When I saw these cupcake stands online, I just knew that I had to share them with you … they are absolutely adorable, and they would be great for a wedding, bridal shower or even for a sweet addition to your holiday decor. These originally came from a blog in Brazil, so cupcakes are definitely winning the world over due to their charm. Enjoy this cute, easy DIY!!

Pin It

Pin It

Here are the super easy instructions!

1. Go to your local craft store, and purchase some heavy cardstock. There is such a variety of patterns and colors available nowadays that you should surely be able to find something that will coordinate with your theme or decor.

2. Click for the downloadable template, and print it on paper so that you can use it as a pattern.

Pin It

3. Trace your pattern onto the cardstock (choose one topper … either the scalloped or the round), and cut it out, being sure to cut the slits into the base.

4. Assemble the cupcake stand by inserting the base pieces into each other.

5. Lightly run glue along the top of the base, and adhere the top to the base.

6. Put a cupcake on top, and enjoy the site before you devour your cupcake.

Isn’t that just the cutest? I can even see it going beyond weddings and holidays to baby showers and birthday parties … adorable, and I hope you enjoyed this posting as much as I did finding it for you!!

The holidays are upon us, and I know I have to be careful about what I am eating … cute and delicious cupcakes are not the only food temptation out there! If you need help getting ready for your big day or just want to be put on the right track towards a healthy lifestyle, be sure to contact TCP Nutrition … what a great way to get through the holidays and start out the new year on the right foot.

Love doesn’t end with the wedding … thank goodness for that, right!? I enjoy seeing couples in love long after they have said their vows, and that is what our Everyday Love photo postings are about. Josh and Tasha have been married for a little over three years, and Adam Barnes of Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography captured this lovely couple in and around Lynchburg. You can just see the love in their eyes, and it is fun to see their laughter and the smiles on their faces!

Here is a little about their love story in Josh’s own words: We met during college and dated most of our time at school. After we graduated, Tasha moved to Connecticut to start her masters at the University of Connecticut, and I moved to New York for a job. We got engaged in the fall during a trip back to Lynchburg. A year later we married and made Lynchburg our home!

Josh also offers some sage advice for those of you who are engaged or newly wed: Find wise counsel. Marriage is hard work, and we have found that the people who are speaking truth into our lives have made a huge difference. With that said, marriage is also a lot of fun, so don’t take yourself too seriously.

Thank you, Josh for the great advice for our Hill City Bride readers! I wish you and Tasha the best, and have many more years of happiness in your marriage.

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Pin It

Feel free to view more of Adam’s work (and his beautiful website … truly a treat!) by clicking here to go straight to Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography. I am glad to have Adam on board as a trusted Hill City Bride photographer!

Hello friends! I am excited to share with you another suggestion to help assure you will get the most out of your wedding day photography. This is something I really believe makes a huge difference in your photography experience, so I am eager to get right to it. But, real quick, if you ever have any questions or comments about anything that I write, please feel free to leave them in the comment area. I would love to hear your feedback! Okay, onto this month’s topic …

I cannot stress enough the importance of scheduling an engagement session with your choice wedding photographer. Though brides often think the only result of an engagement session is the final pictures, there really are many reasons an engagement session is beneficial to both the couple and the photographer. If your wedding day photography is important to you, an engagement session should be right near the top of your wedding planning priorities.

Pin It

Getting to Know Your Photographer

Each photographer is different in the way they approach a session. Preparing for the session, interacting with the couple, and even setting up shots can all be done in different ways producing a different end product. No matter how an engagement session is handled, chances are very good your photographer will treat your wedding day photography in a similar fashion. An engagement session offers a great chance for you to experience being in front of your photographer’s camera and get a feel of how the pictures will flow on your wedding day. Doing this before your wedding day really helps to shake any “picture-taking” nerves ahead of time.

Pin It

Give Your Photographer the Opportunity to Get to Know You

The biggest reason I highly suggest booking an engagement session with each of my clients is because it gives me the opportunity to learn how my clients interact with each other in front of the camera. Sometimes they want to kiss in front of the camera, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they are afraid they are going to look awkward in the pictures, sometimes they prefer to model for me. Every couple is unique in the way that they behave in front of the camera. Knowing this information before the wedding day is crucial in my finding ways to encourage natural interaction between a bride and groom.

Pin It

See the Quality of Product Beforehand

From a client perspective, this may be the most beneficial aspect of booking an engagement session. Through the final product, you are able to see the photographer’s vision of the relationship between you and your fiancée.  In addition, you can observe some other things that may matter to you as well. Things like the turnaround time, the quality of any products you purchase (guestbooks, prints, etc) and general customer service. All of these things can help you decide if you want to continue with your decision to hire that person as the photographer of your wedding day.

I hope you can see that there are more benefits to booking an engagement session than just receiving the final prints. If you want to get the most out of your wedding day photography, I would highly suggest you book an engagement session and treat it as a trial run for your big day.

‘Til next time!

Thank you again, Liz, for your sage advice! To read her other “Point of View” columns, just click here, and to take a peek at her photography, head on over to the Sincerely, Liz: Photography website … you will be glad you did! All of the work within this posting is Liz’s.