I am very thankful for the weddings I have been chosen to cover. I enjoy what I do very much and I feel honored to be part of a couples very special day. I have always wanted to offer something significant, as a way of giving back. This idea has been swirling in my head for over a year now. The time is now – so please share this link with a deserving couple. The image below is from Cathy Shaffstall and Brandon Barter’s recent wedding held at Anchorage’s Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center.  Read on!

This is my first time offer and one way of giving back. I will be photographing a wedding, for no charge, sometime next year. Ideally the winning couple may have experienced a hardship or simply cannot afford to hire a photographer for their special day. However, anyone who meets the requirements is eligible.

Rules are:
1. Couple must be getting married in 2011 and must have date & location set and be within 100 miles of Anchorage. Sorry – the month of June 2011 is excluded.
2. You must send me your story telling me why you deserve to have your wedding photographed for free – your story must be true.
3. Submit a recent photograph of you both.
4. The final 3 couples & their stories will be posted on my blog and my Facebook Group, entitled: Renee Vanni Images – Complementary Wedding Coverage on December 11th of 2010 for people to vote. If you are on Facebook, join my temporary group above, and help spread the word to your friends.

Deadline for entries will be December 11, 2010.

5. Email your photo and story to: vannimages@yahoo.com
6. The winning couple will be announced on Thursday, December 30, 2010.
7. Good luck!

This offer will be of no cost to the deserving couple. However, some limitations will apply. Maximum number of wedding coverage will be 7 hours. You will also receive all images on DVD with reprinting license.

Dave, in the purple T,  is doing everything to make sure that his bride has her dream wedding and that their family & friends attend a good old fashioned hoe-down! They are all musicians so there will be a musical band for this big party. They are expecting about 200 guests.

Dang, coolest looking microphone! It’s a work of art, in itself.

What a gorgeous scene. This will be the backdrop for the wedding alter.

This scene below really made me chuckle. The small mower among the massive green fields. I heard the riding lawn mower broke down. It seems there are always small wrenches thrown into even the most perfectly planned events.

This is the lovely bride-to-be and her precious grandbaby, Hannah. Hannah is bundle of joy and I cannot wait to photograph this little angel, with those big blue eyes and dimples in her fluffy dress and white cowgirl boots.

These are the birch logs pieces that have been cut for the table centerpieces. They will be stuffed with floral arrangements.

Miss Hannah was very excited to show off her white boots and dress off to all of us. Her pants got soaked so Deb wrapped her up in this colorful make-shift sarong.

The kids were constantly trying to lure the wild baby bunnies from underneath the house. It kept them busy all day. It brought back memories from my own childhood, where my brother and I would set up a home made rabbit trap with a wooden box and string. We never got one but always seemed to think we could.

Their pal, Dave, of Dimond D Leather, hand tooled a leather guitar strap for groom-to-be, Dave’s guitar. Gorgeous craftsmanship and designed for his birthday gift.

Everyone flew in for this Alaskan destination wedding held at Girdwood’s Alyeska Resort. Which says a lot about the couple, that so many people came from various areas across the country and even her brother arrived from Germany.  I enjoy all weddings but I laughed so hard throughout most of this event. Absolutely everyone was such a blast to be around. This entire group provided great entertainment, from the animated tossing of the bouquet, to the groom shocking his bride by pulling out the hugest pair of white panties I have ever seen – from underneath her dress – instead of the garter. I heard that was Erin’s mom’s doing. Even the group of guests provided a surprise dance act for the couple. Absolutely hysterical!

When I saw the special dance the couple performed, I cried. Thank gawd, it was dark. Their dance was a beautiful fluid of movement as the bride walked around the groom and then went in for a swift twirl and dip, complete with rose. Afterwards, Erin and her dad got onto the dance floor, entertainment provided by the talented, M&M Productions of Anchorage. Spend the money on your top entertainment vendors, they provide the best party atmosphere!

The Bride & Groom left the log cabin church by a vintage 1950’s mercedes. Very special automobile with red leather tuck & roll interior.

It rained really hard in Girdwood that day. Cocktail hour was held outside on covered patio. Despite the rains, we slipped outside for romantic photographs and even managed to plan time taking the tram up to the top for champagne and more photographs. Erin & Shaun really appreciated this time to enjoy each other before the big party.

Erin wore Maggie Sottero. Her wedding veil with beading, was exquisite for the ceremony but she switched for a feathered hair embellishment for the party.

The Groom wore a cream shirt with cream coloured tie. Very classy. Flowers were designed by Cory Carroll, Works of Art. A really talented floral designer.

The wedding colours were citrus oranges, yellows and greens. So happy and warm. The cake design was by Alaska Cake Studio.

These two looked so relaxed and so very happy. I think that they knew their event was perfectly planned. When you hire top vendors, including a reputable wedding planner, and set aside time for photographs, you truly get to enjoy your party, stress free. As it should be. The couple honeymooned in Greece. I cannot wait to see their dreamy vacation photos.

At the last moment, Erin reached ever so smoothly for a rose, hidden in a strategic spot, what a class act!

The DJ of M&M Productions, started the song, “Butterfly

kisses . . .” then quickly, r-i-i-i-ip, I heard the needle come off the lp, (so to speak) and the DJ announces that he slipped, “sorry folks, lets’ try that again . . . ” and this wild song comes on. Both Erin and her dad broke into these crazy fun dance moves as they pranced to the song they really intended to dance to, which was, “Land of 1000 Dances” by Wilson Pickett. What a hoot!

It was the end of the evening, and I saw the couple try to sneak away so I followed them. Erin placed a “Do Not Disturb” sign out and as I tried to gain entry to their suite for more just one more photograph, Erin gives me that look with the raise of her eyebrow and says, “Renee, I think that we can take it from here. Night now . . . ”