{listen loves} no. 13...

 the dude wanted to contribute on the blog

and since he isn't exactly a wedding fanatic, the only way he can really contribute is with my listen loves.  and he loves it.

especially when i allowed him to pick his favorite 80's pop tunes.

we both love the 80's.  don't get us started on our epic dance moves.

(sidenote:  the dude is also tone deaf.  so don't ask him to sing.  ever)

but anyways,

here are ten of his favorites.

i'd say they're all a pretty good way to start the weekend. :)

hope you all have a fantastical one!

 

xoxo,

{listen loves} and alternative.

while i'm away on vacation, i thought it'd be fun to have music playlists all this week.

i know a lot of you have trouble finding songs sometimes for slideshows and first dances.

so hopefully you'll find something this week that will help you out.

gene oh

and rounding up this week with a few more alternative.

mostly songs that you don't hear on the radio 

that could mean so much more to the both of you.

hope you like the last mix.
i'll be back on monday with regular blog posts again!

xoxo,

{listen loves} alternative.

while i'm away on vacation, i thought it'd be fun to have music playlists all this week.

i know a lot of you have trouble finding songs sometimes for slideshows and first dances.

so hopefully you'll find something this week that will help you out.

think photographics

today and tomorrow's post's theme is

"please don't be cliche".

yes, i agree, bruno mars' just the way you are, is like THE perfect song.

but dig deeper you can find so many more.

here's a few that will maybe spark some ideas for you:

xoxo,

{listen loves} oldies. motown.

while i'm away on vacation, i thought it'd be fun to have music playlists all this week.

i know a lot of you have trouble finding songs sometimes for slideshows and first dances.

so hopefully you'll find something this week that will help you out.

ben blood

today's playlist is tunes from motown and the golden oldies.
for those that want a more defined beat, you can't go wrong with one of these.

xoxo,

{listen loves} big band. rat pack. jazz.

while i'm away on vacation, i thought it'd be fun to have music playlists all this week.

i know a lot of you have trouble finding songs sometimes for slideshows and first dances.

so hopefully you'll find something this week that will help you out.

ash imagery

 today's list is brought to you by the era i should have been born in.
any of these songs can set me in a good mood no matter what.
both song and lyrics from this era always seem so meaningful.

xoxo,

{listen loves} guy's version

while i'm away on vacation, i thought it'd be fun to have music playlists all this week.

i know a lot of you have trouble finding songs sometimes for slideshows and first dances.

so hopefully you'll find something this week that will help you out.

bonnie tsang

for today's playlist,
i asked a few of my guy friends for a few song choice ideas.
always entertaining to make guys think with emotions.
and it was definitely interesting to hear what they came up with.
i made some snarky comments to a few,
just because i thought they should think more outside of the box.
hopefully they'll take a listen to the rest of the week's playlists and get some new ideas.

anyways, without further ado:

xoxo,

thanks to D. Park Photography for this idea!

{real wedding} everything's coming up roses...

sorry for the delay in posting. recovering from the christmas weekend and a wii dance marathon with my sister.
but here's a gorgeous wedding for you to enjoy.

"The most challenging thing for me was not having my Mom or Maid-of-honor around. Both live in different States (my Mom in Texas and my MOH in Tennessee) so coordinating dress trials & fittings was not fun. They were only able to be in for one fitting and then hope for the best because they were not able to come until the Thursday night before the wedding. "

On the favorite moment of the day:

"My sixteen year old daughter, Olivia, has been my companion since she was two years old. This is why it was so important for me that she walk me down the aisle to present me to be married. She also had everyone is stitches when she delivered the best toast ever at the reception!"

"The most important aspect of our wedding day was the blending of both our cultures. Robert is originally from Northern Ireland and I am from Central America. Although we both have lived in the States for most of our lives, we wanted to pay tribute to the past that brought us together, as we look forward to our future. Both our parents decided to move us from our respective homelands for a better life in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan--where we first met as teenagers. In addition to providing entertainment from both our cultures (Irish Dancer and Flameco Guitarists) and incorporating The Claddagh symbol and the Red Rose (to represent my Spanish roots), we had a table of photographs set up just outside the ballroom...so that when guests walked in they could see the journey that brought a boy from Belfast and a girl from Honduras together to become husband and wife. "

congratulations to Sandra and Robert!

i truly admire how they combined both their cultures into their wedding.
and love how it all came together.
many thanks to Sandra for sharing her big day here.
she also shared some wedding planning advice:
"My advice is to hire a wedding planner. Even if you only get one for the week of the wedding, or even the day of! I tend to be a bit of a control freak and a perfectionist, so everyone was so surprised when the week of the wedding came and I was calm and cool as cucumber and not flitting about like the normal bride. That's because I hired a professional that made sure that all the bases were covered and I just had to show up to marry my best friend and then enjoy a beautiful party afterward! Be sure to do your research and interview them to make sure that you are compatible and that he or she is in line to execute your vision!"

and last, but not least, the wedding vendors:

venue: The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa
wedding planner: Center of Attention
photographer: Heidi Ryder
videographer: Kolkey Productions
florists: GD Designers
make-up: Laurie Zedah
hair: Jose Neira Salon (Mina)
dj: Andrew Bowden (allestaire@aol.com)
linens: Classic Party Rentals, Resource One, GBS Linens
officiant: Rev. Stephen Stewart (stephen.stewart@securitynational.com)
entertainment:
Claddagh School Irish Dancers
Jose Garcia and Fleur de Lis (guitar and band) Fretwiz1@gmail.com
Adam Del Monte (flamenco guitarist) adamdelmonte@gmail.com

thanks again Sandra!
to see more of this wedding, head on over to the talented Heidi Ryder's blog here.

you whisper Darlin'...

...and before my eyes
ablaze of fireworks light up the skies
my heart grows wings and away it flies
fantastic. fantastic...that's you.

love all these expressions.

absolutely perfectly in bliss.

how magnificent is this architecture? seriously.

Tim and Heather surprised their guests with their own version of the evolution of dance.
how sweet is that?!

love.

i always get super giddy when i get the chance and discover a new photographer to be a huge fan of and borderline stalk their blogs whenever something new pops up.

gene oh
is no exception.
huge thanks to gene for allowing me share his work.
i love all of it and couldn't squeeze all of this wedding on here, so head on over here to see more.
but more importantly, you all need to check out what other amazing work he's got up his sleeves
on his website and blog.
psst...he has a super cute engagement up right now.

congrats to tim and heather!

happy weekend...

back in the mood for a little fun dancing. enjoy this one. i guarantee that your toes will be tapping and you'll be itching to do a crazy dance like i am right now.

homemade twister! how sweet is that!

paper and lace...

s'mores please.

this is just rad.

and this...no words.

it's my mother's birthday tomorrow and i shall force her to deal with my shouts and yells while i watch england vs. usa. sorry, kids, but i live and breathe the three lions. it's my homeland, yo! go england. and oh, i love the world cup.

love should be real...

...love should be bold
love helps you heal
it warms your soul
love doesn't kneel
love makes you bold
love makes you beautiful
love once it grows
love makes you beautiful.

too adorable.

this one makes me smile.

gorgeous moment captured.

autumn is a dancer and gymnast and so what better way to express yourself to your new husband than through your art.
before the reception, she gave a private performance for ryan to love makes you beautiful by terence howard.

le swoon.

really love how soft and lovely this wedding was photographed by julie harmsen. she did such an amazing job of capturing the raw, true emotions of both autumn and ryan.
so much gorgeousness.
definitely head over to her website and blog to see what other loveliness she has so talently captured.

my favorite part of this wedding was definitely that private performance. such a gripping and passionate moment that autumn and ryan could share together for a lifetime.
what other ways would you do to express your love for your new husband/wife?

once again, thanks julie for letting me share!