Stories of a Wedding Photographer

Not many people realize the amount of names and faces a wedding photographer experiences each year. The stories of engagement, of war, of relationships and love. Its amazing all the stories all the styles that you are involved in. How to bustle a dress, tips for less sweat, make-up tips and more...

Its amazing to think back all the weddings I have been involved with and all the ones I am in this next few years. Its truly a blessing.

Maybe I should tell the stories each week of the weddings. Anyone be game? Let me know.

Sarah

Asian Wedding Theme

Deep-steeped in tradition, our lovely collection of Asian wedding favors adds the beauty of Asian customs, illustrated with Japanese calligraphy and Chinese characters. From sake cups to chopsticks to beautiful brocade favors, these Asian-themed wedding favors are perfect for your bridal shower or Asian wedding. You’ll love the selection, the price and the gorgeous keepsake favors! Both trendy and classic, these Asian wedding favors are a distinctive finishing touch for your wedding.

If you need help finding favors for various themes go to

http://www.americanbridal.com/asiantheme.html

Wedding Themes

Of course, a flower wedding theme presents its own difficulties. With thousands of varieties available, which flower do you pick? From vibrant colors, to varigated varities; from fragrant blossoms to interesting shapes; from the rarest flowers to the most common choices; selecting the one that fits your personal preferences and personalities can get tricky. While it's true that you could potentially use any type of flower for your theme preference, you will soon become aware that some flowers are more reminiscent of weddings than others. These floral beauties will be your main focal point.

Cost is another factor to consider. While a bouquet of lily-of-the-valley can create a look of delicate sophistication, they are also a very expensive flower - and you need a lot of them to make a decent wedding bouquet. Hydrangeas, on the other hand, are moderately priced with full, bushy heads in a variety of vibrant colors.

"Love is Blooming" Wildflower Seed Favor Kits (Set of 12)

Elegant Orchid Gel Candle

Long Stem Rose Candle

So you need to keep these things in mind when choosing a particular flower to use as your wedding theme. If you don't already have one picked out, here are some suggestions on the more popular choices:

Rose Daisy Tulip Hydrangea Daffodil Orchid Stephanotis Calla Lily

Lily of the Valley Pansy Gardenia Peony Sweet Peas Iris Magnolia

Once you choose your flower, you can begin planning your color coordination using your blossom of choice. From there, you can decide on related decorations, cake design, bridal attire, centerpieces, and favors that compliment the flower.

Cool ideas for rings

COOL RING

The Gear Ring by Kinekt

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) Feb 11th 2010 at 11:02AM

Men's wedding bands are, in essence, simplicity itself: a plain band of some precious metal or another. But some gearheads aren't inclined to embrace simplicity. They might go for a more original material, like titanium or carbon fiber, but short of repurposing a piston ring, that's about the extent of it. Until the Gear Ring came along.

Designed by Kinekt, the Gear Ring doesn't just look mechanical – it actually is. As you can see from the video after the jump, the tiny gears across the face rotate as the larger gears that form the upper and lower segments of the ring spin in opposite directions.

A fresh take on a timeless classic, or the mechanized complication of simplicity? That's a matter of taste. The ring is available for $165 directly from the designer. Follow the jump to watch a short video clip of the ring in action.

What GUYS need for Wedding Tips

Buy a suit (my tip): Your groomsmen can rent, but do you want to spend your wedding day in pants that some kid could have been wearing to prom the weekend prior? If you go for a suit, rather than a tux, you'll have an outfit you can wear more than once. How many other times do you have an excuse to drop a few hundred bucks on a nice tailored suit?

Brides Tips from their wedding and how they did it on a $10,000 budget

One woman's story-- A wedding Q&A

by Mai Hoang
Yakima Herald-Republic

Kadee Peterson, 24, is a 2004 graduate of Eisenhower High School. Peterson, who now lives in Seattle, has been blogging about her July 24 wedding for Yakima Valley Bride, a twice-yearly niche publication of the Yakima Herald-Republic.

She answered the following questions for the Herald-Republic about what she's doing to keep her wedding budget intact.

Q: What is your wedding budget? Can you explain how you organized it?

A: My budget is about $10,000, it's a loose number. I say loosely because that is (how much) my parents can help me. Kyle (Kadee's fiance) is still finishing up his master's (degree). We will see how much we save.

We tried one of those budget forms, but they're really general. I'm not the best at the budget, but I'm making sure (to track) what I'm spending, where I'm spending and what I have left to pay for.

Q: How are you paying for it? What tips would you recommend in working with parents/relatives/etc. who may be willing to help you pay for it?

A: (My parents) knew it was coming. We have been engaged for two years. We decided to have a long engagement because of cost.

We had to talk to them about budget. They approached us and said 'We'll help you and this is what we can do.' We really just had to make sure when they're giving that much money that we have taken the things they want to see into account.

We've butted heads. That's going to come if a bride and groom (are) getting their main source of money from a relative. They're going to have a lot of say.

But they've help me stay grounded.

Q: How have your parents help you stay grounded?

A: I'm really big into photography. That's something I want to splurge on. Not that it's not important to my parents, but they think it's not worth splurging on things that will go into a drawer. It's a difference of opinion.

When I started looking at photographers, I wanted the best photographer, a 10-grand photographer. They had to say, 'We can't. That's our budget. We can't put all that in one area.' That's one of the first things we butted heads and disagreed on.

We ended up finding a photographer at a price we both liked. Ours is about $1,500. We found someone we were happy with at a price we can both live with.

Q: What are some tips you would share about saving with vendors?

A: You have to know what things should cost in the area (of the wedding) before you can go out and meet with people. If you don't have an idea of what things should cost, you can be taken advantage of.

The second thing is doing a lot of interviews. If you're meeting with three or four vendors, you have an idea of what things they offer. It takes time to meet with people, to give them a call but it helps to know what your options are and helps you weigh what is best for you.

Q: Are there any ways that blogging about the wedding process has helped you in saving money or being smart with your budget?

A: It forced me to do research and find other outlets of information to share with my readers. I wanted to be as accurate as possible with them, which caused me to do (more) research, which I might not have done on my own.

I have found other bridal blogs on how they kept their wedding under a budget and how they did it. Blogs are a good resource because they're coming straight from the person, straight from their mouth. They're talking about their real experience. There are so many resources they share with you. It's finding those outlets that have helped me.

I'd have had brides ask me questions, such as 'Can you do centerpieces on a budget?' It's something I might have not though about on my own. I'm doing the research for them, and it's helping me to find more avenues to save or more information that I wouldn't have researched in the first place on my own.

Q: What money saving tips have you learned from others you've encountered in writing your blog?

There's a lot of DIY (do-it-yourself) in the wedding industry. They just have a lot of tutorials on making your own centerpieces, your bouquet, even your own invites. If you have the time, it can really help your wallet.

There are coupons on the Web for Michael's and JoAnn's (Fabrics). There are programs where you can earn (discounts). It's those little things like getting 10 percent off or 20 percent back that can make a difference.

Q: Any other money-saving wedding tips?

A: A lot of people know people who got married recently. Seek those people as a resource and ask their advice and ask how they did things. You can also ask if they have things you can use for the wedding.

Slash your wedding's floral budget

Make it look like you splurge when you really save

Updated: Monday, 08 Feb 2010, 7:31 AM EST
Published : Monday, 08 Feb 2010, 7:31 AM EST

• Melissa Holmes
• Posted by: Emily Lenihan

Do you know how to make it look like you splurged on your wedding, when your really saved?

Last week, News 4's Melissa Holmes gave you tips from the experts for saving on the reception. Now, how to slash the floral budget.

Beautiful floral bouquets and centerpieces can blow you away, but they can also blow your budget.

"It's a lot more than I thought it would be," said Carly Swanick.

For the rest of the article : Click HERE!

Feb 9th Wedding Tip

Top Wedding Trends for 2010:

1. Screw the Trends - Be Yourself

The top wedding trend for 2010 is personalization. Instead of a cookie-cutter ceremony and reception, the new focus is on customizing the big day for the bride, groom and wedding party. Do you and your future hubby share a special hobby? Whether it’s exotic travel or tennis, find a way to make your passions part of the celebration. Also, the emphasis on individual style includes your bridesmaids. Instead of clones wearing the same dress, shoes and identical updos, try picking a color scheme and giving each bridesmaid the opportunity to choose a dress that shows her personality… and complements yours.



2. Bright Color, Black Backdrop

For the latest wedding look, the only thing white should be the bride’s wedding dress. Black accents and bright, bold colors are in, for everything from bridesmaid dresses to flowers to table linens. However, if you want a timeless dress for your bridal party, you can always do classic black with vibrant accessories and bouquets.



3. Earth-friendly “I Do’s”

You can have a sustainable love and a sustainable wedding. Eco-conscious nuptials are all the rage, featuring pre-owned and vintage wedding dresses, LED lighting, recycled paper invitations and locally–grown food and flower choices. Couples are making a commitment to each other and the environment with green weddings!



4. Groomed for Success

Today’s groom not only rocks a tux, he dives into the planning process… and a little man-scaping along the way. As a fashion-conscious guy with a vision for his wedding (or at least a few worthy ideas), he’s jumping online and searching blogs like: The Man Registry, The Plunge, Temple of the Groom, The Groom Says, and Ben the Groom. It’s wedding planning with a healthy shot of testosterone and a great distraction while you go dress shopping.



5. Everything Old is New Again

Maybe it started with Mad Men, or with the desire to wear a pillbox hat, or a fixation with a fabulous birdcage veil. Brides are catching vintage fever and falling head over heels for retro looks like Depression era glass and tea-length dresses. On the upside, vintage looks are not only classic but eco-friendly and affordable. Brides can channel old-school glamour with a modern twist… and keep budget worries in the past.



6. You Can Go Home Again

Backyard rustic chic is the best way to describe the newest wedding venue - your own backyard. Whether the wedding actually IS in your own backyard, a local park, beach, barn or even the “backyard” of a fabulous resort, the idea is to invite just your nearest and dearest to a wedding that’s long on comfort, charm and love, but low on artifice, pretension, and unnecessary extras. Low heels, casual dresses, and a tent in case of rain are all you need!



7. Mix and Mingle

Instead of a traditional sit down dinner, experiment with a new twist on wining and dining. To get your guests mingling, try an extended cocktail hour, lounge-style seating or a family-style meal. Anything you can do to shake up the format will give your guests a chance to socialize more freely… and avoid the awkward introductions at the table with assigned seating. Also, couples want to maximize their time with guests and are taking advantage of first-look photo sessions (to cut down on photo time after the ceremony), pre-wedding festivities and after-parties to keep the celebration going.



8. Return to Romance

Forget the “perfect day.” Now couples are letting go of the pressure and creating a “perfect for us” wedding. Romance is in the air with special engagement photo sessions, videotaped proposal stories to capture the memory (and possibly share at the reception) and a renewed focus on marriage. A few other romantic touches include the abundance of lace and tulle on the bridal runway for 2010 dress trends and the continuing popularity of deeply emotional vows and toasts.



9. Food You Can Eat

We all cheered when wedding menus expanded beyond chicken, beef and fish, but let’s face it, infusions, foams, mousses and “bites” left a lot of us speed-dialing for delivery after a wedding reception. Fortunately, today’s wedding receptions are serving upscale comfort food at sit down meals, buffets and as late night snacks. Desserts are getting a make-over, too, as hard-to-eat fondant is upgraded to butter cream icing on wedding cakes (softer and sweeter) and the cakes are paired with palate-friendly sweets like pies, brownies and cookies.



10. iDo

Tech-savvy couples are embracing online wedding planning to save time and money…and tweeting about it along the way. Aside from status updates, brides-to-be are experimenting with LED lighting, iPod DJ’s and digital cameras to complement their professional wedding vendors. WeddingPreParty.com is also a top destination for Facebook-friendly couples who want to bring their friends and guests into the planning process.




For photography ideas see www.sarahchristinephotography.com

Wedding Tips- Wedding stress (Day of)

Avoid Wedding Stress with These Ten Wedding Day Tips

#1 - Have an emergency kit on hand: A bride without her trusty Emergency Kit is a meltdown waiting to happen. Before the wedding day, put together a little kit of must-haves in case something should go wrong. Ideally, you should have extra make-up, safety pins, breath spray, nail polish for snags, hairspray, a comb, and anything else you deem appropriate to combat wedding stress. If a situation does arise, you'll be thankful you had these things with you.

#2 - Bring comfortable shoes to change in to: Please don't maintain the illusion that you can wear those fabulous designer heels all night long. They will begin to hurt your feet and impede your ability to hob-knob with your friends. Pack some cute flats (that you've previously broken in) or some simple white sandals so you can keep dancing all night long!

#3 - Put someone in charge of the vendors: Entrust a friend or family member to keep track of vendors, such as the DJ/band, caterers, florist, facility manager, wait staff, and photography team. Let him or her be the point person if the vendor has a question, if something has changed, or there is an issue. Trust me - this will reduce much of the wedding stress that will occur throughout the day.

#4 - Don't forget to eat before and during the wedding: Number four on this list of wedding day tips is incredibly important. Sounds impossible, but brides do forget to eat with all that's going on. One of the best wedding day tips I can offer is to start the day out with a healthy breakfast that will keep you going until your afternoon or evening meal is served. The last thing that you want to do is add to your wedding stress and pass out in front of your guests or experience hunger pangs all day. Rely on one of your bridesmaids to fix a plate for you or do it yourself while you converse with guests waiting in line and then actually sit down and eat it. You picked the menu. Don't you deserve to enjoy it?

#5 - Provide your guests with an accurate map and directions: Everyone will tell you this is one of the best wedding tips you could get! The last thing you want to deal with is guests calling you or your friends asking for directions because yours aren't quite clear. Talk about wedding stress! Make sure you provide turn-by-turn navigation (especially helpful for those out-of-towners) as well as a detailed map of your venues with each surrounding street clearly listed and identifiable.

How to make your own Crystal Bouquet :)

Hello all! This post is going to teach you how to make your own crystal bouquets. It's pretty simple once you get the hang of it, but it IS time consuming (so don't be like me and wait until the last couple of months before your wedding to make them!).

However, because we didn't want to spend the money on flowers, making crystal bouquets actually saved us a ton of money. We made seven bouquets (mine included), and thirteen bouts for just about $100, give or take, and that was with leftover crystals and wire.

Materials:

• Crystals – They can be any kind you want. If you want a good deal, I bought mine from Fire Mountain Gems and chose the Celestial Crystals. Just as sparkly as Swarovski, but much cheaper! I used 8mm, clear AB, bi-cone and round shapes. The clear AB ones give off tints of color. Also, I believe you can return unused crystals in case you get too many!
• Power Drill
• Pliers – Needle nose will be best.
• 24 or 26 gauge wire – 26 is a little bit easier to work with, but 24 is stiffer. I used silver wire for my bouquets, but for the photos, I used black so it would show up better.
• Wire cutters or scissors
• Hooks to put in the drill – I forgot what they're called, but you can find them in craft stores, you can see what they look like in the photo.
• A ruler to measure out the wire
• Ribbon to wrap the bouquets

Step 1:
Measure out 15 inches of wire or however long you want them to be. For these photos, I made them shorter. Put a crystal on the wire, and hook the crystal on the power drill. Pre-twist the wire near the hook, just to help get it started. This is just a preference, because it helps keep the crystal in place, so it doesn't get tangled in the wire as it twists up.

Step 2:
Twist the wire up using the drill, while holding the ends of the wire with your pliers to keep it straight. I couldn't find my pliers for the photos, so used little forceps, which also work really well since they're easier to hold the wire. It might be tempting to do this super fast, but be careful! If you're using thinner wire, the wire can snap. Go a little bit slower than the highest speed to make sure the wire doesn't break. Make sure to leave room to take the crystal off the hook.

Step 3:
Take the crystal off the hook.You can either leave the wire by the crystal with a little gap, or clamp it together. It just depends on your preference. Repeat as many times as you need to. (My bouquet had about 200 strands, the bridesmaids had about 100). The ends might be a bit straggly, you'll want to trim this off now, or later so you don't get poked by the wire!

You can put about three crystals on one strand, and it kind of makes a flower shape. I did this for the bouts for the guys/moms. I even put 5 beads on one strand for the pearl bouts that I made for the grandmothers, so they would make clusters. Just experiment, and see what looks good. You can always cut the crystals off the wire to start again!

Step 4:
Once you have all of your crystal strands, put them all together and fold the strands in half, or close to in half. This shortens the bouquet, which is why you want the wire to be about 15 inches in the beginning.

Step 5:
Take wire, and neatly wrap it around the wire to hold them in place. I used nearly a whole spool for this just to be safe it wouldn't come apart, and to tuck in all the ends. For the photo, I just did a small section to give you an idea of how to wrap it.

This is up to you, but I also wrapped the handle in black ribbon really tight. I ended up having to super glue the ribbon in place a little bit, b/c it started to unravel on some of them. It held fine after that. Then I added my ribbon. I just wanted to cover up the wire, and prevent getting jabbed by wire ends because I didn't do a very good job at trimming the ends.

Step 6:
Separate all the strands out. Start with the outer ones, and it's easier to make those the lower strands, then build up. If it helps, turn the bouquet upside down and pull the strands out. You'll probably need some kind of vase to put it in just to hold the bouquets after this step.

Step 7:
Add your ribbon if you want it (and if you don't know how to tie a bow, find a friend to do it for you, which is what I had to do!). I used two different kinds of ribbon for mine, and the bridesmaids.

In hindsight, I probably would have added more color to my bouquet so it would show up better (rainbow bouquet, anyone?), but it DID sparkle a lot! I used regular clear and lime green for the bridesmaids bouquets. For the bouts, I got some pearl beads, and different sized crystals (some from Hobby Lobby). It's fun to just play around with those.

Altering this process to make the boutonnieres:

Make the strands the same way you do for the bouquets, but smaller. I think I measured out 7 inches of wire, and then they're about 3 or 3.5 inches once you fold the ends up. As mentioned above, I added more crystals to some of the wires to make a more clustered effect. I also left them sans-ribbon. (This also gives you a good idea of how the bouquets are wrapped with the wire! Same thing!). Then I got some vertical pins to super glue on the back of each of the bouts, and they worked out grea

Winter weddings? May save you a ton! (think about it)

Winter wedding: Less-expensive, unique option

By William Loeffler, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, January 31, 2010

Bachelors, beware: it may indeed be a cold day when you finally say "I do."

When planning the big day, many couples are opting to walk down the aisle in January or February.

A winter wedding can be considerably cheaper. It also provides the opportunity to pull off the kind of singular event that will stand out from the endless parade of June nuptials.

Just ask Jennifer Greer, who married J.R. Gordon on Jan. 23 at Heinz Chapel in Oakland.

"I always saw my wedding in the winter with my bridesmaids carrying muffs," says Greer, 27, of Cecil. "When I was little and it was cold out, my mom would dress me in a furry white coat with a furry white muff. So, of course, my bridesmaids will be wearing a white fur muff instead of carrying a bouquet."

Greer and Gordon both remained unfazed when their mothers, Kathy Gordon and Sandy Greer, brought up the b-word: blizzard.

"Pittsburgh weather is problematic as it is," Greer says. "I can remember a Halloween when we were running around in our costumes in the snow. In the summer, you could have a hurricane come up the coast and you could have pouring down rain. We were willing to take the chance."

A winter wedding is not as far-fetched as it sounds, says Anja Winikka, editor at TheKnot.com, a leading wedding Web site. Anybody can have a June wedding, but guests won't likely forget a Christmas-themed wedding in December or a February ceremony, where the snowy landscape can provide a dramatic contrast for photos of the wedding party.

"Nobody wants to have a wedding that looks like their friend's weddings," Winikka says. "You can really take advantage of the seasonal elements and make it your own."

Those planning a December wedding probably will find many reception venues already decorated for Christmas. Instead of pastels, rich jewel tones and velvet fabrics can be incorporated into the bridesmaids dresses and groomsmen's tuxes. The church and reception hall and the bouquets can be accented with metallic blues and gold that will reflect candlelight and impart a rich and cozy glow.

"Metallics are huge in the winter because it has that ... reflective quality that works well with candles," Winikka says. "Usually in a winter wedding, you're dealing with a darker space. You want to create an intimate atmosphere."

Photographers, caterers and limousine services are more likely to give off-season discounts. So will many banquet facilities -- at least after the holiday season is over.

Lora Peluso, director of catering and convention services at the Omni William Penn hotel, says that weddings booked in January through March can cost $90 per person. The same offering in the spring and fall can be as high as $140 per head, she says.

"We're more apt to give them a deal in order to get them in," Peluso says. "You get a lot more for your money. You have a lot of negotiating power."

Winter's frigid temperatures also can be a blessing in disguise, Peluso says. "People don't like to get dressed up in the summer for formal affairs. It's actually a plus to have it cooler."

That motivated Shannon Jordan and Vernon Botts of Highland Park to set Feb. 20 as their wedding day.

"We sort of looked at the pros and cons," says Jordan, 25. "Neither of us like the heat. He doesn't want to be worried about sweating in his tux. You're already worked up anyway. The last thing you want to worry about is wiping sweat off."

She also chose that particular day because it was close to the anniversary of their first date.

Jordan says it will take a cold day indeed to dissuade her from having photos of the wedding party taken outside. She's ready to deploy black faux-fur wraps or coats to go with the bridesmaids' silver-and-raspberry dresses, and a white wrap for herself.

"I would say that probably 85 percent of people think it's a great idea," says Jordan of Highland Park. "A lot of people have never been to a winter wedding. They're excited because it's one less wedding they have to deal with in the spring and the summer."

They'll marry at Heinz Chapel on the University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland. Their reception, whose theme is 1940s Hollywood, will take place at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association. It's across the street, which means guests won't have to drive in the event of inclement weather.

Wedding planner Katherine Shaw, who is organizing the couple's reception, relishes the creative potential of a winter wedding. Shaw, who owns Trends to Traditions in Cranberry, married husband Conan at a Christmas-themed wedding in St. Louis.

"February's always a good time especially because of Valentine's Day," she says. "It's a very romantic month."

Nuptial know-how

Planning a winter wedding, or just thinking about it? Consider these tips, from some winter brides and from Anja Winikka, editor of TheKnot.com:

• Taking photos outdoors doesn't mean turning into a Popsicle. Incorporate a shawl to go with your gown. (This could be your "Something blue," Winikka says). Other options include white gloves, extra-warm tights (under the wedding gown) or fuzzy white-winter earmuffs. The groom and his groomsmen can wear scarves that match the colors on their tuxes, and formal black winter coats.

• Have your wedding and reception as close together as possible so guests don't have to travel far in the case of inclement weather.

• Consider valet parking if guests have to drive to the reception, so they don't have too far to walk. Use a heavy, all-weather mat at the entrance so guests can wipe their feet.

• The reception area should not be near the door to the outside. Nobody wants a cold breeze blowing in whenever someone enters or exits.

• The menu at the reception can include white hot chocolate or eggnog served in punch glasses, Winikka says. "Play up the soup course instead of the salad course."

• Have the number of a car service handy in case bad weather hits, so your guests can be driven home safely.

• If you're getting married during the holiday season, don't overdo the red and green.

• Reflective colors and textures can be a plus since they'll add more light. Consider silver or gold metallics in your color palette. Bouquets can be wrapped in crystal-studded ribbons.

• For flowers, try red roses, calla lilies, amaryllis or white hydrangeas. White boutonnieres can be accented with greenery.

• Consider holding the ceremony earlier in the day to allow for sufficient daylight to take photos of the wedding party.

• Remember that a winter wedding means a winter anniversary. Laura Koveleskie of Greensburg married husband Robert in Steubenvlle, Ohio, on Jan. 20, 1998. That was also the day that a massive snowmelt caused rivers to overflow their banks, closing some bridges and making some roads impassable. "It was pretty scary seeing the river just feet from your car," Koveleskie says. "A lot of anniversaries we stay home because the weather's too bad to go out to dinner."

Planning tips for the Bride

1: Start early

Brides and vendors both suggest at least a year to plan a typical wedding.

"I would definitely say prepare well in advance so you're not overwhelmed on your wedding day," said Kari Polzin, a Victoria bride-to-be who is in her fifth month of planning. Brides and vendors suggest having a location booked at least a year ahead of time. A dress should be decided at about eight months out, at six months a photographer, at four months flowers and food. In the last couple of months, send out the invitations and make hair and nail appointments.

2: Location, location, location

Forget the chapels and churches, the trend nowadays is unique settings.

"I think nowadays, they're breaking traditions," said Lynette Migl, with Raisin L. Ranch, a Crossroads special events venue that is popular for weddings. "They're wanting to do more their own thing."

Picking a non-traditional setting offers more freedom for brides to choose a time of day and flexibility in the ceremony, said Jennifer Saenz, a Cuero bride-to-be.

Special event centers like Raisin L Ranch can also simplify the wedding planning process by offering a place for the ceremony, reception and pleasant grounds for guests to carouse.

3: Smell the flowers

Submerged floral arrangements that showcase flowers in tall containers filled with water are becoming more common, says Ginger Patterson, a designer with McAdams Floral in Victoria.

The arrangement is simple yet elegant and uses fewer flowers per piece so it can even be more affordable, she said. A typical floral budget can be anywhere from $200 to $5,000, she said.

Colors spring brides might consider are fuchsia, hot pink and gold.

4: Capture the moment

Wedding photojournalism is more of a trend for capturing the spirit of the big day, photographers say.

"Weddings tend to be kind of a blur for the bride and groom," said Danny Vivian, owner of Danny Vivian photography in Victoria. "So what we like to do is catch the moments they miss."

In addition to offering all of his wedding pictures on a CD, Vivian also offers a CD with pictures pre-sized for the Web, something he says many brides have found convenient when sharing photos on Facebook or through e-mail.

5: Have your cake

Rarely will you see a bride and groom atop a cake anymore, said Barabra Halepaska, owner of Halepaska's Bakery in Victoria.

"I think the Food Network has a lot to do with the trends," she said, referring to popular shows like "Ace of Cakes."

More and more couples are opting for a cake that showcases their wedding location or personality, she said. Cakes with seashells for a Rockport wedding or a waterfall for a Hawaiian-themed wedding are becoming more common. Typical three-tier cakes can serve 80-90 people and cost an average of $180.

Recycle Wedding? Wedding Tip/Article

Couple vows to fund wedding through recycling

It’s their can-do attitude that will pay for their wedding.

Andrea Parrish and Peter Geyer are vowing to fund their entire wedding by recycling aluminum cans.

Their goal: to collect 400,000 cans — approximately 5 tons worth — within 7 months in order to make their wedding budget of $4,000.

That’s right. That figure is not missing a zero.

“We don’t want anything huge or extravagant… really, we’re planning a potluck, DIY decorations, and getting the help from friends and family for flowers, pictures, the sword-fighting battle, home brew beer, even the cake,” writes Andrea and Peter in their blog documenting their undertaking.

And the Spokane, Washington couple is well on their way of hitting their goal. As of today, they have collected more than 328-thousand cans worth of donations, which is 82% of their target.

Andrea and Peter focused on cans because “Aluminum recycling is one of the most sustainable and useful forms of recycling.”

By recycling 5 tons of cans, the environmentally-focused couple will be saving the earth from 50 tons of carbon emissions, which they say is enough to offset 5 years of their own emissions plus the impact of their entire wedding.

The two got engaged last October at Andrea’s sister’s wedding. It happened when Peter caught the garter, and Andrea followed up by dropping to one knee and proposing to him with an opal earring.

They hatched their recycling idea last month and will be tying the knot on July 31st.

Andrea says they didn’t originally set out to have a green wedding specifically. “We wanted to just have a wedding that was a reflection of who we are and what our values are. We are an environmentally conscious couple in general - our front yard is an organic vegetable garden, we compost, and put on sweaters instead of turning up the heat. We just believe that it's our responsibility to take care of Mother Earth - she's the only one we've got, and we need to take care of her so she takes care of us.”

Besides the recycling, Andrea and Peter are conscientiously incorporating a number of other green elements into their big celebration.

The entire weekend from the rehearsal to the ceremony and reception to the morning-after breakfast will be held in a vacation home in northern Idaho, reducing the amount of driving for guests. Peter’s sister is growing all the potted flowers for the wedding. The two will also be using compostable, rather than disposable, dishware and flatware throughout the weekend. In addtion, they are asking their attendants to choose dresses and suits that they will wear again, rather than “wear-once” clothes.

Making A Larger Impact

Andrea and Peter are ecstatic to see that they may be raising more than enough money well before their wedding. So they’ve decided to take their project a step further.

After they meet their wedding budget of $4,000, they are planning to continue to collect and redeem cans.

But, they won’t be using the additional funds to throw a bigger wedding. Instead, they want to make a bigger impact.

60% of the extra proceeds will be donated to two charities — Doctors Without Borders and The Rim Country Land Institute, a Montana non-profit that provides outdoor, place-based experiences for people to connect with their local landscape. The other 40% will go to their soon-to-be-planned honeymoon.

And the icing on the cake — the couple are also working on a “starter kit” that can be distributed to others who want to start their own recycling fundraiser.

Secret to a Green Wedding

Andrea’s advice to other couples wanting to have an environmentally conscience wedding mirrors that of this column. "Going green can feel so overwhelming at times — like there is so much to do that one person can't possibly make a difference,” says Andrea. “The secret is to do what you can, when you can - it's the little changes you can make everyday that make the biggest impact.”

How You Can Help

You can help Andrea and Peter by collecting cans in your kitchen, office or classroom, then turning them in at your local recycling center. They playfully say on their blog, “Take the cash, take yourself out for a coffee or draft beer, and perhaps kick a bit of what’s left over our way.” Donations can be made through weddingcans.com.

More Wedding Tips- Ten Budgeting strategies

1. Schedule your wedding “off-season.” Nearly 70% of all weddings take place May through October of each year. Even in matters of the heart, the laws of supply and demand apply. If there are lots of brides competing with you for locations, limousines, and florists, the price goes up. You will probably find yourself able to get better deals on virtually every wedding service if you schedule your wedding in one of the “off season” months. Also avoid late November through New Year’s, when hotels, caterers and bands are likely to be busy with holiday parties. Your best bet? Set the date for sometime in January, February (other than around Valentine’s Day, when the flower prices peak), or March.

2. Set the time for early in the day. If you’re the average couple, your biggest wedding cost will be for food and beverages at the reception. A beautiful morning brunch will set you back less than dinner fare. And unless you have really outrageous friends, there will be far less alcohol poured before lunchtime. Better to have a wonderful morning reception than be forced to pinch pennies for an evening event.

3. Find a low-cost location. If you’re flexible about the “where,” you can save a lot on your location. Don’t knock your childhood church or synagogue: if you or your parents are members, the location fee will probably be waived. A city-owned location, such as a public garden or historic building, may be available for a surprisingly low fee. And you might consider marrying at home (yours, or a rich friend’s!) if your guest list isn’t too large. But be careful: a home wedding won’t cut costs if you have to bring in additional restroom facilities, seating, lighting, etc.

4. Select a non-bridal bridal gown. Bridal gowns aren’t the only white dresses in the world. It may be that the perfect wedding dress for you is not found in a bridal salon, but among the women’s evening wear section of a department store. (Maybe even on the sale rack!) Especially during the last several seasons, while elegant, understated gowns have been in style, the line between bridalwear and formalwear has blurred. You might even find that the perfect gown for you is a more-affordable bridesmaids style, done in white or ivory.

5. Decorate strategically. Spend your money on the things people will see the most throughout the event -- not things they’ll only glimpse momentarily. Your guests may not notice the flowers that decorate the end of each pew as they take their seat -- but they will notice the bouquets and boutonnieres on the wedding party during the ceremony and reception. They’ll spend a few moments before your ceremony starts perusing your program, so make sure it makes a good impression. Less important are extra flowers to adorn your wedding cake table; the cake itself will capture their attention. You could spend money to decorate the back of each guest’s chair -- but will they see it other than when they enter the reception room? Consider putting those dollars instead into your table centerpieces, which they’ll gaze at repeatedly during the event. Candles -- at your ceremony or your reception -- add drama and style with little cost, especially compared to floral arrangements. Another budget-friendly decorating touch: tiny, white twinkle lights, swathed in tulle. The most strategic way to decorate? Pick a location that needs little or no embellishment -- a garden in bloom, a scenic beach, a fully-restored historic building, or a spectacular cathedral.

6. Select flowers that are in season and locally available. If you do, you’ll probably find you can save considerably on cost -- especially if you make it clear with your florist that cutting cost is a high priority. Availability and price vary from city to city, and region to region, but you’ll probably find that Gerbera daisies, traditional daisies, carnations, chrysanthemums, statice, Queen Anne’s Lace, freesia, baby’s breath and gladiolus are your best priced flowers. Irises are an economical choice for Spring, which is also the best season for violets, daffodils and tulips. Various kinds of lilies are most plentiful (and best priced) in the summer months; sunflowers and orange blossoms are most abundant in the Fall. Avoid roses and orchids -- they’re widely available but pricey. And stay away from white blossoms. They bruise easily, so florists must go through larger quantities to find good ones, and to match the shade, thus the cost is higher.

7. Theme the event to hide what’s not included. Picking a theme for your reception celebration can be a great way to cut costs. You don’t have to be of Mexican descent to turn your reception into a fiesta -- and a spectacular banquet of traditional Mexican food will probably cost less than prime rib and asparagus. Continue your theme (and budget-management) by limiting the bar to imported Mexican beers and margueritas. Your guests won’t miss the martinis while dining on machaca. Another possibility: serve a family-style southern Italian banquet and limit the bar choices to red and white wines with dinner, limoncelo and espresso with dessert. Or follow your barefoot, beach wedding with bonfire-grilled chicken and corn, vegetable kabobs, buckets of beer on ice and a fruity sangria.

8. Harness the talents of family and friends. Don’t be afraid to let those close to you know that you’re looking for ways to keep your wedding budget under control. They may offer their own skills to help you save money, or they may know how to help you find a great deal. Your uncle with the classic car may be willing to play chauffeur for the day, and your cousin the computer graphics wiz might be able to create spectacular wedding programs on her computer; all you’ll have to do is pay for the paper.

9. Cut your guest list. It may be painful, but the simple truth is that there is no quicker, easier way to control your budget than by limiting the size of the event. Again, your single biggest cost will be reception food and alcohol, so you can reduce that expenditure by paring down the number of mouths. Remember: single guests who aren’t in a serious relationship can be invited solo; you may invite parents only; and you need not invite anyone who you haven’t spent time with in the last five years -- even if they invited you to their wedding.

10. Use the free tool and resources available to you online in WeddingChannel.com. Wedding planning experts say that the single most important thing you can do to control costs is to get organized. Timely planning saves late fees and expensive compromises. The planning tools available to you here in WeddingChannel.com will help you create your planning timetable, and send you email reminders of every appointment and deadline. You can even manage your guest list, RSVPs, and thank you notes. Access to your bridal registry here online means you don’t even have to drive to the mall to find out if someone’s gotten you that espresso machine yet. Through your Couple’s Profile, Wedding Logistics and Out-Of-Town Guest Information pages, you can get the word out to family, friends and guests -- without costly mailings or long distance phone calls. And best of all: the tools, information, and advice in the site are totally free for you to use. So you can spend your time, energy, and hard-earned dollars on the things that matter most to you on your wedding day. Now that’s a bargain any bride will love.

Wedding Tips Day 10 Decorations

Decorations! Easy Decorations!

www.apartmenttherapy.com/.../bluemasonjars.jpg

How to make hanging jars: Click here

Ideas: Click here

Bench decoration ideas: click here

Candles: Click Here

Lanterns: Click Here

Arches: Click Here

Wedding Tip day 8

So I stumbled up this website: http://www.weddingchicks.com/planning-tools/

From planning your wedding map

Creating your wedding website

Managing your vendors

Guest manager

These are all easy tool to help you through the process. Some may be great for what you are doing others aren't. But organization always helps in wedding things

Wedding Tips day 6

Bridal shows are amazing time to meet and greet some vendors.

I highly recommend them. You can find what you like, what you don't. The most important is meeting the vendors and seeing if their personality and budget fits yours.

Its VERY IMPORTANT to discuss with them.

Go to:http://colorado.perfectweddingguide.com/events/bridal-shows/

It has nearly every bridal shows. Some cost money, but most are free. Check them out, take your time and search.

Vendors fill up quick so call sooner than later.

Wedding Tips

Some thoughts from married people after their wedding was all said and done:

From the Wigton's
-save the date by email instead of cards

-do it in the off-season, ask for half off

-buy a used dress and sell it later, you'll honestly probably never wear it again and your daughter won't want a 30y.o. dress due to fashion changes

From the Saunder's
-Something one of my family members did was instead of having a gift registry, you could pitch in for the cost of the honeymoon. It's a great idea for couples who get married later in life and have all the housewares already.

-Ask the caterer to throw things in for free. We got our wedding cake and an ice sculpture thrown in for free!

-Pick a few things that you really care about, and delegate the rest of the tasks.

-Laugh about everything and have fun, because in the long run it's the marriage that counts and not the wedding day.

The Thomas's

I just used my old suit.

I printed the wedding cards at kinkos!

I made my own "favors" (family helped out by; candy from sams club and mesh and tie from Michaels)

When I went for my honeymoon I went to a closeby resort

Wedding Tips- Dress Shoping

I admit most of my vendors will be for Colorado residents but some of these may apply else where.

I am not a fan of Davids Bridal, all to often as a photographer I see the same gown twice each year. I always felt that a dress should be unique unto the person. Doesn't mean you have to go designer but just shop around before going to Davids Bridal. {please}

D'Anelli's Bridal Shop

Great about this place is the selection, yes a lot what is out on display can be rather pricy but they have a ton of dresses in the back of the store. Some only a hundred dollars. Each season they have a huge sale because styles become "old" in the fashion world and their for are on sale at a lot less.
The staff is very helpful. Great place to shop.

Wed Wisely

This is a second hand bridal shop, but lets face it all the dress are cleaned and look new but may have been used once for 6 hours. For only $100 you could get a Maggie Sottero, when normally they are like $1500 I think thats a steal. Great ladies who run the shop.

Encore Bridal

Has some good selection. Gowns are either bought from other bridal shops or second hand. But their are all under $600. So if you looking for a great dress under that amount, this would be a good place to start.

Craigslist

Whats great about craigslist is you can look and find that perfect dress and not pay a whole lot of money for it. The bad part is finding the size and locating the person and setting up a time to try it on. Its a lot more work than just going to a bridal shop but I would try. Its under Clothing section in craigslist, just type in wedding and a bunch will pop up.

Schaffer's Ultimate Bride

They have several dozen sample gown each season that are available at a reasonable price. Some of their dress are a bit tattered, don't be shocked if you have to order it from the designer.

Little White Dress
Is a small bridal boutique that has a great selection still. In Castle Rock.


Expand your thoughts beyond Davids Bridal... You wont be disappointed.

Wedding Tips- Day 3

Expanding on CAKE and the (3) important thing

So cake, after every single wedding their is more cake then one can handle, most reasons because the people who cut the cake actually cut it 1/3 or 1/4 of the size of an actual piece. And lets just face it people don't want a lot of cake any more. We are all on this constant diet that we can't enjoy more than one piece of cake. 80% of the weddings have enough cake to feed an entire church on Sunday. Most people just have to give it away. So word from someone who has seen a lot of wedding and ate my fair share of cake, get a smaller cake than a bigger one. Show the staff how big you want the pieces and it will be great and 100$ cheaper. ;)

The 3 Important Things

Every bride should have her top three. What she really wants and will bend the budget for.

Could be the Photographer, Dress, DJ
Could be the ceremony site, decorations, food

What ever these 3 are, you should have your say. You can control these 3 things, let others worry about flowers or the videographer.

About figuring out the budget of the three things think of this:
-How many times are you going to get married
-What areas could I save on to get these three things
-Remember not all the people you invite to your wedding will you remember in 5 years
- See if you can borrow some items to make the items cheaper. For Example: dress skirt, veil, tiara, fake flowers instead of real, buying more itunes and being your own DJ or handing your friend a video camera.

On any budget you can make an awesome wedding

Wedding Tips Day 2- Flowers

Now flowers are amazing at any wedding. They are used for decoration and also just nice to smell and hold. But depending on the season and that time of the month, they can be supper expensive.
I mean really expensive.

Spring Wedding Flowers In Season

Apple or cherry blossoms
Daffodils
Dogwoods
Forsythia branches
Hyacinth
Iris
Larkspur
Lilies
Lilacs
Lily of the Valley
Pansies
Peonies
Sweet Peas
Tulips

Summer Wedding Flowers In Season

Asters
Calla Lilies
Dahlias
Daisies
Delphinium
Geraniums
Hydrangeas
Iris
Jacobs Ladder
Larkspur
Queen Anne’s Lace
Roses
Shasta daises
Stock
Sunflower
Zinnias

Fall Wedding Flowers In Season

Asters
Chrysanthemums
Zinnias
Gerbera daisies
Marigolds
Roses
Sunflowers

Winter Wedding Flowers In Season

Amaryllis
Camellias
Forget-me-nots
Jasmine
Orchids
Poinsettias
Holly

If you pick flowers that are more in-season to build your bouquets you will save lots of money.

Also instead of having huge centerpeices of flowers make a fake arrangement and place it in your home after the wedding. Flowers last maybe two weeks. Fake flowers last so much longer, and then you can decorate your home.

Wedding Tips for the Bride Day 1

I have been asked by friends lately about what vendors to go to and what sites would be good for a ceremony. As well as the bride on a budget. It takes me ten minutes to give every suggestion for any budget. So getting my inspiration from Julia & Julia I figure this is one way, I could help everyday brides out there.

I am not a writer but I know my stuff about weddings. As to date I am push nearly 200 weddings photographed. I have seen Indian traditions, Jewish traditions, catholic traditions and such.

Cake will be today's topics, I don't know why. .

Depending on how cake is important to you, I would suggest several options.

For those in Colorado some of these vendors will be exclusively to you.


1. Safeway

The link below will give you even how much to estimate in cost of a cake.

http://www.wednet.com/wedding-cakes/safeway/

2. King Soopers
http://www.kingsoopers.com/fresh_foods/deli_bakery/Pages/wedding_and_anniversary.aspx

3. Cheese cakes and having a small cake for show (Cheesecake Factory)

http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/

4. Cupcake wedding cakes are the latest things
5. Cakes by Karen

http://www.cakesandlimousines.com/

6.