Tracie and Scott are married!

A beautiful wedding and a wonderful couple! I just posted a new slide show for Tracie and Scott who got married last month at The Water's Edge Resort in Westbrook. Even though it was freezing, everyone was so good about going outside for some shots and you can't even see the goosebumps in the pictures! :) It was a great time, we have THE BEST couples!! Brian J. shot this wedding with me, but it was a "one shot" gig for him (yes, pun intended!) as he is now in Washington DC working for the State Department. How cool is that?? :) This is his shot, working the flare!

Sweet!

Meet Kasey!

I wanted everyone to meet Kasey! :) She has shot a couple of events with me over the past few months but I wanted to make the 'official' introduction. She will be shooting a lot with me this year and I know it's going to be a blast! She's also going to be blogging here as well, so check it out... I know the first post is going to be hysterical, she told me about what's she's been doing and I swear I was crying from laughing so much.

A little background on how we met? Kasey was a bridesmaid in a couple of weddings that we shot over the past couple years (her best friends Christine & Tony and Alise & Jim) and we shot her wedding to the absolutely wonderful Jeremy last September, too! And you know what was super cool?? They booked us before they set the date for their wedding!! :) Sweet! (I love it when that happens!)

A great big Kool-aid smile to Kasey! It's going to be a great year!

Val

At the Mohegan Sun - Wedding Photography

The Mohegan Sun for a wedding? Yes!! A very intimate affair with just the Bride and Groom, me and the JP. I can't put their names here yet because they haven't told their families they got married! Oh, I should say we weren't alone, there were about a million other people there who decided to head out to the casino Saturday night!! It was absolutely the craziest I've ever seen that place!

I gave myself an hour to get there and check it out and to meet them, we hadn't even talked on the phone! And even though it only takes me about 15 minutes for the drive to the Casino, I was lucky to get there at all. As soon as I took the exit and the cars were lined up, I started to wonder what was going on.

Then I started seeing the signs... Valet Closed. Parking Garage Closed. Uh oh. I headed out to the Winter entrance where I usually park...Closed. I mean CLOSED, torn up and fenced off closed. Uh oh. After circling around, I decided the best and only way to get there was the shuttle bus, along with those million other people, of course. When I got on the bus, the driver tells me that no way are they going to let me in with the gear bag I had. Really? Huh? Didn't figure on that!! So he said to go to the hotel, and then cross over, etc, etc, etc. ....yeah, right... like I have time for that...did I mention it's almost 7 and the wedding is supposed to be taking place like...NOW??

Hmmmmm... now what? I went back to my car, dumped everything out of my purse and loaded George (yeah, I name my camera!) and a flash and my license and barely zipped it up and headed back to the Shuttle bus station... and waited while 2 buses full of people go by!! Agh!! My turn!! Yay! And where does this bus go? Some 'who knows where' place somewhere in the casino...sheesh!! I get there, get out, and try to find where the heck the bar is from where I am and, I'll tell ya, it wasn't around the corner! lol

Finally found the bar, the staff there was great...met my couple and a few of their newfound friends that stayed for the wedding. The JP still wasn't there (same problem) but everything was cool. Whew!!

I have to say it was so much fun regardless of the craziness and it made me think that there certainly wasn't a recession that night!

So here's a little preview shot... I love secret weddings!! :)

Sweet Baby!

It's been just crazy this month! Weddings, families and babies, oh my!! I'm loving every minute of it! Here's a preview of Brooke with more to come!

Awaiting Spring...

This weekend was so beautiful... I saw the green of the daffodils and crocus peeking through, then Wham! More snow! It didn't last, but like everyone else, I have Spring fever!! I also have a total mess of a yard, sheesh! I think it needs professional help. Anyone know a really awesome landscaper? :)

So anyhow... while waiting for my flowers to come up... I have these to make me smile. :)

Think Spring!

~ Valeen

What not to do with a $45,000 car!

Under this pile of snow is was a really nice BMW convertible, want to bet he's hating winter right about now? BTW, he parked it there on purpose before the storm.

So much going on!

I haven't blogged in a while, I know. So I'm going to get started again now, but so much going on I'm not sure where to start!!! First a big thank you to all those who sent me get well wishes, now 'all better' and getting caught up. Well, if there is such a thing!!

We shot a really wonderful wedding on Valentine's Day this year, is that romantic or what?? I'll blog more about the wedding shortly, but right now I'm putting together a small 'mom' album so that my bride's mother can take some photographs back home to Europe from her daughter's wedding. I found out that European weddings are somewhat different from American weddings, so I want to learn more about those difference and other cultures too. (It's on my to do list)

More posts to come... more news... a great season ahead... very cool stuff. :)

Just loving Monday!!

~Valeen

Best Wedding Venues in Connecticut

I went through some of the weddings that we have already booked so far this year and it's going to be a blast! Lots of places we've already worked, and a couple of new ones too. I'm totally psyched and can't wait! So anyone looking for awesome places to have their wedding and/or reception, check out these gorgeous venues. Gotta love it!! :)

Mystic Seaport and the Seamen's Inne, Mystic, CT

The Water's Edge, Westbrook, CT

St. Clements Castle, Portland, CT

Fisher's Island, NY

Lake of Isles, North Stonington, CT

Saybrook Point Inn, Old Saybrook, CT

Ski Sundown, New Hartford, CT

Harkness Mansion, Waterford, CT

Branford House, Avery Point, Groton, CT

Quidnessett Country Club, N. Kingstown, RI

Lord Thompson Manor, Thompson, CT

Tunxis Plantation, Farmington, CT

These are some of my favorite places for so many reasons besides the fact that they are all absolutely gorgeous! Like maybe the food is fabulous too?? Right Jeremy?

There are more places and vendors that I love to work with so I decided that I'll be adding a page on the website to help you with your plans. If anyone has suggestions and a good referral, let me know, ok?

Happy Planning!

~ Valeen Thivierge

Cara and Kevin Engagement Shoot

Last week we (me and Kasey!) took off to Hammonasset State Park for a really awesome e-session with Cara and Kevin, these two were so much fun we could have stayed all day except it had to be twenty below zero on the beach! They had me freezing when they actually took their coats off for some of the shots!! Must be why I'm feeling cold just editing them today. :) Anyhow, they were so much fun, we can't wait for the wedding, it should be much warmer, right??

Thanks for a fun time and, honestly, we really can't wait for the wedding!! :)

~ Valeen Thivierge

www.thesweetestdays.com

Superbowl, oh yeah!!

So... did you happen to catch that game last night? :)

~ Valeen Thivierge