Absolutely love artist Aparna Caur’s painted rendition of Raj Kapoor and Nargis in love under an umbrella (image from Tribune India).
I would love to have this framed and hung prominently in my home. There’s just something about this painting that warms my heart. How cute is this for an engagement shoot inspiration?
xoxo,
LBB
First off, thank you to everyone that commented, messaged me, and emailed me and expressed your support for me. I’m still not 100%, but have tried to be more real with myself! It’s hard to break life-long patterns, and I think I might be ready to finally deal with them. Second, sorry for the long absence. I’ve been working a lot and falling asleep on the couch at 930 pm. Seriously.
But, enough about me! Today is about Sidra and Farhan–a super cute couple and their super cute engagement shoot. Their love story is one of my favourites–a long distance love story! Their friendship started 3 years ago when Sidra, a Toronto chick, worked in Vancouver; they kept in touch when Sidra moved back to Toronto and their affection and love continued to blossom. Vasia from Vasia Weddings shot their engagement pictures at various locations in Vancouver. I absolutely love the homage to Vancouver and Sidra and Farhan’s quirky sense of style. Enjoy!
I still have more to post about Bridalicious and The Drake Wedding Show. Will get to it soon.
xoxo,
LBB 
For Toronto residents, Crate&Barrel will be hosting a registry party event on February 13, 20, & 27 at the Yorkdale and Square One locations.
Free food and free drinks! Sounds like a good time!!
xoxo,
LBB
Our engagement shoot was awesome!! It was a long day. Never realized looking good could take so much effort. We are pooped.
I will post more deets soon, but just wanted to give love to Monty and Sangeeta–you make an incredible photography team and shooting with you is a privilege. I seriously want to pack you up in a box and carry you around with me so I can show and tell the world how awesome you two are.
To Pam and Joy, thanks for making me (and J) look gorgeous. I was anxious before the shoot and you both helped me relax and enjoy the experience.
To Hamed from Awtash, thanks for offering us your fantastic space. The luxe decor made for some sultry shots. Thanks also for letting us move your furniture around, stand on your barstools, and sprawl on your gorgeous mosaic tables.
To Ashley and Jade from Shopgirls, your openness and patience was fabulous. thanks especially to Jade for staying late and having no issue with our mannequin dance party and blasting Jay Z and Alicia upon request.
So much fun.
And now, it’s time to dive into bed.
Xoxo,
LBB
After several emails, phone calls, and a few derailments, our engagement shoot date and locations are confirmed! Woohoo!
Choosing our engagement shoot locations actually involved a bit of work. Prior to booking photographers, J and I weren’t interested in engagement shoots. We thought they were a bit self-indulgent and we didn’t connect with the style of the photos–they involved a lot of frolicking and canoodling in parks. Not that there’s anything wrong with that–it’s just not us. Privately, we are very affectionate, but in public, around family and friends, we’re very casual. We are often at opposite sides of the room at parties! I just didn’t feel comfortable sharing that much intimacy in photos for others to see. However, through our photography search, we understood the purpose of the engagements shots: to get used to the camera and get used to your photoraphers’ style. Also, when meeting with Kumari and going through their photography, their engagement shoots looked like a lot of fun! They were quirky and creative , and J and I totally connected.
We knew we wanted something original and meaningful for us. We had some ideas–including a shoot at our high school (which we remember as a brown-tiled structure reeking of 70s-style architecture), but they didn’t work out for varoius logistical reasons. So, after brainstorming and bursts of inspirations, we decided on the following locations:
1) Awtash Cafe
Awtash is a Persian cafe/hookah bar that opened up recently near Kensington Market. My rommie, Z, went there with a small party and raved about the lush and luxurious decor–a lightbulb went off in my head. What a possibly great place to do our engagement shoot in! I checked out their facebook page and fell in love with the decor:
For more pics, check out the streets.to feature. I just love love love the rich colours, textures, and drama of the setting. The use of vintage furniture mixed in with the modern, sleek benches and ornate pillows is just…awesome. It will photograph amazingly! I also really liked this place because, interestingly, in one space, elements of J’s culture and my culture are also found–the embellishments, the shisha, the bold colours, the patterned tea cups and tea pots.
So, how did I get this place? I just walked in one day after work and asked to speak to the owner. Because I was not exactly prepared, I was a little nervous, but hoped my charm would work! And it did! Hamid (the owner) was receptive to the idea and is charging us a very reasonable rental fee!
2. Shopgirls
Shopgirls is a boutique/gallery in Parkdale. My friend Wendy introduced me to this store a couple years ago, and I fell in love with it. It carries only Canadian-designed fashion and art. I have found a few great pieces there and have been purposely avoiding it since I got engaged–each time I go there, I am tempted to spend!
Not only does Shopgirls have great fashion and art, it’s also a GREAT space. It’s got a bit of a rustic, yet modern feel to it, which I think will photograph wonderfully. The artwork and displays add dimension to the space, contributing to its photographic appeal. I also like Shopgirls because of its focus on Canadiana–J and I are together because of this country and this city. The art and fashion combo also resonates with us–J’s the artist and, though I’m no fashionista, I do love fashion.
Asking to shoot here was really easy–I held a “Style Party” at Shopgirls for my 29th birthday, so I already have a relationship with the manager, Ashley, who is super friendly and approachable. I emailed Ashley a while ago, and she was completely supportive!! We are, again, paying a very minimal fee to use their space.
I think the shoot at Awtash will be more of the “high fashion” inspired shoot, and we’ll have the more cute, quirky shoot at Shopgirls, using the different merchandise, artwork, and sculptures for inspiration.
So, after this experience, a piece of advice to brides: if you are hoping for a unique engagement shoot, don’t be shy to share your ideas with your photographers and don’t hesitate to approach non-traditional places. For example, up and coming places (e.g., Awtash) love the exposure. Also, I’ve been finding that people, including strangers, are excited to learn about your upcoming wedding and appreciate being involved in in this wonderful time of your life.
Will keep you updated!!
xoxo,
LBB
Tomorrow J and I are meeting with Sangeeta and Monty from Kumari to brainstorm for our upcoming engagement shoot! I’m so excited. I remember how our ideas flowed at our first meeting, and I’m eagerly anticipating what creative ideas Sangeeta and Monty have been stewing in their photography cauldrons.
Because our friendship and love started in high school, J and I originally thought it would be a great idea to shoot there!! A high fashion shoot with our grungy high school as backdrop–love it!
I would love to go glam for the shoot. A lot of couples are going the casual, lovey dovey route…and that’s not really us. J and I are very affectionate, but the idea of my relatives flipping through a guest book of images of J and I canoodling and smooching in a forest or garden makes my tummy feel funny.
For the shoot, I am thinking of wearing this Karen Millen dress I bought in Boston:
Colourblock shirt dress designed by Karen Millen (image from: http://www.karenmillen.com)
With a turquoise or fuschia hair accessory, with possibly a fascinator:
Hair pieces by Mikki Rizvi of Ever Thine (my pic from The Drake Wedding Show)
Hair piece to die for! (Image from google images, courtesy of Titfer Designs)
With a pair of coloured heels, either turquoise or fuschia:
Hello, Manolo! (image from http://www.manoloblahnikshoe.org)
Speaking of which, I saw a pair of gorgeous turquoise satin sandals at Nine West that meshed with the outfit construed in my brain (can’t find the image of the shoes online). Unfortunately, the heels were a little too high. I could walk, but not for long. I’m wondering if I can take the heel down by 1/2 inch–they were so pretty!
As for what J will wear, um….we’ll figure it out! lol!
Sangeeta also asked J and I for our fave movies, albums, and books in high school. I hate that I have such a bad memory and I had to try really hard to come up with this list:
Movies:
Speed (I was OBSESSED with Keanu!!); Titantic; Good Will Hunting; The Lion King; In the Name of the Father; Dumb and Dumber; The Matrix
Albums–I don’t remember albums, but I remember artists:
SWV; TLC; Janet Jackson; Mary J; Boyz II Men; Green Day; Alanis Morisette; Whitney Houston (before the crack); Monica; Michael Jackson; No Doubt; Madonna; Mariah Carey (before she became Scarey); Toni Braxton; Spice Girls
Books:
Lord of the Flies; The Chrysalids; To Kill a Mockingbird; The Handmaid’s Tale; The Merchant of Venice. To be perfectly honest, I can’t remember what books I read besides what we were assigned in English class. I have a better memory of pre-high and post-high school faves.
Wish us luck!
xoxo
LBB
p.s. I still have to give you updates on my reception lengha and decorator!! I’m planning also to do a feature on Milni.net and A Night of Romance, along with a feature on online shopping for Indian clothes. Stay Tuned!
