http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/ Jeff Kolodny Photography Blog en-us http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=212 http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=212 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:58:00 GMT
I had the pleasure of photographing Samantha and Oscar's magnificent wedding at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle in Aventura. According to the bride, they opted to have their wedding at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle because they loved the grounds and the atmosphere. They were also impressed with Annette Winkler, the catering director there for her professionalism and attention to detail. They knew they were in good hands and that everything would run smoothly.

Selecting the perfect vendors was really important for Samantha and Oscar. They wanted to work with people with whom they not only felt comfortable with, but whom they also trusted would do an amazing job for them. Flowers by Tony created the romantic ambiance that Samantha really wanted. He created two different centerpieces featuring white flowers – one was a ball of roses, hydrangeas, calla lilies and orchids that sat atop a glass cylinder filled with candles. The other was a variation on the first arrangement, but placed in branches and crystals. Trees were also placed throughout the reception that coordinated with the centerpieces.

Samantha and Oscar originally met through a childhood friend of Samantha's. They became best friends for about a year before they began dating, and now – here they were – having the most incredible wedding at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle! Oscar looked very "official" in his Coast Guard uniform and Samantha was a knockout in a sweetheart, strapless Lazaro gown she purchased at Chic Parisien on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. The shoes she chose, also from Chic Parisien, were open toe sandals with crystals covering the front strap.

Soul Survivors, from Chase Music, rocked the reception for hours! The dance floor was constantly packed with guests who couldn't resist the temptation to get up and dance the night away. Great music is so important and Soul Survivors never disappoints – their energy is all you need to create an amazing party atmosphere.

Samantha and Oscar were so much fun to work with, as I think is evident in these photos. We had a great time roaming the magnificent grounds of the Fairmont Turnberry Isle, creating amazing wedding photos! Thanks to both bride and groom for allowing me to part of this most memorable and fun event!

]]> http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=211 http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=211 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:17:00 GMT
A few weeks ago I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to photograph Thuy and Gary's destination wedding on the beautiful southern Caribbean island of Curacao. For those not familiar with Curacao, it is a small island just off the cost of South America, right next to its sister island of Aruba. A possession of the Netherlands, Curacao is tropical island with a distinctly European feel. Dutch and English are the languages of choice and the atmosphere is an interesting blend of both Caribbean and European cultures.

As a destination wedding photographer, I love the chance to be able to photograph brides and grooms in different locations. It's a chance for me to really get my creative juices as a photographer flowing. Destination island weddings are fairly common for this South Florida wedding photographer, as I am based in close proximity to the Caribbean with access to many amazing islands. Curacao is one, however, that is most unusual due to its heavy European influence. Its Dutch roots add color and flair to the overall appearance and ambiance of the island.

Thuy and Gary live in North Carolina and have known each other for years, so when the right time to get married finally presented itself, they wanted to do something unique for their family and close friends. What better way to create a memorable event than to have a destination wedding in an exotic location such as Curacao?? They had booked a room block at Breezes, an all-inclusive resort on the island. This way, all of their guests would be able to stay without having to worry about finding places to eat or planning any outside activities since the resort had it all. Guests could enjoy many sparkling pools, a gorgeous beach area, scuba diving, snorkeling and many other fun activities while at the resort.

Since they were planning the wedding from so far away, Thuy and Gary enlisted the help of Monique of Ban Kasa Dream Weddings in Curacao to assist in making sure everything was organized properly and ran smoothly. Their ceremony was held at the quaint Santa Familia Church, with their reception dinner happening at Cru Steakhouse. There was music, dancing and an amazing wedding cake (with green cake inside!) The guests all had a fabulous time at this very special island affair.

I was thrilled to be a part of such a fun and interesting destination wedding. Thank you to Thuy and Gary for an incredible experience in paradise!

]]> http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=210 http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=210 Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:47:00 GMT

The bride and groom wanted their wedding to be elegant, classy and fun, so what better venue to select than the magnificent Four Seasons Palm Beach? They also wanted everything to reflect their relationship and cultures, thus creating a "Cro-Latin" wedding (for Croatian and Latin). The band was Croatian, but they had a DJ play salsa and merengue music as well. Further, to represent the Latin culture, during the cocktail reception, they had a specialty drink (the Mojito), or as the Four Seasons called it the "Vujito", blending Eddy and Wendy's last name into the mix! Also, cerviche and chimichurri was served as well. In the Croatian culture, as Wendy explained, a healthy reception is important – therefore they made sure to have the Four Seasons create a significant amount of different types of foods during that time frame. For this purpose what a great choice was The Four Seasons Palm Beach - and they did not disappoint!

Other details from the wedding including the unique wedding favors which were traditional Latin American cookies called alfajores and the filling was either Dulce de Leche or Rose Hip jam from the Dalmatian coast. The seal on the box of alfajores read "The Sweetness of a Cro-Latin Union." This was a complete play on words, but as Wendy explained, was representative of both their cultures.

Wendy looked absolutely radiant in a gown designed by Pronovias by Manuel Mota and she wore a Spanish veil, or mantilla. Her shoes were from J. Crew. The floral arrangements were artistically designed by Guerdy of Ocean Flowers. The cake was created with some of Wendy and Eddy's favorite flavor combinations – Red Velvet with Grand Marnier. The wedding colors of navy blue, gold and ivory were chosen as they were the couple's university colors.

Wendy and Eddy's destination wedding at the Four Seasons Palm Beach was a magnificent affair and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to photograph this beautiful couple on their special day. Many thanks to Wendy and Eddy for their cooperation and enthusiasm in helping to create the wonderful memories posted here.

]]> http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=209 http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=209 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:09:00 GMT

We love to shoot South Florida destination weddings, and this one was especially fun since it was a Ritz-Carlton Naples wedding on Florida's west coast. Many thanks to Molly and Jeff for the opportunity to photograph their special day!!

Here are some of Molly's comments following the wedding:

"Albert was an exceptional photographer. He showed professionalism throughout the entire day and night of shooting and didn't stop for a second. I appreciated his attention to detail, large or small. He was assertive in telling me how he would like me without being aggressive or pushy. He made me feel comfortable at all times. He has the patience and takes the time to get the perfect shot. He was dedicated to both me and my wedding guests. He made sure I was happy and taken care of and constantly reminded me the day was all about me :) I could tell his mind was constantly working and thinking of all the perfect shots...I needed that in my photographer as I wasn't familiar with the resort. By the end of the night Albert was drenched from his head to his toes due to the heat and hard work..and not for one minute did he show exhaustion or fail to do his best. I would hire him all over again! Thank you Albert!"

]]> http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=208 http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=208 Sun, 20 Jun 2010 14:29:00 GMT
Actually, Ruchey and Sean had a multi-faith wedding, but there was a strong Indian influence as you will see in these photos.

For their Ritz-Carlton South Beach wedding, Ruchey wanted to incorporate elements from both a traditional Hindu wedding as well as a more Westernized approach. Thus, the mandap was very traditional and the reception had more of a "springtime bling" feeling a la Dalsimer Florists. Tamara Cohen of TC Event Design helped Ruchey bring it all together magnificently, working in tandem with the Ritz-Carlton's fabulous staff to make sure that everything was just right.

The Mehendhi ceremony took place in a former restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton and included a dhol player as well as a DJ. Mehendi art was provided by hennaparty.com.

The most interesting, and perhaps challenging aspect of the wedding was the food. The bride and groom had a special tasting at the hotel, however, the Ritz-Carlton ended up going the extra mile and flying in an Indian chef from the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta who was really able to master creating the Indian cuisine that Ruchey and Sean were looking for at the Mehendhi. The food served on the actual wedding day was more traditional Western fare, but with a dessert overload that included cheesecake lollipops, mini crθme brulees petite fours and more!

There were quite a few other surprises at this wedding including both a horse and a bagpiper and I had a terrific time photographing all the festivities. Indian Weddings in South Florida can be so colorful – and this one was one of the most fun as well. Many thanks to Ruchey, Sean and Tamara!!!

]]> http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=207 http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=207 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:08:00 GMT
A few months ago we were contacted to do a photo shoot for the show Pretty Wild on E! Entertainment. I was the photographer in an episode in which one of the girls does a Palm Beach photo shoot for swimsuit designer designer Susan Holmes. This shoot brought back memories of the days when I used to shoot for Playboy! We had lots of fun during this Palm Beach photo shoot, shooting in several locations including the Omphoy Hotel and a private yacht. We weren't allowed to post any of these images until the show actually aired on E!. Here is just a glimpse of our work that day. Enjoy!!!

]]> http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=206 http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=206 Mon, 24 May 2010 10:21:00 GMT
As a South Florida wedding photographer I have many clients who plan their weddings here from out of state. Linda and Jordan are from Montreal, Canada and planned their special day as a destination wedding for family and friends. What better place to come to for sun and warmth than South Florida? Actually, this is maybe the 8th wedding I have shot at the Westin Diplomat Country Club/Hotel in which the couple has been from somewhere other than South Florida. There must be something really special about this place! I have always found weddings at the Diplomat Country Club to be classy and elegant affairs – and Linda and Jordan's wedding was no exception. They had a traditional Jewish wedding outside on the magnificent grounds of the Diplomat Country Club.

They hired planner, Jill Perez, to handle their plans here in Florida. She was a huge help in getting everyone together and making sure people were on the same page. A Joy Wallace provided the floral arrangements, while Touch Catering supplied the kosher cuisine for the affair. The inimitable Debbie Taylor and her band, Standing Ovation, provided live music for the event.

Linda and Jordan were enthusiastic to do pictures which is always a pleasure – we had plenty of time to explore the magnificent property and get some amazing shots. This South Florida destination wedding was a great time for all!

]]> http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=205 http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=205 Mon, 10 May 2010 19:42:00 GMT
Dear Jeff

We have been looking at your photos and selecting the ones we want to include in our album. Selecting our pictures has proven to be even more difficult than we expected. The pictures are simply phenomenal; you managed to capture so many incredible emotions in them that made it possible for us to re-live in detail how we felt through our magical day. We are very glad that we had the pleasure of having you photograph our wedding, because those captured feelings will most certainly be a great treasure for all of us for the rest of our lives. We have to admit that because our first photo shoot was before the church ceremony, we were afraid it was going to add even more stress to an already stressful day, however, you made it so relaxed and enjoyable that the magic started not when we entered the church, but when we saw each other for the first time during your photo shoot. We had so many great recommendations about your work, hence us contacting you before we even had a definite date or venue, and we are very glad we did so. We look forward to using you again in the future. Your patience, professionalism, creativity, and charisma, make your work a definite must for anyone looking for the best photography.



Warm regards,

Mariela and Patrick

P.S. Thank you Robin for all your help as well, and we are in the process of choosing the photos, will let u know as soon as we are able to decide :) and look forward to meeting you when we go to pick up the prints

]]> http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=204 http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=204 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 23:32:00 GMT

Hi Jeff,

I just wanted to say that it was a pleasure working with you on our special day. You were absolutely phenomenal. Besides being an incredible visionary with the photography aspect, you were so helpful with giving out directions to the limo driver, helping me get a stain out of my dress, being a stylist, and making the day less stressful. One of the first decisions I made when planning the wedding was booking you and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I could have made. Tom thoroughly enjoyed working with Scott as well. We are very much looking forward to seeing our pictures. If anyone I know is planning a wedding or a special event, I will not hesitate to volunteer your information. Thank you!

While we are waiting, you had mentioned that you can send a picture or two so that we can go get our thank you cards made. We are going on our honeymoon very soon and wanted to start mailing out the thank yous before we leave. Thanks.

Ashley and Tom

]]> http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=203 http://www.jeffkolodnyphotography.com/index.cfm?postID=203 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 22:49:00 GMT Sara Renee Events who handled all the details.

This was a destination wedding for not only the bride and groom (who live in Boston), but also for many of their guest who flew in from Chicago, New York and California. There were more than 180 out of towners! Jeremy is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon currently doing a fellowship at Harvard, while Amy works for a local advertising agency in South Florida. They met while Jeremy was in his residency at the University of Miami.

As a South Florida wedding photographer, I photograph a lot of destination weddings, but this one was certainly one of the most festive! After the actual wedding, there was an after party the went until 3AM! Amy and Jeremy certainly knew how to show their guests a good time!

All of the details were done to perfection – the floral designs were created by Karen Cohen of Always Flowers, a premier florist in Miami. Amy's gown was Oscar de la Renta, and her shoes were Christian Louboutin – you can just see how radiant she was in these photos! Amy's mom's dress and sister's dress were custom designed and made at Rene Ruiz. They both wore Jimmy Choo shoes. Jeremy's tux was custom made from Burns, Ltd. On Key Biscayne.

As you can see, Amy and Jeremy were just beaming at their wedding. All the guests had an awesome time rocking to the fabulous music of the one and only Marcia Mitchell and her band.

Amy and Jeremy were wonderful to work with on their wedding day. As you can see, I photographed them in many different areas of the magnificent Ritz Carlton South Beach. Many thanks to this fun couple for allowing me to be part of their very special South Florida destination wedding!

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