The Lineage of Love

26.04.11 our two cents

Let us not forget what it’s about.

It’s not about the trendy Shoot Sac we wear on the wedding day.  It’s not about our Coach tennis shoes that offer fashion and comfort.  It’s not about finding a way to shoot the dance floor from above during You Make Me Wanna Shout.  Nor is it about getting that really terrific angle of the wedding party jumping in the air, because apparently randomly jumping in the air IS in the job description of a wedding party…

No, it’s about something much greater.

Something that will affect generations to come.  Something that evokes such a strong emotion and inspires reflection on the past and present.

History.

It’s about history.  Posterity.  And the Lineage of Love we, as photographers, have the most incredible honor to document.

My own Lineage of Love that makes me well up with tears at first glance:

My mother’s parents and their wedding party.  July 24th, 1928

My father’s parents on their wedding day: July 13th, 1938.

My mother and father, who never had the opportunity to have a wedding portrait made.  Taken in 1967, three years after their wedding.

Let us not forget what wedding photography is really about: the documentation of the love that two people share that really does stand the test of time…

Cheyenne Mountain Resort: Peri & Paul

25.04.11 weddings

Good morning!  And happy Monday!  It’s time for Part II of Peri and Paul’s gorgeous ceremony at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Colorado Springs.

Love Peri and her dad.

There’s that gaze!

Monsignor was so funny!  He gave the best homily. So personal.

My angle of the kiss:

Jesie’s:

My angle of the post-kiss hug:

Michael’s angle:

Love this wink!

Love!

Paul and Peri danced to a live performance by Peri’s cousin of When You Say Nothing at All.
Turns out Peri’s uncle actually wrote the song for Alison Krauss!  So special.

This was one of the coolest parts of the day!  No, it was probably THE coolest part of the day!  After the mother-son dance, Peri got on stage and sang to Paul!  Unhibited, she sang.  The song you ask?  I Just Want to Make Love to You by Etta James.  haha

Check out Paul’s mom’s reaction!

It was pretty much the coolest thing ever.  Love you Peri!

Happy Easter

24.04.11 personal

It’s my favorite day.  Spring is in the air.  The sun is shining.  And you can just smell the goodness when you step outside.  Easter.

A day when we’re reminded that things can be made new.  Out with the old and in with… well, new.

Today I was reminded of what my life would’ve been like had I taken a different path.  Completely unexpected, in a random way, in a random place, I was reminded.  And brought to tears with the path I am on now.  With the grace, joy, and peace I have now.

So I did my best to capture to capture how I feel… and this is what came out.

May you have a graceful, joyful, and peaceful day full of reminders.

With love,
René

And of course, because he has to be wherever I am:

Colorado Springs Wedding: Peri & Paul

22.04.11 weddings

She’s elegant and graceful.  A debutante kind of girl, with a girl next door kind of personality.  She lights up a room with her presence and her laugh.  Her smile is as bright as the sun and her love for him is just as warm.

He’s accomplished and respected.  Quite charming, really.  His humor is subtle and keen.  A litty zany sometimes.  But there’s a serious side to him.  A side she only knows.   You can see something different in his eyes when he looks at her.  Something that makes any heart melt.  Such intensity in his gaze and softness in his smile;  you just know he’s waited his whole life to marry this woman and there’s nothing in this world he wouldn’t do for her.

Peri and Paul were married on a gorgeous April day on what we believe was the nicest, warmest day of the year so far.  Their wedding was held at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Colorado Springs, followed by their Cheyenne Mountain Resort reception.  It was a day perfect in every single way.  Peri and Paul, thank you.  Thank you for brining so much joy to us.  Thank you for teaching us a little more about commitment and what it means to love.  We adore you too.

So much love and joy,
René + Jesie (and Michael too!)

Peri had the most gorgeous shoes!  A pair of Ivanka Trumps for the ceremony and those stunning Lauren James for the party.

Like I said, exquisite.

Ah!  Peri, you took MY breath away!

Meanwhile, Jesie was rockin’ out with the guys.

Love Paul’s dad!

Apparently the men in Paul’s family are bow-tie kind of men. :-) So it was a no brainer they had these adorable custom bow ties made for the day.

Stay tuned for part II – the ceremony is the best!