March 2010

“A picture speaks a thousand words.” I’ve heard that quote many times before but on Saturday it took on a whole new meaning. My fiance, Steve and I had our engagement photo session with a photographer that I scoped out online… Clayton Austin. Love. Stories.

We had no idea what to expect. Trying to pose as a “model” for a day can be a little nerve-wracking… LOL … are we smiling right? are we serious enough? are we wearing the right outfits? are we “smizing” like we’re supposed to… hahaha… Well, we’ll find out when the pictures are ready but regardless, Clayton made us feel extremely comfortable… he is very relaxed, has a fun sense of humor… and has a vision for what he’s trying to capture through his work. He knows exactly how to communicate it so we’re not at a loss for what to do. We had so much fun and can’t wait to see the pictures. YAY for Clayton Austin. Love. Stories!

The session was near the beach in Carlsbad, CA…. the theme was vintage surf since Steve is a surfer (see a glimpse of the session below).

Clayton Austin. Love. Stories ... at work

His goal is to capture a “story” … THE “love story” of the couple he photographs… you’ll see what I mean when you check out his blog… http://claytonaustinlovestories.com/blog/2010/03/christina-mitch-and-steve-mcqueen/. How cool is that?!

And what’s even more amazing? He’s only been doing this as a career for 14 months. He’s a NATURAL… he’s found his gifting; his passion is apparent through his work. He was a firefighter for nearly 10 years and for four of those years he diligently served our country as a combat medic for the 3rd Infantry Division, the most deployed unit in the entire armed forces. And now, he serves couples in LOVE to help capture their story. And he definitely did that for Steve and me.

Although Clayton’s photos “speak a thousand words “… they will also leave you speechless.

So ladies… if you’re looking for the perfect photographer to capture YOUR love story… contact Clayton Austin. clayton@claytonaustinlovestories.com

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My friends at www.journalsunlimited.com sent me the PERFECT gift for my wedding! I love it.

Today I received the “Write It Down” Wedding Planner – My Wedding Journal. It came at the perfect time… my scratch papers are getting out of control… hehe. It’s very sturdy, CUTE and high quality.

It’s an all-inclusive journal to plan my special day! There is a wedding checklist in the front (wow, who knew there were so many things to do!! LOL). There is a spot for vendor contacts/numbers, etc. Then there is a page for each day that says…. “Date, Time”; “Plan for today (to do list)”; “Need to contact”; “Progress/Update”; “How I’m feeling (excited, nervous, etc)”; “Items of concern”; “Best part of today”; “Plan for tomorrow”; “Notes, plans, ideas”; and “Days to go.”

This is such a smart way to track your wedding progress, keep your stress and emotions in check… and highlight the exciting journey. It’s so perfect!

Friends, check out the website — there is a journal for just about every situation and every type of person. It makes for a perfect gift for any occassion! www.journalsunlimited.com

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Dana Point Park.... beautiful!

Well, I’m not sure yet… LOL. The last week has felt like a mad dash to the finish line–who can book the wedding spot first?? Have you seen “Bride Wars?” Yes, that has been my life… haha. I don’t know the other brides in the “competition”, ) but it amazes me how quickly a location books up. My fiance and I took a mini road trip to look at a few spots in Dana Point. It’s absolutely gorgeous there! We visited the state park which is beautiful… rolling green hills located on a cliff overlooking the ocean bay! It’s an excellent location for a ceremony, which is why the earliest date we could book is (yes, Sunday) September 12th. I was hoping for a “summer” wedding but officially, summer doesn’t end until September 22nd and it’s a beautiful time of year in Southern California! So… it’s doable (and the possibility makes me happy… I LOVE it)!

Private Estate

We visited a few spots for a reception. One is located in San Juan Capistrano…. an amazing private estate. I immediately fell in love with the location (it’s very unique… which is what I’m going for) and I could completely picture the reception there. I love the lights hanging over the pool (so romantic)… and the nearby lounge area with a fireplace (great atmosphere). There is a rose garden that fully blossoms in the summer with a fountain in the center (very peaceful and gorgeous).  There are a few “cons” about the area but I’m waiting to see if it could be worked out. Since it’s in a neighborhood, I’m not sure what the parameters are for the music/DJ. Not that we’re party animals but I do love music, atmosphere… and dancing! My fiance and I are waiting to find out a bit more about the property before making a final decision. But my hopes are up because the property is sooo pretty.

In the meantime, we put a deposit on the park… only $75 (that was the “bride wars” destination ). That was a HUGE sigh of relief, even though we’re going to continue researching possibilities. We’re working with other wedding coordinators to confirm that this is the best location for our needs. I want to be triple sure since it’s a very special day that we’ll celebrate the rest of our lives! ***AND, one of my main goals is for the guests to enjoy themselves. I think many times people feel like a wedding is an “obligation” rather than an exciting event to look forward to. Hmmmmm, I got my work cut out for me! But I’m excited and I’m up for the challenge.

So to sum it all up…. I can now relax a little, knowing we have a semi-plan… while also allowing freedom for possibilities.

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