Posts from the ‘Inspired By:’ Category

Inspired by the Design*Sponge‘s “Living In” posts where she takes inspiration from some of her favorite movies to create styling mood boards for interior design and fashion, I thought I would elaborate and do the same thing with some of the prettiest wedding scenes on the big screen. The ambiance in movies (and big budget) can allow for some inspiring wedding spreads if we look past the actors and the dialogue to the decor.

Since tonight I am watching Last Chance Harvey on Netflix, I figured I’d start here. Last Chance Harvey is a redemption story about a man that begins with him flying to London to attend his daughter’s wedding. The wedding is classy and warm with creamy tones and lots of ambient lighting but is surprisingly un-snooty. Warm cream and golden tones mixed with dripping foliage and the sophistication of black tie fashion. As we were watching I realized I was internally remarking on all the decor even though the wedding isn’t even the focus of the plot.

The first thing I love about this wedding is all the warm golden tones. There are gold Chiavari chairs, golden lighting from twinkle lights strung en masse behind cream colored fabric, the glow of candles, and floral arrangements of pale colored roses. I love the look of a single, fully-opened rose as a boutonniere, and the sophistication of classic tuxedos and black bow ties. But what I love most about this wedding is that while it is decadent and dressy, it is surprisingly soft and un-fussy. Adding unexpected touches like golden mercury glass on the tables and a beaded headband could do the trick nicely for real life bride to take the edge off of all the traditional decor. Also, allowing your floral designs to be a bit looser and more organic can help dial down the fuss…

Bow tie: J Crew | Votive: Golden Mercury Glass | Gown: Ann Barge | Beaded headband: Anthropologie | Flowers by: Saipua

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Be Inspired.

I’ve heard before that wedding photography should not be considered an art, or a fine art. That wedding photographers are not artists, but businessmen. I kind of get it. Our industry revolves around business. Our work is not signed and numbered. Fancy people with martinis don’t “hmmm” and “interesting” as they walk by blown up works of our art strategically lit by gallery lights. But at the same time, I’ve known myself longer than anyone and I’ve known since I was young that I would have to be some sort of artist in my life or I’d never feel fulfilled. So I do feel like an artist. It started with music. And energy.

I sang in my youth group’s choir. I was never really cool and was always on the outside. But I still felt special for being part of the group. We toured because we were good and were the biggest in our area for our denomination. We led HUGE services and campmeetings and I thrived on the energy given back to us by the crowd. People dancing, clapping, singing, jumping… I was addicted.

In college I stumbled into another band. The band that held my heart for many years. I wasn’t really good enough but somehow they let me stay around and the space the provided me helped me to grow a lot. I found my voice in that band, albeit a timid one most the time. And again, I thrived on the energies. Whoever said that energies are foolishness has forgotten what it’s like to stand in a crowd of thousands and feel everyone sing the same lyrics. Energies are strong, and powerful. I digress…

I wrote. I painted. I cooked. And I took pictures. And then I painted those pictures in computer programs that give you the freedom to take the real world and turn it into whatever you’d like. Then I wrote or collected poems to caption my pieces of art. The world, closest to my heart, has always been an artist’s world. Whether or not I was making money for what I did, I was still a fledgling artist. An artist looking for a new source of energy as my inspiration, the way designers search for a muse.

The band broke apart. And my source of energy to vibe on was gone. And then… weddings. Weddings with their people and their raw emotions. A different energy, to be sure, than what I felt when I was singing, but an interesting energy all the same. And, a supply for my addition to the energy, and an outlet to take the things in reality and transform them. A way to make people feel an energy that I felt just by looking at a picture. It’s magical, to be sure.

So I consider myself a student of energy, and the way it brings people together. Energy and the way it affects them. Energy and it’s power to move perfectly capable people to jump up and down, to laugh, to cry, to get caught up and carried away. It’s what you feel when you drive with the windows down and sing your favorite song at the top of your lungs. It what comes over you when you stand in the surf at the edge of an ocean and feel the rhythm of the waters. It’s what you feel when you watch two people completely in love commit to each other. It’s whatever courses through you and gives you joy. Except, instead of hiding it and keeping it to yourself, I’m asking you to share it with me. I am searching for it. Raw energy. Calm, loving, exciting, tearful… whatever energy it is, I want it opened up to me.

So please, let your walls down. Let me see into your soul. It’s scary, I know but take me into those places that you keep to yourself and let me see you. I’m in search of genuine energy. And consider this me taking my walls down to show you that side of myself. Let me see your soul.

xo,

Becka

We spent yesterday on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Nate captured this shot of our friend Erik (who also happens to be a ridiculously talented photographer) right as the sun was setting over Indian Rocks Beach. I thought it was perfectly fitting for today. We hope you have a wonderful, relaxing day in this beautiful land enjoying the freedom that so many dedicated patriots have worked so hard to provide for us. Thank you!

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