Ava's Quinceanera | Athena Winterich Photography

Guys, lately I have experienced so many Quinceaneras over the past few months its crazy. Whether I'm working one, or being invited to one, I have been spending a LOT of time hanging around teenagers in formal clothes ;) I had the pleasure of working with Ava and her family over the past month, and when her big day finally came I was super excited for this youg lady!

Ava's Quinceanera started with a Catholic mass at Epiphany of The Lord Catholic Community in Katy, Texas where her and her family are members. It was a beautiful ceremony, where Ava renewed her baptismal promises to God, and made promises in front of her closest family and friends as witnesses to honor herself and her religion. 

After the mass took place, we headed to a park close by for some photos! The best part of hanging around teenagers in formal clothes is that they're funny, and don't mind having their picture taken! I love any and everyone who will ham it up for my camera!

(I mean, really y'all. Sometimes you wouldn't believe how many adults just straight up refuse to be in photos. GUYS. Take all the pics! We are only here on this earth for a short time - document your presence!)

After we were finished shooting in the park, the kids headed back to the limo to go ride around for a while, and I headed to the hall to set up and snap some getting ready pictures! Ava and her court arrived about an hour after our session and the party got started! Scroll down to see more photos from Ava's reception, dances and presentations. So honored that I got to be a part of her Quinceanera as her photographer! Happy birthday Ava!

Ava's Quinceanera Portrait Session | Athena Winterich Photography

A little over a week ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Ava to take her Quinceanera Portraits before her big day. This young woman was a natural in front of the camera, and completely nailed her session! We shot her portraits at a few locations around Towne Lake, which are quickly becoming some of my favorite spots. In just a little over a week I'll be shooting her Quinceanera and I couldnt be more excited! Scroll down to see some of my favorites - and it was so hard to choose, this is basically all of them. What can I say, sometimes my images are like my babies...I cant play favorites! ;)

Clara's Freshman Session | Athena Winterich Photography

Just look at this girl, y'all. It seems like just a few years ago I was sitting on my best friend's couch holding her for the very first time. And now she's 14 years old and about to begin her high school years.

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I've known my best friend Laura for going on 23 years, so her kids are basically an extension of my own. Many photos have been taken over the years of her sweet kiddos, and when she asked me to shoot Clara's freshman photos I jumped at the chance. How could I not? My sweet bonus kid was beginning her HIGH SCHOOL years (insert ugly crying face here) and it definitely needed to be documented. Also I'll be flat out lucky to get my daughter to do the same next year, so this might be my only opportunity ;) I should really start thinking of bribes ahead of time.

(If y'all have any ideas, drop them in the comments. My kid seriously hates being in front of the camera, which is basically the hardest thing ever when you're a mom and a photographer!)

Doesn't she look SO grown up? UGH. Clara has grown into a beautiful, empathetic young lady with a great sense of humor. Her inquisitive nature and happy go lucky attitude are just a small number of my favorite things about this girl. Its hard to believe that in four short years I'll be taking her graduation photos as well. Scroll down to see a few more of my favorite pics of this sweet c̶h̶i̶l̶d̶ young woman.

Wedding Inspiration Wednesday: Shower Themes!

Its nearing the end of the year, aka WEDDING SEASON! And I'm willing to bet at least one person reading this blog right now is in charge of planning a bridal/bachelorette/wedding shower in the next 90 days and is fuhreaking out because its 2017 and the options are endless and the trends change faster than lightening and all it takes is one tweet from content and brand creator Sparrow Indigo Kombucha (not a real person) to make rosé out and Frosé (actually a real thing) in. 

But dont fret, my babies. Who needs Sparrow blah blah blah when you have ME, Athena Winterich, moderately popular wedding photographer without a Twitter account and hardly any influence at all?! As usual, images are linked in case you see something and NEED to have it. Also as usual, this isn't sponsored content, just some tips from me to you! Although a gal wont turn down a good sponsor. HINT HINT.

(Psst- The Knot? I'll def change my name to Sparrow if you want to feature this blog. Just sayin'. #semiironiccontentcreation #brand #influencer #kombucha)

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Bust out your old macrame hooks, friends, because the Southwestern or "desert" theme is hotter than a habanero right now (couldn't resist). One of my favorite things about this theme are the colors. Muted pink, greens and browns come together to create a gorgeous (and totally Instagram-able) setting to celebrate a bride to be. Its versatile, as well (use your imagination for a bachelorette party....) and you can easily DIY this one too if $$ is tight. Its basically a more mature version of the "fiesta" theme and less culturally appropriative, too. Its 2017, yall. Stay woke.

Get your champagne campaign on with a bubbly themed shower for the bride to be or newly engaged couple in your life who appreciate the finer things.. Like booze. Throwing a champagne themed party is laid back, easy and super cute. Gold accents make it seem fancy and there are so many ways to dress it up or down. Good for a brunch, or a bachelorette party! Oh, and pro tip from me to you: Drake has a great song lyric you can steal for your speech, too. Its our little secret. Shhh.

Palm Springs, anyone? This destination has taken OFF as a themed party in just the past few months. Hang on desperately to the last days of summer and throw this for your gal who unironically enjoys hot pink, pineapples, and inflatable flamingo floats. Search #palmsprings on Instagram and you'll see more ideas on how to do this party up right. While you're there, follow @athenawinterichphotography too. #shamelessplug

Okay, so this "theme" doesn't really have a name so I'm going to officially name it: The Classy Af ™ theme. You heard it here first, y'all. It is really pretty too - black stripes, gold accents, and hot pink. Wait.....this does seem a little familiar (please don't encroach on my trademark, brand that rhymes with Rake Shade). This theme is for the classy af woman in your life who appreciates the finer things. And glitter. Lots and lots of glitter.

As usual, if you've seen any great themes recently, leave em in the comments! Thanks for reading, friends!

 

 

Krysta + Ryan | Athena Winterich Photography

About a month ago, I had the pleasure of shooting this couples big day and it was really amazing y'all. I often say I love my job, but couples like Krysta and Ryan make love seem so effortless, and when I have a couple like that, well. Its just the icing on my happy little photographer's heart shaped cake.

I began my day at the hotel with Krysta and her hilarious bridesmaids. Everyone was having a great time, very laid back, very excited and you could just feel the love surrounding the bride. Take note bridesmaids: that type of atmosphere is exactly what a bride needs on her big day. Oh, and a little champagne never hurt anyone, either ;)

The maid of honor even got a little bling on the bride's big day!

After the makeup was done and the hair was perfect, the bride changed into her dress and the gals hit the road. They hired a party bus (amazing) to transport them to the wedding ceremony at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church in old Katy. Ifollowed behind in my little Honda Fit, wondering if my husband was willing to go back in time to hire a party bus for our wedding. Sigh.

When we arrived at the church, Ryan and his groomsmen were already dressed and ready to go. Bonus points for the guys!  Ryan was adorably nervous, and his groomsmen were adorably supportive. Nothing like a bunch of emotional guys to really tug on a gals heart strings.

Their ceremony was a traditional Catholic wedding mass, and it was the first one I've ever photographed. It was a gorgeous ceremony, and as usual I tried not to cry behind my camera while the two were saying their vows.

Afterward, the entire wedding party got back on the party bus, and we headed to a nearby park to take some wedding party photos. My second shooter took over for the reception and I went home to begin the editing process ;) Congratulations to the happy couple!

Amanda + Taylor | Athena Winterich Photography

Amanda and Taylor tied the knot on May the 4th, (teehee) (and yes, I am super backed up on posting due to the move) with a super intimate daytime ceremony and reception at Willow Fork County club in Cinco Ranch. Taylor and I go waaaay back to the old Best Buy days, and it was slightly surreal to see him in a suit and tie instead of a blue shirt! ;)

Their ceremony was officiated beautifully by the pastor at their church. About 30 of their closest family and friends looked on while they spoke their vows to each other, and I tried my best not to cry behind the camera as usual ;)

After the ceremony, everyone gathered in the ballroom to dance and eat ice cream sundaes - how cute is that?! Amanda and Taylor were 100% made to be together, and I'm so glad I was able to be a part of their wedding as their photographer. Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Wedding Inspiration Wednesday: Wedding Favors People Will Actually Want!

Hiiiii friends! Its been a little quiet on the blog lately huh? With school ending, us moving (we bought a house!) and everything that goes along with it, two weeks have gone by in a flash. Even with all that stuff going on though, I managed to shoot 5 weddings in that time (insert strong arm emoji here)! One of my brides was lamenting about the fact that her wedding favors weren't being taken (bags of candy) and while I, too, was in disbelief (because who passes up free candy???) I was also not surprised. The "candy bar" at a wedding is awesome, but not exactly innovative these days. So I got to thinking: what are some wedding favors I've seen over my career that were awesome? Different? Slightly weird? And I came up with this list. So here ya go friends:

Wedding handkerchiefs are darling, aren't they? They're also super popular right now and I can totally see why. They're not just some plastic tsotchke or shot glass (although I do love a good shot glass), they actually have a purpose, and a sweet one at that. They could even become heirloom if the bride and groom are family, or very close friends.

Snack bags to go are a huge crowd favorite. Edible favors are always a good idea (and some argue, the only type of favor anyone should ever do) and there are a thousand ways to fancy them up for a wedding. Right now I'm seeing a lot of goodie bags to go on the way out, which is genius really. After having a few drinks and dancing all night, you may want to refuel for the after party! Or just go home and eat cookies in bed. Both are a win!

Charity donation favors are my favorite and I so wish I would have thought about this when I was getting married. Popular donations are to the ASPCA, St Judes, and Susan G Komen but literally there are so many deserving organizations you have the difficult choice of choosing just one. Or maybe split it up? You make your own rules! This is a great idea for people with all budgets and big hearts.

Home made jams and jellies are another edible favor that people are really loving right now. Cute, cheap, and relatively easy to make and they work for any season and almost any style of wedding too. Put mom or grandma to work (they really want to help! Or maybe you need to just keep them busy....), ask grandad for his famous recipe or go swoop some up from the farmers market. You could even tie a little spreader on with twine if you want to be extra about it, which I always recommend. You only get married once!

in 2015, we gave out seed packets at our wedding. Now its 2017 and people are giving out full blown trees and I love it. Not only does it help the environment, but it is such a lovely reminder of the couple over the years. You can get all sorts of tree seedlings or just stick with one type native to the area. These are also available in bulk to order online!

Have yall been to any weddings recently and got an interesting or cool favor? Let me know in the comments section!

 

 

Hayley: CFISD Senior session | Athena Winterich Photography

Hey yall! Last senior session of the year right here, and on the best day to post it: the last day of school! Summer is officially here, and while my kid has a ways to go before graduation, this sweet girl will be walking across the stage and accepting her diploma this Saturday!

Like most high school seniors, Hayley has a ton of options and is giving some thought to what her future is going to look like. Do you remember the feeling after graduation of having your whole life stretched out in front of you and taking that first step? Brings back so many crazy memories and feelings! Hayley is also the mommy to the sweetest little blue eyed boy ever (scroll to the bottom for a bonus pic) and I am so excited for her and her families future. She is a driven woman, so I know it is going to be amazing!

Congratulations Hayley! You deserve it! Go Class of 2017!!!

 

(Bonus pic of her sweet family. They were all there and I had my camera and I couldnt help it - had to throw this one in. They are all so blessed!)

Wednesday Wedding Inspiration: Engagement Rings!

Hey yall! Welcome to Wednesday Wedding Inspiration - after dark! ;) I have been painting the interior of our new (to us!) house all day, so this is a little later than I wanted to post, but hey, I'm committed! Lets do this thing! Today's Wednesday Wedding Inspiration is about one of my favorite things too - engagement rings! All of these images are linked to the website they're sold from, in case you see something and fall in love....or need to send a hint to a certain someone ;)

Oval shaped solitaire rings are suuuuper popular right now. Its a fresher version of the classic round diamond, so it seems new while retaining that traditional look. The minimalist look really shows off that gorgeous rock! I really like this trend, and I think an oval cut is gorgeous, and as a bonus makes the diamond look bigger too ;)

 

I think stacked rings are my favorite right now. They're definitely different! I actually love that about them - its something out of the ordinary, and who doesn't want to shake things up a bit? Stacked rings are popular on Pintrest and wedding blogs, but I've yet to see this type of ring on one of my brides yet which means that they're still pretty ahead of the curve as far as trends go. If you're the boho vintage type of gal, jump on this trend quick! I may just buy a fake one for my right hand ;) 

 

Minimalist rings are for the low maintenance bride with confidence. Understated and dainty - this ring says, "I don't need to be flashy with my love!". This type of ring works great for someone with very thin fingers (like me!), and it really stands out as something different. Even better, these rings are inexpensive so if you dont feel like dropping a month's salary on a ring, think about purchasing one of these beauties!

 

How cool are these geometric rings? I love their shapes - its totally something new and different. Geometric rings are definitely 2017 - think of your friend who creates unusual sculptures, wears a lot of black and can list her top 10 favorite Warhol paintings - this is the ring for her. Special note - the first one is from one of my favorite designers, Cathy Waterman out of NYC and all of her rings are so gorgeous (and expensive. Ugh.)

 

Art deco style engagement rings are still in! With a huge influence from The Great Gatsby, these rings and this style have been a hit with future brides for almost 2 years and they're not going anywhere soon! Its easy to see why, they're detailed without being too out there, and their style is vintage which makes them appealing. I love styling these types of rings on a shoot, they're very dreamy!

 

Are there any specific up and coming engagement ring trends you've noticed or love in specific? Let me know in the comment section!

Desiree: CFISD Senior Session | Athena Winterich Photography

Hey friends! I've had a lot of senior sessions this year, and I have to say, they've been some of the most fun I've had during a shoot! I never thought I'd be into them this much but the excitement about graduation is so tangible - it totally shows up in the images and makes me feel all nostalgic about being in high school. Which is surprising because if you knew me back then, high school was NOT one of my favorite places to be ;) I'm editing one more senior session right now (literally in between writing this blog post!) and I know the time for grad pics is coming to an end, but I hope I have one or two more graduating seniors contact me for photos because its a blast working with these kids. Today though, we have Miss Desiree aka "Desi" up on the blog!

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Desi is a soon to be graduate of Cypress Lakes High School out in CFISD. She did color guard for the school band, which - have y'all ever seen what those girls can do? Not only do they have to be coordinated enough to march around in a synchronized group but then they are literally throwing flags into the air and catching them at the same time. And those things aren't light either! The other day I literally tripped over air so I am pretty impressed by her ability to be so coordinated and not covered in bruises or a black eye.

Desi plans to do a few years at Lone Star and figure out what she wants to do in the future which is so smart. She is super into fashion, and has designed clothes for her school as well, so maybe in 10 years we will all be wearing the 'Desi G' line of clothes. Well, you youths probably will be....I plan on living in leggings by that time ;) Congrats Desiree! Go class of 2017!

Wednesday Wedding Inspiration: Lets Talk About Cake

Wedding cake to be exact! Y'all, there is nothing I love more than a beautiful, yet delicious, wedding cake. Okay, maybe there are a few things I love more (coffee, tacos, my family) but a gorgeous cake just on display looking all delectable and pretty - you gotta have that on the top ten list of life's little pleasures. And your wedding day is THE day to have the best looking, most scrumptious and delightful cake for your guests to ooh and aww over. After you get some inspiration from the photos in this blog, check out the bottom of this list for some of the best cake vendors in Houston too!

Cue the Mugatu voice: Ruffled cakes are so hot right now. This style of cake is probably the most popular out of all the recent styles right now - and theres a reason for that! I think one of the things that makes them so great is that they're pretty without being precious, totally attainable and easy to customize to fit the theme or style of your wedding. These have really taken off just recently, and I think they are a really nice example of how the "naked cake" has matured a little bit and evolved into a gorgeous swan. If a swan was a cake. That evolved. I think ya'll know what I mean.

Pastel ombre cakes are the newest revival of this old classic. The ombre look has been around for quite some time, but the pastel colors lend a freshness to the look and how perfect are the colors for a spring wedding? Go all in with the ruffles we talked about above AND the pastel ombre (pictured in the third image) and no one could ever say you're not a trend setter.

The metallic look is a great wedding cake for the couple who plan on having a Gatsby themed wedding.

(Side note: Didn't know Gatsby theme was even a thing people were doing? Totally is!  I've already shot two weddings this year styled to represent the romantic roaring 20s. I'll be doing a post on this soon)

Its hard to resist the allure of the metallic cake. Its elegant, glamorous and wordly. A metallic cake says, "I pop bubbly for breakfast and I'm a badass". Or at least to me, it does. Pair gold metallic with navy and hot pink - perfect for a preppy summer wedding. Have metallic silver embellishments with green florals and white lace - lovely winter wedding cake! Metallic cakes are totally versatile and super on trend for this year. I love them.

Not into metallic? How about marbled then? Marbled wedding cakes are for the modern couple who share clothes from Zara, are constantly on the hunt for an original Eames chair at their local thrift store, and special order their coffee grown at the bottom of a volcano in Ecuador. OR just for people who really like the clean classic look! Hey, I'm not here to stereotype anyone - you do you babes. Stick a gorgeous pink marbled wedding cake up on a gold geometric cake stand - done. You just had the best wedding cake out of all your friends this year. Pretty sure you get a trophy for that.

Full disclosure - Donut cakes had a moment last year, but they are coming back in full force for the summer. The donut cake is the grown up 2017 version of the cupcake cake, and where I wasn't a fan of the tower of cupcakes masquerading as a wedding cake, I actually kind of love the idea of using donuts instead. I especially like the idea of having the mini cake at the top - so you will still have the traditional "cutting of the cake", and some to take home to save for the also traditional, "unwrapping the freezer burnt cake to eat a bite together a year later on your one year anniversary".

(Another sidenote: How did that even become a thing anyway? My husband and I totally skipped that tradition. We cant even keep popsicles in the fridge for more than a week - the cake never stood a chance).

Donut cakes are so cute, you can get creative with them and the very best part? Cost effective!

If you're having trouble finding a cake vendor for your big day - here are some of my recommendations. These people have no idea I'm mentioning them here - I've either worked with them, tried their cakes, or they're extremely reputable in the industry for great tasting cakes and great customer service! Click on their name to visit their website.

Who Made the Cake
Three Brothers Bakery
A Cake Studio (Alex and I had Gabby make our phenomenal cake. Her tasting arrangement was adorable too)
Cakes By Gina
Yellow Apron Baking Co.
Tastee Tees Treats

Ainley's 1 (1/2!) Month Session | Athena Winterich Photography

Last week, I had the pleasure of taking a trip out to Katy, Texas to photograph the sweetest baby girl, Ainsley Elle. Ya'll. I cant even. Isn't she precious?!

Ainsley is nearly two months old, and she was the happiest little baby during her shoot. Nothing could phase this girl! She probably gets her laid back attitude from her mama Hayley, who couldn't have been more relaxed during the shoot with Ainsley. Ainsley is Hayley's first child but you wouldn't be able to tell watching her - she was a natural. We did the session at Hayley's gorgeous home and they were both so much fun to work with.

Thank you for having me out, Hayley! Cant wait to see your cutie little daughter again soon! Scroll down to see a few more of my favorite photos of sweet Ainsley Elle.

Wednesday Wedding Inspiration: Six First Dance Songs You Wont Hear Anywhere Else

Hey y'all! On this edition of Wednesday Wedding Inspiration I want to talk about first dance songs. Most couples out there have a song that they call their own, but what if that song isn't the best choice as a first dance song? This was the issue my husband and I ran into while deciding on our song to dance to (Daylight by Matt and Kim isn't exactly first dance friendly). Or maybe you love "your song" but want to switch it up for the wedding because you've heard it a few times at other people's weddings and you're tired of sharing? Or maybe your cousin Rachel will be there and she said you and your fiance's song is HER AND HER FIANCES song and you're just tired of arguing with her about it and need to choose something else? I know how that can be! There are TONS of lists online that have examples but I'm going to share some of the more non-traditional or different ones with you so you can avoid any issues with your weirdly competitive cousin Rachel going forward ;)

Order Ingrid's new record "It Doesn't Have To Make Sense" now on iTunes!

Y'all, I cant even deal with how romantic this song is. Ingrid Micahelson does an amazing job of covering Elvis' original version of, "Cant Help Falling in Love". Surprisingly, this one has flown under the radar and out of the 56 weddings I've shot in 7 months, I haven't heard it once. If you want to make everyone at your wedding cry while watching you two perform your first dance, this is the song for you. I love this one so much.

Great Song from the new album Gossip in the Grain from Ray LaMontagne. You need to buy it. All the rights goes to his record company. NO CLIP

This one was a top contender when I was trying to choose a song for me and Alex's first dance. The soul and the horns in the background really make this one special, and how sweet is the message?

© 2010 WMG

This sweet and cute little song is adorable, and perfect for a fun couple who isn't into all that mushy stuff. I'm a big fan of Jack White, and this song is one of my faves. Bonus, its only a little over 2 minutes long so if you're the type that feels awkward dancing in front of 120+ wedding guests, this one will get you out of the spotlight quick.

Provided to YouTube by Warner Music Group Colour My World (Remastered) · Chicago Chicago II ℗ 1970 Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company. Bass, Vocals: Peter Cetera Drums: Daniel Seraphine Engineer: Brian Ross-Myring Engineer: Chris Hinshaw Engineer: Donald Puluse Guitar, Vocals: Terry Kath Horn, Vocals: Walter Parazaider Keyboards, Vocals: Robert Lamm Producer: James William Guercio Trombone: James Pankow Trumpet, Vocals: Lee Loughnane Composer, Lyricist: James Pankow Auto-generated by YouTube.

I heard this song approximately 12 years ago on the radio at the corner of Greenhouse and Saums road in Katy, Texas (can you tell it resonated with me?!) and I thought immediately that this was going to be the song I did my first dance to with my future husband. However, when the time came it just didn't feel like, "The One" so I'm going to share it with y'all, in hopes that someone finds this and has the same "ah ha!" moment I had back then. I love this song so, so much.

Sea of Love, by Cat Power. nobody reads descriptions so this should be safely unread. i reached a milestone tonight, a million views on this video. i write a confession, what happened. i started to take photographs to take my mind of a horrendous relationship breakup.

Sigh, this song. Charlyn aka Cat Power does a phenomenal job covering the original 1959 version of this song by Phil Phillips. Her voice just evokes so much emotion, and this song is great for the couple who just wants to sway together slowly while the world around them falls away for a brief moment.

Delilah available now! Download: http://smarturl.it/andersoneastdelilah Stream: http://smarturl.it/StreamDelilah Follow Anderson East: https://www.facebook.com/andersoneast https://twitter.com/Andersoneast http://www.andersoneast.com/

Are you and your husband expert dancers? Taking lessons before the wedding? Then this is your song. Imagine doing a slower version of the foxtrot all over the floor to this adorable bluesy tune. So sweet.

From 1959 Solid Gold Soul

Last but not least, this sweet song by the Flamingos was me and my husband's first dance song. I know, I know, I said you wont have to share with anyone else - but I couldn't resist including this lovely tune and I don't mind sharing if you hear this song and go, "THIS IS IT!" ;) The lyrics, "Maybe millions of people go by//But they all disappear from view//And I only have eyes for you" can make anyone feel like a million bucks, and the beat is perfect for swaying slowly in each others arms.

If you have any suggestions for a non-traditional first dance song, (or just want to share your first dance song!) let me know in the comments!

 

Wednesday Wedding Inspiration: 2017 Summer Wedding Dresses

Hey friends! Welcome to my first weekly wedding inspiration column! (Blog? Article? Hmm.) I've been in the wedding industry for almost a year now, and spotting trends has become a fun little thing I've picked up on and figured I'd share some insider info! I'll be linking to the dresses and adding prices too (cause y'all, I know it is SO expensive to plan a wedding and we all have different budgets ranging from 5k-50k) and this isn't sponsored content - its just me sharing my professional opinion with you guys! Lets jump right in and take a peek at some pretty wedding gowns that would be perfect for a 2017 summer wedding.

Spaghetti Straps Boho Beauty - by The Faded Sunflower

Spaghetti Straps Boho Beauty - by The Faded Sunflower

Hooray! Rejoice! Straps are back! Okay, maybe the strapless wedding dress will never go out of style (it is iconic, after all) but I gotta say - I love a beautiful wedding dress with straps. Spaghetti straps especially - they are delicate, sexy and added bonus: you wont be hiking it up all night long while you're greeting guests and doing the wobble. This dress is even available in plus sizes up to 24W and its on sale now for $699 (regular $3200! Whaaat!)

Lacy Sheath Wedding Gown - by Alfred Angelo

Lacy Sheath Wedding Gown - by Alfred Angelo

Lace has been an up and coming trend for a while now, but expect this romantic texture to really have the spotlight over the summer. The sheath style is casual while still being elegant, lightweight so you wont be sweating underneath a 20lb gown (super sexy) and this stunner will really show off your curves. Available in sizes 0-26W and priced at $1,195.

Boho Low Back Wedding Gown - GAMA Bridal Studio

Boho Low Back Wedding Gown - GAMA Bridal Studio

If you are one of the ladies that can pull off a low back wedding gown (which is all of you gorgeous gals thanks to modern bra technology!) you're in luck cause this is the time to rock it! This one hits all the 2017 summer trends if you notice (spaghetti straps, lace, low back). This trend is just taking off now, so if you want to be one of the firsts then now is the time to pull the trigger on this style. This one comes out of one of those low price wedding boutiques so if you love this one in specific, make sure you read the reviews! Sizes range from 2-26W and it comes in at the low price of $198 which makes this beauty a bargain.

Silk Off The Shoulder Wedding Gown - Daughters of Simone

Silk Off The Shoulder Wedding Gown - Daughters of Simone

When I saw this dress, I immediately thought of the 2017 updated version of Jenny's wedding dress from Forrest Gump. This one is for the boho queen who will have hand picked flowers as her bouquet and handmade artisan sage cocktails at her reception. I love this one and I love that its picking up steam in the summer wedding trend. This gown is $2,522 and sizes range in this specific dress from Small, Medium and Large which is interesting...butthe website will let you order a sample to try on for $100 and if you love it, the cost goes to the total of your wedding gown.

Chic Simple and Modern Gown - Light in The Box

Chic Simple and Modern Gown - Light in The Box

Simple, classic and modern gowns will be more and more popular as the year goes on, but expect this trend to take off this summer. This type of gown (whether it be sheath, a-line, tulip or mermaid cut) gives you the ability to really show off the jewelry and hairstyle you plan on choosing for your big day. So if you have a show stopper of a necklace or great grandma's vintage pearls - this may be a good choice for you! This dress is available from Light In the Box - another one of those custom boutique wedding gown designers, however this is a more reputable and well known one. Still - do your research! This gown is on sale for $199 (regular $371) and available in sizes 2-26W and even offers EU and UK sizes.

 

Are there any specific styles that you love or would love to see make a come back? Let me know in the comments!

Aris' Bluebonnet Shoot | Athena Winterich Photography

A few weeks ago, my sister in law Andrea reached out to me and asked if I would do the traditional southern photos of Aris in a field of bluebonnets. For those of you who are like, "People take pictures IN the bluebonnets? Huh?" - yes! It is a Texas tradition to have photos of your babies and/or family in a patch of our state flower, bluebonnets! And there is no way I would ever turn down the opportunity to photograph this sweet boy! Aris is a little over a year and a half old, and the first and only baby to make me an auntie! Isn't he adorable? 

With my both of our busy schedules, we didn't have the time to make the drive out to Brenham or Chappell Hill (which are typically the go-to spots for these types of photos) so instead, we figured we'd do a little research and scout the areas a little closer to home. I figured we could take the country roads and drive out west to spot some bluebonnets - they are wild flowers after all! We lucked out in Bellville, Texas where we spotted a large patch of bluebonnets right beneath a bridge over the Brazos river.

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Aris had a blast running around outside, and it was so cute to see him trying to figure out what the flowers were all about (and if they tasted any good). We even had the opportunity to snap a few Easter photos while we were out there since its the perfect setting!

After we were done, we let him run back and forth down the adjacent road to access the bridge a few times and he just had so much fun running back and forth! Oh to be a kid again (and have that much energy again!)

Raquel + Blanca: Stephen F Austin Double Senior Session | Athena Winterich Photography

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting up with Raquel and Blanca, two soon to be SFA graduates, to take their senior portraits on campus in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Raquel is one of my best friend's daughters, and she capitalized on the fact that she has a photographer in her network and hired me to take Raquel's senior photos! When Blanca found out Raquel was having hers done, she contacted me to find out if I could squeeze her in on the same day. Of course the answer was yes! Senior sessions are some of my favorites and it is always such a joy to capture the happiness on their faces from the hard work and dedication they've put forth over the past four years!

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Both Raquel and Blanca are education majors, and have big plans for the next few years! These girls were so sure of what they wanted - the confidence and self assured way they spoke of their future really resonated with me and made me so proud of both of their achievements! Graduating college is no easy task and I hope both of these girls are so proud of themselves. Congratulations to these class of 2017 SFA Graduates!

Laura + John | Athena Winterich Photography

Laura and John got married this month and boy, were these two made for each other. 2 years ago, they met online - as many of us do these days! - and when I asked her how she knew he was "the one" a huge smile crossed her face and she said, "He felt like home to me". I mean, come on. How romantic is that! These two lovebirds were obviously meant for each other!

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Their ceremony was beautiful and emotional - they even had me tearing up behind the camera! They wrote their own vows to each other too, which I love.

After their ceremony, they gathered with their family and friends to celebrate their union! Both sides of the family were so thrilled for the couple - the father of the groom brought the couple a limited edition dark ale to celebrate, and the bride's father was just so visibly happy for his daughter it was beyond sweet. I think he was also a little happy for himself - all three of his daughters got married within 6 months of each other! 

Laura and John were so sweet and I was so honored to be a part of their big day as their wedding photographer! Congratulations to the newlyweds!