SO...  I am not one to do wedding shows... honestly.. in my opinion.. its unnatural...100 brides in a conference room with 200 vendors... can we say overwhelming.. nothing like what a wedding should be like... brides keep their heads down... as not to be dragged into a booth by a pushy vendor when... especially when the bride already has that service...

Now... don't get me wrong... I have many friends who love these expos... its like a reunion for vendors... and if your good at talking to strangers... Which may be where my bias comes in...  this is going to be surprise to most... BUT...  I'm kind of shy... I know most people would never believe it... an expo is like torture to me.. not only a room of strangers... but a room of strangers where I have to talk about myself.

WELL.. now to my point...  THE ONLY EXPO I do... is this one... its AWESOME.. .and completely natural as a wedding should be.  The Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau hosts an annual "DESTINATION DREAM WEDDING WEEKEND" on Mackinac Island.

Let me just tell you...  this weekend takes place all over the island. It introduces every couple to more than a conference room in a hotel but intmately lets each couple visit every venue... and at each venue different vendors (like myself) will be around to chat.  There is even a mock reception. 

I have to say I actually have a blast doing this show.  Not only have I booked a few weddings but more importantly I have met amazing couples who have ultimately become my friends!!

If you happened to go last year... and remember the little extra surprise you got from me... this year... something different and I think even better...  don't worry if your not coming back...you just might get one in the mail anyways ;-)

Sooo.. if your debating about going this to the expo ... I say DO IT... even if you have everything booked already it gives you a much better understanding of the island and a chance to see your vendors!!

Hope to see you all there!!

Love,
A

Mackinac Island Destination Dream Wedding Weekend
October 9-11th
Mackinac Island, MI
You can get more information by contacting Chris West (chris@mackinacisland.org)

OH MY GOODNESS... this was by far the coolest shoot I have ever done...  in the ocean (not just them... Me too!)... in Mexico ... the day after an AMAZING wedding...

Elizabeth & Will were  splashing around... having fun... loving on each other..and not caring about a thing in the world except for having fun and being in the moment... and these pics can definitely show it.

Elizabeth and I had been talking about this shoot for months...  Will, I think, may have been a little hesitant at first (and he wasn't even wearing the dress)... but the minute the volleyball court came into play... he was all about it...  he just kept asking...  "can I throw her in yet... can I throw her in yet ..."

SO MUCH FUN... man I love my job!!!

Take a look...

It may have been raining on the outside but oh my goodness there was not a bit of gloom inside... especially on the dance floor...   These two knew how to boogie.. .and so did all of their guests. From the minute the wedding party was announced (which, by the way, was the first crazy dance party on the floor)...  to the Hava Nagila... to 50 people on the dancefloor... DURING DINNER!!!... and to top it off Sasha & James did a "surprise SECOND 1st dance".. the entire choreographed dance from Dirty Dancing..  soooo great!!

Rain could not stop these two... even on a two hour carriage ride.. .we managed to laugh and smile all the while riding (and biking) in the rain!!

It was so much fun!!    As my awesome assistant for the wedding Cherry Thomas said... "what is this.. EXTREME WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY.. I love it!!" 

To Mission Point... awesome job dealing with the rain changes
To Webers Floral... great great flowers
To Bella e Dolce... WOW.. .that cake was AMAZING (looked like a birch tree... wow!)
To Dancehall Dj's...  way to go James.. for sure a fun party as always

and of course to my awesome photo friend Cherry Thomas... (born and bred in Cali) for being such an fun sport... not only shooting on a bike... but in the rain too.. your a rockstar!!

Sasha & James... it has been such a pure joy getting to know the two of you... and all of our fun photo shoots... you two exude love and happiness!! May you two continue to laugh as much as you did during your ceremony for the rest of your lives!!

Love,
A

I am so excited to be heading to Mexico tomorrow to photograph Elizabeth and Will... one of the sweetest and funniest couples ever!!!  I did their engagement pics in Santa Barbara a year ago... and the time has finally come... off we go to Mexico... it is going to be soooo much fun. 

AND we're doing a trash the dress...    I can't wait to get down there and shoot shoot shoot...

So, because of this little international jaunt I will be a little difficult to reach for the nest week .. so hang in there.   AND to top it off my email just went down earlier today so I hope to get this fixed but if you are trying to reach me please email me at andrejkaphotography@gmail.com

Thanks... have a great week!!!

Love,
A

So... I have been so crazed with wedding fun that I have been TOTALLY slacking on my blogging duties...  well... to do a little catch up here's a little recap of a few of my beautiful weddings from the past month...

no need to fear...  slide shows are on the way for a little better look!!

Just a special thanks out to my amazing assistants for these weddings...  and all the vendors who made them soooo beautiful!!

Lily Porter & Britainy McIntire... you girls rock my world!!

Venues:   Mission Point Resort & the Inn at Stonecliffe & The Story Cottage in Hessel

Flowers:  Le Fleur & Webers Florals

Cake:  Bella e Dolce