A Beautiful Day!

After all the rain yesterday, this morning is a wonderful surprise! Warm and lovely!
The weekend forecast promises to be even better, and that's just fine with me because I have two weddings this weekend!

I'm going through wedding withdrawal and SO excited to get back in the saddle in the next few weeks. Kristan & John, Kimberly & Bryan and next weekend Stephanie & Mike! I'll have all sorts of new shots for the blog so check back often! I'm also going to be overhauling the website and seeing if I can summon my inner web designer to rock it out!

I've also been getting in touch with my inner boxing superstar. I'm addicted to cardio boxing on our Wii! Hopefully it will help keep me strong and agile for darting around ceremonies & receptions in stealth mode!

And since posting with out a picture is unheard of, I leave you with this shot I grabbed after a family portraits shoot last summer in Prescott Park. It was just so perfectly the embodiment of warm weather - and a great re-purposing idea!!

Enjoy your day!
~Melissa Koren

Taylor's Maternity Pictures

I'm going to be an aunt! Again!!

Shortly before our adorable nephew Killian turns 2, he's going to get to be a big brother!





He's excited about being a big brother, but after a long Easter morning full of candy and pushing it past nap time, he had NO interest in taking photos with us. But he was stuck.


Taylor rocks these shoes. I LOVE them. She looks amazing for 37 weeks!


My brother's a lucky guy. So pretty!




Woah Baby!


Only a few short weeks til her little girl joins our family!


Hurry up baby! We can't wait to meet you!

~MelissaKoren

Kimberly & Jeff 02.14.2009

I've had this nagging feeling I've been forgetting something. All of a sudden, it dawned on me - I've posted so many things ABOUT Kim & Jeff's fabulous wedding and the great weekend we had there, I never posted their actual wedding!!

So with out further ado - -

The beautiful Kimberly, getting ready


Her dress was made of the most gorgeously detailed lace.


Her something Blue!


And speaking of blue - her mother's dress was such an amazing color.

I love this moment. The moment when everything becomes just a little more real.


The complete, perfect package!

Meanwhile, the guys were down in the bar .. calming their nerves ..

Jeff & Kimberly decided to see each other before the ceremony. This was the first time I'd done this "formally" - it was SO exciting - I love Jeff's face as he waits for his bride to be to knock on the door.

Here she comes.....

I'd say they approve!

Then off to the ceremony. The fireplace was such a great backdrop!

Everything about the Mountain View Grand is amazing.

And the view is most certainly Grand!

AYKM!?!? GORGEOUS!!

This is my favorite shot. In the stairwell to the wine cellar. I love everything about it. The feeling, the texture, the colors - amazing.


A toast to a job well done!


They had some very cute nieces & nephews! I just love babies in bowties!


Advice & congratulations from family.


Then on to the cupcakes! I love the 'don't you dare' finger.






Dance with dad

And with mom

And then they all let loose and danced into the night! Here you'll note the gentleman on the floor. The song was footloose, and he put his ALL into it! I love the reactions on every ones faces!


A job well done Kimberly & Jeff, it was a wonderful wedding!

~MelissaKoren

How to celebrate a birthday

Part 1: Let them eat cake.

Cake? Cake you say?


I like cake -and being nearly 2 I can feed myself with a fork. Small bites are for babies.

You know what else is for babies? Forks. I don't need no stinkin' fork, it's just not working fast enough.

Aha! See, I've done it! I've become one with the cake!!

Not to be outdone on her birthday, Nichole decides this is a good idea and she requires a faster method of eating the cake also.


Now that was great fun, haha, posed for the picture.


but wait - - - while i was taking the picture, my brother and my cousin got up from their seats and came around to her side of the table and with lightning speed....

WHAM!

Admittedly the pictures are blurry, but you must forgive me because I didn't see it coming and once it happened I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe, but still trying to take pictures.


Her clearly indented cake. (p.s. Best Cake EVER - Coldstone Creamery's Cake Batter Confetti)

After we cleaned them up, my cousin redeemed herself by presenting Nichole with her fabulous birthday gift: The Snuggie (the child is only our nephew, we had to give him back)


Part 2: Eat, Drink & Be Merry

Our very very good friend Allison helped me plot and execute a 6 course wine dinner for Nichole's birthday. We cooked and one of our other good friends Annie helped with the wine.



Allison-tong-hands. She was tending to the pork roast.

Course 1:

Annie talking about the accompanying wine.

Course two:


And here's where I failed. After course two was the risotto, which I was in charge of. So for 30 minutes I stirred and stirred and stirred and I made BRILLIANT risotto, however, Annie had topped off my glass repeatedly and my focus got ..er.. distracted, and I forgot to take photos of the rest of the courses as I was too busy eating amazing food and having a great time with our friends. I very much regret not having photos of everything, but I can't be too upset because that was the only thing that went awry!

With that I leave you with the menu card from the evening:

Happy Birthday Nichole!!!

Love,

All of your Nearest and Dearest

A Private Wine Dinner from Around the World Just for You

First Course
Mionetto, Brut Prosecco, Italy
Mixed Greens Tossed with Fresh Strawberries and Almonds

Second Course
Tohu, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
Seared Scallops with a Citrus Butter

Third Course
LaCrema, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Monterey, California
Risotto with Fresh Peas, Pancetta, and Parmesan cheese

Fourth Course
Candor, Merlot, Paso Robles, California
Beef Tenderloin Bruschetta with Gorgonzola Cheese,
Caramelized Onions, and a Balsamic Reduction

Fifth Course
Yalumba, Barossa Shiraz, Barossa, Australia
Roasted Pork with a Port Wine Reduction and Figs

Dessert
Grahams, LBV Porto, Portugal
Lemon Torte and Homemade Dark Chocolate Torte

And that, is how to celebrate a birthday!

The Bachelorette (Party)

As I mentioned a few posts ago - we were lucky enough to be invited to our friend & client Kristan's bachelorette party in Boston last month. After being taken the very round about way by the GPS we arrived safe and sound at the parking garage. Not knowing where the night would lead us, I felt it was vital to take this photo:

The 1st part of the party was at Finale in Park Plaza. I'd never heard of this place before and the more I looked it up online the more excited I was to go. I am a dessert junkie - and this was HEAVEN. This cake/torte/decadence was one of the most amazing things I've eaten.

Kristan's sister orchestrated this whole affair, the evening started for Kristan by being surprised by a limo at her house and the got to Boston in style!

Check out those shoes - I covet them!


I've slowly but most surely become a red wine lover, my newest fascination is port and Finale had the perfect thing for me!


They were all tasty, but the 2nd one from the right was my favorite, it tasted like pure maple syrup with a kick - I wanted to pour it over vanilla ice cream - or better yet, fresh fallen snow!!

Kristan & her sister Katelyn (photo by Nichole)

After drinks & dessert we climbed in the limo and headed on to part two

Jaques Cabaret! We had front row seats and a hilarious time!


Kristan & the 4 other Bachelorettes that were there that night got called out up on stage.


The certainly put their all into their acts!


Ah, the life of a starlet!


I am SO SO excited for Kristan & John's wedding later this month at the Bedford Village Inn, I can't wait to share the photos from that!