NEW PREQUEL ONLINE!

Hi everyone, while I listen to the sleet hitting my office window, I am trying to think about the beuatiful day we had a few weeks ago with Ryan and Chelsey! Their prequel is now online as well as photos from GP's Photography. Scroll down to check it out. Go to Eckerman/Shackelford. Be sure to let us know what you think on the commnets tab below and forward to your friends with the email link! Have a great day! Spring will be back before we know it! Next prequel due up some time next week! Steph

Ludwig - Empson

This past weekend we had the pleasure of working with another great couple, Robbin and Richard. We first met Robbin about 4 years ago at her brother Rick's wedding, now it was Robbin's turn! Saturday we started the weekend early on Friday- I took time to go see the ladies at Fashion Nails in West Wichita where the bride, her mother, grandmother, bridesmaids and flower girls all received pedicures in preparation for the big day. I then met back up with them on Saturday morning at Eric Fisher Academy for the bridal party to have their hair done. All the girls had a completely different style and all of them looked awesome! They each got a thumbs up as well from Mr. Fisher. Robbin was very pleased. During this time, Barry met the groomsmen and groom at the church while they hung out playing guitar hero and foosball prior to donning the tuxes and taking as many photos as they could prior to the ceremony.

The ladies then arrived at the church, Glenville Baptist, and finished make up and got dressed. I was completely impressed by the spring green bridesmaids and flower girl dresses - ALL handmade by the brides mother. Had she not told me, I would have sworn they were purchased at a bridal store! Patti did an amazing job, plus she also made the brides dress, a very unique and striking design on Robbin. The bodice was covered in floral embelishments with a halter type top around the neck and a sweeping flowing train. So cool.

The couple chose to see each other prior to the ceremony, so after everyone was ready, their photographer, the talented Kevin Brown (http://www.kevinlbrown.com/ ) brought Richard into the sanctuary for the big moment. He faced the alter wearing a classic white tux and his ball cap waiting for Robbin's dad to escort her in. She then approached and tapped him on the shoulder. Big smiles followed and some private prayer time as well prior to getting some of the formal shots out of the way.

The ceremony started right on time at 3:33 pm. You have to understand the group at Glenville to understand the unusual ceremony times there :) We love it. There was also special meaning with the chosen scripture of Jeramiah 33:3. It was a great ceremony with the couple not only sharing vows, but pouring unity sand together, sharing communion together as well as a prayer circle with family and a solo by the brides sister in law.

The couple exited the church to the Party Express Bus through a barrage of bubbles from the guests. It was a crazy ride to Starwoods for the reception! Scott Ward from AMM was master of ceremonies and the DJ for the night. He introduced the bridal party and then the bride and groom, maid of honor and best man broke into a choreographed rendition of "Can't Touch This" to the roar of applause from their guests!

Dinner was catered by close friends Nate and Rochelle from Ohio whom also did the flowers- amazing work Nate, as always! There were toasts and the couple cut the cake after dinner and the events flowed nicely into first dance, parents dances and the party began.

Robbin and Richard had a great time but was a little worried at the end of the night realizing their keys were locked in their car for the getaway! All turned out well though and the couple left Monday for their new life together in New Jersey!

Thanks to our friend Kevin Brown for the use of some of his photos!

To Robbin and Richard, thank you for letting us be a part of your day, we enjoyed ourselves so much! Thank you very much for dinner as well and enjoy yourselves up north! Come home to visit often and give us a shout!

Click the file below to watch the Empson's wedding day prequel! This is a flash file and requires the most recent version of Flash to view.

Enjoy!

Chelsey and Ryan!

We started off shooting this wedding season with a great couple! Chelsey and Ryan. It was great for us because we felt right at home right away. We knew alot of the bride and grooms family and friends already and had a great time all day! I started the day with Chesey at Urban Image Salon in Old Town. Chelsey and her bridesmaids were all getting hair and make up done there. Chelsey chose to style her hair all up with tons of curls. Add the tiara and she was ready to go.

After a quick lunch, we met up again at Olivet Baptist Church where she got ready with all her friends. Barry followed Ryan and his friends as they donned their tuxes and started pictures before the ceremony. The ladies enjoyed sandwhiches and were excited to get dressed.

Chelseys colors were very bright and appropriate for springtime; purple, lime green and bright orange! Love it! Moores Flowers did an exceptional job - as always! All the bridesmaids ditched the purple sweatshirts that Chelsey's Maid of Honor, Lauren gave to them and they donned their strapless purple dresses. They had a white bow around the waist. After they were ready, they helped Chelsey prepare. She chose a strapless gown with a souffle skirt by Maggie Sottero that laced up the back. She has such good taste! Then the ladies headed out to the sanctuary for their pictures with Greg of GP's Photography. Thanks to Greg for the use of his photos in the blog post!

The bride and groom wanted to wait until the ceremony to see each other for the first time. The ceremony started at 4 pm and it was very personal. From the music to handwritten covenants, Chelsey had planned it all beautifully. During the lighting of the Unity candle a song was played that Chelsey had recorded herself to her new husband, and what an outstanding job she did!!!! It was all a surprise to Ryan.

After being announced as husband and wife, the newlyweds hid out and then finished pictures in the sanctuary before heading to the reception in a stretch limo.

The reception was held at the Petroleum Club downtown and Kathy did a phenominal job of holding the large amount of guests that attended. Dinner had to be split onto two different floors of the building to accomodate everyone! Talk about standing room only! It was difficult for Ryan and Chelsey to get to visit with everyone!

They were then introduced by Mark Mazuur of Signature Sound and then cut the multi-level, multi-tiered and multi-colored cake, which covered the entire cake table and the groom even had one of the most awesome grooms caskes we have EVER seen, a Chopper style motorcyle resembling his own bike complete with orange airbrushed flames and a working headlight ! The bridal cake was made by Connie's Cakes and Cookies and the grooms cake was crafted by Cameo Cakes!

They shared their first dance together with Van Halen playing in the background! After the remainder of the traditional events the party went into the night and didn't let up. Everyone had a fabulous time despite the tornado warning looming outside! I always get nervous when the floor there starts bouncing to the beat of the music!

Ryan and Chelsey plan to spend their honeymoon far away from tornadoes in Aruba! We really think they should have had that trip documented on video too, seeing how that is the new big "thing" in wedding video- but no such luck Ryan said! Darn, maybe of our our future brides this year! Any takers?

Thank you SO MUCH Ryan and Chelsey for letting us share the day with you, we had a great time and we hope you did as well. We had a great time getting to know you both and hopefully we can always stay in touch! You guys are tons of fun! Please share those Aruba pictures when you return! Congratulations! Barry and Steph

Click the video file below to see their wedding day prequel!

Thank You!

Spring has sprung! Is it not beautiful out today everyone?! It has definitely put alot of brides in the mood for planning their upcoming weddings and getting their videographer booked early.

I wanted to send a shout out to our most recent brides and grooms who have booked our services for this year or next and say thank you!

Jessica and Chris -Bridget and Ryan - Trish and Daniel - Emily and Luke - Bibi and Wade - We are looking forward to working with all of you. I do not mean to leave out our other fabulous brides who have booked earlier in the year or last year. THANK YOU!

If you or someone you know is getting married, pass the word along about Fat Cat, we still have some great dates for this year available. We are also booking into 2010!

The blog will start rocking again soon, so stay tuned. Robbin and Richard's wedding is this weekend, so we will be excited to get the prequels up and running!