This past weekend was an amazing wedding at the Firesky Resort in Scottsdale.  Laura and her bridesmaid were super high fashion, which you will see when I post the wedding later.  But, I wanted to show you what her bridesmaids wore.  They are the coolest dresses I think I have ever seen!  They are essentially all the same dress.  Full skirt that drapes to flatter all body types and two larger pieces of fabric that tie and knot to make whatever top you want.  I was amazed when I saw this in person!  Such a cool design.  The maker says it is inspired by a vintage dress she had that worked similarly.  And it is very reasonably priced.  Check it out!

Around this time every year my mind falls into a fog.  Wedding after wedding, weekend after weekend, detail after detail…  The three months in the fall that we call “Season” is a blur (thus the slow down in blogging).  A REALLY fun blur though!!!  So I am amazed when photographers are already planning ahead for their next big season, holiday photos.  Good for them!  Here is the first, of I am sure many, opportunities you will have to make your family look great this holiday season.  I am working with Kim this weekend and I just adore her.  And she is uber talented, easy to be around, sweet as can be, and funny!  You will find it hard not to smile when you are with this girl.  Check out her site.  Words do not do it justice.  Oh, and call to schedule your session, NOW!

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It’s that time of year again and the Holiday’s are going to sneak up on you very fast, so you better be ready! I know it’s only September and I shouldn’t be talking about the Holidays, but it happens every year and we get a TON of requests for family pictures toward October and November, and we book up so fast that we have to turn people away. Unfortunately, October and November are both part of our busy wedding season so it’s hard to fit in all the Holiday portraits. So, this year we are going to plan early and give you the dates for “Holiday Mini Sessions”.

Holiday Mini Sessions are a great way to capture some really fun pictures of your family in a short time for a little less than you would normally spend on a full family session. With these images you can create Holiday Cards, Gift Prints for family and friends, or even albums for family and friends. The possibilities are endless.

I’m excited that we are going to be able to offer you sessions from 3 of our photographers, KB, Mary, and me (Kimberly Jarman). There are many different dates, so feel free to choose which date works best for you. Below is more information on Holiday sessions, so be sure to read everything and then contact us to book the session. I have a feeling these dates are going to go fast!

What is the cost and what is included?

Cost: $175

Includes:

• 25 minute session to capture as many images as we possibly can, both traditional and casual.
• In studio ordering session.
• Your choice of one medium resolution digital file (which will print 8×10 or smaller).
• One facebook image for each image you purchase. Facebook images will be watermarked with the Kimberly Jarman logo. The image will be the same one you purchased.
• 10% off of additional gift prints, canvases, and albums purchased during your in studio ordering session.

Christmas Cards: We have a ton of beautiful Holiday cards to choose from and pricing starts at 2.95 per card. We will post some designs a little later.

Additional Information:

Digital files are available as medium resolution files and will be purchased as individual files at our normal portrait prices, we do not sell a disk of all the images.

The $175 is due at the time of booking. Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled time to ensure everyone is ready. Make sure everyone is your party is dressed and ready to go. We will not be able to go over our scheduled time.

Parents, please make sure your kids are fed and ready to go. Feel free to bring any items that will help kids relax and have fun… bribery with goldfish crackers or other treats is absolutely allowed and encouraged!! Also feel free to bring a special toy that will help them if needed.

Your images will be ready to view 2 weeks after the sessions. You will need to schedule a time to come into the studio to view your images. At this time if there are other images you would like to purchase you can do so.

What Holiday Mini Sessions are:

• A great time to capture some priceless pictures of your family.
• A great time to get fun and creative with your pictures. To do something different and fun.
• A short session geared to capture at least one phenomenal picture to use for your Holiday Cards.
• A great way to get some great prints for your walls if you’ve been wanting to fill those empty spaces with fun pictures.

What Holiday Mini Session are NOT:

• A full blown session with multiple outfit changes or locations
• A time to do multiple different sets of family (i.e. Having your extended family come out and do different group settings all in 30 minutes. We won’t have enough time to do something like this, but would love to do this for you in a normal session time.
• A senior session, baby session, or engagement session (All of these sessions take much more time than we can fit in 25 minutes. I encourage you to contact us for more information on these types of sessions!!)

What are the dates for the sessions?

Kimberly Jarman‘s Dates: Friday, October 22nd and Friday, November 5th

Friday, October 22nd

Friday, November 5th

KB’s Dates: Wednesday, October 20th and Wednesday, November 3rd

Wednesday, October 20th

Wednesday, November 3rd

Mary‘s Dates: Saturday, September 25th, Thursday, October 14th, Monday, November 8th

Saturday, September 25th

Thursday, October 14th

Monday, November 8th

Sessions will go fast as there are only 5 sessions per day. To book your session please email us.

A super cute, super fun way to add a little flair and a little personality has been showing up by way of footwear at 2010 weddings.  More and more brides are ditching the traditional ivory slippers and heels for funky, goofy, comfy, and adorable accented shoes.  Not only does it make for a more fun outfit, it also makes great pictures!  There are a few ways to go fun with your shoes, and for every bride it’s different.

Bright Accents

What shows off a beautiful ivory/white gown than a bright heel underneath it?  If you’re a girl that loves her red high heels, or pink peep-toes, this is definitely a style for you.  Adding this punch of color is flirty and cute and very photogenic!

Comfy Choices

Many brides on beaches have been rocking flip-flops with their dresses for years, and now it’s showing up in land-locked affairs too!  If your wedding is in warm weather months, and you don’t want to hobble through your reception, a cutie pair of flip-flops or flats is a great choice!

Funky Footwear

Are you a girl that has worn Doc Martens your whole life?  Did you meet your husband in your favorite Chuck Taylor Cons?  Do you own ten pairs of vintage Vans?  Wear them with your gown!  They won’t show unless you want them to, and it’s such a cool way to keep your event real.  You wear them, you love them, they are an expression of you-of course you should bring them to your most special day!

What the heck IS Etsy?  A lot of people talk about it, a lot of people purchase things from it, but some people are not lucky enough to know just what the heck it is!  Well, let’s spell it out, because Etsy is an Imoni Events favorite and we share our favorites! 

Etsy, in basic definition terms, is a social commerce website where people can buy and sell items, the majority of them handmade or vintage.  Of course, they also sell art, new items, and other goodies, but generally speaking if you want something unique, handmade, or vintage, you can log on to Etsy and find something in any price range, from $3 to $3000.  

In Imoni terms, it’s a smorgasborg of delights that are always very pretty, special, and fun!  It’s almost like treasure-hunting through a craft fair, but a really fancy craft fair!  Their vintage items must be over 20 years old, and the things you can find on there are endless!  Looking for a lace, vintage gown?  Etsy has 10.  Looking for a special clutch for your trendy friend that has everything?  Etsy has a million and they’re all unique.  The finds are amazing, the prices fit anyone, and the circle is awesome. 

A perfect site for gifts and special pieces you won’t find in two places, Etsy is definitely one of the best things out there right now! 

Wedding receptions usually all involve the same ingredients:  food, toasts, a DJ, dancing, and a joyful, happy party.  A lot of newlyweds are choosing a different activity for their wedding receptions lately, choosing to host a more intimate event of a dinner party, in lieu of the DJ and dancing activities.

What exactly is a dinner party reception?  Anything you want to make of it!  Generally, this kind of reception calls for a smaller guest list (think less than 100) and a very food focused chain of events.  Translation:  amazing food.  Some dinner receptions do a fun event called “dueling dinners” in which the bride picks a menu, and the groom picks a menu, and people are served one or the other and a contest is given over the meals.  Other dinner parties call for a laid-back atmosphere with light music, a beautifully set table, and courses of great food.

Since you’re replacing the reception events with all dinner activities, you can think of this sort of reception as a dinner party on steroids.  At a normal dinner party, you’d put out nice dishes, serve a few courses, and focus on conversation.  As a wedding reception, this dinner can be over the top!  As many courses as your guests can handle, the loveliest China, a variety of foods your guests won’t normally eat at home, and a seating chart to encourage new conversations and mingling to occur.  These receptions will typically be much shorter than a traditional reception, and will focus more on the intimacy of the atmosphere and the guests attending.  Don’t forget that with the food as the main event, this food needs to be really worth celebrating!  Go on tastings, find a chef you love, and be sure to make this a priority.

The idea of a dinner party reception has such a sweetness to it, telling your guests that their company is the main event of your most special of days.  It’s not for everyone, but for those that this appeals to, what a lovely way to celebrate together with your most beloved friends and family.

A lot of times the men involved in weddings are overlooked in lieu of things like a big, gorgeous wedding gown, the all-important flowers, and just the general bustle of activity surrounding a wedding, but he is important too!  We’re going to take a closer look at some groom issues today, by way of the perfect tuxedo fit. The majority of grooms out there will be sporting some kind of tuxedo on their big day, and there are some key points to look at while dressing your man (or allowing him to dress himself…while you hover with your watchful eye). There are many variations on the tuxedo, so let’s talk about the basic points to look for, on any style. And for the models, let’s use the tuxedo expert himself, Mr. James Bond, through the decades.

#1  Tuxedo Pants

A very traditional style of tuxedo is going to include pleated-front pants, but this is not the most flattering look on anyone.  A flat-front pair of pants is much better-looking, and much more up to date.  Length is the major point to pay attention to here, though, as too long is going to make him look droopy and too short is going to make him look dorky.  The length of the tuxedo pant leg should be reaching the foot, but not covering it, generally covering the top of the shoe.  Have him sit, stand, and dance around in the pair he’s debating, to make sure it looks and feels comfortable.

Bond, looking perfect in his tuxedo pants.

#2  The Jacket

Again, length is a big deal here.  You want a tuxedo jack to cover the adorable rear of your man, and the sleeves to be hemmed at the wrist bone and then allow about half an inch of the shirt cuff showing underneath.  The shoulders need to be looked at:  the seams should hit right on his shoulders, if they extend over, it’s too big, if they creep in toward the collarbone, it’s too small.  The back of the jack should vent smoothly, not gaping, meaning it’s too tight.

His shoulder seams are perfect, at all times, on all missions.

#3 The Collar

The collar of your man’s shirt should be lying flat against his neck, the ends lying smoothly, without bulges or gaps.  If he is grabbing at it, tugging away, or looking like you could fit two necks in there, it’s not the right size.  Puckering under a tie means it’s too loose, bulging at the button (and his eyes turning red and watery) mean it’s too tight.

That collar is perfect, as usual.

#4 The Splash

Every groom has the right to make this outfiit his own.  Groom’s in Converse?  Groom’s in pink plaid socks?  Groom’s in a fedora?  Groom’s in a funky shirt under his jacket?  All of this is something you should encourage, as long you feel he looks appropriate.  You’re getting all the glory and gliitz in the big dress, the least your man can get is a piece of his personality in an otherwise pretty standard attire.  You’ll enjoy the memory and pictures so much more if it’s really him you’re marrying that day, even if just in the socks.

A tuxedo undone, the best look of them all.

A good idea is to think of his outfit the way you think of your gown, it should fit perfectly and be something he will be comfortable in for eight hours minimum.  We want them to feel just as sharp, good-looking, and amazing as we see them!

When you think of bridesmaids and flower girls, you picture pretty ladies in matching dresses, with big smiles, all holding a lovely bouquet of flowers as they walk happily down the aisle in support of their sister/friend/mother/cousin/etc.  The only thing prettier than these ladies is the gorgeous bride herself, and they are as much a function as they are a decoration to your wedding event.  A new trend popping up, though, is ditching those traditional flowers for cute clutches!  This is a super cute (and pretty functional) way to kick your wedding into 2010.  Check out some popular styles below!

The Bright Clutch

A fun and trendy way to add extra pops of your color pallet into your wedding.  The one featured here is an Imoni favorite, found on Etsy’s website.

The Gilted Clutch

Glamour and glitz go along with these lovely clutches, adding a touch of high society to your formal affair.  This one is found on the amazing AO3 Designs site, in their French Design collection, among their creations of gorgeous bridal accessories.

The Stylin Clutch

This is designed to add some personality and funk into your wedding.  These styles are wild and fun!  These clutches can also be found on the AO3 Designs site.

The Sparkly Clutch

This clutch is all twinkles and sparkles.  How lovely to add some fairy dust into the processional.  These ones are especially cute, with their classic shape, from Everything But The Dress.

The Vintage Clutch

To add a bit of elegance and classic style to your bridesmaid’s ensembles, consider a beautiful vintage clutch.  This one is found in Christine’s Unique Boutique, but many special ones could also be found in antique shops, or your grandmother’s closet!

So in lieu of a lovely bouquet of flowers, consider this fun alternative to the norm.  It’s not easy to hang onto a bouquet forever, but your bridesmaids will always have this to remember your day by, and carry fond memories in.

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Asking your nearest and dearest girls to be in your wedding is a big deal.  You’re asking them to hold your dress, check your makeup, corral your mother, put up with your freak-outs (they’ll happen), and handle all the other minutia that only best girls can do, so when you ask them to take on these responsibilities and stand up with you on your most important day, it should be memorable.  Here are some really cute and unique ways to ask the girls in your life to put on a matching dress and walk down that aisle with you!

T-Shirts

One really fun way is to print or make t-shirts (doesn’t have to be anything majorly done or expensive) that say “Bridesmaid” across the front or back, and send them in the mail to each girl’s house.  How exciting would it be to open your mailbox and have such a gift awaiting you!  And who doesn’t like new clothes??  This can be done with anything, though, not just t-shirts.  Hoodies, sweatpants written across the back, tote bags, anything you can print on can bear the title and be a fun way to let your girls know they’re IN!

Hand Written Invitations

Wouldn’t it be nice if you were asked to be a bridesmaid by a card from your friend stating all the reasons she is asking YOU to be her representative on such a day?  These days hand-written letters and cards are few and far between and we don’t often lay out all the reasons we love someone, but what a nice time to do so.  Make a list of all the reasons she is your choice, she is your friend, and why your wedding needs to include her, with a formal “Will you please?” at the end.  Your bridesmaids will feel very special and very touched.

Picture Frames

Another cute idea is to frame a picture of the two of you in a frame that says “Bridesmaid” and present it to her as a gift.  Or, present her with a “Bridesmaid” frame that is empty and let her know you hope to fill it with a shot of the two of you on your day!  It’s a nice gift and a nice way to invite her to be a part of the event.

Propose

If you’re not one to shy away from a bit of theatrics, a fun way to ask the ladies is to formally propose!  Invite all your girls out to dinner and proceed to get down on one knee and ask them if they would please do you the honor of being your bridesmaids.  It’s a little silly, but imagine the fun and pictures of the event!  Your girls will feel SO special and it will be a great memory of a special moment.

If Sandra Bullock can do it, you can!

Any way that you ask your best girlies to be in your wedding is going to be special and wonderful to them, these are just some ideas of new and fun ways to make the asking almost as much fun as the accepting!  Make sure to tell them how much you love, appreciate, and admire them and just how important and special they are to your most special of days!