When I found out my friend Crystal was getting married, I knew she wouldn’t be satisfied with the status quo so I can’t say I was shocked when I first saw the couple’s one-of-a-kind wedding website and matching invitations. It was so good that I just had to share in the hopes that other art-loving, off-the-beaten-path couples out there might get inspired!

For these two fun and creative kids, a plain old cookie cutter wedding website just wouldn’t do. So what did they do? Commissioned the talented Erika Deoudes to create an awesome graphic they could use on invitations and their site that captures their love of video games, zombies, fantasy and all things weird and wild.

If you’re interested in borrowing this idea, have you considered reaching out to your favorite artist to request a commission? You never know!

Oh and congratulations, Crystal and Trey!

We were thrilled to work with Paired Images for the first time last year, and have enjoyed each wedding since (we’re also super excited to work with them again this weekend!).  They’re as fun as they are talented, and have built a really impressive photography business that we’re happy to promote, fawn over and enjoy.  We recently asked them to share their thoughts on weddings, music and more – here’s Jess and Jess! (To make things easy and so you can keep track of who is who, N = Jess Notargiacomo and L = Jess Latos)

How did you get started in the wedding business?
N- In 2002, when I was getting ready to graduate from art school I managed a studio for a photographer who did events and portraits. I assisted her and her second photographer and edited all of their work. Doing both was crucial, I learned the entire process from start to finish from successful and very talented photographers. In conjunction with this, our director of the photography program was getting leads from brides who were interested in a student photographing their wedding. He knew I had some experience, so he passed them to me. I am really indebted to the 20 or so clients I had my first two years for trusting me with such a big life event. As well as all of my teachers and mentors.
L- In 2005 after graduating from RIT, I was trolling Craigslist ads for a photography job (back when it wasn’t as creepy). I came upon an ad listing for a commercial photographer looking for an assistant/studio manager. What I actually walked into was a log cabin with Notargiacomo sitting at a computer and a wedding venue just outside the window. So I thought to myself, “I guess I can learn wedding photography.” And so my love of weddings and my friendship with the Notargiacomo began.

What do you do when you are not working?
N- Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity Montgomery County as a photographer, read, stretch, hang out with Phil. I’m a workaholic.
L- Read a lot, work out, create (glass blowing, paper products, jewelry, etc), ski, soccer, hang out with Nils and my family, nap. I’m interested in everything!

How would you describe your approach to weddings?
N- Quiet and decisive but bossy when I need to be. I’m focused on the story and capturing personalities.
L- Exuberant and detail oriented, but quiet until it’s time to be loud. I’m focused on design to capture the mood.

What inspires you in your work?
The people, the light, creating images people will value forever, and experiencing new traditions.

What do you find most rewarding about your job?
The most rewarding moment for us as wedding photographers is after a wedding. We approach the bride/groom/parents to say goodbye and they wrap their arms around us, thank us and tell us how excited they are to see the photos. Most wedding vendors are finished with that wedding when the lights go out. We are just getting started. Over the next six months we get to relive the excitement with blog posts, delivering images, and creating an album. By then we are old friends and get to watch as the pair’s life together grows.

What’s the one thing you wish everyone knew about you or your business?
We are full time photographers who laugh a lot.

What do you think sets your company apart from other photographers?
The most obvious thing that sets us apart is that we are a pair of photographers in a 50/50 partnership with the same first name who are not in a relationship (even though we get asked a lot). We try to shoot together as much as we can and we share a business email address. What is nice about art related fields though is that no two artists are alike. Each photographer has their own story, style and personality which contributes to what sets them apart.

What do you love about weddings?
The people. We are genuine people lovers, fascinated by family dynamics, inspired by the energy in a room and eager to hear, see and tell the story.

What do you hate about weddings?
Wedding hangover. The day after when you feel everything you put your body through the day before, when you were too busy having fun to notice. (This has nothing to do with alcohol.)

What is the coolest thing you’ve ever seen at a wedding?
A shoo-fly-pie almost the size of my arm span, a full double rainbow over a corn field, rings with the inside inscription “your ass is mine”, Stevie Wonder singing as the bride walked down the aisle.

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to couples planning a wedding?
Be flexible without compromising what is really important to you. Hire competent vendors you connect with and then trust them. Plan before the wedding and then let it go on the day of. On your wedding day, have fun and be in the moment!

Who is your favorite artist or band?
N- I’m a sucker for a good 90s mix, but Latos makes me skip the angry songs when she’s in the studio.
L- John Prine feels like home. Notargiacomo is in charge of the music.
Our Pandora stations that get the most play… Bob Dylan, Teenage Dirt Bag, Nina Simone, Beyonce, Bon Iver, Outkast. We are a little all over the place, really depends on our mood.

What is the worst song of all time?
The chicken dance song.

Open mic, final thoughts:
Currently we share a desk and sit two feet from each other all day, every day. We are like sisters but excited to expand soon. Latos is currently desk shopping. We have an obsession with succulents, a bad ass camera collection, and every Saturday morning we go to the farmers market across the street for apple turnovers and conversation with our favorite vendors. We would be delighted if you stopped by the studio so we can get to know you and while you’re here you can experience the Jess and Jess show!

Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us, Jess and Jess, and we’ll see you out there for some wedding awesomeness!

Truly Unique: The Hippie Limo When you think wedding transportation, does a vintage 1965 VW Samba Microbus come to mind? Talk about different!

Inspired by Gray + Hot Pink United With Love adored Cherry Blossom Events’ gray + hot pink styling and we have to agree, it is pretty amazing.

The Renewal :: The Music Man! Did you hear?! We’re spinning Allison Barnhill’s vow renewal! WOOOO!!

Real Weddings: Erin and Ali Devin spun this classic and elegant Washington affair!

Looking at what our couples have requested their DJ wear to their wedding over the last year or so, we’re seeing fewer tuxedos and many more requests to wear a simple suit. Does this mean Washington DC weddings are getting more casual or is it just a coincidence?

What will you wear to our wedding? is actually one of the 40 Questions to Ask a DJ you can find on our website. Here’s our answer:

Most wedding DJs own, and are comfortable wearing, a tuxedo when they perform. If the groom will not be wearing a tuxedo, then it is inappropriate for the DJ to wear a tuxedo. You should also ask what type of tuxedo the DJ wears. Brands are unimportant (most tuxes look practically identical), but ask about the style of vest, cummerbund, and neckwear. Some DJs prefer a classic, understated look and others wear flashy, shimmering or patterned vests and matching bowties. It is important that the DJ’s “look” meets your expectations.

So we have to ask everyone – not just our couples – what are you having your DJ wear? Have you even thought about it? And for our fellow DJ friends out there, have you noticed your couples making more casual DJ wear choices lately too?

Caro Emerald – A Night Like This

Ziggy Marley- A Lifetime

Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole – Over the Rainbow

Nick Drake – Time Has Told Me

Neko Case – I Wish I Was the Moon

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to focus on the wonderful ladies who gave us life: mom!

Pink Cloud 9 founder Sarah Shewey has a few suggestions for honoring mom on your big day via HuffPost Weddings; among them, arranging special transportation for moms of the couple to and from the wedding, going dress shopping together (her dress, not your dress) and treating mom to spectacular hair and makeup on your wedding day so she looks and feels fabulous.

Check out the article for the rest of the suggestions!

I’ve seen all kinds of other touching ways to honor mom, such as stitching a small piece of mom’s wedding dress into your own if you don’t want to wear hers (as long as she’s OK with that, of course!) or using a piece of the dress to wrap your bouquet. You can also use one of mom’s favorite flowers in your bouquet. If none of that works, why not have your DJ include a song meaningful to both you and your mom (think something you used to listen to together when you were little) for a quick mother/daughter dance?

Have you figured out a way to honor the moms in your life on your wedding day? We’d love to hear your plans!

Apparently Allison is too, writing up a fantastic post on her blog about her and her husband Tom’s decision and why they went with Devin. Normally if a wedding vendor is interested in a particular DJ, it’s because he or she worked with that DJ at another wedding and was impressed. In the case of Devin, though, it was actually a recommendation from one of Allison’s own clients that got her interested in seeing if Devin would be the right fit for her renewal. After being initially impressed by Devin’s bio (namely that he’s a Redskins season ticket holder), their meeting went well and they went ahead with booking Devin. Yay!

Be it a fellow wedding vendor or a potential client who has never heard of us until coming across us on WeddingWire, we treat each event with the same level of care and concern. At the end of the day, we want our couples to feel confident that the DJ hand-picked to work with them is the best fit for their individual personalities, music tastes and needs.

As you’ll see if you read Allison’s interview with Jennifer, this commitment to a good match between clients and their DJ is one of the big things that differentiates us from other DJ companies out there. Bottom line: we want you to like your DJ. Like want to have a beer with him like him, not just tolerate him for the 6 hours he’ll be performing your wedding.

If you’re as excited about Allison and Tom’s renewal as we are, you can follow the fun on the Allison Barnhill Designs blog!

We’re so happy you chose Devin, Allison and Tom, and we can’t wait to be a part of your renewal!

Before you let your guests go crazy with your wedding music, please check out these tips Jennifer gave Bayside Bride readers today on pitfalls to avoid and details to keep in mind. And remember: if you wouldn’t let them control your iPod on a road trip, perhaps you should rethink allowing your guests free rein with your wedding music!

Pinterest for Photographers: A Guest Post by Lisa Devlin Love it or hate it, for this professional photographer, Pinterest is a free marketing and communication tool that she feels helps her do her job better.

Truly Engaged: Disconnecting to Stay Connected Have you been so consumed by wedding planning that you’ve completely forgotten about the person you’re about to marry sitting right next to you? Intervention time, baby!

Friday Flowers: Lilacs Personally, I’ve always loved lilacs and miss the days of playing in my grandparents’ yard with the giant lilac bush sending that sweet scent wafting through the air. Here are some gorgeous examples of lilac wedding flowers… anyone else out there a fan?

How did you get started in the wedding business?
The majority of my life I had a camera attached to me. In 2003 I was in college and a professor of mine asked me to photograph his wedding. I decided a formal education in photography was important so I went to Hallmark Institute of Photography and have been shooting weddings ever since.

What do you do when you are not working?
I spend lot of time watching independent films, traveling, and doing yoga. I turned my hobby of photography into a job so I still take a lot of photos for myself.

How would you describe your approach to weddings?
Stress free. My goal is to not add any extra drama on the wedding day because there are already so many other emotions flying around. My approach is the same as when I worked back stage in theater productions, keep everything moving along, keep everyone happy, and do a great job.

What inspires you in your work?
Light is always a photographer’s inspiration. I love the way it curves around the body of a bride or makes a groom look dramatic, and how I can use that light to illuminate the story of the wedding day. Stories always inspire me and because of my theater background, every couple’s love story inspires me.

What do you find the most rewarding about your job?
I become really close with my clients and one of the most rewarding things about my job is the friendships that I have with them. When my couples start a family, I am one of the first people to know when that new baby is born. When I get that call from the hospital I can’t help thinking how awesome my job is! It is so special to be with my clients on some of the happiest days of their lives.

What’s the one thing you wish everyone knew about you or your business?
I am a lot more social then some photographers. Throughout the wedding process I also have location scouting with my clients, dinner/drinks with my clients before their weddings, and an image release party when their photos are ready. I also try to get my clients together more often for happy hours, client parties, and group date nights. My couples are all very similar so I like the idea of possibly creating some friendships through my business as well.

What do you think sets your company apart from other photographers?
Anyone can take a photo, but not everyone is a professional photographer. I can artistically and correctly photograph a wedding, while keeping the bride calm, the flower girl smiling with finger puppets, reminding the bridesmaids to put deodorant on, giving a tissue to crying mom, telling the groom to breath, catching Dad the first time he sees his daughter, keeping the groomsmen from drinking too much before the ceremony, and making sure we stay on schedule for the whole day. I have been to hundreds of weddings so I have seen it all and I love being there to help move the day along while photographing the story of the day.

What do you love about weddings?
Every one of them is unique! I never know exactly what is going to happen so to me it is like going to the theater every weekend! The characters are usually the same, but there are variations on each of them. I am always looking for that client who will surprise me or go out of the wedding box.

What do you hate about weddings?
Guests with cameras and camera phones get in my way all the time. My clients invest in me to be there to capture everything, but a guest with an iPhone in the aisle blocking the first kiss is almost impossible to get around. It is unfortunate that guests have lost their ability to just be at an event and enjoy it so we can do our jobs.

What is the coolest thing you’ve ever seen at a wedding?
A streaker!

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to couples planning a wedding?
Be yourselves. It is really easy to get lost in all the wants and desires of everyone around you at a wedding, but the truth is this is your day no matter how much money people are putting into it. You should be able to look back on it and know it was the day you wanted it to be. If you want a small wedding…have a small wedding. If you want to elope..ELOPE! I have heard so many stories from couples who are basically having the wedding their parents wanted, but that is because their parents didn’t do the wedding they wanted to when they had the chance.

Who is your favorite artist or band?
Jonatha Brooke and Scissor Sisters…totally different, but both have amazing melodies and lyrics.

What is the worst song of all time?
Anything heavy metal

Open mic, final thoughts:
2012 is one of my biggest years so far and I am so excited to meet and fall in love with my couples for 2013! MyDeejay is fantastic for asking me to do a Q and A and I HIGHLY recommend them for your wedding day! My clients rave about their professionalism and they always help create a great reception on your wedding day!

Well thank you for those sweet closing words, Wendy, and extra thank you for taking the time to talk with us!

This time around, we’ve pulled a few rockin’ first dance songs for your listening pleasure. As we’ve already said, we love to work with couples who appreciate the value of personalized wedding music. Who says you’ve got to go traditional when it comes to your first dance? As you’re about to see, there are no rules when it comes to first dance songs so get creative!

Pete Townshend – Let My Love Open The Door

Rush – Hope

Queen – You’re My Best Friend

Bruce Springsteen – Happy

Pearl Jam – Just Breathe

Survivor – The Search is Over

It’s finally here, the launch of Thursday Therapy DC! We’re excited that so many fantastic wedding professionals have RSVPd to join us tonight – if you are not one of them, it isn’t too late to get on the list! The event is open to ALL wedding and event professionals in the greater Washington area.

Thursday Therapy is a fun and casual networking concept created by Sage Wedding Pros that has now made its way to DC! There’s no group to join and no admission fee, just an open, welcoming opportunity to meet and mingle with other wedding and event professionals in a relaxed and cool setting.

For our DC debut, enjoy a no-host bar and menu from ONE Lounge in Dupont, fantastic music spun by the disc jockeys of MyDeejay, a fabulous photobooth courtesy of Booth-o-Rama, and fun props from Say Cheese! Paper Props.  Thursday Therapy’s official DC launch party will also be photographed by Kyle Bergner Photography.

If you are a wedding professional interested in sponsoring a future Thursday Therapy (we’ll be holding one every month), please get in touch with Jennifer.

We hope to see you tonight!

NYT writes “Relationships are hard enough. But the rise of social media — where sharing private moments is encouraged, and provocative and confessional postings can help build a following — has created a new source of friction for couples: what is fair game for sharing with the world?”

Read the article for the whole picture but it looks at how social media has changed our relationships, turning something simple like a business trip into a wife’s worry that the Internet at large will know she is home alone or causing couples to create rules about what sort of pictures they’re willing to share on Flickr.

At the end of the day, it comes down to the couple and how comfortable each person is with the details of their life being broadcast to the Internet at large. This isn’t a Facebook-specific problem either; before the Internet, couples had to decide which details to include in their yearly Christmas letter or what life events to share by phone with friends and family. The scale may be larger but the fundamental idea is the same.

So, have you discussed what you don’t want your partner sharing on Facebook without your consent or do you care at all? Has this come up for anyone out there?

Photo credit: nikkelindqvist via Flickr

While we’re too humble to brag about our 344 WeddingWire reviews, we have to say we love the site not only for what it does for our business but more importantly for what it offers couples looking for wedding vendors. Obviously we love booking clients but at the end of the day, we want all couples – not just the ones who hire us – to make an informed decision and feel WeddingWire is a great tool for that purpose.

What makes WeddingWire different from other review sites is its strict policy on real reviews, meaning you can be assured the couples reviewing vendors on WeddingWire have actually used the services of those vendors. By breaking down reviews based on criteria like quality of service, responsiveness and value, couples can not only get a general idea of what to expect when working with vendors reviewed on WeddingWire but actually understand the key components that make up a great experience.

When we say we love WeddingWire, we mean it. Don’t believe us? Check out this love letter Evan wrote them way back in 2009. We’ve more than doubled our reviews since then (thank you, wonderful MyDeejay clients!) but our feelings are the same: WeddingWire goes out of its way to make its product easy-to-use for not just couples but business owners as well. There’s a reason we’ve been loyal advertisers for so long; we feel like WeddingWire is constantly seeking feedback from its users and is always looking for ways to deliver an even better user experience.

So, on that note, please join us in wishing WeddingWire a very happy 5th birthday and here’s to many more!

photo credit: mpwillis via Flickr

Wedding Arch Ideas Looking for a little wedding arch inspiration? Look no further than this post by Intimate Weddings.

‘What Were You Thinking?’ For Couples, New Source of Online Friction Alright so the New York Times isn’t a blog but this article is so interesting we just had to share. Do you need a social media prenup in your relationship?

Hey. Not So Fast! Pitfalls to Avoid When Choosing a First Dance Song Did you miss Jennifer’s WeddingAces post on picking a first dance song the other day? Now you have no excuses.

Of Iron and Wine’s “Passing Afternoon,” Jeff says “I can’t decide if this song is happy or sad. Either way, it’s one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard, and I can’t wait to play it at a wedding some day.”

What do you think?

Thanks due to the always fabulous Amie Otto for letting us share these photos!

Holly and Joe were married late last year at the always-stunning Briar Patch Bed and Breakfast in Middleburg, VA with Devin as their DJ. If you’re interested in their intriguing and touching back story, check out Amie’s blog for the details (and more fantastic photos!).

This one is just awesome. Don’t you love when nature cooperates and conspires to make for amazing photos?

And finally, one of the coolest photos of the entire set:

To see the rest, go visit Amie!

Venue: Briar Patch Bed and Breakfast

Photography: Amie Otto Photography

Makeup Artist: Tracie Rosales

Florist: Rick’s Flowers

Officiant: Brenda Berry of Sacred Celebrations

Harpist: Kate Rogers

Caterer: The Chef’s Table

Cake: Jason Reeves of Market Salamander

Band: Amaretto

Videographer: Video Express Productions

Limo Transportation: Chariots for Hire

Coordinator: Henriette Buell of Buelltiful Events

Why is picking a first dance song so hard for some couples? Well, you only get one try. It can set the tone for the rest of your reception. And let’s face it, some people break out in hives at the very thought of all eyes on them. That’s a lot of pressure for something that should be super easy.

We promise, though, even if you’re having trouble making a choice, give it time, it’ll come to you! So relax, take your time and try these tips. Good luck!

Emily Post Institute director and great-granddaughter-in-law of its namesake Peggy Post was asked recently “Does a cream lace dress compete with the bride?” While few of us are advice columnists, most of us would gasp and immediately steer this questioner to something a bit more wedding-appropriate such as… well… ANY color but white or any variation thereof, including cream, ivory, eggshell and ecru.

Except Peggy did the unthinkable. She said go for it. “Today, wedding guests can wear cream — or white for that matter — as long as the outfit doesn’t say ‘bride,’” she wrote. “For example, your short, lace-over-color sheath sounds like a great cocktail party dress, while a long version of the same could impose on bridal territory.”

This is not a new opinion of Peggy’s either. In 2009, she wrote in Good Housekeeping that you can wear white to a wedding “just as long as it doesn’t look remotely bridal.” Without seeing both the guest’s potential dress and the bride’s, it’s difficult to say if this dress falls in that category but cream lace sure sounds like something one might find on a wedding gown.

So is this a sign of cultural change in our accepted wedding code of conduct or is it simply one advice writer’s opinion based on nothing but, well, her own opinions? Would you wear white to a wedding? Brides, how do you feel about your guests showing up in white?

Why Handmade Wedding Gifts Rule the Registry Emmaline Bride shares a few unique, one-of-a-kind handmade registry ideas that absolutely rule.

Holly + Joe | Married! | A Briar Patch Wedding Confirmed: WE HAVE AWESOME CLIENTS. Check out this fantastic Briar Patch wedding shot by the talented Amie Otto and spun by our very own Devin Alexander.

Meet the Host: Thursday Therapy Washington DC Shameless self-promotion warning: in case you missed in, Jennifer was recently interviewed by Sage Wedding Pros about the launch of Thursday Therapy in DC, among other things. Check it out!