We’ve been telling people the preferred dress is Hip Casual! This basically means wear what you’d wear if you were going out on a Saturday night!

Can’t wait to see everyone!

~Mere

I just got the final word on some GRRRRRRRREAT (a la Tony the Tiger) sponsors for the upcoming Benny Awards!  Not that they’re giving me money (though, they can if they want to), but they’re donating some fantastic talent to our great party!!

First off, Jenessa Bailey, owner of J.Bailey Occasions is whipping up some amazing stuff.  It is her vision that you’ll see when you walk through the doors of the Fayetteville Town Center January 22nd (that is, if you got an invite!)  She always amazes me!

Next, if you’re on our list, you’re getting a fab invitation from the uber-creative Queen of Invitations and all things paper, Amy Hannon of Sincerely Yours.  And just for fun, here’s a sneak peek of the aforementioned fab invite:
Thanks for the picture, Amy!

Moving along… we’ve also gained the superb experience and artistic vision of the best videographer around, NILO Productions! Hollaaaaaa!!!! Nic and Lori get to come shoot some fun detail shots and get some sweet comments from our Benny Awards nominees. Don’t worry, we’re not making you give a speech if you win! It’s more like the video below, except better.

And for those who like to jam to some music while you sip drinks and mingle with us and the other nominees, our friends the Rudisills will be there from Groove Productions to bring the funk. Well, not funk. Anyways…you get the idea.

Next, we’re bringing in the Food Network star (well, a star in my book, and in Ellie’s book), cake design challenge winner Jennifer at Shelby Lynn’s Cake Shoppe! Since it’s later in the evening, we decided that some desserts would be nice to serve you with your drinks. We can’t have you all getting drunk now, can we? So after your dinner, come leaving a little room for dessert because Jennifer’s petit fours are to die four <– get it?! See what I did there?

We also want to thank Randall at Eventures for some great rentals that Jenessa is going to whip into a masterpiece. They helped us make the place look fab last year, and I’m happy that they’ll be helping again this year.

Julie at Jules Design is also helping us out again this year!  We love her flowers and arrangements, and we’re so glad she is going to put the finishing touches on the beautification process.  That’s totally not a word.

Finally, we want to thank our gift givers! All this voting would just be for bragging rights if it weren’t for Art by Beth, and Mpix, and us. Beth is giving away something that I wish I could win: a watercolor painting that will be custom painted for the winning couple. Are you kidding?! Niiiiice! Mpix has graciously offered to help with the gallery wraps we’re giving away, and a couple gift certificates. Nice!! Lastly, Benfield Photography will be giving away some stuff, but the most fabulous prize we’re giving (in my opinion) is the Couture album upgrade. If you’re nominated for Best Engagement Portrait, work your bootay off to get this otherwise-expensive upgrade! Make sure to send all your friends and family (especially if they are newly engaged – hee hee) to our site to vote for you. We’re only giving away one of these so work it, work it, work it!

I think that’s it for now! Keep voting, keep campaigning, and we are so excited to see you Friday, January 22nd at 7:30pm!

~Diggity Dale

Here is a current map of the engagement portrait votes – when I posted this there were votes from almost 20 states! Awesome! Keep it up!

What do the winners get? Real prizes! Last year, we gave about over a thousand dollars worth of prizes! From couture album upgrades, to gallery wrapped canvases, we found some really exciting gifts for those who earned the most votes.

Do I get to come to the Benny Awards? Only if you’re a current Benfield Photography couple. Because we don’t charge for this and pay for everything ourselves, we have to be selective in who we invite for this super fab, super swanky party designed by the impeccable, always amazing wedding planner Jenessa Bailey of J Bailey Occasions. You know you’re invited if you either 1) are nominated or 2) get one of our fab invites designed by the awe-inspiring wedding invitation guru Amy Hannon of Sincerely Yours.

If I’m not nominated for something, can I still vote? Of course! We want you to be able to support your family or friend or co-worker, or whoever! Or, if you’re just a random person who stumbled upon this blog, don’t leave! Stay and vote awhile! The links on the right are all 14 categories. Take your time, pick your favorite, and cast your vote.

If you have any other questions, leave a comment below or email me!

Lastly, let me leave you with a couple videos from last year. The first one is some sweet feedback from some of our favorite brides, and the second one is a slideshow from last year’s party. Enjoy!