Beautiful Flowers On A Budget
Flowers can make the wedding sparkle, but can also cost a fair bit of money! The best way to save money on your wedding flowers is to buy them in bulk and arrange them yourself. If the idea of entrusting your floral design to your own inexperienced hands scares you, here are a few suggests that mayhelp you save money without the worry!
1. Silk Flowers - silk flowers can make beautiful wedding bouquets, and may also be cheaper then real flowers, especially if you want flowers that are out of season. But the biggest bonus is that you can arrange and rearrange them in advance, and you have enough time to work at it until it is perfect!
2. Find a unprofessional professional! Do you or your fiance have a friend or family member with floral experience? Ask around! You may find that someone you know, knows someone who is a retired florist! Or check out the local Seniors center, they may have suggestions as well! A retired florist will often offer their services at a much lower cost, and if they are friends or family, they may be willing to do it for free!
3. Take a class! Many local colleges and art centers offer flower arranging evening classes to help you learn the basics of arranging flowers for yourself! Local craft stores will often offer similar classes as well!!
4. Search online - many craft stores have websites with craft projects and ideas, including wedding arrangements! Check out Michaels for example! They carry a selction of 20+ bouquets with complete assembly instructions online!
If none of those ideas are particularly calming, and you would prefer to have a professional florist do your flowers, there are still ways that you can save money! Here are a few steps you can take to ensure you get the best flowers for your money.
1. Pick flowers that are in season, they are automatically cheaper then out of season flowers. For example, tulips for a spring wedding would be much less expensive then tulips in December. If you are unsure what flowers are inseason, ask your florist for advice.
2. Pick a bouquet that uses more affordable flowers (carnations, for example) accented with a few exotic flowers for a beautiful finish! When looking through my mother's wedding photos, I found a stunning photo of her bouquet, which was a cascading bouquet of white carnations with one goregous stargazer lily in front! It was goregous, and much more affordable then it woudl have been if she had used roses!
3. Shop around, get quotes from all the shops in your area, and make sure they know you are going to be getting quotes from other shops as well. Often, they will quote you a lower price if they know you are going to be looking around!
4. Look into the cost of silk flowers - especially if you want flowers that are out of seaon. Many retailers, both online and locally, carry exquisite silk flower designs that are fabulous in appearance and in price! Ask around and find out if there is a local craftsperson who does arrangements from their home.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
How to Create a Winter Wedding
How to Create a Romantic Winter Wedding
A wedding of your dreams does not have to be in the popular wedding months. A winter wedding can be quite spectacular and there are significant financial advantages.
While the summer months remain the most popular time of the year to say "I Do", many couples are choosing to have a winter date for the "big event." According to the Society of American Florists, 13 percent of weddings take place in the winter, with 11 percent of those being Christmas weddings. Summer weddings account for 35 percent, spring weddings 29 percent, and autumn weddings 23 percent.
Décor that appeals to the senses is important when trying to pulling off a romantic winter wedding. "Choose colors of rich jewel tones such as purple, forest green, and navy. Sapphire blue, ice blue or powder blue, silver and white can be used if you want to steer clear of the traditional Christmas colors", suggests Lynette Gamble, senior coordinator of Affairs of Grandeur. The glow of candlelight will add warmth and ambiance to your ceremony and reception site.
Iridescent or frosted glass balls and pine cones can adorn your guests' tables. Snowflake ornaments and glittery ribbons may be placed on the food tables or hung from the ceiling. For a simple touch, only decorate with red and white Poinsettias. Since many locations will already be lavishly decorated, your décor budget will be minimal.
To keep floral costs to a minimum, use flowers that are already available during the winter months. Some flower choices are: poinsettias, roses, amaryllis, and lilies. Evergreens are popular choices for decorations while holly branches and other plants with red berries are ideal for use in floral arrangements.
A cozy cottage or bed and breakfast is an ideal location for your wintry wedding theme. Your guests may warm themselves in front of the fireplace while sipping hot chocolate or wassail during the cocktail hour. A view overlooking a partially frozen pond will add to the ambiance. Imagine your guests delight as they get a glimpse of a deer drinking from the pond just outside the reception room window or a family of rabbits scurrying over the freshly fallen snow.
To add a little creativity to your dinner menu, ask your bridal party to submit traditional family recipes for your caterer to make for the reception. If you don't want to serve the traditional Christmas fare, ask your caterer for alternatives and create a unique meal for your guests. As for favors, Gamble recommends candles of course. "Cinnamon Apple, Pumpkin Pie, and Vanilla are all pleasant scents that remind you of being a kid in your grandmothers' kitchen and they're nice this time of year", says Gamble. "Spiced teas, coffee mugs, snow globes and Christmas ornaments imprinted with the couples name and wedding date will also make great favors."
Want a memorable getaway? Give out mini bells and have them rung as the two of you make your way to a horse-drawn sleigh. Decorate the coach and harness with Christmas foliage and chiming bells and ride off into the evening.
A wedding of your dreams does not have to be in the popular wedding months. A winter wedding can be quite spectacular and there are significant financial advantages.
While the summer months remain the most popular time of the year to say "I Do", many couples are choosing to have a winter date for the "big event." According to the Society of American Florists, 13 percent of weddings take place in the winter, with 11 percent of those being Christmas weddings. Summer weddings account for 35 percent, spring weddings 29 percent, and autumn weddings 23 percent.
Décor that appeals to the senses is important when trying to pulling off a romantic winter wedding. "Choose colors of rich jewel tones such as purple, forest green, and navy. Sapphire blue, ice blue or powder blue, silver and white can be used if you want to steer clear of the traditional Christmas colors", suggests Lynette Gamble, senior coordinator of Affairs of Grandeur. The glow of candlelight will add warmth and ambiance to your ceremony and reception site.
Iridescent or frosted glass balls and pine cones can adorn your guests' tables. Snowflake ornaments and glittery ribbons may be placed on the food tables or hung from the ceiling. For a simple touch, only decorate with red and white Poinsettias. Since many locations will already be lavishly decorated, your décor budget will be minimal.
To keep floral costs to a minimum, use flowers that are already available during the winter months. Some flower choices are: poinsettias, roses, amaryllis, and lilies. Evergreens are popular choices for decorations while holly branches and other plants with red berries are ideal for use in floral arrangements.
A cozy cottage or bed and breakfast is an ideal location for your wintry wedding theme. Your guests may warm themselves in front of the fireplace while sipping hot chocolate or wassail during the cocktail hour. A view overlooking a partially frozen pond will add to the ambiance. Imagine your guests delight as they get a glimpse of a deer drinking from the pond just outside the reception room window or a family of rabbits scurrying over the freshly fallen snow.
To add a little creativity to your dinner menu, ask your bridal party to submit traditional family recipes for your caterer to make for the reception. If you don't want to serve the traditional Christmas fare, ask your caterer for alternatives and create a unique meal for your guests. As for favors, Gamble recommends candles of course. "Cinnamon Apple, Pumpkin Pie, and Vanilla are all pleasant scents that remind you of being a kid in your grandmothers' kitchen and they're nice this time of year", says Gamble. "Spiced teas, coffee mugs, snow globes and Christmas ornaments imprinted with the couples name and wedding date will also make great favors."
Want a memorable getaway? Give out mini bells and have them rung as the two of you make your way to a horse-drawn sleigh. Decorate the coach and harness with Christmas foliage and chiming bells and ride off into the evening.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Getting The Most Out of Bridal Shows
It’s almost that time of the year! Bridal Show season is just around the corner. Not surprising since 19% of all engagements take place in December. All other months are only 9% or less! (Source: Fairchild American Wedding Survey).
A Bridal Show is a great place to get started with your wedding plans. Held at various types of venues – including convention centers, banquet halls, even your local shopping mall -- they can be quite large (100 different vendors or more!) or much smaller, and more intimate (only 10-20 different vendors). But regardless of the size, the main purpose is still the same, you get a chance to take a sneak peek at the local professionals – see examples of their work, taste samples of cakes and foods, and collect vendor brochures and literature.
While tempting, now is not the time to get all of your planning done in a whirlwind of a few hours. You want to be a savvy shopper, and select just the right vendors for you. Before you go, here are some tips offered by Jean Neuhart, Professional Bridal Consultant, and owner of Weddings From The Heart, to make the trip easier, fun, and worthwhile.
Create a game plan. Which types of vendors you are most interested in? Are you looking for a DJ? Perhaps you still need a florist. Figure out the types of vendors you most want to see, then plan on visiting their booths first.
Things to bring: Pen and paper, (you’ll want to take notes). A tote bag (to carry all those flyers and brochures you’ll be picking up). Address labels (saves time filling out all those contest and door prize slips). Cash (to pay for admission and to purchase a light snack or beverage). Checkbook or credit card (in case you find the perfect vendor and want to put down a deposit).
Wear comfortable shoes. And if possible, leave your coat in the car. You’ll have enough to carry without having to lug around or wear a coat. And you’ll be that much happier if you’re comfortable. Also, wear clothing with pockets. When you come across a vendor that you especially want to remember, place his or her card in your pocket instead of in the tote bag where it can get mixed up with all of the other cards and flyers you’ll be getting.
Bring only one or two people with you. Have mom, your maid of honor, a bridesmaid, or fiancé come along. They can help you carry the brochures you’ve picked up, and you’ll have someone who knows you to bounce ideas off of. Just don’t bring a whole entourage. It’s harder to keep a large group together (you don’t want to be spending your time looking for who you came with!) Also, too many people will offer too many different opinions, which will be confusing, and not enjoyable at all.
Eat before the show. Not all shows offer snacks for purchase, and you don’t want to be walking around on an empty tummy! While there will be plenty of yummy samples of foods and cakes to try, this is not the place to load up your plate for a meal.
Take notes. Jot down pricing and package information, as well as your personal opinions. Is there anything about a vendors’ personality that stands out to you? Is he or she courteous and polite, or unfriendly and grumpy? Are they enjoying themselves, or do they seem to want to be somewhere else? After you get home and are sorting through that pile of flyers you’ve picked up, it will be hard to remember who was who. A few notes will help remind you who you’ll want to contact later, (and who you want to steer clear of!).
A popular portion of most bridal shows is the Fashion Show. If you’re like most brides, you’ll want to attend it, so find a seat early – at least 20-30 minutes before it starts. However, if you already have your gown, or otherwise aren’t planning on attending the fashion show, use this time to talk with the vendors you are most interested in. Things will be much more quiet and calm, and you’ll have a better chance at getting their undivided attention.
Don’t feel that you have to make a decision at the show. Sure, all of the vendors would love for you to sign on the dotted line right then, and may even offer a discount if you do. But wouldn’t you rather be a savvy shopper and take time to carefully look over everything and figure out which vendors will truly best suit the style of wedding you and your fiancé envision?
Before you decide to book someone, be very thorough. Carefully read everything (literature, samples, flyers, contract – EVERYTHING!!) before you sign and put down a deposit. Make sure what they offer is really right for your wedding vision, is what you and your fiancé really want, and that their terms are acceptable. Ask questions so there is a complete understanding between you and the vendor. You don’t want that ‘great deal’ to turn out to be a headache because you didn’t notice the "additional costs" or the "fine print".
So go and enjoy yourself! It’s just a bridal show!
A Bridal Show is a great place to get started with your wedding plans. Held at various types of venues – including convention centers, banquet halls, even your local shopping mall -- they can be quite large (100 different vendors or more!) or much smaller, and more intimate (only 10-20 different vendors). But regardless of the size, the main purpose is still the same, you get a chance to take a sneak peek at the local professionals – see examples of their work, taste samples of cakes and foods, and collect vendor brochures and literature.
While tempting, now is not the time to get all of your planning done in a whirlwind of a few hours. You want to be a savvy shopper, and select just the right vendors for you. Before you go, here are some tips offered by Jean Neuhart, Professional Bridal Consultant, and owner of Weddings From The Heart, to make the trip easier, fun, and worthwhile.
Create a game plan. Which types of vendors you are most interested in? Are you looking for a DJ? Perhaps you still need a florist. Figure out the types of vendors you most want to see, then plan on visiting their booths first.
Things to bring: Pen and paper, (you’ll want to take notes). A tote bag (to carry all those flyers and brochures you’ll be picking up). Address labels (saves time filling out all those contest and door prize slips). Cash (to pay for admission and to purchase a light snack or beverage). Checkbook or credit card (in case you find the perfect vendor and want to put down a deposit).
Wear comfortable shoes. And if possible, leave your coat in the car. You’ll have enough to carry without having to lug around or wear a coat. And you’ll be that much happier if you’re comfortable. Also, wear clothing with pockets. When you come across a vendor that you especially want to remember, place his or her card in your pocket instead of in the tote bag where it can get mixed up with all of the other cards and flyers you’ll be getting.
Bring only one or two people with you. Have mom, your maid of honor, a bridesmaid, or fiancé come along. They can help you carry the brochures you’ve picked up, and you’ll have someone who knows you to bounce ideas off of. Just don’t bring a whole entourage. It’s harder to keep a large group together (you don’t want to be spending your time looking for who you came with!) Also, too many people will offer too many different opinions, which will be confusing, and not enjoyable at all.
Eat before the show. Not all shows offer snacks for purchase, and you don’t want to be walking around on an empty tummy! While there will be plenty of yummy samples of foods and cakes to try, this is not the place to load up your plate for a meal.
Take notes. Jot down pricing and package information, as well as your personal opinions. Is there anything about a vendors’ personality that stands out to you? Is he or she courteous and polite, or unfriendly and grumpy? Are they enjoying themselves, or do they seem to want to be somewhere else? After you get home and are sorting through that pile of flyers you’ve picked up, it will be hard to remember who was who. A few notes will help remind you who you’ll want to contact later, (and who you want to steer clear of!).
A popular portion of most bridal shows is the Fashion Show. If you’re like most brides, you’ll want to attend it, so find a seat early – at least 20-30 minutes before it starts. However, if you already have your gown, or otherwise aren’t planning on attending the fashion show, use this time to talk with the vendors you are most interested in. Things will be much more quiet and calm, and you’ll have a better chance at getting their undivided attention.
Don’t feel that you have to make a decision at the show. Sure, all of the vendors would love for you to sign on the dotted line right then, and may even offer a discount if you do. But wouldn’t you rather be a savvy shopper and take time to carefully look over everything and figure out which vendors will truly best suit the style of wedding you and your fiancé envision?
Before you decide to book someone, be very thorough. Carefully read everything (literature, samples, flyers, contract – EVERYTHING!!) before you sign and put down a deposit. Make sure what they offer is really right for your wedding vision, is what you and your fiancé really want, and that their terms are acceptable. Ask questions so there is a complete understanding between you and the vendor. You don’t want that ‘great deal’ to turn out to be a headache because you didn’t notice the "additional costs" or the "fine print".
So go and enjoy yourself! It’s just a bridal show!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Wedding Photography Check List
HERE IS A HELPFUL CHECKLIST TO PRINT OUT AND GIVE TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER TO MAKE SURE HE/SHE CAPTURES ALL YOUR SPECIAL MOMENTS.
Wedding Date ____/____/____ Photographer Start Time __________
__ Mother/Maid of Honor adjusting veil
__ Bride putting on garter with bridesmaids looking on
or Brides father putting on garter
__ Bride in dressing room with mirror
__ Corsage being pinned on mother
__ Corsage being pinned on father
__ Portrait of mother and bride
__ Portrait of father and bride
__ Brothers and sisters and bride
__ Group Shot of Bride and bridesmaids
__ Individual shots of Bride with each bridesmaids
__ Bride leaving house with parents and bridesmaids
__ Father helping bride into car
AT THE CEREMONY LOCATION PRIOR TO CEREMONY
__ Groom and groomsmen photographs
__ Best man adjusting groom's tie
__ Groom and best man handshaking
__ Groom and groomsmen handshaking
__ Groom with father
__ Bride and matron of honor
__ Bride with parents
__ Bride and mother
__ Bride and father
__ Bride kissing father on the cheek
__ Bride and mother with father looking on
__ Bride and bridesmaids group pose in vestibule or dressing room
__ Bride's mother on usher's arm
__ Groom's mother on usher's arm
__ Grandparents accompanied down the aisle
__ Other people accompanied down aisle
DURING THE CEREMONY
__ Bridal party coming down the aisle__ Bridesmaids, flower girls, and ring bearer coming down the aisle
__ Bride being taken down aisle by father
__ Father giving away bride
__ Shots during the ceremony itself (Pre-approved by officiator)
(These can also be taken as setup shots after ceremony)
__ Time exposure of overall area during ceremony
AFTER THE CEREMONY AT CEREMONY LOCATION
__ Bride and groom coming down the aisle
__ Receiving line right after ceremony
__ Best man signing certificate with bride and groom looking on
__ Matron of honor signing certificate with bride and groom looking on
SETUP POSES IN THE CEREMONY LOCATION
With most of your formal poses 2-4 shots should taken to help eliminate blinking and assure a good smile.
__ Groom kissing bride at the altar full length
__ Groom kissing bride at the altar 3/4 pose
__ Groom kissing bride at the altar tight head shot pose
__ Groom putting ring on bride's finger
__ Bride putting ring on groom's finger
__ Bride and groom lighting candles, full length
__ Bride and groom lighting candles, 3/4 pose
__ Bride and groom's hands with rings and flowers
__ Bride and groom with officiator
__ Bride and groom and bridal party with officiator
__ Other missed shots during ceremony
__ Bride with bridemaids flowers around her
__ Bride and groomsmen
__ Groom with bridesmaids
__ Bride and groom at ceremony location door (or stained glass window) in silhouette
__ Bride and groom on the steps of ceremony location
__ Bride and bridemaids on the steps of the ceremony location
__ Groom and groomsmen on the steps of the ceremony location
__ Group shots back inside ceremony location
(Use ceremony location altar/steps, etc. as a studio)
__ Bride and groom with bridal party standing
__ Bride and groom with bridal party sitting
__ Bride and groom with bridal party
(alternating male and female)
__ Bride and groom with all of the Brides family
(as big as the bride would like to go)
__ Bride and groom with brides immediate family
__ Bride and groom with bride's parents__ Bride with her parents
__ Bride with her mother
__ Bride with her father
__ Bride and groom with all of the groom's family
(as big as the bride would like to go)
__ Bride and groom with groom's immediate family
__ Bride and groom with groom's parents
__ Groom with his parents
__ Groom with his mother
__ Groom with his father
__ Bride and groom with both sets of parents
__ Bride and/or groom with special family members
(e.g. favorite uncle, best friend, generations photograph, etc)
__ Bride and groom leaving inside of ceremony location
__ Getting into car or limo
__ Shot through the sun roof of the limo
__ Shot while seated in limo
__ Wide shot of ceremony location/ceremony site and limo
__ Mood shots in and around the ceremony location/grounds and/or
on the way to the weddings reception site.
OUTSIDE SHOTS
__ Outdoor shots of bride and groom
__ Outdoor shots of wedding party
__ Shots of groom and best man
__ Shots of groom and groomsmen
__ Shots of bride and maid of honor
__ Shots of bride and bridesmaids
AT THE RECEPTION
__ Receiving line (If not taken earlier)
__ Wedding cake (prior to being cut)
__ Guest book
__ Guests signing book
__ Wedding Favors
__ Gift table
__ Introduction of the wedding party
__ Wedding party toasting bride and groom
__ Close up of bride and groom toasting
__ Close up of bride and groom at head table kissing
__ Group shots of guests at their table during the meal
__ First dance
__ Parent dance
__ Bride and father dance__ Groom and mother dance
__ Parents dancing
__ Bridal party dancing
__ Guest dancing
__ Bride showing rings to bridesmaids
__ General dancing shots (wide and close up)
__ Flower girl and ring bearer together
__ Candids of guests and bridal party as conditions permit
__ Bride and groom posed in front of the cake
__ Cutting the cake
__ Bride and groom feeding cake to one another
__ Bride faking the bouquet toss
__ Bride throwing the bouquet
__ The catch of the bouquet
__ Groom taking off garter
__ Groom and garter
__ Groom throwing the garter
__ The catch of the garter
__ Group shot of bride and groom with the recipients of the
bouquet and garter
__ Guest leaving
__ Posed departure shot of bride and groom
(kissing, waving, etc.)
__ Getaway car
__ Bride and groom leaving reception area (birdseed, rose pedals)
__ Bride and groom in car as it goes in to the distance.
Remember - all weddings are unique. Our wedding list is meant to be used only as a guide, not the rule. Many of the above shots are not needed by some couples, yet others want many more! You and your photographer should decide this as your wedding date approaches.
Wedding Date ____/____/____ Photographer Start Time __________
__ Mother/Maid of Honor adjusting veil
__ Bride putting on garter with bridesmaids looking on
or Brides father putting on garter
__ Bride in dressing room with mirror
__ Corsage being pinned on mother
__ Corsage being pinned on father
__ Portrait of mother and bride
__ Portrait of father and bride
__ Brothers and sisters and bride
__ Group Shot of Bride and bridesmaids
__ Individual shots of Bride with each bridesmaids
__ Bride leaving house with parents and bridesmaids
__ Father helping bride into car
AT THE CEREMONY LOCATION PRIOR TO CEREMONY
__ Groom and groomsmen photographs
__ Best man adjusting groom's tie
__ Groom and best man handshaking
__ Groom and groomsmen handshaking
__ Groom with father
__ Bride and matron of honor
__ Bride with parents
__ Bride and mother
__ Bride and father
__ Bride kissing father on the cheek
__ Bride and mother with father looking on
__ Bride and bridesmaids group pose in vestibule or dressing room
__ Bride's mother on usher's arm
__ Groom's mother on usher's arm
__ Grandparents accompanied down the aisle
__ Other people accompanied down aisle
DURING THE CEREMONY
__ Bridal party coming down the aisle__ Bridesmaids, flower girls, and ring bearer coming down the aisle
__ Bride being taken down aisle by father
__ Father giving away bride
__ Shots during the ceremony itself (Pre-approved by officiator)
(These can also be taken as setup shots after ceremony)
__ Time exposure of overall area during ceremony
AFTER THE CEREMONY AT CEREMONY LOCATION
__ Bride and groom coming down the aisle
__ Receiving line right after ceremony
__ Best man signing certificate with bride and groom looking on
__ Matron of honor signing certificate with bride and groom looking on
SETUP POSES IN THE CEREMONY LOCATION
With most of your formal poses 2-4 shots should taken to help eliminate blinking and assure a good smile.
__ Groom kissing bride at the altar full length
__ Groom kissing bride at the altar 3/4 pose
__ Groom kissing bride at the altar tight head shot pose
__ Groom putting ring on bride's finger
__ Bride putting ring on groom's finger
__ Bride and groom lighting candles, full length
__ Bride and groom lighting candles, 3/4 pose
__ Bride and groom's hands with rings and flowers
__ Bride and groom with officiator
__ Bride and groom and bridal party with officiator
__ Other missed shots during ceremony
__ Bride with bridemaids flowers around her
__ Bride and groomsmen
__ Groom with bridesmaids
__ Bride and groom at ceremony location door (or stained glass window) in silhouette
__ Bride and groom on the steps of ceremony location
__ Bride and bridemaids on the steps of the ceremony location
__ Groom and groomsmen on the steps of the ceremony location
__ Group shots back inside ceremony location
(Use ceremony location altar/steps, etc. as a studio)
__ Bride and groom with bridal party standing
__ Bride and groom with bridal party sitting
__ Bride and groom with bridal party
(alternating male and female)
__ Bride and groom with all of the Brides family
(as big as the bride would like to go)
__ Bride and groom with brides immediate family
__ Bride and groom with bride's parents__ Bride with her parents
__ Bride with her mother
__ Bride with her father
__ Bride and groom with all of the groom's family
(as big as the bride would like to go)
__ Bride and groom with groom's immediate family
__ Bride and groom with groom's parents
__ Groom with his parents
__ Groom with his mother
__ Groom with his father
__ Bride and groom with both sets of parents
__ Bride and/or groom with special family members
(e.g. favorite uncle, best friend, generations photograph, etc)
__ Bride and groom leaving inside of ceremony location
__ Getting into car or limo
__ Shot through the sun roof of the limo
__ Shot while seated in limo
__ Wide shot of ceremony location/ceremony site and limo
__ Mood shots in and around the ceremony location/grounds and/or
on the way to the weddings reception site.
OUTSIDE SHOTS
__ Outdoor shots of bride and groom
__ Outdoor shots of wedding party
__ Shots of groom and best man
__ Shots of groom and groomsmen
__ Shots of bride and maid of honor
__ Shots of bride and bridesmaids
AT THE RECEPTION
__ Receiving line (If not taken earlier)
__ Wedding cake (prior to being cut)
__ Guest book
__ Guests signing book
__ Wedding Favors
__ Gift table
__ Introduction of the wedding party
__ Wedding party toasting bride and groom
__ Close up of bride and groom toasting
__ Close up of bride and groom at head table kissing
__ Group shots of guests at their table during the meal
__ First dance
__ Parent dance
__ Bride and father dance__ Groom and mother dance
__ Parents dancing
__ Bridal party dancing
__ Guest dancing
__ Bride showing rings to bridesmaids
__ General dancing shots (wide and close up)
__ Flower girl and ring bearer together
__ Candids of guests and bridal party as conditions permit
__ Bride and groom posed in front of the cake
__ Cutting the cake
__ Bride and groom feeding cake to one another
__ Bride faking the bouquet toss
__ Bride throwing the bouquet
__ The catch of the bouquet
__ Groom taking off garter
__ Groom and garter
__ Groom throwing the garter
__ The catch of the garter
__ Group shot of bride and groom with the recipients of the
bouquet and garter
__ Guest leaving
__ Posed departure shot of bride and groom
(kissing, waving, etc.)
__ Getaway car
__ Bride and groom leaving reception area (birdseed, rose pedals)
__ Bride and groom in car as it goes in to the distance.
Remember - all weddings are unique. Our wedding list is meant to be used only as a guide, not the rule. Many of the above shots are not needed by some couples, yet others want many more! You and your photographer should decide this as your wedding date approaches.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Creative Wedding Ceremonies
Creative Wedding Ceremonies
Because your wedding day is one of the most personal and cherished days of your life, your ceremony should be just as special. Every aspect of it, from readings to music to symbolism, should be a reflection of you and the bond that you share, making this day truly your own, rejoicing in everything that makes your union unique. You can express yourself among family and friends through a personalized ceremony. Additionally, when the ceremony is great, the tone is set for a wonderful celebration. Here are some ideas to make your ceremony unique:
Tell your personal story . Share the story of how you met and why you fell in love. What were the first words you said to each other? Where was your first date? How did the proposal happen? What actions of the other say I love you? What does your partner do that always makes you laugh? Your celebrant can include these words in the introduction or elsewhere in the ceremony.
Honor the Presenter. If one or both of you will be presented in marriage, take this time to reflect on what this relationship means to you. Have your Celebrant include words of homage, amusing stories, and thanks.
Celebrate Your Heritage. Make a list of your respective ethnic, cultural or religious backgrounds. Research wedding rituals, poets and music from these traditions and create a distinctive blend of words and symbols. Honor both your backgrounds and the ceremony will reflect your unique partnership.
Something New. Borrow freely from the rich wedding customs around the world. You don't need to belong to a particular culture or religion for its rituals to have meaning. Such rituals have been performed for hundreds or thousands of years because they resonate with universal truths about marriage.
Interfaith Weddings. Over 25% of marriages are between partners of different faiths. A good officiant will help you honor each faith tradition in a way that pleases everyone.
Involving Children & Stepchildren. When children are involved, your wedding reflects not only the joining of husband and wife, but the creation of a new family or stepfamily. There are many ways to reflect family unity in your ceremony.
You may have found the perfect spot for your wedding ceremony, but are unsure of how to find a minister, rabbi, clergy, or other officiant. You can have a ceremony that reflects your values, and the joy of your wedding day, and a Celebrant may be the answer. Celebrants are people who are trained to officiate at, compose and perform the highest quality personalized ceremonies.
Because your wedding day is one of the most personal and cherished days of your life, your ceremony should be just as special. Every aspect of it, from readings to music to symbolism, should be a reflection of you and the bond that you share, making this day truly your own, rejoicing in everything that makes your union unique. You can express yourself among family and friends through a personalized ceremony. Additionally, when the ceremony is great, the tone is set for a wonderful celebration. Here are some ideas to make your ceremony unique:
Tell your personal story . Share the story of how you met and why you fell in love. What were the first words you said to each other? Where was your first date? How did the proposal happen? What actions of the other say I love you? What does your partner do that always makes you laugh? Your celebrant can include these words in the introduction or elsewhere in the ceremony.
Honor the Presenter. If one or both of you will be presented in marriage, take this time to reflect on what this relationship means to you. Have your Celebrant include words of homage, amusing stories, and thanks.
Celebrate Your Heritage. Make a list of your respective ethnic, cultural or religious backgrounds. Research wedding rituals, poets and music from these traditions and create a distinctive blend of words and symbols. Honor both your backgrounds and the ceremony will reflect your unique partnership.
Something New. Borrow freely from the rich wedding customs around the world. You don't need to belong to a particular culture or religion for its rituals to have meaning. Such rituals have been performed for hundreds or thousands of years because they resonate with universal truths about marriage.
Interfaith Weddings. Over 25% of marriages are between partners of different faiths. A good officiant will help you honor each faith tradition in a way that pleases everyone.
Involving Children & Stepchildren. When children are involved, your wedding reflects not only the joining of husband and wife, but the creation of a new family or stepfamily. There are many ways to reflect family unity in your ceremony.
You may have found the perfect spot for your wedding ceremony, but are unsure of how to find a minister, rabbi, clergy, or other officiant. You can have a ceremony that reflects your values, and the joy of your wedding day, and a Celebrant may be the answer. Celebrants are people who are trained to officiate at, compose and perform the highest quality personalized ceremonies.
Monday, December 7, 2009
WEDDING MUSIC TRENDS
We are seeing 3 distinct trends among weddings recently:
1) THEME WEDDINGS
2) DESTINATION WEDDINGS
3) RETURN TO ELEGANCE
1) Theme Weddings - These theme weddings include some of the following:
A) Multiple bands at a wedding reception combining American as well as authentic Ethnic dance music: Some examples of Multi Bands receptions are an American Band and Greek Band with Bouzouki and Greek Singers, or an American Band and Latin/Salsa Band, or perhaps an American Band and Portuguese Band.
B) Big Band Swing Weddings- Jazz, Swing and Ballroom Dance Music makes a big comeback:
* Jazz Weddings
* 50’s wedding-guests invited in 50’s attire-only 1950’s music played
* At one wedding the bride and groom dressed in attire from the movie “Gone With The Wind”. Music for the first two hours was only from that era.
* At another wedding the music was completely from The Great Gatsby era.
* Bride, Groom, Bridal Party and Guests were all attired in Great Gatsby era attire.
2) Destination Weddings:
One bride and groom rented the Wadsworth Athenium Museum in Hartford, Connecticut for the wedding. A chamber ensemble played for the wedding ceremony in one location of the museum. A jazz trio played the cocktail hour in the outside exhibition pavilion. Formal dinner was served in the sculpture gallery with the music of Cole Porter and George Gershwin. Dancing to a full Orchestra in the main exhibition room –among the paintings of Picasso and Monet.
Brides and Grooms are searching for exotic, out of the way places such as Country Inns, Country Bed and Breakfast locations and old Mansions.
Some weddings have become two and three day events. For one wedding the bride and groom arranged for a multi day stay at a hotel. The guests spent one day at a golf tournament, another day on a fishing excursion. The pre-wedding dinner (night before the wedding) was for all the guests with a jazz band. The wedding reception the following day was with a full dance band performing everything from swing to the latest hits on the radio.
3) Return To Elegance
Brides and Grooms are taking Ballroom Dancing lessons. There’s a dramatic increase in requests for Ballroom Dance Music. The trend is away from anything gimmicky such as give-aways, light shows, fog machines etc. The trend is also away from throwing the bouquet and garter. The trend is to present the bouquet to someone special (bride’s mother, special friend, relative).
A recent wedding had the need of an additional coordinator due to the multiple musical groups and arrangements. A string quartet performed for the wedding ceremony 6 PM to 7 PM (one hour-music as guests arrived and then the ceremony).
The cocktail hour was 7 PM to 8:30 PM with a Jazz Trio. The wedding reception was 5 hours (including Viennese hour) 8:30 PM to 1:30 AM with a full dance band. At 12 Midnight an 8 piece Mariachi band in full Mariachi attire was brought in to serenade the guests.
The elegant trends for wedding ceremony music have been towards String quartets and Harp-Flute-Cello ensembles.
Cocktail hour trends have been for Steel Drum Bands, Strolling Mariachi Bands, Jazz ands, Strolling Violins as well as elegant piano music of Cole Porter and George Gershwin.
After the wedding reception guests retire to a Cigar Room with a Jazz Pianist, Jazz Duo or Jazz Trio.
There is also a noticeable increase in Black Tie weddings – both in the catering establishments and country club settings.
1) THEME WEDDINGS
2) DESTINATION WEDDINGS
3) RETURN TO ELEGANCE
1) Theme Weddings - These theme weddings include some of the following:
A) Multiple bands at a wedding reception combining American as well as authentic Ethnic dance music: Some examples of Multi Bands receptions are an American Band and Greek Band with Bouzouki and Greek Singers, or an American Band and Latin/Salsa Band, or perhaps an American Band and Portuguese Band.
B) Big Band Swing Weddings- Jazz, Swing and Ballroom Dance Music makes a big comeback:
* Jazz Weddings
* 50’s wedding-guests invited in 50’s attire-only 1950’s music played
* At one wedding the bride and groom dressed in attire from the movie “Gone With The Wind”. Music for the first two hours was only from that era.
* At another wedding the music was completely from The Great Gatsby era.
* Bride, Groom, Bridal Party and Guests were all attired in Great Gatsby era attire.
2) Destination Weddings:
One bride and groom rented the Wadsworth Athenium Museum in Hartford, Connecticut for the wedding. A chamber ensemble played for the wedding ceremony in one location of the museum. A jazz trio played the cocktail hour in the outside exhibition pavilion. Formal dinner was served in the sculpture gallery with the music of Cole Porter and George Gershwin. Dancing to a full Orchestra in the main exhibition room –among the paintings of Picasso and Monet.
Brides and Grooms are searching for exotic, out of the way places such as Country Inns, Country Bed and Breakfast locations and old Mansions.
Some weddings have become two and three day events. For one wedding the bride and groom arranged for a multi day stay at a hotel. The guests spent one day at a golf tournament, another day on a fishing excursion. The pre-wedding dinner (night before the wedding) was for all the guests with a jazz band. The wedding reception the following day was with a full dance band performing everything from swing to the latest hits on the radio.
3) Return To Elegance
Brides and Grooms are taking Ballroom Dancing lessons. There’s a dramatic increase in requests for Ballroom Dance Music. The trend is away from anything gimmicky such as give-aways, light shows, fog machines etc. The trend is also away from throwing the bouquet and garter. The trend is to present the bouquet to someone special (bride’s mother, special friend, relative).
A recent wedding had the need of an additional coordinator due to the multiple musical groups and arrangements. A string quartet performed for the wedding ceremony 6 PM to 7 PM (one hour-music as guests arrived and then the ceremony).
The cocktail hour was 7 PM to 8:30 PM with a Jazz Trio. The wedding reception was 5 hours (including Viennese hour) 8:30 PM to 1:30 AM with a full dance band. At 12 Midnight an 8 piece Mariachi band in full Mariachi attire was brought in to serenade the guests.
The elegant trends for wedding ceremony music have been towards String quartets and Harp-Flute-Cello ensembles.
Cocktail hour trends have been for Steel Drum Bands, Strolling Mariachi Bands, Jazz ands, Strolling Violins as well as elegant piano music of Cole Porter and George Gershwin.
After the wedding reception guests retire to a Cigar Room with a Jazz Pianist, Jazz Duo or Jazz Trio.
There is also a noticeable increase in Black Tie weddings – both in the catering establishments and country club settings.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
WEDDING MUSIC TIPS FOR THE BRIDE
Wedding Music - Successful Sound Suggestions for the Thinking Bride
There is an old saying “the key to a great song is a good lyric”, but unless you are looking for a sing-along at your wedding, there are a variety of other factors which will invite your guests on the dance floor.
A great lyric can only take us so far and that’s where the volume, rhythm and tempo take over to either make your wedding reception pulsate or be put to sleep. Save the lyrics for your first dance with the lucky man, but watch the volume, understand rhythm and dictate the tempo for a wedding to remember.
Cocktail hour and dinner are a vital time during your reception to set the mood and make certain your guests are comfortable in their environment. Sacrificing your personal song preferences can sometimes be a benefit at these times, for if your tastes drastically vary from your guests, you will have a disconnect.
Music volume is the most significant factor in the comfort level of your audience. Volume is measured in decibels where 130 dB is the threshold of pain and 0 dB being the sound of a mosquito flying about 10 feet away. Where is the best spot to set your cocktail hour mix? Depending on the size of your crowd and room acoustics, it should sit in the 30-50 dB range, permitting a background sound. A level where you can easily let your friends and family mingle, converse together, and share thoughts about how beautiful the bride is. During the reception, an average “danceable” range of volume should be in the 90 dB range. The entertainment should make sure not to exceed levels of 110 dB which can cause ear damage, and chase your guests to corners of the room away from the speakers.
Entertainers often will bring a sub-woofer, which is an additional speaker that strictly emphasizes the bass response of their sound system. While in most cases this is effective to give a more wholesome feel to the music, it can often result in a muddy sound, drowning the vocals with an excessively booming bass. However, with insufficient bass, or “low frequency roll-off,” as it is sometimes called by audiophiles, you will be left with lifeless music resulting in thin mixes throughout the night. Thin mixes often sound glassy and cutting, thus resulting in temporary or even permanent damage to the ear. Even the most high end sound systems can have a thin mix if the right DJ isn’t behind the control boards, doing what he or she should be trained in extensively.
Once your volume is set, fixing the rhythm will likely be key factor in which guests make it to or stay on the dance floor the entire night. Even if heavy metal is your personal music preference, to have a memorable wedding where everyone was dancing, opening the dance portion of the event with a high energy Latin track usually appeals to everyone. Latin rhythms such as salsa, is a mixture of traditional Cuban, African and other Latin-American rhythms that traveled from the Carribean to New York in the 1940’s. The dance steps usually integrate swing dance moves along side foot patterns always stepping on the beat of the music. Songs such as Cup of Life by Ricky Martin and Let’s Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez usually do the trick to get those salsa lovers on the floor. Once those salsa lovers are out there, they tend to make the rest of the crowd get out of their seats. An experienced entertainer will know how to read your crowd and vary the rhythms of the night based on their requests, attire, demographics and personalities.
Tempo can be just as important as rhythm in keeping your guests motivated to slow dance, go back to the bar, or keep their hips shaking. Tempo is measured in beats per minute, abbreviated as BPM. The common tempo for a funky dance track is around 130 BPM while a slow dance can be listed around 70-80 BPM. Having an older crowd in the ages of 65 and up will usually require songs in the 90-100 BPM range including such as the standards of Frank Sinatra and certain Motown hits. Not only do they appeal to this age group as far as it being their “decade of music” but the tempos do not exceed a level of energy that they simply can not maintain.
In essence, searching for the right entertainment should be a search for an experienced entertainer. Laying out the form of your event should include a series of song suggestions to the DJ, always including general ideas of your rhythmic sets. These sets can incorporate anything from top 40 club, euro-trance, hip-hop, disco, to Motown, salsa, bachata and even easy listening for your cocktail hour. Always make sure to speak with your entertainment company about their knowledge of volume and song organization for an event. This makes sure that they know you are an educated consumer, and nothing less than a thinking bride!
There is an old saying “the key to a great song is a good lyric”, but unless you are looking for a sing-along at your wedding, there are a variety of other factors which will invite your guests on the dance floor.
A great lyric can only take us so far and that’s where the volume, rhythm and tempo take over to either make your wedding reception pulsate or be put to sleep. Save the lyrics for your first dance with the lucky man, but watch the volume, understand rhythm and dictate the tempo for a wedding to remember.
Cocktail hour and dinner are a vital time during your reception to set the mood and make certain your guests are comfortable in their environment. Sacrificing your personal song preferences can sometimes be a benefit at these times, for if your tastes drastically vary from your guests, you will have a disconnect.
Music volume is the most significant factor in the comfort level of your audience. Volume is measured in decibels where 130 dB is the threshold of pain and 0 dB being the sound of a mosquito flying about 10 feet away. Where is the best spot to set your cocktail hour mix? Depending on the size of your crowd and room acoustics, it should sit in the 30-50 dB range, permitting a background sound. A level where you can easily let your friends and family mingle, converse together, and share thoughts about how beautiful the bride is. During the reception, an average “danceable” range of volume should be in the 90 dB range. The entertainment should make sure not to exceed levels of 110 dB which can cause ear damage, and chase your guests to corners of the room away from the speakers.
Entertainers often will bring a sub-woofer, which is an additional speaker that strictly emphasizes the bass response of their sound system. While in most cases this is effective to give a more wholesome feel to the music, it can often result in a muddy sound, drowning the vocals with an excessively booming bass. However, with insufficient bass, or “low frequency roll-off,” as it is sometimes called by audiophiles, you will be left with lifeless music resulting in thin mixes throughout the night. Thin mixes often sound glassy and cutting, thus resulting in temporary or even permanent damage to the ear. Even the most high end sound systems can have a thin mix if the right DJ isn’t behind the control boards, doing what he or she should be trained in extensively.
Once your volume is set, fixing the rhythm will likely be key factor in which guests make it to or stay on the dance floor the entire night. Even if heavy metal is your personal music preference, to have a memorable wedding where everyone was dancing, opening the dance portion of the event with a high energy Latin track usually appeals to everyone. Latin rhythms such as salsa, is a mixture of traditional Cuban, African and other Latin-American rhythms that traveled from the Carribean to New York in the 1940’s. The dance steps usually integrate swing dance moves along side foot patterns always stepping on the beat of the music. Songs such as Cup of Life by Ricky Martin and Let’s Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez usually do the trick to get those salsa lovers on the floor. Once those salsa lovers are out there, they tend to make the rest of the crowd get out of their seats. An experienced entertainer will know how to read your crowd and vary the rhythms of the night based on their requests, attire, demographics and personalities.
Tempo can be just as important as rhythm in keeping your guests motivated to slow dance, go back to the bar, or keep their hips shaking. Tempo is measured in beats per minute, abbreviated as BPM. The common tempo for a funky dance track is around 130 BPM while a slow dance can be listed around 70-80 BPM. Having an older crowd in the ages of 65 and up will usually require songs in the 90-100 BPM range including such as the standards of Frank Sinatra and certain Motown hits. Not only do they appeal to this age group as far as it being their “decade of music” but the tempos do not exceed a level of energy that they simply can not maintain.
In essence, searching for the right entertainment should be a search for an experienced entertainer. Laying out the form of your event should include a series of song suggestions to the DJ, always including general ideas of your rhythmic sets. These sets can incorporate anything from top 40 club, euro-trance, hip-hop, disco, to Motown, salsa, bachata and even easy listening for your cocktail hour. Always make sure to speak with your entertainment company about their knowledge of volume and song organization for an event. This makes sure that they know you are an educated consumer, and nothing less than a thinking bride!
Friday, December 4, 2009
5 THINGS YOUR WEDDING PHOTGRAPHER MUST OFFER
Five Things Your Wedding Photographer MUST Offer
You're getting married, right? Congratulations! You want your wedding day to be as perfect and beautiful as you've always dreamed. However, if you choose the wrong photographer, your day may be a lot less than perfect, and you may not be satisfied with the images your photographer captures. Bummer. So, how do you choose the right photographer?
Here's how. Make sure your wedding photographer offers you these five things. Then you can relax and feel confident the love, special moments and important details of your wedding day will be captured in beautiful images for a lifetime of memories.
1. Do you like the photographer's work?
Look at a fairly good selection of the photographers wedding images, not just a few photos on a web site. It's best if you can see at least an album or two and a proof book of a complete wedding. The albums probably represent the best of the photographer's work, and the proof book shows all the typical images he or she captures during a wedding day. How do the images look to you? Are they pleasing to look at? Does the lighting and the color look good to you? Is the photographer's style what you are looking for? Most of our bridal couples are looking for a mix of photojournalistic images and classic posed traditional ones. Make sure your photographer is capable of, and comfortable with, taking the style of images you want for your wedding. If you don't like the photographer's work, there is no need to consider them further. Also, make sure the work you see was done by the photographer who will photograph your wedding. Some studios will show you a lot of good work from various photographers, but will not guarantee you will get the photographer whose work you like the best. Sometimes, a husband and wife team like ours is the best way to be sure the photographer's work you see is the work you will get.
2. Do you like the photographer's personality and mannerisms?
Is the photographer confident, easy going and not a nervous ninny? Does the photographer have a good sense of humor? Remember, the photographer will be present through most of your wedding day, interacting with you, your wedding party, your family, and your guests. A demanding, inflexible, and uptight photographer can make your day unpleasant. I know you don't want that! Make sure you and your spouse-to-be get along well with the photographer you choose. If the photographer is going to have a second photographer help at your wedding, meet the assistant photographer and make sure you feel comfortable with them also. To get to know your photographer before you choose them, it is really important you meet with them personally. If it is physically impossible to meet with the photographer, you should make sure some of their testimonials from previous clients make you feel comfortable with the photographer's personality.
3. Does the photographer have a strong sense of professional commitment to photographing your wedding and a professional work ethic?
Does the photographer use professional cameras, lenses and flash systems? Does he or she have at least some lenses that will produce good images in low light situations (f2.8 aperture)? Does the photographer use a soft box over the flash and keep the flash above the lens on both horizontal and vertical photos to minimize shadows in their images? Does he or she always bring a complete set of backup equipment, or bring a second photographer with another set of equipment, to every wedding? How will the photographer and their assistant be dressed on your wedding day? Ask them. Hopefully, they will professional enough to arrive dressed in a tux, suit, or dressy dress. Although, if your photographer is a man and he says he's coming in a dressy dress, you might worry a little about that :-). You should get the feeling that your photographer is dedicated to making sure your wedding day is wonderful, and that all of the love, emotions and important details will be captured in images you will be able to enjoy for the rest of your life.
4. Does your photographer have the experience to anticipate all the good things that will happen on your wedding day, and the experience to deal with the bad things that could happen also?
An experienced photographer will have photographed enough weddings to anticipate and capture special moments during your day, and the important details that may easily be missed by a "newbie". An experienced photographer also knows that things do go wrong sometimes and will be able to anticipate and deal with them, often without you even knowing that something went wrong. That's why a complete set of backup equipment is necessary. My little kit of duct tape, extra cables, pen knife with scissors, and band-aids has been a life saver several times.
5. Does your photographer offer you the right value?
Not the right price, but, the right value. If your photographer doesn't have all of the above four characteristics, it may not matter what their prices are. If the photographer has all four, that's a big part of the value they offer you. In this case, the price should be less important. Just make sure your photographer will provide what is really important to you and is upfront with you about costs for everything you want. Someone who offers a "low" price up front may sound attractive. But, things change when you find they charge extra for every location stop, for the digital image files, for a studio set up at the reception, and so on. A photographer who charges twice as much, but includes almost everything, can often be a better value for you.
So, there you have it. Choose your wedding photographer based on the above five factors, and you will go a long way toward having the wedding of your dreams. Good luck and congratulations again.
You're getting married, right? Congratulations! You want your wedding day to be as perfect and beautiful as you've always dreamed. However, if you choose the wrong photographer, your day may be a lot less than perfect, and you may not be satisfied with the images your photographer captures. Bummer. So, how do you choose the right photographer?
Here's how. Make sure your wedding photographer offers you these five things. Then you can relax and feel confident the love, special moments and important details of your wedding day will be captured in beautiful images for a lifetime of memories.
1. Do you like the photographer's work?
Look at a fairly good selection of the photographers wedding images, not just a few photos on a web site. It's best if you can see at least an album or two and a proof book of a complete wedding. The albums probably represent the best of the photographer's work, and the proof book shows all the typical images he or she captures during a wedding day. How do the images look to you? Are they pleasing to look at? Does the lighting and the color look good to you? Is the photographer's style what you are looking for? Most of our bridal couples are looking for a mix of photojournalistic images and classic posed traditional ones. Make sure your photographer is capable of, and comfortable with, taking the style of images you want for your wedding. If you don't like the photographer's work, there is no need to consider them further. Also, make sure the work you see was done by the photographer who will photograph your wedding. Some studios will show you a lot of good work from various photographers, but will not guarantee you will get the photographer whose work you like the best. Sometimes, a husband and wife team like ours is the best way to be sure the photographer's work you see is the work you will get.
2. Do you like the photographer's personality and mannerisms?
Is the photographer confident, easy going and not a nervous ninny? Does the photographer have a good sense of humor? Remember, the photographer will be present through most of your wedding day, interacting with you, your wedding party, your family, and your guests. A demanding, inflexible, and uptight photographer can make your day unpleasant. I know you don't want that! Make sure you and your spouse-to-be get along well with the photographer you choose. If the photographer is going to have a second photographer help at your wedding, meet the assistant photographer and make sure you feel comfortable with them also. To get to know your photographer before you choose them, it is really important you meet with them personally. If it is physically impossible to meet with the photographer, you should make sure some of their testimonials from previous clients make you feel comfortable with the photographer's personality.
3. Does the photographer have a strong sense of professional commitment to photographing your wedding and a professional work ethic?
Does the photographer use professional cameras, lenses and flash systems? Does he or she have at least some lenses that will produce good images in low light situations (f2.8 aperture)? Does the photographer use a soft box over the flash and keep the flash above the lens on both horizontal and vertical photos to minimize shadows in their images? Does he or she always bring a complete set of backup equipment, or bring a second photographer with another set of equipment, to every wedding? How will the photographer and their assistant be dressed on your wedding day? Ask them. Hopefully, they will professional enough to arrive dressed in a tux, suit, or dressy dress. Although, if your photographer is a man and he says he's coming in a dressy dress, you might worry a little about that :-). You should get the feeling that your photographer is dedicated to making sure your wedding day is wonderful, and that all of the love, emotions and important details will be captured in images you will be able to enjoy for the rest of your life.
4. Does your photographer have the experience to anticipate all the good things that will happen on your wedding day, and the experience to deal with the bad things that could happen also?
An experienced photographer will have photographed enough weddings to anticipate and capture special moments during your day, and the important details that may easily be missed by a "newbie". An experienced photographer also knows that things do go wrong sometimes and will be able to anticipate and deal with them, often without you even knowing that something went wrong. That's why a complete set of backup equipment is necessary. My little kit of duct tape, extra cables, pen knife with scissors, and band-aids has been a life saver several times.
5. Does your photographer offer you the right value?
Not the right price, but, the right value. If your photographer doesn't have all of the above four characteristics, it may not matter what their prices are. If the photographer has all four, that's a big part of the value they offer you. In this case, the price should be less important. Just make sure your photographer will provide what is really important to you and is upfront with you about costs for everything you want. Someone who offers a "low" price up front may sound attractive. But, things change when you find they charge extra for every location stop, for the digital image files, for a studio set up at the reception, and so on. A photographer who charges twice as much, but includes almost everything, can often be a better value for you.
So, there you have it. Choose your wedding photographer based on the above five factors, and you will go a long way toward having the wedding of your dreams. Good luck and congratulations again.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The "NEW" Wedding Photography
There have been incredible changes in wedding photography over the past few years, which is great news to anyone who is currently shopping for a wedding photographer. The trend is toward a new, more contemporary style of photography. It's more relaxed, more natural and more artistic than ever. Gone are the old, forced, unnatural looking poses of the past. Today's couples are more educated consumers and don't want the old, stuffy styles of photography that their parents had on their wedding day.
Besides looking more natural, how is it different that traditional photography? Contemporary photographers know that today's couples want to enjoy their wedding day. Couples spend so much time and money planning and preparing for the event. It does not make sense to miss a few hours of the wedding, being ordered around by a photographer who makes them maintain stiff, rigid, uncomfortable poses. Many photographers now offer a "photojournalistic" style of photography, where the day is recorded just the way it happens.
The photographs tell the story of your day. No posing, no taking time away from the fun....just natural, artistic and beautiful photos that capture the events and moods of the day. What about the family and group shots? Many of these photographers will take these group shots before or after the ceremony, taking less time than photographers of the past so you can get on with your day and not miss out on the fun. Make sure you ask this question before you hire a photographer if family and group shots are important to you.
Black and white photography is also extremely popular, but is it a trend? Many modern couples are requesting to have their weddings photographed solely or partially in black and white. There is just something about it. It has a very classic, timeless and artistic feel. It has it's own mood. It lends itself well to the photojournalistic style. This trend is probably here to stay.
Black and white has been around a long time. It doesn't fade as fast as color photographs. Go to any photography gallery and you will see that most of what you see is in black and white. It is now, and always will be, a classic form of art. It is always nice to have a combination of both color and black and white.
Do all photographers photograph in this style? No, there are still plenty of the traditional photographers out there who have not changed their ways. When interviewing photographers, ask them if they specialize in a photojournalistic style of photography, or if they do a combination of both photojournalistic and traditional styles. Make sure you see samples of work from the specific photographer who is going to photograph your wedding, not just samples from a studio that may send out a different photographer. Consider not only the style of different photographers, but also the personality and choose the one that you feel the most comfortable with. Let's face it...the wedding you are spending so much time planning is only going to last a few short hours. The music will stop, the food will be eaten, and the flowers wilt, but you will always have those photos to remember your day. And that is why it is so important to find a good photographer who will give you beautiful, artistic pictures you will love!!
Besides looking more natural, how is it different that traditional photography? Contemporary photographers know that today's couples want to enjoy their wedding day. Couples spend so much time and money planning and preparing for the event. It does not make sense to miss a few hours of the wedding, being ordered around by a photographer who makes them maintain stiff, rigid, uncomfortable poses. Many photographers now offer a "photojournalistic" style of photography, where the day is recorded just the way it happens.
The photographs tell the story of your day. No posing, no taking time away from the fun....just natural, artistic and beautiful photos that capture the events and moods of the day. What about the family and group shots? Many of these photographers will take these group shots before or after the ceremony, taking less time than photographers of the past so you can get on with your day and not miss out on the fun. Make sure you ask this question before you hire a photographer if family and group shots are important to you.
Black and white photography is also extremely popular, but is it a trend? Many modern couples are requesting to have their weddings photographed solely or partially in black and white. There is just something about it. It has a very classic, timeless and artistic feel. It has it's own mood. It lends itself well to the photojournalistic style. This trend is probably here to stay.
Black and white has been around a long time. It doesn't fade as fast as color photographs. Go to any photography gallery and you will see that most of what you see is in black and white. It is now, and always will be, a classic form of art. It is always nice to have a combination of both color and black and white.
Do all photographers photograph in this style? No, there are still plenty of the traditional photographers out there who have not changed their ways. When interviewing photographers, ask them if they specialize in a photojournalistic style of photography, or if they do a combination of both photojournalistic and traditional styles. Make sure you see samples of work from the specific photographer who is going to photograph your wedding, not just samples from a studio that may send out a different photographer. Consider not only the style of different photographers, but also the personality and choose the one that you feel the most comfortable with. Let's face it...the wedding you are spending so much time planning is only going to last a few short hours. The music will stop, the food will be eaten, and the flowers wilt, but you will always have those photos to remember your day. And that is why it is so important to find a good photographer who will give you beautiful, artistic pictures you will love!!
Monday, November 2, 2009
The "How To" on Wedding Cakes.
When you think of wedding receptions, what is the one thing that they all have? A "stately mountain of snowy frosting and royal icing blossoms," (from "The Perfect Wedding Cake" by Kate Manchester), aka the wedding cake! Not bad for a dessert which has its roots clear back to the Roman Empire. But back then, there was no beautifully decorated, sweet confection. Instead, a loaf of barley bread was broken over the bride’s head to symbolize her fertility. Can you imagine picking crumbs out of your hair? As the barley bread evolved into today’s wedding cake, the symbolism of the cake and the cake cutting ceremony evolved into your first joint act as a married couple, your commitment to provide for each other, and the sweet life you will share together.
Your wedding cake should taste absolutely wonderful, however, it is not just dessert. Your wedding cake will be an integral part of the reception decor, so place it in a strategic location where all of your guests can easily see it. How about in the center of the dance floor? It can be removed after the cake cutting ceremony - table and all - so you have room for your first dance as husband and wife. Just be sure that someone carefully cleans up any stray icing that may hit the floor which can be very slippery and dangerous. Or how about placing your wedding cake in a corner with pin lights or a small spotlight highlighting its glory?
The Statue of Liberty has its pedestal, a queen has her throne, the cake table needs to be worthy to hold such a beautiful creation. Like a beautiful frame that surrounds a lovely painting, the cake table should be decorated to complement the wonderful confection that it holds. Decorating the cake table needn’t be time consuming nor expensive. You may already have something appropriate in your closet or on the dining room table. A lace tablecloth would be lovely draped across the cake table. A length of tulle loosely billowed on the top of the table gives the impression of your cake floating on clouds. Or, swag the table with tulle, organza, lame, or garlands of greenery and flowers.
If your motto is "Life’s too short, eat dessert first," then you may want to go all out with your desserts. Have a dessert bar with trays of different scrumptious delicacies – iced cookies, brownies, mini bite-sized cheesecakes – with your wedding cake as the centerpiece. And speaking of centerpieces, if one large cake to feed hundreds of people isn’t your thing, how about a small (only big enough for two) cake which you and your new spouse get to cut and feed each other, and in place of the more traditional floral or candle centerpieces for each guest table, have a single tiered cake that serves 8-10 people.
Your wedding cake should taste absolutely wonderful, however, it is not just dessert. Your wedding cake will be an integral part of the reception decor, so place it in a strategic location where all of your guests can easily see it. How about in the center of the dance floor? It can be removed after the cake cutting ceremony - table and all - so you have room for your first dance as husband and wife. Just be sure that someone carefully cleans up any stray icing that may hit the floor which can be very slippery and dangerous. Or how about placing your wedding cake in a corner with pin lights or a small spotlight highlighting its glory?
The Statue of Liberty has its pedestal, a queen has her throne, the cake table needs to be worthy to hold such a beautiful creation. Like a beautiful frame that surrounds a lovely painting, the cake table should be decorated to complement the wonderful confection that it holds. Decorating the cake table needn’t be time consuming nor expensive. You may already have something appropriate in your closet or on the dining room table. A lace tablecloth would be lovely draped across the cake table. A length of tulle loosely billowed on the top of the table gives the impression of your cake floating on clouds. Or, swag the table with tulle, organza, lame, or garlands of greenery and flowers.
If your motto is "Life’s too short, eat dessert first," then you may want to go all out with your desserts. Have a dessert bar with trays of different scrumptious delicacies – iced cookies, brownies, mini bite-sized cheesecakes – with your wedding cake as the centerpiece. And speaking of centerpieces, if one large cake to feed hundreds of people isn’t your thing, how about a small (only big enough for two) cake which you and your new spouse get to cut and feed each other, and in place of the more traditional floral or candle centerpieces for each guest table, have a single tiered cake that serves 8-10 people.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Top Wedding Guest Complints of 2009
We all know the saying "You can't please everyone"! While that may be true, these types of guest criticisms are easily avoided by careful planning -- and addressing them now will make everyone's memories of your wedding day so much nicer.
1. The DJ was obnoxious or played lousy music. Find the best wedding DJ available using recommendations from other brides and the advice of wedding industry professionals.
2. The music was TOO LOUD. Again, hire a great DJ who is experienced and focused on creating a fantastic overall experience for you and your guests. Other suggestions to avoid this common complaint: Move tables and chairs away from speakers and seat older guests further from the sound equipment.
3. Speeches were TOO LONG and we couldn't decipher the words. Keep speeches under five minutes. Ideally, they should last between two and five minutes. A good DJ will spend a few moments with each person making a toast or speech, teaching him or her how to correctly operate and speak into the microphone. He will also use a quality microphone!
4. We didn't know anyone at our table. Take the time to carefully plan your seating arrangement, placing guests at tables with others they know. They don’t have to be fast friends, just acquaintances or people with some kind of connection. Try to seat out-of-town guests, who aren't likely to know anyone, with others having similar interests.
5. I resented paying a dollar to dance with the bride. Unless it’s a long-standing family tradition, and you will offend someone if you break the ritual, the dollar dance is best forgotten.
6. We stood forever in the receiving line. The bride & groom, and their parents are the only required greeters. Better yet, couples should instead consider visiting individual tables during or immediately following dinner. (See #10 below)
7. We had too much time to "kill" between the ceremony and reception. Out-of-town guests are often at a loss for ways to fill the time between a two o'clock wedding and a six o'clock reception. Try to keep the down time to a minimum. When it isn't possible to hold the events within an hour or so of each other, ask the hall if it will open its doors early for your visiting guests (and ask them if there’s a charge). Other options include asking relatives or close friends to invite them to their home for a light snack, or arranging a hospitality suite for them at their hotel.
8. The centerpiece was so large that I couldn't see or talk to guests seated across the table. Smaller, shorter arrangements are best. Your centerpiece shouldn't be the center of attention (or main topic of conversation) at the table.
9. I was offended that I had to pay for drinks. Open bars are the accepted norm. If your budget is tight, offer wine and beer only -- or limit drink choices to “call” brands. You can also close the bar during the dinner hour to save on costs.
10. The bride and groom didn't stop by to say hello. Make the rounds of guest tables at your reception, but don’t spend too much time at each. A quick greeting, thank you or compliment will suffice.
11. I was never thanked for my gift! Share this task with your husband. Divide your list, write your notes at the same time, and make a pact to finish a certain number every night until they are finished. Dangle a carrot in front of your noses. When the last note is FINALLY written, reward yourselves with a special bottle of wine or dinner out. It is customary to mail thank-you notes within three months. You don’t want to wait that long for your carrot anyway, do you?
1. The DJ was obnoxious or played lousy music. Find the best wedding DJ available using recommendations from other brides and the advice of wedding industry professionals.
2. The music was TOO LOUD. Again, hire a great DJ who is experienced and focused on creating a fantastic overall experience for you and your guests. Other suggestions to avoid this common complaint: Move tables and chairs away from speakers and seat older guests further from the sound equipment.
3. Speeches were TOO LONG and we couldn't decipher the words. Keep speeches under five minutes. Ideally, they should last between two and five minutes. A good DJ will spend a few moments with each person making a toast or speech, teaching him or her how to correctly operate and speak into the microphone. He will also use a quality microphone!
4. We didn't know anyone at our table. Take the time to carefully plan your seating arrangement, placing guests at tables with others they know. They don’t have to be fast friends, just acquaintances or people with some kind of connection. Try to seat out-of-town guests, who aren't likely to know anyone, with others having similar interests.
5. I resented paying a dollar to dance with the bride. Unless it’s a long-standing family tradition, and you will offend someone if you break the ritual, the dollar dance is best forgotten.
6. We stood forever in the receiving line. The bride & groom, and their parents are the only required greeters. Better yet, couples should instead consider visiting individual tables during or immediately following dinner. (See #10 below)
7. We had too much time to "kill" between the ceremony and reception. Out-of-town guests are often at a loss for ways to fill the time between a two o'clock wedding and a six o'clock reception. Try to keep the down time to a minimum. When it isn't possible to hold the events within an hour or so of each other, ask the hall if it will open its doors early for your visiting guests (and ask them if there’s a charge). Other options include asking relatives or close friends to invite them to their home for a light snack, or arranging a hospitality suite for them at their hotel.
8. The centerpiece was so large that I couldn't see or talk to guests seated across the table. Smaller, shorter arrangements are best. Your centerpiece shouldn't be the center of attention (or main topic of conversation) at the table.
9. I was offended that I had to pay for drinks. Open bars are the accepted norm. If your budget is tight, offer wine and beer only -- or limit drink choices to “call” brands. You can also close the bar during the dinner hour to save on costs.
10. The bride and groom didn't stop by to say hello. Make the rounds of guest tables at your reception, but don’t spend too much time at each. A quick greeting, thank you or compliment will suffice.
11. I was never thanked for my gift! Share this task with your husband. Divide your list, write your notes at the same time, and make a pact to finish a certain number every night until they are finished. Dangle a carrot in front of your noses. When the last note is FINALLY written, reward yourselves with a special bottle of wine or dinner out. It is customary to mail thank-you notes within three months. You don’t want to wait that long for your carrot anyway, do you?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wedding Budgeting 101
Wedding Budgeting 101
Weddings are suppose to be a joyful time in our life, but for many people, they turn out to be a costly nightmare! However, this does not have to be the case at all. In fact, there are tons of different wedding budget ideas out their that you can use to get the most out of your wedding without having to spend an arm and a leg. A wedding budget is also a good way to make sure that you do not go to over the top with planning the wedding. After all, you are starting a new life with the person you love, and you don't want to start off that life in debt because of your wedding! Today we are going to cover a few wedding budget ideas that could save you a ton of money but still give you that wedding you have always dreamed of.
Sample Wedding Budget Ideas that you can use:
•First of all, you already know that flowers can make or break a wedding. However, that does not mean that you have to hire someone to make your flower arrangements. Online you can find tons of different flower arrangements that you can do yourself. After finding the flower arrangement that is right for you (weather it's with fake or real plants), you can gather friends and family together to help you make them. Budget wedding flowers like these can save you tons of money on your wedding.
•The next budget wedding idea has to do with planning your wedding during an off peak season. There are some seasons that are always loaded with weddings. During these times, the prices of popular vendors are going to go through the roof. However, if you can get married during off months, like November through April, then you are going to get a much better deal on services.
•A wedding budget is not complete without a wedding coordinator. When people think of a wedding coordinator, they think of extra expenses. However, wedding coordinators of today can help you by keeping you within a budget that you need. Not only can they help you stay within the budget you have set, but they can help you plan everything, which will take stress off of you.
•Another very costly thing at weddings is the bar. There are many companies that you can hire that will set up a “five hour bar” for you. This is a bar that serves drinks for five hours. Normally this is long enough to get people through the party. However, a great alternative to this is to use a budget bar. This is where you have a bar set up where people can just grab beer or wine all night long. Maybe for an hour you will serve cocktails, but mostly it will just be the beer and wine. Also, champagne punch is always a very classy touch if that is what you are looking for. It allows you to be a little classy without having to spend too much money.
•Next you have to note that a wedding budget can not be put together if you wait until the last minute, meaning that you don't need to put tasks off until the last second. Start planning early. It is better to be over prepared than under prepared. You may also note that this helps you to be more relaxed about the wedding.
•Another good task to give you the feeling that you are saving money is to pay ahead of time for things. Do not wait until the wedding day to pay for everything at once. Although you are really still paying the full price, it will feel like you are spending less money, because you are paying for it a little at a time. This helps out more than people know.
•Next, be sure that you are on a realistic track! It is one thing to tell people what you “want” for your wedding and another thing all together to tell people what you “need” for your wedding. Cover the things that you need first, and find out how much it will be before you get into ordering things that you want.
•Another good tip for budget weddings is to have place card favors. This is a great way to tell people thanks for coming to the wedding without having to spend a lot of money. After all, wedding favors should not have to break your bank.
Overall, when it comes to weddings, you want to be debt free by the end of it, or at least not add any more debt to what you already have. You want your wedding to be a fun day, and a day that you remember because you married the person of your dreams, not because you went further into debt!
Weddings are suppose to be a joyful time in our life, but for many people, they turn out to be a costly nightmare! However, this does not have to be the case at all. In fact, there are tons of different wedding budget ideas out their that you can use to get the most out of your wedding without having to spend an arm and a leg. A wedding budget is also a good way to make sure that you do not go to over the top with planning the wedding. After all, you are starting a new life with the person you love, and you don't want to start off that life in debt because of your wedding! Today we are going to cover a few wedding budget ideas that could save you a ton of money but still give you that wedding you have always dreamed of.
Sample Wedding Budget Ideas that you can use:
•First of all, you already know that flowers can make or break a wedding. However, that does not mean that you have to hire someone to make your flower arrangements. Online you can find tons of different flower arrangements that you can do yourself. After finding the flower arrangement that is right for you (weather it's with fake or real plants), you can gather friends and family together to help you make them. Budget wedding flowers like these can save you tons of money on your wedding.
•The next budget wedding idea has to do with planning your wedding during an off peak season. There are some seasons that are always loaded with weddings. During these times, the prices of popular vendors are going to go through the roof. However, if you can get married during off months, like November through April, then you are going to get a much better deal on services.
•A wedding budget is not complete without a wedding coordinator. When people think of a wedding coordinator, they think of extra expenses. However, wedding coordinators of today can help you by keeping you within a budget that you need. Not only can they help you stay within the budget you have set, but they can help you plan everything, which will take stress off of you.
•Another very costly thing at weddings is the bar. There are many companies that you can hire that will set up a “five hour bar” for you. This is a bar that serves drinks for five hours. Normally this is long enough to get people through the party. However, a great alternative to this is to use a budget bar. This is where you have a bar set up where people can just grab beer or wine all night long. Maybe for an hour you will serve cocktails, but mostly it will just be the beer and wine. Also, champagne punch is always a very classy touch if that is what you are looking for. It allows you to be a little classy without having to spend too much money.
•Next you have to note that a wedding budget can not be put together if you wait until the last minute, meaning that you don't need to put tasks off until the last second. Start planning early. It is better to be over prepared than under prepared. You may also note that this helps you to be more relaxed about the wedding.
•Another good task to give you the feeling that you are saving money is to pay ahead of time for things. Do not wait until the wedding day to pay for everything at once. Although you are really still paying the full price, it will feel like you are spending less money, because you are paying for it a little at a time. This helps out more than people know.
•Next, be sure that you are on a realistic track! It is one thing to tell people what you “want” for your wedding and another thing all together to tell people what you “need” for your wedding. Cover the things that you need first, and find out how much it will be before you get into ordering things that you want.
•Another good tip for budget weddings is to have place card favors. This is a great way to tell people thanks for coming to the wedding without having to spend a lot of money. After all, wedding favors should not have to break your bank.
Overall, when it comes to weddings, you want to be debt free by the end of it, or at least not add any more debt to what you already have. You want your wedding to be a fun day, and a day that you remember because you married the person of your dreams, not because you went further into debt!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Great Video Coverage for YOUR Wedding!!
Tools & Tips for Video Coverage of Your Wedding Day
Everything is perfect: Your family and friends are seated comfortably, the flowers look divine, the music is being played in key, and you know the caterers are busy making sure the food for the reception afterwards is scrumptious. The only thing left to do now is walk down the isle and wed the person of your dreams. Off you go!
Nightmare of all nightmares! You are sitting at the head table and the only reason you know you actually got married is because there is a gold band on your finger! You were so nervous and excited all at once that your mind is drawing a complete blank. All the effort, the planning, the endless sacrifices all year long and you don't have a single recollection of how things went. Yikes.
There is insurance against this all-to-common wedding amnesia: A wedding video! It will bring you, your family and friends, countless evenings of enjoyment and recollection simply at the flick of your remote control. The cost will be nominal and a professional video will bring you countless years of enjoyment.
The best person to entrust with capturing your special day is a professional Wedding-Videographer. The old saying that "A hammer does not a carpenter make" is good to remember when hiring a professional to film your wedding. The best person to ask for advice on this is your Wedding Planner. They will have a Videographer that they trust enough to put their name to so that you will have one less thing to worry about. It's It is after all, their job. If you are planning your own wedding, here are ten questions you should ask to ensure that you pick the best Videographer for the big day:
1. Video cameras are not all the same. Hi8 or DV provide a higher quality than the standard camcorder. Some of the best digital units include the Sony VX 2000 and the Canon XL1.
2. 3-chip CCD cameras will have the best Digital quality. You don't need to know what it means other than "the best possible chipset for the best possible image."
3. Ask to view a "wedding video sample" tape. This will give you an idea of what the quality will be like when you get yours.
4. Do they use wireless microphones? If they do, great, if they don't ask them to get one.
5. Is the Videographer unobtrusive? They should be.
6. What do they dress while filming? Make sure they dress neat and tidy. Blue jeans are NOT acceptable wedding-wear.
7. What back up equipment do they have? It should be comparable in quality to the original.
8. Price?? Most Videographers have several packages. Choose the one that fits within your budget and captures what you desire.
9. Do they use 1 camera or 2?. If 2 cameras is the second operator an extra charge?
10. Bookings? Make sure you give them specific instructions for time, place. Also, be sure to check with the church, Priest, hall, etc., to find out if they have any rules regarding filming of weddings.
Once these questions have been answered to your complete satisfaction you'll be well on your way to hiring the best possible professional to film the big day.
If you decide that a Videographer is simply not within your wedding budget you can still take some action to ensure that you get an acceptable "home video" of your Wedding. Everybody and their Uncle has a home video camera nowadays (we've all had to suffer through their personal movies at one time or another). As you know, having a camera is not enough to make a movie. If that was the case Hollywood would be out of business by now. Here are some tips to help your Uncle Jim or your Cousin Sally to film a video that will bring you tears of joy instead of making you cringe every time your throw it in the VCR:
1. Try to use a Digital or Hi-8 camera. The quality will be drastically improved when transferring or copying for friends and family.
2. Make sure they have a Tripod. This will reduce unwanted motion and save you and your friends from being queasy when you watch the finished product on TV.
3. Do not "zoom" in or out while filming. Do all "zooming" while the camera is NOT recording. If they want to switch from a wide shot to a close up, stop the camera from filming between transitions. All the professionals do this.
4. Be sure to scope out the best possible spot for the camera ahead of time. It should be in a spot that is unobtrusive but can also capture the bride's walk down the isle and ceremony without having to move the tripod & camera.
5. Practice, practice, practice. Be sure to film some "practice" runs before the actual ceremony. This will ensure that the person doing the filming will be ready to capture things in the heat of the moment without any worries or mistakes.
Again, I cannot recommend enough that the best way to capture your wedding on Video is to hire a professional. That being said, the tips above should give you a quality home video that you and yours will enjoy again and again. Professionally shot or captured by a reliable friend or relative, a Wedding Video will bring back all the feelings and wonder that you were too busy to remember on the special day itself!
Everything is perfect: Your family and friends are seated comfortably, the flowers look divine, the music is being played in key, and you know the caterers are busy making sure the food for the reception afterwards is scrumptious. The only thing left to do now is walk down the isle and wed the person of your dreams. Off you go!
Nightmare of all nightmares! You are sitting at the head table and the only reason you know you actually got married is because there is a gold band on your finger! You were so nervous and excited all at once that your mind is drawing a complete blank. All the effort, the planning, the endless sacrifices all year long and you don't have a single recollection of how things went. Yikes.
There is insurance against this all-to-common wedding amnesia: A wedding video! It will bring you, your family and friends, countless evenings of enjoyment and recollection simply at the flick of your remote control. The cost will be nominal and a professional video will bring you countless years of enjoyment.
The best person to entrust with capturing your special day is a professional Wedding-Videographer. The old saying that "A hammer does not a carpenter make" is good to remember when hiring a professional to film your wedding. The best person to ask for advice on this is your Wedding Planner. They will have a Videographer that they trust enough to put their name to so that you will have one less thing to worry about. It's It is after all, their job. If you are planning your own wedding, here are ten questions you should ask to ensure that you pick the best Videographer for the big day:
1. Video cameras are not all the same. Hi8 or DV provide a higher quality than the standard camcorder. Some of the best digital units include the Sony VX 2000 and the Canon XL1.
2. 3-chip CCD cameras will have the best Digital quality. You don't need to know what it means other than "the best possible chipset for the best possible image."
3. Ask to view a "wedding video sample" tape. This will give you an idea of what the quality will be like when you get yours.
4. Do they use wireless microphones? If they do, great, if they don't ask them to get one.
5. Is the Videographer unobtrusive? They should be.
6. What do they dress while filming? Make sure they dress neat and tidy. Blue jeans are NOT acceptable wedding-wear.
7. What back up equipment do they have? It should be comparable in quality to the original.
8. Price?? Most Videographers have several packages. Choose the one that fits within your budget and captures what you desire.
9. Do they use 1 camera or 2?. If 2 cameras is the second operator an extra charge?
10. Bookings? Make sure you give them specific instructions for time, place. Also, be sure to check with the church, Priest, hall, etc., to find out if they have any rules regarding filming of weddings.
Once these questions have been answered to your complete satisfaction you'll be well on your way to hiring the best possible professional to film the big day.
If you decide that a Videographer is simply not within your wedding budget you can still take some action to ensure that you get an acceptable "home video" of your Wedding. Everybody and their Uncle has a home video camera nowadays (we've all had to suffer through their personal movies at one time or another). As you know, having a camera is not enough to make a movie. If that was the case Hollywood would be out of business by now. Here are some tips to help your Uncle Jim or your Cousin Sally to film a video that will bring you tears of joy instead of making you cringe every time your throw it in the VCR:
1. Try to use a Digital or Hi-8 camera. The quality will be drastically improved when transferring or copying for friends and family.
2. Make sure they have a Tripod. This will reduce unwanted motion and save you and your friends from being queasy when you watch the finished product on TV.
3. Do not "zoom" in or out while filming. Do all "zooming" while the camera is NOT recording. If they want to switch from a wide shot to a close up, stop the camera from filming between transitions. All the professionals do this.
4. Be sure to scope out the best possible spot for the camera ahead of time. It should be in a spot that is unobtrusive but can also capture the bride's walk down the isle and ceremony without having to move the tripod & camera.
5. Practice, practice, practice. Be sure to film some "practice" runs before the actual ceremony. This will ensure that the person doing the filming will be ready to capture things in the heat of the moment without any worries or mistakes.
Again, I cannot recommend enough that the best way to capture your wedding on Video is to hire a professional. That being said, the tips above should give you a quality home video that you and yours will enjoy again and again. Professionally shot or captured by a reliable friend or relative, a Wedding Video will bring back all the feelings and wonder that you were too busy to remember on the special day itself!
Friday, October 2, 2009
FUN Lingerie Bridal Showers!
Bridal Showers are fun, girly events and having a shower with a theme makes it that much more exciting.
A really fun, sexy theme is a lingerie bridal shower--it can be as risqué or played down as you like. Lingerie themes especially work for a smaller event with close girlfriends vs a huge guest list where not many people know one another.
Here are some ideas on how to make your lingerie bridal shower a success:
Dress code: Decide whether or not you want your guests to all where lingerie and set some guidelines--maybe you want everyone to come in their favorite leopard print or hot pink, maybe you want all your guests to wear a nightie or baby doll to have it a little more covered up. Also you may want to set perimeters on how risqué you want the outfits to be. Keep in mind, you can have a lingerie shower without actually having your guests wear lingerie. You don't have to list a dress code and instead the bridesmaids and bride can be the ones wearing lingerie.
Decorations: This can be funny or intimate and romantic. If you're going for funny, consider hanging different colors and styles of bras from the ceiling. If you want a more romantic feel, dark roses and candles are an excellent choice, consider tealight candles surrounding a vase of roses. Or fill a glass bowl with water and top it with floating candles and sprinkle some rose petals and tealights around it. Deep colors like red, deep purple and even a classic black work nicely--try to choose satin and silk fabrics for linens. Dim lighting and candles will make the ambience just right.
Food: A chocolate fondue with strawberries for dipping is a great choice, bite size sandwiches and exotic drinks like pina coladas and strawberry daiquiris will make for a perfect lingerie theme spread.
Games: "Guess Whose Lingerie This is!" In the invitation ask each guest to bring one item from their lingerie drawer. Have the host collect each person's lingerie at the door and put them in a basket. Than when it's time to play the host or the bride will pull out each one and the guests will have to guess who's it is and give 1 example of why they think it's that person's--this will make everyone learn a lot about each other and can be played just for fun or as an icebreaker.
Party Favors: Don't forget to send your guests home with something to remember the event with. Personalized Bridal Shower Favors are an excellent choice; you can pick one with a lingerie design and have it personalized to say whatever you would like. Or select a bridal shower favor that matches the decor or the bride's personality.
Remember to be as creative as you like and to be sure to get the bride's input, you certainly don't want the bride to be uncomfortable, plus she'll have a pulse on what the guests are like.
Have fun planning!
A really fun, sexy theme is a lingerie bridal shower--it can be as risqué or played down as you like. Lingerie themes especially work for a smaller event with close girlfriends vs a huge guest list where not many people know one another.
Here are some ideas on how to make your lingerie bridal shower a success:
Dress code: Decide whether or not you want your guests to all where lingerie and set some guidelines--maybe you want everyone to come in their favorite leopard print or hot pink, maybe you want all your guests to wear a nightie or baby doll to have it a little more covered up. Also you may want to set perimeters on how risqué you want the outfits to be. Keep in mind, you can have a lingerie shower without actually having your guests wear lingerie. You don't have to list a dress code and instead the bridesmaids and bride can be the ones wearing lingerie.
Decorations: This can be funny or intimate and romantic. If you're going for funny, consider hanging different colors and styles of bras from the ceiling. If you want a more romantic feel, dark roses and candles are an excellent choice, consider tealight candles surrounding a vase of roses. Or fill a glass bowl with water and top it with floating candles and sprinkle some rose petals and tealights around it. Deep colors like red, deep purple and even a classic black work nicely--try to choose satin and silk fabrics for linens. Dim lighting and candles will make the ambience just right.
Food: A chocolate fondue with strawberries for dipping is a great choice, bite size sandwiches and exotic drinks like pina coladas and strawberry daiquiris will make for a perfect lingerie theme spread.
Games: "Guess Whose Lingerie This is!" In the invitation ask each guest to bring one item from their lingerie drawer. Have the host collect each person's lingerie at the door and put them in a basket. Than when it's time to play the host or the bride will pull out each one and the guests will have to guess who's it is and give 1 example of why they think it's that person's--this will make everyone learn a lot about each other and can be played just for fun or as an icebreaker.
Party Favors: Don't forget to send your guests home with something to remember the event with. Personalized Bridal Shower Favors are an excellent choice; you can pick one with a lingerie design and have it personalized to say whatever you would like. Or select a bridal shower favor that matches the decor or the bride's personality.
Remember to be as creative as you like and to be sure to get the bride's input, you certainly don't want the bride to be uncomfortable, plus she'll have a pulse on what the guests are like.
Have fun planning!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wedding Cake Do's and Dont's
Wedding Cakes - Do's and Dont's
You spent several hundred dollars for a beautiful and elaborate wedding cake, a replica of one that you saw in a magazine. Everyone remarks on how pretty it is, and you are delighted. Then, a half hour into the reception, just as you are beginning to relax and enjoy yourself, your coordinator tells you that the cake is starting to collapse and you need to cut it now while there is still time to salvage it and to get those special pictures. You rush to the cake table, place a forced smile on your face and quickly cut the cake.
Unfortunately, this scenario occurs all too often, especially at summer weddings, but it can be prevented. You can alleviate some of the problems by considering the following things when you choose your cake:
• Cakes don't tolerate heat, particularly those made with buttercreme icing, nor do they tolerate wind. Keep the cake indoors, if possible, or in the shade. If the cake must be placed outdoors, first place it in a refrigerator, if possible.
Place the cake in a location that is level; otherwise, the layers may tip or slide. Shim the table legs if necessary to make them level. This is particularly important at outdoor locations.
• Cakes that have pillars between the layers are more apt to tip or collapse than those in which the layers are stacked on top of one another or placed on individual pedestals. Neither pillars nor pedestals do well in windy locations, however.
• Have the cake delivered as late as possible so that it doesn't stand for several hours before being cut.
• If you choose to use colored icing on your cake, the food coloring can stain your gown and your hands. Butter and shortening used in the icing will also stain, particularly if you wipe your hands on your gown (a natural tendency when they are sticky). Use forks, not your fingers, to serve each other and don't under any circumstances shove cake in each other's face.
With a bit of planning, you can have your cake and eat it too.
You spent several hundred dollars for a beautiful and elaborate wedding cake, a replica of one that you saw in a magazine. Everyone remarks on how pretty it is, and you are delighted. Then, a half hour into the reception, just as you are beginning to relax and enjoy yourself, your coordinator tells you that the cake is starting to collapse and you need to cut it now while there is still time to salvage it and to get those special pictures. You rush to the cake table, place a forced smile on your face and quickly cut the cake.
Unfortunately, this scenario occurs all too often, especially at summer weddings, but it can be prevented. You can alleviate some of the problems by considering the following things when you choose your cake:
• Cakes don't tolerate heat, particularly those made with buttercreme icing, nor do they tolerate wind. Keep the cake indoors, if possible, or in the shade. If the cake must be placed outdoors, first place it in a refrigerator, if possible.
Place the cake in a location that is level; otherwise, the layers may tip or slide. Shim the table legs if necessary to make them level. This is particularly important at outdoor locations.
• Cakes that have pillars between the layers are more apt to tip or collapse than those in which the layers are stacked on top of one another or placed on individual pedestals. Neither pillars nor pedestals do well in windy locations, however.
• Have the cake delivered as late as possible so that it doesn't stand for several hours before being cut.
• If you choose to use colored icing on your cake, the food coloring can stain your gown and your hands. Butter and shortening used in the icing will also stain, particularly if you wipe your hands on your gown (a natural tendency when they are sticky). Use forks, not your fingers, to serve each other and don't under any circumstances shove cake in each other's face.
With a bit of planning, you can have your cake and eat it too.
6 GREAT Centerpiece Ideas
Six Unique Wedding Centerpiece Ideas
A lot of planning goes into creating the wedding of your dreams. A large part of your budget and time will be dedicated to your wedding reception. The menu, entertainment, decorations and wedding favors you choose are all important parts of your big day.
Wedding centerpieces can play a large part in helping to set the theme and tone of your reception. You want your wedding to be memorable, and the centerpieces you choose can help set your wedding apart from all the others.
Wedding guests often times don’t notice or remember the small details of weddings. However, one of the few things that guests often remember are the wedding centerpieces you choose. They will be looking at them for four or five hours during your reception, so why not do something unique and different?
Usually when most people think of wedding centerpieces the first thing that comes to mind is flowers. While most wedding centerpieces have at least some flowers in them, choosing a unique wedding centerpiece idea allows you to stand out from the crowd.
Here are six unique wedding centerpiece ideas:
- Even if you do choose a flower-based centerpiece, you can still add some uniqueness to your reception tables by choosing unique vases or containers to hold the flowers. Ideas include square vases, vases with a design or color and even a unique shape like the Eiffel tower.
- Simply adding things to your flower vases can make your centerpieces unique. For example, add color by adding a few drops of dye to match your wedding colors, or add pearls to the bottom of the vases.
- Add other things like fruit, stones or candles to your flower wedding
centerpieces. Fruit like lemons, limes and oranges are perfect for spring and summer weddings. Candles come in many shapes and sizes, and they can really help to set the mood of your reception.
- Use your wedding theme for unique wedding centerpiece ideas. For example, in the fall add pumpkins, leaves or apples to your centerpiece to help finish off a fall-themed wedding. For a beach-themed wedding add items like shells and sand.
- Combine your wedding centerpieces with your wedding favors. Have small potted plants in the center which can double as favors. Or, have frames with different photos in each displayed in the center of the table.
- Cake wedding centerpieces can also be fun. Have small or mini individual wedding cakes in the center of each table as your centerpiece. Each table can have a uniquely decorated cake for your guests to enjoy.
Don't be afraid to use your creativity to come up with your own unique wedding centerpiece idea.
A lot of planning goes into creating the wedding of your dreams. A large part of your budget and time will be dedicated to your wedding reception. The menu, entertainment, decorations and wedding favors you choose are all important parts of your big day.
Wedding centerpieces can play a large part in helping to set the theme and tone of your reception. You want your wedding to be memorable, and the centerpieces you choose can help set your wedding apart from all the others.
Wedding guests often times don’t notice or remember the small details of weddings. However, one of the few things that guests often remember are the wedding centerpieces you choose. They will be looking at them for four or five hours during your reception, so why not do something unique and different?
Usually when most people think of wedding centerpieces the first thing that comes to mind is flowers. While most wedding centerpieces have at least some flowers in them, choosing a unique wedding centerpiece idea allows you to stand out from the crowd.
Here are six unique wedding centerpiece ideas:
- Even if you do choose a flower-based centerpiece, you can still add some uniqueness to your reception tables by choosing unique vases or containers to hold the flowers. Ideas include square vases, vases with a design or color and even a unique shape like the Eiffel tower.
- Simply adding things to your flower vases can make your centerpieces unique. For example, add color by adding a few drops of dye to match your wedding colors, or add pearls to the bottom of the vases.
- Add other things like fruit, stones or candles to your flower wedding
centerpieces. Fruit like lemons, limes and oranges are perfect for spring and summer weddings. Candles come in many shapes and sizes, and they can really help to set the mood of your reception.
- Use your wedding theme for unique wedding centerpiece ideas. For example, in the fall add pumpkins, leaves or apples to your centerpiece to help finish off a fall-themed wedding. For a beach-themed wedding add items like shells and sand.
- Combine your wedding centerpieces with your wedding favors. Have small potted plants in the center which can double as favors. Or, have frames with different photos in each displayed in the center of the table.
- Cake wedding centerpieces can also be fun. Have small or mini individual wedding cakes in the center of each table as your centerpiece. Each table can have a uniquely decorated cake for your guests to enjoy.
Don't be afraid to use your creativity to come up with your own unique wedding centerpiece idea.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tips for a GREAT Wedding Video
Tips For Producing a Unique Wedding Video
Creating a wedding video that is unique to you and your new spouse is not always something a bride and groom thinks about when hiring a wedding videographer. After all your wedding day is all about you and the wedding video or DVD should reflect your personal tastes as well.
Videos can be as simple as letting the camera roll on your wedding day or can be as detailed as a television documentary. When looking for just the right videographer, couples want someone who can capture that special day with crystal clear video and sound but have no idea what other options are available. Know that you can customize your video anyway you like depending on the videographer and your budget.
First when looking for a videographer, check to see if the videographer belongs to a professional organization, such as the Wedding and Events Videographers Association (WEVA.com). Also find out how long the video company has been in business. You don't want a novice shooting your video since there is only one chance to get it right. When requesting demos from prospective videographers, don't just settle for viewing a demo reel, ask to see several different weddings. Also ask the videographer if he has shot at your wedding location before and then request to see video from that specific location. When viewing the demo reel ask yourself if they all look the same, like a cookie cutter presentation or are the videos unique.
When meeting with videographers be prepared and know what you want ahead of time. Bring notes and take notes. Make sure everything you request is included on a written contract.
With the advances in today's technology the sky is the limit on wedding video options. You can request whatever your heart desires. The possibility of your special requests all depends on your budget but here are a few options that can add that special touch to your video.
Real Film - Many videographers are offering real 8mm film as an option or add-on. It is usually just two-to-four rolls of film edited into the actual video to give a retro flavor that will awe you and your family. Don't settle for a "film-effect" that is created on a computer, it just isn't the same.
Engagement Music Video - This can be done ahead of time and presented at the reception on big screen projector. Hire your videographer to attend your engagement photo session where he can get behind-the-scenes video that can later be combined with the engagement photographs. When set to music this can be a wonderful piece to showcase on your wedding day.
The Love Story - This option has exploded in popularity. The Love Story is an interview with the bride-to-be and her fiancé, which tells the story of how they met and how they arrived at this point. Some of the video can be shot at the spot where he proposed, at the couples home or favorite spot. The Love Story is probably the most emotion-packed segment, next to the ceremony video of your vows. This feature can also be completed ahead of time and presented on a big screen presentation at the reception.
Photo Montage - Photo Montages have always been popular and can easily achieve that personal touch without blowing your wedding budget. A photo montage is another great way to tell the story of how you met or you can go as far back as to your childhood photos. It's all a story of how you arrived at this day and it is a way to bring new life to those photographs stored in the back of your closet. The photo montage can also be shown at your reception.
Streaming Video - Many couples personalize their wedding by creating a wedding website to keep family members in-the-know about changes in upcoming wedding plans. Streaming videos can be used to create exciting engagement announcements for your wedding website. This would be a good way to introduce your wedding theme as a movie trailer to increase the anticipation leading up to your wedding.
Once you hire a videographer to shoot your wedding, there are things that you can do to help the videographer create your perfect wedding video:
* Give your videographer a copy of the invitation, program with the names of the bridal party and anyone who will speak at the ceremony, a list of your favorite songs or the DJ play list from the reception, and a list of anyone who must be in your video, such as your great-grandmother or a relative who has traveled a great distance to come to your wedding.
* Speak to your bridal party at the wedding rehearsal about their placement during the ceremony. Ask them to be aware of the videographer and to be careful not to block the camera at the ceremony.
* Let the videographer know ahead of time if there will be any special performances or live entertainment such as Flamenco dancers.
* Require the videographer to attend the wedding rehearsal. Most experienced videographers will include this service in their price list.
With a little creativity and preparation, your wedding video can be as unique as you are. Your videographer can work with you to give your video that personal touch that will reflect who you are as a couple and be watched for many years to come.
Creating a wedding video that is unique to you and your new spouse is not always something a bride and groom thinks about when hiring a wedding videographer. After all your wedding day is all about you and the wedding video or DVD should reflect your personal tastes as well.
Videos can be as simple as letting the camera roll on your wedding day or can be as detailed as a television documentary. When looking for just the right videographer, couples want someone who can capture that special day with crystal clear video and sound but have no idea what other options are available. Know that you can customize your video anyway you like depending on the videographer and your budget.
First when looking for a videographer, check to see if the videographer belongs to a professional organization, such as the Wedding and Events Videographers Association (WEVA.com). Also find out how long the video company has been in business. You don't want a novice shooting your video since there is only one chance to get it right. When requesting demos from prospective videographers, don't just settle for viewing a demo reel, ask to see several different weddings. Also ask the videographer if he has shot at your wedding location before and then request to see video from that specific location. When viewing the demo reel ask yourself if they all look the same, like a cookie cutter presentation or are the videos unique.
When meeting with videographers be prepared and know what you want ahead of time. Bring notes and take notes. Make sure everything you request is included on a written contract.
With the advances in today's technology the sky is the limit on wedding video options. You can request whatever your heart desires. The possibility of your special requests all depends on your budget but here are a few options that can add that special touch to your video.
Real Film - Many videographers are offering real 8mm film as an option or add-on. It is usually just two-to-four rolls of film edited into the actual video to give a retro flavor that will awe you and your family. Don't settle for a "film-effect" that is created on a computer, it just isn't the same.
Engagement Music Video - This can be done ahead of time and presented at the reception on big screen projector. Hire your videographer to attend your engagement photo session where he can get behind-the-scenes video that can later be combined with the engagement photographs. When set to music this can be a wonderful piece to showcase on your wedding day.
The Love Story - This option has exploded in popularity. The Love Story is an interview with the bride-to-be and her fiancé, which tells the story of how they met and how they arrived at this point. Some of the video can be shot at the spot where he proposed, at the couples home or favorite spot. The Love Story is probably the most emotion-packed segment, next to the ceremony video of your vows. This feature can also be completed ahead of time and presented on a big screen presentation at the reception.
Photo Montage - Photo Montages have always been popular and can easily achieve that personal touch without blowing your wedding budget. A photo montage is another great way to tell the story of how you met or you can go as far back as to your childhood photos. It's all a story of how you arrived at this day and it is a way to bring new life to those photographs stored in the back of your closet. The photo montage can also be shown at your reception.
Streaming Video - Many couples personalize their wedding by creating a wedding website to keep family members in-the-know about changes in upcoming wedding plans. Streaming videos can be used to create exciting engagement announcements for your wedding website. This would be a good way to introduce your wedding theme as a movie trailer to increase the anticipation leading up to your wedding.
Once you hire a videographer to shoot your wedding, there are things that you can do to help the videographer create your perfect wedding video:
* Give your videographer a copy of the invitation, program with the names of the bridal party and anyone who will speak at the ceremony, a list of your favorite songs or the DJ play list from the reception, and a list of anyone who must be in your video, such as your great-grandmother or a relative who has traveled a great distance to come to your wedding.
* Speak to your bridal party at the wedding rehearsal about their placement during the ceremony. Ask them to be aware of the videographer and to be careful not to block the camera at the ceremony.
* Let the videographer know ahead of time if there will be any special performances or live entertainment such as Flamenco dancers.
* Require the videographer to attend the wedding rehearsal. Most experienced videographers will include this service in their price list.
With a little creativity and preparation, your wedding video can be as unique as you are. Your videographer can work with you to give your video that personal touch that will reflect who you are as a couple and be watched for many years to come.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Why you should have a wedding DVD!
There are a number of reasons why it is a good idea to have a DVD made of your wedding day. Mostly, it comes down to this - your wedding day will definitely fly by, and it can be not easy to remember precise things that happened in fine detail. While you remember the overall feeling of the day, along with the major points of the day, much of the rest of it will speedily become a blur as you try to remember back to what happened. A wedding DVD is a good way to have some of those easier to forget moments captured on film to look back on in the future. In addition, a DVD of your wedding day is a great way to look back on the day and remember the emotions, feelings, vows, smiles, tears, etc. that were all a part of the day. It's a great way to relive the day.
While pictures are a great and necessary part of your wedding day, the best and clearest memories of your day will likely come from re-watching your wedding DVD. A great tradition to begin could be watching your wedding DVD on each wedding anniversary - it's a breathtaking way to look back on the day, and it is a wonderful way to remind yourselves of the vows you took that day. What are some of the most critical things to have captured on your wedding video? That really depends on each person. Of course, have the entire ceremony taped - there are too many amusing moments during the ceremony to skip out on this part. In addition, consider having at least highlights from the service taped - things like speeches and/or toasts, your first dance, etc. Some people also choose to have interviews done, where guests can come up to the videographer and leave comments of support and congrats for the couple. All in all, having a DVD made of your wedding day is an essential way to remember some of the biggest and best moments from that all important day in your lives, especially when you think that given all the time, money and hard work that went into making your wedding day one of the most dreamlike days of your life, it just makes sense to have a good recording available, so you can look back on it in the years to come.
Even the parts of the video that seem unremarkable to you now will probably be enthralling in the future, as you look back with pleasure at the fashions and hairstyles of our time, and marvel at how much younger everybody used to look. Our memories can be undependable. No matter how much we try to commit something to mind, as years go by we forget the details and invent new ones without even being aware that we're doing it. If you've ever looked back at your teenage diary, you've probably been startled to see how little you remembered, and how much your memory differed from how things really happened. A DVD of your wedding day is like opening up a window into your past, you can see things just as they really happened. You can relive listening to the best man's speech, and watching your older relatives on the dance floor. (Plus, you can fast forward through any repetitive or uncomfortable parts. If only all of like worked like that!) Time moves so quickly. You're not really paying attention, and the next thing you know, years have passed. A wedding DVD lets you freeze a happy time in your life, to take out and look at whenever you need it, beacuse every human being lives once and dies once and ff all the key events happening in life, marriage is one of the most valuable and sentimental events.
Your wedding day is the day when you become one with your soul mate. It is the day you find a partner to spend the rest of your life with. It is the moment when a man and woman pledge to be faithful to each other, love categorically and stand by each other's side in both good and bad times. Wedding is not just the union of two bodies. It is the coming together of two hearts and minds with different ideas, but willing to struggle and achieve one beautiful aspiration. The aspiration of leading a very cheerful married life with lots of fun and quality time among relatives and kids. So this day has to be very special. Especially so when this day comes but once in every man or woman's life. This has to stored and stacked in some sort of media for future viewing. What else can be better than a DVD? A DVD is compact, easy to use and needs very less time and effort. It is also very cost effective when it comes to distributing of copies to near and dear ones. But it is a fact that when Husband and Wife sit and view the DVD later, it gives so much fun cherishing upon those lovely moments. Especially when watched with their own offspring.
That's the reason a DVD of Wedding Day is must.
Article Source: http://www.weddingarticles.net
While pictures are a great and necessary part of your wedding day, the best and clearest memories of your day will likely come from re-watching your wedding DVD. A great tradition to begin could be watching your wedding DVD on each wedding anniversary - it's a breathtaking way to look back on the day, and it is a wonderful way to remind yourselves of the vows you took that day. What are some of the most critical things to have captured on your wedding video? That really depends on each person. Of course, have the entire ceremony taped - there are too many amusing moments during the ceremony to skip out on this part. In addition, consider having at least highlights from the service taped - things like speeches and/or toasts, your first dance, etc. Some people also choose to have interviews done, where guests can come up to the videographer and leave comments of support and congrats for the couple. All in all, having a DVD made of your wedding day is an essential way to remember some of the biggest and best moments from that all important day in your lives, especially when you think that given all the time, money and hard work that went into making your wedding day one of the most dreamlike days of your life, it just makes sense to have a good recording available, so you can look back on it in the years to come.
Even the parts of the video that seem unremarkable to you now will probably be enthralling in the future, as you look back with pleasure at the fashions and hairstyles of our time, and marvel at how much younger everybody used to look. Our memories can be undependable. No matter how much we try to commit something to mind, as years go by we forget the details and invent new ones without even being aware that we're doing it. If you've ever looked back at your teenage diary, you've probably been startled to see how little you remembered, and how much your memory differed from how things really happened. A DVD of your wedding day is like opening up a window into your past, you can see things just as they really happened. You can relive listening to the best man's speech, and watching your older relatives on the dance floor. (Plus, you can fast forward through any repetitive or uncomfortable parts. If only all of like worked like that!) Time moves so quickly. You're not really paying attention, and the next thing you know, years have passed. A wedding DVD lets you freeze a happy time in your life, to take out and look at whenever you need it, beacuse every human being lives once and dies once and ff all the key events happening in life, marriage is one of the most valuable and sentimental events.
Your wedding day is the day when you become one with your soul mate. It is the day you find a partner to spend the rest of your life with. It is the moment when a man and woman pledge to be faithful to each other, love categorically and stand by each other's side in both good and bad times. Wedding is not just the union of two bodies. It is the coming together of two hearts and minds with different ideas, but willing to struggle and achieve one beautiful aspiration. The aspiration of leading a very cheerful married life with lots of fun and quality time among relatives and kids. So this day has to be very special. Especially so when this day comes but once in every man or woman's life. This has to stored and stacked in some sort of media for future viewing. What else can be better than a DVD? A DVD is compact, easy to use and needs very less time and effort. It is also very cost effective when it comes to distributing of copies to near and dear ones. But it is a fact that when Husband and Wife sit and view the DVD later, it gives so much fun cherishing upon those lovely moments. Especially when watched with their own offspring.
That's the reason a DVD of Wedding Day is must.
Article Source: http://www.weddingarticles.net
Friday, September 18, 2009
Wedding Rings!
Unique Wedding Bands
Wedding rings hold a very special part in any wedding. In fact, the history of the wedding ring dates back many years. Each culture has their own thoughts of what wedding rings stand for. However, over time these thoughts and feelings have all pulled together to form the meaning of wedding rings that we know today. Right now we are going to cover the best ways to go about looking for wedding rings. We are also going to talk a little bit about the meaning of wedding bands, and what they are suppose to represent. Last, but not least, we will talk about why diamond wedding rings are now the standard.
First of all, what does the wedding ring mean? Well, this is a band that is suppose to show your undying love for the person that you are getting married to. The band of the ring is a never ending circle. It goes on and on just like your love for you soon to be partner. This is the main meaning behind the wedding ring. Diamond wedding rings have become popular for two main reasons. The first reason is simply because women love diamonds. These are stones that have become very popular, and they are perfect to put on your never ending circle. On top of that, diamonds are very hard and last forever, just like your love for your new partner.
Now that we know a little bit more about wedding rings, we need to talk a little bit about how to buy wedding rings. After all, when you go looking for wedding rings, you are going to see that they cost a lot of money. However, you do not have to pay a lot if you know where to look. The best place to start off is online. By looking online first, you are able to compare prices from many different shops all at the same time. You are going to notice that the prices of rings online cost a lot less than the cost of rings at your local shops. On top of that, it is much easier to find a style that you like. Keep this in mind when you start looking for wedding rings.
Mens wedding rings are best looked for online as well. That is because most traditional mens wedding rings are just a gold band. However, if you want to get your husband a ring that is not just a gold band, then you have to find it online. This way you can locate many different rings and compare their prices. If you look for good mens wedding rings at local stores, you will see that you have to search far and wide to find a good ring.
Also remember that gold is not the only color for wedding rings nowadays. This goes for both women's rings and mens rings. In fact, a lot of people like to do the white gold look nowadays, because the sliver look is more modern. Thus, if you are looking for a way to make your wedding look more modern, then white gold is the way to go. However, this is an idea that does not stray too far from tradition, because it is still made out of gold.
When buying wedding rings online you have to be careful. That is because there are a few sites out their that are not trustworthy sites. To be sure that you avoid buying from these sites, it's a good idea to look for reviews on the sites first. This can be done just as easily as searching for the wedding rings themselves. All you need to do is a web search. Doing a web search is easy, and you can use your favorite search engine to do it (Google, Yahoo, MSN, or whatever). The best way to search is to put in keywords like “site review”, and include the name of the site that you are looking for. There are a few ways to come up with positive results. If you do not come up with any results, then this is mostly good. That is because not everyone talks about the good things that they notice about a site, but they are very quick to point out the bad things. So just because you did not find good reviews, does not mean that the site is bad. However, if you find bad reviews, then you need to be careful.
Do keep one thing in mind, however. One bad review does not mean that a site is bad. In fact, you are always going to find something that someone does not like about a site. Just because one person had a hard time, does not mean that you are going to as well. What you want to find is a site that has a lot of bad reviews. If you find that, then that is a site that you do not want to buy from.
Just use your good judgment when surfing the internet for wedding rings, and you will be fine. You will be able to get the ring of your dreams.
Wedding rings hold a very special part in any wedding. In fact, the history of the wedding ring dates back many years. Each culture has their own thoughts of what wedding rings stand for. However, over time these thoughts and feelings have all pulled together to form the meaning of wedding rings that we know today. Right now we are going to cover the best ways to go about looking for wedding rings. We are also going to talk a little bit about the meaning of wedding bands, and what they are suppose to represent. Last, but not least, we will talk about why diamond wedding rings are now the standard.
First of all, what does the wedding ring mean? Well, this is a band that is suppose to show your undying love for the person that you are getting married to. The band of the ring is a never ending circle. It goes on and on just like your love for you soon to be partner. This is the main meaning behind the wedding ring. Diamond wedding rings have become popular for two main reasons. The first reason is simply because women love diamonds. These are stones that have become very popular, and they are perfect to put on your never ending circle. On top of that, diamonds are very hard and last forever, just like your love for your new partner.
Now that we know a little bit more about wedding rings, we need to talk a little bit about how to buy wedding rings. After all, when you go looking for wedding rings, you are going to see that they cost a lot of money. However, you do not have to pay a lot if you know where to look. The best place to start off is online. By looking online first, you are able to compare prices from many different shops all at the same time. You are going to notice that the prices of rings online cost a lot less than the cost of rings at your local shops. On top of that, it is much easier to find a style that you like. Keep this in mind when you start looking for wedding rings.
Mens wedding rings are best looked for online as well. That is because most traditional mens wedding rings are just a gold band. However, if you want to get your husband a ring that is not just a gold band, then you have to find it online. This way you can locate many different rings and compare their prices. If you look for good mens wedding rings at local stores, you will see that you have to search far and wide to find a good ring.
Also remember that gold is not the only color for wedding rings nowadays. This goes for both women's rings and mens rings. In fact, a lot of people like to do the white gold look nowadays, because the sliver look is more modern. Thus, if you are looking for a way to make your wedding look more modern, then white gold is the way to go. However, this is an idea that does not stray too far from tradition, because it is still made out of gold.
When buying wedding rings online you have to be careful. That is because there are a few sites out their that are not trustworthy sites. To be sure that you avoid buying from these sites, it's a good idea to look for reviews on the sites first. This can be done just as easily as searching for the wedding rings themselves. All you need to do is a web search. Doing a web search is easy, and you can use your favorite search engine to do it (Google, Yahoo, MSN, or whatever). The best way to search is to put in keywords like “site review”, and include the name of the site that you are looking for. There are a few ways to come up with positive results. If you do not come up with any results, then this is mostly good. That is because not everyone talks about the good things that they notice about a site, but they are very quick to point out the bad things. So just because you did not find good reviews, does not mean that the site is bad. However, if you find bad reviews, then you need to be careful.
Do keep one thing in mind, however. One bad review does not mean that a site is bad. In fact, you are always going to find something that someone does not like about a site. Just because one person had a hard time, does not mean that you are going to as well. What you want to find is a site that has a lot of bad reviews. If you find that, then that is a site that you do not want to buy from.
Just use your good judgment when surfing the internet for wedding rings, and you will be fine. You will be able to get the ring of your dreams.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
5 Things Your Wedding Photographer Should Offer
Five Things Your Wedding Photographer SHOULD Offer
You're getting married, right? Congratulations! You want your wedding day to be as perfect and beautiful as you've always dreamed. However, if you choose the wrong photographer, your day may be a lot less than perfect, and you may not be satisfied with the images your photographer captures. Bummer. So, how do you choose the right photographer?
Here's how. Make sure your wedding photographer offers you these five things. Then you can relax and feel confident the love, special moments and important details of your wedding day will be captured in beautiful images for a lifetime of memories.
1. Do you like the photographer's work?
Look at a fairly good selection of the photographers wedding images, not just a few photos on a web site. It's best if you can see at least an album or two and a proof book of a complete wedding. The albums probably represent the best of the photographer's work, and the proof book shows all the typical images he or she captures during a wedding day. How do the images look to you? Are they pleasing to look at? Does the lighting and the color look good to you? Is the photographer's style what you are looking for? Most of our bridal couples are looking for a mix of photojournalistic images and classic posed traditional ones. Make sure your photographer is capable of, and comfortable with, taking the style of images you want for your wedding. If you don't like the photographer's work, there is no need to consider them further. Also, make sure the work you see was done by the photographer who will photograph your wedding. Some studios will show you a lot of good work from various photographers, but will not guarantee you will get the photographer whose work you like the best. Sometimes, a husband and wife team like ours is the best way to be sure the photographer's work you see is the work you will get.
2. Do you like the photographer's personality and mannerisms?
Is the photographer confident, easy going and not a nervous ninny? Does the photographer have a good sense of humor? Remember, the photographer will be present through most of your wedding day, interacting with you, your wedding party, your family, and your guests. A demanding, inflexible, and uptight photographer can make your day unpleasant. I know you don't want that! Make sure you and your spouse-to-be get along well with the photographer you choose. If the photographer is going to have a second photographer help at your wedding, meet the assistant photographer and make sure you feel comfortable with them also. To get to know your photographer before you choose them, it is really important you meet with them personally. If it is physically impossible to meet with the photographer, you should make sure some of their testimonials from previous clients make you feel comfortable with the photographer's personality.
3. Does the photographer have a strong sense of professional commitment to photographing your wedding and a professional work ethic?
Does the photographer use professional cameras, lenses and flash systems? Does he or she have at least some lenses that will produce good images in low light situations (f2.8 aperture)? Does the photographer use a soft box over the flash and keep the flash above the lens on both horizontal and vertical photos to minimize shadows in their images? Does he or she always bring a complete set of backup equipment, or bring a second photographer with another set of equipment, to every wedding? How will the photographer and their assistant be dressed on your wedding day? Ask them. Hopefully, they will professional enough to arrive dressed in a tux, suit, or dressy dress. Although, if your photographer is a man and he says he's coming in a dressy dress, you might worry a little about that :-). You should get the feeling that your photographer is dedicated to making sure your wedding day is wonderful, and that all of the love, emotions and important details will be captured in images you will be able to enjoy for the rest of your life.
4. Does your photographer have the experience to anticipate all the good things that will happen on your wedding day, and the experience to deal with the bad things that could happen also?
An experienced photographer will have photographed enough weddings to anticipate and capture special moments during your day, and the important details that may easily be missed by a "newbie". An experienced photographer also knows that things do go wrong sometimes and will be able to anticipate and deal with them, often without you even knowing that something went wrong. That's why a complete set of backup equipment is necessary. My little kit of duct tape, extra cables, pen knife with scissors, and band-aids has been a life saver several times.
5. Does your photographer offer you the right value?
Not the right price, but, the right value. If your photographer doesn't have all of the above four characteristics, it may not matter what their prices are. If the photographer has all four, that's a big part of the value they offer you. In this case, the price should be less important. Just make sure your photographer will provide what is really important to you and is upfront with you about costs for everything you want. Someone who offers a "low" price up front may sound attractive. But, things change when you find they charge extra for every location stop, for the digital image files, for a studio set up at the reception, and so on. A photographer who charges twice as much, but includes almost everything, can often be a better value for you.
So, there you have it. Choose your wedding photographer based on the above five factors, and you will go a long way toward having the wedding of your dreams. Good luck and congratulations again.
You're getting married, right? Congratulations! You want your wedding day to be as perfect and beautiful as you've always dreamed. However, if you choose the wrong photographer, your day may be a lot less than perfect, and you may not be satisfied with the images your photographer captures. Bummer. So, how do you choose the right photographer?
Here's how. Make sure your wedding photographer offers you these five things. Then you can relax and feel confident the love, special moments and important details of your wedding day will be captured in beautiful images for a lifetime of memories.
1. Do you like the photographer's work?
Look at a fairly good selection of the photographers wedding images, not just a few photos on a web site. It's best if you can see at least an album or two and a proof book of a complete wedding. The albums probably represent the best of the photographer's work, and the proof book shows all the typical images he or she captures during a wedding day. How do the images look to you? Are they pleasing to look at? Does the lighting and the color look good to you? Is the photographer's style what you are looking for? Most of our bridal couples are looking for a mix of photojournalistic images and classic posed traditional ones. Make sure your photographer is capable of, and comfortable with, taking the style of images you want for your wedding. If you don't like the photographer's work, there is no need to consider them further. Also, make sure the work you see was done by the photographer who will photograph your wedding. Some studios will show you a lot of good work from various photographers, but will not guarantee you will get the photographer whose work you like the best. Sometimes, a husband and wife team like ours is the best way to be sure the photographer's work you see is the work you will get.
2. Do you like the photographer's personality and mannerisms?
Is the photographer confident, easy going and not a nervous ninny? Does the photographer have a good sense of humor? Remember, the photographer will be present through most of your wedding day, interacting with you, your wedding party, your family, and your guests. A demanding, inflexible, and uptight photographer can make your day unpleasant. I know you don't want that! Make sure you and your spouse-to-be get along well with the photographer you choose. If the photographer is going to have a second photographer help at your wedding, meet the assistant photographer and make sure you feel comfortable with them also. To get to know your photographer before you choose them, it is really important you meet with them personally. If it is physically impossible to meet with the photographer, you should make sure some of their testimonials from previous clients make you feel comfortable with the photographer's personality.
3. Does the photographer have a strong sense of professional commitment to photographing your wedding and a professional work ethic?
Does the photographer use professional cameras, lenses and flash systems? Does he or she have at least some lenses that will produce good images in low light situations (f2.8 aperture)? Does the photographer use a soft box over the flash and keep the flash above the lens on both horizontal and vertical photos to minimize shadows in their images? Does he or she always bring a complete set of backup equipment, or bring a second photographer with another set of equipment, to every wedding? How will the photographer and their assistant be dressed on your wedding day? Ask them. Hopefully, they will professional enough to arrive dressed in a tux, suit, or dressy dress. Although, if your photographer is a man and he says he's coming in a dressy dress, you might worry a little about that :-). You should get the feeling that your photographer is dedicated to making sure your wedding day is wonderful, and that all of the love, emotions and important details will be captured in images you will be able to enjoy for the rest of your life.
4. Does your photographer have the experience to anticipate all the good things that will happen on your wedding day, and the experience to deal with the bad things that could happen also?
An experienced photographer will have photographed enough weddings to anticipate and capture special moments during your day, and the important details that may easily be missed by a "newbie". An experienced photographer also knows that things do go wrong sometimes and will be able to anticipate and deal with them, often without you even knowing that something went wrong. That's why a complete set of backup equipment is necessary. My little kit of duct tape, extra cables, pen knife with scissors, and band-aids has been a life saver several times.
5. Does your photographer offer you the right value?
Not the right price, but, the right value. If your photographer doesn't have all of the above four characteristics, it may not matter what their prices are. If the photographer has all four, that's a big part of the value they offer you. In this case, the price should be less important. Just make sure your photographer will provide what is really important to you and is upfront with you about costs for everything you want. Someone who offers a "low" price up front may sound attractive. But, things change when you find they charge extra for every location stop, for the digital image files, for a studio set up at the reception, and so on. A photographer who charges twice as much, but includes almost everything, can often be a better value for you.
So, there you have it. Choose your wedding photographer based on the above five factors, and you will go a long way toward having the wedding of your dreams. Good luck and congratulations again.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wedding Budget Tips
Budgeting Tips for the Wedding
Weddings are suppose to be a joyful time in our life, but for many people, they turn out to be a costly nightmare! However, this does not have to be the case at all. In fact, there are tons of different wedding budget ideas out their that you can use to get the most out of your wedding without having to spend an arm and a leg. A wedding budget is also a good way to make sure that you do not go to over the top with planning the wedding. After all, you are starting a new life with the person you love, and you don't want to start off that life in debt because of your wedding! Today we are going to cover a few wedding budget ideas that could save you a ton of money but still give you that wedding you have always dreamed of.
Sample Wedding Budget Ideas that you can use:
•First of all, you already know that flowers can make or break a wedding. However, that does not mean that you have to hire someone to make your flower arrangements. Online you can find tons of different flower arrangements that you can do yourself. After finding the flower arrangement that is right for you (weather it's with fake or real plants), you can gather friends and family together to help you make them. Budget wedding flowers like these can save you tons of money on your wedding.
•The next budget wedding idea has to do with planning your wedding during an off peak season. There are some seasons that are always loaded with weddings. During these times, the prices of popular vendors are going to go through the roof. However, if you can get married during off months, like November through April, then you are going to get a much better deal on services.
•A wedding budget is not complete without a wedding coordinator. When people think of a wedding coordinator, they think of extra expenses. However, wedding coordinators of today can help you by keeping you within a budget that you need. Not only can they help you stay within the budget you have set, but they can help you plan everything, which will take stress off of you.
•Another very costly thing at weddings is the bar. There are many companies that you can hire that will set up a “five hour bar” for you. This is a bar that serves drinks for five hours. Normally this is long enough to get people through the party. However, a great alternative to this is to use a budget bar. This is where you have a bar set up where people can just grab beer or wine all night long. Maybe for an hour you will serve cocktails, but mostly it will just be the beer and wine. Also, champagne punch is always a very classy touch if that is what you are looking for. It allows you to be a little classy without having to spend too much money.
•Next you have to note that a wedding budget can not be put together if you wait until the last minute, meaning that you don't need to put tasks off until the last second. Start planning early. It is better to be over prepared than under prepared. You may also note that this helps you to be more relaxed about the wedding.
•Another good task to give you the feeling that you are saving money is to pay ahead of time for things. Do not wait until the wedding day to pay for everything at once. Although you are really still paying the full price, it will feel like you are spending less money, because you are paying for it a little at a time. This helps out more than people know.
•Next, be sure that you are on a realistic track! It is one thing to tell people what you “want” for your wedding and another thing all together to tell people what you “need” for your wedding. Cover the things that you need first, and find out how much it will be before you get into ordering things that you want.
•Another good tip for budget weddings is to have place card favors. This is a great way to tell people thanks for coming to the wedding without having to spend a lot of money. After all, wedding favors should not have to break your bank.
Overall, when it comes to weddings, you want to be debt free by the end of it, or at least not add any more debt to what you already have. You want your wedding to be a fun day, and a day that you remember because you married the person of your dreams, not because you went further into debt!
Weddings are suppose to be a joyful time in our life, but for many people, they turn out to be a costly nightmare! However, this does not have to be the case at all. In fact, there are tons of different wedding budget ideas out their that you can use to get the most out of your wedding without having to spend an arm and a leg. A wedding budget is also a good way to make sure that you do not go to over the top with planning the wedding. After all, you are starting a new life with the person you love, and you don't want to start off that life in debt because of your wedding! Today we are going to cover a few wedding budget ideas that could save you a ton of money but still give you that wedding you have always dreamed of.
Sample Wedding Budget Ideas that you can use:
•First of all, you already know that flowers can make or break a wedding. However, that does not mean that you have to hire someone to make your flower arrangements. Online you can find tons of different flower arrangements that you can do yourself. After finding the flower arrangement that is right for you (weather it's with fake or real plants), you can gather friends and family together to help you make them. Budget wedding flowers like these can save you tons of money on your wedding.
•The next budget wedding idea has to do with planning your wedding during an off peak season. There are some seasons that are always loaded with weddings. During these times, the prices of popular vendors are going to go through the roof. However, if you can get married during off months, like November through April, then you are going to get a much better deal on services.
•A wedding budget is not complete without a wedding coordinator. When people think of a wedding coordinator, they think of extra expenses. However, wedding coordinators of today can help you by keeping you within a budget that you need. Not only can they help you stay within the budget you have set, but they can help you plan everything, which will take stress off of you.
•Another very costly thing at weddings is the bar. There are many companies that you can hire that will set up a “five hour bar” for you. This is a bar that serves drinks for five hours. Normally this is long enough to get people through the party. However, a great alternative to this is to use a budget bar. This is where you have a bar set up where people can just grab beer or wine all night long. Maybe for an hour you will serve cocktails, but mostly it will just be the beer and wine. Also, champagne punch is always a very classy touch if that is what you are looking for. It allows you to be a little classy without having to spend too much money.
•Next you have to note that a wedding budget can not be put together if you wait until the last minute, meaning that you don't need to put tasks off until the last second. Start planning early. It is better to be over prepared than under prepared. You may also note that this helps you to be more relaxed about the wedding.
•Another good task to give you the feeling that you are saving money is to pay ahead of time for things. Do not wait until the wedding day to pay for everything at once. Although you are really still paying the full price, it will feel like you are spending less money, because you are paying for it a little at a time. This helps out more than people know.
•Next, be sure that you are on a realistic track! It is one thing to tell people what you “want” for your wedding and another thing all together to tell people what you “need” for your wedding. Cover the things that you need first, and find out how much it will be before you get into ordering things that you want.
•Another good tip for budget weddings is to have place card favors. This is a great way to tell people thanks for coming to the wedding without having to spend a lot of money. After all, wedding favors should not have to break your bank.
Overall, when it comes to weddings, you want to be debt free by the end of it, or at least not add any more debt to what you already have. You want your wedding to be a fun day, and a day that you remember because you married the person of your dreams, not because you went further into debt!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Top 10 Wedding Favors Brides Are Buying
Wedding Favor Trends For 2009 - What Brides Are Buying
Sure we can tell you what we like as our top ten wedding favors, but how authentic would that list be? Over the years, new trends emerge which lead many to believe certain favors are “all the rage”. For the trendy and modern bride there is a plethora of super chic, new wedding favors to select from. And for the traditional bride, there is even a larger selection of wedding favors on the market to choose between. So what’s a bride to do?
To narrow down your favor choices, why not consider these top 10 wedding favor categories and items.
1) Wedding Favor Boxes and Packaging - I don’t think the economy has anything to do with this category being first, brides have traditionally given out Jordan Almonds or candies as wedding favors. With so many boxes, bags, mint tins, pails and unique containers such as little luggage bags - it is no wonder why there is such a selection available - brides want containers for their favors. Our most popular, tried and true favor is our Miniature Silver Pails & Buckets.
2) Wine Stopper Wedding Favors - A favorite category throughout the years, wine stoppers or bottle stoppers are a traditional wedding favor - and for good reason. With so many households owning wine (whether it be for cooking or drinking) everyone can use a wine stopper. Wine stoppers aren’t only for wine though - their tapered design can multiple O rings can fit a variety of bottles and neck sizes. Our bestseller in this category is our Chrome Heart Bottle Stopper With Free Personalized Tags
3) Candy Wedding Favors - a smart choice for couples getting married, candy wedding favors are something guaranteed to please everyone on your guest list. From chocolates to personalized mint tins, gumball machines to personalized candy bars - if its edible, it’s a best seller. Some brides are combining the personalized wedding trend with DIY favors on a budget which is why our Personalized Candy Jars fit this category perfectly and are our bestseller.
4) Personalized Glassware - Remember back in the days when you would get a champagne glass with the couple’s name and wedding date on it? Well - personalized glassware remains very popular. Our bestselling glassware is our Personalized shot glass / votive holders, but our Spiral Stem Champagne Flutes and Personalized Wine Glasses also do very well. For a modern touch, select a Monogram design.
5) Place Card Frames - Let’s face it - your wedding thank you photo will be wallet sized and mailed to your guests after the wedding. But what are they to do with it if they don’t have a frame which fits? Besides, you’ll need something to hold your seating assignments and place cards. Voila! A frame which serves double duty as reception décor and as a wedding favor. Our most popular frame is our Beautifully Beaded Place Card / Photo Frame in Silver, but it is also available in gold.
6) Personalized Wedding Favors - years ago, people used to tie ribbons to their favors or tulle Jordan almond pouches to add a personalized touch to their favors. (And they still do!) But for a more modern touch, couples are giving out personalized wedding favors to their guests. While it’s always been a touch decision as to what favors would suit the men and women on a guest list, our Personalized Two Of A Kind Playing Cards suit this age old dilemma remarkably.
7) Wedding Bells - Nothing says traditional like a wedding bell. Whether they are sending the couple off with a ring or ringing for a kiss, bells make great wedding favors. While our Mini Ring For A Kiss bells do remarkably well, we do not suggest using them as favors - table decorations, favor tie ons, yes, but favors no - these are just too small. Our most popular wedding bell is our Fluted Wedding Bells in Silver or Gold. They have been featured in many magazines and articles and are a beautiful, traditional, shape, size and feel.
8) Wedding Fans - Since the majority of weddings occur between the months of April through September, it is no wonder why wedding fans do so well - these are the warmest months of the year. Fans can be used for outdoor weddings, beach weddings, in churches without air conditioning - and the most popular wedding fans we carry are our Mini Buri Fans and our Sandalwood Fans in Glass Top White Boxes.
9) Mirror Wedding Favors - I think mirrors do so well for several reasons: they are stylishly designed, they are affordable, and many brides feel that wedding favors are ultimately used by their female attendees. They also make for great bridal shower favors, so this is possibly why this category does so amazing well. If you look in this section, 6 of our top 100 favors are bestselling. Our most popular are our Handbag design compact mirrors and our Styling Black Heart Design Mirrors.
10) Candle Wedding Favors - Candles can range from the traditional to the modern, from the sleek to elaborate. Crystal to resin. There are so many candles marketed to brides there is definitely a design to suit your wedding taste. Our most popular wedding favor candle is our Rose Ball Candle With Free Personalized Tags.
I hope that this article was able to give you some wedding favor ideas for your upcoming nuptials. If you need any further suggestions, ideas or advice feel free to contact us for additional ideas and assistance.
© 2009 Erica Tevis, Little Things Favors
Sure we can tell you what we like as our top ten wedding favors, but how authentic would that list be? Over the years, new trends emerge which lead many to believe certain favors are “all the rage”. For the trendy and modern bride there is a plethora of super chic, new wedding favors to select from. And for the traditional bride, there is even a larger selection of wedding favors on the market to choose between. So what’s a bride to do?
To narrow down your favor choices, why not consider these top 10 wedding favor categories and items.
1) Wedding Favor Boxes and Packaging - I don’t think the economy has anything to do with this category being first, brides have traditionally given out Jordan Almonds or candies as wedding favors. With so many boxes, bags, mint tins, pails and unique containers such as little luggage bags - it is no wonder why there is such a selection available - brides want containers for their favors. Our most popular, tried and true favor is our Miniature Silver Pails & Buckets.
2) Wine Stopper Wedding Favors - A favorite category throughout the years, wine stoppers or bottle stoppers are a traditional wedding favor - and for good reason. With so many households owning wine (whether it be for cooking or drinking) everyone can use a wine stopper. Wine stoppers aren’t only for wine though - their tapered design can multiple O rings can fit a variety of bottles and neck sizes. Our bestseller in this category is our Chrome Heart Bottle Stopper With Free Personalized Tags
3) Candy Wedding Favors - a smart choice for couples getting married, candy wedding favors are something guaranteed to please everyone on your guest list. From chocolates to personalized mint tins, gumball machines to personalized candy bars - if its edible, it’s a best seller. Some brides are combining the personalized wedding trend with DIY favors on a budget which is why our Personalized Candy Jars fit this category perfectly and are our bestseller.
4) Personalized Glassware - Remember back in the days when you would get a champagne glass with the couple’s name and wedding date on it? Well - personalized glassware remains very popular. Our bestselling glassware is our Personalized shot glass / votive holders, but our Spiral Stem Champagne Flutes and Personalized Wine Glasses also do very well. For a modern touch, select a Monogram design.
5) Place Card Frames - Let’s face it - your wedding thank you photo will be wallet sized and mailed to your guests after the wedding. But what are they to do with it if they don’t have a frame which fits? Besides, you’ll need something to hold your seating assignments and place cards. Voila! A frame which serves double duty as reception décor and as a wedding favor. Our most popular frame is our Beautifully Beaded Place Card / Photo Frame in Silver, but it is also available in gold.
6) Personalized Wedding Favors - years ago, people used to tie ribbons to their favors or tulle Jordan almond pouches to add a personalized touch to their favors. (And they still do!) But for a more modern touch, couples are giving out personalized wedding favors to their guests. While it’s always been a touch decision as to what favors would suit the men and women on a guest list, our Personalized Two Of A Kind Playing Cards suit this age old dilemma remarkably.
7) Wedding Bells - Nothing says traditional like a wedding bell. Whether they are sending the couple off with a ring or ringing for a kiss, bells make great wedding favors. While our Mini Ring For A Kiss bells do remarkably well, we do not suggest using them as favors - table decorations, favor tie ons, yes, but favors no - these are just too small. Our most popular wedding bell is our Fluted Wedding Bells in Silver or Gold. They have been featured in many magazines and articles and are a beautiful, traditional, shape, size and feel.
8) Wedding Fans - Since the majority of weddings occur between the months of April through September, it is no wonder why wedding fans do so well - these are the warmest months of the year. Fans can be used for outdoor weddings, beach weddings, in churches without air conditioning - and the most popular wedding fans we carry are our Mini Buri Fans and our Sandalwood Fans in Glass Top White Boxes.
9) Mirror Wedding Favors - I think mirrors do so well for several reasons: they are stylishly designed, they are affordable, and many brides feel that wedding favors are ultimately used by their female attendees. They also make for great bridal shower favors, so this is possibly why this category does so amazing well. If you look in this section, 6 of our top 100 favors are bestselling. Our most popular are our Handbag design compact mirrors and our Styling Black Heart Design Mirrors.
10) Candle Wedding Favors - Candles can range from the traditional to the modern, from the sleek to elaborate. Crystal to resin. There are so many candles marketed to brides there is definitely a design to suit your wedding taste. Our most popular wedding favor candle is our Rose Ball Candle With Free Personalized Tags.
I hope that this article was able to give you some wedding favor ideas for your upcoming nuptials. If you need any further suggestions, ideas or advice feel free to contact us for additional ideas and assistance.
© 2009 Erica Tevis, Little Things Favors
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
How to plan a "GREEN" wedding.
How to Plan a Green Wedding
Sure, green weddings are all the rage, but you'll need to go the extra mile to make yours stand apart from the rest.
Green Weddings – Things to Consider:
Simplify
The overarching theme here should be simplification. There are eco-friendly versions of most wedding products, but the best option is usually to forego the items altogether. Reuse wherever possible - and save not only resources, but cash too.
Weigh the expenses
That said, some items you just can't live without, and usually the green version is more expensive than the original. You'll need to factor this into your wedding budget. To keep your budget in check, determine which areas you're willing to spend more on for a good cause (i.e. organic cuisine), and where you can save to make up for that added expense (i.e. forego the wedding dress or favors). This wedding budget guide offers even more budgeting advice
Patronize
Many new companies have entered the growing green weddings market. Before booking your vendors, check out businesses that claim to provide green services and confirm that they really do.
Inform
One green turn deserves another. Let your guests know the steps you've taken to plan your green wedding, and show them that an elegant event doesn't have to be harmful to the environment. Who knows, many of your guests may be inspired to do the same.
All in the Details – Green Wedding Ideas
Invitations & Stationery
1. Recycle - use recycled paper or paper made from alternative fiber – such as hemp or bamboo. Check out these resources for an array of custom, recycled papers: Custompaper.com or JamPaper.com
2. Splurge on calligraphy – calligraphy may cost more, but it saves inks, toners, solvents and chemicals involved in printing.
3. Condense – save trees by minimizing inserts and other paper products. Always print on front and back, and try to fit it all on one sheet.
4. Go completely green – send all correspondence via email. The etiquette gods may swoon – but if you're dead set on being green, electronic mailings are the most earth friendly way to go.
Location
1. Rent for a cause - find a venue that will benefit from your site rental fee – such as a museum, gallery or other cultural organization. Confirm how that venue will use your fee.
2. Go outside - a beach, the woods, gardens – they all make an ideal setting for a green wedding (just be sure to leave it as you found it).
3. Find a green venue - some venues are demonstrating a commitment to saving water and energy, reducing waste, or serving locally grown/organic menus. Check out these resources for green minded venues:
- Green Hotels Association (www.greenhotels.com)
- Green Seal (www.greenseal.com)
Décor Elements
1. Use candlelight – not only are candles energy efficient, they also create a soft romantic glow for an elegant reception. Better yet, look for soy candles - they're cleaner and longer burning since they're made from a renewable resource.
2. Use bamboo – one of the most sustainable materials on earth, bamboo is an eco-friendly décor option with an organic, modern feel. Use bamboo stalks for centerpieces or other décor elements.
Flowers
1. Think double duty – invite your ceremony arrangements to the reception! You can use them to decorate your cake or gift table – you'll waste less and save money doing it.
2. Buy organic, locally grown blooms – organic flowers are grown in an environmentally friendly way, without pesticides.
Getting locally grown ones will save the fuel burned from transporting the flowers. If you can't find a local florist who can provide organic blooms, order yours from OrganicBouquet.com
3. Conserve cut flowers – using cut flowers just once is a waste. See if you can share yours with another wedding taking place on the same day.
4. Skip cut flowers altogether – top your tables with potted arrangements for guests to take and plant in their yards after the wedding.
Menu
1. Think organic – ensure that you, your guests and the staff won't be exposed to pesticides. Many caterers specialize in organic foods, and almost any caterer can provide an organic menu if you ask them.
2. Think local – if you're concerned about the cost involved in a completely organic menu, go local instead. Serving locally grown food eliminates fuel reliance and supports local farmers. Check out Localharvest.org or Localfoodworks.org to find farmers markets, farms and other sources of local food.
3. Reuse utensils – find a caterer who recycles materials and/or uses linen and china instead of disposables.
4. Donate the leftovers – work with your caterer to send leftovers to a food shelter or other organization.
Cake
1. Sub ingredients – have your baker use organic and/or local sugar, flour, butter and eggs. Some bakers even specialize in organic cakes.
Attire
1. Go secondhand – a used gown reduces fuels used in creating a new one.
2. Get green fibers – natural fibers like silk and organic cotton are better for the environment than synthetic ones.
3. Go couture – if your wallet can afford it, couture gowns are usually made from natural fabrics.
4. Donate – provide a green gown decision for another bride when you give or sell yours after the wedding.
Favors
Avoid wasteful trinkets - donate to a charity in the name of your guests
Transportation
1. Limit long distance travel – have the wedding in a location where few guests will have to fly to get there.
2.Walk - host your room block, ceremony and reception at the same site – or within walking distance
3. Carpool – organize car pools for your guests in hybrid vehicles
4. Getaway in low emission style – get creative and use a non-motorized vehicle for your final sendoff – bikes, horseback, sleds, skates, wagons, or any old school conveyance will do.
Other Green Ideas
The truth is – no matter how great your green intentions are, most weddings have a huge environmental impact from the fuel used transporting your guests – via car or plane – to your wedding. Since this is extremely difficult to avoid, the "greenest" brides are purchasing carbon offsets to reduce their wedding's footprint.
How it works: calculate the mileage guests will travel, and offset their carbon dioxide emissions by donating to programs that plant trees or preserve rain forests. TerraPass.com is a website that does this for you – you enter your wedding details, and the site calculates your footprint, charges you accordingly, and then invests the money for you in energy saving technologies.
Article Author:
Cori Russell of Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine
Sure, green weddings are all the rage, but you'll need to go the extra mile to make yours stand apart from the rest.
Green Weddings – Things to Consider:
Simplify
The overarching theme here should be simplification. There are eco-friendly versions of most wedding products, but the best option is usually to forego the items altogether. Reuse wherever possible - and save not only resources, but cash too.
Weigh the expenses
That said, some items you just can't live without, and usually the green version is more expensive than the original. You'll need to factor this into your wedding budget. To keep your budget in check, determine which areas you're willing to spend more on for a good cause (i.e. organic cuisine), and where you can save to make up for that added expense (i.e. forego the wedding dress or favors). This wedding budget guide offers even more budgeting advice
Patronize
Many new companies have entered the growing green weddings market. Before booking your vendors, check out businesses that claim to provide green services and confirm that they really do.
Inform
One green turn deserves another. Let your guests know the steps you've taken to plan your green wedding, and show them that an elegant event doesn't have to be harmful to the environment. Who knows, many of your guests may be inspired to do the same.
All in the Details – Green Wedding Ideas
Invitations & Stationery
1. Recycle - use recycled paper or paper made from alternative fiber – such as hemp or bamboo. Check out these resources for an array of custom, recycled papers: Custompaper.com or JamPaper.com
2. Splurge on calligraphy – calligraphy may cost more, but it saves inks, toners, solvents and chemicals involved in printing.
3. Condense – save trees by minimizing inserts and other paper products. Always print on front and back, and try to fit it all on one sheet.
4. Go completely green – send all correspondence via email. The etiquette gods may swoon – but if you're dead set on being green, electronic mailings are the most earth friendly way to go.
Location
1. Rent for a cause - find a venue that will benefit from your site rental fee – such as a museum, gallery or other cultural organization. Confirm how that venue will use your fee.
2. Go outside - a beach, the woods, gardens – they all make an ideal setting for a green wedding (just be sure to leave it as you found it).
3. Find a green venue - some venues are demonstrating a commitment to saving water and energy, reducing waste, or serving locally grown/organic menus. Check out these resources for green minded venues:
- Green Hotels Association (www.greenhotels.com)
- Green Seal (www.greenseal.com)
Décor Elements
1. Use candlelight – not only are candles energy efficient, they also create a soft romantic glow for an elegant reception. Better yet, look for soy candles - they're cleaner and longer burning since they're made from a renewable resource.
2. Use bamboo – one of the most sustainable materials on earth, bamboo is an eco-friendly décor option with an organic, modern feel. Use bamboo stalks for centerpieces or other décor elements.
Flowers
1. Think double duty – invite your ceremony arrangements to the reception! You can use them to decorate your cake or gift table – you'll waste less and save money doing it.
2. Buy organic, locally grown blooms – organic flowers are grown in an environmentally friendly way, without pesticides.
Getting locally grown ones will save the fuel burned from transporting the flowers. If you can't find a local florist who can provide organic blooms, order yours from OrganicBouquet.com
3. Conserve cut flowers – using cut flowers just once is a waste. See if you can share yours with another wedding taking place on the same day.
4. Skip cut flowers altogether – top your tables with potted arrangements for guests to take and plant in their yards after the wedding.
Menu
1. Think organic – ensure that you, your guests and the staff won't be exposed to pesticides. Many caterers specialize in organic foods, and almost any caterer can provide an organic menu if you ask them.
2. Think local – if you're concerned about the cost involved in a completely organic menu, go local instead. Serving locally grown food eliminates fuel reliance and supports local farmers. Check out Localharvest.org or Localfoodworks.org to find farmers markets, farms and other sources of local food.
3. Reuse utensils – find a caterer who recycles materials and/or uses linen and china instead of disposables.
4. Donate the leftovers – work with your caterer to send leftovers to a food shelter or other organization.
Cake
1. Sub ingredients – have your baker use organic and/or local sugar, flour, butter and eggs. Some bakers even specialize in organic cakes.
Attire
1. Go secondhand – a used gown reduces fuels used in creating a new one.
2. Get green fibers – natural fibers like silk and organic cotton are better for the environment than synthetic ones.
3. Go couture – if your wallet can afford it, couture gowns are usually made from natural fabrics.
4. Donate – provide a green gown decision for another bride when you give or sell yours after the wedding.
Favors
Avoid wasteful trinkets - donate to a charity in the name of your guests
Transportation
1. Limit long distance travel – have the wedding in a location where few guests will have to fly to get there.
2.Walk - host your room block, ceremony and reception at the same site – or within walking distance
3. Carpool – organize car pools for your guests in hybrid vehicles
4. Getaway in low emission style – get creative and use a non-motorized vehicle for your final sendoff – bikes, horseback, sleds, skates, wagons, or any old school conveyance will do.
Other Green Ideas
The truth is – no matter how great your green intentions are, most weddings have a huge environmental impact from the fuel used transporting your guests – via car or plane – to your wedding. Since this is extremely difficult to avoid, the "greenest" brides are purchasing carbon offsets to reduce their wedding's footprint.
How it works: calculate the mileage guests will travel, and offset their carbon dioxide emissions by donating to programs that plant trees or preserve rain forests. TerraPass.com
Article Author:
Cori Russell of Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wedding Candles!
Wedding Candles
by: Michael Kabel
Wedding candles symbolize hope, romance, tradition, and spirituality. The flame of a candle represents passion, loyalty, and devotion. A lit candle in a window denotes home and homecomings; two candles lit together signify unity.
During the wedding ceremony, a lighted candle represents the bond between two people, the enduring flame shining as an example to others. Such symbols have for thousands of years been part of the marriage ritual, and are found across virtually all cultures. The use of tapers – slim, individual candles – to light a single unity candles is also a popular ritual, and retailers are beginning to stock such items in a variety of shapes and themes.
Modern wedding candles often reflect something important to the couple’s values. For example, at one recent wedding, a couple with Irish heritage chose to light a unity candle with an Irish wedding blessing inscribed on its side. At another, a deeply religious man and woman lighted a candle with a verse from the book of Corinthians printed along its stem. The verse included special words about the joining of man and woman, words they felt especially pertinent to their faith and marriage.
In wedding receptions, candles are increasingly popular as wedding favors, given to guests as a kind of symbolic thank you and reproduction of the ceremony’s significance. With the gift of a candle, guests feel part of the ceremony and take their favor away as a kind of souvenir of the reception itself. There are several different kinds of candles used as favors available. One recent trend is giving a candle personalized with the couple’s name and the date of the ceremony on the base or stem. Another is giving candles shaped like wedding elements – a wedding cake candle, for example, or candles shaped like coffee cups and saucers.
Candles might also highlight an event’s theme. Receptions with a beach theme might order candles with seashell decorations; fall-themed weddings might include gel candles with leaves pressed inside. One couple, whose groom was a career Navy officer, gave candles with sculpted anchors to each of their guests. The candles were lit at the beginning at the dinner, and flooded the reception hall with quiet elegance.
Some experts point to the recent popularity of candles as a resurgence in attention to tradition. “People ask for candles, because they want that classic touch of elegance,” one Atlanta-based wedding planner said. “You hear about a candlelit dinner, it impresses immediately. I think, especially for larger receptions, the candles encourage a sense of intimacy that maybe you wouldn’t otherwise have in a room full of people. It’s hard to find fault with the sight of dozens of candles burning, anyway.”
There are candles available for any number of themes, and most are reasonably priced and can be ordered in volume.
My Wedding Favors.com has a complete selection of both unity candles and candle favors, many of which may be personalized and order in volume. For a complete listing of the company’s products, please visit their website here: www.myweddingfavors.com.
by: Michael Kabel
Wedding candles symbolize hope, romance, tradition, and spirituality. The flame of a candle represents passion, loyalty, and devotion. A lit candle in a window denotes home and homecomings; two candles lit together signify unity.
During the wedding ceremony, a lighted candle represents the bond between two people, the enduring flame shining as an example to others. Such symbols have for thousands of years been part of the marriage ritual, and are found across virtually all cultures. The use of tapers – slim, individual candles – to light a single unity candles is also a popular ritual, and retailers are beginning to stock such items in a variety of shapes and themes.
Modern wedding candles often reflect something important to the couple’s values. For example, at one recent wedding, a couple with Irish heritage chose to light a unity candle with an Irish wedding blessing inscribed on its side. At another, a deeply religious man and woman lighted a candle with a verse from the book of Corinthians printed along its stem. The verse included special words about the joining of man and woman, words they felt especially pertinent to their faith and marriage.
In wedding receptions, candles are increasingly popular as wedding favors, given to guests as a kind of symbolic thank you and reproduction of the ceremony’s significance. With the gift of a candle, guests feel part of the ceremony and take their favor away as a kind of souvenir of the reception itself. There are several different kinds of candles used as favors available. One recent trend is giving a candle personalized with the couple’s name and the date of the ceremony on the base or stem. Another is giving candles shaped like wedding elements – a wedding cake candle, for example, or candles shaped like coffee cups and saucers.
Candles might also highlight an event’s theme. Receptions with a beach theme might order candles with seashell decorations; fall-themed weddings might include gel candles with leaves pressed inside. One couple, whose groom was a career Navy officer, gave candles with sculpted anchors to each of their guests. The candles were lit at the beginning at the dinner, and flooded the reception hall with quiet elegance.
Some experts point to the recent popularity of candles as a resurgence in attention to tradition. “People ask for candles, because they want that classic touch of elegance,” one Atlanta-based wedding planner said. “You hear about a candlelit dinner, it impresses immediately. I think, especially for larger receptions, the candles encourage a sense of intimacy that maybe you wouldn’t otherwise have in a room full of people. It’s hard to find fault with the sight of dozens of candles burning, anyway.”
There are candles available for any number of themes, and most are reasonably priced and can be ordered in volume.
My Wedding Favors.com has a complete selection of both unity candles and candle favors, many of which may be personalized and order in volume. For a complete listing of the company’s products, please visit their website here: www.myweddingfavors.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
