A new blog site, to simplify life!

 http://www.lizardnickel.com

The post I’m Moving first appeared on The Lizard Blog.

poncho, skirt: Anthropologie

preggers t-shirt: Etsy shop, Strong Confident You

The post Just a little announcement… first appeared on The Lizard Blog.

1. Did you know that you can have your ceremony at Tintern Abbey?!! I assumed it was a no-go until I visited and asked in person. They obviously can’t allow receptions there because of the delicate state that the ruins are in, but can you imagine a more gorgeous setting for a destination wedding? Oh, and by the way, the drive in is absolutely stunning, and you’re near SO many B&B’s and restaurants, not to mention florists and caterers. You’re also surrounded by hilly Wales scenery (which is unbeatable), so you could easily have your reception outdoors. (May want to consider renting a tent in case of rain–The grass is that green for a reason!)

2. Yearning for a destination wedding, but don’t want to leave the country? You need to know about Mackinac Island, if you don’t already! The Grand Hotel there is incredible, and provides you with the most perfect upscale venue! Not only is it gorgeous, but the whole island is extremely preserved–no cars are even allowed on the island, making it the perfect quiet getaway for such a special occasion. You and your guests can have the ceremony, reception, and accommodations all in one place, which is fantastic when you’re in an area unfamiliar to you!

3. The Peterson House in Pokolbin NSW (Australia) is a fantastic urban twist on a winery venue. Whether you drink or not, this backdrop is modern and sleek, but also allows for some awesome photos in the vineyard surrounded by gorgeous green vines! With just a 2 hour drive to Sydney, your guests will have PLENTY to do to make a whole vacation out of it, and you’ll have a myriad of honeymoon destinations available just at your fingertips.

4. While we’re over in that direction, let’s take a look at the Tarureka Estate in New Zealand. For a cool-toned twist on a barn wedding, this is your place! Not only can you have the wedding there, but the property can accommodate several guests as well! Also…c’mon. You’re in New Zealand. It’s not like you’ll have to search for amazing backdrops.

5. Camp Tapawingo in Toronto, Canada–look no further for a unique venue. Their website is not the most enticing, so I’ll leave you with a link to Wedding Bells, who published a wedding that took place at the venue.  This would be especially great for a couple who is all about the outdoors. Plus, Canada is so accessible from the US, you may have more luck with friends and relatives who are able to join you on your big day!(See the publication here)

I hope this helps! I sure had fun putting it all together

With joy, Lizard.

The post Top 5 Alternative Destination Venues for Your Wedding first appeared on The Lizard Blog.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Gantenbein!! This gorgeous bride married her Mister yesterday, and the whole celebration was full of love, support, and of course GORGEOUS details. I can’t wait to post images from the big day, but until then I am so happy to finally share Jordan’s bridal session from Phoenix, Arizona! You can view the whole gallery at www.lizardnickel.shootproof.com until December 1, 2015. Enjoy! And remember to follow me on Instagram @LizardNickelPhotography

With joy, Lizard.

The post Jordan the Bride first appeared on The Lizard Blog.

To view the entire gallery of images until August 1st, visit www.lizardnickel.shootproof.com

Ceremony: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church

Reception: The Horseshoe Arena

With joy, Lizard.

The post Mr. and Mrs. McDermett first appeared on The Lizard Blog.

Unfortunately, there is no special formula, but I do have some great tips on how to make your photos fit within your space.  Social media has made it so easy to forget the importance of actually printing out your wedding photos, but just think in twenty years, when you are sifting through your online gallery, trying to find that one special memory…it could have been hanging in your home, for all of your guests to admire that whole time!

For this Wedding Hint Wednesday, I put together just a few ideas on how to hang your wedding photos once they’ve been printed and framed.

With joy, Lizard.

The post WEDDING HINT WEDNESDAY: HOW TO HANG YOUR WEDDING PHOTOS first appeared on The Lizard Blog.

All that deep, philosophical “feelings stuff” aside, here are a few definite winners for an engagement session look. Remember, as always, none of my rules are RULES. The best things happen when you stay true to your own style!

1. DON’T match. The white t-shirts and jeans look can be reserved for the obligatory beach family photo, and only that. Matching your fiancé for the photos was, like, totally rad in the 90’s, but photography has come a long way since then, and our clothes have, too!

INSTEAD…Complement. Have a solid green tee you love? Find a button-down red plaid shirt for him. Red and green look great together in photos, and not just at Christmas! Other color combos that will make you drool are Blues & Whites, Purples & Reds, Yellow & Greys. Maybe try to stay away from Orange with Red, or other clashing shades of a similar color.

QUICK TIP: If you have a patterned top or dress, find the color that’s in that pattern the least and have him wear that color.

2. DON’T wear logos. I’m not talking about a tiny Nike check, but if either of you is wearing something with large writing on it, like a sports team T-shirt, it can be very distracting in a photo. Another problem is that your head, arm, etc. may cover part of the word during a shot and cause confusion, and even some unlucky profanity if your photographer isn’t careful! Nobody wants that on a Save the Date.

INSTEAD…wear solids and/or patterns. Don’t be afraid to be trendy in your engagement photos ensemble. Stripes with polka dots in this year? Go for it. And we all remember the chevron obsession. Mint and coral ring any bells? Who cares if it won’t be in style forever. These photos are capturing who you are TODAY, and your whole style, classic or trendy, should be captured along with your love. Patterns create texture in a photo, and solids can be extremely flattering when worn wisely.

QUICK TIP: Tons of online clothing stores have free live consultants to chat with while you shop. Tell them you need a whole outfit that will look great in photos, and see what they can come up with for you—You never know!

3. DON’T over-accessorize. <Disclaimer*Unless that’s totally how you roll, every day. Then go for it.> While a great statement necklace, or a collection of stacking rings can go a long way, you don’t want to go so nuts with it all that the jewelry ends up wearing you. Be easy, be you!

INSTEAD…Focus on a few small details. Handpieces <Bracelet rings, hand-ring—it has many names> are gorgeous, airy, and catch light in really beautiful ways! If bohemian’s not your thing, then go with a strong bangle or chunky necklace to amp up your look. Less is <usually> more in this case.

QUICK TIP: Anthropologie, Free People, and Etsy are just a few of the many great places to find some awesomely unique pieces!

Still feel lost? COMMUNICATE with your fiancé and your photographer on specific activities that you and he love to do together. Are you Netflix junkies? How cute would a “movie night and pajamas” engagement session be?! Love cooking together or walking the dog? Use these “points of interest” as the main theme in your session. Cool, Pinterest-worthy photos await you! Speaking of which, check out this Pinterest Board for more What to Wear ideas!

With joy, Lizard.

The post What to Wear When You Get Shot: Engagement Photos first appeared on The Lizard Blog.

With joy, Lizard.

The post Wedding Hint Wednesday: Wedding Planning Timeline first appeared on The Lizard Blog.

1. This first one is for the eco-friendly at heart. Stay in a Sustainable Rainforest Ecolodge which happens to look just like a treehouse!

2. This destination oozes romance. Find yourself in a small little beach town on the coast of England at The Scarlett and you might never come back!

3. Don’t hesitate to be a giver. Joining a team to build a Habitat for Humanity house can be rewarding and inspiring as you begin life together after the wedding.

4. Have you considered a trip to DC? You won’t regret visiting a place so rich in history that provides endless site-seeing opportunities at your fingertips.

5. You  need to get away, but you’ve established that you can’t go too far? Consider The Mountain Home Inn in Mill Valley, CA where quiet and peaceful is guaranteed and nature’s beauty leaves you breathless.

6. The Hilton Head Island is perfect for those who know some of the most fabulous beaches can indeed be found in the states. Before you know it, you’ll have a crush on this adventurous and relaxing destination.

I hope I’ve inspired your honeymoon! It is safe to say my travel bug has grown significantly! If you need a few more ideas my Honeymoon Pinterest board won’t let you down.

With joy, Lizard.

The post Wedding Hint Wednesday: Alternative Honeymoon Ideas first appeared on The Lizard Blog.

“Our goal for our wedding day was to have fun and celebrate with our closest friends and family. We designed our reception around our number one goal- spend the most time possible on the dance floor. We prioritized that from the beginning. Celebration guided all of our decisions- we picked a venue [Balmorhea Events] that was big enough for a big dance floor, we had lots of sparkles, found an amazing DJ [Jonny Black Productions], we included as many people as we could, and I even picked a dress [Maggie Sottero] that had some stretch in it so I could dance.

The day was more than we knew to hope for. We felt incredibly loved, supported and celebrated. Some of the sweetest moments for me were:

1. Getting ready with my best friends and having time to relax with them.
2. After family pictures, our photographer took some shots of us- Those moments that we had to just hug and laugh and say ‘WE DID IT!’ were so sweet!
3. We didn’t do a cake tasting and I didn’t know much about flowers so when I saw the flowers and ate the cake-I was blown away! My bouquet [from Bramble & Bee] was GORGEOUS and our cake [Baytown Cakes] was delicious.”

Of course, I can’t talk about the Houston’s wedding without mentioning…THE DANCING. So. Much. Dancing. Seriously, I have never photographed a wedding reception like this! Come within a few feet of the dance floor, and your body would have just absorbed the unbridled joy that was happening over there. In the words of Sophia Grace: SO GOOD.

With joy, Lizard.

The post Greg & Stephanie’s Gorgeous Outdoor Wedding first appeared on The Lizard Blog.