Kingdom Wedding Photography

New beginnings and old shoes

2011-04-22T17:48:00.027-04:00

This will be the last post on what used to be my very first blog. Kind of like saying good-bye to an old old friend when moving away. While I'm totally excited to finally have a blog that matches me and the Kingdom Wedding Photography by Kat brand, it feels sad to be leaving this little wedding photography blog behind. Silly, I know.

But I also had a hard time saying "Tschüss" (bye) to my favorite pair of sneakers (also the one and only comfortable pair of shoes I own) after God knows how many years.

I went to visit my parents in Germany last fall and after giving my shoes one long look, my mother decided that it was finally time to dump them. She then proceeded to drag me to a shoe store. In all honesty, it didn't require too much dragging ... I love shoes, new shoes, buying shoes, shopping for shoes but part of this deal was that I would give up on the OLD SHOES. Ditch them. Yikes!

This wasn't just a pair of any old boots. See, me and those trusty shoes trudged through Napa Valley, explored San Francisco on foot, walked through the Valley of Fire (we were the only ones hiking there), climbed down the Grand Canyon, got me lost in New Orleans and biked me through Los Angeles for a year. They were my bi-continental, multi-state shoes.

Then I made her promise to re-purpose my old shoes. They are now a lawn ornament next to my dad's 40+ year old bike that he retired last year as well. I guess at least I know where I got this from.

My point? Not sure, maybe there isn't one - other than saying that I feel rather sentimental about letting go. Like letting go of this blog and moving on to the new, custom designed, website hosted blog.

So goodbye old blog and HELLO new VT wedding photography blog:

http://kingdomweddingphotography.com/blog

Check it out!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

As seen in Vermont Bride Magazine!

2011-04-03T14:59:00.000-04:00

Check out our featured wedding in the latest spring edition of Vermont Bride Magazine.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Free Senior Session!

2011-04-02T12:36:00.000-04:00

Now offering senior photos in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

An awesome Rock the Dress session in Vermont!

2011-03-21T16:03:00.001-04:00

If Marilyn Monroe ever did a session with a snowmobile, I'm pretty sure it would have looked something like this. I had a fantastic time photographing Jeanna's Rock the Dress session in the snow. And let me tell you, this woman is a trooper. Who else would hop onto her snowmobile in high heels and even take it for a spin while braving the cold in nothing more than her wedding dress?

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

World, meet Lyrik!

2011-03-21T09:19:00.008-04:00

I had an absolute fantastic time photographing Ann and her gorgeous family yesterday!!!!!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Fun with the groom

2011-03-13T20:47:00.001-04:00

Wedding season is almost here!!!! Time to think about portraits. One of my favorites is the "floating groom". Yes, it's commonly done; yes, it can be corny BUT: it's FUN. One of my brides commented "I didn't even want them to do it because I usually think these ones are cheesy but I LOVE it." However, she got talked into it by the bridal party.

The other thing I love about it is the bride's reaction to seeing her husband in the hands of her bridesmaids:

So whatever you decide on doing, I'm game. Whether it be your girls lifting the groom, me jumping into a creek to get an awesome picture of the two of you sitting on the bridge above, climbing a tree to get just the right angle, jogging along next to your bridal limo along a parade route - count me in.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Wedding Flower Tips

2011-03-04T14:41:00.000-05:00

I love flowers. So much that last year saw me digging holes for the 2200 (TWOTHOUSANDTandWOHUNDRED – yes, this isn’t a typo) bulks I had ordered. Now I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring to admire this lily/tulip/iris/crocus wonderland.

I also love color and contrast and always have a great time taking your bouquet out for a photo session. Below are just some of my favorite bouquets from last year –

As far as color trends go, pink is still a bride favorite but colorful summer bouquets in red, orange, yellow and more organic designs with unique details such as peacock feathers are becoming more and more popular.

When it comes to your florist, you don’t want a “yes ma’am” kind of person. A good florist should be able to tell you whether your choices are realistic and then suggest alternatives if certain flowers you have in mind will be unavailable or insanely expensive.

One more thing to keep in mind: If you are planning an outdoor summer wedding, you definitely want to select flowers that can stand the heat.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography
- Your Vermont Wedding Photographer -

Meet your wedding photographer ... sort of

2011-02-27T16:26:00.000-05:00

So I had this grand big idea for a "get to know your wedding photographer" post. This lead me to a wild goose chase to hunt down a presentable picture of myself ... which made me realize two things:

1) My personal filing system leaves to be desired. My clients' files are labeled by name of the couple, date and event with nifty sub-folders such as "getting ready", "ceremony", "reception" etc. Makes everything super easy to find. Our own files and photos, however, are labeled "misc. 2004 photos" or bear the ever helpful "random stuff" label. ;-(

2) I don't have a single decent picture of myself. What I see is a stranger either puckering, frowning or giving very animated instructions on how to frame and expose the photo properly.

Damian (who will probably not cook for me for at least a week after reading this post) prefers to take pictures of me when I'm either in the garden in my raggediest clothes or asleep on the couch with the dogs. Or eating.

My mother likes to prop us up on random statues or alternatively turns us into mini-dots in a gigantanormous landscape (I'm the dot on the right).

As you can tell, I'm having much more fun on the other side of the camera but I had a fantastic weekend digging through all my boxes full of photos and CDs going "oh", "ah" and "remember how tiny she was as a puppy?".

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Wedding Tip of the Week

2011-02-25T14:55:00.000-05:00

You’d be surprised at how many brides show nerves when it's time to walk down the aisle … not about getting married but about walking down the aisle without tripping, forgetting their vows or dropping their wedding ring into a river (one of my biggest worries during our ceremony).

I like to say breathe, smile, and remember: the people watching are here to celebrate with you, Simon Cowell didn’t get an invite … they are NOT here to critique you. So relax and remember that you’re about to get married to the love of your life. Now beam like you mean it!

And while we’re on the topic of walking – do NOT look down! Take your time, look at all your friends and family members, look at your future spouse at the end of that aisle … and smile.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Leaving your mark - cool sign-in ideas!

2011-02-23T16:58:00.000-05:00

Not in love with traditional guestbooks? Fear not, here are a couple of my favorite ideas for guest sign-ins.

Instead of a guest book, why not opt for a guest note tree? Your guests sign the notes and tie them to the branches of the little tree. Perfect for nature inspired, outdoor or barn weddings.

Another fun idea is to have a Photobooth and have guests tape their photo strips into a guestbook along with their well wishes:

Or you can make it completely your own by picking something that represents a hobby (snowboard, skis etc.) and have guests sign with markers in different colors.

There's really no right or wrong - think about what you want to take away from your wedding and go with it.

Enjoy!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Win a FREE engagement session!!!

2011-02-22T14:19:00.000-05:00

Here's how you can win (even if you already had an engagement session):

1) Upload your favorite photo of the two of you to our Facebook page

2) Pass this on to your family and friends - have them like the page and then like your
photo. The photo with the most likes wins

3) Like away until Feb. 28th, 9.59pm

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

The photo that changed my life

2011-02-21T17:33:00.000-05:00

The year was 2002. The place was Los Angeles. A friend of mine was casting a movie that I was going to do the still photography for. She had actors' headshots scattered across the floor, trying to find the perfect male lead. I spotted one photo in particular and said "That's the man I'm going to marry". She gave me a look that indicated that I had clearly lost my mind. Maybe I had. In any case, from that point on, I was excluded from any and all casting decisions (probably a good move on her part). But the handsome stranger whose photo I had fallen in love with aced the audition and was cast as the male lead.

Fast forward to 2011. We're now married for close to 8 years with two dogs and two cats. I still have the photo - not sure who the photographer was but s/he made me fall in love with my husband Damian just based on one single photo. If you're reading this, I owe you. A lot.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

It's all in the details

2011-02-16T11:13:00.000-05:00

I'm a sucker for details. And by details I don't just mean your wedding flowers, wedding rings, wedding decorations, wedding dress, wedding venue ... but also the completely unexpected little details that tell the story of your wedding day.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography
Your award-winning Vermont Wedding Photographer

Clean them nails

2011-02-13T20:48:00.000-05:00

I never thought I'd blog about dirty fingernails. But here we go - this one is for you guys: clean those fingernails. No, we don't request that you get a manicure prior to your wedding day (although you might actually enjoy it) but we do request that you clean your nails. Not that I'm in any position to comment on the beauty of hands but if your wife (or you) would like to get some close-ups of your hands with wedding bands, you'll have to face the music: doll them up like this groom:

Here's an example of what we don't want to see:

And here is the photoshopped version: So yes, while mostly everything can be fixed in PS, I don't much enjoy cleaning your nails digitally.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography
- Your Vermont Wedding Photographer -

Brrrr ...

2011-02-11T13:47:00.000-05:00

10 degrees and windy. Words cannot express how much all of us Mooneys are looking forward to spring so I'll let Daisy & Jake's faces speak for the rest of us:

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Why we don’t like other cameras around when we’re taking formal family portraits

2011-02-08T16:09:00.001-05:00

Even with a photojournalistic approach, the posed family photos are still an important part of the day for most couples. Different parts of the family live in different states or countries so this is one of the few times where everybody is at the same place at the same time … perfect for taking that big family photo.

While you as an amateur photographer/guest may want to capture those picture-perfect moments as badly as the professional photographer, she’s the one the B&G have hired and … (and I’m saying this in the nicest way possible because I know you love the family, you love the couple, you love photography and you really just want to capture those memories) … you’re making our job incredibly difficult. You don’t mean to, I know that. But you are.

“But why”, you might ask, “It will only take a second for me to snap that shot, no?”

When photographing large groups, the attention of the group gets lost with a large number of cameras (actually, anything that exceeds one camera/photographer) is pointed at them. I need to make sure that the photos I take (the ones the couple is paying for) are perfect.

People don’t know which camera to look at (trust me, there are always a couple of folks who will insist on looking in your direction no matter what) and the photo simply doesn’t look good with everybody looking in different directions. It won’t look good on anybody’s camera. Not on yours, not on mine. It’s like watching TV with everybody having their very own remote control.

So we have to take the photo again. And again. Usually, it will be hot (or cold), people will be thirsty (or freezing), kids will lose interest/find a dirt patch to play in/start crying, the parents of that child will eventually lose their cool, people will start to get hungry, bored, cranky … the mood drops with tension levels rising simultaneously (groom checking his watch “we need to be introduced in 10 minutes”). It’s a miserable experience for everybody and it will show in the couple’s photos.

So as a guest, this is the time to step back and allow the professional the room he or she needs so we can then take the shot and move on to the next group. Before you know it, we’ll have taken all the formal pictures in a fun and relaxed way and the couple will be able to enjoy cocktail hour with you and the other guests where you can take plenty of photos. Sounds like a plan? Awesome!!!!

The ladies below were absolutely fantastic, photogenic and so much fun to be around - making taking the "formals" super fun. With no distractions, it was a breeze.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Play it up!

2011-02-04T07:57:00.000-05:00

I love games. Except for Monopoly which is entirely my husband Damian's fault - he'd put any loan shark to shame playing this game. I do, however, love, love, love outdoor games that are less competitive. So if you're planning your outdoor reception in Vermont, why not play it up a bit?

One of my favorite bridal portraits ever! And I swear, this is totally not posed - just the bride enjoying herself.

A game of bocce at this Vermont outdoor wedding.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Make that award-winning Vermont wedding photographer!

2011-01-27T10:50:00.003-05:00

We won the Bride's Choice Awards 2011 from WeddingWire! This means we are in the top 5 percent of Wedding Pros nationwide!!! Woot Woot!!!!

Thank you to all my wonderful couples!!!!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Wedding Tip of the Week - Shoes, Slipping, Style and Slamming Portraits

2011-01-24T08:30:00.002-05:00

It seems like a no-brainer but take the time to make sure you get the right size wedding shoe and make sure you can actually walk in them - accident free! Trust me - I have a pair of high heels sitting in my closet - the first pair of shoes I bought after moving to Los Angeles; to me, they were so "Hollywood" at the time. Sadly, I only "wore" this pair once. On my way from the bedroom into the next wall.

Once you've found the perfect pair of shoes, practice taking a walk in them. This is for both men and women. There are too many guys I have found who have only worn a real dress shoe at their high school graduation 10 years ago.

If the soles are still slippery on your wedding, here’s an easy fix: scuff the bottoms of your shoes before walking down the aisle. Fine sandpaper works great for this. Forgot to sand them as you’re about to head to the ceremony? Worry not, just spray the soles with hairspray.

And lastly, always have two pairs of shoes (yes, tell your fiancé that your photographer told you so!). Your fancy ones for the wedding and pictures and some comfortable ones to change into for the party. It doesn’t always have to be white, either. Feel free to bring a pair of shoes that “pop” for the wedding portraits – a pair of cowboy boots, your favorite pair of funky shoes, Wellingtons – whatever your style may be. They make for great photos.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Unique and totally "YOU" Save the Dates!

2011-01-21T12:07:00.000-05:00

Here's a confession: I love paper. Beautiful paper, different textures, matching envelopes ... there's something really neat about it. Unfortunately, my handwriting is atrocious (more than one person thought my name was actually "Quatrin" after receiving a personal note from me) but that hasn't stopped me from stockpiling boxes of paper.

In any case, I stumbled across Save the Date Originals on one of my wedding boards (yes, vendors have wedding boards as well ;-) and was completely smitten with her designs.

Being old enough to still remember vinyl long players and singles, I love this design in particular.

Vinyl Save the Dates:

Arrrrrr .... Pirate Save the Dates:

Poker Chip Save the Dates:

Boarding Pass Save the Dates:

So, there's no excuse to NOT make your wedding your own, from your save-the-dates to your decor.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Behind the scenes at Kingdom Wedding Photography

2011-01-19T08:41:00.005-05:00

A lot of wedding photographers outsource their post processing. I've never been a huge fan of this - after all, we each have our own individual style photographing events and then apply the same style to our post processing/editing process. Processing at Kingdom Wedding Photography is always done in house by myself ... although I do have a little helper:

Grover, the unrelenting master of quality control.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Tip of the Week - Wedding Make-Up

2011-01-17T09:03:00.005-05:00

It's your wedding day and you want to look more gorgeous than ever. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind so you'll look beautiful throughout the day.

Use waterproof make-up
Chances are, you will cry or sweat during the course of the day and you don't want to pop into the bathroom every hour to touch up your make up. Foundation, eyeliner and mascara should all be waterproof. Think bashful bride, not Alice Cooper.

No Glitter, please.
The movie was dreadful and glitter doesn't look much better in photos. Actually, glitter reflects light and looks like little white spots. Not good.

On mineral make-up
I love mineral make-up and would have never thought that some brands could make a person's skin look ghoulish in photos. When you do your make-up trial run, have your maid-of-honor take a photo (with flash) of you and see how it comes out. If you look like Shrek, have your MUA recommend a different brand.

Wear white during your trial
It's the best way to find out how your wedding day make-up will look against your white wedding dress. Not wearing a white dress? Find a top that matches the shade of your wedding dress to test drive your make-up.

Wear a button down shirt as you're getting ready
When it comes time to slip into your wedding dress, simply unbotton your shirt. No need to pull something over your head messing up your hair and/or make-up.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

When is the best time to take "formals"?????

2011-01-14T08:46:00.020-05:00

Some photographers are adamant about taking the "formal" portraits before the ceremony. Some will argue that those photos are best taken after the ceremony. Truth be told, both have their advantages. Biggest advantage of having your portraits done pre-ceremony: you're not going to miss out on cocktail hour!!!! Disadvantage: you fear you might ruin your grand entrance by stepping out in your beautiful attire in front of (almost) everybody prior to walking down the aisle. It all depends on how you want your day to flow.

If you think you might be happiest getting the ceremony done with - then by all means, let's take the formals after you tied the knot. And trust me, I was a wee bit nervous myself right before our "I do's" - not because I doubted our decision but because a) I hate speaking in public, b) dislike being the center of attention and c) have issues walking in high heels ;-)

That being said, it's always fun to grab a quick sneak peek of the couple a couple of minutes before the ceremony as it was the case with Catherine and Chad pictured below. It was a very sweet and tender moment and they actually didn't get to "see" each other before getting married.

More than anything, I want my brides to be happy. Oftentimes, brides think there are rules to weddings (cannot see groom beforehand, must throw bouquet, cannot mingle with guests until formally introduced at the Grand Entrance), but I believe you should only follow one rule: Do What Makes You Happy.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

A girl and a hammer. A husband and a drywall patch-kit. And some gorgeous print options.

2011-01-12T08:55:00.068-05:00

I love wall prints. No shocker there. What I don't love is the fact that apparently, drywall doesn't hold prints in heavy frames all too well. I found this out the hard way when I hit the first couple of nails into our (new!) drywall. It is truly amazing how big a hole a fairly small nail can rip into a wall when not nailed into a stud. My husband quietly handed me a stud finder, got the drywall mud and spatula back out and fixed the gaping holes. Then he sanded and painted the wall (again). Sigh.

As awesome as it is to have a husband who can fix almost everything, I don't fully appreciate having STUDS determine where I can and cannot hang pictures. 24 on center, phewww. It would be so nice to just grab my little lady hammer and quickly hang up a picture without having to arm myself with a stud finder, hooks, wire and anchors. But I found the perfect solution!!! Lightweight and totally awesome gallery wraps, standouts and float wraps that saved our walls as well as our sanity!

Above is a gallery wrap where the actual photographic print is bonded to canvas and wrapped around the wood frame - the actual photo extends to the frame. Lightweight and it looks awesome. Love it. Another plus: no glass to clean so it can just be dusted off. It's also UV coated so the print won't fade.

Standouts (pictured below) are even lighter than gallery wraps because they're made from lightweight foam banded with a Black, White, Light Wood, or Stainless edge and they come ready to display with hanging holes on the backside. Super easy, no stud finder here. A win - win - win. For myself, the drywall (or our property's value) and my suffering husband.

Float wraps (below) are another super cool contemporary option. Float Wraps are similar to Gallery Wraps or Standout mounted prints in that they add dimension by extending out from the wall. Float wraps are unique in that they appear to be floating on the wall with the main focus on the image!
Float Wraps are created by wrapping the photographic print or canvas print around masonite to create a thin wrap - then comes a neat block that creates the "floating" effect. The back of the block also contains drilled holes for hanging. My dreams have been answered!

Ok, I'm off to hang some great prints without collateral damage (not including my own thumbs - still working on that one). Happy home decorating.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Switch it up!

2011-01-09T16:13:00.000-05:00

Traditionally, the bride’s family and friends sit on the left side whereas the groom’s family sits on the right side of the church. (Unless it is a Jewish ceremony where the bride stands on the right side.)

Your family thus will not be able to see much more of you than your fantastic hair (from behind), your gorgeous veil (from behind) and your stunning dress (from behind). You get the idea – they’re not going to see you smile, cry, wink or much else because they’re … yes, you guessed it, behind you!

My point – nothing is set in stone. There’s really no right or wrong or “must do it this way” when it comes to getting married. Have fun with it and see what really works best for you and your families.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Chris & Stella's Offbeat Wedding

2010-12-29T17:10:00.000-05:00

Since I just started blogging at the beginning of this year (I know, shame on me!), you missed out on some of the most fun and offbeat weddings prior to that. But fear not, here is Stella & Chris' Venetian inspired Halloween Wedding.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Join us on Facebook!

2010-12-20T18:19:00.000-05:00

Join us on Facebook.

Why?

To see the latest wedding photos, photos of previous weddings, offbeat weddings, quintessential VERMONT weddings, my favorite wedding cakes of the year. Ideas & Inspirations. Wedding Tips. Links to my favorite Wedding Blogs and much, much more.

See you soon and Happy Holidays!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Personalized wedding favors

2010-12-11T14:30:00.001-05:00

I love wedding favors. No, let me rephrase that: I love unique and personalized wedding favors. Let's be honest - most "knick-knacky" wedding favors will most likely end up in the back of "that drawer" (you know which one I'm talking about!), never to see the light of day again. If you want to give your guests something that is personalized and won't take up unnecessary space at their place, why not go for edible wedding favors instead?

You can personalize your wedding favors here: My M&Ms
Select up to three colors that match your wedding colors and up to four images or personal messages.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

2010 Wedding Cakes

2010-12-08T18:56:00.002-05:00

Personally, I think there's nothing better than wedding cake. Or wedding cupcakes. Or wedding cake AND wedding cupcakes. 2010s couples had it all: beautiful and unique wedding cakes, gorgeous and lovingly displayed cupcakes, candy buffets and much, much more ....

Yummy!!!!!!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Kaitlin & Tim's Engagement Session in the snow!

2010-12-04T18:34:00.000-05:00

I had an absolute blast photographing Kaitlin & Tim's engagement session here in Irasburg today. These two are an absolute delight and I can't wait to photograph their wedding this coming May.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Scott & Emily's Wedding at The Webster Barn at Sterling Meadows Farm

2010-12-04T00:34:00.002-05:00

A lot of my couples ask me to see more wedding photos of "the wedding where you took the photo of the groom carrying his wife over his shoulders". Drum roll ... here are the photos of Scott & Emily's 2009 Wedding at The Webster Barn at Sterling Meadows Farm. A lovely, lovely couple; super fun and easy going and just happy as can be.

A couple of photos of the set-up:

The ladies are getting ready:

Walking & riding down the aisle:

The "I do's", a beautiful Vermont wedding ceremony:

I really enjoyed Scott & Emily's wedding portraits. The sun was just about to set and the light (as well as the couple) was simply gorgeous!

What's better than one wedding cake? Five wedding cakes!

I hope you enjoyed looking at these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Christmas Decorations - Nature by Design

2010-11-26T23:25:00.001-05:00

Now I'm passionate about a few things in my life. Namely photography, my wonderful family (2-legged and 4-legged), Thanksgiving (if you haven't tried my husband's oyster stuffing, turkey and sides along with various pies, you don't know what you're missing) and ... Christmas. Not Christmas shopping, not the Christmas presents; no, simply decorating for the holidays.

Having lived in Germany for the first 27 years of my life, I'll be the first one to admit that I'm somewhat spoiled in that regard ... think of Christmas Markets (in case you're interested in finding out what the one near my hometown looks like, here's the link to the Dortmunder Weihnachtsmarkt), Glühwein, Käthe Wohlfahrt and all the other fun stuff that makes Christmas in Europe so enjoyable.

So you can only imagine my joy when I first stumbled across my friend Peter's Store a couple of years ago.

Each and every November, Peter turns his store, Nature by Design, into a fantastic Christmas Winter Wonderland.

And he goes all out! I love it. Take your time when you visit, there's so much to see - the ceilings are decorated lavishly as well and you can find anything and everything from simple & elegant designs over classic red/gold decorations to fairy trees, whimsical trees, rustic elements (I'm in love with the owls) and, of course, Santas, Mrs. Santas and angels.

Whimsical & Rustic - you have to check out this selection of rustic owls:

Santa & Co:

You can find Nature by Design between Barton and Orleans - you'll see Peter's store off the freeway, the neat yellow house with the lovely decorations. Each and every year, I look forward to stopping by a couple of times (ok, fine, more than just a couple of times) to get inspirations, chat and yup, buy more decorations for the house. Happy Holiday decorating!!!!!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Groom's Attire

2010-11-19T15:34:00.001-05:00

Let's face it - the bride (for the most part) takes center stage at the wedding. And many grooms are just more than happy to take a shower, clean their nails, get a haircut and throw on that tux. However, if you want to make a bit of a splash on your wedding day, here are some fun ideas for grooms:

Shoes: You can either don a funky pair yourself or coordinate to wear some unexpected footwear with your groomsmen:

While we're on the topic of shoes, your socks can make a statement as well:

And accessorizing is not just for the brides ... why not wear heirloom cuff links or splurge on some unique pieces for yourself to hand down later:

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Shoes, shoes, shoes

2010-11-15T08:49:00.002-05:00

Having a themed wedding?
Want to have a keepsake forever?
Can’t find the right shoes for your wedding?

Well, I just stumbled across this unique store on a wedding forum for vendors and NoraKaren graciously granted me permission to post photos of her hand painted wedding shoes. I love, love, love them.

Now I ran scenarios through my head that would allow me to justify the purchase of a really GORGEOUS pair of shoes for a change but then I thought about my life … I’m on my feet all day long on weekends shooting weddings so that’s out. During the week, I’m either hiking with my dogs, editing files, meeting with clients or sanding drywall trying to get our expanded living room ready for the holidays.
Darn, I don’t have a lifestyle that supports glamorous shoes. Maybe if I bought them it would come???

In any case, whether or not you want your shoes and/or clutch to match your wedding colors or if you want to have shoes that are uniquely designed just for you, check out this nifty store.

Happy wedding shoe shopping.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Outdoor Ceremony Seating

2010-11-10T19:18:00.000-05:00

Vermont is the perfect place for having an outdoor wedding. With some many charming country B&Bs, mountain tops, open fields or National Parks available for your outdoor wedding, your choices are endless.

One often overlooked aspect is ceremony seating. White folding chairs are always classic and timeless but you can also select seating that will enhance the style and atmosphere of your rustic country wedding. Among the choices are Adirondack chairs, rustic wooden benches or simply bales of hay. Covered with either quilts (ask around in your family to give this a personal touch) or colorful fabrics by the yard from the fabric store, they'll look fantastic and you can even have your seating match your wedding colors.

A couple of things to keep in mind:

- it can't hurt to have one row of "regular" chairs for elderly guests or guests who have allergies
- cover those bales with thick fabric. Otherwise, you risk the straws poking and prodding your guests during the ceremony
- call a local farm or feed store to see if they will pick up and drop off those heavy bales. Or make this an event for all the groomsmen
- to be on the save side, hit the bales with a nice dose of bug spray although fresh hay or straw doesn't usually hold any bugs.

Happy wedding planning!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

photos via The Knot.

QNEK's "Dracula" at the Haskell Opera House, Derby Line, Vermont

2010-10-31T15:31:00.001-04:00

If you missed QNEK's production of "Dracula", you truly missed a spectacular show at the Haskell Opera House this last weekend. Great acting, great writing, a fantastic stage design and the lighting set the mood perfectly.

Enjoy:

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Part IV: Chris & Jessica's Wedding Reception at the Greystone Manor, Cape Neddick, Maine

2010-10-11T20:52:00.000-04:00

What can I say? Greystone Manor is a fantastic location for a wedding, the grounds are just perfect and the scenery is pretty hard to beat. But most importantly: this reception ROCKED!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

A Vermont Family Portrait Session

2010-10-11T20:46:00.000-04:00

I had a blast photographing Amanda's family today. We just had enough foliage left for some stunning portraits and the kids held up like real troopers! Here are a couple of my favorite photos so far:

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Part III: Chris & Jessica's Wedding Portraits at the Greystone Manor, Cape Neddick, Maine

2010-10-11T14:28:00.002-04:00

Part III of this gorgeous Maine Wedding - Christoper & Jessica's Portraits:

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Tricia & Dario's Wedding at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel and Conference Center

2010-10-11T13:56:00.001-04:00

Tricia & Dario, I know you've been waiting for this a long time, checking this little blog with every update as we got closer and closer to your wedding and finally ... your very own blog post. 1st of all: Congratulations on your marriage and thank you so much for selecting me as your wedding photographer! Second of all: don't skimp on the sun lotion as you're enjoying your honeymoon in beautiful Cancun.

About Tricia & Dario's wedding day: I guess the photos speak for themselves, the dress was just stunning, I absolutely loved your fall theme and the cake was simply divine. Not only did it look A M A Z I N G but it was also super yummy.

So now, without further ado, a sneak peek of your wedding photos:

Tricia & Dario - I wish you everything you could possibly imagine for yourselves!

All the best,

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Part II: Chris & Jessica's Wedding Ceremony at the Greystone Manor, Cape Neddick, Maine

2010-10-06T17:49:00.000-04:00

The ceremony site couldn't be any more beautiful - surrounded by trees and shrubs for an intimate feeling along with spectacular views across the Maine coastline.

Check back to see the stunning portraits of this gorgeous couple as well as great reception photos in the next couple of days.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Guest Blogger Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants: Planning your wedding frugally versus planning it cheaply

2010-10-05T21:04:00.000-04:00

An excellent post by Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants. You can find their blog here.

"The Simple Dollar offers an excellent distinction between being frugal and being cheap. I'll paraphrase it: one who is frugal looks for the best value for their money. One who is cheap will consider paying only the rock-bottom price for anything, regardless of the quality.

Of course, I had to take this comparison and relate it to the wedding planning scenario. Ergo, here is my comparison between the Cheap and the Frugal Bride. Believe me, I see them both on a daily basis!

A cheap bride is everyone's worst nightmare. She will lower herself to commit unspeakable acts of mayhem all for the glory of bragging about the great deal she obtained. A frugal bride, on the other hand, is genuinely admired for her skill at determining what she wants and thoughtfully pursuing affordable and good-quality resources to bring her desires into reality.
Cheap brides enter the wedding planning process armed with an attitude of lack. "I don't have the money." "It's too expensive." "Wedding vendors only want to charge top dollar and rip you off." "I can't afford that." "I'm so jealous, So-and-so had so much more money to spend on her wedding."

Frugal brides take on the task of planning their wedding with an attitude of joy (and perhaps a bit of adventure). "How can I make this work?" "What are my priorities for my wedding day and how do I budget accordingly?" "How creative can I get?" "Can I do this myself or with the help of my friends and family?" "How did other brides do things creatively and frugally?"

Cheap brides begin every vendor contact with "How much is it?" Frugal brides ask more thoughtful questions, learn what the vendor offers and if the services are more than they can afford will say, "Your service sounds perfect for me, but my budget is $X.XX. Is there any way your package can be modified to accommodate me?"

Cheap brides tend to be...well...kinda victimy (there just isn't a tactful way to say it). "Poor me, I can't have the wedding day of my dreams because (fill in the blank) I don't make enough money, my parents can't afford it, wedding vendors are all in cahoots to scam me, I'm not creative, I'm too busy, yada, yada, yada..."

Cheap brides tend to perceive their wedding vendors (once they finally find the cheapest they can find and actually hire them) as their adversaries. The assume that the vendor is only out to take advantage of them by maximizing their profit. She has already browbeaten them down to their lowest possible fee, but then the cheap bride must also be hyper-vigilant to ensure that her vendors toe the line and do everything that she is paying for them to do (which quite frankly, probably isn't much).

The frugal bride realizes that reputable vendors truly want her to have the best wedding day experience possible. That is, after all, how they stay in business. She expresses her wishes and trusts their professional judgment and integrity knowing that her vendors are on her side.

Frugal brides tend to be more realistic. "I may have to cut back my guest list if I want to have a higher-end meal for the reception." "If we save money by making our own invitations, then I can splurge on the high-end photographer I love." "I'd like to be married in a romantic ceremony for just the two of us so we can use the money for something else."

For a cheap bride, getting something for a rock bottom price is the primary objective. She will opt for the vendor whose style doesn't suit her simply because they have the lowest price. She will ferret out the lowest price possible for every aspect of her wedding.

A frugal bride takes into account price, quality, and perhaps (in cases such as the officiant, the photographer or the wedding planner) the connection she has with the vendor. She is also realistic about her life situation, how much time she has, what her talents and resources are and she chooses vendors or DIY projects accordingly.

Trent of the Simple Dollar summarizes the difference between frugality and cheapness as being one of thought. I couldn't agree more. It's been my experience that frugal brides put much more thought into their wedding planning than cheap brides. This makes sense, for a frugal bride is guided by many criteria: budget, time, values, experience, research, resources and priorities. The cheap bride, on the other hand, has only one objective: to get it as cheaply as possible.

If you're a wedding vendor reading this, then share your stories of cheap verses frugal brides by leaving a comment. And if you are (or were) a frugal bride, please share a tip.

And for the cheap brides?? Well, they were probably only reading this blog for the free information and I'm willing to bet they didn't get past the second paragraph before moving on anyway, so no worries."

Let me know the money saving tips you came across when planning your own wedding. What were the "top 3" items you would NOT compromise on?

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Christopher & Jessica's Wedding and Rehearsal at Greystone Manor, Cape Neddick, Maine

2010-10-04T17:38:00.001-04:00

Official kick off of the wedding weekend: Rehearsal Dinner. Pretty easy to tell that this was going to be a very fun, enjoyable and beautiful wedding day.

The Wedding Day:

I absolutely loved, loved, loved everything about it. From the venue to the dress, shoes, rings, setting, decorations, the couple and the guests ... just perfect.

The gorgeous wedding dress:

The girls are getting ready:

Congratulations Christopher & Jessica. I know how much time, effort, love and planning went into this entire weekend and it really, really showed. Photos of the ceremony, portraits and reception will follow within the next couple of days so check back.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Melissa & Stephen's Wedding @ Blueberry Hill Inn, Sept. 25th, 2010

2010-09-27T19:58:00.000-04:00

Melissa & Stephen could not have picked a better date nor could they have picked a better location for their wedding. Foliage was at its peak this last weekend and the Blueberry Hill Inn is just spectacularly located in the middle of the Green Mountains National Park.

Congratulations Melissa & Stephen and thank you so much for selecting me to be your wedding photographer.

Best,

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Francis & Charity's Wedding at Prospect Hill, Vermont

2010-09-21T10:20:00.003-04:00

I love this couple. It is always a good sign when you drive up to the bride's house as she's getting ready and the bride is either in (happy) tears or smiling/laughing already. Or both at the same time as in this case. The girls got ready and we headed over to Prospect Hill for the ceremony with a stop along the way for some pre-ceremony portraits.

The lovely dress:

My stunning bride and her awesome Maid of Honor:

Loved the flowers:

On to the "I do's":

The insanely fun wedding party (proving that "formals" don't always have to be super formal):

We then took some fantastic portraits of Francis & Charity all over Orleans & Irasburg before heading to the reception at the Gateway Center in Newport, Vermont:

Party on:

The bride & groom are taking the plunge (again):

Charity & Francis - have an absolute blast on your honeymoon - and if you happen to play some roulette, 22 isn't a bad number to play.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Katrin
Kingdom Wedding Photography

p.s. Before I forget: what's in the red toolbox?????

Wedding Tip of the Week #3 - hug it up!

2010-09-17T19:06:00.003-04:00

Parents, this one is for you! Your kids just said their "I do's" and marriedly bounced back down the aisle as you are following them. Now what? Start the receiving line?

Not so fast. Hug & kiss your kids first! Don't worry about protocol or assuming formation for the formal receiving line. Strangely enough, I find that many parents are not sure what to do after the ceremony. Here's my tip: they're your kids, they just got married and you're thrilled for them (you are thrilled for them, aren't you?) so HUG them, KISS them, pinch their cheeks. Don't worry about wrinkling a dress, smudging the make-up, posing for "formal" portraits as Uncle Bob pulls out his camera - that's not what it is about. It's about the joy and happiness you're feeling. Show it and hug your kids! Don't worry about the cameras around you, simply enjoy and let your wedding photographer capture the emotions of that moment.

And now that you're almost hugged out, enjoy shaking hands and sharing even more hugs & kisses with family and friends are you're standing in the receiving line.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Guest Blogger DJ Jerry B - The ipod Wedding

2010-09-16T14:52:00.001-04:00

DJ Jerry B posted this excellent article on iPod weddings and DJ weddings that I found to be incredibly helpful. Thank you Jerry for being our first guest blogger!

Now onto the article which you can also find on DJ Jerry B's Blog.

"All you have to do is Google “ipod wedding” and you’ll see a big can of worms open before your very eyes. You’ll find passionate arguments on both sides of the debate on whether you should do-it-yourself on music for your wedding.

I think there a few situations in which a DIY approach makes a lot of sense. First, if you have no desire (or don’t expect) to have dancing at your wedding, and are just looking for background music, then an iPod or a pre-programmed playlist on your laptop is a reasonable approach. Second, I think that doing your own music would be preferable to hiring a really bad DJ. At least you know what will be played if it’s your music. It is also a perfectly logical choice if you are doing your entire wedding on a shoestring budget.

What is NOT reasonable is the presumption that there is no difference between an iPod and an experienced professional disc jockey, since they both play music. That whole thought process is flawed. I like to use the analogy of the stone mason:

Imagine that a truck delivers a load of field stones into a pile. You could probably, without any experience at all, take the stones and form a wall of some type. It may not be perfect or stable or beautiful, but it would technically be a wall. A talented mason can take those very same stones and, with his experience, build a wall that is eye catching, memorable and will last a lifetime. Is there a difference between the two? You betcha!

One big disadvantage in using an mp3 player or laptop is that all you are doing is playing music — music that you chose based on what you THOUGHT your guests would enjoy. What happens when it’s time for dancing and people aren’t responding to what’s being played? And do you have a plan “B” if that iPod happens to freeze up during your wedding? If not, it’s sort of like skydiving without a reserve parachute. No iPod can take requests, make introductions for you, help keep your time line on track, work with your photographer to ensure that those special moments are captured, or use its expertise to adjust the music to get everyone involved in the celebration.

Some DJs like to post a link to a video that is easy to find on YouTube and many other sites that purport to show an iPod Wedding Disaster. For the record, I’m not convinced that what is being shown is genuine. I might be a little less cynical if it weren’t so boldly stamped with the logo of the American Disc Jockey Association. It screams “self-serving” with that big red, white and blue watermark. I have no direct evidence that it is staged; I’m just saying that I have my doubts as to its legitimacy. I know that a LOT of entertainers were quick to link to the clip. To me, those are just cheap scare tactics.

You can also read many forums in which brides brag about how they did their own music and how great it was. Again, in some cases, I am somewhat dubious. How many brides are really likely to ‘fess up to the fact that they tried something and it blew up in their face? Also, it’s possible THEY thought it was great because they saved some money, but I wonder if their guests shared their opinion. There are at least an equal number of forum writers describing their experience (as a guest) as awful.

If the only argument in favor of doing it yourself is the cost, there is some element of truth to that and there is no sense denying it. I’d like to point out that there is also a difference in cost between what your caterer charges and how much you could save by providing each of your guests a “Value Meal” from Taco Bell. And no reasonable thinking person is going to suggest that you can get a similar finished product by simply handing out disposable cameras instead of paying an experienced professional photographer.

And before you decide that doing it yourself is cheap, please remember that there is more to it than showing up with your iPod. Do you need to rent a sound system (amplifier, speakers, mixer, cables and microphones) that is powerful enough to fill the space? Also, what is the backup plan if something goes wrong? Who is going to transport the system to the venue, set it up, monitor it during the reception to balance the sound and then tear it all down and take it back at the end? Are there going to be announcements or other emcee duties? Who will be responsible for those?

To be clear, the decision lies with those who are paying the wedding bills. My hope is that it is a fully informed and educated decision."
-----
Hope you found this helpful. From a wedding photographer's standpoint - he is dead on. I've seen iPod Weddings that worked beautifully and some that weren't quite as beautiful - same with DJs: some are absolutely amazing and get the party going and some are quite the opposite. What we as vendors want for you on your wedding day is one thing: for you to make the best decision, fully knowing what you can expect. Party on!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Vendor Spotlight: Santa Barbara Preserves Co.

2010-09-09T19:44:00.005-04:00

I'm always on the lookout for interesting vendors and found Meghan from Santa Barbara Preserves Co. on one of my favorite message boards for industry professionals and was totally in awe by how much effort she puts into creating personalized wedding favors. As a photographer with a serious sweet tooth, it doesn't get much better than this.

Not only can you choose from multiple jar styles & sizes, flavors, colors and decorations but Meghan will match your wedding theme perfectly. No cookie cutter favors here. Yummy!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Wedding Tip of the Week #2: Bring on the bug spray!!!

2010-09-07T18:54:00.002-04:00

30 minutes. That's how long I lasted in the yard a couple of minutes ago trying to plant my fall mums until I finally surrendered and fled inside. The reason: Mosquitoes. And plenty of them. The count reveals the damage: 12 bites on my face (mostly around the hair line and around my eyes), plenty on my neck and the rest on my back. Why didn't I use Mosquito Spray you may ask? Sure, and the explanation is simple: I used the remaining supply on the dogs so they wouldn't be bothered by those pesky blood suckers.

But back to the brides who are planning outdoor weddings this fall in Vermont. What could be more beautiful than outdoor portraits with fall foliage in the background? Really, not much could be prettier. However, to ensure that you and your wedding party are not wildly swatting bugs (never looks good in photos!) or spend the rest of the reception scratching yourselves frantically, make sure you buy a good bug spray. Buy plenty. And then some. Share the joy of the bug free outdoors. Ask your venue if they can set up citronella candles for you and your guests or if they can do a preemptive spray of the area.

I personally like the DEET free Burt's Bees herbal Insect Repellent for two reasons: It doesn't stink and it's not tested on animals. Yes, it's a bit oily but it works. But shop around and compare, there's plenty of stuff out there.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Dana & Kathie's Wedding @ Elk's Lodge, Newport, Vermont

2010-09-06T22:23:00.002-04:00

First of all: Congratulations Dana & Kathie. On your wedding and on pulling off such a fantastic night. This day had everything: a fun crowd, dancing, great music, splendid decorations & lighting, great cake and ... most importantly: an awesome couple who made this wedding their own.

We started the day off by taking some great portraits in and around Newport:

I do:

Some of the lovely details:

Loved the wedding cake:

The Dance Routine ... fun, fun, fun!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Madeline & Vicki's Wedding at Stowe Mountain Lodge, Stowe, Vermont

2010-09-01T22:09:00.002-04:00

I hardly ever cry at weddings but this was the first ceremony that made me tear up. Madeline & Vicki as so adorable together and you can tell that they were made for each other. This was also my first Skype-Wedding, broadcasting live to Florida from Vermont. For all those Floridians who missed the ceremony, here are a couple of my favorite wedding photos:

After a champagne toast, we headed to the beautiful grounds to take some stunning portraits:

Congratulations Madeline & Vicki - lots of love, happiness and all the best!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Wedding Tip of the Week - 1

2010-08-31T18:23:00.002-04:00

Hello and welcome to a new series where I will post a new "Wedding Tip of the Week" every Tuesday to ensure your wedding photos will be picture perfect.

The #1 photo request I get when photographing brides getting ready for their wedding is "the mirror shot" - where the bride looks into the mirror either applying make-up or checking just one last time before walking down the aisle.

You want to make sure that the mirror is streak free clean for a perfect reflection. Now most of us don't have window cleaner at hand when staying at a hotel/friend's place or wherever else you're getting ready so what now? You can always use a moist towelette and follow up with a regular bath towel to rub the mirror clean. Worst case scenario: grab some lightly damp paper towel (toilet paper as a last resort) and follow up by rubbing the mirror dry with an old newspaper/coffee filter.

Happy preparations!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Becki & Michael's Wedding, August 28th, 2010

2010-08-30T19:21:00.003-04:00

Becki & Michael picked the beautiful Jackson Gore Inn, Ludlow, Vermont as their wedding destination ... what a great place. I just love this couple but then again, what's not to love about two people who offer a candy buffet in addition to a wedding cake??? No, seriously, they're such a fun loving and sweet couple, it was hard to leave the reception.

Becki & Michael - thank you so much for trusting me to create the memories of your wedding day.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Anne & Paul's Wedding at the Old Stone House Museum in Brownington, VT

2010-08-23T19:17:00.004-04:00

Hands down, Anne is the coolest bride. She is probably the only person I know that survived a car wreck the morning of her wedding and still be early to her ceremony while sporting a band-aid matching her wedding theme. My hat is off to you!!!

And if Anne is the coolest bride, Paul is her perfect match. The two together are the cutest thing.

But off we head to the ceremony:

See what I mean by being a perfect match for each other?

Also very cool were the decorations as well as the fact that they had a wedding cake as well as cup cakes!!!

Congratulations again - it was a wonderful day that even the rain couldn't spoil.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Portrait Session with Tom & Wendy

2010-08-20T22:22:00.004-04:00

I had a blast photographing Tom & Wendy today at the Covered Bridge in Coventry, Vermont.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Eula & Josh's Wedding @ Pigeon Hill Farm, East Berkshire, Vermont

2010-08-16T20:18:00.002-04:00

This past Saturday I photographed a beautiful wedding at one of my favorite venues of all time: Pigeon Hill Farm. Michael and Jeffrey (who, btw, looks like Brett Favre's younger brother) are super hospitable and the property is immaculate. I only wish my thumbs were as green as theirs.

Eula and Josh are a super sweet, fun and relaxed couple and their dog, Duke, must be the coolest dog I've ever met. He walked the ring bearer down the aisle, laid next to the Eula & Josh during the ceremony and willingly posed for photos with everybody in sight. So if your dog is as well behaved as Duke, go for it!

Here are a couple of my favorite wedding photos:

All the best Eula, Josh & Duke!!!!!! I had a fantastic time.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

A QNEK Production - Curtains

2010-08-14T21:33:00.002-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing QNEK's latest production "Curtains" (currently playing at the Haskell Opera House in Derby Line, VT) last week. What a fun show ... actually, I'm still humming the tunes. WIDE OPEN SPACES... Great show - if you have the chance, go see it tomorrow or Friday/Saturday next week.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Mark & Jessica's Wedding, August 7th, 2010

2010-08-08T22:15:00.001-04:00

Congratulations Jessica & Mark. This cute couple got married right in the heart of the Northeast Kingdom at a beautiful (privately owned) site near Derby Line with spectacular views of our landscape. I never even knew this place existed. Just perfect for wedding photography.

All the best,

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

NEW - now offering Senior Portraits. Hollywood Style - Vermont Prices

2010-08-06T13:58:00.002-04:00

I had so much fun doing Kayla's Senior Portraits.

For a short time only: book your senior session now and the next 10 seniors will receive 2 8*10 and 5 5*7 prints with every session.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Scott & Jackie O's Wedding, August 1st, 2010

2010-08-05T21:42:00.002-04:00

We started the day off by taking photos of this super fun couple getting ready at the Breakfast at the Connecticut and moved on to doing pre-ceremony wedding portraits on the beautiful grounds:

We then headed over to the wedding ceremony at The Roth Center at Dartmouth. I felt particularly honored that I was allowed to photograph the signing of the ketubah. It was a really special moment:

From a photographer's standpoint - the lighting at the Roth Center was absolutely perfect for wedding photography.

Jackie and Scott then rocked the reception at the beautifully decorated Dartmouth Skiway:

Congratulations again, I wish you a lifetime of happiness.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Ben & Carly's Wedding, July 31st, 2010

2010-08-02T19:47:00.003-04:00

Congratulations Ben & Carly!!!! I just love this wedding. Everything was perfect ... the venue - Elliot House Bed & Breakfast in rural Shelburne, Vermont, is stunning, the decorations, flowers, food were wonderful, I loved the cake and Carly's dress was gorgeous. Their families couldn't have been any nicer and fun to be around and the wedding party was up to pretty much anything.

The ceremony:

Portraits:

A gymnast doing the dip:

Luckily, Ben & Carly don't live too far from the Elliot House so we made the mad dash to catch the sun set by the pond near their house just in time:

We even managed to not only catch the most spectacular light but also to squeeze everybody onto the dock:

Back we headed to the reception where the party continued:

Congratulations again!!!!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Michelle & David's Wedding, July 25th, 2010

2010-07-27T18:30:00.003-04:00

Congratulations Michelle & David!

David and Michelle got married at the lovely InnSeason Resorts South Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire - just outside the White Mountains National Park. Gorgeous location. If you haven't been there, stop by.

Now to pictures of the beautiful couple:

I do:

In the library just after the ceremony:

On the property itself:

The reception was held at Fratello's Restaurant, I highly recommend it.

Congratulations again, I wish you all the happiness in the world.

Best,

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Sara & Greg's Wedding, July 17th 2010

2010-07-18T22:43:00.007-04:00

What a fantastic Vermont Wedding! Sara and Greg got married at the spectacular Wildflower Inn in Lyndonville, Vermont. Just lovely. I absolutely love it when there is enough time set aside to photograph the flowers, rings, the dress and the bride getting ready.

A gorgeous ceremony site on top of the mountain with views of the mountain ranges around. Gotta love an outdoor wedding ceremony in Vermont:

We caught the "golden hour" just before sunset for some beautiful wedding portraits in true Vermont style - beautiful scenery and an absolutely stunning couple:

The Vermont wedding reception at the Wildflower Inn was super fun and everybody had a great time.
Each table also featured a wedding cake as a center piece, a great idea:

Sara & Greg - congratulations again on your marriage - your VT wedding was absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed every second of it!!!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Adam & Corinne's Wedding, July 11th, 2010

2010-07-16T21:30:00.002-04:00

"The point of marriage is not to create a quick commonality by tearing down all boundaries; on the contrary, a good marriage is one in which each partner appoints the other to be the guardian of their solitude, and thus they show each other the greatest possible trust. A merging of two people is an impossibility... But once the realization is accepted that even between the closest people infinite distances exist, a marvelous living side by side can grow up for them,… which gives them the possibility of always seeing each other as a whole and before an immense sky."

-- From Letters, by Rainer Maria Rilke

Adam and Corinne - thank you so much for having me as your wedding photographer. The coming together of your two families was a joy to watch and I feel so very honored to have met you and help preserve the memories of your wedding day.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Pretty in Pink - Jeanna & Jamie's Wedding - The official Sneak Peek!

2010-07-05T19:31:00.002-04:00

Congratulations Lady Jeanna & Jamie. This Power Couple got married on July 3rd in Montpelier, Vermont, and our Capitol pulled out all the stops. The couple's limo rode along in the parade, we had fireworks, and the movie theater marquee spelled their names. The venue was fantastic, the decorations lavish and the mood was GOOD! What a fun wedding.

Getting Ready:

I do:

Portraits:

In the parade:

Rocking the Reception:

Have a blast on your honeymoon and thank you so much for having me as your wedding photographer.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Travis and Dreolin's Wedding, June 26th, 2010

2010-06-28T17:36:00.002-04:00

Congratulations Travis & Dreolin!!!!

I think your family and friends have said it all in their toasts last Saturday... I'm not often tongue-tied but you two are two very special people. I feel so honored having been able to share your wedding day with you at the gorgeous All Souls Interfaith Gathering.

All the best,

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Tammy & Lauren's Wedding, June 15th, 2010

2010-06-18T17:33:00.002-04:00

I love Lauren & Tammy. We first met on a bitter cold winter day in Vermont and their enthusiasm was contagious. They picked a beautiful venue, great friends and said their "I do's". One of them even more than once that day and it was a very, very sweet moment that completely broke the ice.

Congratulations again Lauren and Tammy!!! I wish you all the best and thank you so much for providing me with my very own cake.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

John & Jeff's Wedding, June 12th, 2010

2010-06-14T20:55:00.003-04:00

John & Jeff got married at the picturesque Tucker Hill Inn in Waitsfield, VT last Saturday. And they pulled off a spectacular wedding. From the location, the décor, the catering, the friends who travelled from across the country to share their day with them to the music, the toasts, the ceremony …. everything was simply flawless and wonderful.

Tucker Hill’s owners are among the nicest people one could hope to meet and extremely professional. The property itself provides a beautiful setting for outdoor ceremonies – but judge for yourself:

Catering was provided by “The Wooden Spoon”. Their staff was quick, courteous, friendly and on top of everything. The food was presented beautifully and tasted simply delicious:

The band “The Nines” was great. I yet have to hear another band pull off Gloria Gaynor’s “I will survive” as well as these guys (and gals) did. Everybody was on the dance floor and had a great time. They truly rocked.

Congratulations John & Jeff!!! Many, many happy years!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Jake & Jill's Wedding, June 8th, 2010

2010-06-11T14:28:00.004-04:00

Jill & Jake got married this week at the EastSide Restaurant in Newport. The day looked bright and sunny and everything was set for an outdoor ceremony. Just as the bridesmaids were walking down the aisle, rain started pouring down on us. Now most couples would have given up and moved everything inside but not this couple. They were beaming in the pouring rain, saying their vows to each other ... so radiantly happy that the weather truly didn't matter.

In typical Vermont style, it cleared up so we were able to take some gorgeous portraits on the beautiful grounds right at the shore of Lake Memphremagog.

Congratulations again - your wedding was absolutely spectacular.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Richard & Alicia's Wedding, June 5th, 2010

2010-06-06T21:54:00.002-04:00

Richard & Alicia got married at the picturesque The Abbey in Enosburg Falls, Vermont. They're one of the nicest couples anybody can hope to meet.

One of the classiest as well. I could have spent hours photographing them dance the night away.

Congratulations again!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Shawn & Reneé's Wedding, May 22nd, 2010

2010-05-24T10:41:00.005-04:00

Congratulations Shawn & Reneé!!!!!!!!!! And a huge thank you to Bob, Rachel, Re'al and Rose for making this all possible.

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Taphi & Scott's Wedding, May 15th, 2010

2010-05-16T20:01:00.005-04:00

Taphi and Scott got married at the secluded and super unique McLane Audubon Center and Silk Farm Sanctuary in Concord, New Hampshire.

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real." "Does it hurt?" asked the rabbit. "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt." "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?" "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." -By Margery Williams, from The Velveteen rabbit

Birdseed thrown during their first kiss:

After an excellent lunch, we were treated to a Raptor Show:

Thank you so much - it was fun, unconventional, interesting and .... FUN!

Scott & Taphi - watching you say your vows to each other was very special, I'm very glad to have met you.

Katrin
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Ray & Tim's Wedding, May 10th 2010

2010-05-12T20:10:00.003-04:00

Ray and Tim got married in a beautiful and intimate ceremony at the gorgeous Phineas Swann Bed & Breakfast in Montgomery, Vermont. In attendance was Max who truly makes this family complete.

After the ceremony and a champagne toast, we headed out into the great outdoors and explored the (restored) covered bridges of Montgomery and also experienced an adventurous hike down to the waterfall (where's a videographer when you need one?).

Tim, Ray and Max: thank you for having me as your wedding photographer and allowing me to share your wedding day with you! Many, many more years.

Katrin
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Winners of the free engagement session

2010-05-01T20:00:00.003-04:00

Today’s Northeast Kingdom Wedding Show as the Eastside Restaurant & Pub in Newport was a huge success, I enjoyed meeting so many cool couples!

But now, Ladies and Gentlemen, our impartial wedding Lab Jake has drawn a number

.....and the winning couple is (drumroll please): Jackie Durocher and Cory Rivard!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

Katrin
Kingdom Wedding Photography

Meet your wedding photographer at the NorthEast Kingdom Bridal Show on May 1st, 2010

2010-04-20T13:48:00.004-04:00

More details on the official website of Moo 92

When: May 1st, 10 am - 4 pm

Where:
Eastside Restaurant
47 Landing Street
Newport, VT 05855-4431
(802) 334-2340
www.eastsiderestaurant.net

Why: To meet your wedding photographer and other great vendors and to enter for a chance to win a FREE engagement session!

I'm looking forward to seeing you all there!

Kat
Kingdom Wedding Photography

The Big Smash

2010-03-29T18:47:00.006-04:00

You’re smashing a handful of wedding cake into your bride’s face. The thought going through her mind at this point is:

a) He is so romantic. Just as romantic as the vacuum he gave me for Valentine’s Day.
b) He is so fun and spontaneous, I love it!
c) He’s a dead man!

If the answer is a, consider yourself mildly lucky. If the answer is b, you two are on the same page and you just dodged a major bullet. If the answer, however, is c, you are … well ... a dead man.

I’m all for having fun on your wedding day. It is, after all, a party. If you want to get married in a balloon or while scuba diving, go for it! Have a blast. If that’s what both of you agree upon, it’s all good. However, having cake thrown into your face against your will is not all that much fun for most people – much less a bride.

There is a time and a place for a good food fight. Your wedding is probably not the right time, nor the right place. Unless your wedding theme is “The Three Stooges” and you guys have actually talked about it beforehand and are both into it. Gentlemen: If she says “no”, she actually means “no” and she’s not going to change her mind, nor will she find it funny on your big day.

If you’re still wondering why most brides find this not funny, kindly consider this. Imagine you just bought the big screen television you always dreamed of. You have the snacks for the big game ready, the beer is chilling in the fridge, and your buddies are on the couch when your fiancée throws a bowl of spaghetti with tomato sauce at the screen. Would you think “hey, that’s kinda fun” or “What in the world”? If it’s the latter, try to put yourself into her pretty shoes for a sec.

Your (now) wife has spent more money on the dress, hair, make-up, shoes, flowers than you spent on this TV. This is the day she has been planning for months (it may have been the day she has dreamed of since she has been a little girl), she has put so much time and effort into this (think invitations, seating chart, party favors, flower arrangements … just to name a few) and the last thing she wants to happen is for you to smash cake into her face in front of her family, her friends, and co-workers …. The only reason she is not kicking you at that point is probably the blurred cake vision.

If you want to throw cake into somebody’s face, why not gently feed your new bride a piece of cake and then throw the rest of it at your best man. He’s a guy, he’s your buddy, he’s most likely going to find it more amusing than you wife … and he won’t make you spend your wedding night on the couch.

Happy Couples cutting & feeding each other cake:

Two stories from recent weddings:

1) The groom who changed his mind.

During our first phone conversation, the groom mentioned that they had planned a fun and relaxed wedding and that there would be cake throwing. I was excited beyond belief - this would have been the first mutual agreed upon cake throwing fest of my career.

Note the word "would" in the previous sentence.

The groom saw his gorgeous bride and immediately dismissed any and all plans that involved cake in any function other than eating/feeding and it was the sweetest moment ever. I can't even say I was disappointed, it just wouldn't have fit the occasion.

2. The groom who did.

No cake smushing was mentioned in our wedding consultation so I didn't expect it. Neither did the bride.
The groom hit her "full frontal", sending cake over her face, her dress and everything in the vicinity. The bride was close to tears as the Maid of Honor was wiping her face and dress when the groom leaned over to me (I had stopped taking photos at this point as it was clear that the bride needed no documentation of this particular wedding moment) and asked "This was not a good idea, was it?" Nope, really wasn't.

Kingdom Wedding Photography

Cassie & John's Wedding, March 12th, 2010

2010-03-15T12:51:00.004-04:00

Cassie & John got married at the beautiful Wolfeboro Inn in Wolfeboro, NH. We took some beautiful couple portraits at the gorgeous Wolfeboro Bay.

See more images on our Facebook Page

Congratulations again Cassie & John!

Katrin

Stephanie & Jeff's Wedding, March 6th, 2010

2010-03-08T12:39:00.004-05:00

Congratulations Stephanie & Jeff!!!!! It was such a pleasure photographing you and your families - thank you for having me as your photographer.

Now without further ado - the beautiful bride getting ready at the Inn at Weathersfield in Perkinsville, Vermont.

The ceremony was beautiful ...

Husband and Wife!

The cutting of the cake - I loved it. And Jeff, I'm so happy you changed your mind and didn't go for it.

Enjoy your honeymoon in our beautiful little state. I wish you all the best, may your life as husband and wife be as happy and joyous as your wedding day.

Kat

Brittany & Joel's Wedding, February 28th, 2010

2010-03-01T18:00:00.002-05:00

Congratulations Joel & Brittany!!!

Photographing this lovely and gorgeous couple was a pleasure. The wedding took place at the Old Brick Church in Williston with the reception at the Windjammer Restaurant in South Burlington, VT.

I absolutely loved the colors you picked and Brittany looked like a princess.

Actually, a little girl came up to Brit during the reception and asked with wide open eyes "Are you a real princess?". In my humble opinion, she is.

You can see the love:

Enjoy your honeymoon!!! You deserve it after the last couple of weeks. I wish you nothing but the best, plenty of ups and ... as they say ... they lived happily ever after.

Why hire a professional wedding photographer?

2010-02-04T18:13:00.007-05:00

Well, our very own wedding is proof of why you want to hire a professional photographer to capture your wedding.

Granted, we had an informal and very small wedding with only two parents and two guests in attendance, one of them the best man, the other one being the "photographer", a cinematographer by profession. So what could possibly go wrong one might wonder?

Our photographer showed up to the ceremony dressed in a long-sleeved, hooded sweatshirt with a scene from "Dungeons & Dragons" printed across the front. Yes, we had an informal wedding with me wearing a nice summer dress but his outfit was more than just casual.

The ceremony was short and sweet – I don’t remember half of it as we were standing on a little bridge across a river and I was petrified of dropping the ring into the water. I did, however, see our photographer moving around, he was taking what appeared to be enough photos to fill an entire wedding album. Well, we did have plenty of photos but the prints we received were overexposed, underexposed, blurry, distorted and not a single one was usable. Did you ever watch the movie “Natural Born Killers”? Remember the LSD sequences? That’s what our wedding photos looked like. Nothing like seeing yourself blur through a triple-exposed photo.
The only photos we actually have of our wedding day are two images taken before the ceremony as well as the 10 images the professional wedding photographer provided by the wedding chapel took. Unfortunately, you can only see my husband's face in the photos. ;-( My hair and my back look great, though.

Pre-Ceremony photos taken by my Dad as well as my husband.

Up until this day, I want to kick myself for trusting a friend with our wedding photos and for opting for the basic photography package listed on the chapel’s website. We were thinking small & fun wedding, no big fuss – it was about us getting married, not the flowers, not the dress and not about a fancy cake. Well, seven years later, I wish I had more photos of our first kiss, of us walking down the aisle, photos of us hugging my parents afterwards … and the list goes on. My point: With wedding photography, the old saying holds true "You get what you pay for.". It is also not something just anybody can do. And when it goes wrong, it ain’t pretty.

Photos of our ceremony:

You can read the entire story of our wedding day in this week's (Febr. 10th, 2010) edition of the Barton Chronicle, pages 2-3 of the Wedding Supplement.

Professional photographers are artists with an eye for the tiniest of details such as your bouquet, shot of shoes/veil/rings, your place cards ... just to name a few. A professional wedding photographer knows about posing, camera angles, the flow of the day and much, much more.

Pro photographers pride themselves on their equipment and generally they have the best gear available. People who dabble in wedding photography on the side can’t justify the expense of professional gear, reliable backup gear, and proper business insurance. And then consider experience – an amateur can show you a few good images, but can they do that day in and day out? Do they have the experience to deliver high quality images on a consistent basis? Probably not, or else – they would be in the business themselves . And one last point, when you hire a Pro – they are indeed putting their reputation and their livelihood on the line. You have trust, you have references, and you have a proven track record.

In addition, your wedding photographer is there for one reason and one reason only: to photograph your wedding. Your “Uncle Bob” is there to enjoy your wedding. Have your guests celebrate with you and have them take photos because they want to or because a moment presents itself – but don’t have them take photos because you don’t have a professional wedding photographer.

Still on the fence? Read this article!

Kingdom Wedding Photography

Animals and Weddings

2010-01-30T19:18:00.006-05:00

I love pets. And if we're ever going to renew our vows, our dogs Daisy and Jake will be part of the wedding. They're part of our family. As a wedding photographer, I've seen dogs work amazingly well as ring bearers but I've also seen dogs take off with the wedding rings with the best man chasing after them.

It all comes down to your animal, his/her level of training, his/her comfort level when in an unfamiliar environment with many people as well as the style of wedding you are planning to have.

If your dog is well trained and reliably listens to your commands even when there are distractions, then there's no reason to not have him/her be part of your wedding

If your dog (like mine) is well trained but would rather raid the buffet table or solicit affection from anybody attending your wedding, then you might want to consider have a friend walk your leashed furry friend down the aisle.

However, if your dog is shy, timid, aggressive, nervous, has very selective hearing or is not comfortable around strangers, you would be doing him/her a disservice by having them there. They would be much more comfortable staying in their own home, away from the stress and excitement. Also keep in mind that you will have to have somebody supervise your dog on site. Also: not all of your guests will be excited about having a dog bouncing around and if you have invited parents with younger kids, it's usually best for everybody involved to leave your pup at home.

I've had the pleasure of photographing great weddings at couples' residences with their respective cats and dogs.

Kingdom Wedding Photography

Vermont Wedding Venues III: The Webster Barn at Sterling Meadows Farm, Hyde Park, Vermont

2010-01-30T18:56:00.010-05:00

The Webster Barn at Sterling Meadows Farm is another one of my favorite Vermont Wedding Venues. It is conveniently close to all the amenities of Hyde Park (Dunkin' Donuts - you'll appreciate it once you get here, it's one of the few in the area) and yet, once you're on the property, you are surrounded by open fields, woods in the distance and our spectacular mountains. Just fantastic for pictures.

The only downside from a photographer's standpoint is that the ceremony site provides absolutely no shade. Direct sunlight is incredibly harsh, especially around noon when the sun is at its highest point. A late afternoon ceremony at this property is incredibly stunning whereas having your ceremony at "high noon" is not something I would recommend.

I suggest that you check out this cool website - This handy
Vermont Sunset Sunrise Calender gives you the times of sunrise/sunset for a fairly good selection of Vermont towns for the entire year.
The "golden hour" at The Webstern Barn is unsurpassed for gorgeous portraits - note that the couple's portraits below all were taken at that magic hour.

Now on to the reception site. It is rustic and will provide the "quintessential Vermont" backdrop for your Vermont Country Wedding.

The barn is perfect for receptions. Plenty of space for tables, a band, a buffet, cake buffet (!) and dancing.

Included in the site rental is the use of the farm house. The upstairs is perfect for a bridal party of 4-5 to get ready:

The ceremony site:

Yeah! We pulled it off:

The open fields and mountains provide fantastic wedding portrait opportunities:

Can't get enough? See more wedding photos here.

Vermont Wedding Venues II: Sleepy Hollow Inn, Huntington, Vermont

2010-01-29T15:34:00.007-05:00

I adore the Sleepy Hollow Inn in Huntington. The location is super private and stunningly gorgeous. Apart from the lovely Inn, the property features a beautiful wedding barn, lake, sauna, wedding gazebo as well as a pavilion right next to the wedding barn.

Gorgeous round barn:

View from the barn across the lake:

The barn is equally stunning from the inside and is a photographer's dream. It has an upper level which makes it possible to take stunning photos from "above".

Inside the wedding barn:

Wedding Ceremony right at the lake:

Large groups of people can be very difficult to photograph as even with staggering people and tiering to make the people towards the back not be covered by those standing in front of them, you can end up being a long way back to fit everyone in (provided there is enough space to back up). Thankfully, the wedding barn's patio takes care of this issue. In the photo below I remained on the balcony while the group posed below me in front of the lake.

Group photo at the lake:

The property also has plenty of gorgeous locations for couple portraits:

A huge thank you to Chris & Lacey and their families for this wonderful day! Photographing your wedding felt like spending a day with friends.

Find more wedding galleries here.

Vermont Wedding Venues - Pigeon Hill Farm, East Berkshire, Vermont

2010-01-23T15:21:00.008-05:00

I am lucky enough to visit some of Vermont's most beautiful wedding venues every single year. So I've decided to feature my favorite properties from a wedding photographer's standpoint. The properties featured in this ongoing series are local B&Bs and wedding barns that capture the spirit of Vermont, are stunningly beautiful and wonderful to photograph. They are also properties with wonderful owners/hosts that I'm all too happy to recommend. Disclaimer: I do not have any partnership agreements or financial ties with any of them and simply feature them because I love to work there.

First up is Pigeon Hill Farm in East Berkshire, Vermont. The B&B is an elegant Victorian Inn, surrounded by beautiful gardens that offer fantastic opportunities for portraits.

Inside one of the guest rooms:

The sitting/living room:

Pigeon Hill's gardens are simply spectacular. Michael & Jeffrey have created a secluded English Cottage Garden with various different varieties of lilacs, tulips, roses ... perfectly manicured and super charming. Gorgeous for formal family portraits as well as couple portraits and candid photos:

You will also find a chicken coop with different breeds on the property:

The smaller barn features many more props and opportunities for stunning wedding portraits:

Pigeon Hill Farm's Wedding Barn is a century old post and beam construction, very warm and rustic, complete with antique furnishings.

The bar inside "The Stables" - the wedding barn:

Michael and Jeffrey also have a hand for flowers and decorations and their care and great attention to detail really shows:

Thank you to Jen & Matt for having me as your wedding photographer, it was a pleasure spending your wedding day with you. And thank you Michael and Jeffrey for your hospitality.

Visit my website for more photo galleries, rates and helpful information.

Become a Fan on Facebook

2010-01-19T14:23:00.003-05:00

Join me on Facebook and stay up-to-date with everything wedding photography related.

Find out more about your wedding photographer here.

You can have your cake and eat it, too!

2010-01-17T20:20:00.003-05:00

My second favorite wedding topic: Cake! I love a good cake. Your cake takes center stage at the reception and should be a reflection of who you are. It can match your décor, your dress/flowers, it can take any shape or form – from the traditional multi-tier cake to a cake that looks like your dog or the place you met (think Ace of Cakes). Other than the price, there really are no limitations.

From a photographer’s standpoint, you want to consider one thing: an all white wedding cake doesn’t photography all that well. While white icing on a white cake looks stunning in person, it normally doesn’t stand out a lot in photos. I’ve selected a few of my favorite cake photos and will explain why this particular cake photographed so well.

This first photo shows a very elegant white cake with chocolate accents. It is very simple, yet stunning. What makes this a great photo is the fantastic contrast this cake provides.

This cake matched the theme of the wedding (spring/butterflies) perfectly. Again, we have a white, multi-tiered cake but the decorations provide a splash of color, texture as well as contrast. A beautiful cake.

This is a super-fun, colorful and somewhat non-traditional cake. It adds visual interest and photographed insanely well.

As somebody who never had a wedding cake on their wedding day (we got married in Vegas, had four guests and temperatures of 114 degrees at night), I’m excited that we will finally have a “proper” wedding cake this year for our 7-year anniversary. Ms. Tiffany Osowiecki will make our cake; I had the pleasure of tasting as well as photographing one of her cakes and it was simply divine. Imagine a White Chocolate, Grand-Marnier Cake with raspberries. Yummy. In case you want to get in touch with her (which I highly recommend), you can reach her at (802) 326-3131.

Click here to see more photos of different wedding receptions and wedding cakes.

Lacey & Mariya's Wedding in Rutland, VT

2010-01-09T11:22:00.006-05:00

Congratulations! I had the honor of photographing this super cute couple on their wedding day. The ceremony took place at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rutland, VT and they were such sports despite the cold! It was a pleasure meeting your family. A special thanks to your parents for graciously inviting us to dinner at the Table 24 Restaurant in Rutland, VT. I wish you a lifetime of happiness.

18 degrees and still smiling!

See more wedding photos here.