I had the fantastic opportunity to help support Breast Cancer Research on Saturday night. I attended Bringing Back the 80s charity fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research. It was hosted and organized by the wonderfully talented Wendy Leung of Beyond Events. Every print sale goes towards Breast Cancer Research!  If you order any picture, the entire amount you pay will go to this worthy cause. I dedicate this event to my beautiful sister in law, Nancy. You are the bravest woman I know and the toughest fighter. Don’t give up!

Here are some  high lights from the night. I must say, the costumes were amazing and I was really jealous with the hair. I am a total 80s girl and big hair was my thing in high school.

I would love to thank the following sponsors of these event:

Beyond Events – Wendy Leung

PM Event Service-Disk Jockey

Courtyard Marriott

Wedecor

Little Cakes - seriously, THE best brownie cupcake in the city!

Urbanite Jewelry

Avon

Tab Bra

Sensually Active

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian Women. In 2009. an estimated 22,700 women in Canada will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer. One in nine (11%) Canadian women is expected to develop breast cancer during  her lifetime (this means by age 90). The significant improvement in survival rates for women with breast cancer since the mid-1980s is likely a result of improvements in screening and advances in treatment. At present, the 5 year relative survival rate for Breast Cancer in Canada is 87%, which means that women diagnosed with Breast Cancer have an 87%  likelihood of living for 5 years after their diagnosis. Please support this worthy cause and give. Go to my Online Galleries.

my favorite blogs for ottawa weddings

from a wedding photographer’s point of view

Any bride, no matter the budget, gains insight and inspiration from wedding blogs.  I for one consistently read my favorites and try and get a feel for the latest trends in the wedding industry. After all, your photographs are what you walk away with after the day is completed. Why not make them spectacular images with well thought out details.

Start locally: Wendy Leung from Beyond Events has a great do list when starting your wedding organization and planning.  Please read her post when  you get a moment! She has fantastic ideas, is a great girl and has planned some absolutely breathtaking weddings from Toronto to Ottawa and “beyond”.

Over the years, I developed a wedding blog favorite’s list:

1. Hot Pink Brides - Ok it isn’t just because I love pink… I love this blog! Any modern, funky-fresh bride who wants some ideas…check out Tabitha’s blog.

2. Style Me Pretty - for the style obsessed bride

3. The Wedding Chicks - for the sassy bride

4. Gill Taylor – Photographer - even photographers need inspiration! Love Gill’s work and truly find her inspiring. Makes me better at my craft. Check her out and be inspired.

5. Wedluxe – beautiful and luxurious weddings and they are CANADIAN!

Regardless of how you envision your wedding, make it your own. Have fun planning it but don’t stress over it. It is one day…albeit, an important day! Finally, if I can give you one piece of advice…

don’t leave photography as an after thought. You need a trusted professional with a proven track record to capture your vision so that you will have beautiful images to gaze at on your 10th, 20th and even 50th wedding anniversary. Click on a  great read on this topic  from Every Last Detail Blog.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Today is a day of love…show it by telling your family how much you love and appreciate them. Too often the lives of family members are cut short – so make the call and tell someone how much they mean to you. You won’t regret it.

Cheers!

barb

One of my favorite shots from 2009.  Click on Myriam and Alex (and scroll down to this bottom of this blog post) if you want to see their blogged wedding or go to my Online Galleries for more shots from their amazing day.