[08.18.08] Monday Night Recap
- August 18, 2008 - posted by chicago wedding photographer nate mathai

categories: [MNR]
tags:

interested in booking? Head over to the the contact page or shoot me an email to info@natemathai.com

• [Cubbies] Yep…still going strong.  5 games up on Milwaukee, and 8-2 in the last 10.  I’m a happy, happy person.  White Sox aren’t doing too shabby either right now, which means Chicago is buzzin’, and it’s only going to get better.
• [iPhone] I announced it yesterday, but I did get the new iPhone.  I love it because it keeps me connected a lot better.  I don’t like the battery life though.  I haven’t had any signal/service issues, though, so that’s always a good thing.  Now I need to figure out what to do with my {branded} iPod Touch.  Anyone interested?  Make me an offer!  You can’t even see the branding if you put a case on it!
• [Olympics] I really haven’t blogged about it, but I’ve gotten more and more hooked as the games went on.  I used to be hardcore about it in the past, staying up into the wee hours of the morning following it.  This year, I guess I was just old…but I’m starting to do it again.  My highlights?  Phelps- a beast!  That man is amazing.  Then there’s the Indian who made the US gymnastics team as an alternate and got the bronze medal…gotta represent!
• [Tropic Thunder] Has anyone seen this yet?  It’s starring Ben Stiller.  I’ve wanted to watch this ever since I saw it in the movie previews a couple months back, but I don’t think I’ll be able to convince my fiance to go see it.  Anyone want to watch it with me?
• [Engaged] Culturally, even though I already proposed to my fiance, we had a formal engagement ceremony/party.  it was just for our close family/friends, and pretty much a formal announcement of our desires to get married and things like that.  It wasn’t a huge thing for me, but thinking about it I really do like how formal it is.  Marriage is not something to be taken lightly…and it’s not just a covenant/contract between two people, but also two families, and the church body.  So in that sense, I liked it.  Here’s a pic of us taken by my soon-to-be brother in law:



• [Save The Date] Our awesome photographer Kenny Kim hooked me up with a couple early previews of our e-session we did even with his busy schedule, so that I could get some save the dates made for our upcoming wedding.  What do you guys think of these that I designed?  I like a concept of having multiple save-the-dates of similar styles with different pictures from the esession…if I offer this service, would people be interested?




• [Wedding Website] Also, I got our wedding website up and running!  It’ll still be a work in progress (because that’s just how I roll), so if you have any ideas of things to add, let me know by dropping some comments!  Oh, and leave us some love/encouragement in the guestbook area of the site especially as we get closer to the wedding date…we’ll need all the help we can get!
• [Twitter] I’ve become a bit more ‘addicted’ ever since I got TweetDeck and my iPhone (and yes, I did twitter from my engagement party).  Again, you can follow me with my username natemathai.  But now I have a question:  I know in many places its become illegal to talk on a phone while driving without having a hands free system.  But now, is it illegal to Twitter while driving, or just dangerous?  I guess the same question is for texting, too…what do you think?

Just a random post…
- August 17, 2008 - posted by chicago wedding photographer nate mathai

categories: Personal
tags:

interested in booking? Head over to the the contact page or shoot me an email to info@natemathai.com

Alright, before I continue with my things-to-do today, figured I’d do a quick post. Last Wednesday I got the new iPhone, and I LOVE IT! I had the Touch for awhile now, but I quickly was limited with the need to be connected to wifi. So with my contract at T-Mobile ending, I made the switch and am pleased. The main downside (and you’ve probably heard it) is battery life is terrible with 3G, but I’ve got myself a car charger to help me out on that.
Ok, just wanted to share that bit of joy with you instead of waiting until tomorrow! Oh, I also went to the beach with my fiance and her siblings/nephews/niece, and so here’s a couple pics taken from my iPhone:

Linzy and Christiaan :: wedding
- August 14, 2008 - posted by chicago wedding photographer nate mathai

categories: Personal
tags:

interested in booking? Head over to the the contact page or shoot me an email to info@natemathai.com

Linzy is a fellow Illini alumn who graduated a few years before I did.  Her career took her away from her hometown in Illinois, but it led her over to the east coast, and more importantly to Christiaan.  I had only conversed with Christiaan through e-mail/phone prior to the wedding, but from the very beginning it was clear how much he loved Linzy.  And these thoughts rang true throughout their wedding day, clearly seen not just between them but also by the closeness and fondness of their friends and family.  Not only was there so much love, these guys sure know how to have fun, too!
It’s a special thing for me to shoot weddings, but I love it when I get to participate in this way for my friends.  Now…get prepared for an onslaught of images!

I arrived in North Carolina the day before, and was able to stop in to see the BEAUTIFUL Duke Chapel during the reahearsal.

A bit of prep-time in the morning.  A big shout-out to Gigi of Hairstyles of Gigi who took care of all the girls early in the morning…

The flower girl…

Linzy and her sisters…

Prior to the wedding, the bride’s side met together with the priest to pray for Linzy…

After the ceremony, we took the bridal party out to Duke Gardens for a few portraits (love it!)…

And then we returned back to the grounds of the Governor’s Club for just a few more on the course.  Everyone was traveling in style!

The reception was held on the grounds of the Governor’s Club, and here are a few details…

The first dance…

v2…

This little one was ready to dance from the very beginning…

I always wondered…wouldn’t it just be easier if one of them took the picture and shared it with the rest?  :)

Then it was time for toasts…

The groom’s younger brother and best man had the entire place laughing and tearing in the same moment.  This time he was talking about a game they played when they were younger, where Christiaan would take a nerf ball on a rope and swing it around his head, while he had to try to tag him without getting hit.  I’m sure it sounded like a fun idea at the start of the game :)

Afterwards the dancing began, and everyone had a blast!  The floor was packed the whole night!

Now, I’ve been to my share of weddings, but this was a first for me.  The song ‘Footloose’ came on, and two of the guys lined up and started swinging an imginary jump rope a la double dutch.  And for the whole song, people took turns ‘jumping rope’!  IT WAS AWESOME!  Here’s Christiaan and his older brother breakin’ it down…

Linzy and Christiaan, thank you so much for giving me the honor to serve you guys in this way.  Everything was beautiful from start to finish.  I wish you guys all the best as you begin the rest of your lives together.  Take care!