

Next to Normal is a musical that Javs and I went to see on one of our early dates. It was just getting started then and hadn’t made it to Broadway yet. We did get to see the ‘original’ cast because they were the only cast…it had just started traveling. I learned later that Javs was all nervous because it was a new show and he wanted it to be good (cause he was still trying to impress me) yatta, yatta. Well, it was better than good. We both came out at intermission bubbling over with excitement about how much we were loving it; the songs, the actors, the whole show = awesome. (Apparently critics agree b/c it went on to win three tonys).

The love song in the show (its played and reprised several times) is called ‘Perfect for you’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGGeJTH7zN4 – Listen to it.

In one of the reprises there is a line (one of my favorites),

‘Cause crazy is perfect and f***ed up is perfect so I will be perfect, perfect for you’

I love it. It kind of says it all…and I’ve already expressed wanting this written somewhere at our wedding!…but agreed with Javs that having ‘f***ed up’ written (even if it is in a pretty frame) at your wedding is probably not the best idea. Instead, I suggested using some other lyrics to make a ‘sign’ for our engagement session – javs was in!

I think the song can have a myriad of meanings (probably different for different people). I won’t go into all the meanings it has for me, but its certainly something that makes me think of Javs and what we have been (and will be) for each other. And its something we often walk around our house singing to each other, “perfect for you…I could be perfect for youuuuu.’

***DIY Alert** (my first!)I used frames that I already had - just took the pictures and glass out. Then printed off the 'perfect for you' and 'i could be' in Bradly Hand ITC font (just good ole word font). I bought some awesome notecards from papyrus (because you can never have enough notecards from papyrus) and cause we haven't completely decided on our colors - so I didn't want to get a ton of orange paper (that we wouldn't end up using) where as with notecards - I knew I could use them no matter what (thank yous!). Then I traced (several times) the letters I had printed out until they were some what etched into the card. I went back over the etching with the pen to really darken it out, but I think they didn't turn out half bad. (Javs wanted me to just free hand them onto the cards...has he seen my handwriting? - NO)

And so were born – our signs :) So we’re taking the trend, but making it us. We’ll give em a try tomorrow and see. If you never spot them in the pictures I (hopefully) use from our session tomorrow....well then you know they were a bust. Here's hoping we're trendy enough to pull off the trend :)

Oh - and the chafing gel did not turn my face blue (sorry - those pictures would have been hilarious)

Setting the Foundation

We booked a caterer!!!! Sorry - that has nothing to do with my title or the majority of this post, but I thought I would share that another big item has been checked off the list! You'll be fed at our wedding :) In the end we did go with Harvest Moon! Their experience and flexibility really tipped the scale in their favor.
I've been talking to some brides lately and its a little funny - you start planning with lots of grand and unique ideas. And some of them certainly work out, but you reach a point in the search for some vendors or with some projects where you're happy to take the option that will provide the least amount of stress- regardless of how it fit with your original vision or plan. I'm most excited that I feel so confident that Harvest Moon will deliver a yummy meal to my guests while causing little to no stress for me! = win!

Okay the post - Javier and I are having our engagement pictures taken this Saturday. YAY! We are really excited to have Andrea and Brian up to our apartment in Logan Circle for some lunch and catching up. Then we'll take some (hopefully not too awkward) pictures in the first apartment we shared together and our fun surrounding neighborhood. I'll tell you all about it once they actually happen, but this week has been filled with little 'to dos' to get ready for Saturday. Javier dropped off some clothes at the dry cleaners that we think we want to wear, we hung a new mirror in our dining area, I got some cute boxes to put on the shelves to hide our DVD collection, etc. etc.

(This is really a story I'm somewhat telling on myself because it was totally my fault and once again proves that Javier is one of the most tolerant men in the world...)

I don't wear a ton of makeup. I've actually been wearing less and less 1) the longer I work at Cvent and 2) the longer I've dated Javs (he's not big on the make-up-y look). But I know that for photos, it will be important that I'm wearing enough/the right make up so I show up and look purdy.

So, I've been doing some research on my wedding blogs for photo-ready make up tips. Most of the brides suggest having your make up trial done on the day of your engagement pictures so that you can have it professionally done. Well a) our pictures are being taken in DC and the wedding is in cville so whoever is doing my make up day of is probably in cville this Saturday too and therefore can't do a trial and 2) who would be pulled together enough to know who they'd want to do their make up at this point in planning. - so not an option for me.

Which means I'm doing it myself! And luck for me - WeddingBee has started a 'Helpful Series' where they re-post blogs that other brides found to be particularly helpful....including this one on doing your own make up!

Wedding Bee's Helpful Series http://www.weddingbee.com/2011/12/29/helpful-series-ace-your-face-pt-1/

So I have been following Mrs. Rainbow's suggestions to a T, purchasing all the needed supplies for my at home foundation work. Well my lunchtime shopping trips were filling up fast so Javs offered to pick up two items for me! 1) some new face wash from whole foods and 2) my monistat chafing gel from CVS.

If you didn't pause to read Mrs. Rainbow's foundation tutorial you might be confused. Chafing gel? Awkward....and an over share. But correct - I asked Javs to get me this chafing gel as part of my make-up plan for the day. I started reading up on it and apparently lots of women are turning to Monistat's chafing gel for use as a make up primer over more expensive options (it has the same ingredients!)

More info on Monistat Chafing Gel as Makeup primer (cause you know you're curious) http://review-monistat-face-primer.uncensoredguides.com/

After Jav's offer to grab some items on his lunch I hastily texted the name of each product and felt relieved marking two more items off the 'to do' list. Well, I really should have warned him that I was asking him to buy a somewhat awkward product from CVS, but in my haste didn't mention it. - first oops! On top of that, my phone auto-corrected (dreaded auto-correct!) Monistat to something completely unrecognizable. -second ooops!

So there is poor Javs - showing the CVS salesman the product he is diligently looking for that his bride to be specifically texted him. The CVS guy doesn't recognize it (of course - it doesn't exist) so Javs calls me at work for clarification. So I'm here, at my little exposed cubicle answering my cell phone.

'Hey Fiance!' Me.
'Hey babe, what was it you wanted me to get at CVS? I can't read your text,' Javs.
'Uhhh...' Me. How do you say Monistat Chafing Gel quietly at your desk?

So I get up and walk out to the hall to name the product. And noooooooow the awkwardness hits me. Ooops!

'Its Monistat Chafing Gel. Yeah like Monistat. Mmmhmmm-exactly! Guess I should have warned you! Oooops....' Me.

Well of course, neither Javs nor the CVS man could find the product (of course!). They're looking among the, ehem, other Monistat products. I suggest to look in lotions. Its no where. So Javs leaves - defeated. But only momentarily because the kind CVS man continued the search and found my much needed chafing gel! He was even kind enough to run out of CVS and catch Javs walking down the street to let him know he found what Javier had been searching for :)

(Can everyone just take a minute to picture Javs walking down P St being chased by a man waving Monistat Chafing Gel high above his head in victory - hahahha)

So Javs went back into CVS to pay for my Monistat. Victory! Needless to say - I owe my fiance a big one! But now I have my supplies and am ready to try tackling my foundation. I'm going to do a trial run tonight to make sure I'm happy with it. I'll upload pictures if the chafing gel turns my face blue :)