Spoken Bride Vendors | Spotlight, Vol. 13

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Are you recently engaged and ready to book your wedding vendors? Newly married or attending a wedding, and in search of gifts that affirm the vocation to marriage?

We are proud to serve you through the Spoken Bride Vendor Guide, the first online resource for distinctively Catholic wedding vendors: hand-selected professionals from around the U.S. with not only an abundance of talent, but a reverence and passion for the sacrament of marriage that brings a uniquely personal, prayerful dimension to their client experiences.

From photographers and videographers who understand how to capture the most significant moments of your nuptial Mass, to coordinators who understand the needs of Catholic couples, artists whose jewelry, stationery, and prints become enduring keepsakes long after your wedding day, clinical and theological experts in the fields of fertility and relationships, and beyond, Spoken Bride Vendors view their work as a call and find deep joy in putting their talents at the service of the Lord.

What’s more, our vendors are truly engaging and fun. With a range of stories, hobbies, and devotions, it’s our privilege to share who they are and connect them with their ideal clients--you, faithful Catholic couples who are energized by working with like-minded, prayerful individuals. Each month, we’ll be introducing, or re-introducing, you to members of Spoken Bride’s vendor community, and we encourage you to learn more through their full vendor listings.

Our Vendors for This Month:

Claire Watson Photography

Martinsburg, West Virginia; Serving West Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia

Claire Watson strives to make a personal connection with the brides and grooms whom she works with. In fact, building a relationships with her couples is a source of inspiration “to create images that will help transport a husband and wife back to a moment when they felt incredibly lucky to be marrying this person, when they felt completely elated to be entering into this vocation with their best friend.”

Claire has a professional background as a licensed attorney with a specialization in business litigation; however, she has since committed her full-time career to emotion-driven, joy-inducing wedding photography.

Favorite part of weddings: Weddings give people permission to feel deeply. Not just between the couple, but how loved they are by their family. A sister reminiscing about their childhoods during a toast, a mom soaking in the dance with her son, a father encouraging his daughter in the nervous moments just before the procession.

Favorite hot beverage: I'm a tea drinker. Honey and whole milk please! Chai if you've got it.

Favorite saints: Saints Perpetua and Felicity, and of course Mother Mary, are my go-to girls. I call them my triple-threat and sometimes will start a prayer, with "Ladies, I need you in on this one!" When I went through challenges as a new mom, I really think Sts. Perpetua and Felicity interceded for me. When I later lost two babies in miscarriage, I asked Perpetua and Felicity to take special care of my children in heaven. I also greatly admire the tenacity and feminine power of Sts Claire and Catherine of Siena, whom my eldest is named after. My son is named after St. Kolbe and St. Joseph . My youngest, born during the pandemic, is named after Gianna Molla, in a nod to our brave health care workers putting their own lives and family stability on the line for others.

Learn more about Claire Watson Photography.

 

Emma Dallman Photography

Long Island City, New York; Serving New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and available for travel

Emma Dallman has had a camera in her hand since she was a young child. Over the years, she has invested in herself, made mistakes, and established a business knowledge to compliment her love for photography. 

Throughout a wedding day, she strives to capture the tiny details and moments which make each couple unique, while maintaining a comfortable and natural setting for the couple in front of the camera. “I love serving Catholic brides! Photographing a couple entering into the sacrament of marriage always reminds me of the blessing of my own Catholic marriage, and encourages me to go home and love my husband a little better.” 

Ministries I am involved in: I’ve been involved in Young Adult ministry and Theology of the Body education for years! Rachel’s Vineyard is also an incredibly important ministry that’s close to my heart.

Favorite place I’ve traveled: It’s not the most exotic place I’ve visited, but Yosemite Valley in California is my favorite place in the world. My family and I camped there every summer while I was growing up, so in my mind it’s equal parts nostalgic AND majestic.

Love means: Married love means thinking of yourself second. It's always asking yourself - "how can I help my spouse?" It's evaluating whether aspects of your life are good for them or not. Ultimately, it’s helping the other person get to heaven. 

Learn more about Emma Dallman Photography.

 

Organic Conceptions

Serving clients nation- and world-wide

Organic Conceptions began with founders Erin and Marc Sherman’s personal struggle in trying to conceive for close to a decade. Using both qualitative and quantitative research practices, they dug deep into stories from couples like them who unexpectedly overcame infertility. Every story individually holds a massive amount of insight, which, when woven together, provides a road map that can guide others on a journey to parenthood and beyond.

Favorite saint: St Anthony! My wife and I have a funny story when we were just married. After putting our boat into the water at a boat ramp we then dropped our keys into the ocean.  No keys, no car, no way to get the boat out. Long story short, St Anthony saved the day.

Favorite memory of my wedding day: The extreme heat that we dealt with which led to the entire wedding party jumping into a pool. Definitely not part of the plan but made for great memories! 

Love means: Doing something that matters. Giving to others. Finding the good. Promoting love. Trusting and being open in times of uncertainty.

Learn more about Organic Conceptions.

 

Mel Watson Photography

Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska and available for travel

Mel O’Keeffe is a passionate wife, mother, and photographer. She pours herself into these vocations where she has been called, and is inspired by the belief that beauty will change the world. Capturing beauty through the lens as a wedding photographer is not only Mel’s profession, but also her ministry. “I put my heart and soul into each wedding I photograph, and as each moment of the day unfolds, with the tears, laughter, and prayers, I'm most likely tearing up from behind the camera, too.“

Favorite place traveled: Hawaii. Hands down. My husband and I honeymooned there and it's our goal to return!

Favorite sports teams: Kansas City Chiefs, University of Nebraska football (I married into it!), and Seton Hall University Pirates Basketball—my alma mater

Languages spoken: English and French (although, I'm extremely rusty!)

Learn more about Mel Watson Photography.

5 Things Your Wedding Photographer Wants You to Know

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EMMA DALLMAN

 

As a wide-eyed, newly engaged young thing, I quickly learned planning a wedding takes a village. Whether you’re planning an extravaganza rivaled only by the likes of Jay Gatsby, or an intimate gathering of close family and friends, you’re going to interview and assemble a team of wedding vendors and trust them to help you execute a life-changing event that is special, memorable, and totally unique to you and your fiancé.

I can’t speak to the inner life of florists, DJs or cake decorators, but after 3 years as a wedding photographer, I do have advice to help set your expectations and have the best possible experience while taking your wedding photos.

Consider the following five points the answers to questions you didn’t think to ask and the solutions to problems you didn’t anticipate--all from the perspective of your friendly neighborhood matrimonial shutterbug!

It's okay to feel awkward.

Occasionally a future bride will admit to me (in hushed and sheepish tones), "We're not very good in front of a camera," or "My fiancé is kind of uncomfortable having his picture taken."

First of all, this is super normal! More likely than not, you and your fiancé are not fashion models. Maybe your last experience taking professional photos was during your senior year of high school. An experienced and talented photographer knows how to make you comfortable in front of the camera.

Before every shoot, I come armed with prompts, stories, games, and suggestions to help turn your focus off of me and back onto each other. When you and your fiancé are interacting more genuinely, I'm able to capture what's authentically between you, rather than posing you in a way that's artificial. My favorite thing to hear at the end of a portrait shoot is, ”Oh, that was actually fun!” or, "That was easier than I expected!”

 If you’re worried being trailed by a stranger loaded down with loud and obtrusive camera gear is going to make you nervous on your wedding day, try to book an engagement session with your wedding photographer. Couples who book me for engagement shoots before their wedding day consistently tell me it makes a huge difference in their comfort level. I'm always able to help a willing, cooperative couple look their best in photos, so if you're feeling apprehensive, try not to stress! 

Our insight might be valuable to you.

Photographers and videographers are the two wedding vendors whose job is to follow brides and grooms around All. Day. Long.  From the early morning makeup session to the last guest who won't get off the dance floor, we ride the wedding-day roller coaster with our clients in a way a cake decorator or a calligrapher doesn't. All that to say, we've been around the wedding world, we've seen some things, and we've got some wisdom to share!

I always tell my brides I'm willing to offer as much or little input on timeline planning as they might want. Assuming you have a comfortable, communicative relationship with your photographer, you should feel free to reach out with questions about timing, group dynamics, lighting, and more. You may not realize it, but in your photographer you have an expert wedding resource available to you.

Prioritize the important shots.

Look into the future for a moment to a point in time after  your wedding day: What kind of photos will you want to frame and hang in your new home? What kind of photos will you want to give as gifts to family members? What kind of photos will you use as your first Christmas card? This could vary, but for most couples this will mean portraits of the bride and groom together, along with family portraits.  

When planning your wedding timeline, try to take this into account. Don't allow your poor photographer only 15 minutes out of your wedding timeline to try and snap the most important  photos of the day! I encourage brides to allow at least 30 minutes for family portraits (depending how large your family is), and at least 45 minutes to get some classic and creative shots of the newly married couple alone. So when laying out the events of your day, make sure to allow adequate room for what’s most important to you!

Don't rule out a First Look.

Most brides I work with will initially tell me that they don't want a "first look." They picture a classic scenario of locking eyes down the aisle of a church with their beloved, seeing his reaction to all their bridal glory.

I understand how special and crucial that moment is. Believe it or not, doing a first look may actually allow you to enjoy your wedding day more!

Couples who do a first look still get photos of that awesome, emotional moment when the groom takes in his bride’s beauty for the first time. They get to react with a little more privacy and authenticity, which can be nice if one or both of them is on the shy side.

But best of all,these couples get to head to their cocktail hour and their reception a lot sooner. If you finish those important portraits before your ceremony, then you're free enjoy your guests, relax, and be a part of your own party!

I strongly recommend a first look to couples having an evening or sunset wedding, and to anyone who feels a little conspicuous knowing a whole church full of people is hoping to see them cry.

It's not about the photos!

After all that talk about timing, cocktail hours, and feeling awkward, the most important  thing your wedding photographer wants you to know is that it's not about the photos! Even as a Catholic bride, it can be easy focus on the details you've worked so hard to put together; to inadvertently begin thinking the cake, the flowers, the dress and the photos are what’s making your day special.

In reality, the inverse is true: the beautiful, important, sacramental commitment you make as a couple turns an ordinary cake into a cake that will forever be special to you. It makes the flowers you choose special, the dress you wear special, and every other aspect of your day. In the end, your photos will be special because they'll help you remember what actually happened on your wedding day--even if the weather was bad, your cake turned out funny, or the best man lost his tie.

 As you research, plan, and book professionals to help your wedding day take shape, don’t be afraid to ask for their insight and advice. Most wedding vendors--especially Catholic ones!--get into this business because they’re romantics at heart, because they love beauty, and because they believe in the importance of marriage. Most likely, they’ll be ready and willing to help you in any way they can. I hope this insight gave you the confidence to embrace your wedding photos in a new way, and helped supply some ready-made answers to your photography questions!

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About the Author: Emma Dallman, a Spoken Bride Vendor, is a wedding and portrait photographer serving the East Coast and the world beyond. She lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband Mark and her puppy Hildy. The things that make her happiest include slow weekend mornings, live music, Mexican food and Netflix comedy specials. She is endlessly fascinated by the uniqueness and the beauty of every person she photographs.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Vendor Spotlight | Emma Dallman Photography

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When speaking of her experiences with either professional photography or her Catholic faith formation, Emma Dallman uses words like “marvel,” and “magic.” Her personal reflections glorify the many divine ways God works in and through this Philadelphia-based wedding photographer as she engages with couples, captures life through the lens of her camera, and pursues each day with trusting humility.

As an eight-year-old, Emma remembers snapping through an entire roll of film during the “Shamu Show” at Sea World. The memory stands as a moment she experienced the wonder of photography, which remained a hobby and side-hustle for years. By 2016, she entered more deeply into her desires and began pursuing photography as a business.

Concurrent with a growing professional career, Emma grew in her understanding of the mystery of the human person through Saint John Paul II’s teachings on Theology of the Body. She reflects, “The Theology of the Body has played a crucial role in both my faith formation and in my love for photography. I’m endlessly fascinated by the uniqueness and the beauty of every person I photograph.”

While witnessing living beauty is a gift of her career, Emma’s goal in shooting a wedding is to create art which memorializes every tiny, beautiful detail of each unique wedding day. Meanwhile, her own approach in relation with couples is organic yet thorough. Such intention engages the “magic of photography,” as shown in her rich, authentic, and emotion-driven photographs.

From Emma:

I view it as a privilege to be invited into someone’s “inner circle” on their wedding day.  There are so many emotional, joy-filled, imperfect, and sometimes crazy moments you get to witness as a photographer, and those are the moments that make someone’s day unique and memorable.

Additionally, I love to capture the beauty of a wedding Mass. I have to laugh when I hear some photographers bemoan the “church wedding” as boring, because from my perspective, nothing could be more dramatic, mysterious or beautiful. Couples who share that idea tend to be drawn to my work.

Married love means thinking of yourself second. It's always asking yourself, "How can I help my spouse?" It's evaluating whether aspects of your life are good for them or not. Ultimately, it’s helping the other person get to heaven. Photographing a couple as they enter into the sacrament of marriage always reminds me of the blessing of my own Catholic marriage, and encourages me to go home and love my husband a little better.

Some of Emma’s favorites:

Books: Discerning the Will of God (Fr. Timothy Gallagher), Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card), The End of the Affair (Graham Greene)

Music: Sufjan Stevens, Jenny Lewis, The Black Keys, Bright Eyes

Movies: Far and Away (classic Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman!), Star Wars, Almost Famous

Saints and Devotions: St. Catherine of Siena and St. Therese of Lisieux; my husband and I have a big devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots—she was crucial in our discernment of marriage—and of the Ignatian method of discernment

Place in the world: Yosemite Valley in California. My family and I camped there every summer while I was growing up, so in my mind it’s equal parts nostalgic and majestic.

Foods: Mexican. All day, every day!

EMMA DALLMAN PHOTOGRAPHY: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST