A RUSTIC FARMHOUSE WEDDING : KERRY + MIKE

The sun was shining and the fall air was crisp.  It was a beautiful day, the type of day every bride dreams of.  Kerry and Mike were busy getting ready for their rustic wedding at Queen's County Farm Museum in New York.   The day had finally arrived on which they would become man and wife .

Mike and Kerry met four years ago when they were set up on a blind date by their close friends.  Instantly hitting it off, Mike and Kerry spent the first few months of their relationship with constant smiles on their faces and laughter on their lips.  Mike quickly fell in love with Kerry's carefree spirit while Kerry adored Mike's sense of humor.  When Mike got down on one knee, Kerry didn't hesitate in saying yes!

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of photographing Kerry and Mike's gorgeous wedding with Betsi Ewing Studio. Come with me on a journey through Kerry and Mike's special day!

Mike and Kerry chose the beautiful Queens County Farm in Floral Park, NY for their rustic wedding.

I spent the morning with the guys!  Waiting at the house for Mike was a stunning Yves Saint Laurent watch from Kerry.  

The guys sported colorful ties matching the colors of the wedding day.  This was only one of many unique details!

The church was so close to Mike's house, the guys were able to walk!  Every time I look at this picture I see Abbey Road.

Kerry and Mike were married in a Catholic church with colorful stained glass windows. 

Mike couldn't get over how beautiful Kerry looked.  

After years of waiting, Mike and Kerry are finally husband and wife!

After the ceremony, we headed over to the farm for a few pictures of the bride and groom with their wedding party.

Kerry, your flowers were simply gorgeous...

...just like you!

The farm was huge, holding fields of sunflowers, pumpkin patches, and apple trees. 

LOVE.

Cocktail hour was held in the large barn.

The reception took place under a white tent overlooking the sunset.  

Mike and Kerry made their grand entrance and went straight into their first dance.  

The signature drink of the night?  Pumpkin Spice Ale with a cinnamon sugar coated rim.  

The bride and groom went all out on their wedding cakes!  They actually had a cake for each individual table!  Thank you to Buttercooky Bakery for these delicious creations.  

The cake cutting was followed by the father/daughter and mother/son dance.  Both brought tears to my eyes.   

The next few hours were spent rocking out!  Kerry and Mike danced until the wee hours of the morning...surrounded by their closest friends.  Kerry and Mike, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your fabulous wedding!  It really was beautiful...just like you!

BE YOURSELF

JUST. BE. YOURSELF.  This is one of the most common pieces of advice we give to others. It sounds so easy but growing up, it was such a foreign concept to me.  How was I supposed to be myself when I didn't know who I was?  The one thing I did know was that I wanted to fit in.  Be a part of the cool crowd.  Be accepted.  More often than not, I found myself conforming into the person I thought my friends wanted me to be.

It wasn't until the summer before my senior year of college that I truly started to discover who I was, and feel comfortable with it!  It took moving away from everyone I knew to do this.  That summer I was given the opportunity to teach tennis in the Hamptons.  I couldn't have been more excited!  Two months...living in a house full of people I had never met before, minutes from the beach, and only a train ride away from NYC.  As dumb as this sounds, I felt like I was going on the Real World, only without the cameras.  I felt like I was going to find myself.

I spent the majority of that summer relaxing on my personal floating dock in the ocean and exploring the streets of New York City.  For the first time in my life, I was doing things solely because I wanted to do them.  Choosing to do things because they made me happy.  I began feeling confident in my own skin, comfortable being me.

That summer I made a list.  A list of things I learned about myself, along with things that really make me happy. Over the years I have slowly added to it.  Here is what the list looks like today.

1.  I love candles, bubble baths, and reading a good book, preferably all at once.
2.  I hate jumping on the bandwagon.
3.  I love showers but hate post shower primping.
4.  Fame and fortune isn't as important as having someone to love and people to love you back.
5.  I will always be scared of dark windows at night.
6.  Leaving my camera at home makes me feel incomplete.  I like to document everything.
7.  I LOVE chocolate.  I don't think I could go a day without it...nor would I want to.
8.  The happiest people feel they have power over their time.
9.  Big cities make me feel at home.  I love the energy they bring.  NYC and Tokyo are two of my favorites.
10. New Girl makes me laugh harder than any show I have seen in a long time.
11. Some people find an art in cooking and cleaning.  I am not one of them.
12. As much as I like my alone time, I like spending time around people more.
13. Made up songs has become my way of communication to those closest to me.  Why talk when you can sing?!
14. It is okay to let yourself SHINE!

I still have a long way to go on the path of self discovery.  I think this is true for most people.  At least now when I hear people say "be yourself" I know what that means.  I finally feel confident being me, and that is a great feeling.

CITY LOVE : DYLANS CANDY BAR

I love candy.  No...that doesn't even do it justice.  I LUVVVVVVVE me some candy!  I could eat candy all day, every day, for every meal.  I love it that much.  When I am really craving candy, I go one place...Dylan's Candy Bar.  Just the name brings on a warm fuzzy feeling and a big smile to my face.  Drawing in kids and adults of all ages, Dylan's Candy Bar really does have something for everyone.

Located on 60th and 3rd, this candy lovers' haven takes up three entire stories.  As you enter through the large glass doors, an island in the middle of the store entirely surrounded with types of gummies awaits. That is where I go first.  The back wall is filled with chocolates...chocolate covered raisins, chocolate peanuts and chocolate covered marshmallows, just to name a few.  The bottom level holds candies from around the world and the top floor, an actual "candy bar", serving things like root beer floatinis and strawberry nerds mojitos.  My favorite is their signature hot chocolate.  It is like nothing I have ever tasted.  Next time you are in the area, stop by and try one.  I guarantee it will warm up the coldest of days.  HAPPY FRIDAY!

BRIDAL PORTRAITS + NYC ROOFTOP + FRIENDSHIP

I never realized bridal portraits were more of a southern thing...until I moved up north.  In New York and New Jersey, it seems more and more brides are opting to forgo this pre-wedding tradition.  Originally a southern girl myself, I can't help but think the idea of bridal portraits is simply beautiful.  What girl doesn't want to put on one of the most stunning dresses she will ever own and get glammed up for a photo shoot at the location of her choice?  Think of the possibilities!  Pictures of you in your dress walking beside a brilliant blue ocean, in an open field with mountains all around, or on a rooftop in New York City.  Whatever you decide, your bridal portraits are a chance for you to be photographed in a place that truly reflects who you are, looking absolutely beautiful.

When I was looking through my portfolio this fall, I couldn't help but yearn for a few bridal portraits to add to my collection.  My second shooter (and good friend) Mekina suggested putting together a stylized shoot.  I quickly agreed that it was a fabulous idea!  Now all we needed was a bride and an amazing location.  Hmmmmm.....  I looked up at Mekina with hope in my eyes and a big smile.  I didn't even have to ask before she graciously agreed to be my bride.  What an incredible friend right?!  It didn't stop there.  Mekina called our friend Kelsey and asked if she would like to participate in our shoot.  We are almost exactly the same size and I was sure she would fit into my wedding gown!  Much to my delight she agreed and the next morning we climbed up the eight flights of stairs to Mekina's rooftop for the stylized bridal shoot I had been longing for.  

We started out the bridal shoot at 5:30am.  The light was GORGEOUS!!  

Kelsey looked absolutely stunning in a cream colored Amsale ball gown and a totally unique (and totally her) handmade hairpiece.   

Mekina's smile is contagious. It is impossible to be anything but happy around her. 

This girl has the entire city at her feet.

Kelsey is the type of girl that is totally confident being herself. 

I am SO in love with this one.  

Mekina is so...well AMAZING!  She put together this entire look in one night.  Hair...make-up...dress...EVERYTHING!  Who knew a tiny no name boutique would hold such a stunning gown?

Youthful and full of hope.

Mekina walks into a room and instantly lights it up with her smile.

I couldn't resist snapping a few shots of my two beautiful friends together.  

"The gift of friendship among women is a treasure not to be taken lightly.  Women friends become the face of God to one another - the face of grace, of delight, of mercy." -Stasi Eldredge.  I was so encouraged by the fact that Mekina and Kelsey were willing to invest their time to help me grow as a photographer.  I was even more amazed at their willingness to get up so early in the morning!  You can only imagine what time their alarms went off...it takes a special kind of friend to sacrifice their beauty sleep for lil ole me!

THE BOOKSHELF : TEN

Six months ago, I read a book that completely changed my life.  Not in a way that transformed my view for a week or two after I finished reading it.  No.  This book totally altered the path I was on, putting me on a journey that I never dreamed could be possible for me.  Let me start from the beginning...

I was sitting in on the 9 a.m. service at The Life Christian Church when my Pastor, Terry Smith, announced he had written a book!  The title of the book is TEN and it asks this simple question: "On a scale from 1-10, how would you rate your life?"  The number 7 quickly popped into my head.  Maybe because 7 is my favorite number, maybe it's how I really felt.  Either way, I thought that was pretty good until I heard what Pastor Terry had to say.  He boldly questioned, "What if I told you living a TEN was possible?  Would you go for it?  Would you risk doing things differently and looking at life differently in order to achieve it?"  Wellllll....that sounded like a challenge if I ever heard one!  Not just a challenge from my Pastor, a challenge from God.  If you know me at all, you know I love a challenge.

Pastor Terry went on to explain that God has a more and better life planned for us, one more incredible than we could ever imagine.  By taking a closer look at our God-given passions and trying to use them in a way to honor Him, we could live the future that God dreamed for us.

As you can probably guess, this book is what gave me the courage to start Amy Rizzuto Photography.  I can honestly say, I have never been happier.

Today, TEN was officially released in book stores everywhere!  You can get your very own copy of TEN through Amazon here.  Also, it is conveniently available on your Kindle.  If you are looking for a good read, there is no better addition to your bookshelf than TEN.  Read it and let me know what you think!  I can't wait to hear how it changes your life.

Oh...and check out this pretty cool video about the book.  You might just see a familiar face :)

A VINTAGE NEBOWN : GIANNA

Lyndsee and Dominic are a beautiful couple.  That's why it comes to no surprise that their daughter Gianna is such a doll.  Born on December 9, 2011, Gianna is clearly the center of her parents world.

When I first spoke to Lyndsee, Gianna was only ten days old.  Like any new mom, Lyndsee was excited to document the first precious days of Gianna's life.  More than anything, Lyndsee wanted the photographs to have a soft vintage look to them.  I was BEYOND excited about this idea!  I quickly gathered together my collection of hat boxes and longest string of pearls and headed over to meet little Gianna.

Born at 6 pounds and 1 ounce, Gianna was tiny!  Once we wrapped her in soft whites and pale pinks, baby Gianna was ready for her vintage photo shoot!  Check out some of my favorites below!

Gianna is an italian name that mean's God's grace.  I can't think of a more beautiful name for a child. 

Nothing makes my heart melt like tiny little toes.  

Gianna seemed to pick up on the vibe for the vintage photo shoot as well!  She is a classic beauty in this tweed hat box.

Look at those big beautiful eyes!

I was in love with this small leather couch from the moment I saw it!  It was exactly Gianna's size!

What a sweet smile!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this one!

Almost as cute as tiny toes are little fingers!

I am going to end this post with a sweet photo of baby Gianna in her mother's arms.  Lyndsee and Dominic, your daughter is an absolute doll!  It was such a pleasure to meet your entire family.  I wish you an endless amount of happiness as you embark on this new journey together!  

GOALS FOR A NEW YEAR : 2012

It is the first day of 2012 and the time has come for this year's personal goals and resolutions!  As I was jogging today (trying to work off the insane amount of holiday food I consumed), I began thinking about things I wanted to change/accomplish for 2012.   My list is short but I hope these small changes will make a big difference in the following year.  Here is what is in store for 2012:

1.  Start waking up earlier.  So frequently I find myself working into the wee hours of the night trying to squeeze every last hour out of the day.  In 2012, I want to start waking up before the sun.  That way, I will be able to complete all of my work before 7 p.m.  This will allow me to dedicate the entire evening to hanging out with my sweet husband.

2.  Say bye to sodas!  I am absolutely addicted to Diet Coke and I hate feeling that way about anything.  I quit before and I can quit again!

3.  Read through the Bible, start to finish.  I began this goal half way through 2011 and have made it through Numbers.  I still have a long way to go and I am hoping that the extra hours in the morning will give me more time with my heavenly father.  I find that when I start my day this way, it always seems a little sunnier!

What are your goals for 2012?  I want to hear them!  Please leave a comment below or on my Facebook page here.  I can't wait to see what you have in store!