I have always love Andrew Mok’s work and his latest video is no exception. Zann and Jim met at NTU and bonded over walks to their Hall, banner painting, cup noodles and a computer. Uniquely, the video is shot from the guy’s perspective. Hearing him tell of how much he loved Zann even before they got together is touching. The music is awesome too. Go see it.
If you are into a special, unqiue and fully personalized wedding, take at look at Arty Attic, a label which specializes in hand-drawn stationery. The designer loves to doodle since young and there’s something innocent and organic about her creations. In fact, she draws reference to a book “In the Attic” when coming up with the label name. In her wedding range, she came up with postcards that are centered around different themes to cater to different couples. These postcards can double up as Thank You cards or Invitations. There are movie-related, eco-themed and even those who seek thrilling sports are remembered. These creations are indeed a fresh break from the usual and definitely appeal to those who seek personalized weddings. Interestingly, when you seek things that you can identify with, you stand out immediately above the masses.
Directional Love
Directional Love is very interesting. At one glimpse, you think it’s a repetition from Titanic. The surprise is at the back of this card which quotes “Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery”. Very meaningful.
Power of Love
These postcard-size lovely creations come with passages with either humour, quotes or realizations. For example, on the back of “Power of Love“, it reads “The love between us is so hot and powerful that we can fly.” Hint: It’s the hot air balloon the couple is sitting on. These cards are fully customizable. The ease and efficiency is provided via RunRave where you can enter your requirements in text fields just next to the chosen postcard URL. You could choose to have your own passage at the back of the card or have both the bride and groom’s name to be printed. Alternatively, you could get the designer to draw up a new one!
For the nature lovers
Arty Attic also has postcards outside the wedding range which is under RunRave’s in-house wedding label, RunRave Romance. Check out the sweet Flower Guardian Angels and nostalgic Fairy Tale series. Each of the figures drawn is really a reflection of life. Be awed by the colours of life and widen your imaginary realm. Check out Arty Attic’s blog to know this up and coming designer.
Cinderella
While researching on today’s personality, I found a very long and comprehensive interview with Jose Villa. Since the interview is so recent, I shall direct you to the website rather than plagiarise. Here’s a few tidbits about the man.
Jose’s works stand out for their dreamy quality and magazine-like styling. Which would explain why he’s regularly featured on many of them including Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, Brides, Destination Weddings and Honeymoons, Instyle Weddings and more. He’s also a favourite of wedding bloggers and has accumulated accolades from professional photography associations.
You probably don’t realise this but Jose shoots entirely in film. There is little indulgence in taking multiple shots to get the right picture as production costs are high. On average, 800 shots are taken in a wedding and about 700 presented to the couple. When you consider the medium, that’s an amazingly high number.
Jose describes his style, “I’m trying to create images that have beautiful lifestyle elements, and also have some emotion to them.” It’s not photojournalism, it’s fine art. “I do capture moments, but I compose my shots. So, for instance, if I see something happening in front of me I’ll take the shot, but i compose it with a fine art perspective behind it. I am VERY aware of my backgrounds. I usually choose something with a white wall or use the sky. And I always utilize selective focus to achieve a true fine art image.”
Jose was born in Los Guerrero, Mexico and migrated to California at the age of 5. He picked up his first camera in high school and later studied at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. Based out of Solvang now, “they have the best Danishes here”, it’s a picturesque Danish town in California. Initially scared that wedding photography would be too high pressure, Jose fell into it when he realised he could use the lifestyle/fashion approach that he had developed while interning with Marcy Malloy, a fashion photographer in San Francisco. It’s been 7 years now.
Jose is involved in a new book, Wedding Photography Unveiled, a collection of 20 top photographers’ techniques, philosophies, strategies, and practices.
All photos in this post are from Jose’s blog.
I’m back! After a long sabbatical in Singapore and Japan, I finally have regular internet access. Please forgive the lack of posts and Spotlight features. This Sunday, I will feature my all time favorite wedding photographer, Jose Villa, who has been featured in countless wedding magazines and top 10 lists. Charmaine and Kon actually managed to snag him for their wedding (I’m so envious!).
I love how the traditional details like fuschia peonies, tang yuan, cheongsam and candle with ‘Xi’ words are made modern. I like the leafy centerpieces and the emerald green cheongsam with its glittering phoenix. And I wonder which talented baker created the beautiful art deco wedding cake. Can someone tell me please?
These days, when I post on this site, it is with a lot of guilt because I have been taking far too long in between postings! I am so sorry! But I really promise you exciting contents to come. In September, I am flying off to Leh, India to attend a wedding and I can’t wait! Meanwhile, there is a green-themed wedding to attend in two weeks’ time. Loads and loads of pictures to come…
Now, I am finally getting down to the topic I’ve been meaning to write - Wedding cakes or pastries for distribution to family and relatives. These cakes could be part of “Guo Da Li” which is really the delivery of Chinese wedding gifts by the groom as a display of sincerity in his intent to marry, respect and also demonstration of his ability to support the family after marriage. Typically it would consist of a consortment of goodies like dried seafood, canned fruits, liquors or even the roast pig, along with dowry, red cloth. Honestly, I cannot tolerate such traditions though and did not go through it myself. It’s simply too troublesome and why take dried or canned food that is choked with preservatives?! Save it for the wedding dinner, I say.
Nonetheless, I did go ahead with the distribution of the cakes to relatives. They don’t cost much and make people smile when they receive gifts. Ah, to make your relatives smile - that is something pretty subjective at times. Simply because the older folks might have different expectations from what you think and at times, some people just love to criticise. Yet, when you win them over, you hear praises from the end of the island. So which cakes to buy, so that you are ensured a smooth wedding experience?
The usual and most economical cakes would be butter (marble) cakes or fruit cakes. I bought mine from Bengawan Solo because it was the most economical ones and the taste was reasonable. Recently, I went to Tong Heng Confectionery and was amazed by the kind of names they label their wedding pastries. For example, there are “Blissful Crisps” that “come loaded with the authentic taste and symbolism of matrimonial bliss, continuity of futrue generations and nuptial blessings“, as I read from Tong Heng phamplet. There is also “Dragon Phoenix Cake with Lotus Seed Paste” - this is really interesting because dragon and pheonix actually represents the groom and bride, whom when paired together, is a symbol of harmony. I can’t locate the Tong Heng Confectionery website though I found a very good blog posting on their pastries.
Picture by Sparklette
Another shop that I am impressed by is LE Cafe Confectionery. This store is famous for its pineapple tarts and beancurd egg tarts. The latter make you feel that eating egg tarts is never a sinful thing ever again. They offer wedding cakes that look really colourful and would appeal to couples who want to go along the modern trends. However, I have to warn you, this store is famous and that unfortunately comes with a kind of attitude…if you get what I mean.
Wedding Cakes by Le Cafe
In modern times, before there is a wedding, there is love. Normally.
A favorite game among bridesmaids to tease the groom before he could win his bride over, is to make him say “I love you” in at least 10 languages. It can be easy or difficult, depending on how demanding the bridesmaids want to be. Guys, prepare yourself and show off your linguistic talents. Take a note from the image below.
Image created by Ryan Dwyer
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