Erika Dotson Photography » arkansas weddings

We are SWAMPED! // Northwest Arkansas Wedding Photographers

Erika — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:36:33 +0000

Hey everyone! I have some images uploading right now so I thought I would take a quick second to post some recent work just to keep you updated! We’ve been crazy busy around here! I guess it doesn’t help with all the traveling we’ve been doing either! Right now all the shoots we do are taking about 2 months to get back to our clients. Typically I like to have a wedding finished within 2 to 3 weeks so that can give you a bit of an idea about how swamped we really are! We’ve had power outages like mad as well making it a bit challenging to edit….. but making our family quite happy with lots of time to play! I want to take a second to thank all our beautiful lovely clients for making this year such a success! Without you we would be just the opposite….very very slow and not busy!

I have the best clients in the world! Really I have met some wonderful people this summer and it’s made my photography so much better! I love my clients! Thank you!

This is just a few of the recent work we’ve been up to! Many many blog posts to come as soon as I take care of all my clients!

Enjoy!

-erika

St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable // Fayetteville Wedding Photographer

Erika — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:51:32 +0000

I met Amanda, her makeup artist, close friend, mother, and brother at the hotel to snap some getting ready shots. It was simple and laid back the entire time which would lay the foundation for the remainder of the day. Amanda looked absolutely stunning! Her gown was altered to create a custom look that complimented her personality quite well. We did have a rain threat for the ceremony but it always seems that the big guy upstairs is always looking down on our wedding couples. After the preparations were ready we headed to the adorable Bell Gable Chapel located in Fayetteville, Arkansas where Amanda and Steven saw each other for the first time. The first look always makes for the best first sight pictures! I just love that one of Steven’s first sight of Amanda! Too sweet! The two walked hand in hand down the aisle past a select group of close family and friends. Unfortunately Steven’s parents were unable to attend due to health issues but that didn’t stop them from enjoying the ceremony from Little Rock, as Amanda’s brother set up a streaming video that played during the ceremony. He played a big roll for them that day by sealing them together as husband and wife. Amanda and Steven both wrote their own vows, it was so intimate that she got a little choked up and they turned together to read her vows to him. I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd, and I’ll bet in Little Rock too! Amanda and Steven are such great people and in the short time that I’ve got to know them I can tell they are meant for each other.

Featured Again // Weddings in Arkansas

Erika — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 15:00:42 +0000

Hey everyone!!! Just a few hours after I posted yesterday I was informed that we were featured again at Weddings in Arkansas’s facebook page! What fun!

Yay for Allison and Andrew for braving the cold weather and getting out in the beautiful snow!!!

Enjoy!

-erika

Featured // Weddings in Arkansas

Erika — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 19:31:11 +0000

Whew….. just got back from shooting some engagement pictures in Hawaii!!!! What a nice break from this record crazy snow we’ve had around here. Unfortunately I couldn’t blog while I was there, but don’t worry we’re back in action!!!

Last week, before I left, I submitted a few images to Weddings in Arkansas. I emailed Lauren who is the Special Projects Coordinator my selections and then they post 3 of their favorite images a week on their facebook page………

Yep, there we are right on the bottom! That’s Tanja and David, yep our previous associate photographer! I adore them, plus they are the reason we get to travel to England for a wedding this year!!!! I can’t wait!!!

Enjoy!

-erika

DIY Idea // Arkansas Weddings

Erika — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:00:24 +0000

Ok I really really meant to get this whole DIY project off the ground this week and make it happen…….well it didn’t, you know those challenges of having a little baby, yep those, they got in my way.

So instead of posting my DIY project with pretty pictures I took I will give you a link to something similar and then share my vision…..hope that works!

DIY // Wedding Pennant Banner

http://www.oncewed.com/7483/diy-wedding/decor/diy-wedding-pennant-banner/

I had planned on doing this banner of flags, (although I did not plan on sewing them, rather hot gluing them) in reds, greys, blacks, and whites to coordinate with Titan’s bedroom. I think this would look adorable in a child’s room but also it’s an awesome wedding idea too, especially if you are planning a vintage inspired wedding!!!! Well come to think of it if you wanted to have a Razorback themed wedding (without going all tacky on me) that would be adorable too!

Enjoy!

-erika

Amber and Alan // Fayetteville Wedding Photographer

Erika — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:07:17 +0000

Amber and Alan were such a beautiful couple. From the very beginning I could tell how much Alan adored her! So sweet! They were married at the Dwelling Place in Fayetteville and they held their reception at the amazing Fayetteville Town Center with pretty rentals from Festivities to provide the atmosphere. We got to work with some amazing vendors at their wedding too!

Jessica Kersey from Finishing Touch Event Design was their awesome coordinator!!!

Videography provided by James Michael Smith

Florals were purchased from Flowerama (Bentonville) and arranged by the mother of the groom

Catered by the Event Group

Cake was created by the talented Shelby Lynn’s Cake Shoppe

They danced to the tunes of DJ Derrick

And Pinnacle Limo Services provided them a pretty sweet ride from the ceremony to the reception

Let’s see those pictures!!! We’ll start you off with all the pretty details.

I loved this shot of all the hands helping her get her dress on

Donnally captured this shot great! I imagine Alan and his really great brother were having a little heart to heart right before the ceremony!

Of course if there’s a wedding on a gameday you’d expect the groomsmen to be picking up the highlights on their phones!

Jon took the guys outside for some group shots and I just love this one……look close!

Alan looks like he’s concentrating before the big reveal at their first look.

Amber’s already emotional.

I’m so glad I was able to capture this moment. Having a first look has many benefits but as simple as it may be calming each other down before hand is one of them. Amber and Alan decided to exchange their personal vows during their first look and the traditional vows would be exchanged at the ceremony. What a great personal touch!

You’re looking at Mr. and Mrs. Nichols!

We headed outside to catch the last of the pretty light right at sunset. Alan looks so happy with his beautiful bride!

Jon caught this shot for us. The ambient lighting and the movement is lovely.

Just another reason I recommend hiring two shooters on your wedding day…..while Jon captured the photo above I was able to sneak in and catch what is probably my favorite shot of the night from a completely different angle!

Love it!

Their guests send them off to celebrate on their honeymoon!

Congratulations Amber and Alan!

Enjoy!

-erika

Friday Favorites // Arkansas Wedding Photographer

Erika — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:54:53 +0000

They have super cute wedding websites you’ve gotta check out! You can even have an RSVP list!!!

http://www.weddingwindow.com/

I loved this page because it has all sorts of Q&A referring to how you are supposed to properly write up your announcements.

http://emilyleypaper.com/etiquette/

They have the cutest boutonnieres!!!

Seriously a chocolate menu!?!?!? I LOVE this idea!!!! How yummy!

Crepe paper as ceiling decor…..never thought about it but what a great idea to make a space look fantastic without expensive linens?

I hope you enjoy! Let me know if there’s something you would like to see on Friday Favorites even if it has nothing to do with weddings!

-erika

Saturday Steal // Arkansas Wedding Photographer

Erika — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 18:47:21 +0000

The idea of Saturday Steal is pretty much just to give you (our fab readers) some awesome ideas! :) I sure hope you enjoy!

I think I’ll focus on Fall Weddings since it is just right around the corner! :)

I just love when brides show up with bouquets like this with all the different colors and textures!

This bouquet takes a cue from the season and is a fragrant mix of white majolica roses, Scabiosa, sage, basil, rosemary, and lily of the valley.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

MMMMmmmmmm…….Carmel apples! Seriously! Love it!

Chocolate- and caramel-dipped apples are set out in large copper kettles for departing guests to take with them at the end of the evening.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

Totally love this idea, especially for all our southern weddings around here! What a great option rather then renting a bunch of white chairs! Prob cheaper too!

Guests at this fall wedding sit on hay bails decorated with wildflowers from a friend’s farm in French flower pails.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

What a cool twist on the bride’s entrance! If you really have a southern themed wedding this is the way to go!

For this September wedding, the bride makes her entrance on farm owner’s hay wagon.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

What a simple but beautiful cake!

Two tiers of the cake, by Elizabeth Loudon, are the mother of the bride’s chocolate cake recipe. Set on a stand trimmed with felt, the confection is covered with bittersweet chocolate frosting and dressed with roses, fiddleheads, and sandersonia.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

I pretty much just planned your whole country themed fall wedding for you! :)

Enjoy!

-erika

Erika and Johnny // Creekwood Gardens Wedding Photography

Erika — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:24:56 +0000

Erika and Johnny were married August 21st at Creekwood Gardens. We were all super worried I was going to pop before their wedding date. I hired extra help as well as kept everyone involved super updated after every doctors visit. I hung in there as a super large preggo lady and shot their wedding with grace and style, ok I’m totally kidding on the last part, but it was a whole lot easier to shoot weddings that late in my pregnancy than I thought it was going to be!!!

I’m so excited for Erika and Johnny! I met Erika when I started working at Forever 21 in the mall over last summer. It was a pretty fun job. I’ll be honest in saying I was scared to death of Erika the first time I met her. Soon that all changed, she was in charge of changing out mannequins in the front window while I worked vigorously trying to organize the jewelry room. We started to chat weddings quite frequently (could you really imagine me chatting wedding stuff?!?!! jk), and then I came into work early the day after Christmas to find out she got engaged on Christmas!!!! I was so excited for her! Of course we immediately talked up a storm about everything she had to do and things to think about etc. Soon she found that they would be relocating to Texas. Just before they moved off she booked with us to make sure we were going to be able to photograph her wedding. During early spring we met up in Dallas to shoot their engagement pictures! Which was such a great trip (a trip to IKEA, shopping at the big mall, and eats at Cheesecake Factory!) and we got some really awesome shots! Does anyone remember my favorite with the pigeons? Oh and FYI that day was the random freak day mother nature decided to let 12 inches of snow fall!!!! -which made for a fun trip driving back!

Congratulations Erika and Johnny! I hope you enjoyed your honeymoon and are settling nicely into married life!!!

Oh yea and a side note!!!!! Be sure to look for us at the Bridal Fair this Sunday at the Creekwood Gardens Booth in the back corner!!! :)

Here’s an example of a first look! Once again you all know how much I LOVE it when my couples decide to go this route! What’s a first look? Fair question…… Basically here’s the gist, you two get ready separately all day just as tradition would have it, we set up a nice spot for the look and we’ll escort the bride to the groom while he looks away. This allows to relieve all the pre wedding stress, for emotional pictures, time to shoot couple portraits before the wedding, we can actually get all the traditional family shots out of the way if you’d like, making your arrival to the reception much quicker. Lot’s of pros to this option and I’ve honestly had several times where this saved the day just because the bride and groom were so much less stressed out! I’ve had a couple say their personal vows at this time to make it extra special!!! LOVE! Customize it anyway you like!

And a sparkler send off!!!! I love the time we get at the end of the day for these shots! Just a word of advice, save the petals and the bubbles for the daytime weddings or shoot even for after you leave the ceremony, but definitely bring out the fireworks for those night time receptions! :)

Enjoy!

-erika

Lizz and Greg // Simple Pleasures Wedding Photography

Erika — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:20:32 +0000

I’m a little bit behind on my blogging schedule, but now I’m playing catch up since, with Baby Titan that’s about all I can do right now is sit at my computer (glad we don’t have TV or that’s where I’d probably be sitting!!!)

Lizz and Greg were married July 31st. This was the first time I’ve been to Simple Pleasures to shoot and I had a blast! There is so much cool stuff in that place! Oh and not to mention the beautiful cars!!!

Ceremony: Highlands Methodist Church

Reception: Simple Pleasures

Cake: Rick’s Bakery

Floral: Breezy’s

DJ: MS Soundworks

They were married at Highlands Methodist Church in Bella Vista. He’s a pretty proud Dad!!! :) And she’s all smiles!

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Evans!

We had some great lighting for our couple shots! Isn’t she beautiful? I just love that red hair!

A beautiful first dance shared together for the first time as a married couple!

These two are both extremely involved in music. Lizz lead her group in song while Greg decided his group would serenade his girl!

Lizz’s dad surprised them with a ride in the get a way car as they left their reception. I just love it when couples have these old cars to get a way in! There’s just something different about it than pulling away in a 1998 Nissan………

Congratulations you two!

Enjoy!

-erika