Bridal Shows 2009

Bridal Extravaganza & Bridal Fest !

The local bridal shows are coming up in January and February. Both offer the opportunity to meet wedding vendors. Both have give-aways, and fashion shows. As you're cruising around these events try to shop with your local vendors, we appreciate your business and we have a local name we have to live up to, so you know you'll receive the best possible service.

Sometimes people will go to Dallas, Little Rock, or OKC to shop for their dresses, shoes, jewelry, or photographer. What they don't realize is that the very same dress can be found from a local shop like Always and Forever Bridal. If you shop locally you'll receive excellent service and you'll probably spend considerably less for the very same, or better, goods and services. Unless you want to be able to say you got your dress or photographer from Dallas, then be my guest and spend more. :)

Bridal Fest is Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009 at the
Fort Smith Convention Center.
There is a door fee. It runs from 1:00-4:00.

Bridal Extravaganza is Feb. 15, 2009 at the
Holiday Inn Convention Center.
There is no charge for brides.
It runs from 1:00-4:00 also.

I've booked 3 May dates just this week, so if you're interested in a specific wedding date you should make an appointment with your vendors of choice and get those deposits down before the bridal shows.

Andria and Jake Got Hitched

They were married in Howe and had their reception
at the Kerr Mansion

For their first dance they did a surprise fun dance
after a few seconds of their slow dance.
It was really cute.


I hope they put it online like this couple did.

Someone please tell me if I ever get in the way of the videographer.
I don't want my posterior immortalized on film.

Kelly's Album Pages

Here's one of Kelly's 2-page spreads for her 10x10 album.

Wedding Album

Cassey and Alex's wedding album is ready to view online for anyone who is interested.

Here's a 2 page spread. I think it turned out nicely.

Petit Jean State Park

Tiffany and Michael married at Petit Jean
because that's where he proposed!



Tiffany and Michael are such a sweet pair.

I'm so glad to have met them and done their wedding photos.

What a neat place for an outdoor wedding.
How many people have a waterfall
for a background at their wedding?


I've done a few weddings in the mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma this year.

Choosing a Photographer Wisely

When choosing your photographer consider these things:

1. Do you want great photos, or barely passable?
Your photos will be your memories of major family events and milestones. Sure, you could probably have Uncle John, or your friend, who has a "really nice camera", take your photos and end up with something. Or you might end up frustrated and sad, like a lady I know. She ended up with NO decent wedding photos. That's right, they were ALL out of focus or too dark. EEK! I can't even imagine the disappointment.

2. Money well spent?
Count the cost carefully, but not so carefully that you get a bad deal in the long run. See #1 above.

3. Really look at the photographer's work with a discerning eye.
Are the photos really their work? Can they show you something besides what they have on the internet? Is it quality work? Are there any weird crops, or funny shadows on people's faces? Any strange color casts, such as a yellowy tinge to the whole photo?
Is their style what you like?

4. Do they have references? (Here are just a few)
If they don't have any, or don't want to show them to you, there's a problem.

5. Personality/Character?
When you talk with them, do you feel you could work well together?

6. Is this the photographer who will actually be there?
Believe it or not, big companies will send whomever is available, not necessarily the person you meet.

7. Contract?
Who needs a formal, old contract? You do, if it's your wedding we're talking about!
A good contract is fair to both parties. Read it.

Wedding in Fort Smith

Leah and Matt were married at the
First United Methodist Church in Fort Smith.

Woo-woo!

Cute flower girls practice their smiles.

Sweet Sisters

Beautiful Bride

Leah's family has all boys.
They were so adorable coming down the aisle
with their wagon, but some just wanted their mommies.

Nice Newlyweds

Kelly and Brandon

Kelly and Brandon married atop Mount Magazine.


It began to rain just as we started pre-ceremony portraits outside.
Spirits were as dampened as the beautiful flower
arrangement suffered severe wind and rain damage.

Arrangements were made to move inside for the ceremony.
Chairs were moved, and change of plans discussed.
Just before ceremony was to begin,
someone's prayers were answered,
and the clouds held their peace until right after the vows.

Earlier this year Creenna and Jesse were married at the
Mount Magazine Lodge.

Lauren and Taylor Married!

Lauren and Taylor's wedding was in Central City near Fort Chaffee.

Taylor is a real cowboy.
Lauren is a kindergarten teacher.
They'll be making their home in Texas.

The reception was at The Oaks in Fort Smith.


Chaffee suffered from a terrible fire in January.
Here are someone's photos of the buildings.

My grandfather helped build the barracks around 1941,
my uncle brought POWs into Chaffee during WWII,
and I worked on Chaffee a few years ago.
Probably everyone in the area
has some history with the place.

Cassey and Alex

Cassey and Alex's ceremony was in Paris.

They're going to have pretty kids.

I can show some of Cassey's bridal portraits now.

Natalie and Steven

Natalie and Steven were married out in the boonies.
No really, they were.
It wasn't too difficult finding them
because there were plenty of signs
outside Sallisaw leading the way.
Plenty of God's beautiful scenery for photos too.

Silly Guys

Sleepy Boys?




Sallisaw was the home of the fictional Joad family
from "The Grapes of Wrath".
I personaly liked the movie much better than the novel.

I intend to read "The Stricklands" by Edwin Lanham.
Lanham's novel is said to describe 1930s Oklahoma
in a more detailed, more acurate account than Steinbeck's novel.

Erin and Albert's Wedding

Erin and Albert had their ceremony at Robber's Cave State Park
at the lodge. It was hot, hot, hot, but a gorgeous location.
The guys looked a little melted,
but the ladies looked cool and beautiful.

If you've never participated in a dollar dance at a reception
you've missed out on a good time.
It's a fun way for each guest to spend a little time with the couple,
bless them with a little extra money for their honeymoon,
and twirl around the dance floor with them.

You can even dance with your dad.


Better than a boring, money tree any day.

I've heard of brides who decided not to have the dollar dance
and people lined up with their dollars anyway.

Sometimes the people closest to the couple give larger bills.
That's nice!

Shannon and Matt

Shannon and Matt married at the Circle of Light Chapel
overlooking Beaver Lake.
It's a beautiful area right on the lake

and there was a sky at sunset that
made for a fairy tale background.

Shannon and Matt included the girls in their ceremony,
saying vows to them,
and giving them a family necklace as a symbol of their
love and commitment to them.

Melissa and Brett

Melissa and Brett married
at the First Baptist Church of Van Buren.
Aren't they a sweet couple?

Melissa and I talked about the doll birthday cakes
that we loved as little girls.

Van Buren has a wonderful historic downtown area.
Antique shops, museums, a restored passenger train,
the King Opera House, and craft festivals
are all great reasons to visit.

I'm looking forward to the opening of the Drennen-Scott House.

Bridezillas?

People wonder about Bridezilla. Does she really exist? Have you ever had to deal with one?

One of my brides told me she was being one, she definitely wasn't, I've seen the show.

Cat says she thinks maybe the ones we see on TV are already a little spoiled to begin with and under stress it all comes to light.

I just have to say that I have never had a Bridezilla, and the girls I've worked for could have been featured on a show about the sweetest brides. What would they call it? Would anyone watch a show about normal people? Probably not.

Our society wants to be entertained with the latest bizzare behavior. Normal isn't acceptable, common sense isn't very common anymore, and courtesy has almost kicked the bucket.

Creenna and Jesse's Wedding

Creena and Jesse tied the knot at the top of Mount Magazine at the lodge. What a beautiful location with a spectacular view! I'm thrilled that I have the privilege of shooting Kelly's wedding in the same location in August.

Alta and Joseph

Alta and Joseph wed at the First Baptist Church in Alma.





Alma is the "Spinach Capital of the World"
and to prove it there's an annual spinach festival.

There's the Alma Preforming Arts Center, where you can see the Moscow Ballet, Ricky Skaggs, Hairspray, or Brenda Lee.

They have a pretty nice water park in Alma too.

Shelly and Brandon

Shelly and Brandon pledged their vows at the Bennett Chapel on the campus of
Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

Sherry and Daniel

The prettiest prayer circle I've ever seen.

Sherry and Daniel had a bagpiper at their wedding in Little Rock. How cool is that?! They were married at the Bible Church of Little Rock and their reception was held at the historic Albert Pike Hotel.

Lisa and John

Lisa and John were married in the gorgeous Myriad Gardens beside a brook with wonderful trees and flowers all around . They stayed in the landmark Skirvin Hotel.

Their reception featured sweet girls, tear-jerking toasts, pirates disguised as guests, grandparents who cut a rug, and a
flower petal shower.

The Skirvin, which originally opened in 1911, had fallen into disrepair until it underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and
reopened just last year.

It's a Hilton Hotel now in downtown Oklahoma City within walking distance of the Bricktown Canal and Entertainment District, the Bricktown Ballpark, the Ford Center Arena and the OKC National Bombing Memorial.