iMemoryfilms Wedding Planning Guide: Walking in your Wedding gown 101

Wedding Planning: Walking Well in Your Wedding Gown iMemoryfilms presents some useful wedding planning tips from, Sara L. Ambarian. Sara is a author/creative consultant, & custom bridal designer. You can visit her website at: www.frazmtn.com/~ambarian/ Walking attractively and well in a wedding dress depends on a combination of a number of factors: the style of the dress, width of the skirt, number and size of petticoats or other undergarments, the height of heels on your shoes, your comfort level in walking in that height heel, the floor/ground surface you will be walking on, and more. There is no magic equation for this, but here are some considerations which should help you find a fairly comfortable wedding day walk. ~ Choose a reasonably low heel, one that you are comfortable walking in. And "break your shoes in" a bit by walking around the house in them before the wedding-- but not when cooking or cleaning or doing other potentially soiling activities. ~ If you never wear heels of any kind, if you expect to do a lot of dancing or walking distances, or if heels are very uncomfortable for you, consider your options-- bridal sneakers, flat sandals, ballet slippers, Isotoner slippers, etc. For many brides, their shoes are never seen unless they *want* them seen, but all of the options above can be decorated (by the bride, if she wants to try it) to have an appropriate, if funky, bridal flair. ~ Wear your petticoat and/or other unusual undergarment around the house to get used to how they feel and move. ~ Practice nice posture. Snug-fitting bras and shapers and tight-waisted petticoats all encourage you to stand straight, unlike our normal everyday clothing. Allow these garments to remind you to stand, straight and tall, for the increased impression of beauty and confidence this gives any bride. ~ Have your gown hemmed to the proper height. Some boutiques hem gowns so they touch the floor. Unless you will be wearing an actual *rigid hoop* petticoat, this is not a good idea. For confidence walking, reducing soil, etc., a full-skirted gown should be hemmed at least 1/2", but preferably more like 3/4" to 1" above the floor. My clients occasionally quarrel with me on this subject, afraid that it will "look funny", but I've never had a client sorry after their wedding that they had the additional room above "hard floor" level. Remember, you may well have to walk over plush carpet, grass, gravel, or any of a number of other surfaces. ~ Proper hem height off the floor also gives you a little extra room for imperfect postures. When your hem is measured and marked, the seamstress will ask you to stand straight, with equal weight on both legs, and look directly, level-ly, in front of you. Pay attention to these requests and do your best to comply with them. It will give you the most attractive and accurate hem. However, when you are moving in the dress later, remember that the hem was cut for you standing straight and looking ahead. When you look down, your hem will dip down in front, and this is when many brides step on their skirts. Try to lift your skirt gently with your hands when you need to look down to navigate steps or other activities, to counteract this natural dip-- and the tendency to tread on your skirt. ~ Last-- try to relax about wearing your gown, and don't 'fight' it. A full-skirted gown has a certain natural swing and movement. Some brides take to this naturally; some find it a bit disconcerting, and almost "artificially girly". But if your feet don't hurt, your hem isn't too long, you are used to your undergarments, you relax and enjoy yourself, and you feel really beautiful in your gown... chances are, you'll wear your gown quite well!! Very best wishes to you from Sara and iMemoryfilms! Fro more ideas, wedding planning tips, and wedding videography info, visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com, or you can visit our websaite at, www.imemoryfilms.com www.imemoryfilms.com Info@iMemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490

iMemoryfilms Wedding Planning Post: Florist 101

iMemoryfilms Wedding Planning 101: Great Flowers! by Neal Acito iMemoryfilms wedding planning blog passes on some great ideas from former florist Neal Acito. 1) Wedding Florists: They’re Busy From Thanksgiving to Mother’s Day can be a tough time. Florists jump from holiday to holiday and things are intense during those periods. They don’t see their families. Some of them forget to bathe. Now, you may have to meet with a florist during that period. If you do, be gentle with them. One more suggestion; Don’t call on February 13th to talk about your bouquet. 2) Supply a Picture of the Gown Having pictures of the wedding gown can be extremely helpful. Florists are visual people. They need to SEE what it is that you’re talking about. Think about it, if they were good with words, they’d be teaching Junior High School English. Pictures of the gown, as well as of any flowers you like, will help. 3) Flowers are Seasonal You can’t always get what you want. Hydrangea is plentiful in late summer but, if you want hydrangea in January, it’s going to cost you. 4) Swatches! Plum isn’t lavender. Pink can be hot pink or pastel pink. Even white can be eggshell, Navajo, or slate. Having swatches from the dresses is going to save you a lot of heartache. I don’t mean just the bridesmaids either. People always forget about the moms and grandmothers. 5) A Question of Expertise Tulips are beautiful. But, in July, they are going to blow open from the heat and look terrible. If you touch a gardenia, the oil from your skin is going to turn the flower brown. You need to trust that the florist is going to know these things. They’re not trying to spoil your fun. They simply know what works and what doesn’t. 6) Where to Save Years from now, nobody is going to remember the centerpieces. However, everyone is going to have pictures of you and the bridal bouquet. If you’re on a tight budget, cut down the centerpieces. 7) Have Everything Ready Beforehand Where is the wedding? Where is the reception? Who is attending? What is the date? These are very simple questions and it would amaze you to know how many people don’t know the answers. Florists are always happy to help you with ideas. However, when it comes time to book the florist, you should have all your ducks in a row. 8) Review the Order You should get a copy of the wedding order. Review it. Make sure it’s correct. You may have TALKED about rose petals for the flower girl, but if it’s not on the ORDER, you aren’t getting it. Follow up a few weeks before the wedding as well. 9) iMemoryfilms suggests: Test Drive If you’re not familiar with the area, order something small. Pretend to be an average customer and order an arrangement. It’ll give you a good idea of what it’s like to deal with the florist. You wouldn’t buy a car without a test drive, would you? And finally, 10) Your Attitude Snobby customers get nothing. Nice customers get everything. Money has nothing to do with it. Flashing a lot of cash will not be impressive. Florists love people who appreciate their work. Being nice will go a long way, and acting snobby will not. If you want to bring floral magic into your most important day, be nice. That’s about it. Just remember that you can get most of what you want by being organized, flexible, and nice. For the most part, florists aren’t out to get your money. They can probably make a lot more money doing something else. They do it because they love it. Find a florist who loves their work and you’ve struck gold. by Neal Acito www.imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 info@imemoryfilms.com For more great wedding planning ideas, info, and tips, please visit us at, www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com, or our website at, www.imemoryfilms.com

Creative Wedding Planning: The Ceremony

Creative Wedding Ceremonies Wedding planning should involve some fun and creativity,...here is a uber fun article by, Lois Heckman, Celebrant from iMemoryfilms! Planning 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. I studied at the Celebrant USA Foundation in Montclair, NJ. and I officiate in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is a joy and pleasure to be able to provide couples with meaningful ceremonies in just some of the ways I have explained. I hope I have inspired you towards a creative approach to your wedding ceremony. - Lois Heckman ( www.LoisHeckman.com ) is a Certified Celebrant ( www.celebrantusa.org ) in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, and beyond. www.imemoryfilms.com info@imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 For more ideas, tips, and info on the prefect wedding, visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com. to book iMemoryfilms for your next event, please see us at www.imemoryfilms.com

iMemoryfilms Wedding Planning: Wedding Theme's 101

iMemoryfilms "choosing a theme for your wedding" By Linda Salamon of www.calligraphicstudio.com Some good info from www.iMemoryfilms .com for those of you who need some help picking out your wedding theme! Choosing a theme for your wedding can be as simple as picking a color scheme, or as elaborate as creating a wedding based upon a particular era in history complete with historically accurate costumes & music. For suggestions for simple themes: use your monograms throughout your wedding, from the design of your invitation to the designs on your wedding cake; or you could choose a location where you met, like the beach or the mountains, as your theme. Some couples base their themes upon a significant holiday, like Valentine’s Day or Mardi Gras, or a particular season when they met. You could base your theme upon a shared interest, such as mountain climbing, playing musical instruments or computer games, or an interest in history. Picking a certain era in art history can be a wonderful theme, such as Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Pre-Raphaelite, Baroque, etc. And some couples choose their theme based upon their careers, hobbies, or ethnic background. Whatever theme you choose, remember to make it personal to you and your spouse-to-be. In this way, your wedding will be distinctly your own, & you and your guests will remember it long after they have forgotten all those other boring, cookie-cutter “white weddings” they will attend throughout their lifetime. As a graphic artist, I have included portraits of pets, coats-of-arms, musical instruments, fairies, favorite flowers, astrological signs, a compass rose (for two cartographers getting married!), Chinese symbols, Celtic knots, & Scottish plaids, among other symbols, into wedding invitations. If you need help, call us at www.imemoryfilms.com, or consult a good wedding planner like Julie Hurt of www.simplyelegant .com, or custom wedding stationary designer should be able to come up with ideas to weave your theme throughout your wedding day. Invitations, flowers, table settings, placecards, centerpieces, menus, programs, & your wedding cake should all reflect your theme in some way. Keeping to a consistent color scheme & style brings it all together. But whatever theme you choose, enjoy planning your wedding! Have a wonderful wedding, and visit us at www.imemoryfilms.com! www.imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 info@imemoryfilms.com For more info on wedding planning, plus tips and great ides, visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com. to book us to film your wedding, please check out our prices and filming options at:

iMemoryfilms Wedding Toasts 101

Wedding Toasts - The 10 Commandments Of Toasting We've heard lots of great,...and several NOT SO GREAT wedding toasts lately, and thought maybe a bit of help and ideas might serve your wedding day to help make it perfect. Here's some good toast stuff from, by Rick Pieczonka, Owner & Founder, InstantWeddingToasts.com The only one required to propose a Wedding Toast is the Best Man, but watch out for some competition...most weddings now include a toast from the Maid of Honor as well! The 10 Commandments Of Toasting 1. Plan to speak from 1 to 4 minutes. No one wants to be bored with an extraordinarily long toast covering the entirety of your friendship. With wedding toasts, even a short toast will do if delivered with feeling and sincerity. 2. Make sure all other glasses are full before beginning. You may want to announce to the guests, or have the MC announce to the guests, to fill their glasses because toasting will commence shortly. Then give guests 3 - 5 minutes to fill their glasses. 3. Stand to give a toast (sit to receive one) and hold your glass with your right hand as you toast. After the toast, it is tradition to then clink the glasses together before sipping. 4. Start with something personal. How the bride and groom met is always a favorite. You can also use humor or quotes to get started. 5. Always use humor in good taste. While poking fun at the bride and groom can add the touch of humor you're looking for, poking too much fun will only gain you a disapproving audience. 6. Speak in your normal voice, and avoid unnatural hand gestures or fake accents. Wedding audiences want to hear what you have to say, not watch a drama unfold. Just remember you were chosen to be you, not someone else. 7. Practice your toast. Unless you are an accomplished public speaker, just 'winging it' for the wedding toast is always a bad idea. 8. Look around the room at the audience and to the bride and groom as you toast. Eye contact is an important characteristic of a good speaker. 9. Speak clearly and don't rush. Take your time and take a deep breath, because if you speak too fast, no one is going to understand you. 10. And finally, finish your toast with a wish, blessing, congratulations, or cheers. The 5 Biggest Mistakes To Avoid 1. Having more than one drink to calm nerves beforehand. It may seem like a good idea, but besides calming your nerves, too much alcohol will also keep you from speaking clearly and hinder your good judgment of appropriate speech material. 2. Swearing and/or lying. 3. Apologizing for being a bad speaker - Never apologize for being a bad speaker, and don't say you really didn't want to speak. It's a rule for all speeches and all occasions, not just weddings. 4. Mentioning previous girlfriends, past marriages, or past relationships. Not only could it be potentially embarrassing, but it's inappropriate at a wedding. Leave this for the stag party. 5. Stories about the Bride and Groom that aren't rated PG. Remember, Grandma, Grandpa and possibly even children will be present at the wedding. Make sure your stories are appropriate for the audience. So here's to your next toast, my friend, may it be a sweet success! www.imemoryfilms.com info@imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 For more ideas, tips, and info on your wedding planning, visit us at, www.imemoryfilms.blogspot.com. To book imemoryfilms for your wedding, and to check out out prices and filming options, see us online at www.imemoryfilms.com

iMemoryfilms Wedding Veil 101

Choosing & Caring for Your Veil TRADITIONAL VEIL DEFINITIONS By Peggy Mead of the The Blissful Bride BLUSHER - is traditionally short, shoulder length or shorter and is worn over the bride's face to hide her from the groom until after they are wed when it's pushed back behind the head. It is usually combined with another layer sometimes a different length. Despite tradition, blushers of today can be any length as long as they cover the face. Blushers can be worn in formal or informal weddings. ELBOW LENGTH - is usually worn with a gown without a train and is a little less formal. FINGER-TIP LENGTH - is usually for formal and semi-formal weddings. CHAPEL - is for a more formal wedding. A chapel veil falls to or near the floor. CATHEDRAL - is for formal weddings. A cathedral veil extends on to the floor like a train and is usually worn with a dress with a train. TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR VEIL The great thing about being a bride today is that anything goes! Whether you want to do everything traditionally or just choose the style that looks best and suits your personality. The following are a few tips to help you in making your decision. Choose a simple veil and headpiece if your dress is very ornate. Consider the back detail of your dress. If you want to show off the back of the dress, you may want to choose a short veil (blusher or elbow length) a veil with less fullness to it (72" width, pony veil, or the ballerina headband and side veil). If your gown is very simple, you may want a very ornate headpiece and or veil to attract attention to your face. OR if your gown is very simple and your style is very simple and elegant, you may also want to wear a simple headpiece and or veil with minor details. Be confident in your decision! This is your day. If you feel confident, you'll beam with beauty. Congratulations! CARING FOR YOUR VEIL When you first receive your veil in the mail, immediately take it out and hang it up. The only way to ship your veil to you is to box it which will cause it to first appear very wrinkled and unattractive. We recommend that you hang your veil from the center so that it will hang straight down. Most of the wrinkles should come out over time from just hanging however, if you don't have time or it's still too wrinkled for your taste, try the following methods: Steaming the veil with a steaming iron Hot shower method - steaming the veil by hanging it in the bathroom with a hot shower on for several minutes to steam up the room. Dry cleaning - have an experienced bridal dry cleaner press or steam it. www.iMemoryfilms.com info@imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 For more tips, ideas, and wedding planning info, visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com. to visit our website for booking, or pricing info on event and wedding filming, see us online at, www.imemoryfilms.com

iMemoryfilms Wedding Shower 101

Wedding Shower 101 Bridal wedding showers are one of many pre-wedding parties and are great fun. They are known as parties with a purpose. The purpose of a shower is to assist the couple in equipping their new home or for the bride to assemble a trousseau. Not only that, but they are a good excuse for the bride to get together with her friends and family to play hilarious games and to enjoy the food and wine. Here is some cool info from iMemoryfilms! Did you know that a trend has started for 'couples showers'? This is sometimes termed as the 'Jack' and 'Jill' shower where you shower both the bride and groom with gifts and good wishes. Either way, if you are having a traditional shower party for just the bride, or decide to have a couples shower, then the planning and the checklist will invariably be the same. Here is an outline of a wedding shower checklist to get you on your way to organizing a great shower party. Who should host the wedding shower? Traditionally the maid of honour tends to plan the shower party. But today, anything goes and it is perfectly acceptable for both family and friends to work together to organize, host and share the cost of the wedding shower. It doesn't really matter who actually hosts the party as long as it is planned well in advance and normally in consultation with the bride. If the shower is planned to be in someone's home, then it's always a good idea to choose the person with the largest home or garden. When to have your party Because of the busy schedule the bride and her family will have in the lead up to her wedding, it is best to hold the shower about four to six weeks before the wedding. A growing trend is that more wedding showers are no longer a surprise and statistics show that 4 out of 5 brides are employed, therefore it is necessary to include the bride in the planning when it comes to setting a date and time. A traditional 'girl-only' party could be a Sunday brunch, a midweek lunch or an afternoon tea garden party. Couples showers are best held on a weekend day or evening. The majority of people tend to work between 9-5 Monday-Friday, therefore a weekend is a safe bet in that most of the couples' friends and relatives can attend. If you are having a shower party with work colleagues, then the ideal time would be in your lunch hour or straight after work. Who to invite Apart from your family members, the host should invite people you know well whether it be friends, relatives or work colleagues. You don't want to invite too many people, as a large group tends to split off in small separate groups. You want everyone to interact with each other and be a manageable size for everybody to play the hilarious shower games and not feel left out. Taking all this into consideration, a comfortable shower should involve about 10-20 people. You don't necessarily need to buy expensive shower invitations. Another growing trend is that many brides are doing their wedding research on the Internet. The internet has opened up many 'cheaper' avenues and you can now get some great printable-wedding-shower-invitations. These invitations are customized with your own wording and design, and are printed directly from your own printer. What's your wedding shower Theme? As with the actual wedding, it is wise to choose a theme before sending out the invitations. The theme can then be used throughout the shower and incorporated in with the invitations, decorations, favors and refreshments. There are literally dozens of topics for a shower party theme. The most popular is the 'kitchen' theme as there are endless pieces of equipment and accessories you can buy for the kitchen. The host knows the bride well and will surely fit a theme around either what the bride and groom need, or their lifestyle. For example if the happy couple are both into health and fitness, then a fitness theme could be an option. One good idea for a couples shower is a wine tasting theme. This is ideal for a Saturday night party and I am sure the men will enjoy this one and easily get into the swing of things! Food, Favors and Games Food: It depends on the theme and location for which type of food to prepare. For example, if you are holding a 'wine tasting theme', then a finger buffet with crackers, nuts and other nibbles goes down well with wine. If you are holding a garden shower party, consider light finger food - cheeses, crackers, fresh fruit, mini-quiches, blueberry cream puffs, crab dip and a bacon, egg and cheese casserole and salads. Favors: Some people choose not to give shower favors. It really depends on where you live and if it is a tradition in your area or not. If you do, you don't have to go overboard with favors if you want to keep the expense down. Give something small and useful like a scented candle. Most people like scented candles and they are practical. A potpourri satchel is another welcome and practical idea. Games: Everyone should be included in the shower games. Shower party games are a great ice-breaker for people to get to know each other. Games can include bridal shower bingo as this is always a big hit as is 'what's in the bag (memory game). Trivia questions about the bride and groom or making a wedding dress with toilet paper are all fun games to be had. Thank You Cards: Normally a simple 'thank-you' was enough, but today, with showers being larger and guests busier, a personal note is the only way to make sure that sincere appreciation is expressed. iMemoryfilms Summary Bridal showers are meant to be fun. They do need a lot of planning and organization in advance, but they are worth it. The bride and groom receive practical gifts for their home, and shower party's are a great excuse to get together with friends and family to have one whale of a time! www.imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 info@imemoryfilms.com For more great wedding tips, info and ideas visit us at: www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com! Article is by Claire Bowes, successful freelance writer and owner of www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com

GREAT Winter Wedding TIPS!

How to Create a Romantic Winter Wedding By Lynette Gamble of Affairs of Grandeur. You can reach them at, 240-281-5608, or visit them at, www.affairsofgrandeur.com 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. John Lafever/partner www.imemoryfilms.com info@imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 For more tips, ideas and info on wedding planning visit us at www.imemoryfilms.blogspot.com

Garden Weddings101

Garden Weddings 101 by Tara L. Lazar of www.lazarbridalconsulting.com Wedding Coordinator & Designer (910) 798-9339 Planning a garden wedding can be lots of fun. A garden setting offers one of the most romantic and sensual locations for celebrating your special day. Remember to keep it simple and elegant. Below you will find suggestions on how to achieve the ultimate garden wedding of your dreams. Use varying shades of one color accented with white or cream to create a very visual and striking combination. Use lots of delicate fabrics. Solid table linens with vintage overlays purchased at flea markets can make an unforgettable statement. Small painted terracotta pots with seedlings make great favors. Buffet-style catering with large clear glass jugs of lemonade, punch and sweet tea add whimsy. Keep the menu simple. Grilling favorites are an easy and affordable way to go. Decorate tall trees with lights. Hand-write placecards, then tie them with a ribbon and hang from the trees for the guests to pick. A trellis decorated with ivy, Spanish moss and fresh flowers is the perfect focal point for your ceremony. If possible, use the trellis for the reception by placing the cake table underneath it. Use a floral topper for the wedding cake instead of a traditional cake topper. Monogrammed linens add a touch of elegance. Set up a birdbath. Have guests make special wishes for you and your spouse by throwing pennies or flower petals into the birdbath. String white lights around trees and across from one tree to the next. Using a favorite theme, give each table a name. EX: Butterfly, Dragonfly, Lightning Bug, Lady Bug, etc... Use chair covers and tie with a white sash. Before the sash is tied, place a single flower bud in each knot. Roses are a strong flower and work well for this. Hire a band, not a disc jockey. Hire a local dance group to perform the May Day dance during the reception. Serve coffee in vintage teacups and saucers from local flea market finds. If they have chips or imperfections...perfect! Even if the colors do not exactly match your theme, go for it! Keep your invitations simple. Choose hand-made paper with pressed flower petals and a velum overlay tied with a coordinating ribbon. It does a great job setting the tone of the wedding for guests. Use a rectangular table for the head table. Decorate it with tulle and mini white lights. Use flowers on the corners and area where the tulle is bunched up. Large mason jars filled with sand and tea lights make great additions to tables or pathways. They can even be wrapped in heavy wire and hung from trees. Cone shaped bags with potpourri make cute favors. Hang them from the arms of chairs for a festive look. www.imemoryfilms.com info@imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 For more tips, ideas and info on weddings and wedding planning, visit us at www.imemoryfilms.com. You can also follow our blog at: imemoryfilms.blogspot.com. www.twitter.com/imemoryfilms

Wedding Reception Music: It's in the details!

Some good stuff to know by By Mikki Viereck People always ask me what music is best for a wedding reception. As you might guess there is no exact answer because a lot depends on the reception itself. For example: If the reception is being held in a small room adjacent to a church and there is no dancing the bride and groom might want a pianist playing very soft background music. However if the reception if being held in a banquet hall with 500 guests there is a good chance the bride and groom will want a 12 piece band with a few singers. And if the bride and groom are trying to achieve a certain theme they will often choose a style of music to complement their wedding. (If the groom wears a cowboy hat and the reception is on a ranch they will probably choose all country music). But the basic answer to this burning question is that most times brides and grooms want big band, swing, and pop-songs for the first part of the reception. Then after dinner, they choose top 40, oldies, R&B, country, ethnic music, group dances, etc. In other words, they want a good mix because when you mix different styles of music, you are more likely to please all ages and, as a result, more guests will be inclined to dance. As soon as you confirm a wedding date and secure a location for your reception you should begin making arrangements to hire (and contract) your musicians or DJ. The most popular wedding music professionals are booked at least one year in advance. Once you have decided who will be working for you don't be shy about telling your bandleader or DJ exactly what you want. Confirming special details will take more time on your part, but it is the only way to achieve the wedding of "your" dreams. If you are undecided about anything, definitely ask your bandleader or DJ for suggestions, but you should make the final choices. You should have an in-depth meeting with your bandleader or DJ at least six weeks before your wedding day. At that meeting you should discuss... Introductions: Bring a list of names of the bridal party and in what order you want them introduced. When you compile a list of your bridal party names, you may want to include something about each person so your guests will now why that person is special to you. Whether it is funny or sentimental, everyone will enjoy this personal touch. Confirm songs you want played for special moments: The bride and groom's first dance as a married couple. The bridal party dance (you could also have the bridal party join in the bride and groom's first dance) Father/Bride dance Mother/Groom dance (or you could choose one song for a father/bride, groom/mother dance). A special garter and/or bouquet toss song (s). Songs for any other special dances (including ethnic or group dances). Anniversary song for all other married couples. A song for the end of the reception. Confirm exactly what order you want special moments to take place: Blessing (confirm the name of who will give the blessing) The toast (confirm the name who will give the toast) The cake cutting ceremony. The bride and groom's first dance. The father bride dance. The mother groom dance. The wedding party dance. Any ethnic dances. Garter and or bouquet toss. Anything else you would like to add. Confirm a list of songs you want played. Confirm a list of songs you definitely do not want played. Confirm any special instructions for the cake cutting ceremony. Confirm any special instructions for the garter and/or bouquet toss. Confirm band breaks (the band should play CDs while they are on break). Confirm the band or DJs attire. Confirm a wireless microphone for the blessing, toast, etc. Confirm overtime charge (if you think you will want it) and when it would be paid. Review the entire contract including final payment and when it should be paid. Confirm that the person who you hired, had meetings with and signed the contract is also the person who will be working for you on your wedding day. You don't want some mystery musician or DJ at your wedding. www.imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 info@imemoryfilms.com We are a event film company based in Los Angeles that offers event filming in Arizona, Nevada, and California. for more info & pricing details visit us at: www.imemoryfilms.com!

6 GREAT Wedding Day Tips

Six Tips For A Worry-Free Wedding

Some really good tips for your wedding day by: Karen Sullen of My Wedding Favors

From getting everyone to the church on time to making sure the centerpieces look stunning, planning the details of your wedding day can be stressful. Use these tips for a worry-free wedding day.

Details, details, details! From the perfect menu to the beautiful centerpieces, there are so many details to take care of when planning your dream wedding. But what happens when your perfect wedding is not so perfect? Let’s face it. There are plenty of opportunities for things to go awry. Even with the best-laid plans, things are bound to happen. But don’t worry. Here are some tips to help you panic-proof your wedding.

1. Don’t make any verbal agreements. Have everything in writing. Be specific about the items you want AND the things you don’t want. For example, if you don’t want to see a lot of posed pictures in your wedding photo album, it’s best to be specific about that and request more candid photos.

2. On the day of the wedding, bring along a survival kit for those little emergencies. Include a needle and thread, aspirin, safety pins, nail polish, hairpins, extra pantyhose and some hard candy or breath mints.

3. Do a test run. Practice driving the route to the ceremony at the time of day and day of week of your wedding. Check out traffic patterns, construction delays, etc. That way you’ll minimize surprises and will know how much time you’ll need to get to there.

4. Call all your wedding vendors and verify your bookings two or three days before the wedding. Confirm the time, date, location of the wedding and reception, directions to the sites and the services or items they'll be providing. A good way to know you are both on the same page is to have them read back the instructions from their notes.

5. Assign someone to take care of the last minute details, such as helping the bridal party get dressed, running errands to the store, etc. Provide her with the contact numbers for all of the vendors, just in case someone is running late.

6. Don’t wait until the last minute for anything. If possible, take care of as many details well in advance of the wedding. The night before the wedding is not the time to put together 200 wedding favors. Limit yourself to just a few small tasks and leave the rest of the day to relax.


What’s the best wedding day stress reliever? Realizing that, while you will have a wonderful day, a beautiful day or even a memorable day, it will most likely not be a perfect day. Try not to make a big deal about things and take it all in stride. Sometimes, it’s the quirky things that go wrong that help make your day memorable. Stressing over every detail can take the joy out of the wedding and the planning process. The most important thing to remember is that you are marrying the man of your dreams, and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.

www.iMemoryfilms.com


818.760.9490


info@imemoryfilms.com

First Dance 101

Some good info on your first dance from:

Judy Lewis, Web Mistress
Hudson Valley Weddings
judy@hudsonvalleyweddings.com

Dancing at your wedding reception is a wonderful way to celebrate your special day with your friends and family. There are some traditions relating to "first dances" that are worth following.

After the bride and groom are formally introduced to their guests as "Mr. and Mrs.," the couple shares their first dance, as their special song is played. The lights may be dimmed to add to the romantic atmosphere, or should the couple choose a "raucous song," the lights may be turned up high and the spotlight turned on them.

The process of choosing a song for your first dance is fairly simple. Begin by selecting the type of dance that you would like to do. The fox trot, swing, and waltz are popular choices, but slow dancing, rumba, or any dance you enjoy is fine. Next, you'll need to find a song that fits that type of dance. Many couples don't know how to dance together and, if that's the case, it needs to be addressed when deciding on the song. If you select a song, but are unsure what dance would be appropriate, you can bring a recording to a local dance teacher, or look it up on one of the many wedding song listings on-line. Check song and web site suggestions following this article.

That brings us to the question of whether couples should take dance lessons together before their wedding day. If you have never done any partner dancing before, pre-wedding is the perfect time for you to start. The "payoff" is that you will have found an activity you can share and enjoy for the rest of your lives together. A word of warning . . . if you have decided to take dance lessons only because you feel that some sort of "performance" is expected of you, that's a bad reason to start dance lessons and certainly not conducive to success. As a couple, you will need to decide whether you have the inclination to learn how to dance and whether you have the time available to do so. Any local ballroom will have several teachers with experience in helping wedding couples (make sure that your teacher does), and if money and busy schedules are problems, there are several good instructional videos available that cater specifically to wedding couples.

After the bride and groom have danced for a while (about 2 minutes is enough time), the father of the bride will cut in on the groom and dance with his daughter. The music may change again to suit the change of partners. The groom "leaves" his bride and asks the bride's mother to dance. After an appropriate amount of time, the groom's father cuts in on the bride's father and then he dances with the bride, his new daughter-in-law. Next, the bride's father cuts in on the groom and dances with his (own) wife. The groom will then ask his mother to dance. Next, the parents change partners with their in-laws. The best man comes out to ask the bride to dance and the groom dances with the maid or matron of honor. To complete the wedding dance tradition, the entire wedding party, ushers and bridesmaids come out onto the dance floor and join in the dancing. Once the entire wedding party is on the dance floor, all the guests are invited to participate.

This process is a relatively simple one, made even easier when the couple discuss the particulars, well in advance, with whomever is supplying the music. The couple should make it clear exactly when they would like the father of the bride to cut in, so that it is not done too late or too early. A good MC, band leader or DJ, playing the right music and coming in on cue, can make this tradition run smoothly and create a lovely beginning to any reception.

Visit the WedAlert Wedding Song Directory for wedding song lists.

Here are some First Dance song suggestions:

WALTZ
The Lovers' Waltz by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason (Angel Records)
Could I Have This Dance by Anne Murray
Fascination by Nat King Cole
FOXTROT
I've Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra
Our Love is Here to Stay by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Cheek to Cheek by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Moondance by Van Morrison
There's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder by the Brian Setzer Orchestra
Time After Time by Jack McDuff with Gene Harris
SWING
Let's Fall in Love- by Louis Armstrong and Oscar Petersen
Baby, You've Got What it Takes by Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums
I Will Be There by Van Morrison

Dianne Minogue from DJ Entertainment adds "Your first dance will, no doubt, be a special memory-maker. There are virtually an unlimited number of songs from which you may make your selection. Here are some favorites which our brides and grooms have chosen in the past."

Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison or Rod Stewart
From this Moment On by Shania Twain
Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
Amazed By Lone Star
Never Thought by Dan Hill
At Last by Etta James
Unforgettable by Natalie and/or Nat King Cole
Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
I Swear by John Michael Montgomery
Could I Have this Dance by Anne Murray
Always and Forever by Heatwave
Here and Now by Luther Van Dross
I Love You Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel
Still the One by Shania Twain
Power of Love by Celine Dion
Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion
Always by Atlantic Starr
I Finally Found Someone by Barbra Streisand
How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You by James Taylor
I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden
Unchained Melody by Righteous Brothers
I Cross My Heart by George Strait

Whatever song you choose as your First Dance, it will always be special to you . . . and if you have taken the time and effort to hone your dancing skills (or build new ones), it will be a worthwhile investment in your special day and for every time in your future together that music for dancing is played!

www.imemoryfilms.com

info@imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490

Magazine shoot with Aaron Tsai

We filmed a magazine shoot with photographer extraordinaire Aaron Tsai of AaronEye photography. Model Renee Betts was stunning, and the Santa Monica pier provided the backdrop for our shoot.

Aaron shoots many high end weddings in the LA/Orange County areas. You can see his work at www.aaroneye.com

iMemory was on hand to capture the entire day on camera & film,......the photos were submitted to Elle magazine for a upcoming pictorial feature.

www.imemoryfilms.com

info@imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490

For wedding film pricing and info, see us at www.imemoryfilms.com. For more wedding tips, ideas, and info please visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com

Save the Date Cards and Etiquette: Everything You Need To Know

This article is courtesy of Edna Renskers from Edna's Sweet Announcements
Edna is a professional wedding invitation designer.
www.EdnasSweetAnnouncements.com
info@ednassweetannouncements.com

Save the Date Cards, what are they, do I need them, how do I word them, and when do I send them? I'll answer these questions and more, to help you make an knowledgeable decision.

Save the Date Cards are announcements that inform your guests of your future wedding in order to keep your special day free. They are essential in the following situations: if many of your guests are traveling to your wedding, your wedding takes place on or around a holiday, you are planning a faraway destination wedding, or your wedding will take place in a seasonally busy or tourist locale, where the flights and hotels perhaps book up early.

They are generally sent at least 4-6 months prior to your wedding but, if you are planning a destination wedding, for example Hawaii it is strongly recommended that you send them 12 months in advance if not longer. For seasonally busy and tourist locales or on or around a holiday it is best to send them 9-12 months in advance. Your guests will then have ample time to make all the necessary arrangements needed to be a part of your special celebration and may even extend it into a vacation of their own.

Use your imagination, Save the Date Cards are not meant to be formal. There are many design options available. You can have them match your wedding invitations, magnets, brochure style, post card size, multiple layers, booklet style, you can add a picture of you and your fiancé, or embellishments to add a personal touch.

Here are some guidelines on what your cards should state, your names, date of wedding, city or town and state of where wedding will take place. Also, because Save the date Cards are a recent trend and many that have not attended a wedding recently may mistaken them for the actual invitation be sure to include something along the lines of, "Invitation to follow", "Invitation and details to follow", "Invitation will follow" this is usually placed at the bottom of the card. For more wording suggestions visit www.verseit.com. If you have a wedding website don't forget to include the address for your guests to view.

If you need to keep your guest list to a minimum, make a list of close family and friends whom you want to make sure will be able to attend and mail them a Save the Date Card, you do not need to send Save the Date Cards to everyone you are inviting but, every guest that receives a Save the Date Card must also receive an invitation.

We recommend providing your guests with additional information to help facilitate their planning such as airline, car rental, hotel, information on things to see and do in the area and surrounding areas, special events, theatrical shows etc. Go the extra mile and acquire group discounts by calling specific companies and seeing if they offer group discounts.

Have fun planning your special day!

iMemoryfilms

www.imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490

info@imemoryfilms.com

For more info, tips, and details on wedding videography, please visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com

Vintage Wedding Photo!

Just a wonderful shot of this bridal couple. what a bouquet!

Wedding Slideshow 101

10 Tips for Creating a Great Slide Show or Video Montage

By Michael Yared of www.dvdphotographs.com

Creating a captivating video montage or slide show that you can enjoy for years is not difficult, but by taking a few steps prior to creating a slide show or having one created for you can go along way. Here are some lessons that we've learned at DVDPhotographs.com while creating our slide shows.

Know who your audience is - Knowing who your intended audience is an obvious, but sometimes overlooked step in the process of developing your slide show. For instance, if you're showing your slide show at your wedding reception, perhaps you'll want to include some pictures of the guests, and not just pictures of you and your fiancé.
Shorter is sometimes better - After you've determined who your intended audience is you can start to get an idea as to how many pictures you'll want to include in your slide show. We've found that video montages that are between 8 - 12 minutes in length are ideal for wedding receptions. This usually works out to about 3 songs and 75-100 pictures. While you can certainly display more photos during your slide show, you want to be careful not to overdo it. You may want to create two slide shows, one you show at your wedding, and another you keep for yourself.
Choose Quality Photographs - While recent advances in digital photo restoration have allowed torn and poorly developed photographs to be brought back to life, there is only so much that the software can do. Pictures that look great printed (correct lighting, framing, developed properly) will also look great while scanned. Pictures that are extremely dark or grainy, while perhaps improved somewhat, will still not appear the best. Make sure to choose a photo montage company that can make digital enhancements to your pictures.
Choose a Variety of Photographs - Even though you may love all the pictures of your dog Rusty, the audience may not want to sit through all the pictures of him. Instead of showing 10 pictures of Rusty, perhaps choose the best 2 or 3. Using a variety of photographs can keep your audience interest.
Landscape pictures show better than Portrait pictures - Given the standard 4:3 dimensions of television monitors, photographs that are in landscape mode (vertical) as opposed to portrait mode (horizontal) show better on a TV. While portrait photographs certainly can and SHOULD be used, you should be aware that there will typically be a black border that appears around the photograph. It's best to use these sparingly throughout the slide show and not clump them all together.
Give some thought to music - Choose music that has meaning to you, music whose lyrics go well with the pictures. Also pay attention to how long the music you're choosing is. If you're only showing 30 pictures, you might not want to choose a 8 minute song. The photo montage company should be able to give you some suggestions as to the number of pictures with your selected songs.
Add short video clips - Do you have any home videos sitting around gathering dust? Think about adding perhaps a 10-15 second video clip in the middle of the slide show. The video clip can help break up the video montage and is a great way to keep your audiences interest. Make sure to choose a slide show company that can convert your video clips.
Add motion to your slide shows - Slide shows developed on PowerPoint and other consumer level software will typically be just static photos that go from one picture to the next. Consider having your slide shows created with the "Ken Burns" effects that Pan and Zoom on each photograph. This can help bring your pictures to life. Make sure you inquire to see if your photo montage company can create motion with your pictures.
Add transitions to your slide shows - Transitions such as fade in/fade out, dissolve, and image peel are also an effective way to move from one photograph to the next. Be careful not to get too carried away with transitions as they too many of them can distract from the overall slide show.
Test! Test! Test! - An event as big as your wedding requires that you make sure you test ALL the equipment prior to the big day. Make sure the projector or television, DVD Player or Laptop, and sound is all working.

Creating a captivating slide show or video montage can be done successfully with keeping a few of these tips in mind. Pictures that are preserved to DVD can be enjoyed for years to come. Partnering with an experienced slide show company like DVDPhotographs.com can help create a slide show you'll be proud of.

By Michael Yared
www.dvdphotographs.com

www.imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490

info@imemoryfilms.com

For information and pricing on wedding videography, please visit us at: www.imemoryfilms.com

For great tips, ideas, and wedding info, visit our other blog at: www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com

GREAT wedding dress shot!

A wonderful image from a photographer we at imemoryfilms LOVE to work with!

Tips for the ENCORE Bride!

A good article and info from Jean Neuhart of Weddings From The Heart

Yes, You Can – Tips for the Encore Bride

If you are like many brides, this may not be your first wedding. So you’re probably wondering "what am I allowed to have at my wedding?" Guess what? There’s good news. You can have your wedding any way you want! This day is for you and your fiancé and the celebration of the love you have for each other. Don’t let anything in the past put a damper on the excitement of this new and wonderful relationship you share, or get in the way of having the celebration you really want.

With the minor exception of two things - a veil and orange blossoms, which both symbolize virginity - there is nothing you should avoid having at your wedding. Yes, you can wear white - it is the color of celebration. Your bridal party can be as large or as small as you want. You can register for gifts. If your attendants or someone else wants to throw a bridal shower for you, let them. You can also have a bachelorette party.

Think about your previous wedding for a moment, and consider the following:
Do you want to do everything in a new way?
Did you feel overwhelmed by the size of your last ceremony?
Did the style of your first wedding reflect your tastes, regardless of its outcome?
Do you want to find a special role for your children?
Are you still close to your in-laws, ex-spouse?
Would you feel more comfortable with a civil ceremony?

Honestly answering these questions can help guide you in your wedding planning.

Don’t concern yourself with any party-poopers who are wondering why in the world you’re planning a wedding anyway. The love and commitment you and your fiancé have for each other deserves celebrating. Why not shout it from the roof tops with a dream wedding? And if they don’t get it, then that’s their problem, not yours.

Most of all, celebrate your love and have fun.



by Jean Neuhart
Weddings From The Heart

www.imemoryfilms.com

info@imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490

For more wedding tips, info and articles,..visit us at, www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com.com

Best Man's Speech 101

Some great advice from Reagan Blaclpool:

We've all been there. The wedding is going smoothly and the bar is now open,.........as the guests settle into the reception the MC announces a few toasts before dinner. The Best man gets up to speak and nervously announces he didnt prepare anything after knowing the groom for so long, & he was going to just "wing it". Uh-oh! While once in a while a best man will come off funnier than a Adam Sandler movie, usually the speech will make everyone stampede to the bar to try to forget what they just heard. From talking about sexual exploits with past girlfriends, to letting everyone know he has never been one to "settle down",..lots of things remain best unsaid. A speech with some humor, a good story or two, and positives about the bride & couple make the toast a winner.

A best man's speech can make or break a wedding receptions atmosphere, & by using some "Best Man Speech 101" tips you can make sure your toast is remembered for all the right reasons

A wedding is certainly a nerve racking day for the couple of the day, but the nerves also extend to the best man who has the difficult job of coming up with a memorable speech at the reception.

The main problem people have with their speech is that they overcomplicate things and make things harder for themselves. A good best man's speech should be short and snappy - more than five minutes and people's thought start to wander, longer than seven and people start to get bored. While brevity is important, it's good to use two minutes as your minimum marker.

Confidence is key to delivering a good speech so try to get it written and ready a good while before the day and practise as much as you can. The better you know the key points of your speech, the more relaxed you will be and, remember, the groom chose you to be best man so be yourself.

A good best man's speech includes jokes (good jokes, not dirty ones), a story or two about the couple (how they met, how happy they are together - stories that are appropriate for all ages), a thank you to all who made the wedding possible (such as whoever paid for the event) and, finally, a toast to a successful future.

You should try to make your stories balanced between the bride and the groom, but as you are the groom's best man you may not know the bride as well. In this case, it's always good to talk about the groom's feeling for the bride. This is generally the time to act as a salesman, talking up your friend to the bride's family who may not know the groom - what you tell them may help to form their first impression.

It is always best to err on the side of caution with your speech - being boring or soppy is a lot better than being offensive. Telling dirty jokes or speaking about the groom's ex-girlfriend may get a few laughs from your mates, but the bride's parents and elderly relatives may not be amused, and if it's you that's blamed for ruining the wedding with your inappropriate speech it's more likely to be you than the wedding insurance providers who ends up shelling out compensation.

So follow these tips and help make the wedding a memorable celebration for your best friend.

By
Reagan Blackpool

www.imemoryfilms.com

info@imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490

For more wedding ideas, tips, & info visit us at, www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com

Top 10 Wedding Food Favors!

Having the right food, and guest food favors is crucial to a wedding,...and here is the top 10 best presented by, Karen Sullen who can be found at,
www.MyWeddingFavors.com

Choosing the right wedding favor can be a challenge. There a so many choices, it can make your head spin! From placecard holders to pampering items, there seems to be a gift for every occasion and theme. But how do you know which ones your guests will truly enjoy? Choose a gift with good taste! Food gifts remain the most popular gift choice for wedding favors. Take a look at these mouth-watering wedding favors that top our list!

Chocolate
Anything chocolate is #1 with brides and guests alike. Traditional favorites include personalized chocolate bars and squares, but the latest trends also rank themed chocolates (shaped like wedding bells, starfish, cakes, etc.) and even chocolate puzzles high on the list.

Shaped Cookies
The possibilities are endless with these delicious shortbread cookies. Available in a variety of themes, including hearts, cakes, bells and bride-and-groom, these sweet treats can accommodate most wedding themes, from beach to golf.

Mints
Whether in tins, rolls, pillow packs or “matchbooks,” refreshing mints are always a popular choice. They’re kosher and usually don’t tempt anyone to break their diet. Personalizing them with wedding information makes them a favor to savor.

Coffee & Tea
Beverages are among the top 10 because they’re affordable, practical and lend themselves easily to a variety of themes. Not only popular fall-themed favors, coffee and tea are delightful any time of the year for the couple that’s a perfect blend.

Wedding Oreos
Go ahead. Indulge! The decadent enjoyment that comes with these double-dipped Oreos will give your taste buds a treat. Available in white and chocolate wedding themes, they’re a great way to dress up an old favorite.

Jordan Almonds
This classic wedding favor still makes the list because of its sweet, crunchy, nutty goodness. They’re also a great do-it-yourself wedding favor. You can purchase them bulk and package them yourselves in a variety of elegant wedding favor boxes. “Wedding gown” favor bags filled with candy make a cute bridal shower favor.

Fortune Cookies
Including a message of appreciation inside the fortune cookie makes this a unique wedding favor. Not just for Asian weddings, they can be used to spread good fortune among your guests.

Mini Cakes
Don’t cut the cake! These personal-sized mini wedding cakes let guests have their cake and eat it too—without standing in line to get it!

Covered Strawberries
These tuxedo strawberries add an unexpected elegance to your wedding. Delicious berries are “dressed” in a tuxedo and wedding gown made of chocolate. These “bride and groom” chocolate covered strawberries are a match made in heaven.

Biscotti
Chocolate-dipped and personalized, these biscotti wedding favors are a crunchy delight. Guests can enjoy them at the reception or with a hot cup of coffee at home. Either way, the uniqueness of this favor is sure to stand out.


Karen Sullen
MyWeddingFavors.com

www.imemoryfilms.com

Info@imemoryfilms.com

8187.760.9490

For more wedding tips, ideas, and info, visit us at, www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com

Bridal Beauty Alert--Great Hair!!

Awesome Tips for Hair Care By Celebrity Hair Care Guru, Chaz Dean

Beautiful hair is a requirement for your wedding. The good news is that with the right planning your hair will look great for your wedding, and the rest of your life. Sound impossible? Well its not. Just follow these 8 simple rules and you'll look great and you'll feel great about the way you look.

Rule number 1:

Do not do anything drastic the week of your wedding like dying your hair a new color or trying a brand new cut and style. Rushed decisions are rarely good ones especially when you are already nervous and excited. Plus, you will need more than a couple of days to correct a disaster. Your wedding pictures are something you should love and cherish not hide because your hair looked bad!

Rule number 2:

Do plan early! The week you choose your wedding gown is the best time to start planning you hairstyle. Your 1st step is to have someone take a picture of you in the gown. If you're having your gown made just slip into a similar one so you have a visual representation of its style and fit. Look at the pictures and decide what style or image you want to convey i.e. Renaissance romantic, Hollywood glamour, modern and edgy etc. Then decide which hair style best captures that look. Take the time to thumb through magazines and get a feel for what other people are doing. Once you've settled on 2-4 hair styles take the pictures to your stylist and discuss which would best suit your hair type. Then try a couple. Have someone at the salon take a picture of you in each of the styles. You will know the right style when you see it!

If you are having an out of town wedding, you should take pictures of your finished style as well as pictures of the styling process like curling, teasing and blow drying. This way your new hairstylist will see exactly what you want your hair to look like, and know what they need to do to get it there

Rule number 3:

If you are going to experiment with color do it at the same time you decide on the style of your hair. The right highlights, low lights or 3-4 color hair weaves can look spectacular and really light up a face. The wrong color can be a disaster. Finding out what works and what doesn't early, gives you plenty of time to correct the color and even try another option without damaging your hair! Make sure that you have your stylist use a low volume, low amonia product. At Chaz Dean Studios we only use Majirel by Loreal to insure the best color and protect the hair from damage.

Rule number 4:

Drink plenty of water and load up on vitamins. Within 6-8 weeks you will see a wonderful change in your hair! The big bonus is that you will feel great and your skin will look and feel softer and more supple. Water also helps wash away toxins produced by stress that can rob you of energy and leave your hair and skin looking dry and dull. I recommend 8 ounces of water every hour throughout the day. The most important vitamins to add to your diet are zinc (found in beans), vitamin A (found in dark green vegetables) and (B6 found in eggs.) If you have dry thinning hair some herbalists also recommend black-current oil (try 500 milligrams twice a day.) For a fast fix you can also purchase quality hair and skin vitamins from any good vitamin or organic grocery store.

Rule number 5:

Don't over cleanse you hair! Yes I know it sounds dramatic but its true. Most commercial shampoos and have harsh detergents that strip your hair leaving it dull and lifeless. The commercial conditioners that stop the frizzes end up robbing your hair of volume. We haven't used shampoo at Chaz Dean studios for over 8 years and all my clients' look great. We use Wen, a cleansing conditioner with Rosemary, Mint and eucalyptus. Since it doesn't have any detergents it doesn't lather, or leave a residue. You just get clean gorgeous hair. It also deep conditions, nourishes the scalp and actually helps your hair grow faster, feel thicker, have more volume.

Rule number 6:

Do any maintenance color or retouching 2-3 weeks before your wedding day. This will leave you plenty of time to counteract any extra dryness or damage. As before, I highly recommend using Majirel by Loreal to insure the best color and minimize damage.

Rule number 7:

Deep condition your hair one week before your wedding. You can use Wen or an herbal based deep conditioning treatment. This treatment will revitalize your hair leaving it vibrant, shiny, full of volume, and luxuriously soft. Simply massage the product into your hair, cover with a plastic shower cap and sit under a dryer for one hour. If you don't own a dryer, just leave the product in for an additional hour or so. Do not deep condition your hair the day before your wedding. The deep conditioning will make it hard for your hair to hold any style or curl for any extended time. I also recommend doing this treatment every 4-6 weeks as part of your regular hair maintenance routine.

Rule number 8:

Use your hair cleansing product the day before not the day of your wedding. This is especially important for women with straight, fine or thin hair. This will insure that neither you nor your hairstylist will have to deal with fly away ends hours before your wedding. Your hair will also be easier to style and be able to hold a style longer. However, if you have incredibly thick and curly hair like my client Julianna Margulies, I recommend that you do condition the day before and the day of your wedding!

Remember, you are beautiful and this is your special day. Be prepared for a ton of compliments, and enjoy your gorgeous hair!

By celebrity hair specialist Chaz Dean
ewonderfullife.com

www.imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490

info@imemoryfilms.com

For info on our award winning wedding videography, visit us at, www.imemoryfilms.com

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Slashing Wedding Food Costs

Slashing Wedding Food Costs

With gas, and lifestyle costs rising quickly, most brides need to have some good ideas t help reduce the cost of the wedding reception,......here

are some great ideas by Kelly Howell of, wedding-reception-food-ideas.com.

The cost for food and drinks for your wedding can easily climb to several thousand dollars, but it doesn't have to. Here are several tips that will save you money and still provide you with the classy wedding you've dreamed of:

1. The biggest cost saver, whether you are using a caterer or planning the food yourself, is to schedule the wedding and reception at a time of day when a full sit-down meal won't be expected by guests. An afternoon/evening cocktail or dessert reception can save you thousands of dollars when compared with an elaborate dinner.

2. Next, be smart when planning beverages for your reception. An open bar can break the bank. Consider a classy champagne punch or a wine instead (or even an alcohol-free punch). And remember that it is always less expensive to purchase and serve the drinks yourself than to pay a caterer or bartender to do so.

3. Second to alcohol, the biggest food and beverage expense is usually meat for the wedding reception or dinner. Keeping meat to a minimum is another easy way to trim your wedding food costs. Choosing a vegetarian entree, a dish whose main ingredient is not meat, or a less expensive cut of meat are all wise decisions that will positively impact your food budget.

4. Another easy place to save money is on the wedding cake. Bakers and caterers often charge anywhere from $2-6 per slice to make and/or serve the wedding cake. For about $1 per slice, you can purchase a nice cake at a bakery and have a friend cut and serve it at the reception.

5. If you are well-organized and have a good support system of friends and family willing to help, you may wish to consider planning and making your own food for your reception. You can save several thousand dollars by doing so. And it's not as difficult as you may think. Food for a dessert reception, for example, can be made ahead and served cold the day of the wedding with little effort on anyone's part. For many brides, the extra work is worth the savings if it means more money to spend on the honeymoon or being able to afford a designer wedding gown.

The food for your wedding is one of the easiest expenses to slash, while still allowing the smart bride and groom to host a very nice affair. Be creative, ask questions, don't be afraid to ask for cheaper menu items, and do as much yourselves as you can handle, and you will be able to trim hundreds (if not thousands) from your wedding food costs.

WedAlert tip: In certain locations some of the above suggestions are not feasible, but many catering halls/reception sites offer much cheaper price per plate (which include food and drinks) depending on the date and time of your reception. So while the reception hall may not permit you to bring in your own food, a Friday night or Sunday afternoon reception will be substantially less that a Saturday night.

Kelly Howell

www.imemoryfilms.com

info@imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490

For the best in wedding videography visit our website at, www.imemoryfilms.com. for more wedding ideas, tips, and info, visit us at, www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com

"Green" Weddings 101

For those looking to make their wedding much "greener",..heres some info from,

Kristin Ciccolella of WedAlert
www.wedalert.com


Green is becoming the new white when it comes to weddings. Eco-chic weddings are becoming increasingly popular among couples.

Here are some tips when planning an eco-friendly green wedding, which incorporates ecologically and socially responsible products and services.

* Location: The first element to set the tone is the location. Environmentally aware pairs are opting for botanical gardens over ballrooms. Many couples are having their nuptials on untouched terrain, for example nature preserves, the beach, parks or their own backyards.

* Keep it local: Whenever possible, use local resources for your wedding. In addition to saving on transportation, you’ll be supporting small businesses and your local economy.

* Bridal gowns: Wear natural fibers like organically grown cotton, silk and hemp, which are becoming increasingly popular. If you are having a dress designed, make sure that it doesn’t contain any synthetic materials or chemical dyes. Many brides to be are also turning to vintage dresses or pre-worn wedding gowns from their family members which also adds a hint of nostalgia.

* Invitations: Use recycled or tree free paper for your invitations.

* Catering: When choosing your caterer, find one who specializes in organic ingredients. Vegetarian and vegan diets are popular for many reasons including health, ethical and environmental concerns. Speak to your caterer to discuss and create an interesting and delicious menu sans meat, dairy and processed sugars. For example, an interesting and delectable entrée would be herb-roasted seitan with grilled artichokes, Mediterranean grilled vegetables with balsamic glaze and wasabi mashed potatoes. Support local farms orchards and vineyards by buying your produce and wine there. The demand for ecologically responsible and healthy food is a growing trend overall in the catering field. Choose organic wine which is made from grapes and grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or other chemicals which damage soil and water. There are many organic wine vineyards to choose from.

* Wedding cake: Find a baker that will make a cake with organic, natural and fair trade ingredients. Be sure to serve fair trade coffee!

* Transportation: Show up in style, Get chauffeured in eco-chic hybrid limousines or opt for the old fashioned horse and buggy.

* After the ceremony: Have guests toss freeze dried flower petals or ecofetti (biodegradable confetti). Eco friendly Birdseed or biodegradable rice is also popular.

* Flowers: Find a local florist who recycles everything they use from the flowers and foliage. Use potted living plants as centerpieces for the tables instead of cut floral arrangements. Select arrangements that can be replanted, and invite your guests to take them home to replant.

* Favors: Organic chocolates make great gifts with a personalized note printed on recycled paper. Jars filled with organic jams, jellies or honey. Handmade soaps or candles are a nice touch as well.

* Candles: Use soy candles, its romantic and energy efficient. They are cleaner and longer burning than regular candles.

* Photography: When choosing a photographer, make sure you chose a photographer that works in digital format. Digital photos are easier to share and much more environmentally friendly. No harmful chemicals, film or wasted paper. If you are set on film photography, there are less toxic developing methods, discuss this option with your photographer.

* Honeymoon: When planning your honeymoon, consider the rainforest in Costa Rica or an amazing adventurous escape at an eco friendly holistic luxurious spa in Africa or Fiji.

By Kristin Ciccolella
WedAlert Corp.
www.wedalert.com


www.imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490

info@imemoryfilms.com


Visit our website at, www.imemoryfilms.com,..and for more info, wedding tips & ideas, visit us at: www.imemoryfilms.wodpress.com

Newlywed Tips-Picking a House You'll Both Love!

A "must-read" article by Michelle O' Connor of San Diego weddings.

If Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus, how can they agree when it comes to buying their first home? With most men preferring high energy sporting events to Celine Dion concerts, and most women preferring love stories over “Die Hard” it isn’t difficult to see that men and women can be headed in different directions when it comes to selecting a home.

Men and women look at homes in totally different ways - women tend to consider the emotional aspects of a house, while men are inclined to think of a home as an extension of their personalities/ hobbies.

What Women Want
When women shop for homes they look at things such as, do they like the wall paper in their bedroom, is the carpet the right color, does it “feel” good here, can I see myself cooking in the kitchen, are there enough bedrooms for future family and/or visitors etc….

Men Prefer…
Men, on the other hand, want to know if a space will work for their music room, can they see themselves watching Football in the living room, is there enough room for a boat in the garage… Most importantly, men want to know if they are getting a good deal.

Working Together
So how can people with such different perspectives come together to make a purchase that pleases both? Here are some ways for newlyweds to successfully navigate the home-buying process.

First have a good idea of what you both want before you go in to talk to a real estate agent. Take time to discuss what’s important to each of you and decide together what amenities are necessary and fit your price range. Decide on your price range first and get pre-approved for a mortgage to insure you can buy the house you want once you find it. It can be very disappointing and frustrating to spend lots of time locating your dream home only to find out you can’t afford it.

Be up front with your real estate agent as to what your priorities are how set you are on price range. Insist on only viewing homes that fall into the price range you have established. Keep from being wishy washy in order save time for both the real estate agent and yourself and from giving your agent any room to deviate from your original plan.

Disagreements
If there is any disagreement, excuse yourselves to talk privately. One person may not recognize the risk of buying a home outside of your price range, or may really love the kitchen while you hate the living room. Don’t discuss it in public; go home and work it out.

Final Decision
Once you decide on your home, make sure the numbers add up. This is where couples can help each other. In many cases, women are the ones who read the small print, while men tend to dwell on big picture items like warranties and inspections.

Be patient. Make sure you have talked over any concerns and that all of your questions have been answered. Allow time for both of you to examine the home. View homes during the week, when agents are less busy and can give you’re their full attention.

If couples discuss their priorities and price range in advance, take the time to gather all the necessary information, and locate a good real estate agent and make the decision together. The odds are pretty good that everybody will be happy with the new surroundings.

By Michelle O’Connor – San Diego Weddings

www.imemoryfilms.com

info@imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490

For more wedding tips, ideas, and info,...please visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com.com

How to get the wedding dress of your dreams!

Some useful info & tips from Kristie!

By Kristie McDaniel, author of the E-book, "Do Yourself A Wedding Favor",
available at www.doyourselfafavor.net

Inspired by my own search for my wedding dress, I decided to write this article because it turns out you can get lucky if you research and are patient. I started looking for my dress a few months before I got married and I found the dress I loved, but it was $800. My dress was really simple and this was not in my budget, so I got the company name and the style number and searched everywhere online and off for this dress. Finally I found it offline for $499 at a local bridal shop. But them I was looking for flower girl dresses in a popular department store catalog and imagine my surprise when I saw my dress for $299. I couldn't believe it. I know I lucked out, but maybe with these tips you can too!

1. Be patient. You can definitely wait to buy your dress. With all these different companies selling that on dress, you can search to find the best dress. Unless you're buying a Vera Wang original, do a little hunting!

2. Write down the designer and style number or dress name. This is important for your research.

3. Research. Look everywhere online and off for your dress. I found my dress online for a couple of lower prices before I found the $299 dress. A lot of online companies offer dresses at rock bottom price. You can find accessories very cheap online also. Search for "Discount Wedding Dresses".

4. Look at the wedding dresses from popular department stores. These stores can sell the same dress at lower prices because they have the buying power.

5. Have a style in mind, but don't get stuck on one particular dress if you can. Learn the style that looks best on you. I say that looks best on you because originally I wanted one of those poofy Cinderella dresses but I tried one on and it made my hips look huge (and believe me I don't need any help!). So, I tried on different dresses and chose the style that looked best on me.

Good luck on your search and have fun planning your wedding!

Kristie McDaniel

www.imemoryfilms.com

info@imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490

Fro more wedding tips, ideas, and info, please visit us at: www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com

Great Wedding Music 101

Wedding Music - Successful Sound Suggestions for the Thinking Bride

About the Author: Nicholas A. Ditri is the Co-Owner and President of Alpha Omega Entertainment, LLC of Howell, NJ. He has been involved in organizing entertainment for numerous fundraising events across New Jersey and has entertained at over 350 events in the past 5 years.

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!

Nicholas Ditri

www.imemoryfilms.com
info@imemoryfilms.com
818.760.9490

For more great wedding tips, ideas, and info, visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com

Unity Sand Ceremony Info!

Unity Sand Ceremony - A Hot, New Wedding Trend

A interesting article by, Sharon Vaz, who is the founder of www.unitysandceremony.net

If you've attended many weddings lately, or read trendy magazines or newspapers, you've undoubtedly noticed that the ceremonies are no longer just your Grandmother's and Grandfather's typical church wedding.

The Unity Sand Ceremony, a celebration that is usually two to three minutes in length, is a meaningful joining of two lives. In this timeless ritual of marriage, the couple ceremoniously pours various colors of sand from a container, such as a seashell, into one special container symbolizing their coming together as one.

This unique celebration was recently brought into the public eye with the marriage of Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter of the TV series, "The Bachelorette." Rather than the time-honored ritual of the Unity Candle Ceremony, the famous couple chose the alternative, Unity Sand Ceremony. Their decision has sparked a craze in weddings across the country.

The ceremony has controversial origins, some believing that it began with the Native Americans and some insisting the Hawaiians were the ancestors of the legend. Whatever its origin, the Unity Sand Ceremony is fast becoming a nationwide wedding ceremony trend.

The flowing sand and blending of the colors symbolize the bringing together of two lives into one. Some couples prefer to leave a small amount of sand in their respective container to show that even though they now function as one, they remain individuals.

A staple in marriages everywhere, The Unity Candle Ceremony has long been a tradition for marriages both elaborate and simple. Usually, there is a single candle that both bride and groom light from a flame of their own single candle. Parents or other members of the wedding party often join in the candle lighting ceremony.

The Unity Sand Ceremony can also be altered in many ways to include family and friends. Besides the bride and groom, various colors of sand are given to wedding members who will add their sand to the couple's sand, all flowing into the container, creating a colorful and one-of-a kind symbol of unity.

In an age where couples are planning weddings that are unique to their beliefs and lifestyle, the sand ceremony can be personalized many different ways to fit the occasion. After the ceremony, the couple has a unique keepsake to remember their wedding day.

Hawaii has been a popular destination for weddings since airplanes became the preferred mode of travel. Its mild weather and sandy beaches create a perfect environment for the entire wedding party to be barefoot on the beach while witnessing the Unity Sand Ceremony - a tradition as old and exceptional as the islands themselves.

Not going to have a wedding on a beach? Don't worry. Sand is available online, or the couple can use sand from a destination they've visited or that has a special meaning in their lives. Distinctive containers designed to fit any religion or lifestyle can also be purchased online.

Many couples write their own vows for the ceremony, but passages from ancient Hawaiian or Native American weddings can easily be found on the Internet for the portion of your wedding relating to the Unity Sand Ceremony.

Whatever your dream wedding entails, consider incorporating the Unity Sand Ceremony into the celebration. You'll be sure to create memories that your guests will talk about for a long time to come.

For more wedding ideas, tips, and info, visit us at, www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com.

www.imemoryfilms.com

info@imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490

5 Things Your Wedding Photographer Must Offer!

Some useful info for brides from, Paul Kaliher
SMS Design Wedding Photography and Videography

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.

Paul Kaliher
SMS Design Wedding Photography and Videography
630-416-6843


www.imemoryfilms.com

info@imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490


For more info, tips, and ideas for weddings, visit us at: www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com