Alyse French Photography | Houston-Based Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer

I just got home from my last dress fitting. OH. MY. WORD. I love my dress!! :) Almost weekly I ask Dylan if he wants just one teensy weensy hint about what it looks like, because I’m very bad about keeping secrets I’m excited about. But his answer is always no. I like his answer and hate his answer at the same time. So I ask, “Welp, when you picture our wedding day, what does my dress look like?” His answer: “I picture your face.. And white, I guess.” Typical guy. :)

This post is dedicated to our mock table setup. You’ve got that right! Maybe it should be kept secret. But you know me and secrets… Dylan and I actually set this up a while ago, but I forgot about the images until now! Tell us how you like them! Keep in mind, there will be more flowers than this. I had to pick from a nearly dead bouquet for the set up. :)

Happy Thursday!! OH! And the first wedding of the season is tomorrow. Stay tuned for a sneak peek!!

I’ve been a bad blogger. And it makes me sad. :( We’re in the final stretch of pretty much everything at this point, so I may not be able to blog as often as I want, but I will try! Even if it’s mostly pictures, which this blog post will surely be!

In an effort to make my tidbits chronological, I’ll begin with this.. Graduation weekend was LONG. On Friday, my family arrived to a barely-packed Slocum Heights apartment which I doubt my dad was too thrilled about. Later that day, the S.I. Newhouse senior photo and graphics students had their very own gallery show. And just maybe I made a bigger deal out of it than needed be… But you know me. I get excited over pretty much anything. :) After all, I’d never seen my work behind glass walls before. It was also here that my family got to meet two of my all-time favorite professors. It was a sweet time!

Trying to park ANYWHERE the weekend that 5,000 other students’ families were in town, was quite impossible. So we hung out on campus for a short time before heading out to dinner. And for the rest of my mom’s life, she will always remember this moment.. The moment Alyse taught her the art of photography. Or more like, “Hey Mom, I need you to take this picture please!” :) Although my mom obviously rocked it, keep in mind that my right side is my bad side. So posting this is taking a lot of courage.

But Dylan obviously doesn’t have a bad side. MMM!!! Synonyms for oww-owww anybody?

Cam and I taking a little break from the gallery. As you can see, I was probably way too excited for sushi that night. Told you, it’s the little things.. Little things with raw fish inside.

The next (Saturday) morning, I “graduated” from Newhouse. I say “graduated” because it was more like a big tease. I wouldn’t be an SU alumn until the next day, when we’d actually turn our magic tassels, making us all adults. The Newhouse convocation was nifty though.. Nifty in the sit-and-listen-to-400-names-be-called sort of way. :) In all seriousness though, I will miss Newhouse. Not the insane deadlines, the turkey and brie paninis from Food.com, or the insanity of portfolio-printing season. But I will.. miss Newhouse.

Meet the fam. :)

Time for what all the hype was about. The 156th SU commencement in the Carrier Dome. Rumors have it that over 22,000 people crowded the stands. It was.. Loud in there. And surreal. And fun. And sad. And exciting. And kinda-sorta scary to finally put such a milestone behind us. “I declare these candidates to be most worthy of their degrees.” Like a punch in the gut. I flipping DID IT.

Meet Jess. Probably my closest friend at SU. Despite our height differences, we are pretty much the exact same person. Whenever I think of Syracuse, for the rest of my life, the thought of this amazing friend will not be far behind. I love you!!

I gradumucated! And you wouldn’t know I was a photo-major, because this is terribly over-exposed. But hey. :)

The ride home to Sharon was probably the most fun I’ve had in a very long time. You know when you’re in such a crazy mood that you’d be embarrassed for anyone else to see? Well, my entire family was in that same mood. Hence, Lorae singing her heart out in the background. She was also piled beneath every one of my belonging’s imaginable. She was undoubtedly the craziest. And by the end of the trip, we wanted to leave her there. ;)

When I got home, my sweet little boy was waiting for me. Waiting for the last 27 days we’d live together. Because unfortunately, Dylan is allergic to Mony. :(

So there goes graduation. And all my talk of SU for the rest of my blogging life. (We’ll see about that..) So thank you for reading! And Happy Tuesday!

Sometimes there are Tuesdays… And then sometimes, there are Tuesdays when I put off writing my last. paper. ever. Today.. is such a Tuesday. Care to indulge me? :)

So, growing up, I had this ridiculous list of things I was looking for in a husband. Among them: Asian; curly hair; foreign; drinker of bottled water; had to look good in an apron; sensitive; sweet; you know, all that fun stuff. Obviously, the chances of finding an Asian with curly hair was slim, especially in Sharon Springs. And needless to say, I reevaluated my list quite a few times over the years. But never, in any of my lists, was: funny. Truth be told, I’ve always thought I was funny enough for both of us. :) No really, I am.. But then Dylan came along. And he’s absolutely hysterical. Of course, no one else thinks so but me, but still.. I am so glad he’s changed my list. :)

Remember that paper I mentioned? Well, I literally have 23 words left to write. But still, I lack all proper motivation. Just think, if I had completely skipped Tidbit Tuesday this week, I would have already been done! But how could I possibly skip a Tuesday? I’m proud to say I haven’t missed one since Tidbit Tuesday #4, although I’ve come close many times!

Now, some of you may have already read about this on Facebook, but I just can’t resist retelling the story one more time.. The other night, I received an inquiry from a Prince Alfred Tola. And I quote, “Hi Alyse. This is a requisition for your fotography services. I am Prince Alfred Tola. Based in Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa. I am contacting you in regard of my wedding. My wedding is coming up on  June 26, 2010. I have been browsing the internet for a professional photographer  in USA when I found your contact. Pleese I will want to hire your service to  the photographer on my wedding day in Lagos. I am sorting an america photographer because I really want to make the wedding event a wonderfull day for my fiance. I truely love her.”

Ohh, what’s that? You thought your highness’s email was over? Think again.. “You will cover the whole events from Getting ready, Ceremony, and the Reception.  I want you to capture the atmosphere of the event so that we can relive the special day moment by moment, photo by photo, for a lifetime. Capture all those little moments that make the wedding day incredible. Also, I will want you to make an album from the event. I will prefer popular flush mount albums that are custom designed.”

For goodness sake, why don’t I just finish it off? “After a care review of your profile, I am  of the opinion dat you are capable to provide the incredible services as requested. Please accept my sincerest appreciation on behalf of my fiance, in advance for your willingness to render your services as I look forward to your prompt response to my request.”

Now for my response (which I will not be actually sending to him for fear of my life)… Ahem: Dear Your Majesty. I do not normally, and actually have never poked fun at a potential client inquiring about my services. Until now. 1) You are not real. 2) You are not a prince. 3) I want to survive, and not be kidnapped in a foreign country after “shooting your wedding.” 4) If you want any response at all, I suggest you not demand it be prompt, even if you are a prince and are used to that sort of thing. 5) Please refrain from bothering me again. Sincerely, Princess Alyse. :)

Countdown update! Four days until graduation! Ten days until the kickoff of wedding season! Thirty-two days until our wedding! Thirty-five days until paradiiise! Forty-seven days until Houston!!

I leave you with what kept me from this same exact paper yesterday. Please tell me what you think.

Thank you for reading through this very bizarre post. And as always, happy Tuesday! :)