Melania Marta Photography is so much more than just a Pennsylvania Portrait and Wedding Photographer, she’s a real-life fairytale capturer. Melania not only photographs her couples in a truly beautiful, realistic way, she gets involved in their love story and wedding day. She cares almost as much as they do, many say. The incredible reviews of her work prove that. Melania lives to freeze the most beautiful moments of your fairy tale and life and we absolutely love her for it. She also takes some of the most creative ring shots EVER! You will LOVE this girl!!

{Who is Melania} She is happily married to her man and best friend, Doug. Together, they have three amazing kiddos: Evan, Giulietta, and Damiana, and two boxers: Kalas and Chooch. Their house is loud, fun, messy, and filled with A LOT of love.

{How Did She Get Started} “It started in 2009 and it was completely by chance. A friend of mine posted her engagement session on Facebook. From there I was hooked into this new style of photography. I fell in love. I would look at my laptop screen and show Doug every single blog post. I would say, “I can do that!  I want to do that!.” I think he got the message because on Christmas he gave me my first camera.

In February of 2010 I shot my first family. A few weeks later, I shot an engagement session. During that shoot, the couple asked me to shoot their wedding – which was going to be in less than 4 months. I said yes.  And then …. I got to work. I learned EVERYTHING I possibly could in those few short months. I went to a workshop, I watched tutorials, etc. That day, I was ready and I did it. They took a huge chance on me and I thank them every day for taking the risk on a newbie.”

{Her Photography Business} “I love my job! In 2012 I tripled my wedding business because I love it so much. I’ve said it before – but my clients truly end up becoming my closest friends. I’ve been known to cry after I give them their images. ;)”

{Why You Will Love Her} “I’m very real. My personality is pretty magnetic, so I make new friends easily. I’m fun to be around but get the job done. My couples always turn into my friends. I think some would even say that I care about their wedding as much as they do.”

{Who is Her Ideal Bride} “She’s smart, strong and completely smitten. She knows true love and will stop at nothing to keep that feeling in her soul forever. She has dreamed of her wedding and her fantasies have kicked into overdrive since she’s met “him”. She’s excited and just wants to be married to him.”

{Most Frequently Asked Question from Brides} “A lot of brides ask about their engagement session. I always tell them the same thing. You should first think about how you want to use these images. Just for fun? As save the dates? A guestboook? Table numbers?

You have SO many options for this session. This session is ABOUT the two of you. So start thinking about what you two love to do together. For instance, Molly and Frank were huge wine fans. So their engagement session took place at a vineyard. I have one next month, Ann and Steve, and they LOVE Philly sports. So we’re going to a Sixers game and also shooting outside the stadium. Just have fun and be true to yourself!”

{Tips & Advice for Brides} “Relax and enjoy it. :) Be true to yourselves. What defines you two as a couple? Your wedding should reflect what is important to you both. (For instance, my wedding had a baseball theme because my hubby and I LOVE baseball. Our favors were peanuts and cracker jack.) Make sure you jive with your photographer. We are in your face for a lot of hours during your wedding day. We are one of the few vendors who works with you AFTER your wedding too. So find someone whose work and personality you love.”

{What She Loves Most About Weddings} “The feelings! The excitement. The love. The connections. There is SO much that makes weddings amazing.”

{A Wedding Blooper From Her Experience} “I’ve seen a cake almost collapse (buttercream icing + hot light bulb above it = not a good idea!) and a golf cart accident during portraits.  Luckily nobody was badly injured.”

{Her Favorite Love Quote and Songs} “Love Never Fails.” On a Night Like This by Dave Barnes. Nothing Like This by Rascal Flatts.

{Need to Know} Wedding Collections start at $2200 – $4500 and includes two photographers and digital images. Melania is a Pennsylvania Portrait and Wedding Photographer willing to travel out of state and country. (Travel fees will apply.) Portrait Sessions are also available and priced at $350 including digital images. Melania Marta Photography offers a repeat client program (please inquire).

If you would like to know more about Melania and her photography services, you should totally visit her website and blog!! Loads of oh-so-beautiful images are waiting there for you to view. Melania would love to chat with you about your special day via email. She has a pretty fantastic Facebook page, and is also available on Twitter (and Pinterest). We couldn’t puffy heart (we lovingly stole this term from her – hope she doesn’t mind ;) Melania more! She’s super sweet, completely talented, and absolutely cannot wait to hear from you! If you love her as much as we do, get in touch with her today, ok? :) xoxo

New England girls are lucky. Because Katherine Henry Boudoir is one of the best Boudoir photographers in Boston! To her, Boudoir photography is the best way to unleash your confidence and have fun in the process. She will help guide you through the full Boudoir experience from wardrobe to posing. Katherine will get right on those beds and couches to show you exactly what she’s thinking. Your level of comfort is her number one priority, while at the same time making sure you’re having fun and feeling sexy. Your images are as much for you as they are for your honey. It’s equally acceptable (and very much encouraged) to do one of these shoots for your hubby as it is to do one just for you. Nothing beats a healthy dose of inner confidence, right, girls? :) Get to know a little more about Katherine Henry, boudoir photographer extraordinaire, below!!

{What Katherine Had to Say – The Boudoir Experience} “The experience starts before the day of the session. We will chat outfits and looks leading up the shoot. I will often have clients emailing me photos of their outfits and shoes. I love shopping and helping to style shoots.

A Boudoir experience with me is a really fun day of pampering with a wonderful end result. I work with fabulous hair and makeup stylists who will create the perfect look for you. While we are having hair and makeup done we sip champagne and chat about what you want to get out of the session. All this time together before the actual shoot is great because we get to know each other more.

Stepping into my studio is stepping away from work, stress and those house chores you have been putting off.”

{Need to Know} Boudoir Packages start at $375. Katherine works with a skilled team of makeup artists and hair stylists and their talent can be included in your photography package. You can also choose from a variety of items to purchase, which include albums, calendars, and prints. All products are created by Katherine and make great gifts for wedding day, anniversaries, or just because. Sessions generally take place at Katherine’s studio in Reading, MA, which is located right in the center of town and steps away from the MBTA commuter rail stop. If you have your own location in mind, Katherine is absolutely available to travel, and would love to chat more about your dream location.

Katherine’s innovative and gorgeous new website is now available for your viewing pleasure. Learn more about the boudoir experience, pricing, packaging, and Katherine herself. Tips and sneak peeks of recent shoots in her studio appear frequently on her blog. Be sure to also follow Katherine on Facebook and Pinterest for loads of inspiration goodness! And if you’d like to chat about booking a session, well, we highly recommend you do!! Especially since there’s an Exclusive Deal (15% Off Sessions) just for HLW readers!! xoxo

I could go on and on about all the reasons I love PNZ Designs, but I’ll try to keep it short and sweet :) This fabulous little Etsy shop hasn’t been around all that long. Having just celebrated their first successful year in business, PNZ Designs has done what most can only dream of. Nicole’s built a business that she loves based on love, family, and all things rustic. Specializing in custom rustic wedding decor and favors from rustic, woodland, eco-friendly, vintage, shabby chic, nature-inspired, outdoor, backyard, barn, or country wedding, PNZ Designs has just what you need to make your day extra special! With items ranging from centerpiece and table decor to cake toppers, banners, buntings, tags, signs and chalkboards, flower girl baskets, ring bearer boxes, wood slice favors, and so much more! Every piece is custom and made with love! Nicole works exclusively with Chastity of the Sweet Spot Stamp Shop to create all of her designs, and Melania Marta Photography photographs them. It’s easy to say that while this shop may still be considered small, it has A TON of heart! And that’s one of the many reasons we love her so much! If you love her designs, as much as we do, be sure to get in touch with Nicole! Read more about her and see more of her designs below!

{Who is Nicole} She is a Jersey girl, now living in the Pennsylvania countryside, with dreams of living in an old stone farmhouse off the beaten path in the middle of the country. She loves the outdoors. Nothing soothes her soul like a weekend at her husband’s family cabin – no phone, no TV, no Internet connection, just fresh air, and God’s country. She loves all things rustic and finds beauty in unusual things. She adores old barns and fields of wildflowers make her swoon. She looks for the good in everyone and everything. She’s a hopeless romantic who gets teary eyed during love stories. She dances like no one is watching and sings like no one is listening, even when they are. Her life is full of blessings and her heart is full of happiness.

{How Did She Get Started} “While planning our wedding, my husband and I decided to make all of our decor. It was truly a labor of love and each piece perfectly reflected us as a couple. The feedback we received from our family and friends was amazing. There was so much encouragement and support for me to open a little shop and on March 22, 2012, I did.”

{Her Etsy Shop} “PNZ Designs is more than just a name to me. PNZ stands for something – family, love, strength, dedication. I named my shop after my family. After all, they are my everything. My husband and my son are my world. They are the inspiration and motivation behind everything I do. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate way to include the two boys who love and support me unconditionally than to name my shop after out little family.

I specialize in creating custom rustic wedding decor that you will have as keepsakes to treasure for years to come.”

{Why You Will Love Her} “I put my heart into my work. I meticulously handcraft each piece with love. I absolutely adore what I do. To me, it’s more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to touch someone’s life, an opportunity to give them a keepsake of one of the greatest days in their entire life that they can treasure for years to come. It is an opportunity I feel extremely grateful and blessed to have.”

{Who is Her Ideal Bride} “My ideal bride is a country girl at heart. She loves the outdoors, and feels just as beautiful in her boyfriend’s comfy t-shirt and old worn jeans as she does in a dress and heels. She may even have a pair of cowboy boots picked out for under her wedding dress! She sees the beauty in nature and dreams of incorporating the gorgeous details that nature has to offer into her big day!”

{Most Frequently Asked Question from Brides – I love this, but I can’t afford it. Can you help?} “Yes! The answer is always yes. I was a bride on an extremely small budget. I completely understand what it’s like to try and squeeze every last detail into a tight budget. I love working with brides to create exactly what they want for a price suited for their budget. I love to save brides a little stress :)”

{Tips & Advice for Brides} “It’s never to early to start planning! Even if you are having a long engagement, use all the time you have to start mapping out the details. You will be so glad you did.  Your decor should reflect your personalities. Be true to yourselves and everything else will fall into place. Relax. Don’t worry about things being “perfect” – the weather, the set up, anything. Truth is, at the end of the day, if you are married to your best friend then the day was absolutely perfect. So just enjoy it!”

{The Best Wedding She’s Ever Attended and Why} “The best wedding I’ve ever attended was my friend’s Halloween wedding nine years ago. I was a bridesmaid, and we had black dresses with witch hats and brooms. The groomsmen wore a tux with vampire teeth and carried axes and hatchets. All the guests came in costume. The wedding cake was a haunted house. It was so relaxed and so much fun. The couple met on Halloween, and it had a great significance to them, so getting married on Halloween was perfect for them. Did I mention that’s how I met my husband? He was the vampire that walked this witch down the aisle :)”

{What She Loves Most About Weddings} “The love. The happiness. The togetherness. You can feel it. You can see it. You can hear it. It’s a day that someone has been waiting a lifetime for. It’s a day that forever changes you. You are literally witnessing a dream come true.”

{Her Favorite Love Song} Then by Brad Paisley.

{Need to Know} Pricing for all custom rustic wedding decor and favors will vary. Please note that an additional fee of $10 will be applied to all rush orders. Nicole loves to work with brides to create exactly what they want for a price that suits their budget. Get in touch with any questions or concerns you might have. Nicole is happy to do everything she can to make your fairytale wedding dreams come true!

If you would like to know even more about Nicole, please visit her newly designed and gorgeous website and blog! To see more of her incredible designs and purchase your own, check out her Etsy Shop! Don’t forget to ‘heart’ your favorite pieces!! :) Nicole would love to start a conversation with you on Etsy. You can also seek her out on Facebook or email her directly. She’s as sweet as they come, and we know you’ll love her just as much as we do (likely more)!! xoxo

A little birdie told us that there are some fabulous new designer accessories available for rent at Happily Ever Borrowed! Designer accessories for rent you say? That’s right! Happily Ever Borrowed is the premiere, luxury e-boutique that RENTS bridal accessories to brides for their wedding day. Hairpieces, headbands, tiaras, belts, jewelry, and more are available for rent on the Happily Ever Borrowed website for about 10-20% of the original retail price. So let’s take a look at some of the new sparkly baubles shall we?

Felipa Feather Flower ($25) | Veronica Organza Flower ($37)

Odette Belt ($90)

Sophie ($98)

My favorite part about this piece is its versatility! Featuring Swarovski floral pendants and ribbon, this piece can transform into a headband, necklace, or belt. Perfection!

Madeline Butter Cream Collar ($35) | Athena Necklace ($50)

Statement necklaces? Yes, please!! I’m loving that the Madeline can be worn close to the neck as a collar or worn lower like a bib necklace. Both the Madeline and the Athena would look beautiful with a sweetheart neckline strapless wedding dress.

Claudia Veil ($50) | Hayworth Bandeau ($65)

Gabrielle Headband ($95) | Peony Halo ($25)

I love the way these two pieces wrap around big buns and top knots. One is sparkly and glamorous, the other is soft and elegant, both are absolutely fabulous.

Carrie B Necklace ($55) | Sophie ($98)

There’s the Sophie again (also pictured above as a necklace). And one of my favorite pieces Happily Ever Borrowed has ever carried, the Carrie B Necklace. If you’re a bold bride, this is the statement piece for you! Oh. My. Gorgeous.

Justine 45” Corded Lace Veil ($70) | Harper Floral Headband ($45)

The best part about Happily Ever Borrowed? Besides renting ALL of these fabulously sparkly pieces and more for a fraction of the retail cost? They have a Send Before You Spend option that allows you to choose any three pieces for your hair trial or dress fitting! Once you pick your favorites, send them back, and get $25 off your wedding day rental! Pretty sweet, right? There’s also a *new* newsletter for you to sign up and receive exclusive deals and discounts! I mean, what could be better than renting your bridal accessories for your wedding day? Oh, right, nothing. I like to think of Happily Ever Borrowed as an online fairy godmother. You should too and get to renting for that very special day today! xoxo

Happily Ever Borrowed is a Premier Partner in the Heart Love Weddings Vendor Boutique. If you would like more information on how to become a partner, please complete and submit an application under our Advertising tab.

I have so many amazing things to say about Tabibi Design it’s hard to know where to start. Tina is fabulous. She is incredibly talented, passionate about producing bright, beautiful, colorful designs, and just about the friendliest person you’ll ever meet. Her modern take on design is as fun as it is bold. Tabibi Design is a full-service graphic design studio specializing in print and marketing materials, branding packages, wedding and event stationery. She can pretty much do it all, and does it well, with the perfect amount of flair, all custom, of course, to you. We would love for you to get to know her better, and if you love her as much as we do (and we know you will) get in touch with her! :)

{Who is Tina Tabibi} She is the creative mind behind Tabibi Design. She has a crush on typography, beautiful calligraphy, patterns, silhouettes, bright colors, and fine card stock. As a designer, her goal is to provide conceptual thinking, creative solutions, and to establish a partnership with her clients. She is also a coffee addict, loves 80s music, has a notebook obsession, a major sweet tooth, and is a parent to the cutest pup (and office assistant) named Rocco!

{How Did She Get Started} Tina has always had a passion for art and design. She took every art class offered in grade school, earned a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts program with an emphasis on design and illustration. She’s been fortunate enough to live her life as a professional designer for more than 13 years and couldn’t be happier. She served as a freelancer and full-time studio designer most of her career. Last December, she made the decision to establish and focus on the growth of Tabibi Design as her own studio. She’s had the pleasure of working with a variety of clients including small business owners, associations, nonprofits, AND the newly engaged!

{Her Stationery Business} Tabibi Design is a full-service graphic design studio located in Arlington, Virginia (in the Metro DC area). She specializes in a broad range of print materials including brand development, conference and marketing materials, publications, and event stationery. In addition to custom wedding stationery, Tabibi Design offers event stationery for any special event and business collateral for your company. She strives to create awesome designs for her clients!!

The “designer magic” happens at her home studio. She also has an intern. His name is Rocco. He likes to sleep on the job but is productive when offered treats ;)

{Most Frequently Asked Question from Brides – What are your prices?} Unfortunately, Tina does not offer a price list. The cost of a quoted project is based on the number of concepts, hours of design and production, print mangagement, print cost, materials, and shipping. She prefers to provide each client with a specific estimate for their project. Have a specific budget in mind? Please let her know and she’ll do her best to work with you.

{Wedding Stationery Tips} “Plan ahead. A custom design is a great way to express yourself on paper. Don’t shy away from custom because you may think it is too expensive. We can look into options that fit within your budget. I also recommend consulting a designer about your wedding invitations at least 4-6 months before your event. If you want to incorporate a save-the-date card in the wedding suite, I would contact the designer earlier to ensure there is enough time to create a cohesive design.”

{Why You Will Love Her} “I’m a fan of bright colors, graphic patterns, and a modern style. I understand the importance of branding and can develop a visual concept to reflect a unique style for any event. I love the creative process. I enjoy taking my client’s vision and bringing them to life. I believe many couples are pushing the boundaries beyond the “standard” wedding invitation. These are my type of clients!”

{What She Loves Most About Weddings} “I love watching the groom’s reaction to his bride walking down the aisle. You are able to see their true emotions and the love. It’s priceless.”

{The Best Wedding She’s Ever Attended} “The best wedding I ever attended was my own. My hubby and I have been together for 10 years and will celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary this June. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

{What Inspires Her Professionally} “My inspiration comes from many resources including publications, home decor, architecture, type, graphic patterns, and often times, my clients. I initially begin every project with sketches before I execute my designs on the computer. It’s a good way to brainstorm and allows me to define my thoughts.

{Her Favorite Love Quote} “Live the life you love. Love the life you live.” – Bob Marley

{Need to Know} As was mentioned above, Tabibi Design does not have a standard price list. Because everything is custommade, Tina will determine the cost of your project based on the number of concepts, hours of design and production, print management, print cost, materials, and shipping. She prefers to provide you with a specific estimate for your project, and is happy to work with you to find something that fits your budget. Tabibi Design specializes in custom wedding and event stationery, marketing, and branding, all of which is modern, bright, beautiful, colorful, and fun!

If you would like to know more about Tina and Tabibi Design’s graphic design services, please visit her newly redesigned website and blog (there’s a special giveaway going on right now)!! Ooodles of bright, bold, beatuiful stationery is there for you to view, but remember, everything will be custom to you. Tina is available via email, as well as on Twitter, and Facebook. She also has an Etsy Shop!! Did we mention we think she’s fabulous?? We know you’ll love working with her as much as we do, maybe more!! ;) xoxo

I honestly can’t say enough good things about A.J. Dunlap Photography! A.J. and her husband, Kyle, are a husband and wife photography team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Specializing in wedding and lifestyle photography, these two know what it means to capture a love story. Very much in love themselves, A.J. and Kyle live to work with fun, energetic couples, whose love for each other is the most important detail of their wedding. A.J. is simply the sweetest girl I know (who is seriously spoiling me with gorgeous submissions lately!!). I have no doubt you will LOVE working with her and Kyle!! Get to know them better below, and through their fabulous introductory video that I simply adore! They can’t wait to connect with you, you know! :)

{Who are A.J. and Kyle} They are a husband-wife team based in Raleigh, NC who LOVE being a couple that photographs other couples. It’s what makes them unique (and boy, do we love them for it)! They were married young (19 & 21), and have literally grown up together. At the time, everyone thought they were crazy, but they love how their story has developed, and wouldn’t change it for the world. They have the two most amazing dogs ever (who pretty much run the house). They love history books and non-fiction adventure books. They love to travel, especially for weddings! And they can’t live without each other!!

{How Did They Get Started} They started in the photography business when their siblings started having kids. They just started photographing them as they grew, and, thanks to Facebook, people started asking them to photograph them. They got their first wedding request a few months later. It was then that they realized they could do what they love and make a living together. That was three and a half years ago, and they’ve loved every single minute of their journey so far.

{Their Photography Business} “We make the whole process a great experience for our couples! We try to get to know them on a personal level so that when we arrive on the wedding day it’s comfortable, like we’re old friends. We do that mainly through engagement pictures, but also through the planning meetings & phone calls throughout the engagement. One of our favorite things to do is the private viewing experience we host for our couples if geography allows. We have them into our home studio and invite their families to re-experience the wedding through the photos together before we share them online. It’s always a fun time to hear their favorite parts of their day and see the moms cry again :)

We remain friends with many of our couples far beyond their wedding! We even have a fun newlyweds Christmas party we do every year, which is our other most favorite thing!

We document our couple’s love story. Our photos show them having fun & show the love they share. We want our couples to be able to look back at their photos in 30 years and remember what it felt like on their wedding day. We want them to be able to re-live & re-experience all the special moments from their day.”

{What They Love Most About Weddings} “First looks! We absolutely adore when a couple chooses to see each other before the ceremony. Yes, it allows for more photo time, but it’s more than that. It’s so special for couples to share that moment privately, to take the time to soak in their day together. Brides always think their groom will cry at the end of the aisle, but typically he’s trying so hard to be stoic because of all the guests that he doesn’t let his real emotions come through. But on a first look when it’s just him and his girl, those moments happen. It’s truly beautiful. If we could go back to our day, that’s the one thing we’d add!”

{Who is Their Ideal Bride} “Our ideal couple in a series of words: fun, cuddly, spontaneous, head over heels in love, fashionable, giggly, loving, spunky, smiley, and who aren’t afraid to work it for the camera.  We love spending every moment together and love photographing couples who feel the same way.”

{A General Wedding Planning Tip} “Enjoy the process! Remember the reasons you’re getting married and always keep that as a priority. Take regular date nights where you forbid wedding talk. You’ll thank us later for that :)”

{Wedding Photography Tip} “Before nailing down a ceremony time, talk with your photographer about what time of day offers the best light. (We’re trained to know the best light, and who wouldn’t want the most flattering light on their wedding day?!) Let them help you with a timeline so that you will get the best possible photos from your day. (We’ve done enough weddings to know how long things actually take so that you’re not rushed or stressed at any moment on your day.)”

{Why You Will Love Them} “Why do couples love us? Because they get us. Us as a husband-wife team, us as new friends, us as fun photographers who will make their day enjoyable! We relate with each of our couples because we’ve been there. We’ve planned a wedding and we know how it feels to be in love. That’s what we celebrate through our pictures. We want their love to shine through!”

{What Inspires Them Professionally} “Moments. We love following other photographers who capture moments. Real, raw, honest emotions. It inspires us to help our couples be that comfortable in front of the camera so they can have photos like that too.”

{Their Favorite Love Songs} Matchbox Twenty’s “Overjoyed,” Jason Mraz’s “I Won’t Give Up,” and  Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl.”

{Need to Know} Wedding collections start at $3450 with custom quotes available for destination affairs. All of their wedding options come with the image files and of course, two photographers! They also take a limited number of non-wedding related portrait sessions, from newborns to senior portraits, each month. A one-hour portrait session is $350 plus tax. And remember, A.J. and Kyle absolutely love to travel!!

If you would like to get to know even more about A.J. and Kyle and their photography services, please visit their website and blog! (Make sure you watch that introductory video – I’m serious!! It’s the best!) And there are tons of swoon-worthy images for you to view there! A.J. would love to chat with you about your special day via email, she is also available on Twitter (so is Kyle), and Facebook! We honestly couldn’t heart these two more!! We can’t wait for brides who love love as much as we ALL do to get photographed by these two!! xoxo