{ VENUE } The Plantation Club at Twin Oaks

The Plantation Club at Twin Oaks

This past Saturday, we had a great day in Kentucky.  Pre-wedding photos started at Devou Park.  The ceremony was at Blessed Sacrament in Ft. Mitchell.  It's a beautiful Catholic church!

The reception was at The Plantation Club at Twin Oaks.  It's located in Covington at E. 43rd and Michigan.

I've never been to this venue before, so I had no idea what to expect. 

First off, the food is excellent. I was lucky enough to try some - in fact, the fabulous staff there offered to pack some up for me to take home (which has NEVER happened before). And speaking of the staff - super friendly, professional, etc. They did a great job with everything.

 

The layout worked very well for a reception, too - with the buffet out of the main room but close by. There was some self-serve drinks (water, soda, beer), so you weren't waiting in line at the bar all the time. It just all worked really well - an efficient flow!

 

We were able to get some great photos, too - by the pond and fountain, on the greens, in front with the main entrance (see photo above), etc.

 

In summary - I would definitely recommend Twin Oaks to couples looking for a reception venue. It has a lot to offer, and they do a fabulous job!  Check them out - and we hope we'll be back there soon.

Weekend Wedding : Ivy Hills Country Club

This weekend, I have a wedding at Ivy Hills Country Club.  I have been to Ivy Hills many times - and it's a very nice venue.  The last wedding I photographed involved a beautiful tea ceremony.  The bride's red dress for the tea ceremony was gorgeous - I especially remember the jeweled dragonfly and her awesome shoes.

The sunset on the 10th hole can be spectacular, especially if it's reflecting off the little pond.  I have had some fun shots with golf carts, too.  This time, I might have to try some unusual ring shots with golf tees!

Looking forward to another wonderful wedding!  Congrats to the Bride & Groom!

A New Venue - 20th Century Theater

We just booked a wedding for this Fall (with an awesome couple!), and it will take place at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley.  I'm very excited!  It's a cool, fun couple and a cool place - I think there will be tons of great photo opportunities, so the creative juices are already flowing.

I'm in that area all the time and dread the construction - but the Bride told me they were assured it should be gone by their wedding.  Let's hope!  I can see some street photos outside the theater - or in the grassy area across the street.  When I do my site visit this summer, I'll really check it all out and make my notes.

Congrats, K&M, and thanks for choosing us for your upcoming wedding!  We can't wait!

Wedding Venue : The Madison

On March 5, 2010, we shot our first event at The Madison in Covington, Kentucky. I've heard a lot about this venue and was excited to check it out!

The reception was actually at The Madison South, located at 740 Madison Avenue Covington KY 41011. It's a cool, little place - with lots of exposed brick walls, HUGE mirrors, leather chairs, curtains, etc. Many opportunities for some great photos!

Unfortunately, we didn't get a lot of time to do some of those cool photos.  The Bride and Groom decided to ride around in the limo with the wedding party for an hour after the wedding - hey, it's cool.  It was their day, after all, so they can do whatever they want, right?  Gave me lots of time to photograph the cake and other details....

We did get all the reception photos with barely a minute to spare - the DJ and I definitely worked together to make sure nothing was missed!

So, speaking of those huge mirrors - I did use one to get some interesting lighting on the rings/flower shots.  I bounced my light off the mirror and got some back lights - which gave the diamonds a different look.  Check it out.

We certainly hope we'll be back at The Madison soon!  I had so many ideas for photos!  Hopefully, I get the opportunity to try some of them out soon!

Are you considering your wedding at The Madison or The Madison South?  We'd love to talk to you!  (And hey - I'd even be willing to offer you a special discount, so I can get back there and try out some of my photo ideas.)  Contact us at contact@gardner-photo.com or 513.207.6738.

Some Tough Church Rules & The Manor House

Big wedding tomorrow.  Ceremony is at a church in Hyde Park.  I read their photographer rules on their website, and WOW - they are STRICT.  I've worked under some crazy conditions, but these are the worst by FAR.

1.  No photos except from the balcony or the narthex (which is the church lobby).  So, that means all telephoto shots, maybe a few wide angle from the balcony.  And I'm going to assume that the narthex will have glass between it and the church area - those photos through the glass are going to look GREAT (yeah, right!).

2.  I can't go past the eighth pew during the processional.

3.  Only ONE shot of the Bride and each Bridesmaid as they walk down the aisle.  Seriously, ONE???  I just don't think that's possible - and come on, how will they know?  Are they going to count the number of times I press the shutter...?  I may follow all of their other crazy rules, but I'm going to bend this one for sure.

4.  No flash except during the processional.  I don't remember anything about the recessional, but another rule I'll break if necessary.

From what I can tell, it's a fairly pretty church - I even think I was in a wedding there years ago (this will jar my memory for sure).  But some pretty hard core rules on photography!

The reception will be at The Manor House in Mason, Ohio.  It's on my "list" of places I want to do photos.  From what I've seen online, there's a gorgeous courtyard area with a gazebo, small stream, bridge, etc.  We'll be rushing from the church to The Manor House to squeeze in some of those key photos before the sun sets!  We won't have much time, that's for sure.

All in all, tomorrow won't be the easiest of weddings - some of the conditions are definitely not in favor of the photographer (yours truly), but that won't stop me from trying to get the most fabulous photos I can!  I haven't had an angry Bride and Groom yet, and I don't plan to start now.