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...

If you are anywhere near the area stop by Little Luxuries of Mackinac for my exhibition on the Four Seasons of Mackinac.  My work will be there and for sale strarting this weekend... Sept 3rd through Sept 17th.

The Opening Reception is this Saturday September 5th from 4:30-8:00 p.m.  Please stop by and say hi.

Love,
A

I just had to do a quick blog post in memory of my amazing, strong willed, loving grandmother (aka Stara Mama)... who passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 104... yup... I said it ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR YEARS Young.

I was so blessed to have been in Cleveland visiting her the day before she passed and was able to say goodbye  She no doubt knew it was time... and she was ready... Stara Mama used to joke that "God had forgotten about her down here on earth and that's why she was so old"...

Growing up I always thought my childhood was fairly normal... doesn't everybody have a grandmother that is pushing 100 and doesn't speak English?!?!?  I grew up hearing the normal things that all grandchildren do... be good, go to chuch, I pray for you...  find a Good Slovenian Catholic Husband... right...  only I heard all this in Slovenian (which to be honest I didn't really understand)... which might be why I still haven't found that Slovenian husband... hmmmm

Although there was always a bit of a language barrier... there was/is no barrier between the love I had and always will have for this remarkable woman. 

As my mother and I were leaving she said to us... "Now, we'll all  be together on the otherside" ... After 104 years on this earth, after burying her parents, her siblings, her husband and her son she is now together with them all.

Sending all of you much love and appreciation for being a part of my world!!

Love,
A

OH... and the very last thing she said to me... was "Find a Good Husband"... gotta love Stara Mama...  she dropped the Slovenian Catholic after 30 years...

I love you Stara Mama!

Hey everyone... here is article in this month's Bridal Guide regarding destination weddings and honeymoon islands around the U.S.... and OF COURSE.. Mackinac made their top list. 

As did quite a few of my pics... including the main picture of the article.