#La Crosse WI Wedding Photographer

[pinksprucephotography]

Reasons to Book a Wedding at the Radisson in La Crosse, WI

[eventhappenings]

Paint Your Wedding! Looking to capture images,which traditional paintings will be based from. Fee: Travel expenses outside La Crosse,WI. Will be taking pictures from,getting ready & through the reception. Couple receives,all copies & two surprise gifts. Photos will be high-resolution,to best print/display art pieces. Note: Won't be the main photographer,so please hire additional services. It will be beautiful memories to compliment,your other event photographs. Questions or booking & if you're interested in this for other special events,please contact me. https://m.me/ServicesByTJSPhotography #paintedweddings #weddingartists #weddingart #weddingpainting #paintings #livephotography #weddingcolors #weddingcandids #officiant #tjsphotography #watercolors #weddingartist #weddingphotography #ceremonypainting #visualart #eventartist #midwestartist #pnwartist #painting #paintedwedding #painter #travelblogger #weddinggiftideas #reunionart #midwestphotographer #specialevents #pnwphotographer #festivalart #concertart #earthart https://www.instagram.com/p/CQfHjE9laG0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[nihaohanno]

Article #5: Free Subject: TRAVEL DIARY

Japan, the land of the rising sun 🇯🇵

Introduction

Let’s go back to the real beginning of my semester in Asia. In fact, I first traveled to Japan before I started my student exchange in Taiwan. Because classes were beginning late (end of February) in Taiwan, I took the opportunity to use this time to discover Asia and get familiar with it. As for one of my friends the student exchange was taking place in Japan. We decided with my friend to visit him for a ten days trip. It was an unforgettable trip and I would like to share it with you with more details. That’s why I chose this first travel as the topic of my “free subject article”. This article will be structured as a little diary of my journey and I will detail every day I have spent. In this way, you can follow up my travel and perceive at the same time each day my feelings and my discoveries.

Day 1: 6th of February – Aéroport de Paris Charles de Gaulle - 11pm French time: let’s get started!

The big date is today, the departure day. Let’s go to the airport to take the plane. Everything is being checked, we are ready. We are excited and nervous at the same time, our feelings are mixed. The adventure starts today and we cannot go back.    The evening seems to be long, luggage is checked, we say our last good bye… Time is up and it is now time to get in the plane. We had 13 hours of flight which represented a very long and boring time, I must confess. Weird to realize that we are crossing the world in only few hours by covering thousands of miles. We are finally landing in Tokyo…

7th of February – 7.30 pm local time: arrived in Tokyo, Haneda International airport

Here we are, after long hours of flight, we ARE in Tokyo and we are started our Asian adventure.  Custom, luggage and finally we took a van to join the center of the city.  We booked a reservation with the “Airbnb” website, a little room for two people in a place called Daikanyama near the most famous district of the city: Shibuya. Shibuya is well known for the biggest crossing road of the world. An iconic place in the international city. The house was just perfect and the host, Lisa, was so much kind and friendly. I recommend it, so I give you the link bellow if someone wants to do a travel in Tokyo and desires good advice: https://www.airbnb.fr/rooms/6292260. She gave us a little welcoming gift: a Dorayaki, one of the most popular Japanese confectioneries. It is Anko (sweet red bean paste) sandwiched between sweet pancakes. After meeting Lisa, we get out to eat something and rent a Wi-Fi pocket to have internet connection. Wouah! Shibuya is just incredible! Lights everywhere, big buildings and skyscrapers, big shops and such a big crowd in the street. Now we realize that we are in Tokyo, Shibuya, the most busy and lively area of the city. It is the first time of my life that I see this kind of place, it is a very special feeling. Feelings of the day:

(I will write some words at the end of every day of this diary, it is how do I feel before fall asleep.) Can’t believe that we are in Tokyo and that I will pass an entire semester in Asia. Jet lagged but very excited to start visit the city.

8th of February – 9.30 am: first day in Tokyo, Daikanyama, Tokyo

We woke up and saw the beautiful sun of Tokyo. It is a beautiful day today. Let’s start the day. We laughed about bathrooms which are so weird, same for the shower. We walked all morning in Shibuya and Shinjuku districts. We saw all of these fascinating shops. Especially, we visited a big electronic shop, the biggest one I have ever seen. Around 6pm, we went to drink a coffee in such a beautiful place: Starbucks Coffee Tokyo Plaza Omotesando in Harajuku. The Starbucks is situated on the top of the building and you can admire the view on the rooftop and drinking coffee. This place was just amazing, a little garden on the roof decorated with lights with an incredible view of the city. Finally, we went to the mythic Tower Records and saw the famous “no music no life” logo. Tower Records is a big shop (as “La Fnac” in France) destined mostly for music. Every floor has his own music style such as Jpop, Kpop, Rock and Jazz…  In the tower there is also a bar and a little scene. This kind of place is a sacred place for all international musicians. This night we also went in a big mall called “laForet” well known in Tokyo and we ate Japanese sushi there. Sushi is one of the most famous main meal in Japan and I confirm that I have never ate better sushi before. Sushi restaurants are funny decorated and the organisation is quite special: sushi are on plates that sit on a rotating conveyor belt that runs through the restaurant and by every table and seat. Customers select the sushi that they want to eat with an electronic tablet and as it passes by you are ordering, sushi are given. This kind of Japanese sushi restaurants is called “kaiten-zushi”, most restaurants offer photographic menus and you can simply serve yourself from the conveyor belt. We loved it! Feelings of the day: Japan is a country who have a culture force in electronic, music and food. Tokyo is a busy city with a lot of movement and where a lot of things are happened. Tokyo is a megalopolis and a hearth of business and it is seen. That’s the atmosphere I felt.

9th of February – 10 am: Day 3, Omotesandō, Tokyo

This is the day 3.  We decided to go have a walk on Omotesandō Avenue and do some shopping. We had a meal in a typical Japanese restaurant near the mall and the street market. Surprise of the day: It is snowing today in Tokyo! So happy to see some snowflakes in japan. This evening, we did a famous Japanese karaoke with some other friends we met. Karaoke (カラオケ) is the singing of songs to music accompaniment synchronized with lyrics displayed on-screen. It originated in Japan and is now popular around the world. Karaoke is a well-liked pastime enjoyed by people of all ages in Japan. Modern karaoke establishments consist of multiple private rooms (karaoke boxes) that are each equipped with a karaoke player and microphones. Besides countless Japanese songs, a reasonable selection of English songs is usually available. One can also order food and drinks in most karaoke boxes via phones that connect them directly to the reception. It was very funny experience and we felt like real Japanese people this night. We tried to sing in Japanese but it was a defeat aha!

Feelings of the day: In Tokyo I’m feeling safe. Indeed, Tokyo was selected as the world’s safest city, it is THE number one of the ranking and it is true!

10th of February – 10 am: Day 4,   Meiji Jingū, Yoyogi Park, Tokyo

This shiny morning, we decided to go visiting the Meiji Jingū temple in Tokyo. Meiji Jingū (明治神宮,) is a sanctuary dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Located just beside the JR Yamanote Line’s busy Harajuku Station. Meiji Jingu is one of the Japan’s most popular shrines, it was just beautiful. The area is built with a traditional Japanese architecture. In the sanctuary, you can follow the traditional custom: write something on a paper and put it in on a prayer wall.  We did it! In the sanctuary, a lot of sacred events are happened, we saw a traditional wedding this day, with traditional music and clothes. After that, we ate something and we went to a typical place in japan: game shop and purikura. In Tokyo there is a lot of different shops especially made for playing games. These kind of shop makes you think of Las Vegas games but in Japanese way. I mean, you hear different kind of music everywhere and cartoons characters voices. It is very animate like feels like being in a manga, it is a whole universe. We spent around two hours in it, so much things to do! The funniest activity we did with my friend was the amazing Purikura machines. If you want to stick to the “extreme-Japanese-way” of memory making, taking purikura is definitely an option. In Japan, Purikura (プリクラ) refers to a photo sticker booth or the product of such a photo booth. You get to make your own album original, creative, and most of all, fun to look. Nowadays, with the purikura machine, you can apply fake eyelashes, change eye and hair color, enlarge your eyes, and make your legs look longer and slimmer. These features are all optional and you can make yourself look way better (or more strange, if you want) in the purikura pictures. This is the reason why it is extremely popular among the fashionable Japanese girls. Of course, you can write or draw anything on the pictures as well with the pen function, and make the photo stickers fun and original. The important thing we remember with purikura it is that Japanese girls always wants to be better and to look like someone else, especially look like western girls.  Girls are fascinated with our eyes and our skin colour, that’s why some of them are using estetic chirurgical to change their body, but it is an another topic.

For the end of the afternoon, we went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎). Where houses the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. There is two panoramic observation decks, one in each tower on floor 45 (202 meters high), are free of charge to the public and contain gift shops and cafes. So we took the lift to the latest floor, the 45th, to see a sweeping view of the city… It was just incredible! I have never seen this kind of view. It is a must to do in Tokyo definitely! So we saw the sunset and we stay there until the sun was completely goes down. We ate a bit and we came back home to sleep.

Feelings of the day: Traditional architecture and buildings, I saw two different period today, it’s nice to see both. I begin to get used to Japanese life. Tokyo is just amazing and I don’t want it to end. 

11th of February – Day 5 – National Foundation Day – Tokyo

Today is a National day Japan and it is celebrated at the Meiji Jingū temple, so we decided to go back there and to see the celebration. National Foundation Day is celebrated on February 11 to mark the foundation of Japan and the accession of the first Emperor of Japan, Jimmu, to the throne (in 660BC). It is called Kigensai. During this day and all along Omotesando and Meiji Jingū temple, there is a parade of priests. It was amazing to see a national day in Japan and to understand the Japanese history and foundation in this way. The parade was beautiful, adults and child were wearing traditional clothes.

For the afternoon, we went to Ueno Park and to the famous Ueno Zoo of Tokyo. We ate something at the big outside market of Ueno. Then, we visited temples in Ueno, in particular the Kaneiji Temple which was very nice. And after, the best part of the day, we went to the zoo!! Panda, birds, tiger, otter, white bear, penguins, fishes, flamingo, snakes and reptiles… So much animals to see in the zoo! After the zoo, we had a walk in the Ueno Toshogu Peony Garden and in the market near the Garden and nightfall came.

We had a long way to come back to Shibuya before met our friends in one of famous restaurants in Tokyo. The particularity of this restaurant is that there is a hot plate in the middle of the table and we had to grill ourselves the food before eat. It was delicious!

Feelings of the day: It was so nice to live a National day in japan and understand the previous story of Japan. It was a day of party for Japanese people and we felt the happy and proud atmosphere all along the day.

12th of February – Day 6 – One day in Asakusa – Tokyo

This day we met Japanese girls, family friends of Penelope. So we trusted them to visit something typical in Tokyo. They decided to bring us in the famous district of Asakusa, the district near the famous Tokyo Skytree Tower. Asakusa (浅草?) is a district in Taitō not far from the center of Tokyo. The district is famous for the Buddhist temple of Sensō-ji dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon goddess. There is also a famous pagoda located at the end of a large shopping way called Nakamise-dōri. So we saw the temple, the pagoda and Nakamise-dōri, had some shopping on the way and took some pictures. The only bad story of the day was that I lost myself in the crowd when we visited the Sensō-ji temple. I was so scared! There was too much people this day definitely.

We try traditional prayers and sacred wishes in the temple. Especially two of them: Firstly, we did something called Omikuji at Senso-ji through the Hozomon Gate:  is apparently a great place to learn your future via omikuji. An omikuji is a strip of paper that predicts your fortune when you make a prayer to the gods. The contents written on that small slip of paper shows your future. There are 7 types of results ranging from the best daikichi (excellent luck) to the worst daikyou (terrible luck). Place a 100 yen coin through the hole into the money collection box by yourself. When you’ve inserted the money, shake the omikuji box several times. You will hear a neat shaka shaka sound. An omikuji rod will poke out from a hole in the box. The characters written on it, seen in the red box, mean 88 in Japanese. After, we searched for the drawer labeled number eighty-eight in the shelves located right next to the box. And it is done. Whatever you had at the beginning, you fixed it and you will have an entire lucky life without doubts. Secondly, we did also Osuisha, it is where you go to purify yourself. You wash your hands with water pouring from a dragon’s jaws, and wash your mouth… All of those rituals were such good to do!

Moreover, we ate at another typical restaurant of Japanese style: eat on the floor, sit on pillow. It was such a funny experience! We had to take off our shoes and sit in front of a pretty little table well decorated like in Japanese movies. Servers were wearing typical Japanese kimonos. It was very delicious and not so expensive compared to the quantity of what we ate!

Finally, we went to see the famous Tokyo Skytree tower, second highest tower in the world. It was just incredible and so much high! After come back in Shibuya, we went also in a mall to see the famous big Pokemon store of Tokyo, one of the most famous Japanese cartoon.

Feelings of the day: It was so nice to meet this girls. I was very happy to meet Japanese girls and saw their enthusiasm they had for us to visit and show us their culture. Their kindness was incredible, it was very pleasant. This day was shiny and was just unforgettable.

13th of February – Day 7 – Odaiba Ōedo Onsen Monogatari – Tokyo

Shibuya, day seven, we went to have a drink in Tower Records during the afternoon. 6 pm, we took the monorail to go to the Odaiba artificial Island to do the Onsen Experience. What is Onsen? Onsen are natural hot spring bath, typical places in Japan for relaxing in the middle of the nature. We saw that Ooedo Onsen Monogatari on Odaiba was a great place for the uninitiated to first experience a Japanese hot spring bath. It is one of the largest Onsen of Japan’s Capital City. So we decided to spend the night in the Onsen, exactly until 10 am the day after. Because Onsen are organised as well as a little town with so much things to do. It was just incredible! So there are: an open-air bath, foot bath, big common bath, bath of silks and a rock salt sauna. But also games, candy shops, restaurants with typical Japanese food (ramen, Udon noodles, yakitori and sushi), fortune tellers, spa and esthetic treatments, full body massage, foot reflexology, fish therapy… It is also said that there is a Futsal is opening sometimes!

Onsen are created for spending as much time as possible relaxing in the nature. It is a Japanese habit to take a pause or spend good time with friends.  So when we arrived, we had to pay and wear a Japanese Yukata, traditional Japanese clothe. To dress up in Yukata, it is very important to know the procedure to not doing a mistake. How to dress up a Yukata? Choose from 9 different yukata patterns, slip on the yukata with only your underwear on, and make the collar length even. Tuck the right side around to the left hipbone, and wrap the left side on top. Adjust the belt width, and place its center in front of you. Cross the belt in the back, bring both ends to the front and tie a bowknot. Turn the belt around clockwise so that the bow may come slightly to the right or left on your back. Important: Do not cross the right side of the Yukata above the left. This is how Japanese traditionally dress the dead in yukata.

It was very fun to wearing Yukata and seems like traditional Japanese girls. And the time in the Onsen was such a big experience. Notice: you are not allowed in the onsen if you have a tattoo. Most public baths in Japan have similar rules.

Feelings of the day: Onsen hot spring was such a big experience in Japan and it is definitely a thing to do. Very relaxing and peaceful place. But I have to notice that it was a very special experience too because hot springs have to be done naked… I will never forget that night by the way!

14th of February – Day 8 – 10 am - Valentine’s Day – Tokyo

It is 10am on the morning, we are leaving the Onsen after spending the entire night. So went to sleep a little bit at the house to keep force for our last day. Because tonight is the last night in Tokyo and also a big event programmed: Valère is a fan of metal Japanese music and he wanted to show us his passion. We went at a metal concert of the famous Japanese band called Versailles. Music genres of the band are symphonic power metal and neoclassical metal. It is not the genre of music I used to listen but it was very interested to discover the Japanese style by the way! It was just unexpected! Costumes and make up were fanciful and very original, it is a kind of community style. The place was also incredible, very huge. The power of the music in the room was very impressive!

The most incredible moment was when we met singers after the concert. Singers were considered like real stars in Japan and it was impressive how much Japanese people like them and support them.   So it was a nice way to end the trip and a nice night with good company. We come back to home for sleep one last time in Tokyo. So sad…  

Feelings of the day: It is our last day in Japan, our last feelings, our last memories. I can’t describe how much Tokyo is worth to see. It is not finished, it is just the beginning and now Taiwan wait me!

Good last night and happy Valentine’s Day!

15th of February – Day 9 – last day - 9 am – Tokyo

Last morning, time to say goodbye Japan, it is already over… It’s already the end of this unforgettable first trip in Asia. I’m so glad that I’ve done so many things in Tokyo and will never forget this incredible city. Japanese people are so nice and it is very cool to live in Japan.  Now it is time to start my university semester in Taiwan and discover Taiwan for 5 months. A lot of surprises are waiting to me, let’s take this plane! You know already the following now… To be continued…

[pinksprucephotography]

The First 3 Wedding Budget Decisions You will Need to Make

The First 3 Wedding Budget Decisions You will Need to Make

Your budget is one of the first things you will discuss when planning your wedding. Below are the first three wedding budget decisions you will need to make.  Once you have these three decisions made, you will then set and determine the overall budget for your entire wedding day. Wedding Budget Decision #1: Venue Your wedding location will play a leading role in the creation of your budget.…

[pinksprucephotography]

The Wedding Magazine · Winter Wedding Inspiration

I am SUPER far behind in sharing some of the amazing weddings and sessions I was fortunate enough to be a part of in 2019. However, there is no time like the present. Let’s start from the beginning, shall we? One of the first things I shot in the year was a styled shoot for The Wedding Magazine – it was one of four shoots (a four season themed spread) for the current issue and today I am sharing…

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Romantic Pink and Navy Winter Wedding at The Cargill Room in The Waterfront Restaurant · La Crosse, Wisconsin

Romantic Pink and Navy Winter Wedding at The Cargill Room in The Waterfront Restaurant · La Crosse, Wisconsin

Rachel + Max | The Cargill Room Wedding Romantic Pink and Navy Winter Wedding in La Crosse, Wisconsin

I have been looking forward to Rachel and Max’s winter wedding ever since we got together for their winter engagement photos. I knew their wedding was going to be perfectly dreamy after seeing how very much in love the two of them are and this romantic pink and navy winter wedding at The…

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Rustic Barn Wedding at Pedretti's Party Barn in Viroqua WI

Rustic Barn Wedding at Pedretti’s Party Barn in Viroqua WI

Heidi + Kelly | Pedretti’s Party Barn Wedding December Wedding in Viroqua, WI

Heidi and Kelly met while playing collegiate basketball and their relationship was a slam dunk.  Their mutual love for craft beer, wineries, and adventures is what prompted them to choose a rustic and fun location such as Pedretti’s Party Barn located at Vernon Vineyardsin Viroqua, Wisconsin.  They also have very…

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3 Reasons you Need a USB Drive (and the available options)

3 Reasons you Need a USB Drive (and the available options)

After receiving word from Pink Spruce that the images from your session are available, you begin shopping for prints and products noting the ability to purchase a USB drive. You begin to wonder what a USB drive is, what the options are, and whether or not you need one. There are many different reasons for adding one to your order, but today I am going to give you my Top 3 Reasons you Need a…

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How to Choose a Photo Finish That is Best for the Image

How to Choose a Photo Finish That is Best for the Image

You just received your gallery from your photo session and you are excited to print the images for your walls. But, as you begin to add the prints to your shopping cart you pause. You are being presented with multiple finish options and are unsure which option is best. Pink Spruce currently offers three different options for what your photo is printed on. The options include: Lustre, Deep Matte,…

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The Court Above Main Wedding La Crosse, WI | Nicole + Kyle

The Court Above Main Wedding La Crosse, WI | Nicole + Kyle

It was a sunny day for Nicole and Kyle’s wedding and they emphasized that by incorporating bright colors and decor. Nicole and Kyle’s Court Above Main Wedding in La Crosse, WI was the perfect celebration for the couple’s love of literature, music, and sparkly objects. The Court Above Main provided the sophisticated and historical backdrop for the event.

They had fun with their height difference…

[pinksprucephotography]

Sophisticated Black and White Wedding Theme with Pops of Color | La Crosse Bridal Expo 2018

Sophisticated Black and White Wedding Theme with Pops of Color | La Crosse Bridal Expo 2018

A sophisticated black and white wedding theme will always be a classic option, but the wedding professionals at the 2018 La Crosse Bridal Expo certainly elevated the color palette with pops of color within the decor, floral, and attire.

Sophisticated Black and White Wedding Theme with Pops of Color as seen at the 2018 La Crosse Bridal Expo

| VENDOR LOVE | Design – The Court Above Main| Fresh…

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Wisconsin Bride Magazine Feature | Spring/Summer 2019 Issue

Wisconsin Bride Magazine Feature | Spring/Summer 2019 Issue

Consider this bucket list item marked done! I am extremely honored, and humbled, that one of Pink Spruce Photography‘s weddings was chosen as a Wisconsin Bride Magazine feature in the Spring/Summer 2019 issue. Also, as you can see, my little man is just as excited as his momma.

The wedding was at Norskedalen Nature and Heritage Center. Therefore, Sam and Will opted for an outdoor ceremony and…

[eventhappenings]

New for 2020,Spring into Autumn:

Elopement,Small Wedding or Vow Renewal.

Services: Officiant or Minister

Fee: $80.00+travel outside La Crosse,WI.

Includes:

•Custom script

•Wedding party+Thirty guests

•After ceremony,license filing

•Livestreaming

Extra: $40.00

•Rehearsal or dinner blessing

Need a photographer?

Fee: $300+travel outside La Crosse,WI.

Includes:

•Formals

•Ceremony

•Unlimited photos

•Sneak peeks

•Edited photos

•Livestreaming

Prefer a package?

Fee: $350

Includes:

•Everything listed above

•Goody basket

Questions or booking,please contact me.

10% goes to,St.Jude Children's Hospital

Call/text: 608-797-6570

E-mail: ttss1114@yahoo.com

Messenger: https://m.me/ServicesByTJSPhotography

#elopement #script #weddingparty #marriage #vows #weddingevent #vendor #eventphotos #intimatewedding #intimateelopement #venue #intimateceremony #microwedding #minister #weddingphotographer #officiant #license #weddingelopement #lifestylephotographer #weddingminister #rehearsal #vowrenewal #nondenominationalofficiant #weddingguests #weddingfashion #destinationelopement #vowrenewalceremony #elopementceremony #smallweddingceremony #smallwedding

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6 Reasons for Doing a First Look on your Wedding Day

6 Reasons for Doing a First Look on your Wedding Day

Before every wedding that I photograph, I prepare and review a timeline of the day with the couple. One of the first questions I ask is whether or not they plan on doing a first look. Whether you do a first look, or if you choose to stick with the traditional route, greatly dictates how the day will go from a photography standpoint. In my experience a couple that does a first look ends up with…