Another long overdue post… Dayna & Jim! Dayna & Jim were married October 3, 2009 and were referred to me by Renee & Rob - they were getting married just weeks apart! Dayna & Jim had some issues with their original reception site and ended up having to change venues along the way… I couldn’t imagine a better place for their wedding though! Everything happens for a reason! They had such an elegant, fun wedding and they were surrounded by an amazing group of family and friends who really love to dance, apparently! The ceremony was at the gorgeous Second Congregational Church in Greenwich, CT, followed by their reception at the Apawamis Country Club in Rye, NY. The architecture and decor at the Apawamis was gorgeous! The detail in the ceilings and chandeliers was incredible and really set the mood for an elegant reception. We had a rainy day but thankfully we did manage to sneak outside a little bit (avoiding the mud and puddles so Dayna stayed looking fresh, of course!). ETA band did a fantastic job, as always, and kept everyone on the dance floor all night!

Here are just a couple of my favorites from the day - be sure to check out the slideshow!

And this gorgeous shot of their first dance, courtesy of Aurora:

Congratulations again, Dayna & Jim and a huge thanks to Tara and Aurora for teaming up with me once again!

Ah, at long last, Rob & Renee’s wedding which was back on September 18, 2009! Rob & Renee are SO much fun. No, I really don’t think you understand. They are an incredibly awesome couple who you just feel instantly connected with and they will make tears stream down your face with laughter. When you hang out with them your face hurts from smiling and laughing. THAT kind of fun.

I first “met” Renee over the phone… we chatted about her wedding, her relationship with Rob, photography, and well, just about everything! We got along fabulously over the phone - so much so that I think we talked for about 2 hours! I was so excited to photograph her wedding - and I hadn’t even met her or so much as spoken to Rob yet! This summer came time for their engagement session and I finally got to meet them both. Rob’s silliness quickly won me over and Renee is just overall amazing. What’s even more awesome? They referred their friends to me as well who were getting married just weeks after them and they’re awesome too! =)

Renee & Rob were married at The Candlewood Inn in Brookfield, CT and they had a gorgeous outdoor ceremony by the lake. Immediately after the ceremony, just as we’re setting up to take some photos outside, the sky turned black and it got super windy and a bit chilly but we didn’t let that stop us! I loved the ominous looking background and we worked through it, of course! Unfortunately the amazing sunset that followed happened DURING the introductions, first dance and toasts so we couldn’t get them back outside for that, but we managed to get a little bit of it peeking in through the Candlewood’s beautiful arched windows anyway! The reception was great and WOW can Renee ever dance! I don’t recall seeing her off the dance floor all night! Congratulations again, you two! I can’t wait to hang out again!

Just a couple of my favorites - don’t forget to check out the slideshow too!

Thanks to my girl Aurora for second shooting for me once again!

Okay, okay… I know I’ve been neglecting my blog (or at least posting business stuff on it)! I’m working on getting all caught up on blogging in the next couple of weeks - PROMISE! Some things just take precedence over blogging… like, oh, I don’t know, family, health and sanity! Things are looking up around here and Dad and I are both feeling better. Doctor’s appointments are slowing down considerably and other than the fact that it is FRIGID outside, I’m feeling good about life. =) Thank ya’ll so much for your patience, thoughts and prayers while I dealt with life’s curve balls over the last few months! Now - keep an eye out - blog posts are coming your way!

I have heard a lot of people recently saying how happy they are to put the past year or past decade behind them and I’d have to agree. While normally I am not one to think much of the New Year, this year is different for me. The past decade and year have brought both amazing times and incredibly trying times for me and I am hopeful that things will start to turn around for the better in 2010. Some of my best memories of the past decade:

-I started dating my husband in early 2000 after two really bad relationships back to back

-We moved to South Florida (it felt so good to be back at home in the Sunshine State!)

-When my husband asked me to marry him in September of 2001

-Moving to St. Louis, MO in the summer of 2002 (which did not seem like fun at first!)

-Making the decision to pursue my dream of one day being a photographer

-Marrying the love of my life in October of 2002

-The birth of my daughter in 2003

-Making the decision to pursue wedding photography and getting my first job as a second photographer

-Starting my own business in 2005 (exciting and terrifying at the same time!)

-Vacationing with my Mom and Step Dad in Sedona, AZ. I haven’t traveled a whole lot and going out west was an amazing experience!

-My first and only time snowboarding - something I never thought I would do or want to do after growing up in Florida! Of course, at the end of the day I was *sure* I had broken my butt and too embarrassed to go to the doctor and say “Hey, I think I broke my butt”!

-Finally getting answers about my constant excruciating headache in late 2007

-Finally feeling some relief after my third surgery in 2008

-Being awarded The Knot Best of Weddings for 2008/2009 and Wedding Wire’s Bride’s Choice

-Buying our first home in January 2009

-My Dad finally moving in with us so I can spend more time with him and do my best to keep him healthy

-Finally having a house that feels like a HOME

-Realizing what an amazing family I have and what an absolutely incredible little girl we are raising

-On the very last day of the decade I was more proud of my daughter than ever before - at only 6 years old she saved my Dad’s life. Her quick thinking, good memory, caring nature and quick action got him the help he needed before it was too late. And through it all she remained more calm that most adults would! I am so incredibly proud of her!

Just a sampling of things I would rather forget:

-Terrible work environments in the early 2000’s when I worked just to pay my bills (good riddance to that!!!)

-Too many loved ones dying

-An incredible amount of pain and misery while countless doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me or how to make me better

-Too many times to even count that my Dad was in the hospital and in really bad shape. Relatives on my Dad’s side showing up on my caller ID would immediately cause me to panic.

-Car accident the summer before our wedding which turned my life upside down, made my head a LOT worse and started the massive downward spiral of debts piling up

-Swallowing our pride and moving in with my in-laws in CT to avoid bankruptcy, pay off our debts and save to buy a house - thank goodness for family! Luckily this one, as hard as it was, turned out for the best.

-Being diagnosed with a “rare and incurable” condition - hopefully that will change and they will find a cure!

-Months of my life that I was in so much pain that I couldn’t function

-Surgeries that were supposed to make me feel a lot better and only made me feel worse

-Coming to the realization that my head will probably never feel good

I am looking forward with a positive outlook and I’m hopeful and excited for what this year will bring. This year, in fact, in 2 weeks, I will also leave my 20’s behind me and enter the world of the 30 and up crowd! Most people (women especially) freak out about getting older, particularly the milestone years, but I am actually excited about it. After all, turning older is a lot better than the alternative! Besides, at 29 I am still regularly carded for cigarettes, alcohol and EVEN LOTTERY TICKETS! Can’t feel bad about that!

Here’s to a happy and HEALTHY 2010!