First Things First ladies the Engagement...

Amid all of the excitement in the weeks surrounding your engagement, there are a few tasks you'll want to take care of right away. Here, five must-dos from Peter Bruce Photo and, most important, how to have a good time accomplishing them.

Start Spreading the News...
You may want to let people in on your engagement as soon as the ring is slipped on your finger. Or you might want to keep the moment private a bit longer. However you share the information, even if you veer from tradition, you should tell your parents first, then other family and friends. You'll make phone calls of course, but you can also send email, or have cards printed. You could even throw a party (and no, you don't have to invite everyone on the engagement-party guest list to the wedding). Have fun with it: Turn photos of the two of you holding a "We're engaged" sign into table decorations or posters.

Discuss a Date...
Once the word is out, expect lots of questions, including "When are you getting married?" Reveal a date if you have one, or let curious friends know plans are in the works -- as they should be, especially if you want to hold your wedding at a popular time of year, such as June or over a holiday. Locations, photographers, caterers, and other professionals book up early, sometimes a year in advance.

Think About the Big Picture...
Envision the type of wedding you both want -- maybe it's the event of childhood dreams or one that reflects your grown-up tastes. For Let your imagination run free.

Even if you are set on a formal event in a ballroom, considering other possibilities, such as a seaside ceremony or a Sunday brunch, may change your mind or reinforce your choice. The same holds true for selecting the time of day and mood of the wedding.

Prior to making any decisions, figure out what you have to spend and whether your families will contribute. Make sure you and your fiance are in agreement about your priorities before talking to your parents about budget and logistics.

Register for Gifts...
Surprising as it may seem, as soon as people find out about your impending nuptials, presents will start flowing in. It's never too early to register, not only to help ensure you get something you like and need, but also to make it easier on friends and family who are pondering what to purchase. Even if you don't select everything right away, at least go to one store and decide on some things for your list. You can always add more later and register at other stores. Try to limit your registry to three places. This way, it'll be easier to manage. And, in case you don't get everything you put down, many stores will keep your registry active for as long as a few years.

Insure Your Ring...
You may never want to take off your priceless new treasure, but realistically, you'll have to at times. It's a good idea to talk to an insurance agent about coverage in case the stones or the ring itself ever need to be repaired or replaced.

You will first need to get a appraisal by a certified independent gemologist; most jewelers will provide this service upon purchase. And make sure you understand all the terms of the policy. Find out whether you are covered if the ring is lost, stolen, or damaged, and what stipulations there are, if any. If the ring is damaged, does the company give you a check so you can have it repaired by the jeweler of your choice, or do you have to use one of their jewelers? You'll also want to know how long the claims process takes.

You might be able to add a jewelry rider to your existing homeowner's or renter's policy; if not, set up a separate policy. And, most important, take very good care of your ring -- when you're wearing it and when you're not -- because that's the best insurance of all.

We hope this helps you get started. Please let us know

Best Regards Peter Bruce Photo & Video

Old St. Hilary's & Art & Garden Center by Peter Bruce Photo

Melissa and Sean hail from New York by way of the Bay Area. They came back for their wedding and couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. Their weddding was a day full of family (the groom's mother married the couple), friends (old and new) and love. The guests were stylish, the setting was gorgeous. The bar of candy, soft and vibrant flowers, and the steel drum band showed how much fun this couple is. Peter Bruce Photo & Video was happy to be there to capture their day.

See more photos below...

Old St. Hilary's, a little history...

Wildflowers surround Old St. Hilary's, Tiburon's iconic hillside landmark, which was originally a mission church named for St. Hilaire, Bishop of Poitiers. The heirs of John Reed—who held title to El Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio, the Mexican land grant that included the Tiburon Peninsula—deeded the one-quarter acre site for $2 to the Archdiocese of San Francisco, which built the church as a place of worship for local railroad workers in 1888.

The building is of significant architectural importance because it is one of the few remaining Carpenter Gothic churches to survive in its original setting. It is constructed of redwood, with redwood doors and a Douglas fir ceiling. Amber glass replaced the original stained glass windows after they were broken. The stained glass window above the door has been restored and depicts St. Hilary (fourth century), patron saint of scholars. It was a gift from Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Lyford.

The current electric lights are replicas of coal-oil chandeliers, which were lowered with ropes that brackets on the walls held in place. Heating and water are modern additions. Original furnishings include the white altar rail and two stands for statues on either side of the sanctuary, as well as the restored Stations of the Cross in the nave. A donor salvaged the cross from a church in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Most of the permanent furnishings are donations in honor of local residents. They include the concert piano and custom-made docent desk, chair and table, as well as oak pews that are reproductions of the originals. A group of local volunteers created the needlepoint pew cushions that feature local wildflowers.

The church was deconsecrated to make way for a new, larger one and was headed for destruction until several individuals intent on preserving local history established the Landmarks Society and purchased the site and building in 1959. It has served as a schoolroom and town meeting hall and is now a popular setting for weddings, concerts and other memorable events.

Landmarks Art & Garden Center a little history...

The property was part of the earliest settlement on the Tiburon Peninsula—John Reed's Mexican Land Grant, El Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio. The Cottage (c. 1870), believed to be the oldest structure on the Tiburon Peninsula, was originally a bunkhouse for workers at the Rancho's brick kilns in an area called the Hilarita, which was named for Hilarita Reed Lyford, heiress to the 1834 land grant. Working class homes and a dairy, which was located where Reed School is now, were part of the neighborhood as well.

When the Northwest Pacific Railroad came to Tiburon in 1884, it added a stop called Hilarita station to the tiny community. The trains served passengers and also carried bricks from the kilns to construction sites in the North Bay and to ferries for transport to San Francisco.

After the kilns stopped operating, and theo Rancho no longer needed to provide housing for workers, the Reed heirs expanded the bunkhouse and turned it into a residential cottage, which they rented to tenants. In 1944, artist William Newman and his wife Helen, an ardent conservationist, purchased the property and transformed the farmyard into a garden while preserving the historic house.

Fifty years later, Mrs. Newman bequeathed the property to the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society for use as an art center and to preserve the gardens. The society took on the task of restoring the cottage in typical farmhouse style and bringing it up to modern building codes, using rough-hewn materials from the original building as well as those of similar age.

The Newmans created the country garden and did most of the work themselves with guidance from a plan by Leland Noel, a noted landscape architect and botanist. The Landmarks Society preserved mature trees, shrubs and plants that had survived years of drought and neglect and made modifications to allow public use and accommodate current conservation practices. Master gardeners and volunteers planted the terraced acre with colorful flowerbeds and created restful vista points, and local residents contributed thousands of used bricks to complete the terraces and pathways.

The cast-iron bell at the side of the cottage was originally a fire bell for Belvedere Island, sounding the alarm to let firefighters know that their services were needed. When telephones came into vogue, operators began calling firefighters to alert them, and the bell found a new home at Belvedere School where it summoned children to class. It also chimed daily at 4 p.m. to tell children playing in the islands open spaces that it was time to go home. It now hangs from a farmyard post, and celebrants ring it to mark special occasions.

The lovely 5-foot-by-7-foot pagoda birdhouse is a Victorian garden folly that dates from the 1890s, a time when oriental objects were fashionable, and was a fixture in the garden at 207 Beach Road, Belvedere, for many years. Mindful of its history, the owners donated it to the Landmarks Society for preservation in the Art & Garden Center.

We hope you enjoyed these photos and a little history. Please let us know

Best Peter Bruce Photo & Video

Carmel Valley Ranch at its best

Peter Bruce Photo and Video was lucky enough to shoot Janine & Davids wedding at the beautiful Carmel Valley Ranch. What a fun couple and a wonderful wedding. Carmel Valley Ranch has vibrant flower gardens, delightful climate, and expansive mountains that make Carmel Valley Ranch an exquisite retreat to host every sort of celebration. Accompanied by the gourmet creations, events are culinary journeys designed to please the palate and to create an indelible impression. It is surrounded by landscaped gardens and lush woodlands, Carmel Valley Ranch is an iconic Monterey wedding and special event location exuding a contemporary style and modern sophistication.You can treat yourself to a round of golf. Or enjoy an invigorating match of tennis. Lounge by the large heated outdoor pool. Majestic oaks, rolling fairways, and radiant gardens provide the picture backdrop for your ceremony, reception, or landmark celebration. With exquisite gourmet cuisine served throughout the resort, your romantic Carmel wedding is sure to be a culinary experience not to be forgotten. Dine and dance under a twin-peaked tent - bordered by lush foliage and sparkling lights. Exchange your vows in the tennis garden, beneath a blanket of stars. Step outside of the grand ballroom for a champagne toast on the terrace. There guests discovered a world of relaxed elegance and astonishing natural beauty in this remarkable location. Thanks for making me part of your great day,hope you enjoyed. Please let me know Best Peter Bruce Photo & Video

Fairmont hotel San Francisco

The Fairmont signing with Rami and Todd and team bELLE was there to shoot it

I had the great pleasure of photographing Rami’s and Todd’s wedding at
the Fairmont Hotel this weekend. This couple had gotten married about a
year ago and now were celebrating their union with family and friends .
The ceremony outside on the Pavilion Terrace was serene and joyful against
the backdrop of the San Francisco skyline.
The guys had a fantastic first dance routine , a combination of Salsa and
Rumba I think( I’m no dancer myself) , that wowed the whole room. After
a delicious dinner , Val Cunningham, Todd and Rami’s dance instructor,
led everyone to the dance floor for a fun and funny Swing dance lesson.
The rest of the night was a merry blur of love , dancing and - yes - “air
guitar”!

Enjoy,and please let us know

Bernadette from bELLE and Peter Bruce Photo