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August, 2011:

Kristin and David’s Wedding

Aug 31st, 2011
by kpikephoto.
1 comment

How do two beautiful Roller Derby stars spend their time OFF SEASON? Well, Kristin (Green Mountain Derby Dames skater STAR SLAYER) and David (Their badass coach “DOUBLE TAKE“)
spent their time getting ready for their wedding, which I photographed on July 16! The ceremony took place at the Church Street Congregational Church and the reception followed at the Sunset Ballroom It was a beautiful wedding, in spite of the 95-degree heat, and Kristin and David looked absolutely stunning. They are the only couple I know who could pose for portraits outside with all that humidity and still look fresh and dry!

Kristin, in her long white strapless gown, let the sassy, sexy personality of Star Slayer shine through and Double Take Dave, though looking quite dashing in his Air Guard uniform, was his funny, festive self. I had a ball watching them work the room, enjoying the celebration with their family and friends and teammates. I was thrilled they asked me to shoot their wedding, as I love my role as league photographer, with my “Chick Clicker” derby alias, and have so enjoyed getting to know all of the Dames, the coaches, refs, mascots and volunteers that make this Vermont sport so inviting. If you’ve never seen a bout, the new season starts again in a couple of weeks, so definitely check them out!!!!

OK, how cute is this couple????

The definition of a beautiful bride:

Weddings are all about PDA!

Gotta LOVE those “FUN FRAMED FOTO BOOTH”. Think I have enough props??? If you’d like to see more of the FUN FRAMED FOTO BOOTH pics, check out their album on my Facebook page and copy your image for your profile photo!

I had a ball making this slideshow for Kristin and David, using a great upbeat song: “Faster” by Matt Nathanson. Hope you like it!

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If you’d like to see all of the photos from Kristin and David’s wedding, you’ll need to get the secret password from them, and then click HERE

CONGRATULATIONS, KRISTIN AND DAVID!!! SKATE ON, YOU TWO!!!!! xoxo

Justin and Karen’s Wedding

Aug 30th, 2011
by kpikephoto.
5 comments

Karen and Justin were married on the Sunday, the second of a 3-wedding weekend for me! Saturday’s wedding (see Kristin and David) fell on one of the hottest days of the summer, so I was sure that Sunday would be more of the same. Wrong. It was a glorious day–sunny, but much cooler , with a light breeze that was made to order for a late July wedding. The celebration took place at The Essex, one of my favorite venues in Chittenden County and every detail was perfect.

From the fun Beach-themed place settings to the cupcake table to the well choreographed “Ra-Ra-Football Team entrance” by the wedding party (ending with a human tunnel for the bridal couple to storm through into the reception), this was one fun wedding and a very festive group! Jim Provost of Moonlight Entertainment kept everyone moving throughout the night, My “Fun Framed Fotos” Booth was a huge hit (with guests using the props as much on the dance floor as in the booth!) and the evening ended with the ever-popular lighting of sparklers out on the patio.

Karen and Justin both have such enormous spirit, a sense of adventure and huge family loyalty. I look forward to seeing them many times in the years to come, just to soak up some of that energy and loving devotion from being near them. Congratulations, you two!

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Below is the “Fun FRamed Fotos” Booth in action. If you want to see ALL of the goofy fotos from the booth, visit the album on my Facebook Page:

I hope you enjoy this slideshow to Susan Tedeschi’s “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever”

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If you’d like to see all of the photos from Karen and Justin’s wedding day, please click HERE. This is a PASSWORD PROTECTED gallery, however, so you’ll need the secret password from the bridal couple!

Jenn and Steve’s wedding

Aug 22nd, 2011
by kpikephoto.
1 comment

Jenn and Steve were married at Hawk’s Inn and Mountain Resort on July 16 and it was a day to remember! The bride was stunning. the groom was dashing and the sun was shining. What more can you ask for??
The couple’s love story began way before I came in, but I was there (hidden behind a tree at City Hall Park) for Steve’s marriage proposal to Jenn. Then, in an engagement portrait session, I told the tale of their courtship. Finally, I had the honor of documenting their romantic and festive wedding day. I could ooh and ahh about all of the awesome details–Jenn’s silver sequined platform shoes, groomsmen boutonnieres made from old pocket watches and parents’ wedding photos, a cookie table for dessert complete with urns of both regular and chocolate milk, and the beaded bridal bouquet made by Jenn. Everything was personal and special and unique–Very much like Steve and Jenn!

The crowd was wound up and ready for a party, and that they got. DJ Chris Maloney from LinCo Entertainment kept the energy flowing all evening with great tunes. And when the music finally did stop, the group took the fun outside the tent and danced instead with light– sparklers, that is. It was a spirited end to a fabulous day.

Ahh, the fun you can have with just some paper cutout lips and a mustache!

Making something memorable from your average table photos:

This was a wedding best described by just showing the pictures. The energy was infectious! Don’t take my word for it, just watch the slideshow, and try not to smile!

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If you'd like to see all 900 plus pictures from Jenn and Steve's wedding, please click HERE (but you’ll need the password from the bridal couple!)

Stephanie and Sandi’s wedding

Aug 13th, 2011
by kpikephoto.
5 comments

Sandi and Stephanie are my new BFFs from Boston. Sandi, a rabbi, and Stephanie, a Jewish educator, were married 5 weeks ago at The Mountain Top Inn and Resort in Chittenden, Vermont, against one of the most beautiful vistas in the state. About 150 of their friends and family gathered from across the country (and across the Atlantic!) to celebrate this union, and it was blessed at least by a dozen or so rabbis who attended the wedding.

I wrote alot about this Steph and Sandi when I blogged about their engagement session in Boston at the beginning of June. I have rarely seen two people look at each other with more love and more a profound belief that they were meant to be together, that they were each others “b’shecht” (Hebrew for “the only and only”). I adore their company and, in many ways, I feel like I have known them my whole life. I think that it was also “meant to be” that I photographed their wedding and had the privilege to bear witness to their ultimate “mitzvah” and celebration.

It was the ceremony that left everyone in tears, the Horah that left everyone exhausted and the reception that left everyone with a never ending smile on their faces. Music was the central theme and voices rose with song throughout the day, accompanied by at least a half dozen guitars. “Such a wedding!” (and that is said with the biggest yiddish accent I can summon from my Grandmother’s memory!).

This is probably my favorite slideshow yet. I adore the music (Love, sung by SUGARLAND and I had a hard time editing to these from the 1200 final images that my assistant (the incredible Jen Kiewit) and I took that day. So I hope you enjoy the show and if you’d like to see all 1200+ photos from Sandi and Stephanie’s day, please click HERE but you will need the password from the wedding couple in order to enter the gallery.
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Mazel Tov, my friends! May you live and love large together!! XO

Lake Champlain Dragonboat Festival

Aug 8th, 2011
by kpikephoto.
1 comment

Sunday marked the sixth annual Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival, celebrating the lives of cancer survivors worldwide. Ninety teams representing local businesses and organizations raced in Lake Champlain along the Burlington Waterfront in 41-foot-long dragon boats, each holding twenty paddlers and a drummer. The day long event is hosted by DragonHeartVT, a 150-member team of breast cancer survivors and supporters who paddle together for life-affirming exercise. The festival is meant not only as a fundraiser but it also sends out an inspirational message encouraging all cancer survivors to live life to the fullest after a cancer diagnosis.

Citizens Bank was the main sponsor of the event and this year, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont served as the 2011 sponsor for both the Festival hat and shirts. Known for their community involvement and support for healthy initiatives, BCBSVT also formed their own team, “Rhythm and Blues” and sponsored a second team as well, “Soak It Up“, made up of staffers from Planned Action Toward Health (PATH) and school employee wellness leaders from VEHI.

I was hired to cover the festival for BCBSVT, but I also had a personal stake in the day, since my partner, Gillian Pieper, was the captain of the “SOAK IT UP” team. They weren’t the fastest group of paddlers on the Lake, but they were voted BEST CAMPSITE by the Spirit Judges!

At noon, a traditional flower ceremony was held, when the breast cancer survivor teams honored those who have died. It was a moving tribute and a reminder that we must keep working to find a cure for this disease which touches so many. This year, Dragonheart Vermont is raising money to establish Survivorship NOW. Survivorship NOW will provide cancer survivors with resources, tools, and support to enhance their recovery after their medical treatment is completed.

I hope you enjoy this slideshow of photos from the Festival, to the all appropriate Melissa Etheridge song, “I Run For Life”:

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Protected: Sarah and Kate’s E Session

Aug 6th, 2011
by kpikephoto.
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Sarah and Andy’s Lake Placid wedding

Aug 3rd, 2011
by kpikephoto.
3 comments

Sarah and Andy were married 5 weeks ago in Lake Placid on a hot and rainy day but in one of the most gorgeous inns you could ever imagine having a wedding: the
Whiteface Lodge. The bride wore an amazing gown and shimmering silver Jimmy Choos. The groom wore a killer suit and, um, well, shine black lace ups! (Sorry, I dont really know shoes as well as I should!) Pink was the color of the day, for flowers and ties and bridesmaid’s dresses. The bouquets-the most amazing flowers–were designed by Alison Bucholz-Ellis at Floral Artistry

Looking back at the photographs from the day, it’s hard to believe the weather was what it was. The rain did let up for us to make beautiful portraits outside and that post rain overcast sky and saturated color made me very happy! All of the details were just lovely, from the Chupah to the tables and everything in between. And, of course, the Photo Booth in the corner is always a big hit with both young and old. It’s hard to resist putting on a big fuzzy red wig and oversized glasses to take a picture!

There is so much I could say about Sarah and Andy and the love they have for each other. I loved watching them watch each other. There is more than just chemistry between them, there is such a deep and profound friendship that is obvious to anyone who is around them– they are both so relaxed, so happy. It defintiely makes you believe in the concept of “one true love.”

I do love letting the pictures tell the story, so here’s a slideshow of the day’s events and if it’s not enough, you can visit the couples’ online gallery of over 1000 images (but you’ll need the password from Sarah or Andy to get in! ).

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Your hard working photographers, Karen and Jen: