Valentines Day at Innove
Happy Valentines Day! Some of you may remember Beka Rendell of the beautiful Beka and Jesse wedding and the national feature of her wedding in Brides Magazine. Well, as some of you know, Beka is also a most talented event planner in Philadelphia. Her company, Innove Events had some exciting changes this year and I went by to visit her. Innove Events has moved it’s offices to Old City Philadelphia and has joined forces with the talented Kimberly Fink who has been in the event industry for over 10 years. What a hot team these two are making! They styled a little Valentines day shoot when I visited and WOW was it cute. So cute in fact that it was featured on the front page of the amazing wedding blog Style Me Pretty. Can’t wait to see the amazing things they have in store for me to photograph in the coming year. Check out their most adorable feature on Style me Pretty and Happy Valentines Day to everyone!
Mamma Mia – It’s a Winner!
I’m so sorry I have not been posting as frequently but I am so busy working on those amazing projects I told you about. I should start posting again real soon. I though I’d share with you another winner! This past January I won the Philadelphia Magazine Photo Contest (for the 4th month in a row)!!! I won first place in the photographers’ choice. The past 3 months I took 1st place for portraits. I LOVE this “Mamma Mia” picture from the Alyssa and James wedding and am so thrilled she won!
This lovely portrait from Beka and Jesses wedding won back in October!
Beka + Jesse 09-13-08 (The Reception)
Just a few more images from Beka’s wedding before I need to move on to my other beautiful events. As you can see from the last post the reception was so charming! Beka, Jesse and all their guests danced the night away! What a great band!!! After the cake cutting Beka introduced us all to the “shortened” version of her Monique Lhuillier gown. Her sister presented Beka with her birthday cake. Did I mention that September 13th is Beka’s birthday? How special. Thanks you so much Beka and Jesse for having us all share in your special day!
The Sid Miller Band kept the “joint” jumpin’ all night!
Boxes of yummy home made cookies were presented to guests at their afterparty to take back to their rooms. Cookies and milk…. my favorite way to say goodnight.
Beka + Jesse 09-13-08 (The Reception Details)
What can I say about the details of this reception? It was beyond exceptional! Every antique vase and chocolate pot was filled with unique flower arrangements. It was just a tent full of French country charm. You could just feel all the love and creativity that went into it. I know Beka and Nancy Saam were perusing all the flee markets all year and Nancy filled all the pieces so beautifully. Bekas partner at Innove, Melody Appel worked feverishly assure the day went so smoothly and Nancy Saam put such care into her work. Check out the hand painted dance floor!!! All the details were perfectly lit by Eventions Productions. Note to brides…. ALWAYS get lighting!!
The cake was placed on a table over love letters her grandparents exchanged to each other many decades ago. Very romantic!
The Place Cards were hung on ribbons for their guests! So pretty as they blew in the breeze!
Little books for guests to leave well wishes!
Check out this hand painted dance floor!It was hand painted by the most talented artist Alix Jacobs of Haverford, PA. Beautiful work Alix!
Bekas partner at Innove, Melody takes a long deserved break from all the coordination to take a romantic stroll with her husband. Job well done Melody!
Beka + Jesse 09-13-08 (The Ceremony)
After their portraits Beka returned to her room for Claudia to put on her birdcage veil. How lucky can I be? My second birdcage in a month!!! Her father came to her with a printout of the weather radar (and it did not look promising). Sadly, she had to make a call to have has ceremony inside the Governors residence instead of the rose garden. With Innove, Beka has been an event designer for years and her creation was so full of country charm that I do not feel it took away at all from the mood she wanted to create. I always tell my couples it’s not about the weather and I believe Beka and Jesses wedding is a perfect example of the. JUST CHARMING! Stay tuned for the reception with the amazing flowers of Nancy Saam Flowers!
The ceremony programs hung from pink ribbons on the back of the white lawn chairs.
Rose petal holder cones hung from the aisle seats
OOPS, I popped in the hallway where Beka and Jesse were having their first moment alone as man and wife!
Beka + Jesse 09-13-08 (The Portraits)
For their portraits Beka and Jesse took a little walk around the gardens of the Governors Residence. There was a threat of rain all day and it was pouring just north of Harrisburg but we were very lucky at portrait time. It was a relaxed and casual time for them before all the excitement of their day. We took a little trip with their bridal party around the Harrisburg. The images next to the caboose of the Pennsylvania Railroad car were so adorable. We then returned to the Rose Garden for family pictures. What a beautiful location for a ceremony! Check back soon…. the next edition of this very detailed wedding will be the stellar ceremony!
LOVED her hairdo by Claudia Seyler. It was so perfectly flowing, yet stayed in place all day. How did she do that?
OK, so I could not resist those Louboutin shoes!!!
I thought this was such a cute image with her bridal party. One last “weigh-in” before the ceremony.
Beka found this beautiful blue church door for pictures. As a seasoned event planner she knew exactly what to look for. She made my job so easy!
When we got back to the Governors Residence Nancy Saam had these beautiful bouquets waiting for the bridal party.
That blue door is AWESOME! 
Can I take it with me on shoots? 
Beka + Jesse 09-13-08 (The Preparations)
As I said, I’m definitely going to have to do more than two parts of Beka and Jesse’s amazing day. As a certified “fashionista” and a brilliant event planner, Beka had so many stellar details to her day (and you know how I love the details)! She set the stage with pink French Macaroons in a tiered tray for family, friends (and photographers) to munch on. It brought me back to my summer in Paris. As you will see, her day was filled with casual elegance with a splash of Paris! What’s not to love about her Monique Lhuillier gown made with the most delicate of tulle? Beka had it customized by Suky Occasions in Ardmore, PA. The bottom half of her gown could separate for a new look later in the evening! LOVED IT! She paired her gown with a pair of outrageously beautiful feathery Christian Louboutin shoes. I once again had to pay homage to these feathery wonders (I can’t help myself). Her sister wore the feathery Manolo Blahniks that I adored at a wedding in August. Fashionista sister award!! Beka’s hair and makeup was done by none other than Claudia Seyler. I loved the modern day Marie Antoinette hair. Beka pulled it off so beautifully! Let’s not forget Bekas’ husband to be, Jesse, who wore Giorgio Armani. The couple decided to meet ahead of time to do couple portraits so they would be free to enjoy all the many events of their day. Stay turned for their couple portraits!
I had Jessica and Megan also photographing the day. It was so great to have three perspectives as Beka made her way down the winding staircase to see Jesse.
The couple are off to their have a few couple portraits taken. Probably the only time alone of the day!
just beautiful, marie. wonderful work
That dress is fantastic! I think she’s going to start a new trend with having a shortened version with the same dress. The images are spectacular! I love the first one of the tent and everyone at the tables.