Two weeks ago I worked an early Sunday morning wedding with an amazing bride. To my pleasant surprise, an amazing photographer as well.  Stacey M photography. Stacey is so talented, fun and sweet. She is amazing at what she does. As I think every part of a wedding is important finding the best photographer is tops on the list...

Stacey is AMAZING!!!!!!!! If you havent yet check out her website at
www.staceymphotography.com

Throughout yesterday morning, patrons of the Stony Creek Market watched as Branford Fire Department Engine 7 squashed a plastic carrying case beneath its tire. As if that wasn’t enough, the fire truck took another pass, rolling over the case filled with raw eggs. After that, it was on to the Stony Creek Quarry, where this very destructible case, was blown to smithereens.

“I think the egg part was the most entertaining for me,” said Stony Creek native Emma Barnes, who watched the action from the Market deck. Her friend, also a Stony Creek native, said she was a little scared. “I though the box was going to break so I went inside. I thought I was going to be impaled by plastic shards,” said Carleen McLaughlin.

This wasn’t a typical day for Creekers; it was a film set for a commercial and the street was teaming with crews moving sound and video equipment from place to place, working to make every shot perfect.

John Womer, President of the Woodbridge-based Plastic Forming Company, is about to debut his company’s new weatherproof plastic carrying case, EnviroGuard. The cases, which are used for storing electronic equipment and weapons, said Womer, are the more affordable version of similar cases. In varying sizes, the cases will cost $40-$100­–about 50 percent less than the competition. But reducing consumer cost is not all Womer is aiming to do when it comes to competing with his industry counterparts.

The YouTube commercial being shot by Massachusetts-based Squash House Entertainment is a parody on case companies who claim their products are indestructible. If it seems like funny marketing, well it is.

“We thought it would be fun,” said Womer, “to spoof the ‘torture test’ that other companies use.”

Womer’s Vice President, Gary Amatrudo of North Branford chose the filming location of Stony Creek, partially because of the scenic area and partially because the nearby quarry was the ideal spot for blowing things up.

After finishing their shoot in front of the Market, the film crew headed to Stony Creek Quarry where Phil Gauvin of the Hamden-based Pyro-FX Entertainment Group, was getting some explosives ready for shooting.

On site, Branford’s Fire Marshall Shaun Heffernan and a representative from the Connecticut State Fire Marshall’s Office, made sure the detonation went off without a hitch.

The day’s explosives, about 1.3 G black powder base, was pretty low-grade, said Gauvin. Gauvin is an expert in his field and has done the Fourth of July fireworks displays for East Haven, Madison and New Haven. He’s also the guy behind the fireworks at Mohegan Sun and lays claim to doing pyrotechnic work for KISS, the Rolling Stones and ACDC.

Several actors, who were re-touched throughout the day by make-up artist Keri-Anne Shea, worked scene after scene in hopes to get the perfect take­–no one seemed to mind the repeat explosions. A nerdy scientist, clad in white lab coat and black, Coke-bottle glasses, manned an over-sized prop detonator and had no problem following a three, two, one countdown.

You can check out the behind the scenes footage we shot and look for the final video set to debut on YouTube and the plastics company's website sometime in July.

So, I had a trial on Saturday with a very sweet bride. When i asked her where she was going for her honeymoon she said "Hawaii". Beautiful right? To my surprise she told me that the condo in Maui she is staying at for 7 nights is free. How I thought, If you book your wedding at The Crystal Room in Naugatuck, CT on a Friday night you get to use there condo free of charge. That is amazing. Check out there website at

http://www.crystalroomfinecatering.com....

If you don't have a wedding venue yet check it out... Well worth it.

As you know, I am a big suporter of helping with the breast cancer foundation. I have been greatly effected by this awful disease. I am on a mission to continue to do my part. Every year I send a percentage of my income to the breast cancer society, local food shelter and my childrens school for supplies. I have been fortunate to do what i love for a living and this is my way of giving back. Always do your part to help those around you.