Consider this wedding scenario: The groom’s parents have a horror of anonymous hotels and want to stay in a cozy B&B with a pool, a garden and an arboreal surround. The bridesmaids want to treat the bride to a facial and massage on the morning of the wedding. The bride’s mother is obsessed with the idea of an elegant dinner followed by dancing in a ballroom with a spectacular view. The bride wants to make her entrance down a staircase with a harpist playing on the balcony behind her. And the groom wants to be married outside in the country. Ringed by low hills and surrounded by vineyards and ranches, this quiet, stylish hideaway is the place where all of these wedding visions can be realized.
By Peter Bruce posted on Sunday, November 15, 2009 @ 12:08 PM - (General)
Why Peter Bruce Photo like the Place Sir Francis Drake & had fun with Tiffany & Gene...
The Sir Francis Drake Hotel’s 21-story, Gothic-style tower just off Union Square and its Beefeater-attired doormen have been beloved San Francisco attractions since 1927.
Once you step into the Drake’s opulent period Italian Renaissance lobby is just like stepping back into the 1920s Marble staircases, walls and pillars convey a stately air; crystal chandeliers shine and the lofty, ornately detailed ceiling sparkles with gold leaf. The main event spaces, the Empire Ballroom and the Franciscan Room, have a high-society, Age of Innocence ambiance. In the gold-and-ivory Empire Room, beautiful hand-painted murals turn the walls into works of art. Overhead, three crystal chandeliers suspended from a vaulted ceiling painted with ribbons of gold leaf give the room a delicate amber glow. The adjoining wood-paneled Walnut Room, with its club-like, Edwardian atmosphere and built-in bar, makes a great prefunction space.Tiffany & Gene were smart to have there wedding here,one of the best place Peter Bruce Photo have shoot.
Located just off the mezzanine, the spacious and grand Franciscan Room is an excellent choice for a formal wedding. It’s a regal setting, featuring a 21-foot ceiling with intricate gold embossing, chandeliers, windows draped with blue silk curtains, and columns with carved gold capitals. Guests can enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the adjacent mezzanine, which offers a cozy fireplace and a bird’s-eye view of the vibrant hotel lobby below.
Steeped in 80 plus years of history, the Drake is a true classic. Brides may fall in love with its enchanting vintage architectural details, but they’ll also appreciate the modern amenities and personal service this landmark hotel has to offer.
I am sure as you can see from these photos that it was a fun event. I think I got great photos of the fun side of the wedding and Steve our Video guy really got some great footage. People danced a lot due to Paul the DJ at bELLE music doing a great job.
Check back with us to a few weeks to see all the photos, but I hope you enjoyed these, please let us know
By Peter Bruce posted on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 @ 6:30 AM - (General)
One of the best wedding stories
We were married in Vegas NV. We are geeks, so we booked our wedding online. We wanted everyone to join us, but knew not everyone would be able to travel to Vegas. So, we found "The Little White Chapel" which had a wedding web cam in the church. It wasn't a live stream, but took snaps about every minute. We even booked Elvis online! We sent out the wedding invitations via email and gave everyone the URL for the wedding cam so they could join us remotely.
If they were going to join us in Vegas the dress code for the wedding was "Big Dog" attire. You would have to wear a t-shirt or some other "Big Dog" apparel. My dress had Big Dogs all over it and the groom had a Big Dog bow tie and cummerbund. Most guests wore a Big Dog t-shirt and loved the fact that it was so informal.
For the rehearsal dinner, we took everyone to King Arthur's court where we ate our dinner with our fingers and watched a jousting match.
Elvis was late arriving at the church and everyone said it's because he was dead :) We ended up filling the church and it was standing room only. While we waited for Elvis, someone had the idea to start a "wave" for the folks at home that couldn't make it to Vegas. So we started to do the wave and would pause for the wedding cam to snap a shot then change to the next wave position and waited for the cam again. We kept doing that until the wave was complete. The folks watching remotely said they knew exactly what we were doing and thought it was a riot! There was no audio, so I called work from my cell phone and had someone hold it during the ceremony so they could hear what was going on. There were about 50 people at work watching our wedding - they even brought a wedding cake!
Our wedding was enjoyed remotely by friends and family across the country and about 40 joined us in Vegas!!! After the ceremony, we had everyone back to our 2 bedroom resort suite for champagne and finger foods. For the folks that couldn't make it to Vegas, we had a reception at home after we returned from our honeymoon in Hawaii. MANY people commented that they had more fun at our wedding than any other wedding they had ever been to. People are still talking about it!!! Did I mention this wedding HAD to have been the easiest and most stress free wedding to plan??? Also, the wedding costs were very low, which enable us to spend more on our honeymoon!
By Peter Bruce posted on Thursday, October 22, 2009 @ 8:09 AM - (General)
Here are some tips for coordinating with your wedding Photographer. After you have selected a photographer, take the time to work through the details with him; this will help to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Meet once or twice, about a month before the wedding, to discuss what sorts of pictures you want; then meet again soon after for a tour of the location (if feasible) and to schedule the sequence of events. There should be a follow-up by the photographer about a week before the wedding with a confirmation of the shot list and the previously outlined schedule, either of which may need to be adjusted to accommodate last-minute changes in your overall plans. Although a wedding planner, if you have one, can competently handle straightforward logistical issues, only you can decide what images you want to come away with.
Putting together a shot list is a process of delicately balancing expectations (both yours and those of relatives and friends) with the constraints of reality. Though your aunt may want a photograph of you with each cousin individually, this could take a fair amount of time and effort. I warn against a lengthy list, which will overburden the photographer, the couple, and the guests. On the other hand, you do not want to realize that a favorite person was left out months after it is too late. So it is best to determine in advance who is important to you and to make sure that he or she will have a formal portrait taken with you. It may help to consider just what you will be doing with the portraits. Realistically, you will probably want only a few large prints for display on your mantel or living room wall. Other people can be remembered in your album, which is often more enjoyable when filled with casual shots taken during the celebration. When you are reviewing this list of special people, talk to the photographer about each person. Let him or her know who's funny or troublesome, or who cannot stand still for long periods of time. Knowing these things will make your photographer's job much easier and more fun. Jusr remember even though you are taking formal shoot they should be fun. My really personel view is I am there to shoot you and what I like to say softly direct you,not beat you up. We should be a team,you should feel good in front of the camera and I should get the sots you want. Remember,hire a photographer who is good and also has good bed side manner.
By Peter Bruce posted on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 @ 8:31 AM - (General)
I wanted to follow up on my last blog about Destinations weddings. I feel that I left a few ones out,which I will cover over the next few days. Giving you more info and detail on get away weddings. One thing I think is great at weddings and we have talk about this in the past,is kids at weddings,but when it is a Destination wedding and kids are coming,well then it is different. When planning a wedding abroad or away from your city of residence, remember to take into account the children that you have invited. In fact, your own children may be attending the wedding and someone needs to provide for them. Since you want to enjoy a little time with new your new spouse, it might a good idea to have the children stay at the hotel or resort with a trusted relative. By doing this, the couple is not constantly worried about the children and the relative will have time to entertain them.
The children will most likely be different age brackets which might make keeping them occupied more difficult but if they are family, they will be used to one another. Generally, there are a few ways to keep the kids happy during their stay.
Make sure the sightseeing is appropriate for the children. Anything too strenuous or exhausting for small children should be reconsidered. That is not to say that none of the adults should go. But maybe the children should stay back with someone who does not wish to go.
Be safe. One thing that happens when vacationing or traveling to a resort or hotel for a wedding, the jubilant emotions cloud judgments. Common sense must be used when allowing children near water, nears strangers, and allowing them to wander about in a strange place. It is easy to lose sight of the children so be diligent and have other people help so that everyone enjoys himself or herself.
Organize activities specifically for children, both during the stay and at the wedding reception. Face painting, puppet shows, building sandcastles, making snowmen, and age appropriate crafts will help children to avoid boredom.
Just tell them it is a holiday with a big party for someone. Hope this helps,please let us know
By Peter Bruce posted on Monday, October 19, 2009 @ 8:34 AM - (General)
Destination weddings are an incredible opportunity to get magazine-worthy images of your wedding day! This is a once in a life-time event and the pictures/video are all you will have left afterward. Take it seriously and expect to invest in this service for a professional. Peter Bruce Photo & Video have done many destination weddings and they can be great. And one most important thing, I am happy to go to Paris with you foe your wedding.
1. Hire a serious pro! Don't expect that a beautiful location will automatically mean you get great shots. It takes a professional to interpret lighting, positioning, architecture, storytelling and combine it all with great equipment and experience to produce stunning images.
2. Take your time! See if your photographer will set aside a few hours for bridal portraits on the day after the wedding (or if you have a really small wedding, on the day of the wedding). You can travel the area and hit all the hot spots. After all, isn't that why you chose it?
3. Destination weddings are all about the "Experience." Capture every emotional moment by having your photography/videography team arrive early enough to shoot the getting ready process. Hair/Makeup are some of our favorite shots - energy is high and emotions are, too! Make sure your professional provides you with a list of tips so you can have all those little details like your dress, shoes, and jewelry ready, too.
4. Audio is everything! Beach weddings are windy and many PA systems echoe and distort the voice. Most people think of video as a camera, but don't ever realize that even in the most capable hands a video is nothing without great audio of your ceremony, interactions of family and friends, etc. Make sure your videographer uses professional wireless microphones on both the groom and the officiant (as a back-up).
After all is said and done, see if your photographer can submit your images to magazines or websites. Remember all those great ones you saw while planning your wedding? That could be you...but not without a great professional on your side
I hope this help with your getaway weddings,let me know. Also remember happy to travel with you for a wedding.
By Peter Bruce posted on Sunday, October 18, 2009 @ 12:15 PM - (General)
What a fun wedding Peter Bruce photo & video was lucky enough to do at the wonderful Purple Orchid Inn in Livermore. Jill & Andrew pulled of a great wedding,fun party,with lots of dancing. One of the shorest cermonies in the history of wedding. Hope you enjoy the photos. The full set of all the photos will be posted in about 2 weeks so check back to this site then.
By Peter Bruce posted on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 @ 5:24 PM - (General)
The Fairmont signing with Rami and Todd and team bELLE was there to shoot it
I had the great pleasure of photographing Rami’s and Todd’s wedding at the Fairmont Hotel this weekend. This couple had gotten married about a year ago and now were celebrating their union with family and friends . The ceremony outside on the Pavilion Terrace was serene and joyful against the backdrop of the San Francisco skyline. The guys had a fantastic first dance routine , a combination of Salsa and Rumba I think( I’m no dancer myself) , that wowed the whole room. After a delicious dinner , Val Cunningham, Todd and Rami’s dance instructor, led everyone to the dance floor for a fun and funny Swing dance lesson. The rest of the night was a merry blur of love , dancing and - yes - “air guitar”!
What a fun wedding Lisa & Jeff, who I had never meet booked me to shoot there wedding at B R Cohn,what a great place.
Located in the heart of the beautiful and historic Sonoma Valley, B.R. Cohn Winery is nestled between the Mayacamas and Sonoma Mountains. Our 90-acre B.R. Cohn Winery offers a romantic atmosphere for a wedding. The stunning surroundings are ideal for a wedding.
It turned out to be one off the best weddings of the year for me, a fun couple great family and a cute bride, how could you go wrong. Along with father Gerry joining them is always nice. Chelsea doing great flowers from bELLE fine flowers. The food and wine was great. Hope you enjoy the photos.
By Peter Bruce posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 @ 1:14 PM - (General)
Some couples, for reasons of their own, do not want for children to attend their wedding reception.Peter Bruce Photo & team bELLE have seen this many times. The reasons for this may range from trying to lower costs by trimming wedding guests from the list, to simply not wanting to put up with potential crying, wailing, or hyperactivity on the part of the little guys.
The debate on this topic can get fierce. Some people argue that it it is rude and improper to exclude the younger members of a family that is on the wedding guest list. Some insist that a wedding is all about family and the circle of life, and that eliminating children from attendance at the wedding is therefore inappropriate.
If you are thinking about the option of an Adults Only wedding reception, its critically important that you consider the matter carefully and realize that some may indeed find this to be a tad offensive, ungracious, or downright cold. Weddings are not typically adult only events - in fact, throughout history, children have played an important role in the symbolism associated with weddings - and therefore some might be offended that you are dictating that they must leave their little ones at home.
Ultimately however, your wedding day is YOUR day and the bottom line is that you have a right to be happy and have it your way on this one day out of your entire life. If, after carefully considering this, you decide that this is the way it is going to be, you should follow the following rules for this delicate situation...
Indicate that the reception is to be adults only by having the words "Adults Only Reception" or "Adult Reception" printed along with the reception location and time on the invitation.
Do not use phrases such as NO KIDS, NO CHILDREN, etc. The only correct wording is Adult Reception or Adults Only Reception.
This information should be printed by the printer on all invitations. You must never write ANYTHING by hand onto the invitation itself - whether it pertains to this or any other matter. Doing so is considered socially incorrect (in other words, tacky!) and inappropriate.
If you are excluding some children, the rule is that you must exclude all children. There must not be different rules for different people or some individuals will be deeply offended and hurt - and rightly so. The only possible exception to this would be any children who are in the wedding party. However, the jury is out in this area. While some etiquette experts feel that it may be alright to make this exception, there is a stronger belief that if the reception is to be adults only, no children should be included as part of the wedding party. Otherwise, parents of children who were not allowed to attend may feel slighted that clearly some exceptions are being made to allow children, while they were instructed to leave their kids behind.
You may be think this to be a little unfair. After all, you are probably very familiar with the children in your wedding party and you probably selected them on the basis of their exemplary behavior in public, while the same may not necessarily be true of the other children. It is for this precise reason that the jury, as I stated, remains out on this one. Give it some careful thought and if unsure, err on the side of caution by ensuring that no children really means NO children to avoid appearing offensive to any of your guests.
If cost issues are the reason you are contemplating the Adults Only route, keep in mind that the cost of feeding a child at the wedding will be considerably less than the cost to feed an adult. Most caterers or reception sites have children's menus from which they will serve kids under 12 years of age, typically at a dramatically lower cost.
Many caterers will not inform you of this unless you specifically ask about it. Inquire with your caterer about the availability of child's plates. This may solve the entire dilemma for you so that everyone can end up happy.
And what if someone does show up with their children, despite it all? Do you say something to them? Do you send someone over to ream them out? Don't even dream it. What good would that possibly do? Done is done. No sense in creating an unpleasant, uncomfortable situation. Nothing could be more unbecoming of a bride, groom, or host.
Best advice? that Peter Bruce Photo & team bELLE can give you,take a deep breath, then let it go. Put it out of your mind and get on with having a good time. This day is going to fly by faster than you'll ever want as it is; don't waste a single moment of it caught up in negativity. Think happy thoughts on this day...happy thoughts only. Remember, this is the best day of your life! Enjoy it for heaven's sake.
We hope you enjoyed this as always please let us know
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