The happiest of holidays....

I've been overwhelmed with the compliments coming in about our holiday card, similar versions of which were sent to both our personal family and friends, and my Samantha Warren Wedding family and friends! (Front above and inside below.) You've so generously welcomed me into your families, that I thought we should extend a similar offer and invite you into ours.

When we decided to create this card that captured us as we really are - smart, silly, smitten (with each other, our dogs and life itself) and yes, imperfect- we knew it came with some risk. After all, shouldn't a professional photographer project a picture-perfect image? But my style is to document relationships with people and places as they truly are- whatever that looks like because what is real is what is most beautiful. This means that not every button or bouquet (or in our case, dog) is going to be perfectly in place but you will be. And so I hope you enjoy our holiday greeting, which captures us perfectly in our place- together and laughing. (And you thought your family was crazy!)

More importantly, I want to wish you the happiest of holidays! Whether that be Hanukkah or Christmas (we celebrate those both in the Warren house), Kawanza or the Winter Solstice, I hope you spend this celebratory season surrounded with the warmth of family, friends and festivities and that the New Year brings you peace and plenty. To my SWW couples celebrating their first Christmas as husband and wife, congratulations! 2008 has been intense for us all, and it is my holiday wish that in the final days of the year, we can find some comfort, calm and connectivity.

Samantha Warren Weddings will be closed through Monday, as we are off to celebrate Christmas at Clearwater Camps, my in-laws' sporting camps on the shores of Mooselook in Rangeley. While there, we'll be spending our time skiing at Saddleback, catching up with old friends, eating lots and lots (Kyle's mom is the world's greatest cook) and being grateful for the gift of being together. I will have my iPhone (though no laptop) so I'll hopefully be able to respond to emails if I can secure service in the mountains. If not, I'll respond to my messages on Sunday night.

Happy! Happy! Happy!