How it Works:  One lovely lady hosts the event at her home each month, most often a weeknight dinner.  She chooses the themed menu and usually cooks the main course.  Each of the guests brings her prepared menu item and we eat together.  So we don’t really cook together, just eat together, but it’s awesome.  I tried and prepared many foods that would not normally make their way onto a weeknight menu.  Yum!

Last weekend, we had a reunion at Krissy’s house.  Only 3 of the 8 ladies still live in the DC/Northern Virginia area, so once a year we reunite.  This time, in ShotBox.

With cooking utensils….

And an electric mixer

And this one since it was so close to Valentine’s Day

I gave a suggestion for “Air Guitar,” one of my favorites, but instead got “Air Violin.”

And juggling by Johanna!  Awesome!!!!

Doesn’t my left eye look unusually large?

Catriona bathing in the Valentines Day centerpieces

Krissy in her boxing gear

Playing invisible tambourine and using this strange piece of fitness equipment as a tambourine.

Sara, the birthday girl!

Catriona, the bull.  Randi, the Matador.

Um, this is awesome.

And you can’t get away from this group without a circle-high-five.  Would you avoid it?  See two more photos of the circle-high-five from Sara’s Bachelorette Party and Sara and Nigel’s Wedding.

The menu?  The theme was recipes from Smitten Kitchen, since we are all smitten with our kitchens, its close to Valentine’s Day (our dinner was on 2/13), and the blog features great photography.  Well here it is, with credit to the cooks.

Cubes, Hacked Caprese made by Janet (probably my favorite as my favorite foods are tomatoes, cheese, and bread).
Stuffed Mushrooms by Randi (and Sara).  I made them without bacon, so I could have them.

Fork-Crushed Purple Potatoes by Catriona. She couldn’t find purple potatoes, but used redskin potatoes, and yum.
Bretzel Rolls by Jamie.  Jamie also brought heart-shaped pretzels for everyone because she is so sweet.
Haricot Vert with Shallots by Johanna the juggler.
Chicken with Almonds and Green Olives by our lovely hostess, Krissy.

Chocolate, Whiskey, and Beer Cupcakes by Sara (and Randi)  These babies took about 4-5 hours to make with cooking, cooling, cleaning up the mess, and the many, many steps.  We probably could have finished faster, but why the rush?
Pear and Almond Tart by Kelly.  This was good and the crust was fantastic.

So here is the deal–I would set up the ShotBox for your reception starting at cocktail hour.  A photographer is running the ShotBox and directing you and your guests to do really fun and creative things.  Get in there for some fun portraits, large group shots, lots of dancing and getting crazy.  ShotBox would be “closed” during dinner and major wedding events like your cake cutting, first dance, and etc.  So the focus is still on you and your important wedding events.

ShotBox is a LARGE box (12′x12′x12′ indoor area needed) and it does not spit out photos for your guests to take home-the focus is on taking really creative shots.  You and your guests will be able sign up with their email address to see the photos when your regular wedding photos are ready to view.

As if you needed another reason to love this idea, check out these shots from last weekend….

My Love and I

Ryan having a good time

After seeing The Simpsons episode where Marge becomes a handyman (but because she is woman, no one will hire her, so Homer is a front for the business wearing a shirt that says “I Do All The Work”), Ryan and I wanted to buy dad a shirt that says “I Do All The Work.” We couldn’t find a shirt or a large enough file to make one, so he wore this pin.  He does do all of the work, especially on our renovation.  I love it.

Nicki, Guido, Sweet Dee, and Mark start the party off right with some serious rocking out. You know how I love air guitar, right?

My cousins, Josh and Lauren.  Do they look familiar?  I took some family portraits for them in July.

Devan and Nicki are going crazy in there! There are some serious hams in my group of friends and family.

Devan catches some air

Some friends dance to “Thriller.”  You may recognize Amy on the far right from her June Wedding and Lisa, in the red shirt, from her Engagement Session at the Morning Glory Inn.

Photographer Christina Montemurro with her family

Her son Leo is awesome in this shot

More air guitar and Rye with some shop-vac guitar.  Nicki wailing into the cable release.  Serious hams!

Nicki and Rye in their own frame.  Guido creeping in the background

3 angel faces from Mark, Justin, and Ryan.  These three(and Nicki too) did a tremendous amount of work with Dad on our renovations. 

Guido

Me ferociously enjoying my coconut cake and Keith trying to get in on the action

Here is something you can’t get in an photo booth– 7 lovely ladies from the Harter Family.

Too hot to handle…..sizzle.  He’s single, ladies!  Email me if you want to meet him…hahahahah

New mom Carla with baby Stella

The lovely Kristi

Fellow CMU alum Jason and his lovely wife Anne.

They came over after the Pitt Football Game.  Looks like and ad for Gap.

Our lovely neighbors, Mary, Abby, and Tara.

The iceman

Rye taking Courtney away

oink oink

My parents, Rich and Denise

Master of Karate and Friendship!

Giant Guido attempting to eat Nicki

Newlyweds Tom and Danielle.  They said they felt like celebrities since so many people they’ve never met recognized them from their wedding photos.

And at the end of the night, it was time to put everything away and think about the next time we’d see our lovely family and friends. Horray!

If you want ShotBox to appear at your wedding, let me know–I’d love to make it happen for you too!