yay!

See more reviews of Cakes and Kisses Wedding Photography on Project Wedding.

So Youre Engayged !! Featured Photographer!

I love the gays!!

Cakes and Kisses Wedding Photography is featured vendor for So You're Engayed!!

Preview: I got to know a lot about the fabulous Holly Steen of Cakes and Kisses Photography through this interview. For example, Cake Wrecks and Wedding Chicks are her blog addictions, her guilty pleasures are watching America’s Next Top Model while eating Nutella out of the jar, and her weakness is dancing. Enjoy the interview!

Check out this site for all your same sex marriage planning, coordination, ideas and news.

Homemade Talents

(This is one of the bride, is my favorite from a wedding at the Queen Mary, in Long Beach.)

When it comes down to it, wedding photography is about connection. It is the union of two families, the merge of two hearts and the emotional connection between the Photographer (me) and the couple.

I have been a part of many a wedding. But truthfully, I love, embrace and happily remember, everyone of them. I could tell you intimate details, cake flavors, invitation fonts, or whatever the groomsmen were drinking. I remember each wedding like a best friend in High School Musical. Fondly and always with happy memories.



My family, friends and brides have heard a million wedding stories. And I will tell you more if you want to hear them. Brides planning their wedding love to hear what works and what to avoid.

The Queen Mary wedding was a beautiful memory for me. The bride was existentially elegant. The groom was divine in a tux with tails. Special moments like, the father daughter dance when he held her so tender with her hand on his cheek. And the perfect first dance done to the song from Juno by Moldy Peaches, Anyone Else but You. She laughed with her whole heart, they danced all night, and he married the woman of his dreams. It was a win win.

(Ingrid and Dom's wedding I shot with my fabulous photography friend, Robyn Rachel.)



Well crafty Ingrid, the bride, made a era transformation on this little boat. She had beautiful boas for the lady guests, fedora hats for the men to wear, fun invitations that looked like boat tickets, and a fabulous guest book, suitcase, for guests to write messages to drop in. It was very creative, and perfect.

To my delight, and a year after the wedding, Ingrid is still just as crafty. She has an Esty store. It is a place where talented artist can make handmade goods and sell them online. I would ugre you to go and check it out. Especially if you are in need of a fabulous Buddah tote, or a sweet Natural and Rose Knit Scarf.

Visit her Esty store, and find little handmade delights.
Here is a little story she wrote about how she got started:

"Like 4 years ago I taught myself how to knit to kill down time during winter break in college. This year I got bored with making beanies and scarves and decided to tackle sewing. In December I taught myself to make quits...then skirts...then bags...then hand stitching...etc.

Being a teacher, you have a lot of down time in the summer, so I decided this year that I would take advantage of that time and craft. Last weekend, when visiting my best friend, I was showing her some of my projects and she mentioned that I should sell them on etsy. I told her that I was a beginning seamstress and that there was no way I would do that.

Monday, she took a bag that I helped her to make to work and all of her friends there loved the bag and said that they wanted to buy one. After hearing that, by Tuesday night I was on the computer making an etsy shop.

I collaborate a lot with my school psychologist on different creative ideas (she started to sew quilts in January) and we tackle different projects together...if one of us finds a great ideas, we collaborate a way to make it work.

We decided today that we are going to start a crafty blog and link it to our etsy accounts. We are in the process of thinking of a blog name."

If you have any suggestions, or would like to reach MzPazzo please feel free to check out her Esty.

For the Click of it...

The BlogLuxe Awards is a SocialLuxe Lounge contest for Websites.

LA Style Unveiled is part of the Inspiring Blog nominees. Yippee for them.



If you want to vote, Click, and be whisked away to a magical land of voting and scrolling. Go to the middle / bottom of the Inspiring Blogs.
They are titled "The Lounge".

Best of luck LA Style Unveiled!!

Editors Pick on LA Style Unveiled-

This is the same beautiful Sona and Nico I featured earlier in my blog in April. They are World as well as Blog travelers!

Yummy.



Featured on LA Style Unveiled!!!

This is the engagements shoot that steams up your computer monitor. It is warm, delicious and makes you want to go make out with someone at the train station.

Yay!




To see all the photos from their engagement click here, and enter your email info.
Don't forget to check out LA Style Unveiled for the most update in wedding planning and trends!

Love and Kisses,
Holly

The Cake to my Kiss

Last night I fell in love... with an inanimate object, again.

But first some back story:

Bridal Bar is a fabulous is a boutique that allows brides to get a hands on and complimentary peek at the best of the best in the wedding industry. If you are wedding planning it has to be one of the spots you go to get ideas, some champagne, then chill out and talk about weddings. Think of it the people you go to when you want to talk weddings, when your Maid of Honor and Mom is tired of hearing about the details. Not these girls at the Bridal Bar. They love the whole planning, and coordinating process. And it is complimentary! Whoa. Believe it Sister!

I went to talk to Harmony about joining this fab group of photographers. We were chatting about wedding stuff, and she told me all about a television taping they had at the studio. The Bridal Bar was on the premier episode of Kendra tonight on E! AWESOMENESS. Well they had left over CAKE!!! Made especially for the shoot, by Fantasy Frostings!

So the wonderful host that Harmony is let me take home a fabulous mini wedding cake. It was Banana Walnut.... Yum, with a rich cake batter laden with fresh bananas and walnuts, lightly spiced and filled with fresh bananas and whipped cream. It was my lucky day.

Perhaps an extra ordinary circumstance is what happened, and I call it fate. Fantasy Frostings, in Pasadena had created some beautiful designs and perfectly crafted wedding cake for a television episode airing on the E! network. And I happened to be there hungry for the perfect dessert for all occasions. Match made in heaven, or AKA Bridal Bar.

As for true love, it happens, you see each other from across the room. Contact is made, frosting is smelled and the cupid strikes you down with what some call "True Love." Of course I am talking about CAKE! It is my sole reason for shooting weddings. Forget all the love, romance, and commitment for a lifetime stuff. This is the day when a beautiful cake gets it own table, a ceremony to cut it, and honored guests get to enjoy the sweet delight before anyone else. I kid. I kid.

I asked myself, "Am that girl who takes photos of food and then blogs about it?"

YES! Yes I am.

Well the main posting of this blog is to express how crazy in love I am with Fantasy Frostings, Bridal Bar and my iPhone.

I love my iPhone. In earlier blog postings I refer to it as my iHusband. It is my second love to this wedding cake though. It was so fantastic. I wish I could carry my iPhone and Mini Wedding cakes around with me all the time. Sigh.

So I was absolutely amazing when I saw that my Mini Wedding cake from Fantasy Frostings, and my iPhone were the EXACT same size!!

I have a sticker on the back of my iPhone which is from Skinit.com, which I highly recommend to anyone and everyone. But that is perhaps for another blog.
On my Skinit.com, I have a photo of me and my honey from a wedding that he was the groomsman in back in September. Joy!
Happy happy! Joy joy!

For the love of Cake, Kisses and iPhones!
Holly

Spa Day- Yum

Serenity Canyon Day Spa nestled in Canyon Country is a fabulous location for pampering yourself with facials and massage. Please contact them today, Saturday or Sunday for an opportunity of a lifetime and specials. It is a great way to relax, and enjoy a luxury.

I did a photo shoot for Lynda, the owner. We shot around the spa one day, and then we did a bridal shoot another day. We had models, makeup artist, hair stylist, and chocolate. It was absolutely delightful.

Here is a photo of my girls! Love ya Ann and Opal. Don't work too hard now. You are fabulous just how you are!


The Bridal Spa at amazing rates!


Here are the images from the shoot:


She is getting married in August!! Yay!


Sandra is incredible! She is an amazing beauty and spirit!


The back of our "Summer Brides" hair. Lovely idea from Lynda to have the star fish there.


Noelle my Rockstar. She did her own hair and makeup.

Check back for more photos!!


Flowers were provided by the talented CindyBabuscio The girls were teamed up with a hair/makeup team for a "look". Hair and Makeup was done by Noelle Castro, Jackie Lopez and Melissa Agyepong

Vendor Love: LVL Events

Lindsay is fabulous. I adore her. She is productive, effective and very fun to work with. Brides love her along with photographers. (YAY)

Here is a little blurb and then you have to check out her site and or blog for more goodies.

LVL Events is a full service wedding and event planning company based out of Orange County serving all of Southern California; including Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. LVL Events offers a variety of planning services and customizes each event package to fit our clients needs because lets face it, no event is alike!

Ps. Those photos are from our wedding together!

Vendor Love: Bohemia Rose

An amazing opportunity for beautiful flowers by Cindy Babuscio Designs

Check below for amazing discount offer!

Here is a little bio on Cindy...

I have always loved flowers! My most recent work has been at Reher’s Mission Florist in Mission Viejo, CA and before that Vivaldi Gardes in Lake Forest, CA. I have a passion for the wedding side of the business but admittedly not the crazy holiday side!! When I decided to start my own business and concentrate on weddings and events it was my AHA MOMENT!

God has blessed me with many years of experience in the floral business and an education in fine arts, and with that I am fortunate enough to be able to continue to use flowers as my medium in my art. Wedding design is so fun for many reasons but mostly because of the joy that surrounds the event! What a better way to express love than with nature! Many dreams and ideas are just waiting to be realized by the people that work together on an event, and with experience and professionalism it comes together beautifully. My hope is that each wedding I am blessed to be a part of is the ” wedding of their dreams” and my prayer is that their love will bind them together forever.

If you are planning a wedding, I would love to be a part of your special day!

Cindy Babuscio Designs also brings beautiful touches to your special day. All of our designs are custom creations to fit your wedding style and mood. Look through our gallery to see some of our past custom creations. Enjoy!

I am offering a referral program where if you book Cindy for your flowers I will offer 20% albums and prints for all clients. Yay!



I love the idea of being able to help out talented vendors and it ensures that the flowers are fantastic for the wedding.

Here is a preview link of some beautiful flowers that she created for some of my weddings!


I love Cindy, if nothing else, just go check out her website and make some encouraging comments on her blog.

Lots of Cakes and Kisses,
Holly

Vendor LOVE!

I love love love to refer brides and grooms to my friends and people. You know these are the kinda of people you just "click" with, creatively and on the dance floor!

So I had a bride planning a wedding in Santa Clarita, CA ask me to help her out. You know I am a Hollaback Girl so I am happy to help out. (Oh wait, I ain't no Hollaback Girl, but I am still happy to help.)

DJ!

J&M Entertainment are the best in the valley. Here is the story. I had a bride that hired them for her wedding. It was a fabulous party and she booked the biggest package they had. It was incredible, well really it was a production. But she had such an awesome experience, she now works for them.

They are that cool. Sandra Pascal will help you out with anything you need over there. I don't think she is in charge of booking, but she is definitely my biggest fan (even more of a fan than my mom) They aren't inexpensive however, and they need a new website. But they are who I would recommend. http://www.jandmentertainment.com/

FLOWERS!

Florist in the Santa Clarita Valley? Well I don't have a favorite. It doesn't mean that I am not open to making friends. I just haven't worked with one in SCV that has knocked off my socks.

There is a wonderful florist that I work with in Orange County that is absolutely the cheapest and does awesome work. Even after they add on "out of the area" charges they are cheaper than anyone. I have attached photos from there work. Here is the website. Not much to look at, but the prices are fantastic. http://www.gdflowers.com/

Here is a link to the details and flowers : http://www.weddingchicks.com/blog/2009/1/7/holly-steen-the-wedding-of-jenn-scott.html#comments

MAKEUP!

Makeup is a few different gals. I will start with the top and work down.

http://www.carenelle.com is amazing... She is Care Nelle in Orange County. She does amazing beautiful work. I think that she is possibly the most gifted make up artist I have worked with. (She is fancy pants) AND she did the make up for the same wedding that the flowers were from Growers Direct. The Jenn Dubbs wedding on my site. http://cakesandkisses.com/GalleryMain.asp?GalleryID=50540&AKey=6Q3H6SBF

Sherry. She is great here is her website. http://www.onlocationbeauty.com/artists-sherry.html

Noelle is a great girl. She is fashion forward and in SCV. She will do a great job for you and she is super reasonable.

Noelle Castro, maykuphair@yahoo.com

VENUE!

For a location, I love the Hyatt. It is great it is all in one location and you can save time not having to get in the car to go somewhere else. They have a fabulous fire place and wonderful staircase that is great for photos. That would be my first pick.

Le Chen is nice, but the food is quite expensive. Although you are only going to have 75 people, it is still pretty penny. I know budget is an issue too..

In addition here are some tips for you brides!

TIMELINE!

I will help with your time line too when it comes to that point. On the most part I recommend giving about an hour for formal portraits after the ceremony. It also gives the couple time to do some romantic shots together (those are my favorites) Having a eight hours is perfect for getting all the getting ready, and preparations before. Getting six hours, cuts the chase a little bit, but you save some money too.

I have the best job ever!

As a photographer I am happy to help. It puts my wedding knowledge to good use and I am able to help out my fellow rockstar vendors out there.

There are great resources online out there like www.weddingchicks.com, www.theknot.com, www.herecomestheguide.com, and www.projectwedding.com.

Preferred Vendor at Wedding Chicks!!

Check out my featured wedding~
Wedding Chicks

YAY

Seven Degrees, Laguna Beach

Gainey Vineyard, Santa Ynez

Dove Canyon Country Club, Dove Canyon

Casa del Camino, Laguna Beach

Glendale Country Club, Glendale

Harborside Pavilion, Balboa Island

2008 Wedding Locations- more to come

Riverside Golf and Country Club


Orange County Parks


Rancho Capistano Mission


Casa Romantica, San Clemente


Rancho Las Lomas, Silverado Canyon



Castle Green, Pasadena



Calamigos, Burbank


Camp Pendleton, San Diego

Both of these are at La Venta Inn, Rancho Palos Verdes



"Does anyone have the rings?" Sponge Bob had them.


Rancho Las Lomas, Silverado Canyon



Summit House,Fullerton




Bridgeport, Santa Clarita




Our Lady Queen of Angeles Church, in Los Angeles





The New Year always brings a warmth and sense of hope. I wanted to take the time and thank you, my wonderful and ever so-lovely couple, for making me the most blessed girl in the whole world. I appreciate your kind words, love and time more than I can ever express. Have a wonderful inspirational 2009. I am looking forward to hearing all about your lifetime milestones and your special moments. Happy New Year!

Lots of Love,

Holly