Calaveras Bridal Faire

Last Saturday night I was laying in bed, awake, after setting up my bridal faire booth for the Calaveras Bridal Faire the very next day.  I was a little anxious after all the planning, preparation, and thrift store shopping I had done just to put together this booth.  I pulled out my less than fabulous phone and looked at the picture of it all set up one more time, and it hit me: immense gratitude for all the people that helped me make this happen.  Right then I recounted all the people that made this happen: 

My brother Kile (and also licensed contractor, and single, ladies) built my booth, not the easiest way, but the way I wanted it.  He sacraficed an entire day off just to build it, and a Saturday to drive it to Calaveras, to set it up for me.

All of my updated wedding packages include an album by KISS Wedding Books.  The album swatches are pictured here.

My sister, Ruby, helped me set it up, reminded Kile (as we set up) that setting up for bridal fairs is actually fun, and moved her schedule all around just so she could be with me the day of the event.

My best friend since elementary school, Amanda, came to my rescue just in time, when I realized, at the last possible moment, "Yes, my booth is built, but not painted or wallpapered!"  She was there like that.  AND even took home four very large bags of laundry for me, just because she knew I wouldn't have time to do it.

Amanda's husband, Nathan, who took care of two little ones just so his wife could be my helper.

Check out this custom Digital Negative disc case.  Comes with every wedding package including digital negatives.

My very good friend, Tanya, who modeled for me, just for the bridal faire, so I could have a bride in a fantastically poofy dress.

My new friend Heather, who is also a photographer, and a very good "finder of light" at Tanya's shoot.

My long time friend Rachel, who has been all the way across the world with me, and lived with me in 4 different houses, set up the two shoots displayed on my photobooth walls.

I tell most people, you can spray paint just about anything; as was the case with this heart shaped dish. Just love it in blue.  On another note, I'm sponsoring a give-away for a $500 gift card...and I'm going to extend it to anybody following this blog.  Watch for another post to enter!

Instead of a traditional proof book, many couples have opted for a "Proof Box," containing your best 400 images, which I think is way cuter and more fun to hold in your hands.

And finally, my parents (because we all really know that my dad is not that interested in the bridal faire) drove all the way to Calaveras to help me tear it down and bring it on home.

A couple I met, Ryan and Annie,  just made my day.  They especially liked my booth because they met at a bookstore (if you can't tell from the pictures, I used a lot of old books).  But what really made me so excited, was that they liked my little "about" brochures so much, they asked me to make them as programs for their wedding ceremony.

This is an inside view of my brochure.  I often tell people one of the most useful classes I took to get my art degree was an optional bookmaking class. I've used things I've learned from it over and over again.

This was the second time I've put together a booth to represent my work.  This time I took it a slightly different direction. I wanted to really show who I was at this fair, and I've always been one that has loved "found" art, and old things, things that may have stories attached with them from a previous life.  I often use found items from thrift stores as props when I do a shoot. So in this booth, I brought all those found items to the table, literally.  I wanted  people to see and touch my aesthetic, so I could find those couples that share it in common.

Thank you to all of you that helped me at something I love to do, and thank you to all the couples that took a few minutes to stop and chat!