Renee Vanni Images

Cathy Shaffstall & Brandon Barter are Married!

I was honored to have been chosen to photograph Cathy Shaffstall & Brandon Barter’s wedding event. We got together to photograph their engagement last Fall season and got some fabulous images together. So I knew they are a gorgeously fun couple. Just delicious together. Recently, they were married at the The Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, Alaska. It was a larger wedding than I usually photograph with somewhere around 400 guests. While processing these images, I now realize that this was truly the Alaskan wedding event of the year!  What a party. The couple are honeymooning in sunny Mexico. Enjoy this sneak peek.

When the handsome groom, Brandon, decided to have a cigar, he had a bevy of beauties jump in to light him up!

Anyhow, this couple had every major vendor for this big event. Not only was it a huge affair with guests from all over the country but held in the greatest venue of the state, The Dena’ina Center, had the best entertainment company, Shawn of  Five Star, who kept things rolling smoothly, Kory of Superstar Pastry designed the incredible cake, (she is so darn cute & a wildly talented baker) and the videography provided by the very talented team of Cameo Productions Alaska. Cathy’s personal wedding planner, was Liz Hron, of  Married in Alaska.

Cathy wore an exquisite gown design by Maggie Sottero. Many of my brides tend to wear Maggie Sottero but Cathy truly looked every part, Diva! The dress looked as if it were made just for her. Her hair design was the talented Kerry of Shear Gallery – my own hair dresser.

This wedding event was also covered by the media company, Pacific Rim Media of Alaska. Super cool team of people. Yes, all weddings are fun but this was an incredible party with giant ice sculptures, several chocolate fountains, champagne fountain, superb food, oh my goodness, there were flowers, flowers and more flowers! Those floral designs provided by Anchorage Floral. The floral scents just filled both the ceremony and party rooms. Just incredible beauty and such colour!!

Simple elegance! Gawd, this bride is just gorgeous.

You know, I can do the formal poses, but in all honesty, I am really all about the more casual elegance as in the one below this formal shot where Cathy is laughing.

I mean, really, look how comfortable she is. Just grand beauty.

Signature cocktails were cosmopolitans and margaritas!

Below is Kerry of Shear Gallery and her mom, Cathy Novotney.

Cake design by Kory of Superstar Pastry. It was about 5 layers high.

Such extravagance, even the ladies room was decorated with all of these little splashes of floral bouquets. Fun.