Monday, August 19, 2013

The Skinny Arm aka What I Learned at a Weekend Wedding

When you attend a Sunday evening wedding you have so much fun you might forget it's not actually a Saturday evening wedding. Trust me though, when the hotel  receptionist rings your room at the ridunculous hour of 5:15 AM, and a little too loudly and way too cheerfully says, "Good Morning this is your wake up call." you remember.

A sweet as pie girl we've known since she was three years old got married yesterday, and Daughter1 trekked home to attend the ceremony.


Married for real, I mean.


There is an awful lot going on in that first picture don't you think? The bride is the one in 'white' and I cannot explain to you why they all have makeup? chalk? paint? on their faces, nor can I explain to you why Daughter2 has her hands tied together. Bless her heart, when you're the youngest stuff happens.

The lovely bride's 21st century wedding was held in a town about 45 minutes from us, so we decided to stay in a hotel near the reception venue and simplify logistics.  I don't suppose I need to add here that there are always logistics on this side of the pond, do I?

I thought not.

Sunday weddings have become more popular in recent years, because you can often book a fabulous venue at a much lower cost than would be available on a Saturday. Daughter1 didn't want to take a vacation day today because she only returned to work last Tuesday after being on holiday for a week. She absolutely did not want to miss this wedding, which meant booking an early Monday morning train back to DC so she could still get to her office almost on time.


I know some people get up every single day at 5:15 or even earlier, but when you've had your dancing shoes on until close to midnight you feel like your head just hit the pillow come 5:15.  On the bright side, 5:30 AM is not a bad time to be on the Garden State Parkway, and mercifully there was Starbucks coffee available in the little Amtrak station.

Such a fun weekend, other than the early morning bit I mean...


Here's a shot of me and the hubs...I've always called this sort of picture a sorority shot, because when you see groups of sorority girls photographed together they almost always have one arm on the hip. Daughter1 informed me it's actually called 'the skinny arm' pose, because when you stand like this it makes your arm look smaller.

How come I'm just now finding this out?


Guess what's my new favorite way to stand?

23 comments:

  1. When we did my daughters wedding 5 years ago, we too booked a Sunday evening. It made a HUGE difference. Not only with the venue, but with the photographers too. The caters and the flower people didn't seem to care though, haha. The picture of you and your hubs is a REALLY good one. My daughter told me about the arm pose a long time ago, but sadly doesn't work well for me, haha. My arms are unusually large I guess ; ) Enjoy your day!

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  2. I learned that pose when I photographed a wedding for a University of Louisville lady bird. most of the dance team was in her wedding & they had the pose down.. looking at the pictures when I edited them, I noticed how it slimmed the body... if you tilt your back a little, it helps as well :) I'm a BIG fan of this pose whenever I can :)

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  3. Glad you had a fun time.
    Joyce, you look fabulous!

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  4. You look so cute!
    We recently went to a Friday night reception. The bride and our daughter have been friends since they were born. So fun to see them together and one in a wedding dress!

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  5. Fun photos of your skinny arms. :-) No one ever told me this when I could have used the information. lol Sounds like a great time, except, like you say, for the way-early morning bit.

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  6. I didn't know it was called that but I've got a ton of photos of my daughter like that from pom. Also the arms around each other leaning back pose. I don't understand that one at all.

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  7. I need to practice that pose!! You all look fabulous, and the bride is absolutely glowing. How nice that you all could attend. I'm up at 5:00 a.m. M-F, and have begun to hate the alarm clock. Getting a train that early...ugh. Love the photo of the 'little girls' chalk faces and all. Good friends forever- priceless!!

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  8. It's definitely the way I pose...when I remember!

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  9. You're gorgeous - you don't need a special pose. I love that dress!

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  10. I read that about 2 mos ago about putting the hand on the hip. I still feel pretentious when I do it, but hey--whatever works, right? That looks like a very posh venue and --wow! That floral arrangement in the lobby or whatever that is? Glorious!

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  11. I did not know that!
    You all looked most loverly and it sounds like it was a great time!

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  12. I loved all the photos and I hate getting up before 7am, AND like you, I know tons of people that get up way before 7am, and usually I have to get up at 6am for my dog (long story) but I prefer 7am,for some reason BUT most of all I have learned my new favorite way to pose in a photo, thanks a bunch. LOVE YOUR DRESS!!!!

    Lucy from Lucy's Reality

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  13. Joyce, I seriously don't think you need a pose like that to thin down your arms ... you're so slim. ;-) I love the picture of you with your hubby and your daughter ... beautiful!

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  14. I've been wondering why people pose like that--now I know! One of my DIL's is quite fond of the skinny arm pose :)

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  15. Now I want to pull out my old sorority pics and see if we knew that trick way back when. Your pictures are beautiful regardless of the pose and the one of the little girls is priceless. Those long time friendships are very special.

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  16. haha joyce, i love this tip on the arm--not that you need it--but i could have used it, let's say, a couple of weeks ago---glad you had a fun weekend :)

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  17. Great pictures! I never heard of the skinny arm pose either. I'll have to try it, although I gotta say, I think there's only so much a pose can do for my arms. Or the rest of me either. : )

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  18. What a fun post! I think you have just introduced my new favorite pose. My arms need all the help they can get. Actually, I rarely go out with uncovered arms because lets face it - no matter how toned I try to get them, there is still "old woman skin" sagging somewhere.

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  19. That's an odd pose name! Never heard of it. The first picture is really funny.

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  20. Loved the photos and the pose. Little brides was precious.

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  21. I wonder if there's a skinny thigh pose. I could use that one.

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