Jessica's Sweet 16 - Sunset Harbor

16. 

I almost forgot what it was like. 

Almost. 

I heard the girls before I saw them. The excited, happy anticipation of their chatter. 

They walked in a huddle, as if they were kinda in a walking hug. 

BFF's.

The half laughed and half talked with every sentence, and I think the phrase of the night was 

'Ohhh Yeahhh'...but kind of in a funny-ish accent.

The excitement was tangible.  

The preperation, the details, the endless hours spent searching for the right dress was about to finally pay off. 

It was Halloween night and Jessica was about to celebrate her sweet 16 in style.

Lavish white feathers sprung up from elegant tall vases, and "up" lights were placed in a dramatic fashion around the edge of the room in her choice of color that night of red. 

Pumpkins fill the tables, the DJ's were in costume, and the candy apples were perched ready to give to the trick or treaters that tonight were called 'guests'.

When I got home last night, I tiptoed into my own daughters room to tuck her in. 

She opened her sleepy eyes and asked me how work was (which was pretty cute coming from a five year old). I told her it was quite wonderful, because tonight I worked with a beeeeeautiful princess. 

She sat up with a startled look on her face. 

"You're joking me Mama", she said. 

So I told her all about the magical night, and what was a story, a mere fairytale to my daughter, 

was a day in the life of one lucky girl...Jessica. 

I showed her some of the pictures from the evening and her eyes flew open wide. 

She stared in disbelief at each image and ooohh'd and ahhh'd over each and every detail.  

Then as I turned out the lights and wished her sweet dreams, she whispered, 

"can I please be Princess Jessica next Halloween?"

Without further ado, please meet the divine Ms. Jessica...

Now, this next shot might not be for everybody. 

It's hazy and has the sun flare going on in it. 

But I would be re-miss not to include one of them since it seems to be my 'thing' lately. 

I think it has a magical appeal to it. 

Kind of fairytale-ish...

Your thoughts?

Red is the new black?! 

Well, as far as shoes.

It seems to be the case at the last few events I attended.

Some detail shots...

Dad contributed a work of art to hold the 16 candles...

and to the left is the gorgeous sweet fluff of one of the centerpieces.

It's all in the details....

So I'm thinking, I soooo wanta be Princess Jessica next Halloween too... ; )

S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G

Jessica, I loved your demeanor, your calm and totally fab glamorous side. 

There is certainly more to being a princess then just a pretty ball gown, and you my darling had 'it'.

Thank you for choosing me to be a part of your happy day, especially if only to remind me that life is meant to be celebrated. Each day, a precious gift. 

Celebrate it small, celebrate it big.

 Or hell just celebrate, for the heck of it.

A special thanks to the Pitocco family who referred me for this party. 

As always, your referrals are the biggest form of a compliment. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for keeping me in mind!

So folks, if you want to help Jess get a complimentary gift from Show and Tell, please take a quick moment to leave a comment right below. If she get's 20 comments...it's her's!

p.s
Have a peek at the slideshow below!

The Doukas Family

We met when I was 15. 

We spend endless hours gossiping on the phone about the boys we were dating or wanted to date, and planning out our outfits weeks in advance.We happily drove around in circles with nothing more then some good music and each others company. 

We would laugh. 

A lot. 

I was there the night she met her husband at 19, and then again by her side as her maid of honor. 

When they were blessed with their first daughter, they blessed me as well by giving me the honor of being her 'Godmother'.  

Time goes fast, life gets busy. It has a way of moving on. 

A few days of not talking, eventually turn into weeks and sometimes months. 

Priorities change, more children are born and suddenly there are five kids between you both. 

Our childrens lives now have somehow become our own.

We still talk, but our conversations have changed. 

We talk now about pediatricians, school, and how we wish we could fit in an extra hour in our day somewhere.

It has almost been 20 years since we first met. 

 Although time has passed, as soon as we pick up the phone it's as if we are back in that car, listening to that music and still laughing...a lot. 

Introducing my dear friends...the Doukas family....

My sweet, sweet god-child...

Looks like he's up to something, right? But, he is just as sweet as his sister...

All because two people fell in love...

(thanks JoAnn for that title ; )

Im going to call this my out of box shot (again for all of my loyal readers). Although it's not terribly different, it isn't the 'normal' straight on (face front) portrait. I have been a little crazy over the back lit shots lately. Just in case you haven't noticed! : ) 

I love the natural look to this picture. 

It just fits how I have always looked at her. 

Even when she is glamed up, she has a very natural beauty. 

I think this image highlights that.

This next image of Dad and the kids was funny. As we went to take the shot, one leaf drifted slowly down from a tree and landed right in the middle of the frame. 

That little leaf brought some big smiles.

Doesn't the background almost look fake? 

We hit prime time foliage in this location. I was in love. 

I think the kids look just like the walked out of the Gymboree ad in this next shot!

I think there is anything better then seeing a kid having fun. 

These next two shots sum that up for me!

The thing that is so special about kids is that they know how to enjoy the little moments...

I loove interaction in family shots. Okay, they are not your traditional pictures...but man, they are so real life.

I had such a great time with you all. 

Thanks for meeting me so early to get those lovely back lit shots.

Can't wait to show you all the rest!

xo

My muse, my friend...my sister - Autumn + Frank Vanderbilt Estate Wedding

I think I was ten when Mom would tuck me in at night and talk about you. 

You weren't even born yet but Mom would point to the other side of my room and say 

' pretty soon you're going to have a little sister sleeping there'.

 She would describe you in detail.
The color of your hair, your tiny hands and feet and the shape of your eyes.
It was a ritual for us. 

Then one day the mail came and you were there.

Kinda like when the stork comes and drops the baby off.

 Okay, it really wasn't like that, but it felt that way.

Mom carried you around everywhere...your picture that is.

There you were, all six pounds of you with dark black hair and beautiful slanted eyes 

(just like Mom had told me). 

I didn't know you.
You were a thousand miles away and yet you were already my sister.

Being ten years apart, Im sure at times I was more like a mother figure then a sister. 

Actually I'm sure of it. 

And just because I was a pain in the ass and acted like I knew better ( I did ; ) and *clears throat* still do ; ) - does not mean that I loved you less. 

In fact, I loved you more.

I wanted what was right for you. Wanted the best for you.


I know you didn't grow beneath Mom's heart, but we know for sure that you grew in it.

As with all of us, you were in our hearts before we even met you. 

We were given a gift so great, that no words can be placed on what your birth mother did for us.

We loved you, talked about you and waited with anticipation for your arrival. 

You made me a big sister and you gave Michael a little sister.

You gave Mom and Dad a miracle.  

You completed our family tree. 

You're kind, beautiful, smart, and generous. 

You look great with or without make-up. 

You make me laugh. Hmmm, although sometimes at you, not with you. ; )

But that just goes with the terroritory of our family. 

On your wedding day, when I watched you walk down the aisle to your future, I thought how lucky we all are. How blessed. How fortunate.
How complete.


Your day was nothing short of magical. The weather was picture perfect (pun intended ; ), the foliage breathtaking, the venue...magnificent. The sunset was the most amazing one I have ever seen, just
as if God painted it just for the two of you.


Frank, it's wonderful seeing how close you are with your family. I love it. I love all of your family traditions. I love the way you speak so kindly about each person in your family. Your loyalty and love is evident for them. Autumn is lucky to have found someone who is so family devoted and passionate about keeping their family so close.
Family is everything.


Thank you for making my sister so happy.
I love you both!


And so it goes...your story, your moments, your life :

This thing fit her like a glove...just wait until you see her.

Gettin' her 'pretty' on. 
Not that she needs even a stitch of it!

The tee says it all, don't you think?

"Follow the yellow brick road"...or is it aisle runner?

The bouquet...

Love. It. 
Gorgeous!

Some love for the bridesmaids. 
No divas here. Just sweet, kind headless girls. lol 
I just liked the line up of the flowers...don't worry I have their heads somewhere ; )

One of the girls pointed out that I was putting make up on them at sleep over party's 15 years ago. 
Nothing like feeling a little old.
: )

They are laughing at my mother bawling her eyes out...

Pure happiness...

Frank was first to read their own vows. 
When it was Autumn's turn she pulled out a folded paper and Frank said, 'you wrote a book'?! 
It got quite a chuckle!

Joy!

I think this picture is apropo of her name...
Autumn

My 'out of the box' shot for those that follow. 
It was taken through a wrought iron fence.

My Daddy-o's car. 
The license plate is pretty fitting right? 
I added a little bit of a vintage edit on this one for the heck of it.

 The center pieces were hand made with tons of love and a few days worth of work. 
Each bow was perfectly twisted and crafted, and the pheasant feathers dramatically placed to make a whimsical festive table scape. See those acorns on the table? They were all hand painted. 
It's all in the little details. 
I would recommend Jeanie (the designer) to future brides but she has retired and only comes out for special events. Her creations are nothing short of magical!

Some more detail and architecture shots of the estate.

One of my faves...

So the last thing any couple wants to do is be interrupted during their reception. 
But you see I'm the older sister so I had a little bit of say. 
Thanks Frank for putting up with me. 
I know it's tough but when there is a sunset like this, it would be a shame to have missed it.

As the sun started to sink below the horizon we were greeted by the most intense sky I have ever seen. 
The sunset in these next few images are not re-touched. 
I wanted you to appreciate the real moment for what is was. 
Perfection.

I noticed in many of these photos there is a common theme. 
The way Frank looks at Autumn. 
Almost like he doesn't want to miss a thing...

I love real moments. 
The giddy, the satisfied, the proud. 
This image sums that all up for me.

I think this is my favorite from the evening...

I like the angle of this next shot and the story book appeal it has. 
Kinda of fairytale-ish!

There are a ton of people I need to thank for giving me the opportunity to capture some moments on my sister's BIG day. Our kids were passed around like hot potatoes. If you held one of my kids - I'm eternally grateful. I silently thanked each of you over and over again when I would see you taking care of them. 


As for the ivory tights I was suppose to get for my girls (that I never did). 
Sue, thank you for picking them up for me. I was so excited when I walked into the rehearsal dinner and was given a bag from Target with freakin' ivory tights! 
It meant I didn't have to drag the kids out the night before and go looking for them. 
So imagine my surprise when the next morning while getting the kids ready I couldn't find the bag...anywhere. 
Needless to say they did not wear those darn tights. 


When we went to make leftovers from the rehearsal dinner food the day after the wedding - 
guess what we found in our fridge?! 
Yuuup. 
Tights.


Frank and Autumn, enjoy life...always.