The Wagners were in celebration mode. It was five years ago that John and a small team ventured to establish a  high-end broker and consulting company that focuses exclusively on the risks associated with construction and real estate companies. So, the power boys were there to celebrate and they did it in style at Baltimore’s Marriott Waterfront. The entire evening was total class from start to finish . . . executed seamlessly by designer Karen Stott of KS Designs and event planners, Jodie Limsky and Sue Green of Event Planning Resources. They know how to run events. Period.

Sunset VIP cocktail party on the 31st floor . . . quite nice.

City life does have its appeal.

Oh wait. The view out the other window.

Classical guitar to die for . . . all about the mood.

John and Suzanne  . . . magic together.

Entertainment Exchange’s Free Spirit knows how to work the crowd. That dance floor was full all night. Agent, Vicki Preston knows how to pick em.

CEO Chaplain, Mike Donohue . . . well, it’s a classical allusion to be sure.

The effervescent Wagner ladies . . . Shannon, Courtney, and Nicole.

Corporate done right. With a sense of humor.

Yes. Photo booth fun.

Enter Peter Krug, to whom I explained my vision, and a week later my glass work space floated weightlessly. haha! Artistic perfection. Ummm, Peter’s, not mine.

Quickly,  I invited myself into Peter’s studio, wanting to share his gift with the world. Peter Krug, owner of  the oldest ironworks factory in the United States. His family’s work has graced Baltimore’s Washington Monument, Johns Hopkins University, and the Basilica of the Assumption.

Our challenge? To create and capture light. Shutter drag, long lens, and strobe flash were all considerations. And Peter was a gamer to play along.

The view from Peter’s studio. Right out front, smack in the middle of the city. That cute lil red number?  I’ll call it “the oooo . . . oooo . . . pick me!”  That’s my choice. Yep.

Neighborhood flava. That yellow wall just makes me smile from the inside out. Yeah, I love my quirky girl, Bmore.

Perfect color palette for beautiful Brooke . . .the sunshine just streams out of her spirit. Obviously Ryan is drawn to the light. It was obvious in the way that he was  overwhelmed with pure joy the entire night. I kept smiling as I’d find Ryan at different points in the night holding Brooke’s sassy yellow heels . . . or her gorgeous bouquet.

Madeline Flack of Madelines Flowerworks of Roland Park realized Brooke’s desire to hold sunshine in her hands.

Marcie Lenick was the designer for the event. She and lighting designer Michael Poist absolutely transformed the space at Crossroads Community Church. It was jaw dropping gorgeous. I am a firm believer that it’s all about the light and the details. . . creating the atmosphere. And Marcie and Michael . . . they know their craft.

How’s that for the face of “I can’t believe this beauty is mine!”

Greg Miller officiated  a beautiful marriage service. At one point the parents of Brooke and Ryan surrounded them for a private time of prayer. They have such a sure foundation on which to begin their lives together. What love . . . what a gift.

Jennifer Pearre created the cake.

Brooke and Ryan, it was a honor to document the beginning of your union. What a perfect way to send out 2011 . . . and welcome in new possibilities.

View the gallery here . . .

I was over the moon thrilled when HUM’s Kris Sharrar invited me to join  Deb Poquette and Valarie Wideman to help plan the Christmas meal. The dangling carrot for me? I would get to invite my NACE friends to join me . . . and I know that when I get those guys involved, beautiful things result.

I’m humbled. Truly humbled. Just look and see for yourself. And if you’re at all inclined and want a partner to visit HUM with you . . . just call my name:)

It was all about the guys at HUM, the way it should be . . . but please indulge me while I brag on those generous friends that donated their time and resources . ..

Baltimore’s award winning 2011 Philanthropist of the Year top chef, Jerry Edwards, and his team from  Chef’s Expressions cooked for two days alongside HUM’s Richard Sullivan and his team. Chef’s Expressions brought along complete table settings for 400+ meals, cause that’s how they roll. Coupled with gorgeous linens complements of Tony Barbar at Let’s Do Linens and floral decor by Eddie Wingrat at Flowers and Fancies, the HUM dining room was transformed. See that family ready to serve? They’re mine.

After  full week of event after event, Chef’s Expression’s Chef John wore that smile all night long.

Little Miss Lily Freundel wore her smile all night as well, handing out candy favors provided by Staci Summers, former owner of Haute Cocoa.

My girl Staci Summers.

Our guy, Brian Roberts, the evening’s host and  HUM regular . . . well, he’s the real deal. There to encourage the guys, and, WOW, his message on that night? so powerful. really so powerful.

NACE rockstar servers, Vicki Preston of Entertainment Exchange, Elizabeth Bailey of EB Weddings, The Skippers of Black Tie Video . . .

East Hill Video’s Daniel Watson Bey and our adopted brother, Jerome Dorn . . .

The amazing Tori Morse quartet . . .playin’ some Coldplay . . .

Brian and Jerome:)

Chef Reggie Camphor and HUM’s Frankie Moses . . .

Wedding 411 on Demand’s beautiful Karen Buck . . . the pie girl . . . joined  by her dashing husband, Jay . . .

my dad. that’s all I’m gonna say. yep. my dad.

All the fun  Minneapolis has to offer in in a double trouble package. Two Popes Film’s Greg and Jerry Pope. They could draw the story out of a paper plate. and it would be funny. Wanna laugh? Go onto their site and look at their commercials. Promise.

Sarah Hinsche served it up with a smile. The whole Hinsche clan was in on the evening. Tim, superstar photographer got all these shots, and the kids and Sarah worked all night long. Go team Hinsche!

HUM’s Bob Gehman, the man with the biggest heart in the city . . .

powerful. heartfelt. real deal.

Valarie Wideman and Deb Poquette . . . keeping it running smoothly:)

Diana and Brian took time with each man.

Even my little man, Will.   This was the photo op of his dreams:)

HUM’s Kris Sharrar gives the love right back.

Yeah, it was pretty much a big Roberts love fest:) . . . These kids were amazing helpers. The future of my girl, Bmore is in some good hands.

View the entire gallery here.

Thank you to those who donated their time and resources . . .

Vicki Preston, Entertainment Exchange

Ed Shilling

Staci Summer, Haute Coaco

The Carl Freundel family

Jerry and Greg Pope, TwoPopes Film

The Tim Hinsche family, Tim Hinsche photography

Elizabeth Bailey, Elizabeth Bailey Weddings

Victoria Clausen, Romance of Flowers

Eddie Wingrat, Flowers and Fancies

Jerry Edwards, Chef’s Expressions

Tony Barbar, Let’s Do Linens

Bowtie Bob Nelson

Jean Mayer and Emily Villarreal, Boutique Events

Evelyn and Daniel Watson Bey, East Hill Video

Adan Van Bavel

Stephanie Bradshaw, Bradshaw Styling

Whitney Downs and Laur Fosler, Westin Annapolis

Danielle Baird

Johari Barnes

Julie Brown-Edwards

The Jim Skipper Family, Black Tie Video

Karen and Jay Buck, Wedding 411 on Demand

But Caroline, my Caroline. . . yeah, I want her on my roster:)

Check out the whole stinkin’ cute gallery right here. . . .and Caroline’s girlfriends . . . right click and snag away:)

And she, being full of spark, full of life and full of firecracker, feigned frustration, tersely quipping that he was putting undo pressure on her only a month before Christmas to pull off the impossible. How rude. How selfish.

Karen called me with a giggle in her voice. I drove out to their incredible cabin in the woods on a rainy weekday, careful to time it so that I would not run into him. Yes, he comes home to lunch with his girl.

It took about ten minutes with Karen to know that she’d have pulled off that little mad act perfectly. Boy, she loves her man. We got it done. Plenty of time to spare.

Wondering if you still have time, reader, to pull off that perfect Christmas gift?

YOU DO. GO FOR IT. I’LL HELP.

Every detail was fully realized at their mid autumn sunset wedding on the grounds of historic Gramercy Mansion. Erin and Tyler planned a vintage wedding . . . 40′s retro with a funky twist. The one detail they couldn’t control was the light.   So, Erin called  me in to flesh out a bit of their photography; to do a bit of light chasing with them.  I’m  really fond of two things . . . light chasing and leading lines . . .oh,  and funkycool bridal couples . . . and nontraditional weddings with garnet rings.  Yep. Erin + Tyler, I love the way you roll:)

Blissful Liz. She’s my dream client. She loves photography, and had walked her gorgeous farmland to scope out spots for us well in advance of our scheduled session.  So for this one, dear reader, Elizabeth shares in the outcome.

Icing on the cake for me?? When I walked into her home, her mom came out from around the corner, smiling cheek to cheek,  and low and behold, it was my friend from high school, Bonnie Ebaugh. LOL!  That’s serendipity . . . Carroll County style . . . and I love it!

Salisbury U or Gettysburg College . . . that’s the dream. Sociology . . . that’s the call. A pretty sweet fit, I’d say. Elizabeth, can I just tell you? Beautiful through and through.

It conjures kisses and disses, but for Lauren and Robert the kisses have it. Decades after first love at 15, they reunited and reignited.  No letting it slide this time,  despite the inconvenience of those long states that separated them. They revisited their old haunts, recreated their first dates and knew very quickly. The night before the wedding she gave him a piece of ocean glass she’d been saving for her future one and only.   It was written all over them all night long. That connection that kept shouting, “There you are! . . .  I’ve waited so long for you.” Actually, DMB said it best during their last dance . . . “Eyes closed, we’re gonna spin through the stars/ Our arms wide as the sky/ We’re  gonna ride the blue all the way to the end of the world.” Best part? They are at the beginning of their world. The best place to be, IMO.

Grace . . . the gift of  your very own daughter being your very own maid of honor.

Canterbury Strings bliss.

The locket that holds the key to her past. dad and stepdad.

Sea glass love letter. Bet it’s still in his pocket.

Overhills Mansion in Catonsville, Maryland. Dusk.

Besties.

Got each other’s backs.

Always have.

All a girl needs is one true blue.

The apples and the trees.

Have I mentioned? . . . .I love my life:)