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September 28th, 2011

Featured Vendor: River Market Event Place

The River Market Event Place is a totally unique Kansas City venue. With it’s tall open spaces, modern design, and huge garage doors that let in tons of bright sunlight, it’s the perfect space for a wedding or event. Plus the staff is so wonderful. They’ve been kind enough to host tons of events for local people, and Rebekah, the coordinator, is a joy to work with. Here’s more about this awesome KC venue:

When and why did you become interested in opening an event space?

There are several partners involved with River Market Event Place. Darryl and Leah Bernstein, Chad and Rebekah Johnson and Morgan Miller. Darryl is the owner of Bernstein Productions and Darryl Bernstein Studios and Morgan Miller owns Cornerstone Photography. The space doubles as their studios. The idea actually sparked when Darryl began looking for a new photo studio for his business. When he found the space he knew it had potential to be more than just a studio. He and Leah invited Chad, Rebekah and Morgan to partner up with them and thus, River Market Event Place was born.

Your venue has such a unique and modern feel. What inspired the design?

The beautiful, modern design was the work of Jonathan Arnold, of Arnold Imaging and Clockwork Architecture and Design right here in Kansas City. They built everything to LEEDS standards, so events held at our venue tread lightly on the environment.

What unique features does the River Market Event Place offer that other venues might not?

We have multiple levels that provide an opportunity for clients to get creative when planning their layout. The high ceilings and glass doors make the room feel spacious and open, not to mention fill the space with wonderful natural light during the day. All of the over-sized glass garage doors can be raised up for an open air effect. When the doors are open, guests can enjoy the patio area, but won’t feel separated from the rest of the party. Being in the River Market District, we are able to provide a downtown urban feel, but without some of the chaos you find in the heart of downtown. Our street is quaint and quiet. We have ample parking down the block and it’s free! We also have our signature piece…the birch branch chandelier. There is not another one like it!

If you could offer words of advice to couples picking out a venue, what would they be?

You should pick the venue that you feel comfortable in and can visualize your memories being made in. The venue sets the tone for the entire event. You should also feel comfortable with the venue’s staff. They are going to be sharing in a special time in your life, so you want to feel confident they will provide the level of service you expect.

What’s your favorite part about being involved with someone’s wedding?

Seeing the couple’s excitement and knowing that this is the day they are going to remember forever! It is an honor to be part of such an important experience and wonderful to meet all the people involved.

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Tags: event space Kansas City midwest Missouri River Market venue wedding

September 21st, 2011

Featured Vendor: Portraits by Lucinda

I’ve unfortunately never had the opportunity to work with Lucinda, but fell in love with her work when I saw the adorable inspiration/styled shoot she did with some other talented Kansas vendors. I also shared Kelly and Ryan’s lovely wedding on the blog back in August. She’s one of those vendors that just oozes enthusiasm and passion for weddings. Needless to say, I’m a fan of Lucinda’s work, and that’s why I’m so happy to be able to share a little bit more about her and her business today on the blog.

Where to find her: Website, Blog, Facebook

Where do you live, work, and play?

I live in Olathe, KS. My husband and I just bought our first house together in May! Portraits By Lucinda is based in my home studio, but you can normally find me on photo shoots in the many parks and beautiful locations in Kansas City. If I am not working, I am most likely in my craft room sewing or crocheting away for my etsy shop. What can I say? I love to be creative! I also love spending a day off with my husband!

When did you first become interested in photography, and what sparked your interest?

If you ask my Mom, she would say I was born with an interest in photography. As a kid, I always had a camera in hand to document my life. I am so happy that my interest started at such an early age because I have all those fun memories on film. Yes film! As a kid, I would drag my friends into pretend photoshoots. Documenting life and the people I love has always been a passion of mine and I love that I get to do this everyday for my clients.

When and why did you decide to start your business, Portraits by Lucinda?

In my senior year of high school in 2001, I knew I wanted photography to be my full time job. To further my photography skills I went to Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA and got my Bachelor of Arts in Photography. I actually started my business in my 2nd year of college. From there it grew to a point where I was lucky enough to do it full time. I’ve now been running my own business full time for the past 5 years. I started Portraits by Lucinda because I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing what I love. The thing I love most about what I do is capturing an individual’s personality and uniqueness. My goal is to let the subject’s personality shine through the camera’s lens and onto print.

What is your favorite subject to photograph other than weddings?

Newborn babies. There is nothing sweeter than photographing new life. I love catching those little babies in a deep snooze so I can forever capture the little works of art that they are.

What’s your favorite part of being involved with someones big day?

I absolutely love to photograph weddings! It’s amazing to be a part of one of the couples’ happiest days of their life. I love seeing how excited they are to finally become husband and wife. One of the sweetest wedding moments to capture is when the bride and groom see each other for the first time on their big day. I also love to see the different, unique details each couple adds to their wedding. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing that you are creating pictures that will be treasured by a family forever; even for generations to come. I feel honored to have the opportunity to capture the most important moments in my clients’ lives.

Any words of advice to couples trying to choose a photographer for their wedding?

Follow some wedding design blogs to help with inspiration. Make your wedding unique to you as a couple. There are so many great ideas our there and they will help make your wedding day beautiful. Hire a day-of-wedding-coordinator! I have seen too many weddings where too much of the day’s responsibility falls on the bride and groom’s family. You and your family want to enjoy your big day, not work it.

In the end when the big day finally arrives, leave the stress behind you and enjoy the day for all it is. Some things may go wrong or not be exactly what you wanted, but most of the times these are very minor details. Pick vendors you trust and whose work you love and know. You will want full-time professionals that will do what you hired them to do and do it well. I can’t stress how important it is to trust your vendors. Soak up that wedding day because it is one that you will remember as one of the most special days of your life.

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Tags: engagements Featured Vendor Kansas midwest newborn photography portraits wedding

September 14th, 2011

Featured Vendor: The Social Seam

I often look on Etsy to find great wedding vendors to feature on the blog. As we all know sometimes it can be a challenge to sift through all the shops and find unique, quality products, and that’s what really struck me about The Social Seam, today’s featured vendor. Owner and designer Julie really puts a lot of craftsmanship and care into all of the bags she creates. Her clutches make amazing bridesmaids gifts, her bow ties add a touch of charm to any groomsmen’s ensemble, and her bridal bags are the perfect accessory for any bride to be (my favorite is the Elle). Here’s more about Julie, and The Social Seam (and p.s. I’m crazy jealous of her awesome in-home studio space):

Where to find her: Etsy shop/website, Facebook, Twitter

Where do you live, work, and play?

I live in Overland Park, Kansas, work in my pink and white home sewing studio and work part time at a local fabric and quilt shop.

When did you first become interested in sewing, and what sparked your interest?

My earliest sewing memory was as a child in my mom’s sewing room, probably around 8 years old. Mom sewed most of the girls clothes and some of my brother’s, and I remember sewing stuffed animals for my bed. Mom thinks she cut out most of my patterns for me. In my junior high home ed. class for the sewing project I made a brushed denim wrap skirt. Later, as a mother of young children, I got serious about perfecting my skills and took a class at Harper’s (a fabric store in Kansas) called Sewphisticates. I took that class for years before finally graduating.

When did you decide to start your business, The Social Seam?

The Social Seam began in 2008. I was sewing wedding gown alterations at a local bridal boutique and the owners were so gracious in allowing me to sew, display and sell clutches in their shop. Then I found Etsy and opened an online store. The name of my business is just a play on words, as I am a seamstress envisioning my clutches, wraps and bow ties being out in the social scene.

Where do you get the inspiration for your designs?

Inspirations for my designs come in a few forms. I am from the Show-Me state, and a visual learner, so when I see a detail here or there, or see a luxurious fabric, I can take an idea and incorporate it into a clutch. The Christine Clutch design comes from the back of an Alvina Valenta wedding gown, and the Elle Jane Clutch was inspired by a Valentino bag. One little detail on a Michael Kors clutch inspired me to design the Norma Clutch. About 5 years ago I made a wool skirt with a strip of wool that was gathered up and hand sewn onto the front of the skirt in a swirly design. That’s my inspiration for the Kimberly Clutch. I’ve named my designs after family members, friends and the people who have inspired me.

Brides can come to me with their wedding colors to have any clutch design sewn to match. If a bride or bridesmaid is having their dress custom made for them, I can sew a matching clutch out of their fabric remnants.

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Tags: bow tie bride bridesmaid clutch fashion groom Kansas midwest wedding

August 31st, 2011

Featured Vendor: Wirken Films

I first became familiar with Brandon and Nicole’s work when they shot my friends Brian and Ellen’s wedding. I absolutely loved the short film they put together, the music was perfect, and the shots were edited together in a way that really told a story about their day. It was no surprise to me when they merged their business with Wirken Photography, and they together have created a beautiful multi-media experience for their couples. Here’s more about Brandon and Nicole’s business Wirken Films.

Where to find him: Website, Blog, Facebook

Where do you live, work, and play?

We live with our 2 year old daughter in Kansas City, Missouri. Most of our time is spent at home with her, working in our home office or meeting with clients at the Wirken studio in Waldo. We enjoy spending time together every day playing at city parks, coloring or having impromptu dance sessions at home.

Ashley + Philip | Married | Short Film from Wirken Films on Vimeo.

When did you first become interested in creating films? What sparked your interest?

Once upon a time I wanted to create short form and feature films. Originally I chose to attend film school because I spent nearly every waking moment watching movies. It was the enjoyment of movies, rather than a passion for creating them, that gave me that spark of interest. It took many years in the film industry for me to find myself with an enjoyment of, and a passion for creating films. Once I made the decision to devote my time to making documentary wedding films, I felt like something clicked. It opened my eyes to the real reasons behind why I liked movies in the first place.

When did you decide to start your business, and why did you decide to merge with Wirken?

We began Parigo Studios Photography and Cinematography in 2006 with a desire to use our photography and film making background documenting weddings and portraits in a meaningful way. After the birth of our daughter in 2009 we decided to transition Parigo Studios into more portraits and less wedding photography, and find a new venue for our real goal of diving headfirst into wedding cinema. I have always felt that wedding photography and cinema co-exist and wanted to keep our films closely related to a local wedding photography company. As video and photo technology come full circle this is becoming vitally important. We feel what you can offer with both photography and cinema is so much more rich than what you can offer separately. Wirken Photography was an obvious choice as we needed a group of photographers with the same philosophy and desire to explore. Luck would have it they were looking to expand their services with like-minded artists at the same time. The fact that we had all become friends over the years was an added plus, and now we are happy to be family.

Gloria + Hunter | Married | Integrated Film from Wirken Films on Vimeo.

Have you been shooting weddings from the beginning, and if not why did you start?

I went to film school & spent many years in commercial film and video production, and Nicole has a BFA in fine art photography and painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I feel that I’ve always been destined to shoot weddings. I’m an amateur genealogist, and I feel documenting our lives in a meaningful way is very important. The sheer amount of information about our ancestors that is lost every day is astonishing. When I connected the dots that I could help preserve memories, and do it in an artistic way, there really was no going back from making wedding films.

Lana + Ryan | Engagement Film from Wirken Films on Vimeo.

What’s your favorite part of being involved in someones big day?

My favorite part of being involved in a wedding is the little moments. A person’s humanity is often not shown in how they go through the actual steps of a wedding, it is shown by how they look at their family, how they touch each other, or even how they stand while alone. The small shake in their voice, or nervous laugh, causes me more joy than any grand words that they might be saying. To me those little moments reveal so much about who they are. Wedding film making is a chance to show those things not only to them, but to their descendants. A chance to show who they are, even if only for a few precious moments.That is priceless.

Any words of advice for couples trying to choose a videographer?

Don’t think of what you think a wedding video should be. Think of what you want a wedding video to be. Then find a film maker that fits your needs and that you trust. Trust is most important. It is that simple really.

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Tags: engagement midwest Missouri video videography wedding

August 24th, 2011

Featured Vendor: Coordinately Yours

I’ve worked with Julie on a wedding before, and there’s one thing I can definitely say about her, she knows how to coordinate an event. As a floral vendor I felt really prepared and ready because of the delivery schedule, and contact info that she provided to all the vendors, which is a luxury that we don’t always get to enjoy when setting up. Plus getting to know Julie as an industry friend has been great. She’s so open to collaboration and creative projects, and always has ideas to share. Here’s a little more about her business, Coordinately Yours:

Where to find her: Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

Where do you live, work, and play?

After updating our Prairie Village home, I have decided it’s time for a new project. We recently purchased a 1960′s home in Old Leawood that I look forward to renovating and making our home.

vintage glasses (from a thrift shop) filled with large hydrangea blooms

When did you first become interested in event planning, and what sparked your interest?

I was inspired by Ann Lemcke of the Art of Entertaining in St. Louis while working for her in college. Her concept was to create food that looked as good as it tasted. I founded Coordinately Yours in 2002 and vowed to transcend that concept into all facets of event planning. Since each client has a unique personality, I wanted to design distinctly different weddings and events for them. It takes considerably more time and effort to provide individualized service, but doesn’t compromise why I chose event planning.

What types of services do you offer your clients?

Wedding planning and design is constantly evolving. Today, more brides are interested in diy options. To accommodate, in 2010 we began offering ala carte services {venue and vendor recommendations, budget development, diy consultations} to guide them and provide only the services they truly want/need. We still offer our most coveted packages-full service coordination, day of coordination and design services as well.

Where does your event planning inspiration come from?

Most of my inspiration is derived from non-wedding and event related blogs and websites such as EmersonMade, Anthropologie, Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn. I feel seeking outside inspiration keeps ideas fresh rather than falling into what everyone else is producing. Of course, a lot of my concepts are “aha” moments that come in the middle of the night and I do a mock up to present to my clients.

What would you say to someone trying to decide whether or not to hire a coordinator for their wedding?

Hiring a coordinator is an investment. Not only can a coordinator’s vast knowledge save you money, but a coordinator can save you a lot of stress. Couples invest in a great photographer to capture the moments and the details, hire a florist to make everything look beautiful, spend thousands on food, beverage, favors, entertainment, but who pulls all that together to ensure they work seamlessly? An experienced coordinator is worth their weight in gold and for a day of coordination, at the mere cost of a wedding cake.

Any words of advice you’d like to offer couples planning their big day?

Take it one step at a time. Don’t allow magazine timelines to rush you into decisions or create a panic. I find that those who rush to plan their wedding in the first month of engagement, usually make decisions that can be costly, they later regret, or are bored throughout the next 11 months, wishing they had something left to do. Planning your wedding should be a fun, positive experience.

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