When one thinks of pillbox hats and gloves the 60’s & 70’s comes to mind, see some wonderful examples of brides wearing this look with a variety of wedding gown choices and styles and who knows you may decide that it’s a look for you. Anything pillbox there’s one very famous name from recent history associated with that look, the late Jackie Kennedy.

Did you know the woman who designed Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress was the African American fashion designer Anne Lowe? Check it out if you like fashion, now there’s a story.

Wedding planning is supposed to be fun, not stressful, right? This is why MorningStar Photography is so excited to announce a new photography special this month! We are so lucky to capture images of the most gorgeous weddings each week! And we believe the best way to showcase these images is in European Storybook Albums. In these professional albums, your photos are displayed much like a fashion magazine layout. They are truly heirlooms for generations to come.

We are announcing our European Storybook Special! It includes 7.5 hours of unlimited photography, including all images on a high resolution DVD, as well as a custom 8X12 album with 60 edited images of your choice, and three 4X5 brag-book copies of the album. Your investment is $2,899.00, a fantastic value! To book tour free consultation, contact MorningStar Photography at 1-888-294-1417

On this cold january day nothing but the warmth of love and committment could be felt at St.Joseph’s Catholic Church,with their  families in attendance it was an emotional ceremony filled with tears of joy and love. Immediately after this wonderful ceremony a beatiful rception was held at Camelot Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Carla on her wedding day

This article is not short or quick or any of the things in this computer age that we’ve all come to love, but it is the truth. This subject has been covered before; we’ve heard it all. It’s about the memories and it documents the big day.

I want to cover another group of reasons for hiring a professional. You may not have thought of it during this happy time but some of the people who attend your wedding will die. In my case my mother was already gone, killed on Christmas day 1981 by a drunk driver.

Somehow in my possessions I had an old photograph of my mother that the photographer had taken of her on her wedding day. She is standing on the steps of my grandparent’s home, smiling. In this fabulous dress, an illusion neckline with beaded lace sleeves, I saw her as a young, vibrant, beautiful woman starting a new phase of her life.

The night before my own wedding, I was fishing under my bed looking for something. All these years later I don’t remember what it was I was looking for, but I stumbled on that photo. Looking at it and seeing my mother smile back at me, I was suddenly struck hard by that image. My tears just wouldn’t stop.

In that moment, I realized why I had been on this ridiculous hunt for the “right dress” (I had tried on over fifty dresses by this time) and why certain plans about my wedding were so important. She would not be there to see me get married.

Our Wedding Day

Yesterday, a client whose wedding was very recent called to say her mother was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. Treatments have failed, and she is not expected to live much longer. My bride is in her mid twenties and her mother is still young – only in her forties.

I’m reminded once again why what we do here is so important. It’s more than documenting a day. It’s giving those who survive a glimpse of the person as we capture them in life. A smile, a look, a tender moment shared.

At MorningStar we have been the people with the last photgraph of the young husband who died suddenly, only weeks after saying “I do”. Weddings are also the place where families, who often haven’t seen each other over many years, gather to share a happy occasion.

Whether you select MorningStar or someone else to photography your wedding, I urge you, the bride, to consider all this day means. Maybe you aren’t thinking of the children you will have right now, or the loved ones you may some day lose. Some day, however, long after the dress is packed away and the flowers have withered and died, a child may ask you, “Momma, can I see pictures from your wedding?”

MorningStar Photography is based in Columbia, MD and serves the Continental United States, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

April Wedding Updates

The wedding season has begun and good fortune has smiled upon MorningStar Photography once again. We have some great couples and weddings to tease you with; enjoy the images.

Roxanne and Bernard:

A fun wedding reception held at the famous Scottish Rites Temple in Baltimore MD, on Saturday April 18 2009. Roxanne and Bernie used the impeccable services of Blush Weddings LLC; Tameka Smallwood was their personal planner. A gathering of family and friends in a traditional Filipino wedding ceremony that included the traditional cord tying ceremony symbolizing the infinite bond of marriage.

Roxanne dazzled everyone as she strolled down the aisle at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in a sassy, elegant wedding dress her untraditional headpiece causing a double take by onlookers fabulous is all we can say, not to be outdone Bernard wore gray suit with a white tie. The groomsman wore ties that picked up details from the dresses of the bridesmaids, could we say a new trend?

Sarai and Dorian:

This wedding reception held at on Saturday April 18 2009 at Great Occasions in Baltimore screamed we are here to have a great time. The bride and groom’s personal style stole the day; Sarai wore a stunning white beaded, sequined and strapless gown, and Dorian the handsome groom also stole the show by wearing a white tuxedo with an off white/silver vest.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen wore white a definite break with tradition, as the photos reveal a fantastic time was had by everyone who attended the reception.

Amanda and Michael:

Over the top fun this wedding held on Saturday April 18 2009 at the Sheraton North Hotel Baltimore MD was as delightful an event as the couple themselves. Amanda and Michael planned on having a great time with their family and friends and that is exactly what happened.  

Amanda did what all brides do, stealing the show in a sheet style gown cascading in lace and beads; she did not disappoint with the cathedral length veil that flowed behind her. Michael, debonair in a black tuxedo, completed this very handsome pair.

Sheraton provided outstanding service to the couple along with a number of out of town guests who remained for the festivities over the week end.

Judge Glenda Hatchett Speaks

The Honorable Judge Glenda Hatchett inspires, challenges and moves to tears.

She said to those in attendance that sometimes you don’t choose your passion, it chooses you. She told the story of finally arriving at a very powerful post at Delta Airlines as the highest ranking African American woman litigating cases for the company in federal court when she was “called” for her current mission and how she prayed about this calling.

MorningStar Photography was honored to capture not only the range of emotions that Judge Hatchett expressed in the still images we have of her but we were moved and reminded to focus on our goals as individuals and as a company. Part of her speech covered an area we all particularly enjoyed “hurdles and haters” reminding once again that in  life if you have dreams and visions you will not succeed without facing these two prominent issues .

There will be hurdles; there will be those who hate you for the passion you bring to the table.   She assigned us all homework, not as simple as it seems “what is it that you have wanted to do, but haven’t?”

Her statement at the closing of so many of her cases “I expect great things from you” is a reminder to demand from ourselves that which is great and wonderful in us.  For as we know, greatness slumbers within each and every one of us.

Judge Hatchett is photographed with honorees: Delegate Jill P. Carter, Esq., First Lady Leslie Johnson (wife of PG County Executive Jack B. Johnson) Desiree Callender, Lillian B.Holt, R.Christol Williams, Sharon Jarrett owner of Jarrett Affairs, Inc and the producer of ” Pretty In Pinstripes”  Carla Rein co-founder & co-owner MorningStar Photography is also photographed with the Honorable Judge Glenda Hatchett.

Saturday March 21^st 2009 The Camelot, Upper Marlboro MD

For more information on MorningStar Photography visit www.morningstarphotography.com

For more information on The Honorable Judge Glenda Hatchett visit www.glendahatchett.com

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