Really, that pretty much sums it up: “Planes, Trains & Automobiles”.  go, Go, GO!!!  2011 was a stellar year and really I can’t even believe that it’s over.  I think my mind is still somewhere back in September.  With all the travel and new happenings here at MSP, I feel like this past year has been on fast-forward, being thrust from one city to the next all the time shooting and doing what I absolutely love to do most.  It really makes me not want this year to be over, can it stay 2011 for a little while longer?

This year, I felt like I lived on planes, trains & automobiles.  I can’t even count how many miles I’ve traveled.  Being a destination wedding photographer, it is part of the job - and don’t get my wrong, I absolutely LOVE traveling for weddings.  I think it is a must for me and my business because I get to see new things, new places, new people and be inspired at every beautiful wedding.  It was definitely the theme of the year, and with opening a new office on the west coast as well as maintaining an office in Atlanta - the frequent flier miles have piled up!  But, I feel like the train is moving just a little too fast and I’m not ready for 2011 to be over.

You see,  most years - and definitely for the last 5 years - I am always excited for the new year.  Out with the old, new beginnings, new opportunities, new friends, new places.  Amazing how such a simple thing, the change from one day to the next can bring so much hope and optimism.  I know last year at this time, that was definitely the case - I was SO ready to begin anew and wash away the last year and get to start over.  Hurry, hurry new year and get here fast!  But this year, it is different.  2011 has been SO great that I just don’t want it to be over yet.  I couldn’t have imagined how great this year has been on so many levels.  So much has happened, but it just seemed to have flashed by so quickly.

So, my wish for 2012 is that it is even better than 2011 - if that can even be possible - and that time slows down just a bit for me and I get to enjoy it more. Wishing all of my lovely, wonderful clients, vendors, colleagues and friends and very, very Happy New Year! Let’s make it amazing!

***REVISION/ADDITION:  After completing this post, and finally having a few moments to breathe after all the craziness of this year…I was thinking about my New Year’s resolution and goals for 2012.  And well……….I had a hard time coming up with resolutions, but the list of business goals was long.  There was a definite theme to the goals I listed…and yes, you guessed it…they all had to do with “Planes, Trains & Automobiles”.  Go figure.  I’ve already booked weddings in some great locations for 2012, but thought I’d list some of the places I’d like to go on my wishlist.  It will be fun to see how many of these get crossed off the list at the end of next year:

Santa Barbara, New York City, Maine, Prince Edward Island, San Juan Islands off of Washington State, Santa Fe, Charleston, Chicago, Rhode Island, San Francisco, Italy - Amalfi Coast, Capri & Bari, Greece, Spain, Ireland, London.

Rewind back to April…it was a beautiful spring day in Georgia.  Natalia & Levi were tying the knot at the beautiful Tucker Plantation in Colbert, Georgia.  I often ask my clients to send me a list of important details to capture during the wedding day, and Natalia was no different…she sent me a LONG list of special details that she wanted captured.  It really wasn’t until I arrived that I realized how much love and attention went into each and every detail.  Upon entering the old, brick barn and looking around…only one thought came to mind…THE LADIES AT SOUTHERN WEDDINGS WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS WEDDING!  It was almost like I was physically “in” the new issue of Southern Weddings already.  This was THE most “Southern” wedding I had ever photographed, and I just had to immediately send it to SW.

So, it was no surprise when the gals at SW happily and enthusiastically accepted the wedding!  I did the happy dance, and scream in my car…I think people thought I was crazy.  I also immediately emailed Natalia to give her the good news and she was beyond thrilled…maybe even more excited than I was!

Natalia and Levi and their families created a very special wedding day and every detail, every moment was a labor of love.  Signs and banners and votive holders were all handmade with care and reflected Natalia & Levi’s style perfectly.  You’ll just have to take a look at the images to see all the yummy eye-candy.  Full posts of their entire wedding will be coming soon to the Southern Weddings website, so stay tuned!

Enjoy the spreads featured here in V4 and be sure to pick up your copy of the new Southern Weddings V4 Edition!  On newsstands today!

First, here’s the beautiful cover photographed by Jose Villa at Dunaway Gardens in Georgia.

Next, a bouquet shot was featured in the “Beautiful Bouquets” section {Bottom, right bouquet}. Floral design by the talented Birch Blooms!

And, finally here are the beautiful spreads from Natalia & Levi’s Real Wedding Feature!

I hope you enjoy this little sneak peek of the wedding and magazine.  {HINT}: Be sure to pick up a copy of Southern Weddings V4 to see my ad with my favorite photo from Natalia & Levi’s Wedding!

Here’s a full list of vendors from this gorgeous wedding:

Planner: (bride) Natalia Perkins, Epting Events www.eptingevents.com
Designer: (bride) Natalia Perkins, Epting Events www.eptingevents.com
Ceremony Venue: Tucker Plantation www.tuckerplantation.com
Reception Venue: Tucker Plantation www.tuckerplantation.com
Florist: MG Floral www.mgfloral.com
Wedding Cake Baker:  Classic City Confections www.classiccityconfections.blogspot.com
Caterer: Epting Events www.eptingevents.com
Bridesmaid Dresses: Paul & Joe Sister www.net-a-porter.com
Bride’s Dress: Casablanca from La Raine’s Bridal Boutique www.larainesboutique.com
Hair Stylist: Scoobie West www.scoobiewest.com
Makeup Artist: Scoobie West www.scoobiewest.com
Bride’s Shoes: Max Studio www.ideeli.com
Bride’s Jewelry: Kenneth Jay Lane (earrings) www.ideeli.com
Bride’s Veil or Hair Accessory: Brenda’s Bridal Veils and Dkdesignshawaii (hair flower) www.etsy.com
Bride’s Other Accessories: Belt from Daniel12 via www.etsy.com
Groom’s Fashion: Indochino www.indochino.com
Groomsmen Fashion: their own black suits
Paper Goods: Red Table Stationary www.redtablestationery.com
Rentals: Epting Events
Linens: Epting Events & Cloth Connection.  Antique lace linens and napkins heirloom. Table runners were screen printed by Satisfactory Print Shop www.satisfactoryprinting.com  using graphics from Wedding Chicks (www.weddingchicks.com)
Ceremony Décor (any noteworthy items): Mantle from Woodstock Antique Market. Rug and pitcher are heirloom.  Wreath and log from Bart Scott and Leigh Frazier at Epting Events. Program board was DIY.
Reception Décor (any noteworthy items):  Cake mugs from Anthropologie (www.anthropologie.com), heart pine table tops from Epting Events (www.eptingevents.com)
Lighting: Monogrammed gobo from Epting Events (www.eptingevents.com) and Live Event Solutions (www.liveeventsolutions.com) using graphics from Wedding Chicks (www.weddingchicks.com)

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I was so excited when Modern Trousseau contacted me about using this image from Christie & Mark’s Wedding in their new advertisement.  This was one of my favorite dresses too - so simple and sleek.  The ad is appearing in the new issue of Skirt Magazine Charleston, available soon on newsstands!  Pick up a copy today!

Modern Trousseau also had a few beautiful dresses at last week’s Fall 2012 Bridal Market in New York.  Stay tuned for a review of my favorites and trends from Bridal Market soon!

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Joslyn & Austin’s cool, beachy wedding was recently published in Occasions Magazine!  Check out the wonderful feature of their wedding which was all planned by Lindsay Pitt with Toast Events.  Bold American provided the beachy decor with so many great details as well as the yummy catering for all of the guests.  A conditioned tent provided cool breezes for the bride & groom to dance the night away with the AIA band, a Jimmy Buffet cover band.  Thanks to Occasions Magazine for featuring such a “cool” wedding!

Occasions Magazine also featured an image of Joslyn & Austin’s beachy cocktails served as the wedding party entered the reception.

Thanks to all of the great vendors who contributed to Joslyn & Austin’s big day:

Planning & Coordination - Lindsay Pitt with Toast Events
Photography - Melissa Schollaert Photography
Venue - Private Home
Lighting - Full Circle Lighting
Decor & Florals - Bold American Design
Catering - Bold American
Food Truck - The Varsity
Rentals - Classic Party Rentals
Stationery - DecoMarj
Band - A1A via East Coast Entertainment
Videography - One Chance Wedding Video
Bride’s Dress - MoriLee
Bridesmaid’s Dresses - Bill Levkoff

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To officially open my new office, I thought it would be fun to kick things off with a fun contest.  I’m new to Arizona, and I’d love for you to show me around.  I love the desert landscape and the natural surroundings of this area and I can’t WAIT to photograph a lovely couple in this new setting.

So, if you love the desert as much as I do, please follow these simple rules to enter to win a complimentary engagement session!

-Email melissa@melissaschollaertphotography.com

-Tell me why you love the desert and how you would like to
incorporate the landscape of this area into your engagement photos.

-Include your names, date you were engaged, your email address

Three finalists will be chosen, who will then have their answers posted on my blog where my readers will choose a winner.  Entries are DUE BY MONDAY AUGUST !, 2011.  Finalists will be posted to my blog by the following Friday and will voting will be open until Friday, August 19, 2011.  The winner will be announced on my blog on soon after that.

Winner will receive:
-Complimentary 2 hour engagement session
-Online Slideshow of images
-Online Gallery to purchase prints/products
-High-Resolution DVD of edited images
{Value $550}

***Open to Phoenix metro area residents only.  Engagement Session to take place prior to December 31, 2011.  Session can take place anywhere within 50+/- miles of downtown Phoenix. Locations outside of that area subject to travel fees.  Please only enter once.

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