OLAS + The NotWedding – Engagement Shoot!
We’ll start this very simply: this post has been a long time coming. Ever since (once like a spark) was approached a few months back about being the photographers for the 2011 NotWedding, we all had the same reaction: “squeeeeeeeeeeeal!!” The NotWedding, is, basically, the coolest wedding ever thrown. In Atlanta. In July. The most amazing vendors (flowers, food, dresses, paper, photography, favors, etc.) are chosen by a group of phenomenal visionaries in the wedding industry (headed by Callie Murray) to come together and show their stuff for hundreds of brides-to-be. Instead of a traditional bridal show, the NotWedding really is….a wedding. Complete with a ceremony, dinner and dancing, brides and other guests get to actually experience the best of what the wedding world has to offer.
OLAS will be gathering in Atlanta in July for this stellar event. And being the photographers, we had the amazing task of dreaming up a little preview of the incredible NotCouple, Caroline and Drew, in the form of a to-die-for engagement session that told their story in a uniquely OLAS way.
Before Ashley, Leah and I joined forces in Atlanta, we had to envision an engagement session that would make every bride swoon with delight. Working with inspiration from the ever-talented Abany Tschupp, we created a two-part engagement session: the first part channeling all things vintage (and even a little Tom Sawyer-esque), the second part showcasing a more modern (but still super stylish) take on the engagement session. We want brides-to-be to see that whichever look they’re going for, it’s incredibly achievable, and SO FUN (today is the vintage look, and later in the week we’ll take a look at a more modern NotCouple 
)
Most of the ah-mazing props you’ll see are courtesy of Mao from Four Inch Fold, who was so generous with her time and ridiculously beautiful items (we highly suggest to look into Four Inch Fold for your own wedding if you’re in the Atlanta area), and the beyond stunning flowers were created on site (partly because she wanted to get a feel for the shoot and partly because she’s a genius!) by the incredible Amy Osaba (both are vendors for the NotWedding,too!) And we have to take a little credit, too–the outfits and hair were all Lauren, Leah and Ashley, inc.
So, now, darling Caroline and debonair Drew. Their story is swoon-worthy in and of itself. But, as much as we like to talk over here at OLAS, we think the NotWedding describes their first meeting perfectly:
Caroline ventured out last November to capture a few photos of the winter’s first frost. The spot where she went just happened to be one of Drew’s favored inspiration locales – the place he loved to journal and write.
Drew noticed a woman leaning over the edge of the park’s bridge with her eye to the camera – obviously more focused on whatever was beyond her camera lens than the fact that she could at any moment slip on the huge piece of ice that lie beneath her feet. Drew slowly approached her, not wanting to risk startling her and causing her to fall…but as he approached, Caroline began to quickly lose connection to the earth beneath her and began to fall – camera flying through the air.
Drew immediately wrapped his strong arm underneath her, only to barely catch her before she hit the ground. The two watched together as the camera met its furious death – plunging through the icy top layer of the creek below and sinking inches beneath the shallow surface.
The camera had definitely met its icy, frost-bitten end…but their new love was just beginning to see the glimmer of its first spring bloom.
Desiring to celebrate their fateful first meeting, we present to you the theme of The NotWedding 2011 : Frosted Poetry.
Working with Caroline and Drew was truly an amazing experience, and we loved every single minute of it. They are naturals in front of the camera, not to mention are so incredibly in love our jobs were downright easy capturing the love, light and pure joy shared between the two of them. We can’t wait to see them say “I Do” on July 21st, but until that time, here are a few (or, OK, a lot) of our favorite shots of the day!
P.S. You may have noticed that I haven’t yet mentioned who is actually responsible for taking these spectacular pictures. That’s because we’re are so thrilled to announce (with this posting!) that we will be brining on Jen, a new OLAS Southeast photographer really (really) soon!! We’ll be officially welcoming her to the OLAS family soon, but just in case you couldn’t imagine your life without pictures like the ones you’re about to see, make sure you email us at info@oncelikeaspark.com!
P.P.S. This shoot is also FEATURED today on 100 Layer Cake!!
ENJOY!!! xoxoxo
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Brittney + Brandon – Engagement
Hello lovely OLAS chickadees! It’s Friday (Friday, gettin’ down on Friday…) and do we have a sweet treat for you: the engagement session of Brittney + Brandon shot by our fabulous husband + wife team Philip + Anna! The soon-to-be Mr. + Mrs. met our OLAS Mr. + Mrs. on a beautiful spring day in Atlanta to capture some precious engagement photos. Not only did they treat themselves to some delicious fro-yo, they also used props from two of our favorite Etsy vendors: cutesy mustaches from MoL Stationary (a environmentally conscious Canadian who uses her recyclables to make art) and a be-a-utiful oil and cloth banner from Modern June (cool stuff for the hip housewife)!
We absolutely love how Philip + Anna wrote “Love is Sweet” on Modern June’s banner, and think that “sweet” is the perfect word to describe Brittney + Brandon! You can just tell they adore one another, and it definitely comes across in these precious pictures. We feel so blessed Brittney + Brandon chose (once like a spark) and Philip + Anna to capture such a wonderful time in their lives–congratulations, love birds!
Here are just a few of our favorites–be sure to leave us some love (AND be sure to check out ModernJune and MoL Stationary )!
*And remember….if you’re looking to create your own sweet story with amazing pictures, be sure to check us out! We’d love to chat with you over some fro-yo, too. xoxo
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OLAS + The NotWedding
Hey there little OLAS chickadees! We’ve got a big-time announcement to make, and it’s we’ve been waiting to tell you about for a long time. Some of you Atlanta peeps are probably familiar with the NotWedding, mostly because it’s only the coolest wedding event around. No, seriously. We’re not even kidding about this. The NotWedding is basically a big, amazing, fake wedding, and is a totally untraditional, way cooler alternative to a wedding show. Brides-to-be attend an actual “wedding” for a NotCouple thrown by hand-picked vendors, where you get access to some amazing ideas, uber-talented vendors, and just an all-around good time. Wondering where our big news comes in? Keep reading, chickadees.
Here’s a blurb from the NotWedding website… ”Complete with a sit-down dinner, an emotional ceremony and a dance-party reception, The NotWedding has become a killer alternative to a bridal show. The hand-selected vendors perform their services as they would at a real wedding, and the “wedding guests” get to hear the music, taste the cakes, and touch the linens… while enjoying a night of great food, dancing and surprises.”
So…our big news? (once like a spark) has been selected as photographers for the event! Wahoo!!! This means not only will we be at the event shooting all of the amazingness happening around us, but we’ll also have a really fun booth in the Tunnel of Love. You people better come say heeeeeey! Not only that, but we’re shooting (and styling) an engagement session that we’re pretty excited about (ok, we’re totally over-the-moon excited about) that should be posted soon.
The NotWedding 2011 is in Atlanta on Thursday, July 21st. Tickets are SUPER limited, so if you’re a bride-to-be, we HIGHLY suggest purchasing your tickets and RSVP’ing now by clicking here. You don’t want to miss this, ladies (and gents). And, we just want to hang with you.
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Courtney + Nic – Engagement
It’s the Monday after a holiday weekend, and let’s face it…who wouldn’t rather be lounging around with their family, eating good food and having good conversation? Yes. The Monday after a holiday weekend is difficult….
But. We have something that will make you feel a little better! A precious engagement session shot by Philip and Anna that include an adorable pair of lovebirds, as well as a cutie-pie of the canine persuasion. In fields, in front of barns, and exploring the woods, Courtney and Nic just enjoyed each others company on a beautiful Spring day, and the proof of their love is so clear in these pictures (not to mention their love of their four-legged friend!). Philip and Anna recently shot Courtney’s bridals (and I snuck a peek….and they are AH-mazing), but before we unveil the gorgeousness of those photos, here are a few of our favorites of the beautiful soon-to-be-his-mrs. and the handsome-soon-to-be-her-mr.
Enjoy! xoxoxox
Told you you’d feel better
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Jill + Rob – Engagement
I think we’re just going to put this out there: we LOVE Jill and Rob. They’re such awesome, caring, fun people, not to mention their “how we met” story is seriously precious. Twenty years ago, Rob saw Jill in their Freshman PE class. A year later, Rob worked up the courage to ask Jill out. And, with one of the many reasons we absolutely adore Jill, she said “I don’t date guys shorter than me.” Fast forward to senior year, where Jill and Rob were supposed to sit next to each other at graduation. Rob was singing at the program, so they didn’t see each other again until their 10 year reunion (be sure to spot their awesome yearbook photos–right next to one another!)
Rob moved to Florida, but they remained friends. Jill would even go to his shows when Rob traveled back up to the East Coast. And of course, when did Jill realized she loved Rob? Their first kiss
Jill and Rob are getting married THIS weekend at Rosemont Manor, a really beautiful and historic B&B in Virginia. They want lots of candid shots that show their fun personalities and how truly in love they are – even though Rob *is* shorter than Jill
In true OLAS rockstar fashion, even though Jill and Rob live on the East Coast, our fabulous Roya (from Chicago) shot these awesome engagement session, and Ashley and Chris (from the West Coast) are flying in to shoot their wedding! Congratulations, Jill and Rob! Have the BEST wedding day, and we can’t wait to hear all about it (and of course see some amazing pictures!) xoxo
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Sarah + Mark – Engagement
Meet Sarah and Mark – an adorable couple that spent the afternoon with our awesome West Coast team in Bernal Heights (a really gorgeous neighborhood in San Fran) for their engagement shoot. These two love birds are incredibly fun and laid back, and they want their wedding in August (at the Ritz Carlton in Lake Tahoe – swoon) to just be a huge, fun party for all their family and friends (we can’t wait!)
We absolutely loved working with Sarah throughout her booking process, because she is seriously HILARIOUS, and she and Mark are one of the most fun couples we’ve worked with! When Sarah received their pictures, she sent us the sweetest email, and here are a few of our favorite parts:
“The photos are incredible. Thank you so much, everyone! We are more excited than ever to work with you for our wedding. I’ve sent the slideshow to friends and family, and we are getting a great response. Tears, in fact. So thank you again for putting together such a beautiful set of photos. We are so grateful for your excellent work.”
We must say, tears of joy are ALWAYS a goal of ours with our pictures, and reading Sarah’s sweet words really mean so much to us Here are just a few of our faves, and we can’t wait to share what we know will be some phenomenal wedding pictures!
Congratulations, Sarah and Mark! We’re so happy to be a part of such an exciting time in your lives! xo
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