Please note that we are still accepting contributions and sponsorships for the 2011 Grand Wedding! This is an open opportunity for everyone who is interested. If you have any questions at all about how to participate, please email or call us at 239-673-9620.

IheART video presents The Grand Wedding Video Trailer

The cake tasting video blew me away.  This video made me cry the happiest tears.  The Grand Wedding was everything we had all hoped that it would be.  I think after seeing this, you'll see just how happy a day Christy & Keiths wedding day was.

The Grand Wedding 2011 from iheART Films on Vimeo.
Thank you so very much to iheART films llc for compiling this beautiful and fun video highlight of one of the happiest days ever.

It's Grand Wedding Style: Cake Tasting Video by iHeart film studios at Kakes by Karen

If the video of the cake tasting is this cool- can you imagine what The Grand Wedding video is going to be like?  I am so beyond thrilled to show you guys this mini from iHeart Film Studios.  I invited them along to the cake tasting down in Naples at Kakes by Karen last week thinking it might be fun to do something fun and unexpected.  What iHeart came back with tonight...LOVE. Giddy, frosting on top, love.  This my friends is how your wedding planning and engagement time should be.  It should be fun. Going to the wedding cake tasting is always awesome in my opinion; but add a great baker (Kakes by Karen) with a passion for her art as big as her talent and add a couple that is so giddy in love that sweetness is an understatement and...alright, I'll shut up now.  I'll just let you watch the video (let it buffer one play all the way through if it freezes up on ya).

Cake Tasting from STEVEN GILKESON on Vimeo.

Tuxedos, Invitations, and Rehearsal Dinner

It has been a busy week for The Grand Wedding couple Christy & Keith!  First, Kylie & I met Keith at Rnellls Tuxedos to pick out the attire for the Keith, his groomsmen, the ringbearers and the fathers.  Picking the perfect tuzedos was easy with Laura's help.  She knew exactly what tux would best suit our retro wedding, Keiths personal style and look amazing next to Christys stunning wedding dress from Tie the Knot Bridal Salon.
Next up, the invitations came in!  Shell of Get Groovy designed the invitations and response cards.  Can I just say that she nailed it? This was exactly the look we were going for. We are ecstatic! The black, raspberry, and white all worked together seamlessly.  One of my favorite things about having Shell design the invitation- nobody else has ever had it.  Its completely original for The Grand Wedding.

Finally this week, we headed out to Casa Ybel where the rehearsal dinner will take place.  If you haven't been out to this beachfront property- GO.  It's gorgeous.  Thistle Lodge is open for lunch and dinner and honestly, there isn't a more spectacular place to dine just feet from the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.  After picking out the menu, we headed upstairs with Jennifer to the Waterfront room (and its not just named that- it is that!) and decided on the design concept for the dinner.  The dinner this night...its all about fun with the family.

The Engagement Session with Maria Glassford

I flipped when I got these images from Maria. She captured exactly what I always see from Christy & Keith- that super fun kind of love. Awesome, just awesome!

 

 Maria Glassford was introduced to me through her participation with The Grand Wedding, and I couldn't be more thrilled that she's a part of the team.  Maria took a few moments to answer some questions for me so that I could get to know her and her business a bit better.  Here is what she had to say:
"I grew up in Fort Myers, I'm married to my wonderful husband, Kirt and we have 5 kids- 4 boys and one girl. As far as photography, I started mainly with family and baby shoots. However, 2 years ago, I was a bridesmaid in my best friends wedding and from that very day, I knew I had to combine my passion of photography with my love of weddings. I booked my first wedding a month later and I haven't slowed down since. I absolutely love what I do and feel like I haven't worked a day in my life.  I have so many favorites about working with couples but I love most of all that we typically start as strangers and end as friends. The relationship with my clients is vital over the course of their engagement and I love getting to know them and their love story. Close second is seeing them together on the happiest day of their lives."


Then she told me all about the engagement session with Christy & Keith.  Downtown Ft Myers is such a great backdrop for an engagement session (and a wedding!).  As I expected, it sounded like they all had a great time!
"Keith and Christy, the whole time we were together we were doing one of two things. Either smiling or laughing. Seriously, this couple was so spontaneous and just so much fun to be around.  Not too long into the shoot, Keith started calling the shots to Christy...kiss, serious face, smile, kiss, look away from the camera. laugh...and man was he good. He says all of the credit goes to America's Next Top Model for teaching him how to work the camera. I was dying and just trying my best to prevent camera shake! Towards the end of our session, Christy randomly grabbed a bike from the side of a building because she thought it was pretty much a necessity for our shoot. Of course, this was after walking into the neighboring restaurant to ask all of guests in the room if the bike happened to be theirs. Keith is so cool, relaxed and laid back and Christy is truly so sweet and so excited to marry the man of her dreams. We had so much fun walking around the streets of downtown Fort Myers and I was honored to capture a little piece of their love story before they say "I do" next month.  I have no doubt their lifetime together will be filled with great happiness, plenty of laughter and a whole lot of fun!"
A huge thank you to Maria for contributing this engagement session to The Grand Wedding!  We do still have availability for your business to participate in The Grand Wedding 2011; reach out!: (239) 673-9620.

The Floral Design meeting with Signature Florals

We are rolling through this wedding planning!  Yesterday Christy and I met with Sue at Signature Florals to work on the floral designs for The Grand Wedding.  The consultation went great as we we figured out how to use the flowers in with the retro design concept and our color palette of Raspberry, Black and White.  Sue's ideas were phenomenal as always.  Her knowledge of the era was so extensive!  Now I think we're all just busting at the seams to actually put this all in place.  January 30th can't get here fast enough.

The Dress! The Dress!

This past Saturday, Christy went to Tie The Knot Bridal down in Naples for her 1st dress fitting and wedding day styling.  All I can say is stunning!  The dress is the perfect fit for her retro inspired wedding (just over a month away!).  Christy and her mom arrived to the boutique for their private styling appointment with Tie the Knot co-owner Hilary and Pop Jewels owner Maria.
Here is a sneek peek of Christys styling session:










Here's the difference between Tie the Knot bridal and most of the "big stores".  When you arrive at Tie the Knot, you are there for a personal and private appointment.  Their ultimate goal is to help you find you ultimate wedding style and make sure that your entire look works.  That means picking everything from the dress, to the shoes, to the accessories AND the dresses you'll wear to all your other parties.  Engagement, shower, welcome reception, rehearsal dinner.  You only get married once, and you'll want to look your best always.  This is how you do that!