Now, for my family and friends that weren’t able to be there, here is your virtual tour. Dad: This is for you! I love you and missed you more than ever last night. I can’t wait to hold your hand and walk you through the studio this winter.

The front entrance…a big thank you going out to Shawn Bright at Signs in One Day for rocking our sign and window decals! You guys are the best!

We are looking forward to having this area landscaped by our friends, Beth & Mike, so stay tuned!

Here I am with the kiddos…this was approximately 30 minutes after my nervous breakdown. I pulled it together, but on the way to the opening I was sweating bullets and silencing my children after the boy karate chopped the girl in the neck “on accident.” The screaming in the car sent me over the edge…I almost came undone…but thankfully they could see that I was literally teetering on the edge of sanity and we had a nice, quiet ride to the studio with lots of deep breathing exercises.

I didn’t like the light there, so I asked Brandon to take another shot. Please excuse this picture…I included this for one person, and one person alone: Tashia Webber: “Does my hair look okay?” Gosh, I missed you last night!

Back to the tour (sorry!)

Here is the view from the entrance:

Another angle, showing our awesome dividers from Ikea that separate the shooting area:

Here’s a view of our sitting area & packaging station, where orders are boxed up & ribbon-tied:

My favorite chair ever…and the bathroom, which I named “the detail room.” All of the pictures in there are wedding details: shoes, dresses, flowers, rings…my favorite things!

Shooting area…not the best picture I’ve ever taken, but I wanted my Dad to have a full view of the place!

This is the viewing area, where clients come and comfortably view the photos from their session. I love offering the capability to view pictures in a large format, rather than being limited to the computer screen!

Here is our office…it is adjacent to the viewing area. Now that we put yellow accents in the viewing area, I am determined to find yellow office chairs. If you see any, please let me know!

Before everyone arrived, our dear friend Jeff presented us with the MOST amazing gift ever. EVER. It’s a Dave Matthews Band gold record, framed, engraved and dedicated to us. The lyrical quote is absolute perfection: “Turns out not where, but who you’re with that really matters.” The thoughtfulness of the gift was overwhelming…I cried…and Brandon got choked up too, you can see it in his eyes in this picture:

Thank you, Jeff & all the folks at Way FM. We are extraordinarily blessed to know you. And we love you!

I couldn’t believe the generosity of my friends, my heart was bursting last night. Here are some of the gifts we received:

Thank you to: Karen Cubler for the gorgeous (& functional!) silk bouquet from Jan at www.rentyourflowers.com. Thank you, Sharon Brotherton for the fabulous purple bouquet…Patty’s Flower Shop made a gorgeous design! And to Patty herself: thank you for such a sweet, fragrant bouquet…you are so generous, and of course…I love your work. Shout out to Bonnie! Thank you going out to Jennifer and David Rodriguez of Jaz-Mar Photography for the flowers and for being there to snap a family picture! Your grace is an inspiration, we love you guys! Thank you to Glen & Lizette…you have encouraged us from the beginning and we will always treasure your wedding memories. We love you! And finally, thank you Donlyn Turnbull for the treasure find…a vintage camera…something I have been wanting but never thought I would find! You have no idea how special that camera is to me–I can’t wait to use it for an engagement session!

p.s. you know I had to write on the cork and add it to our collection…if you don’t know about our collection, click here: corks

Thank you to Elba Plaza, of Jewels by Park Lane and to Kristen Pell of WAY FM for contributing giveaways…they were fabulous!

I am still floating on cloud nine from all of the loving support lavished upon us last night. I truly can’t express my grateful heart, I am so emotionally overwhelmed by the encouragement and kindness of you all! There are just no words to describe how blessed I feel…if I could wrap my arms around you all and give you a great big bear hug right now, I totally would! Here is a virtual one: (((hug)))

Here’s my favorite new family picture from last night, courtesy of Jaz-mar Photography:

Phew.

After things cleared out, Brandon and I took some time for a little dancing…and the kids snapped some pictures. These images are blurry and precious, kind of like the entire day!

If you missed the event, it would be my pleasure to give you personal tour! Thank you for stopping by the blog today.
Love, Stacy
www.setfreephotography.com

This wreath is screaming my name…you know me and orange & turquoise…we are one. These colors define my studio and I want this for the front door. I want it bad!

Ahhh the giant flower. It’s so fabulous, it’s close to stealing my heart. But I shall remain true to orange & turquoise.  Oh but that enormous pearl…swoon!

I have no adequate words to express my love and adoration for the following wreath. I die.

Okay, lace…roses…and pearls! What could be more feminine?

And finally, the wreath that gave this post permission to be on the blog on Wedding Wednesday:

Seriously, how would you feel if you found that on your door to go along with a proposal? And a matching ring? I know how I would feel, and my answer would be: “Yes, please!”

There are so many wreaths that I love for different reasons…I can’t help but share more:

But wait! There are more than wreaths at ItzFitz! Check out these hairpins, brides! And what a fun way to tie your wedding colors into your receptions tables, with these napkin holders! A photographer’s dream!

For more information, contact Jen at her shop, www.etsy.com/shop/ItzFitz. You can commission her for a custom order just in time for the fall! And think of the Holiday possibilities! *off to check my paypal balance*

** Be a Fan of Itz Fitz! on Facebook! **
http://www.facebook.com/ItzFitzShop

**all images copyright ItzFitz

Thanks for stopping in, I hope you have found a great resource for something fun today! Be sure to check my archives for more Wedding Wednesday posts. I promise to bring you lots more goodies now that the kiddos are back in school.

Have an idea or a product to submit for Wedding Wednesday? I would love to blog all about it! Email me here: stacy@setfreephotography.com

Peace, Love & Shopping on Etsy,
Stacy
Set Free Photography™

I should mention that I am a natural-nail girl.  I have tried acrylic and gel…and I always went back to my natural nails.  Then they would break, and I would cry.  (right, Pam?)  Shellac is available at Studio RK Salon in Fort Myers. They are my favorite!

Here is a link to a youtube video with more information:   shellac

And I leave you with a special reminder! There is a bridal show coming up at Germain Arena on August 15th at 1pm! Set Free doesn’t have a booth there, but I encourage you to go and check out some of my favorite vendors, Lace & Roses Bridal and The Plantation Golf & Country Club. Oh! And be sure to grab a catalog from Lace & Roses, where you will find my work on the pages, as well as this ad:

Thanks for stopping by today!
Love,
Stacy | Set Free Photography™

www.setfreephotography.com

This is one of my favorite shots…this lamp is the FIRST thing that I bought for the studio. The color pallette started with the lamp shades, and everything fell into place after that…if you look closely, you can see the entire place.

Thank you for reading the blog today and for all of the support we have received in our latest adventure! We are very excited to share our new digs with you and who knows? maybe you will find a picture of you (or your baby) on the walls!

Lots of Love,
Stacy
Set Free Photography ®

www.setfreephotography.com

This shot was requested by the happy couple…I love that it has meaning for them!

Details. Never enough of ‘em for me!

The lacing of the dress…you know the effect that laces have on me…swoon!

Watching Jaclyn’s mom, Debbie help her get dressed was so touching. They are so apparently close and share a beautiful relationship…it always warms my heart to see Moms and daughters in this moment.

Brandon caught this shot while I was shooting a close up of Jaclyn & Debbie. I can’t explain exactly what I love about this picture, but it is one of my favorites. I think it is an abstract view of their loving bond. I. just. love. it!

The eyes say it all here! So much joy!

It was a beautiful ceremony, lots of tears!

Reception goodness:

Fun. I am so glad we took the jump shot! My daughter thinks it’s awesome!

As we left the church and headed for the reception, it started pouring down rain…I was disappointed that we couldn’t take advantage of the beautiful grounds at The Plantation. Thankfully, after dinner the sun came out! Brandon, Heidi and I whisked Jaclyn and Daniel away for a few quick shots. I am so glad we did:

The first dance: it was spectacular! Jaclyn & Daniel wowed everyone with an amazing routine…they were on fire! Bravo, you two! Bravo!! You should be on Dancing with the Stars! I love this shot from one of the dips…you can see the smiles on the spectators, which happen to be the parents of the bride and groom!

The send off was so emotional for me. Amidst all of the action, I heard Jaclyn say “where’s Mom?” Just those little words did me in…even now, it makes me cry! And then I watched as Jaclyn and Daniel each said goodbye to their Moms…and that was priceless to this Mom. I caught Brandon’s eye and he was just as emotional…I think we both imagined our daughter in this moment. We laughed on the way home about how much of a mess we will be if we were crying already! Debbie & Candy: you raised extraordinary children. Congratulations!

Interested in knowing the specs from this wedding? Well, here’s the scoop:
Church: Faith United Methodist
Reception: The Plantation
Wedding Planner: Stephanie Meiser – AlongCameStephanie@gmail.com – 239-839-7001

Thank you for reading the blog today! I hope you enjoyed this fabulous couple’s day…it was truly blessed!

J + D: Thank you for allowing us to capture such beautiful, romantic moments as you join your lives together and become one. When the two of you drove off, I was thrilled for you…and a little sad, I have to admit! I guess it’s the Mom in me. We are greatly looking forward to seeing all that God has in store for you. Congratulations and may God bless you abundantly!
Love, Stacy, Brandon & Heidi

www.setfreephotography.com/weddings

Katy will set a beautiful tone to your wedding day as guests begin to arrive…and of course, she will play as you walk down the aisle…it’s an unforgettable moment and she will enhance it musically!

Some info about Katy, and how to contact her:

I hope you’ve enjoyed another fabulous wedding resource! Stay tuned for more, I have a few things up my sleeve…
Love, Stacy

www.setfreephotography.com

About the shoot–it was for a catalog that Lace & Roses is putting together for the Bridal Show coming up at Harborside on July 11th. I hope you will stop by their booth and meet Ashley & Lacey–they are fabulous! I’ve watched them both in action and I was amazed. They can lace dresses and do alterations like nobody’s business…they make it look easy…only it’s NOT easy…it’s not easy at all!

Let me introduce our bride models:
Lauren, Christine and Chelsea

And our groom models:
Andrew & Nate

Kicking things off, we have Christine in a gorgeous gown with a flower strap…and guess what? It’s removable. Love that! Then we have Christine with her “bridesmaids” and here’s something fun: the sash is interchangeable! Choose your matching color and you are coordinated in a snap!

Lauren just made my lens fog, she is so smokin hot…I loved her in every dress, and she has such great looks! I wish I had that great of a “serious” face. Oh, and someone better hold me back from buying those pink shoes! I want them!

Chelsea and Nate had great chemistry…they laughed like a real married couple does after they say their vows. Don’t tell Chelsea I said that, though…she won’t be sporting her own wedding dress for a looong time. Right, C?

Here they are again, Mr. & Mrs. Chemistry:

I love this picture because we found a wine cellar and it completely fit in with the feel of this dress. But the wine cellar isn’t what “makes” this picture. It’s the chemistry. I’m tellin’ ya…wow!

One of my favorite images–Andrew & Christine. I believe them. I really believe that they are happily in love with each other.

I love this picture. I don’t know exactly why, but I just do.

Christine gave me the idea to shoot wide with the chandelier in the shot…thanks, Christine! Your idea rocked!

Chelsea + Ruffles = Sassy

We worked hard for this image, it was a group effort…Ashley tamed the wind and we got it. I was doing the happy dance and clapping a very annoying clap.

A celebratory hug was in order.

A high five, too:

Don’t you just feel like putting on a wedding dress and twirling around?
Here’s the info for Lace and Roses:
website: www.laceandrosesbridal.com

They are located at:
11742 Metro Parkway
Fort Myers, FL

And their phone number is: 239-489-2845

The gorgeous hair & makeup was done by the talented girls at Studio RK. They really did an amazing job creating a “bridal” feel. I personally go there for my hair & nails and I will never, ever, ever, ever go anywhere else. Not ever. Debby (hair) and Pam (nails) are two of my favorite people…they introduced me to Keratin and Shellac and my life has forever improved.
Studio RK Website: www.studiorksalon.com
Phone: 239-489-4144
Address: 6420 Plantation Park Court
Fort Myers, FL 33966

Thanks for stopping by on Wedding Wednesday, I hope you have found my resources useful.
Love, Stacy
www.setfreephotography.com

Tristen was snacking on gummy bears while she was having her makeup up done…she mentioned that a friend brought them for her because she loves them! (I love her friend!) So, I thought it was appropriate to shoot the gummy bears with the rings:

Here’s a look at the very gorgeous bridal party. They were FUN and CUTE!

I love the way Erek is looking at the love of his life here:

Tristen rocked the flower in her hair! I love the fun feeling of this shot. These two are madly in love!

These are the moments I live for:

I really enjoyed the reception…there was so much love in the room from family and friends. I laughed, I cried and I was blessed to capture lots of beautiful emotion. As I was reviewing the pictures, I realized that I caught Tristen & Erek kissing quite a few times. These moments were totally organic, not posed at all…they probably didn’t know I had my eye on them. And ya know what…these moments are what it’s all about. So many times, couples are torn in different directions during the reception…I am so happy that these lovebirds took the time to stop and steal a kiss!

A few reception details:

Tris & Erek: Congratulations on a beautiful wedding…I am so thankful to see how much love you have in your lives; for each other, and from your friends and family. You are truly blessed! I miss you already, but I know that you are going to rock Texas! Come and visit soon!
Love, Stacy

Resouces:
Makeup by Karen Kubler, read about her here: Karen on the blog

Reception & Ceremony: Tarpon Point Marina

Thanks for stopping by!
www.setfreephotography.com/weddings

I love this picture for so many reasons…first, Katie’s playful expression and the way her hair is falling on her face…and then there’s the smile that Tom is flashing her…makes my heart skip a beat! …and I love this picture because you get to meet Thor, the stud:

Thor’s expression cracks me up. It’s like he is saying “Seriously? You brought me to a park and I have to watch you guys make out up there?”

A competing favorite…I love how “into each other” theses two love birds are. This makes me want to grab my hubby and set up a tripod for some new pictures of us!

Now here are some shots that every guy can appreciate…and Tom is a guys’ guy so I know he is thrilled that we got that body bump in there.
Heck, I am t-h-r-i-l-l-e-d about it! Again, I’m thinking about grabbing the hubby for a photo shoot…all dressed up in Seahawks gear.

ps. Seattle is going to dominate this year. ohhhh yes I said it!

To Tom and Katie: I had so much fun photographing the two of you! (oops, the three of you. Sorry, Thor!) Thank you for your creativity and willingness to jump around in the heat…you really pulled it off; no one could guess how sticky & humid it was from looking at your lovely faces! Congratulations on your engagement, I couldn’t be happier for you.
Love, Stacy

Hair & Makeup by Studio RK – www.studiorksalon.com (this is where I go for hair and nails, and there is no.better.salon. ever.)
Bridal Gowns, Tux & shoes by Lace & Roses Bridal (best customer service…the girls there will take such good care of you, and make it fun, too!)
Florals by Patty’s Flower Shop (amazing creativity–Patty will not miss a detail when it comes to your flowers!)
These are fantastic vendors, with amazing quality and super friendly service…I proudly reccommend them all!

Okay…so first we stopped at these railroad tracks. It wasn’t on my itinerary, but when I saw them, we had to turn the vehicle around!

Downtown Fort Myers, I love you and your brick & wrought iron:

Lace & Roses, I love your shoes! (and your dresses…but that is a given!)

Patty’s Flower Shop, I love your bouquets:

Here we stopped at Miromar Lakes and had a quick change of dresses:
Kristen & Robert: I love your chemistry!

Next we went for a vintage vibe. This is the vision that I that started this whole adventure…I am so happy that it turned out:

Kristen…thank you for being so easy going and also for being up for anything. Your beauty shines from deep within your soul and lights up the world. You are breathtakingly gorgeous. And brave. Because you owned that tree without any fear of snakes. I, on the other hand, was jumping all around like crazy.

Robert…thank you for your inspiring ideas and fantastic attitude! You are incredibly easy to photograph and work with…it is a true pleasure to know you. Thank you for not losing the wedding band. And for rocking the guitar!

This may be my favorite image right here…maybe:

A page layout from the wedding album:

Thank you for stopping by the blog! Be sure to visit my wedding website for new photos from my spring weddings. www.setfreephotography.com/weddings