Misti Morningstar Wins Gold and Honorable Mention at International Hermes Awards for Photography
HERMES CREATIVE AWARDS ANNOUNCES WINNERS FOR 2012
DALLAS, TX– Hermes Creative Awards today announced winners for the 2012 international awards competition for creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional and emerging media. Hermes Creative Awards recognizes outstanding work in the industry while promoting the philanthropic nature of marketing and communication professionals.
There were over 4,700 entries from throughout the United States, Canada and several other countries in the Hermes Creative Awards 2012 competition. Entries came from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers.
Hermes Creative Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. The international organization consists of several thousand marketing, communication, advertising, public relations, media production and free-lance professionals. AMCP oversees awards and recognition programs, provides judges and rewards outstanding achievement and service to the profession.
AMCP judges are industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry.
Misti Morningstar won two awards for her photography. The first entry was titled, “Here’s Looking at You Kid”, which won Gold. The second entry titled, “Wedding Bliss in Sherwood Forest”, won Honorable Mention.
Here’s Looking at You Kid
Wedding Bliss in Sherwood Forest
Winners were selected from 179 categories grouped under advertising, publications, marketing/branding, integrated marketing, public relations/communications, electronic media and pro bono. About 15% of the entries won the Platinum Award- the organization’s top honor. Nineteen percent won the Gold Award. A list of Platinum and Gold Winners can be found on the Hermes Creative Awards website at www.hermesawards.com.
Like this:
Yalixa and Tim : Comus Inn Wedding
The flower and ring girls arriving in the limo.
The beautiful bride and her bridesmaids arriving in the limo.
Needless to say, the crowd couldn’t wait !!!!
Watch out Paula Abdul !!
A little bubbly for the bride before the ceremony.
The groom anticipating.
The lovely bride before the ceremony.
The girls just before their grand entrance.
The bride escorted down the aisle by her sister and her best friend.
The groom witnessing his bride-to-be for the first time.
Isn’t it beautiful !
Love this little peak of the bride admiring her man !
And the groom looks equally happy !!
It’s official, woo hoo !!!!
The happy Mr. and Mrs.
Looks like the bridesmaids caught some good shots.
I know words cannot describe their feelings of just being married. They’re so in love!
The wedding party against the backdrop of the Sugarloaf mountains.
This flirty little pose was one of my dear favorites.
Oh my, this is so romantic.
Another cool shot by the Comus Barn.
Oooooo, I love expression on Tim’s face !
A traditional pose by the pink poseys.
The lovebirds exchange a kiss on the back patio of the Comus Inn.
This is charming and shows off Tim’s true gentleman side.
Inside… a private moment before dinner.
The first dance as husband and wife.
The rings atop one of the custom tree plaques.
“Faith” ring inscription.
The toast.
Cheers!
Fun time for the groom as he removes the garter.
The lucky garter recipient. I think he will be saving it for a few years.
The cake cutting.
Ok, this is great! Yalixa had Tim’s name painted on her toenail !!! LOVE IT!!!!!!!
The girls in their shiny silver heels.
I caught one of the darling little girls feasting on a chocolate covered strawberry.
The kids having fun in the lawn.
One of the guests hamming it up in his wife’s shades!
This is such a happy photo of the kids blowing bubbles.
And more bubbles !!!
While the bride changed into her honeymoon dress, I took the opportunity to snap this lovely shot of her gown.
I think they’re ready for their honeymoon…what do you think?
Is she thinking about her future wedding day…. someday.
Tim and Yalixa getting ready to set-off on their romantic honeymoon.
But wait…… look whose coming to dinner? Why does the chicken cross the road? To see a beautiful bride!!!!!
Gotta feed the chickens first. Ok, Tim, now she can leave.
Congratulations Yalixa and Tim! Hugs xox
I can certainly understand trying to stay within a budget, but when you hear story after story about disasters that people have gone through with their Wedding Photography, it might be worth re-thinking your budget.
Here are just a few examples of what some of my clients and their friends have shared with me.
A recently married bridesmaid told me at her friend’s wedding that she wished she would have know about us because her photographer showed up late and left early without even telling anyone.
Another bride told me her friend hired a friend to take her wedding photos, and 8 months later, still has not received her photos. Which was why she was hiring us so she didn’t have to go through what her friend did.
Two couples I booked this year had unfavorable results with another photographer when shooting their engagement photos. So I re-shot their engagement photos and will also be shooting their weddings.
A recent senior called and ask me to photograph her because the photographer she previously had an appointment with forgot about her appointment and never showed up.
The old adage still holds true – You get what you pay for. Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life so why chance it? Wedding photography is an investment, which is why we continue to hold the highest standards for our services, and products that we provide to our clients.
Is high-end wedding photography worth it?
Ok, so you might squirm at paying a little more. But after you watch this clip I think you’ll agree that having done so, it’s totally worth it. Put your mind at ease, invest in and enjoy your wedding day, knowing that you will not have to worry about going through something like this:
http://xfinity.comcast.net/video/wedding-photo-disasters/2225564279/Comcast/2225806590/
Daniel, a graphic designer, and Staci, a freelance stage manager, grew up in Shepherdstown, WV and that’s where they decided to have their engagement session photographed. They are also getting married in Shepherdstown in the spring of 2013.
How they met
Daniel and Staci met their sophomore year of high school. Staci had actually noticed him during her freshman year and he became “that hot kid with the curly hair.” Some mutual friends introduced them at a birthday party, during a game of twister, awkwardly enough. It took a few weeks of hanging out and much pressure from Staci to go to a homecoming game together before they finally “became official.” In fact, Staci had actually gotten wind of his intention to be exclusive before he was even going to ask.
The Engagement
Staci said the engagement was hilarious. She was planning on visiting Daniel back in early 2011. But the visit was completely contingent upon whether or not the Steelers were going to be in the Super Bowl or not. They ended up winning the championship game so Staci was going to visit him earlier in the weekend so she could be in Pittsburgh for the game. She was planning on arriving at his place Friday evening. Daniel is notorious for sending text messages to the wrong person. On Wednesday before her visit she got a text from him asking about whether or not she was still available to help him get things and set-up for “Staci’s visit.” An awesome message – but to the wrong person because the message was meant for Daniel’s friend, Lauren. He tried to play it off (most unsuccessfully) but Staci’s suspicions were extremely high. She got to his place Friday night and parked in the local parking garage. When she called to let him know she was there she heard a girl’s voice in the background (strange to her because he lived with 2 other guys at the time). She asked if Lauren was over and he said no, and whatever she heard must have been on tv. Now Staci had even more suspicions. He came to pick her up, in Lauren’s car, telling Staci that his car was boxed in and Lauren’s was down the street so he borrowed hers. They get to his house and Daniel says they can’t go in the front door (which he never bothered to explain). They go to the back door and once inside Staci sees there’s a sheet blocking the living room, and there’s a little candle lit dinner for two set-up in his kitchen, which was prepared by his culinary friend, Lauren. There were flowers and Daniel bought some wine (white for Staci and red for him). Staci said he managed to consume his entire bottle (so she was pretty certain of what was going to happen by now). They have dessert and Daniel’s friend, Lauren heads out. Shortly after dessert Daniel presents a few bags of candy and invites Staci into the living room where a projector was set up. They sat down to watch the movie which was “50 First Dates” (A movie they watched on their first Valentine’s Day together). They get part way into the movie and Daniel starts to tell Staci many special things and then he got on one knee. Staci said she kind of freaked out, even though she knew it was coming, and managed to exclaim “Oh sweet baby Jesus!” Obviously, she said yes!
A date they will always remember
The date they’ll always remember is one Valentine’s Day, Staci had gotten salmonella from some bad peanut butter, which put a damper on the plans Daniel had made. He told Staci to just come to his house anyway and that everything would be ok. Staci showed up and there she found a series of notes with flowers that led her into his living room where there was a table set-up for dinner and he promised her that he’d get her anything she felt she could eat. And what was important was that they were spending time together, even though she was sick.
They recall their very first date and looking back they think it was hilarious … Staci’s mom drove them (they were 15 at the time) to Taco Bell (Daniel had never had it before and it’s Staci’s favorite fast food). Then they watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It was so awkward. They were afraid to sit too close or touch each other.
Staci and Daniel are a very vibrant and expressive couple! The camera loves them. I especially recall Staci’s laugh… Her laughter is quite infectious. She has one of those little snort laughs and then once she starts she can’t stop. I think Daniel makes her laugh on purpose so he can play back and laugh with her!
Their energy produced some fabulous shots. Here are my favorites from their session.
Feel free to let me know your favorites by commenting below.
Play love on the swings.
The engagement ring !!
Sealed with a swinging kiss.
Totally loved these bright orange Converse sneakers.
Giggly and 'in love' 
Staci and Daniel are still planning their wedding so this shot was appropriate and fun!
Playing or Planning? This is one of my favorites of the day!
Love this colorful umbrella shot by Grant.
Daniel reminds me of a young Patrick Swayze.
Staci is so adorable and upbeat. If you're around her and you're in a bad mood, she will cheer you up by default.
This shot is happy and beautiful on this small footbridge.
"Twilight" comes to mind every time I look at this photo ! Love this one by Grant.
Catching some air!
Some monkey love.
Round and round they go...
And round and round they go.....
Oh yes, I was dizzy but I totally love these shots!
OMG! Staci and Daniel... You guys are hot!
Have Sharpie - will travel !!!! <3
Congrats Staci and Daniel! Hugs xox
Mandi, an ER registered nurse, and Jon, a detective, decided to do their engagement photos on Mandi’s family farm. They own thousands of acres and I was thrilled to hear about all of the photo opportunities awaiting me there. The painting, “AMERICAN GOTHIC” came to mind. I even had a flash back and remembered when I used to help out on my grandfather’s farm when I was a kid. But that was no comparison to this farm. This place is an impressive operation complete with a misting barn for the cows. OK… now, if I was a cow, this is the place I would want to live. As a cow it would be like staying at the Hyatt!!! The barn has mattresses for the cows to lay on. Yes, you heard me right! Mandi told me that if the cows are happier – they give more milk!
I LOVE Mandi… she’s funny, so friendly and beautiful, and she knows farming, which makes her even more appealing. I can see why Jon fell in love with her because she’s a gorgeous girl who’s not afraid to get her hands dirty. Jon has a great suave look too, and since he’s a police officer, Mandi has no worries about feeling safe and secure with a man like him. Jon does possess a gentleness about him though and I’m sure that is one of the qualities that Mandi fell in love with. Oh, and Jon was so nice – he told me I was absolved of all of my parking tickets…isn’t that great? (hahah, wink, wink, just kidding).
How they met
Jon and Mandi met in the emergency room. Jon had brought a patient in and Mandi was the nurse caring for her. He spent several hours with the patient in the ER. During his time there he was flirting with her and at the time she wasn’t having it- she was playing hard to get. Several months later Jon contacted her and invited her to coffee. He picked her up from her house and it was love at first sight. They said their first date has never been as comfortable as theirs was. They talked liked they were best friends. Within the next few weeks they met each others families and their families shared many of the same qualities. More reassurance they were meant to be.
The Engagement
Jon asked Mandi’s father for his blessing Easter morning in 2011. He brought him a box of doughnuts (classic) which remains a joke to this day (Of course the police officer would bring doughnuts!).
On April 26, 2011 they were going on a 4 hour road trip. Mandi was driving to his house at 5:30 am to meet him to leave. As she pulled in his driveway she noticed the driveway was painted. She opened her sleepy eyes to realize there were words. It read- “Mandi will you marry me?” She opened her eyes a little wider and thought is this really happening as her heart was beating 300 times per min. She looked up at the beautiful sunrise. What a perfect morning. She opened the car door and Train’s “marry me” song was being played from inside the house and out came Jon. He got down on one knee, and asked her if she would spend the rest of her life with him? They danced in the driveway (“YES”, at 5:30 am) What a perfect morning!
The wedding and reception were held at The Links in Gettysburg. The ceremony was at sunset and the lighting was just amazing. The reception was very glamorous and Mandi’s parents surprised the two with a fireworks finale!!! Very cool!
Mandi and Jon are the perfect couple and wonderful souls and I’ve gotten to know their family so well. They’re very welcoming people and always made me feel like family.
Unique things about the wedding/favorite details: Wine unity ceremony, mini bottles of wine as favors, golf cart rides for wedding party after ceremony for pictures.
Honeymoon destination: Cancun Mexico as pre-honeymoon and hiking/horseback riding in Pocono Mountains following wedding.
Locations/Caterer: The Links at Gettysburg
Wedding colors: Black and white with accent colors of fuchsia and lime green.
Florist: Megan with A Lily Pad
Cake: Karen Rodney Cakes
Dress: Potomac Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: White House Black Market
Hair: Thomas Scott Salon
Music: Soundwave Productions
Transportation: Diana’s Limousine
Wedding Planner/consultant: Suzanne Thompson- The Links
To follow are my favorite photos from their engagement session followed by favorites from their wedding. You can see their engagement and wedding galleries on my website MistiMorningstar.com under “real weddings”.
Mandi and Jon inside the covered bridge near the farm.
a nice classic black and white.
Mandi is so fun-loving!
This photo is HOT and one of my absolute favorites!!!!!!!!!!
Another steamy view!
This photo just makes you smile
Very nostalgic and these guys are so photogenic!
This looks like a shot out of a 'Lands End' Catalog! Love it!
The lovers romancing by the pond.
Those lucky cows in their posh misting barn.
A little fun in the corn stalks.
This 'American Gothic' photo was one of several taken to be used as a 'thank you' for after the wedding.
The barn was awesome with all the round hay bales.
Mandi's dress from Potomac Bridal was gorgeous.
I love the look on Mandi's sister's face while they help Mandi on with her wedding gown.
The bride with her sexy bridesmaids out on the patio before the ceremony.
These shoes are so glam!
Jon, the groom, looking pretty damn snappy pre-ceremony.
The guys on the green pre-ceremony.
The bride anticipating her walk down the aisle.
I really love this shot of the bride and her father.
The groom getting some Father talk before the ceremony.
The bride's beauty reflected.
OMG!!!!!!!! She's really going to do it!
The moment she's been waiting for.....
And the woman he's been waiting all his life for.
The sunset ceremony was divine.
I love the elegant look of this black and white photo.
The unity wine ceremony.
The newlyweds.
Husband and wife atop the Links bridge.
Extremely romantic ...sitting on the bridge with The Links in the background.
This view is just spectacular.
An absolutely beautiful dip in front of the The Links.
Even the cake was glamorous!
The first dance.
The cake cutting.
Another one of my favorites. The couple embracing as they watch their guests.
This garter retrieval is too cute!
Sashaying on the dance floor.
The surprise fireworks finale.
Please let us know your favorite photos by leaving your comments below.
Congrats Mandi and Jon! Hugs xox
Cara and Mark are the cutest couple. She is reminiscent of Celine Dion and he favors french film star, Louis Garrel. You can compare more in the photos that follow!
After a disappointing engagement photo shoot with another photographer, Cara sought me out and booked us without even meeting. It is clients like her that realize there is a difference in photography style and value, then one must act on it by not wasting precious time thinking about it. She and Mark had a great time during their engagement session. Here is her comment after she saw her proofs:
“Thanks so much Misti! The photos are great! You’re very creative – which I love and in so many pictures! It can be awkward posing and having your picture taken (Mark’s hates it – could you tell?), but you made it a better experience for the both of us – thank you and Grant!!”
- Cara Petroski
How they met
Initially, Mark and Cara met in high school through her brother, Neil. They saw each other a few times over the years, but it wasn’t until December 2007 at dinner in Baltimore with Neil, Jen and friends, that any romantic sparks flew. Their relationship developed rather quickly, given our prior acquaintance and their connection through Cara’s brother.
The Engagement
It was early Friday morning, December 24, 2010. Cara was awakened from sleep by the sound of a video game. She was rather irritated that she heard it so early in the morning. It was around 7am on a non-work day! Next thing she knew, the lights came on and she called out to Mark, figuring he’d turned on the lights. When she didn’t hear a response after a few progressively louder calls, Cara got up out of bed and walked to the bedroom door. She was getting worried because the lights had come on mysteriously. Still hearing the video game noise, she got to the door and saw sheets hanging from the ceiling. Cara had jumped out of bed fairly quickly…somewhat startled…and kind of irritated, so she did not have her contacts in and neglected to put on her glasses. So she couldn’t see very well, but did notice that a paper was hanging from the ceiling and it read, “Good morning. You are not dreaming but… “Wow!” She didn’t read the rest because she was interested in finding out what was happening! Was she dreaming? Or was there an ax murderer that had gotten into Mark’s house and set up this sheet fort? Despite being a bit scared, Cara walked out of the bedroom and through the path that the sheets seemed to make. There were more papers hanging from the ceiling through the “sheet maze,” but she failed to read them because she couldn’t see them very well and I was getting inpatient. The path/maze ended at the sofa with nothing there but wrapping tape. She was so confused! Cara turned around and Mark came sliding towards her on his knees to propose! She was so shocked and excited! Of course she said yes, and that’s why this is all coming together here now. Cara said, “It was a”maze”ing!” hahahahahaha
An arty black and white shot by Grant.
I dig this edgy graffiti doorway. It made the perfect backdrop for the lovers.
One of their favorite pastimes.... playing spades!
Can you guess what day they're getting married?
Those of you who follow my blog....have you seen these bunny ears before? Yep, since we shot this the day before Easter, Cara and Mark got an extra Easter portrait!
Shannon, a hula hoop expert, was performing on the street and we asked if Cara and Mark could have a try! Sorry Mark, Cara did better at the hula hoop!
But Mark got a kiss for trying! Special thanks to Shannon, the hula hoop gal, for letting us play! I dig her heart tattoo!!!
Things don't get any better than having a street band play for your engagement pics!
This doorway inspired us to take Cara and Mark "reflected" in "relish".
This bumper sticker prompted me: Peace + Love + Music + ~ Smiles
I just love the bohemian feel of this shot.
Grant catches a contemplative moment of Mark while waiting in the Sushi Restaurant.
These two love going out to eat sushi so we had the sushi chef at Hinode make us a special heart-shaped sushi dish.
the ring!
Special thanks to Hinode for creating such a beautiful dish for these photos!
Oh the fun in feeding each other!
This kiss on the nose is adorable!
A girl admires the park bench lovers.
Love it!
This was one of my personal favorites. They look so "into" each other.
Love by the garden gate retro-style!
They're perfect for each other. Congrats Cara and Mark. Hugs xox
Feel free to let me know your favorites by leaving your comments below.
When I met Katrina and Joe in 2011, they told me they had just gotten married in a civil ceremony. But they quickly added that they were having another ceremony to celebrate with their family and friends. Their intimate wedding was held March 18, 2012 at Turf Valley Country Club – Terrace on the Green.
Joe is an Assistant Superintendent at Burning Tree Golf Club, and Katrina is an Engineer studying to obtain a Masters in Education to teach high school chemistry. When we took their engagement photos we turned the session into a combination of ‘just married’ (civil) and engagement shots. I remember Katrina telling me that Joe didn’t really like having his photos taken – but as the shoot went on – Joe ended up having fun! You can view their separate engagement/just married gallery on my website under ‘real weddings’.
Katrina is the sweetest… I have to say I’ve not met too many people who are as easy going as her. She just goes with the flow and nothing really seems to get her feathers ruffled. Which I suppose is an essential trait to possess if you’re going to be a high school teacher!
Joe and Katrina are definitely two peas in a pod. They’re an attractive couple and are both super nice and… they have a great sense of humor…some of which they themselves can’t even explain because they can’t stop laughing. Don’t ask…. they don’t know what they’re laughing about either – but it’s funny! hahahahahah… There were a few episodes like that at their reception which got me giggling. But you know, laughing is good for the soul and adds years to your life.
How they met
Joe and Katrina met on October 10, 2007
Joe was living in Oregon at the time, and Katrina was living in Texas. Joe was on vacation in Boston that week, and Katrina was in Boston for work. On October 10th, they just happened to be at the same bar. The sales rep that Katrina was meeting there turned out to be 15 min late, so in the meantime she and Joe got to talking! Katrina was dying to see a Red Sox game, and it just so happened that the ALCS was starting that Friday! So she asked Joe to go with her…(of course he had no hesitation in saying yes to that offer!)
When Katrina got back to Texas she thought she’d never hear from Joe again. Turns out she was wrong. He kept calling her and before she knew it they were planning a trip for him to visit her. They visited each other as often as they could going back and forth from Oregon to Texas.
In March of 2009 Katrina moved to Columbus, Ohio and Joe followed in April. They have been together ever since and loving it! They now reside in Maryland.
How they got engaged
Starting on February 1, 2011 Joe started leaving Katrina 3 notes a day saying why he loved her. She would find them in her car, in the bathroom, on the front door, etc. Well on Valentine’s day she didn’t get any notes. Joe came home and they were getting ready to go out to dinner — he came out of the bedroom and asked Katrina if she found his notes that day. She said no, and of course start looking for them! When she walked into the bedroom she saw a ring box sitting on the bed. She was in shock but slowly make her way to the box, picked it up and looked at Joe. He said nothing. Katrina opened the box to find 3 notes inside. When she turned around Joe was on one knee with the ring asking her to marry him. She of course couldn’t compose herself…the tears came and then she said, “YES!!!!”
The date they will always remember
(In Katrina’s words) A date we’ll always remember: October 12, 2007….two days after we met, we went to a Red Sox ALCS game. I got wet from being rained on all day, my clothes were drenched, and it was freezing outside. Throughout the entire game, Joe kept giving me more of his clothing to put on. By the end of the game he was sitting in his undershirt and no shoes! We had such great chemistry from the start and everything was so relaxed and comfortable. I knew what a great guy he was that day and haven’t forgotten since!
Venue location: Turf Valley Country Club, Terrace on the Green
Colors: Sunbeam yellow, tangerine orange, and bright pink
Favorite Detail: The centerpieces. Glass cylinders on each table filled with lemons and oranges
Cake: Debis Cake Studio in Finksburg, MD
Dress: David’s bridal
Bridesmaids dresses: David’s bridal
Hair/Makeup: Studio K
Caterer: Turf Valley
Music: Santana Entertainment
Here are some of my favorites from their wedding. You can see their entire wedding on my website: MistiMorningstar.com under ‘real weddings’.
Let me know your favorites by leaving your comments below.
Katrina getting ready with her bridesmaids in tow.
Katrina is a natural beauty
Joe getting ready with the help of his brother.
The guys hangin' before the ceremony.
I love this custom robe of Katrina's
Everything was perfectly color coordinated. Even their engagement photos matched the color scheme! Katrina designed everything herself.
Joe and his Best Man.
Getting ready with the bridesmaids.
The beauty checking herself out before the ceremony.
The table settings were lovely and dressed in bright spring colors.
And the cake was awesome! Very modern and trendy. It was tasty too!
Joe seeing his bride walk down the aisle. Joe's father officiated the wedding - another nice personal touch.
The happy bride.
They read their own vows from an ipad. Very technically savvy! I actually loved how the ipad cast its light on their faces.
Hamming it up during group photos.
I love the look on Joe's face here as Katrina plants a kiss on his cheek.
The groom lovingly admiring his wife.
I really like this casual shot.
The rings appropriately on the green.
The bride looking stunning while visiting with her guests.
The first dance.
The father daughter dance.
The Best Man's toast started one of the laughing spells.
yep, it's funny but they don't know why.
Oh yea, there were some great dancers on the floor.
This photo struck me as funny... a guest shoots her camera next to my assistant, Grant. The expression she has is priceless and appears that she has camera envy.
The adorable shy little flower girl.
Cutting the cake...
And a giggle !
The groom tearing up the dance floor with his sister.
Oh yea, and the groom's brother, and Best Man, tore it up too doing the twist!
WOO HOO!
OMG, this photo is so funny! Joe with his brother and sister.
The happy couple!
That's it, I'm signing them up for American Idol.
Congrats Katrina and Joe. Hugs xox
Susan, an artist, and Josh, a computer programmer, met in college. When Susan’s laptop had issues, Josh came to the rescue and fixed it. After that, the two became friends and then Susan said she waited for him to ask her out. “It took awhile,” Susan said, but….. he eventually did ask her out and the rest is history! They are getting married this Fall.
These 2 are fun-loving and have a great look. We had a blast doing their photos, especially the cupcake shots! I even had to take a break to eat one…yummy. Special thanks to Angel Cakes for allowing us to do some photos at their business. If you’re looking for a wedding cake, you should check them out. And also special thanks to En Masse Flower Market for allowing us to use their facility for some shots. En Masse creates some of the most beautiful wedding flowers I’ve ever seen.
After the shoot we all came back to my office and hung out for a while longer and watched funny YouTube videos and listened to music. Susan and Josh’s photos were as cool as they are. To follow are some of my favorites.
Let me know which one’s are your favorites by leaving your comments below.
This location was just awesome.
A nice portrait of the two.
Ok, now this is one of my top favorites that Grant shot! It totally looks like a clothing catalog photo.
Yep, they've got swagger ! LOVE IT!
<3
Susan and Josh enjoy taking walks together.
A little kick of the heels. Yippeeeee, they're in love.
And he's ready to carry her over the threshold.
I'm so into black and white photos. They're so classic and artistic.
Susan and Josh carved their initials into this fencepost. I think it's romantic.....And ok, so if anyone finds it - you can blame me!
Having fun eating cupcakes at Angel Cakes Bakery.
Even though you see the cakes in these photos. They didn't last long before they were gobbled up!
And what prompted us was their red door. One of Susan and Josh's main colors for their wedding is a deep red!
To highlight their geeky sides... Susan was a chemistry major and Josh an engineer...we took this fun photo.
Susan flirting a bit with Josh's tie.
I'm a huge fan of the serious "American Gothic" look.
Invariably the expression AFTER the serious shot ! hahaha
A romantic ring shot.
An another serious pose. Susan, you've got great hair!
A real man always gives his lady En Masse flowers.
Congrats Susan and Josh. Hugs xox
Hope and Anthony : Ostertag Farm Wedding
Anthony, a CDL driver and Hope, an elementary teacher, first met in 2005 at their former employer, Fitzgerald Auto Mall, where they worked together. There they became friends and started hanging out and before they knew it they were spending endless hours on the phone. It wasn’t long before they became best friends, started dating, and they’ve been having a blast ever since.
Some of their most memorable times were their two first dates. On the first date they went to 75/80 race track and talked the entire time, Hope said, “I don’t think we even paid any attention to the cars racing. Then when we got back to my house, we talked in the car for hours about anything and everything. It was great to have such an amazing time just talking with each other.” The second date to remember- was the first time they went for a ride on Anthony’s motorcycle. Hope remembers that they were in Ocean City, MD and they rode down to the boardwalk, got pizza and then rode back and he dropped her off at her room. It was on the way back that they first held hands.
Five years later, Anthony decided to propose. It was the day before Hope had to go back to teaching, and after “wishing” for the proposal all summer, she didn’t think it was going to happen. It was just a regular Monday afternoon, Hope went to the gym and was on her way home. Her mom called her and asked if she wanted to go to Buffalo Wild Wings to get wings, which they routinely did on Monday nights. Hope agreed and hurried home to get ready. When Hope walked into the house, Anthony was in the kitchen to greet her. He had a vase of purple flowers sitting on the counter, and Hope was very surprised and thanked him for such a thoughtful gift. Then he asked her to come look at something he finished in the bedroom (they were remodeling their home most of the summer). She followed him back and there on the bed were lots of roses. Hope asked him, “What are all these for? They’re so beautiful.” He responded, “There are 5 dozen, one dozen for every year we’ve been together.” Hope was still not thinking anything of it, just another thoughtful surprise. Then Anthony showed her a folded-up plastic banner. He said he found it in the garage and she wouldn’t believe what it was. Hope was thinking it had to be a motorcycle banner or race car banner if he found it in the garage. As she opened the banner, to her complete surprise, it said “Hope Keller, Will you Marry Me?” Out of her mouth came a noise that Anthony described as a “really happy squeal”. Hope turned around and Anthony was down on his knee with a GORGEOUS ring in his hand. Hope jumped up and down, jumped into his arms, and just kept saying “Yes, Yes, Oh my gosh! Yay! Yes!” Then she quickly texted and called her closest friends and family (even though most of them already knew). They finished getting ready and met her family and friends at Buffalo Wild Wings to celebrate!
I have to say that now after I have gotten to know Anthony and Hope, that it’s even more apparent that they are definitely soul mates. They are so in love and it shows in every way. I love being a witness to such true love. Anthony is so caring and attentive to Hope. He does all kinds of things for her “just because”.
Hope and Anthony are one of the warmest couples. Plus, they’re both gorgeous and naturally photogenic. You just feel at ease and comfortable around them because they are both so happy and comfortable together. Every time they come by to visit we could sit and talk for hours!
Every time I photograph I wedding, I tell myself that if it gets emotional – that this time I’m going to be able to control myself and not cry. Well… that went right out the window when I saw Anthony getting emotional during their ceremony… and then Hope got emotional too… so there I was leaking tears behind the camera right along with them.
Additional details of the wedding were:
Location: Ostertag Vistas Myersville, MD
Guests: 124
Bridal Party: 5 bridesmaids, 2 junior bridesmaids, 3 flower girls, and 4 groomsmen
Colors: Black, White, and Hot Pink
Theme: Rustic elegance (incorporating their love of the country with Hope’s favorite colors)
Florist: A Bloom- Walkersville, MD (white lilies, white orchids for bride & pink cala lilies for bridesmaids & pink orchids for groomsmen)
Cake: Ed’s Country Bakery- Frederick, MD
Dress: David’s Bridal- Galina diamond white, strapless fitted a-line style wedding dress with floral appliques and a white sash.
Bridesmaid dresses: Black short, pleated, satin dress
Hair and Makeup: Thomas Scott Salon- Frederick, MD
Caterer: A Cut Above Catering- Frederick, MD
Music: Santana Entertainment
Favorite details: Each table had corresponding pictures of Anthony and Hope at the age matching the table’s number. The Wedding Tree (thumb print) guest book and the Horse and Carriage ride.
3 words to describe wedding: Unforgettable, “Dream come True”, Amazing!
Honeymoon: Riviera Maya, Mexico
Here are my personal favorites from their Ostertag Farm wedding. You can see their entire gallery on my website: MistiMorningstar.com under “real weddings”.
Let me know which photos are your favorites by leaving your comments below.
The groom and his groomsmen.
I love these girlie hot pink shoes!!!!!!
The flower girls admiring their painted fingernails.
Hope looks like a beautiful Barbie Doll.
The lovely lily bridal bouquet.
Center Stage
A few tears because of the rainy day. But it was ok, rain on your wedding day indicates 'good luck'.
Hope in the Horse and Carriage on her way to walk down the aisle.
The groom overcome with emotion seeing his bride walk down the aisle.
The beautiful bride with her father.
The bride and groom on their way to taking a romantic horse and carriage ride after the ceremony.
The wedding party cheers!
The flowers girls trying to catch up to the bridesmaids.
The gorgeous bridesmaids.
The couple after their magical carriage ride.
The new Mr. and Mrs. C
Hope and Anthony by the Spring House waterwheel.
I love this one and Hope's sassy little pose
Hope and Anthony feeling the love under the willow tree.
Anthony looks so Humphrey Bogart in this photo.
The first dance.
An emotional moment during the Mother/Son dance.
The dance floor was packed and everyone had a blast.
This is so cute how the flower girls are so into watching the cake cutting ceremony.
A surprise reaction from Hope when Anthony removes the garter.
Now we know why... Homer was up her skirt, plus a few other unexpected gags.
The next up for marriage nuptials.
- Congrats Hope and Anthony! Hugs xox
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