The best thing I’ve seen today… possibly this week…

Via Amelia Lyon.

Apparently I’ve been out of the blog writing and reading mode lately. Sarah posted our engagement photos on her blog on Monday, and I just noticed this morning. Thanks again, Sarah! I feel so fortunate to have worked with you every time I look at our photos.

Our engagement photos CD arrived last week, and I was SO excited. I have to give Sarah props for her presentation skills. The CD arrived in a cool metal case, and the CD itself has our names and one of our photos on the label. But I suppose I shouldn’t have expected anything less from the fabulous Sarah K Chen. Our photos were taken back on September 10, but it was super hard to narrow down our selections, so we (okay, more me than we) wasted about a week agonizing over which ones to choose.

We took our photos in old town Pasadena, starting at City Hall and then winding our way through old town to Central Park, past some of the storefronts, and ending on the old bridge. Isn’t the light in this photo insane?

One of my favorites. So soft and sweet.

This is one of the ones I’m using for the save-the-date cards. I love how this captures us being natural with each other. I know I make that exact face in almost that exact pose at least once every time we’re together.

City Hall in Pasadena is gorgeous.

Sarah spotted an awesome spot where we got some of our best photos of the day. I have a feeling this will end up in the header for our wedsite. (Still not done… I need to get on that.)

Another one for the save-the-dates. Josh’s eyes look unbelievably blue in this photo. Yes, I’m marrying the cutest boy ever.

We changed clothes at Central Park and took quite a few photos there. The light was classic Southern California — it’s different than anywhere else in a way I can’t quite put into words.

I was really hoping we’d get a good photo of us standing in front of the fire department doors, and we did. Again, cutest boy. Ever.

Then we made a mad dash through the rest of old town to get to the bridge before the sun went down altogether. The bridge is sentimental for Josh and it was important to us to get a few photos there. One of my friends described this as us “looking into the future together,” and I think that really captures it.

Thank you, Sarah, for gracing us with some of your amazing talent! I feel so fortunate to have worked with you!

Happy Sunday! First, two couples — Brittany & Brian and Jill & Istvan — from Sarah K Chen (who, by the way, just had the world’s cutest baby shower)… There’s an understated intimacy in the second photo that really draws me in.

Carmen, via Kelly Moore… Her eyelashes are beyond gorgeous and I love that they are in focus here.

Erin & Jeremiah, from Amelia Lyon… I love the tranquility and quiet humility communicated through this photo.

Tamara & Mike, photographed by Miss Jessica Hill. Portland is a beautiful city, but Jessica really makes it shine!

Grace & Raj, from Trista Lerit. I admit, I have a few too many dress shots in my inspiration file, but this might be the most gorgeous one I’ve seen. The angle is nothing short of brilliant and really shows off the intricate layers of the gown.

And Michelle & Scott, but I didn’t note where this one came from and now I can’t find it again. Oops! Just look at those dahlias…

I’ve been adding photos to my inspiration file like crazy for the last nine-plus months since Mr. R proposed. I tend to choose photos that:

• evoke a certain emotion
• showcase wedding details (all hail the shoe shot!)
• capture unscripted moments
• demonstrate the beauty of posed shots
• display a fantastic use of light, aperture, and other aesthetic techniques
• communicate love in all its wonderful expressions

From here on out, I’m going to feature my weekly additions — and some of my favorites from the file — on Sundays.

Let’s start with Mary & Matt, photographed by Anne Ruthmann…

Next up, a few from our wedding photographer, the fabulous Jessica Hill…

Melanie & Jefferey, from a photographer I just discovered this week, Amelia Lyon…

Kate & Keith, photographed by Kelly Moore…

And last but not least, Ashley & Kyle, photographed by Jonathan Canlas…

Okay, just one more — one of my favorite photos in the file, also from Anne Ruthmann…

I’ve had a rough go of things with the wedding planning these last couple of weeks. In one day, I was outbid on a very important eBay auction for supplies for making the boutonnieres, I missed Ann Wood’s new bird listings, and I lost the photographer I was hoping to snag for the big day. The next day, I found out that my wedding dress will be six weeks later than Gabrielle originally estimated. Since then, I’ve had some bridesmaid woes, a couple of disappointing vendor meetings, and a few prospective vendors who won’t get back to me.

But some amazing things have happened too, and I can’t let myself forget.

I visited our venue and took measurements so I can start on the floorplans.

Rebecca and I went bridesmaid dress shopping in downtown Portland, and I not only got to try on lucious Jenny Yoo at the English Dept., I received such good customer service that I can almost completely block out my horrid San Francisco experience. (Don’t let the cute logo fool you… Maybe I was just shockingly unlucky, but the salesgirls were disinterested to the point where it was like I was interrupting them, despite the fact that I had an appointment.)

I found an amazing array of vintage glass bottles for the reception tables. (More to follow on that…)

A few little pieces of my wardrobe fell into place, like the robe I’ll wear during hair and makeup.

And Anne Ruthmann was able to refer me to the insanely talented, and conveniently local, Jessica Hill.

I’m the master of letting the negative things overwhelm me, but I just wanted to take a moment to encourage other brides (and remind myself!) that it truly does all come together.

(P.S. If you ever want to buy paper goods from the nicest people in the whole world, check out Yellow Owl Workshop.)