The Top 10 Reasons Why Wedding Receptions Are Dumb
03.27.12
So... I've encountered quite a few people who are a little surprised that Russ and I are not going to have a wedding reception. Frankly I'm a little shocked that so many people like receptions at all. They're expensive, annoyingly traditional and REALLY boring! But instead of going on and on about every single reason why wedding receptions are dumb, I've decided to create a top ten list that emphasizes the biggest reasons why everyone planning to get married should seriously consider skipping the reception all together.
10: Throwing a bouquet, cutting a cake, dancing with your father... what in the world do these weird traditions have to do with finding your soul mate? Nothing.
9: I don't want to spend the best day of my life posing for pictures. This is not about how I look in my dress or who styled my hair.
8: Is it really important to invite every single person that has ever seen or heard of us? The only real motivation in doing something like that is simply to show off. "Oh! Look at me! I'm so pretty in my dress and look at this hot guy who's in love with me! I'm so special! Look, look, look!" Ya... no thank you.
7: I don't really enjoy being the center of attention. That kind of stress gives me a headache. I don't want a headache on my wedding day.
6: It takes the focus away from the real purpose of the day. For example the actual sealing ceremony.
5: They just plain cost waaaaay too much.
4: They go on and on and on and on.... they seem to last forever. Especially if you decide to stand in a line all day! There's a fun way to spend the best day of your life.
3: If you don't have a reception you don't have to worry about buying flowers, a layered cake, decorations, clothes for bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls... need I go on?
2: You don't have to spend your entire engagement planning a reception, which leaves much more time for making-out and cuddling. ;)
and the number one reason of all...
1: With no reception, the Honeymoon starts much sooner. ;)
Before I started delving into photography, I was a graphic designer. Even as a teenager I was creating websites and altering photographs taken by other people just for fun in my free time. I thoroughly enjoy working in Photoshop so a few years back when I began taking an interest in photography, Photoshop became my most important tool for making every photo look vibrant, professional and full of emotion.
Even now, when I take professional portraits or action shots I confess I know very little about how to work the intricate functions of my Canon T1i SLR digital camera. I usually just set the camera on auto and think only about basic lighting and composition. The real process of making my photos look professional takes place after the photo shoot, when I touch-up the photos in Photoshop. Because of this, I consider myself a photoshopographer rather than a photographer.
I've heard many photographers talk about how much they hate using Photoshop. Most photographers have very little graphic design experience so they will charge extra to make any changes to a photo, even if it's just changing a colored photo to black & white. For a photoshopographer it's quite the opposite. My favorite part of any kind of photoshoot is touching up the photos afterward. I have complete control over lighting, intensity, removing unwanted objects in the background; I can even change the entire mood of photo by altering the colors or make a smeared, blurry photo look artistic.
I've learned there are some who believe that altering photography in Photoshop is something to avoid because it can make photos look inauthentic or fake. I believe photoshopography is a beautiful new art form that allows a photographer to combine their own artistic ideas with real images.
To me, Photoshop isn't just for touching-up photos, it's a magical tool which gives me the ability to turn an boring gray photo into a vibrant work of art. Learning how to use Photoshop to enhance photos is an art form all it's own and it can take many years to master how to accurately use the program, let alone develop your own personal style. I love being a photoshopographer and don't plan to change my methods for creating professional photos anytime soon. The photos speak for themselves.
I seriously don't know how to write a new blog about anything else today because my mind is completely consumed by the most amazing man I've ever met in my life. I have fallen in love. Years ago, I thought I was in love, but now I know that I was completely mistaken. I feel warm and at peace inside and yet gitty, bursting with excitement.
The most shocking thing to me is just how fast it happened. It's only been a month, but I know it's real. I didn't think it was possible to fall in love so quickly, but I feel it inside and I know he feels the same way too.
Only a month ago I had completely given up on dating. I could no longer imagine ever finding someone who fits with me, let alone someone who would love me back. After going through so many guys, each one hardly giving me a second glance, I started to think guys just didn't like girls very much. I was almost always treated with complete indifference. It was hard to be happy and confident at the same time that I was dating someone so I finally decided to just fly solo, enjoying all the great things a single life has to offer.
Now that I've fallen in love, all those bad dates feel like centuries ago. To tell you the truth, being in love feels different than I imagined, so at first I didn't even know that I was feeling it. Everything feels natural and easy with him, like this was just meant to be. I completely trust him and there's no stress; no wondering whether or not he loves me back. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world when he has his arms around me. I love his sense of humor, he's intelligent, passionate and I can talk to him for hours about anything. He's everything I've ever dreamed of and so much more. I'm completely in love and it feels completely right.
Love isn't like in the movies. It's far better than anything I've ever seen played out in a screenplay. It's so warm and intense, but at the same time it feels normal, like it's simply a part of life that I have not yet experienced. It's hard for me to believe that Heavenly Father loves me so much to bless me with such an incredible man. I don't know how I could suddenly be so lucky, but I'm not going to spend anytime questioning it. I'm going to spend every moment I can enjoying it.
Video: My Brother Playing Jeanette Isabella On Water Glasses
02.23.12
We started a new tradition in my family this year of coming up with our own arrangement of the same Christmas carol and performing it for each other on Christmas Eve. We call it a Carol-Off. This year we picked the song Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella. I choreographed and recorded an Irish dance for the performance. If you haven't yet seen that video, go watch it here. My brother, Jake surprised everyone when he pulled out a table with glasses full of water to do his performance. Click play to listen to Jake's version of Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella.
My Favorite Scripture From The Book Of Mormon: Alma 22:8
02.12.12
The scripture I love more than any other isn't my favorite because of what the actual verse says. It's my favorite because of the story behind what is written.
"And now when Aaron heard this, his heart began to rejoice, and he said: Behold, assuredly as thou livest, O king, there is a God." Alma 22:8
When Ammon and his brothers set out on a quest to convert the Lamanites to the gospel, they seperated and the first story we hear about is Ammon's. We all love the story of Ammon, the oldest brother who had quick success in converting King Lamoni and all his people to the gospel.
I've noticed, however that not many people think about how difficult a time his brother's had in trying to convince the Lamanites to convert to the gospel. While Ammon was enjoying success and making friends with a king, Aaron, Muloki and Ammah were thrown into prison. When Ammon finally found out what happened to his brothers he came to their rescue as quickly as possible:
"And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni proceeded on their journey towards the land of Middoni. And Lamoni found favor in the eyes of the king of the land; therefore the brethren of Ammon were brought forth out of prison.
And when Ammon did meet them he was exceedingly sorrowful, for behold they were naked, and their skins were worn exceedingly because of being bound with strong cords. And they also had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings.
And, as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people; therefore they would not hearken unto their words, and they had cast them out, and had smitten them, and had driven them from house to house, and from place to place, even until they had arrived in the land of Middoni; and there they were taken and cast into prison, and bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days, and were delivered by Lamoni and Ammon." Alma 20:28-30
I love how it mentions that "it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people" because it shows that it wasn't just chance that Ammon had more success than they did. This was a trail that the Lord knew they would face. I also want to point out that it mentions "they were patient in all their sufferings" but I have a feeling this was the most difficult trail any of them had ever faced. On top of it all, how frustrating would it be to learn that Ammon was completely successful in converting hundreds of people while they were stripped naked and thrown into prison.
Even though the scriptures don't emphasize it, I find it really incredible just how much the Lord blesses Aaron, Muloki and Ammah after they were released from prison. With all they had been through, instead of heading back home, they decide to take on the biggest challenge of all. They head straight to the king of all the Lamanites, Lamoni's father. After such utter failure so far, I honestly don't know how they found the courage to attempt something so bold. Unknown to Aaron and his brothers, at the time they decided to do this, the king of the Lamanites was searching his heart for answers. An encounter with Ammon had left him with many questions so he was ready to hear and believe everything they had to say. After entering the house of the king and introducing themselves, the king said:
"I will insist that ye shall administer unto me; for I have been somewhat troubled in mind because of the generosity and the greatness of the words of thy brother Ammon... What is this that ye have said concerning the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, this is the thing which doth trouble me." Alma 22:3,5
After more discussion, Aaron steps forward and asks the king:
"Believest thou that there is a God? And the king said: I know that the Amalekites say that there is a God, and I have granted unto them that they should build sanctuaries, that they may assemble themselves together to worship him. And if now thou sayest there is a God, behold I will believe." Alma 22:7
Can you imagine just how much joy Aaron is feeling at that moment? He has experienced nothing but failure from the moment his journey began. Now he has been given the opportunity of standing before the king of all the land; a king who has decided to put his complete faith in everything Aaron has to say. When he set out on his journey into the land of the Lamanites, Aaron's one desire was to be a successful missionary. At this moment, the Lord finally blesses him with success; not with just any Lamanite, but the one Lamanite who has more influence and power than any other in all the land.
That's why the next verse is my favorite scripture:
"And now when Aaron heard this, his heart began to rejoice, and he said: Behold, assuredly as thou livest, O king, there is a God." Alma 22:8
This is my absolute favorite scripture because Ammon's journey may have been far easier, but in the end Aaron and his brother's had far more success. The voice of the king of all the land has the potential to convert an entire people to the gospel and the Lord chose to give Aaron the opportunity to teach that king. Ammon may have stirred some questions in the king's heart, but in the end Aaron was given the blessing of answering them.
I also love this scripture because it's a demonstration of just how much the Lord loves Aaron. He knows what he's been through and the reward for his suffering is far greater than Aaron could have ever imagined. We also get a chance to experience a little bit of what Aaron is feeling in that moment. It says Aaron's "heart began to rejoice". I love when a scripture mentions what a prophet is feeling. It brings the scripture to life and makes it easier to relate to what they're going through. I've never been cast it to prison, but I've had times in my life when it feels like everyone one around me is succeeding with ease while I'm experiencing only failure. I love the story of Aaron and his brothers because not all of us have an easy time when we set out to accomplish something, even if our intentions are completely righteous.
No one can truly understand why some of us have an easier time while others suffer, but one thing this is for sure. The rewards given to those who are truly tested are far sweeter than the rewards given to those who've had it easy.
