The Secret Project | A Clue
A lot of people have asked about the secret project. When I put that page on my website I thought it would be a couple of months before I could reveal what I’ve been working on. Other developments, ideas, and projects have been jumping in line in front of it. The fact that Hubby and I have actually had five different secret projects we have been working on this year may be an indication that there is just a bit of activity here. One of them was the studio, another will launch this month, and yet another hasn’t really been much of a secret as it has been a backburner project.
But the real secret project is still in the works. And I still can’t wait to share it. A wise friend suggested that I offer you a few clues, or sneak peeks into it. I thought that was genius, and so, I am.
Today’s clue is this image – it has something to do with the secret project. How or why is up to your interpretation at this point. I welcome any guesses in the comments!
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All about the Location | San Galgano Wedding, Tuscany
Yes, I love couples in love. Yes, I adore your stories. I believe in marriage, and I crave the energy of a wedding day. But when it gets right down to it, I get seriously inspired by the location. Place has always been a huge driving force in my work. Looking back on my art career and training, you’ll find I was always drawing, painting, printing and making films about places, and the stories they held. It is part of why I love to travel so much – I have an insatiable appetite for new places, new stories. This blog series is all about the places I would love to shoot a wedding at because I find them seriously intriguing, inspiring and amazing. And I have no doubt that a couple who chooses to get married there would be equally amazing and inspiring and I want to be there to document it.
So, if you know me at all, you know it wasn’t going to be long before this blog series touched on Italy, right? Recently an Italian photographer friend of mine posted an engagement session she shot at this location on Facebook. I’ve been dreaming; like serious, wall-gazing, day-dreaming about this amazing wedding location ever since. It is everything I love and adore in a place. History, abandoned-ness, Italian, natural fields, amazing light, mystery, walls steeped in stories….ah, I could go on forever.
A wedding at San Galgano Abbey would be the culmination of my career as a wedding photographer I think. I don’t know if it gets better than this. I really don’t. An immense, beautiful, gothic cathedral, with no roof, in the middle of nowhere. Well, nowhere Tuscany. Seriously – isn’t this the kind of thing you dream about catching a glimpse of on a vespa while exploring the tuscan countryside? It is places like this, ones where the very air you breathe feels laced with that of exhalations of generations long forgotten about, that I love the most. These are the kinds of locations that make you feel lucky as you pass beneath their arches. The kind that bless you with their specialness. I can’t think of a more beautiful location, or a better place to get married than within the ruins of San Galgano. A church that is also overtaken by nature? Sign me up!
Located just 30km west of Siena, this location is conveniently close to city life and several beautiful Tuscan towns (Monticiano, Petriolo, Sovicille, Murlo and Monteriggioni among them), and yet still so isolated that it feels stumbled upon. In fact, I’ve been going back and forth about even blogging about it, because I would loathe to see it lose its wonderful “secret” status. I hate when magical, amazing places lose that quality because of tourists. They retain their unique qualities if they remain in shared consciousness, not on advertising brochures.
San Galgano is said to be the origin of several medieval mysteries – the search for the Holy Grail and the Sword in the Stone among them. There is a real sword in a stone in the chapel of Montesiepi, which is a round building with an amazing domed ceiling of 24 concentric circles that is part of the San Galgano grounds.
So imagine a San Galgano Wedding. Walking past the proud columns with light streaming in through the arches. A gentle breeze blows across the sunflower field and into the apse, catching your veil. Sweet, yummy Tuscan light floods the open air cathedral as you say I do. Running in and out of the side aisles. Walking thru sunflower fields. Finding long forgotten nooks and crannies. Watching the sun move from the sky overhead and down thru the open windows. Ah, it is so amazing, I can’t stand it. Someone stop me now from booking two tickets to Italy for a vow renewal for me and Hubby!
The pictures, oh, the pictures would be so epic, so emotional, so amazing, so filled with that intangible something. This is the light and situation of dreams, at least my dreams. If this is the location of your wedding dreams too – I know I am the perfect wedding photographer for you.
***All images are from Google Images unless otherwise noted***
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Overture Center Wedding | Christine & Charlie | Madison Wedding Photographer
To read the story behind the image above, check out this previous blog post.
When I was pulling images from Christine & Charlie’s day for this blog post, I noticed that nearly all of them were images of pure joy. I think that, more than anything I can type, describes their day. It was pure joy, in every form, around every corner.
They had a stunning wedding day that culminated in a fantastic party at the Overture Center in Madison. Weddings at the Overture Center are always fun, with such a beautiful venue and the light it holds.
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The centerpieces and small touches for Christine & Charlie’s Overture Center wedding reception were beautifully done. I love when every angle of a piece is considered and finished, like how the end of these wrapped leaves is punctuated with mum buttons.
Christine and Charlie, we felt so honored to be among those chosen to participate in your wedding day. There was such love and joy surrounding you, I hope you can still feel it today. You are truly an example of two remarkable people who become something greater all together when you are joined. Thank you for including m three studio in your plans!
Credits:
Ceremony Venue: Blessed Sacrament Parish
Reception Venue: Overture Center
Flowers:Garden Laurel by Sager
Cake/Cupcakes: Cupcakes-a-go-go
Makeup: Blush Beauty
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Miscellaneous Monday
First and foremost – did you see Holly & Andy’s beautiful morning wedding that I posted late last week? If not, scroll down. I’ll wait. Seriously, it’s worth it.
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One of my joys every Monday has been watching the latest episode of The Pillars of the Earth on Netflix. This is one of my all-time favorite books, and the interpretation to the small screen is masterfully done. The acting is fantastic, the scenery is breathtaking and the way they have twisted this multi-faceted story into a series is just great. I’m sad that it is almost over. I wish they had continued with part two and done World Without End as well.
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We had a tremendously beautiful wedding day last Saturday at the American Club in Kohler. Sunshine, a slight breeze and good temperatures. Throw in a wonderful couple and their cutie-pie dog as ringbearer, and it could hardly get better. Congratulations to Marisa and Jon! Enjoy Oahu!
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There won’t be a Miscellaneous Monday next week in respect to Labor Day. The ladies of my family and I will be out on our annual Labor Day shopping trip. This year we are hitting the stores in Lake Geneva and Delvan. We thought it was time for something different from the usual outlet malls. Any recommendations for where to eat lunch or what stores to be sure to hit?
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I watched The Cove last night. (Hubby tried, but he fell asleep) It is a film I had heard much about. It is quite good, and quite arresting. If you haven’t seen it, you really should. You can go here to learn more about the issues it explores.
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Next week I’m headed to Minneapolis for an engagement session. I haven’t been back there since my first two years of college (which is math we won’t be calculating). I’m excited to see what has changed!
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I ordered the wedding album for one of Amy’s (my associate photographer) clients today, and I really love it. Amy did a fantastic job with this wedding, and Camille had such excellent taste in her choices for gowns and flowers. Check it out by clicking here:
Camille & Michael’s Wedding Album
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Dates for next week are being snatched up lately like scarce candy. I’m so excited about every single wedding of 2011, I can hardly wait for it all to unfold!
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I don’t bring up politics often, but this discovery last week really disturbed me. Apparently, there is a rider on the health care bill that will require every business to send a 1099 to everyone and every business they spend more than $600 with. So, if you bought more than $600 in supplies from Office Max, you’ll be sending them a 1099. Seriously. You can read all about it here. This is all so that the government can hopefully uncover unreported income – a loss in taxes they estimate at 3 billion a year. Luckily, this wont’ take effect until 2012, but my head already hurts from the idea of keeping track of all of this. The idea that things like this get tacked onto legislation that has nothing to do with them, seemingly for the purpose of going un-noticed is what is really disturbing.
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Well, that’s all I’ve got for today, and I’d say that it’s quite enough. Have a great week, and a great holiday!
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Have fun shopping!
OMG…oh how I have dreamt of this place since I saw Lelia’s photos. How did I know my fellow historic, abandoned building lover would also love this place. I’ll shoot your vow renewal for free. Let’s go!