Remember to HAVE FUN!

After all the long hours of planning, the overloaded binder of all your wedding STUFF, the long nights of doing your wedding favors yourself, the stress endured making sure that all the RSVP cards were sent back, the delicious food tastings you went to, the shopping of the many-o-vendors, the mind blanks when it came to writing your own vows, the choosing of which table linens to use, the debating of what cake topper to use, the countless hours spent at the bridal gown shop to decide which dress perfectly fits YOU, the few minutes spent at the tux shop because guys are so much easier to shop for, and EVERYTHING else in between when it comes to planning your perfect wedding...

REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY!

You didn't go through all that wedding planning for nothing! Talk to your guests like you haven't seen them in ages, dance like there's no tomorrow, eat like it's the best food you've ever eaten, and just HAVE FUN!

I did a wedding recently and the bride and groom definitely knew how to entertain their guests! I really felt like I was one of the family!


Enjoy their slide show!

Your engagement shoot

Every couple looks forward to their engagement shoot. It's one step closer to their wedding day and they get a preview of how they'll look with their photographer. Here are some tips for your engagement shoot date:

1) Brides, avoid bringing a purse with you. More often than not, your purse isn't in pictures. You'll have to put the purse down, worry about someone snagging it, and then picking it up. This will happen throughout the shoot because of the various poses. To save time, think about leaving your purse in the car.

2) Avoid having anything in your pockets like cell phones, chap stick, wallets, etc. These protrude from the pants (or shirt/jacket pockets) and they DO show in pictures.

3) Consider wearing light colors and stay away from bright colors. Keep the colors neutral (black, white, pastel colors) so the people viewing the photos won't automatically be drawn to the hot pink you may choose to wear. If that's what you choose to wear, then far be it for me to say otherwise.

4) Do your homework. Your engagement shoot is just as important as choosing your wedding ceremony location. These are photos you'll remember for the rest of your life. Take a good amount of time to decide where you want to have your shoot. If you have the choice to go anywhere you want, take advantage of that!

5) Have a GREAT time! Your engagement shoot is what Cantina Light Pictures likes to consider a dry run to your wedding day. Remember to smile, have fun, be open to suggestions, and throw in your own suggestions. It's your engagement shoot, let's have a wonderful time!

Remember to take a moment for yourself

This past weekend was full of events like a typical Cantina Light Pictures weekend. Like the beginning of every reception, I find my table to put my stuff down on and set up shop. Sitting next to me was a lady who was a friend of the chef whose catering company was doing that wedding. We introduced ourselves, chit chatted throughout the night (when I actually found time to sit down for a few seconds!) and she told me about her pre-wedding treat for herself.

She is one of those people who are spa-goers. I myself admit that I'm not a spa-goer simply because I'm a busy person and I'm convinced that every spa & massage place out there charges an arm and a leg. I don't know about you but spending mucho dinero for a massage doesn't help me relax one bit! But then she started to tell me the benefits of a massage and contrary to my belief, how massages aren't as expensive as I perceive them to be.

Aside from the massage being relaxing, getting one has its benefits:

1. Pick Your Spot: No one ever said that only your back has to be massaged. If you're uncomfortable about having someone massage the lower back, for instance, get a massage on your shoulders, or arms, or legs. A massage creates chemical changes that reduces a pain chemical and stress throughout the body

2. De-Stress, Stay Healthy. Massage may boost immunity. Several studies have measured the stress hormone called cortisol--produced when one is stressed--in subjects' saliva before and after massage sessions, and found dramatic decreases. Cortisol kills cells important for immunity, so when massage reduces your stress levels and hence the cortisol in your body, it may help you avoid getting a cold or another illness while under stress.

3. Blood Pressure Benefits: Massage reduces hypertension, suggests a good deal of research. This may be because it stimulates pressure receptors that prompt action from the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve regulates blood pressure, as well as other functions.

4. Technique Tactics: There's little evidence to support one kind of massage over another, sources say, so don't worry about whether your therapist is schooled in Shiatsu, Swedish or some other technique. The key is pressure firm enough to make a temporary indentation in the skin.

5. Self Help. You can massage yourself. Although you don't have to massage the part of the body that hurts to relieve pain, targeting that area does tend to help more. One example is massaging the arms.

Newsweek

Even if you can't find the time to go to a local spa or massage parlor, take 20 minutes out of your day for a bath. That, too, has its benefits.

So during your wedding planning, don't forget to take a moment for yourself. And yes, this applies to the grooms as well! Happy relaxing!

Kelly & Eddie

We had a great time shooting Kelly & Eddie's engagement session. The laughter between them made for a FUN shoot! Kelly was actually part of a bridal party of a wedding that we did a few months ago so lucky for her to see us "in action" before her wedding actually came up! We were able to get some shots of them at some railroad tracks so that was definitely great. Looking forward to their big day!

Enjoy their slide show!