We are so excited that our dear friends Kathy & Steph have recently launched what is the absolute best new website for local brides – VeilTV. In addition to local Veil parties (you’ve seen reference to those here in the past), Q&A with vendors, and an ongoing blog, couples can now sit back and get to know many of our favourite local wedding vendors through video podcasts. The perfect way to narrow down the list before setting up a pile of meetings, and even better for those planning from out of town.

Despite being *much* more comfortable behind the camera, Reilly and I had fun filming our segment and hope it will shed a little light into what we do and how we do it. Hah – and it’s a chance for you to see us on screen for once! Cheers!

OK, ok, I’ll share!

Has everyone been enjoying the holiday season, and this week the GORGEOUS weather? I think I’ve eaten my weight in chocolate and we’ve been spending lots of time with close friends and family. We’re officially back in the office Tuesday but I wanted to stop by with a couple of updates, as I know already from the emails we’ve been getting that there are lots of gals with brand new rings on their fingers!

One of my favourite parts of each shoot we do is the video – the highlights of the wedding all pulled together, including (new for all of our 2011 events) a few snips of moving video thrown into the mix for added effect. These videos are the first look for our clients and more importantly the best way to share the wedding as a snapshot, and we’ll be sharing more of these with our blog readers going forward.

The full blog post is yet to come for these two, but with the sun today I’m reminded of this gorgeous fall wedding on Hornby Island and thought this was the perfect video to share – joy is contagious, and I adore these guys. Enjoy!

I’m so excited to be back blogging for the second show of the season, Lucia di Lammermoor presented by the Vancouver Opera. It’s opening night and the fancy outfits are starting to roll in!

This time of year is a whirlwind of parties for many people, and that’s what I love about December – I’ve been looking forward to another opportunity to wear something nice. That, and sparkly things and a birdcage veil for my hair. Can never turn down an opportunity to wear a birdcage veil.

****

We are just back from the backstage tour and I am completely in love with the set. Borrowed from the San Francisco Opera, everything came together in around 8 hours last Saturday when it was put together on stage (with just one missing piece, although that was easily rectified.) While there are no moving parts it is looking like projection will also play a part in this production – although I imagine it will be quite different from Lillian Alling (the first show of the season).

I try to make it a habit of not knowing the story ahead of time – I’d rather be surprised than be waiting for something I’d heard about for the entire show. From the props, however, I know things are set in a castle, there will be some blood, and there are a lot of weapons ready to make their way onto the stage. Sounds like a good setup to me. On with the show!

One of the few things I knew ahead of time was that this was somewhat of a dark story – and it lived up to the title.

What starts as a love story quickly turns to a tragedy – although that certainly could have been predicted. I was, however, surprised by how versatile the set was made by the projection – with sheer screens in front of the set at times the stage becomes completely magical. Kudos to the set designers, I know in many ways this is a simple set but I love how it comes alive, it really is fantastic.

And then, of course, the voices.

I was told ahead of time I was in for a treat with Eglise Gutiérrez playing the part of Lucia, but I was not prepared to be so completely blown away by her performance. I don’t want to lessen the work of the rest of the cast as it really is beautiful – particularly that of Gregory Dahl who plays Lucia’s brother Enrico and of course Michael Fabiano’s performance as Edgardo, especially in the final scene where the power of his voice really shines.

That said – Eglise has my heart. I think I could listen to her for hours, and just when I thought it couldn’t get any more incredible Act 3 started and…well… if you’ve been on the fence about heading out to the opera, this is absolutely the show to see. She will blow you away.

Lucia is a more traditional opera – sung in Italian with English surtitles (follow along! no foreign language required!) – and I have to say that out of the handful of performances I’ve been to with the Vancouver Opera, this is hands down my absolute favourite. I just can’t get over the magic of the set and the voices… oh the voices. Simply – go. You won’t be disappointed.

****

Lucia di Lammermoor is playing December 7th, 9th, and 11th, and tickets are still available for the remaining shows. The best seats are at the higher end of the scale, but with seats further up starting at $29 the Vancouver Opera doesn’t need to be reserved only for special occasions. It’s definitely earned a place on our regular night out list.

I’ll be back in February for the 3rd show of the season, with tickets already on sale for those looking ahead. The perfect holiday gift, perhaps?!

And now – final prep for Got Craft? which is happening first thing tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing some of you there!

OK Kids! It’s December and that means one thing – Got Craft? is this weekend!

For anyone who hasn’t been to a craft show in the last couple of years, you have no idea what you’re missing. A room full of crazy talented handmade vendors is the perfect place to start and end your holiday shopping, so come out on Sunday to check it out at the Legion on Commercial Drive.

I’ll be there with my crafty pursuits… look for typewriter key bracelets, button necklaces, leather cuffs featuring the pages of old books and a few more goodies from me, 3 tables in directly to the right when you come in the door.

Hope to see you there!