Kirby and Jesse Filar's Ritz Carlton Wedding

This past weekend I was priveliged to document the wedding of Kirby and Jesse at the Ritz Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes. What a great couple, great setting, great families, and great team of vendors!

Providing exceptional service for Kirby and Jesse was a dream team of good friend Lisa Konecny and her always entertaining cohort Jessy Rivers of E-Events, John Unrue and Ricardo DeVengoechea of Unrue Photography (check out John's new website!), Plumbfun Photobooths, Flowers of Winter Park, and of course the always exemplary staff of the Ritz Carlton.

Kirby and Jesse commissioned me to produce this "teaser" clip to be online within 24 hours of their wedding. The full wedding documentary is yet to be produced, but this short form clip is already making the rounds through their many friends and family!

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Warren Dietel's 40th Birthday Party

Unquestionably, the hot ticket last week was Warren Dietel's 40th birthday bash at Church Street Station. While most of us know Warren as the owner of the peerless Puff n' Stuff Catering, many of us also know him as an all-around great guy, fun and friendly, and as you'll see in the video below, he can really rock a white fur coat.

Hosted by his always stunning wife Melissa, the party had an 80's theme and guests were encouraged to dress from the era (which explains my dubious choice of hairstyle for the evening). Vintage videogames, stage performances, and even a mock-up of Orlando's beloved and long-lost diner, Ronnie's, were there, as well as guests dressed as everything from Richard Simmons to Devo to the cast of "The Love Boat". My favorite was Warren's sister Heidi, who wore a classic (?) 80's style wedding dress, complete with puffy sleeves and baby's breath in her hair.

Thanks to Kristal & John of Unrue Photography for the images!

It was a totally good time. Like, totally.

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A Tale Of Two Sisters

Last weekend I had the honor to cover the second of two spectacular weddings for Orlando's Dello Russo family. What a great bunch they are, and man, can they throw a wedding!

Thanks to John Unrue for the photo of me and mother-of-the-bride(s), Diane Dello Russo.

In 2004, oldest daughter Tracy was married to Jeff at the Ritz Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes, with a wedding team consisting of Wonderful Weddings, John Unrue Photography, Raining Roses, Beautiful Music, About Face, Weddings Only DJ Entertainment, and yours truly. When a wedding comes off as beautifully as Tracy's did, there didn't seem to be a need to re-invent the wheel when youngest daughter Kelly announced her engagement last year!

It was deja-vu all over again -- in the best possible way -- when we reconvened last weekend for Kelly and Steve's breathtaking wedding. It was so nice to get caught up with the family, and to meet Tracy and Jeff's young daughter Ava! I tell ya, that's one good lookin' kid (and another is on the way!).

My only regret is that we are now officially out of unmarried Dello Russo daughters -- they have the best weddings!

This quick-edit, "coming attraction" clip was online for them the day after their wedding.

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Classic Rock; Classic Wedding!

Below you can experience the highlights from the wedding of Joan and Tom, who hosted an unforgettable wedding at Isleworth Country Club. All of the stops were pulled out for this one! An outdoor evening reception, full fireworks display, and entertainment provided by 60's rock legends Jefferson Airplane. Yep, that Jefferson Airplane. The evening ended with the band changing the lyrics to their hit "Jane" to "Joan", and the bride dancing in the fountain.

Our wedding team consisted of Weddings Unique, John Unrue Photography, Lee James Floral, and Beautiful Music.

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"Impress - Indulge - Inspire" at the Ritz Carlton Wedding Show

The Ritz Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes hosted a characteristically flawless wedding show recently and I was honored (and humbled and flattered and privileged and grateful) to produce this promotional piece for them. Jennifer Sharpe had the idea to interview past clients about their wedding experience, and I ended up with easily an hour's worth of incredible testimonials. Cutting it down to this 8 minute piece was painstaking!

The video also features photographs by John Unrue and Damon Tucci. Thanks dudes, couldn't have done it without your help!

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From The Archives - "Il Bel Matrimonio Di Italiano"

Please, please feel free to correct my Italian.

Found this fun clip in the archives today and thought it was worth showing! I had the incredible opportunity to shoot this destination wedding in Southern Italy along with fotografo insano John Unrue. After the ceremony, Mary and Sean (bride and groom) walked across the street to the magistrate's office to sign the wedding register, and were presented with an honorary plate bearing their names. I thought this montage would look great shot in an 8mm film style. An unforgettable experience!

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