As I pen this last blog post in 2012, I can’t help but feel incredibly thankful for this chapter in my life.  This year I have had the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing people.  EVER.  To all of my sweet couples this past year, thank you for allowing me to be such a big part of one of the most beautiful days of your lives.  Thank you for sharing your love stories, welcoming me into your lives, and for making me feel like family.  I am excited to be able to call you my friends, and I can’t wait to see the fabulous things in store for your futures together.  Before turing the page to 2013, I want to look back on some of my favorite moments from 2012.  I hope you enjoy journeying through 2012: A Year in Review as much as I do!

Thank you again to all of my amazing couples who give me the opportunity to do what I love so much!  I am forever grateful for your love, trust, and support.  Wishing you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR and many happy years to come.

Say goodbye to the turkeys and hello to candy canes and twinkling lights…BECAUSE CHRISTMAS IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!  In honor of my favorite holiday, I have decided to hold a contest that will trump all other contests for years to come!  That’s right!  One lucky couple will WIN a FREE Two Hour Holiday Photo Session, photographed by Amy Rizzuto Photography (that’s me!), and styled by wedding planner extraordinaire, Mekina Saylor of Picture This Plan That!  Want to learn more?  Check out all the juicy details below. 🙂

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THE GRAND PRIZE  ($950.00 value)

This styled holiday session will include:

Two hours of shooting with Amy Rizzuto Photography

Minimum of 50 professionally edited, high resolution images to be shared in an online gallery

Winner will receive digital downloads of high resolution images with the right to print and share photographs on Facebook

25 FREE Christmas cards with your favorite photograph (to be chosen on December 9th and delivered by December 15th…just in time to send them out for the holidays!)

Styling by event/wedding planner Mekina Saylor of Picture This Plan That

Styling will include all props, food, accessories, etc. to convey a festive holiday theme

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CONTEST TIMELINE

All times mentioned are in Eastern Standard Time.

Accepting Submissions: Friday, November 23rd at 9:00 a.m. to Sunday, December 2nd at 11:59 p.m.

Voting Period: Monday, December 3rd at 9:00 a.m. to Thursday December 6th at 11:59 p.m.

Winning Couple Announced: Friday, December 7th at 9:00 a.m.

Session Date: Saturday, December 8th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Session Location: New York City (Specific location TBD)

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CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS

This contest is for ALL couples in love…engaged, dating, or married!  All applicants must be between the ages of 21 and 38.

Step 1: Like both Amy Rizzuto Photography (Amy Rizzuto’s business page) and Picture This Plan That (Mekina Saylor’s business page).

Step 2: Fill out the entry form through the contest app on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmyRizzutoPhotography/app_95936962634

Step 3: Submit a photo of you and your sweetheart through the app.  (No worries, it doesn’t have to be a professional photo…just one you love!)

Step 4: Tell your friends and family to “Like” our Facebook business pages and then follow the link to vote for your picture!

Remember, you can enter the contest RIGHT NOW but voting won’t begin until December 3rd.  Family and friends must like Amy Rizzuto Photography, Picture This Plan That, and YOUR PHOTO for their vote to count.  It will be up to you to request that they vote! 🙂  Please read the official rules of the contest to confirm eligibility before entering!

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ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER, Amy Rizzuto

Before I was a wedding photographer, I was a bride. I had been planning my big day since I was a little girl, recreating it over and over again with Barbie and Ken. When my wedding day arrived, I couldnt have been more excited! Every detail was in place, and my overwhelming joy made me feel more beautiful than I ever had before. I was a bride marrying the love of my life, and that day was perfect. I wanted time to stand still, to remember everything just as it was. When I received my wedding pictures, I was blown away. In front of me was a complete story of my day, details and all. I knew immediately I would treasure these photos forever.

As a wedding photographer, I want my couples to feel the same overwhelming happiness that I did. I want to create photographs that capture your beauty in a way that you have never seen before. When you look back through your photographs, I hope you see a unique and authentic representation of your love, one you will cherish for years to come.

ABOUT THE PLANNER, Mekina Saylor

Details, couples in love, timelines, centerpieces, DIY projects, brainstorming, and creativity are all things I absolutely gush over! When I was four years old, my mom caught me having a thumb wedding. Not much has changed since then. I still get butterflies from just talking about weddings! As I got older, my love for weddings and planning grew. I find so much joy in seeing a couple in love and helping them envision how their big day will unfold. I love taking what each of them imagine and combining their ideas to create their ultimate wedding. I enjoy working out the details and helping them plan where everything will go and how it will look. I truly feel I was born to plan weddings. I walk into rooms and see a whole reception unfold and go to bed at night dreaming of new ideas to incorporate on the big day. I feel so fortunate to be on this journey and can’t wait to get to know you!

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SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!  ENTER NOW!  BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL AND MAY THE COOLEST, MOST AMAZING COUPLE EVER WIN!!!

Chemistry beakers, tiny ketchup bottles, and golden ducks are just a few of Ellen and Scott’s favorite things…AND the inspiration for their wedding day!  This sweet couple tied the knot at the Marvis Center in a gorgeous ceremony in Indianapolis!  Ellen and Scott’s day was centered around the most important things, their family, friends, and love for each other!  I can’t wait to share all of Ellen and Scott’s amazing photos, but for now, here is their SNEAK PEEK!  Enjoy!

If you know me, you know how much I LOVE a great pair of shoes!  I am DYING over this pretty row of orange and blue!

Ellen’s bridesmaids are so sweet!  Her maid of honor Chelsea had these adorable shirts made for all the girls to wear on Ellen’s big day.

Scott and his groomsmen sported the orange and blue wedding theme in their ties!

Ellen and Scott decided to do a first look!  This gave us plenty of time to capture fun pictures of them and their bridal party around the city before the ceremony!

LOVE these two photos!  Ellen, you look so happy. 🙂

Ellen and Scott were blessed with beautiful weather on their wedding day!  Loving this soft light streaming through the golden leaves.

A big thanks to Mekina for capturing this PERFECT first kiss shot with Ellen and Scott’s family and friends in the background!

Want to see more of Ellen and Scott?  Check out their wedding day slideshow at www.ellenandscott.amyrizzutophotography.com!  Stay tuned for their full blog post…coming soon!

It’s funny how small random acts can change our lives.  For James, it was his daily check in to Facebook.  He was scrolling down his news feed when he saw her. Blonde hair, light green eyes, and an infectious smile.  It was Charlie, and she was beautiful.  James continued on with his day, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something special about this girl.  He wanted to know her!  In an act of courage, he sent her a message, introduced himself, and asked her out on a date!

James went out of town for business a few days later and it was weeks until they actually met!  When they finally got together at Hopdoddy, Charlie and James had been messaging for weeks and already felt like close friends!  Charlie instantly fell for  James’ cool sense of humor and it wasn’t long before they were spending every day together!  Shortly after, James found himself down on one knee by the river, proposing to one of their favorite Elton John songs, “I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues“.

When Charlie and James thought about their wedding, they wanted to create the perfect day centered around the most important thing, their love for each other. They decided to tie the knot in one of the most romantic cities in the world, New York!  As Charlie and James said their vows on top of Bow Bridge, the sun cast a warm glow around them.  They promised to love one another, fully, wholly, and forever.

Charlie and her two closest girl friends toasted with pink champagne as they got ready in a beautiful room at the Plaza.

I was blessed to have two fabulous photographers by my side this day, Mekina Saylor and Caroline Frost!  As I captured the shot on the left, Caroline got the one on the right!

Charlie’s something blue was her gorgeous Manolo Blahniks!

While Charlie was getting ready at the Plaza, James was preparing for the ceremony at the Renaissance a few blocks away!  Thanks Mekina for capturing these great shots!

James is the executive chef at Eddie V’s Restaurant in Texas!  Next time you are there, stop in for some delicious steak and seafood!

Charlie and I quickly bonded over our mutual love for Audrey Hepburn!  This photograph of her reminds me so much of Audrey in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

A sixpence in the shoe for good luck!

Nothing made me happier than seeing these girls have so much fun!  No matter how many birthdays pass, we are all young at heart!

Seriously Charlie…you are simply stunning!

As the girls grabbed a taxi to Central Park, James and his groomsmen scouted out the perfect location for the ceremony on Bow Bridge!

Looking cool James!

Charlie and James waited to see each other for the first time during the walk down the aisle! The reactions were so sweet and priceless!

LOVE.

The light streaming through the trees during the ceremony was absolutely perfect!

A big thanks to Mekina for literally climbing over the bridge to capture these great shots!  What beautiful, emotional reactions!

Charlie and James’ ceremony was filled to the brim with their love for each other!

Officially husband and wife!

After the ceremony, we had the opportunity to capture fun photos of Charlie and James in their favorite places around NYC!

I just love this relaxed bridal party photo!  You guys are so WONDERFUL!

Adorable side note…James actually created this one of a kind bouquet for Charlie the day of their wedding!

It doesn’t get any more romantic than the steps at Bethesda Terrace!

After Central Park, we jumped in a taxi and headed to Times Square!

During the ride over, James was nice enough to pull up the first picture of Charlie he ever saw…on Facebook!  It was so cool to see the image that sparked their relationship!

This photo was taken on the red stairs over the TKTS booth.  All of Times Square was cheering for Charlie and James, making their day extra special!

GORGEOUSNESS!!!

Charlie and James had their first dance together as husband and wife to “The Time of My Life” while Mekina and I sang along!

After the ceremony, Charlie and James headed back to the Plaza to get ready for a celebratory dinner at Eleven Madison Park.

As James carried Charlie over the threshold, I couldn’t help but smile!  I was so happy these two amazing souls had found each other and completely thankful to have been a part of such a magical day.  Charlie and James, thank you for entrusting me to capture your most special memories!  I wish you both a lifetime filled with happiness and love!