keepcalmandbemarried-blog - Tumblr blog

[keepcalmandbemarried-blog]

Capturing Memories

As you are making your list of things to do, book, make, and plan for your special day it is important that you take a little extra time for one area…. PICTURES! Something that was extremely important to me was who I was going to hire as my photographer. Photos are an area that a lot of brides take cuts on and it is something I really do not suggest doing. Think about it this way… you plan for over a year, spend money on the favors, food, alcohol… and who is that all for? Your guests. Pictures are for you. This is how you will remember your day. Not only that, but a photographer will capture a lot of memories that you might not even have noticed, but it still added to your special day. When choosing a photographer it is really important to do your homework. What kind of photos do you expect, would you rather a photographer that takes more candid’s or more staged photos, how long will they be at your event, is there one or more photographers? Think about how disappointed you are when you snap a photo with your iphone and it turns out bad… do you really want that feeling times 1000 for your wedding photos? Something to keep in mind is that just because the price is good does not mean the photographer is… I was involved in an event that a photographer was hired for a really cheap price… (like half of what all other photographers were charging) … then on the wedding day when the whole bridal party was ready for pictures there was no direction what so ever. No poses. No pretty pictures of the bride and her bridesmaids getting ready. Nothing original what so ever! In the end everyone in the photos looked really uncomfortable because we had no idea what to do. So in the end is it worth it to spend half the money and have nothing to show for it? NO. On the other end be aware of the over exposed over priced photographers too. Just because their name is everywhere and their packages are $3000.00 dollars does not mean they are the best. (which is a lesson that Brides need to learn expensive does not mean better) Something I suggest is to look around… look at their styles and ask them questions like do you take more modern or more country photos, do you provide direction or do you take more candid’s. Check to see if all of the photos from their different events look the same… No bride wants to be like the last one… so if you see all of the poses/pictures starting to look the same… I would go with another photographer. A way to make sure you get the photographer you like, but stay in budget is time…. Is it really important to have a ton of photos of later in the evening when everyone has been drinking? How much of you getting ready do you really want? Weighing out a start time and end time that will still fit the most important photos in will help you cut costs… and then you can add another photographer… which brings me to the next topic More than one photographer. A lot of people will offer an option to have another photographer at your event. I highly suggest this! There is no way to only have one person and expect them to catch EVERYTHING. I chose to have more than one photographer because it was really important to not only catch me as I first saw my future husband, but also catch him seeing me as I begin to walk down the isle. Lastly, consider your options… if you find a photographer you like… maybe they have associate photographers that work under them… Lets be honest if they are reputable do you really think they will hire crap? I don’t think so. A lot of them will have look books of their associate photographers work. Also consider this… associate photographers are not over exposed and still have a lot of fresh ideas. You will most likely have photos that are different. Be sure to have a sit down prior to your event… take examples and have a list of your expectations… I also suggest a “what I do not want” list. This will help your photographer really get an idea of what your wants and expectations are. In the end remember this… these photos will not only be for your memories, but will carry on to your children, your grand children, and even your great great grandchildren… Here are some photographers I have had the privilege to work with and highly recommend. First and foremost Tammy Martines: Tammy is by far one of the best photographers I have ever worked with. She is very precise and articulate. She does not let a single strand of hair go out of place. Her pictures are candid staged…(as I call it) which means she places you in natural positions so they look semi candid… The end result are excellent photos and her prices are great! Tammymartinesphotography.com Aclick by Tawnya: Tawnya is well known in NEPA she has a great reputation. With a country style she is all about catching the more relaxed and natural poses. One of the best parts about Tawnya is she really gets to know her customers because of that she really can capture their style and what they are looking for….Tawnya is perfect if you want fun and carefree photos! You wont be disappointed! If you are interested in Tawnya I suggest booking immediately she books up reallllly fast!… aclickphoto.com Studio D: Eddie Donlin is someone that I suggest for your more edgy/modern photos. His pictures always surpass expectations and never leave room for disappointment. He is able to capture beauty in things that you would not expect. Perfect for the bride and groom that really want to be different. I am always amazed with his new and fresh ideas. Studio-d-photo.com Minnig Photography: This husband and wife couple offers all kind of photos and package options. Something really great about this company is they also offer their associate photographers. This really is appealing because when you look at all of the photos there are so many different styles and package options to pick from. The nice thing is that after a style of photo is established they can really place who will be perfect for the job. Minnigphotography.com Thanks for reading and remember Keep Calm and Be Married!

[keepcalmandbemarried-blog]

The panicked yes

So as the wedding season is starting something I wanted to take a moment to remind brides is to stop and think before you say yes. … Not to your future husband, but to vendors. Bridal shows are a great way to meet and test out different vendors but it also creates a rushed stressful setting… I know… I have been there! You are in a room full of other brides and you are all scoping out prospective vendors. The minute you hear another bride have the same date as yours that burning panic feeling sets in and you start signing contracts. Stop! Gather as much information as you can before you sign the line! Look at websites, check reviews, compare prices, and something that is most successful ask previous brides! Vendors know how to sell themselves, but what comes later is what matters! Will they fulfill yor needs an stand up to your expectations? Will they return emails and calls in a timely matter? Most importantly are they respectable and reliable! In my bridal journeys I have dealt with all types of vendors… Some amazing… Some not so much! Here are a few dead give aways that you might want to heck else where. Are their prices changing with no reason? I have had certain vendors give one price and and then after the agreement is made the price goes up… A good vendor will honor price agreements unless something is added or you ask of something not originally agreed upon. This should not happen. A lot of times you are not the only person worried about costs of a wedding… Your bridal party, in laws, parents, and fiancé are all involved so when you are all given a price and things change it does not only create frustration, but confusion too. If this happens find someone that practices good business and honors agreements. Lack of communication: big no no! You are a bride and during your planning process it will feel like everything is a crisis! The most frustrating thing is someone that will not respond! If this is happening communicate with your vendor in writing asking for a response. If this happens before the contract is signed your best bet is to look for someone else because it will only get worse! Most importantly bad reviews: I depend on this one a lot! If another bride is having troubles… Run. Yes she may be more difficult or demanding, but a vendor should be able to please their customer. Weddings are expensive and you are paying a fortune for their services… Weigh out te situation if the friend is making Cali points it is best to go elsewhere or you will be in the same situation.

Luckily I have only ran into a few bumps when it came to vendors most of them were avoided by not signing on the line! Just remember even if you are a last minute bride and on the crunch to get things done it is better to take some extra time and do your research before jumping into a commitment you might end up regretting !

Here are some vendors that I have ha fantastic experiences with!

Mcr productions: John is very knowledgable and always lets me know I can call at anytime. He never rushes you and is always prompt on returned calls

Lombardo tent: my biggest disaster was finding a tent after goin through some meltdowns I found Rick with Lombardo they are excellent and made a special trip to our site to make sure things will fit perfect!

All occasion tent rental: I didn’t book them due to my needs of a large tent but they were excellent with their customer service when I was shopping for prices!

Iangeli creative design: Ian made my custom invitations, RSVPs bachelorette invitations, and inserts for my bridal shower. He is very prompt and creative. You will not be disappointed!