Kimberly and Frank had their day, last Saturday. OMG, we had so much fun with this couple. As you can see from so many of the pics, Kim, doesn’t stop laughing for a second. The funny thing was when we had met them in Frank’s office before they booked, I thought she was this serious thing, beautiful but business like. I thought Frank was the more chit chatty one and she was quiet. Boy could I ever have been wrong. She is CRAZY with a capital “C”, and had me in stitches. Even her sister, Michelle, had me rolling on the floor. There were also so many photos which we loved and that really captured their day to the fullest, we have to do a two parter! LOL…..so bear with me. Part I will contain the getting ready shots and their beautiful, sentimental ceremony in the resort’s chapel, while Part II to go up shortly will have their portraits and their reception. Please be sure and keep a watch out for it, it is a yummy one! Their wedding took place at the gorgeous, did you hear me, gorgeous, Montelucia. Oh man, I can’t say enough things about this place. It is one of my most favorite locations in Arizona! It is Moroccan in theme and is so colorful, it is like a painting that comes alive visually. Every where you look, is another photo opportunity, seriously.
Some of you might think the name is familiar upon hearing it and you’d be right. Back about a year ago, it was in the news as the place that Barack Obama stayed in when he visited the Phoenix area. Our bride, Kim, also works in the food and beverage industry at Montelucia, so of course, it was a natural choice. What a place to work. Rich and I had gone down to it on Thursday to scout out spots to take photos. We also had lunch outside in one of their many restaurants. The food, impeccable. I will definitely be back, that I can assure you! hahaha Anyway, we met Kim in one of the suites on the second floor. She was prancing around in her “bride” tank top, hair and makeup done, while all her girls were busy doing their finishing touches. They had originally came from NY, her family, quite a few years ago, but you got to love a New Yorker, we can bond instantly. Her dad came over and started talking to us and it was like we knew him for years. What a sweet couple her mom and dad. Once in her gorgeous gown, we left with just her and us, to embark on some of the picture spots we had spotted a few days earlier.
There were times when she turned and would laugh, and I could see was Julia Roberts!
One of two adorable ring bearers that were her nephews, Michelle’s boys! Their names were Nick and Joey, too cute they were….
Michelle and John’s beautiful baby girl. When we arrived she was in this stroller with the top pulled way down so you could only see a sliver of her face. She must have laid there for about a 1/2 an hour awake, not a peep coming from her. When they pulled back the top on the stroller, this is what we found! How unbelievably adorable is she? Just always smiling….
Our little flower girl, Brooklyn, getting a squeeze from one of the younger bridesmaids!
Kim bedazzled her own shoes. We laughed so hard, as she held them up she had them twisted and they read “do I”? I’m like “no, Kim, that’s not gonna work, LOL”
I said to the girl doing make up, Kim is a make up artist’s dream, such big, eyes and voluptuous lips!
This girl loves her bling….there was more sparkle in that room than a diamond mine! LOL
The guys who came to retrieve all the paraphernalia from the room to bring down to the ceremony! HA They weren’t so sure where they were going with it or what they were doing with it, only that they knew they had to get it!
The applying of the many veils. Kim had two, a short one for most of the day and a very long one, for the drama of the ceremony. Problem was, it was a guessing game as to where they should be applied on her head, higher, no lower, over the comb, no under the comb, hahaha
Okay time for some portraits of the bride? There are a lot of them, but then she was gorgeous and the spots were gorgeous….so what is a photographer gonna do, snap away of course 
She has such an exotic look, she went with the whole Moroccan theme…..even though she is not Moroccan at all, but rather Italian. But, hey, dark hair, big eyes, gorgeous dark hair, it all fit!
The stairs lead to the spa, a very mysterious looking space, all quiet, sparkly ceilings, Middle Eastern sounding music…..very exotic and different! Kim said she had only been up there once during her orientation upon taking the job. But, they said we could go all over, so all over we did!
When we both spotted these wild looking couch settees, Kim was like can we do a photo there? Why of course, Kim…..
Now, how cool is this area? Still deeper into the spa…..it is a round room with gold lame curtains surrounding the space and a white domed ceiling. More of the spa is shown in Part II when we returned with Frank….
Kim wanted a photo by these doors. We were told they are quite popular with the brides!
What I dubbed the crimson room, all terracotta in color and warm and cheery.
I just loved the way the light danced upon the walls in this room and created crazy shadows. Just check out how the chandelier is illuminated on the wall….
And, then it was time for our ceremony to start so off to the chapel we all went to get ready for the festivities of getting married. Frank was there with the guys, but his mom, was MIA. LOL….she arrived just in the nick of time, got her flowers put on, and swoosh proceeded down the aisle.
The little munchkins take their walk among the rose petal strewn aisle…
And, then here she comes…..looking more radiant that ever.
Just look at Frank’s face, as he fights to hold back the tears, as he sees Kim in all her beauty coming towards him…
What a gorgeous room to hold a ceremony in. The sunlight streamed through the two little windows on either side of the alter, while chandeliers cast a warm candlelight glow upon the room.
Anthony, our groom’s cousin, prepares to do his first of two major jobs, one to protect and hand over the rings and the other, the best man’s toast, why of course. Just check out Frank’s face as he knows what is to come….
Could these two be any more happy, as Frank slips Kim’s new diamond encrusted wedding bank on her finger signaling to the world, she is a taken woman1
And, then I now pronounce you man and wife…..
the excitement can hardly be contained…..
as Frank goes in to plant a nice big smacker right on Kim! Too cute you guys….
Then, they turn, Kim flashes a big smile to her mom and dad and off down the aisle they go, the new Mr. and Mrs. Calise.
Outside, guests prepare with bubbles in hand!
The doors are flung open, the bell tolls and here they come….
You can just see the happiness written all over their faces as you imagine the clapping and cheering of the crowd, bubbles floating gaily into the air….
Stay tuned for Part II, when we leave the ceremony and gather up some shots before dancing the night away! Too cute you guys are……
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DREW: Amazing details at this wedding! Great job capturing this you two. November 25, 2010 8:27 am