It was one of those weekends when you can just look back at end of the day and be thankful for. We had the honor of sharing a beautiful ceremony and reception with a truly wonderful couple, Jessica and Aaron, as they shared their nuptials with their awesome families. You gotta love it when both families take you in as an outsider and accept you as part of the family after the course of a couple days spent together. Some of the wonders of living in the south I suppose. Good people. All of the family from Southwest Missouri were a joy to work with and the group from Louisiana was in (what I assume is the norm for them) a joyous and giving mood. I know it showed in the eyes of Jessica and Aaron as they shared their biggest day with family and friend from all over the country. Oregon was represented as well as the "I traveled the farthest award" going to Aaron's friend from Rome who made it across the big pond help with the festivities.
Then Sunday hits and we are faced with our biggest bridal show that we have ever tried to handle. It was a blast. We got to meet, literally, hundreds of brides working on preparations for the day of their life. THE BIG SHOW was held downtown at the America's Center and it was truly a bridal extravaganza. We met couples from every walk of life. The one thing I never get tired of is hearing the stories. How we met, why we are here, where we are going. Every story different, every story delivered with passion, excitement, and a ton of humor. We were blessed to meet hundreds of folks that we would love to work with, a few we might have to avoid, and some that you know you are just destined to work with. You know who you are Andrea and Larry.
Not only do we get to hang with the coolest
bridses from the greater Saint Louis area, we get to keep in touch with some of the best vendors in the business. It was great to see our pals at Millennium Music, the guys over at Complete Music, Pam from Signature Studios, the girls from over at
FitChix (always good for a smile), and not to forget, rubbing elbows with Sal and Taylor
Cincotta who manage to always make us feel like a slightly bigger fish in a giant ocean of wedding vendors. If you ever get a chance to mingle with them, take the extra minute to say hello. They are without a doubt the most sharing couple in the biz. Absolutely cannot wait for your seminar in Chicago. After being blown away in
Las Vegas by your presentation, I am patiently waiting for the other good stuff you are getting ready to roll out. Keeping it real in Saint Louis.
We tried a little something new for us this weekend. We gave each bride an opportunity to win prizes by letting me goof around with them and take their picture with our soon to be infamous "thought bubbles". People funny, sweet, often silly and occasionally and my personal favorite, downright raunchy. Starting Wednesday, the winners of our contests are going to start being announced so keep your eyes glued to this blog and our
facebook site for all the latest postings!!! It is going to be super exciting. All told, I believe we are giving away about $6000.00 in prizes. From our delicious photography to spa packages, golf outings, dinners, and jewelry. I may even have to devise a new giveaway to a few special couples that went above an beyond with their thought bubble messages. Funny stuff, and it would be a shame to let them go to waste!!
That's all for now, getting late here and need to get refreshed again before another exciting week and Mirage Photo begins. I know a lot of folks get to work at jobs they love, probably more don't though and that is why I feel so
incredibly blessed to be doing this for a living. I love what I do and I know Samantha does too so I hope that it shows in our work and the care that we take with each and every couple that chooses us to capture their wedding day.
Stay tuned..... the drawing starts in just over 48 hours. tick
tock, tick
tock.
