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Archive for 2006

Wedding Invitations Should Reflect Your Style

Dec
28


Everything about your wedding, starting with your wedding invitations, should reflect your own personal style. Now, more than ever, couples are doing everything they can to make their wedding day uniquely personalized.

You and your fiance chose the location, theme and colors of your wedding based on your personal preferences. Since your wedding invitations are an introduction to your wedding, they should reflect your choices and ultimately your personalities and styles.

It used to be that wedding invitations were always very traditional in their color and appearance. Today, wedding invitations come in a vast array of exciting colors, styles, sizes and themes to reflect the creativity of modern wedding couples.

Not to say traditional is out of date, but today your options are truly unlimited. There are choices based on seasons, hobbies, color combinations, themes, ceremony locations, ethnic backgrounds, flowers, etc. Your wedding invitations can have a modern contemporary look or they might feature photos of youngsters sharing tender moments.

Your choices don’t end with the wedding invitation itself. There’s the font style and ink color. Again, there is an impressive selection of font styles to fit any type of wedding design. Just keep in mind you want to choose a style that your guests will find easy to read. The more script the style, the more difficult it usually is to read. Colored ink choices are not quite as abundant as font styles, but there are still plenty to accommodate your chosen wedding colors.

Here are some questions for you to consider when choosing your wedding invitation style:

1. In what type of setting are you getting married – church, formal, casual, outdoor, destination?

2. What is the color scheme of your wedding?

3. Is there an overall theme to your wedding?

4. Do you want to incorporate a specific ethnic or religious theme?

5. In what season will your wedding take place?

6. What type of flowers are you having in your wedding?

7. Do you want to include your photo on your invitations?

8. What is your wedding invitation budget?

Another great idea for personalizing your wedding invitations is to include a favorite line of poetry, a beloved quotation, a particular Bible verse, or words from a special song. Many times the company who prints your invitations will also have a large selection of small verses to choose from. Just be sure your chosen wedding invitation style will have enough room for these extra lines of printing.

Your wedding invitations should be both beautiful and uniquely personal, just like your wedding ceremony. With all of today’s gorgeous choices, you’re sure to find exactly what you desire.

About The Author: Sara Haese owns http://www.PrintedCreationsWeddingStore.com where you’ll find a huge selection of casual and elegant wedding invitations as well as save the dates and wedding accessories. Visitors can also sign up to receive her FREE Wedding Invitation Guide.

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Wedding bills on your credit card

Dec
28


Sharon and I are on a financial stability kick lately. We are seeing a financial adviser to help plan our retirement and want to make the most of our money. We heard about credit cards that offer rewards but never really investigated it. We have friends who paid for their Disneyland vacation all from their credit card rewards.

Well, we did some investigation and there are credit cards that offer rewards for specific companies, like Disneyland. There are credit cards that offer rewards for airline miles and credit cards that offer rewards from a multitude of businesses.

Wow! What a great idea! You can accumulate rewards points when paying for your wedding. Most items are high ticket items that, if you’re like us, end up on the credit card anyway. The good reward plans offer 1 point for every dollar spent. Hello! That’s 30,000 points for $30,000 spent on your wedding.

If you want to investigate for yourself, check out a site we really liked. WE ARE NOT AN AFFILIATE. It’s just a cool site that offers good information about comparing credit card offers and rewards……. www.creditcards.com

Why not benefit from paying for your wedding with credit card reward programs?

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Tips for Planning the Perfect Military Wedding

Dec
28


Tips for Planning the Perfect Military Wedding

The day has finally arrived. After all these years waiting for the right one, you finally find that special someone. Soon a marriage proposal comes your way, one that will surely change life forever. You finally get the opportunity to plan the wedding you’ve dreamed about since childhood. All the plans begin falling in place, when suddenly things change dramatically. Your soon-to-be spouse learns that they are being deployed oversees. All the hopes and dreams for happiness appear lost, at least for the moment. You still long to get married, but there is so much to do, and so many unique circumstances that other couples don’t face. From finding a chaplain to the financial costs of planning a rush wedding, the task can seem daunting.

There are others too who have lived the military life from Day One and are now proud to be a part of it themselves having enlisted. Having grown up with parents in the military, changing from base to base, and city to city, the couple longs for a military wedding that brings with it the traditions and pride lived their entire life. Yet, as everyone in the military knows, there are many tried and trued rules and regulations on doing things right. Planning a wedding and making sure to stay within all the guidelines can be overwhelming. The bride needs answers on how to do it and these answers aren’t found in the pages of the numerous bridal magazines or bridal books out there. But hope is not lost.

As everyone knows, there are vast differences from a civilian wedding and a military wedding. The ceremony may be held at the base/post chapel. The officiant would be a military chaplain. The Arch of Sabers or Swords (dependent on the branch of service) is used. And special attention needs to be placed on the formalities of the invitations and seating arrangements.

To help plan a military wedding, here are some tips:

#1 – Buy Wedding Insurance. Even if the couple does not choose to have the traditional Military Wedding, insurance (unless they are having a quick small civil ceremony at the courthouse) will save headaches and cover the loss of deposits or money due to changes or cancellations. When marrying into the military, the never-ending changes of deployment dates – quick deployments, delayed deployments, and extended deployments are common. It’s best to plan ahead and be safe. Take this example: The date has been set for a year out. The deposits have been paid and invitations prepared. Then a set of orders arrives for the bride or groom that reads, “Report to your duty station 19 May 2007. Unfortunately, the wedding date has been set for 25 May 2007.” You now have to change everything and re-order invitations. Unless working with very military friendly vendors, there is a real risk of losing deposits. Insurance is a way to safeguard against this.

# 2 – Learn the language. For a new bride that is marrying into the service, there is a whole new set of lingo to learn. Among the most common would be the formalities of the Arch-is it Swords or Sabers? The answer – Sabers are used for Air Force and Army. Swords are used for Coast Guard, Marine Corps and the Navy. National Guard and Reserve go by the same etiquette and regulations of their service branch (i.e. Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Naval Reserve, etc). Also, the majority of military personnel do not own a Sword or Saber. However, they can contact the Chaplain, normally he/she will have these for this use or his/her Commander will. There are also so many other terms you want to become familiar with to be knowledgeable.

#3 – Question often asked — Can the bride’s “swat” with the sword be omitted from the ceremony? Answer – For traditions sake, it is better left in the ceremony. When the Arch has been formed, the bride and groom will then pass through the Arch of Saber or Swords (this symbolizes the welcome and safe transition into a new life together as a couple). The couple pauses as the last two men lower their sabers or swords in front of the bride and groom and then at that time the man to the right will then lightly “swat” the bride of on the rear and say “Welcome to the Army,” or the appropriate branch of service. This step should only be omitted if the bride is the service member.

#4 – It’s important to know the proper seating arrangements for guests and also where the bride and groom should stand, including who stands on which side. The standing arrangement is determined by whether the service member being an officer or being enlisted. A guest list will have Commanders, other Officers within the unit, and peers. It’s important to know the proper seating for guests and also for the receiving line. All persons that are associated with a service member (i.e. their Commanders, Officers and peers within the unit or office) should be invited to the wedding. When seating the groom or bride’s Commander and his/her spouse, they are to be seated with the family of the bride or groom, whichever group they represent. Commanders are usually seated in the front row when the bride or groom’s parents cannot be in attendance. All other higher-ranking Officers are to be seated directly behind the family of either the bride or groom.

Sounds overwhelming doesn’t it? Well now with the help of an innovative website, Military Weddings at http://www.Military-Weddings.com, you can get all the answers you need. MilitaryWeddings.com is a complete wedding planning site solely for the Military community. It provides everything to plan a Military wedding from engagement to honeymoon including who to contact in the Military installation; protocol and etiquette in seating arrangements; writing announcements; sending out invitations (the correct way of addressing an envelope to commanding officer); the ceremony itself; Military chaplain services and whether to use the base or post chapel. Plus, a complete shopping center for your entire wedding needs including stationery, gifts, bride and groom basics, and everything needed for that special day.

Planning your wedding can be fun and exciting with the right tools. Stop by today and enjoy a wedding that you can remember for years to come.

About The Author: GiGi Rena Rogers is an Army Wife of 11-½ years, the Founder of Military Weddings.com and CEO of CT Publishing. For assistance and resources to plan you Military Wedding you can contact her by visiting http://www.Military-Weddings.com or by emailing romantic@cableone.net. Article is free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.

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Wedding web pages pt. 1

Dec
28


Wedding web pages or wedding web sites are a great way for brides and grooms to share your wedding. The main reasons for having a wedding web page or site is to 1) share your event with your family and friends 2) get RSVP’s from people who you sent invitations to 3) share your details of your wedding 4) inform all guests of any updates at any time ALL AT ONCE and 5) share pictures.There are many wedding industry websites offering wedding web pages and/or websites. What should make the difference with which one you should choose? You should have the ability to a multitude of features. 1) You should have RSVP tracking, maybe even be able to edit the list for multiple or errored submissions. 2) Ability to upload a picture. Your visitors should see a current picture of the bride and groom. 3) You should be able to add and edit wedding day details at any time; for that matter, be able to edit all your information entered. 4) Choose the design and/or colors to match your personality and/or wedding.

Points to consider as far as a wedding industry website point of view: 1) Because pictures can take up a lot of space, sites usually charge for multiple picture submissions because sites pay for hosting based on space available and bandwidth. 2) sites that offer a “dot com” website – find out the particulars. Most people can purchase a dot com for about $9 per year, every year (or less). If you do purchase your own dot com website, will the site be hosted by itself or will it just be parked and redirected to another location? It is better to have the site hosted and run as its own entity. 3) There is a reason why sites offer free wedding web pages and/or sites….. traffic, potential sales on other items on the site, etc. I in particular like my wedding web pages because you bring all your family and friends to my site. This means 10 times plus more exposure and hopefully growth.

Be sure to read the fine print. I was on a “competitors” website once and they required the bride to register at amazon.com and have the link on your wedding website. The reason for this is that if a visitor were to click on the amazon ad and purchase something on amazon’s website, the site owner would make a percentage of the sale.

Part 2 to come….

WeddingMuseum.com’s featured wedding web pages
I almost forgot. We now offer 2 different designs to choose from for your wedding web page (still 22 different colors).

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Submit a wedding planning article

Dec
28


For those of you following my blog, I have posted all the articles submitted on WeddingMuseum.com. I wanted to make it easier for all to search through the wedding articles.

If you are a wedding specialist and want to submit an article you wrote, click here to submit a wedding article. We are pretty open minded about article topics as long as it relates to planning a wedding. Topics can include: attire, beauty, entertainment, finances, flowers, invitations, jewelry, photography, wedding reception and videography. Click on the link above to read all articles already submitted and for complete details.

Wedding articles are important to me as a wedding website for the content. Wedding articles are also important to wedding vendors for the outbound link to their site. It is a mutual relationship beneficial to both of us.

In case you were wondering, all approved wedding articles submitted through WeddingMuseum.com will continue to be posted on the blog.

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Why Have A Professional Wedding Video

Dec
28


Why Have A Professional Wedding Video?

Your wedding day, you’ve dreamed of this day your entire life, whether it’s a sparkling, intimate gathering or a dazzling grand celebration. You’ve seen pictures, movies, and visions in your head. The only way to relive those memories is in color, on video…so the dreams you’ve created in your mind are those that you will see in reality forever.

That sounds nice, right, but what does it really mean? After filming hundreds upon hundreds of weddings, I think I am more than qualified to answer this question and perhaps offer some important insight into the world of professional wedding videography. Many brides and grooms are overwhelmed with the amount of planning that it takes to create a wedding day worthy of their expectations. Of course the economics of the event are usually a big consideration whether you are planning a smaller wedding or the next big Trump-like affair. There are many expenses associated with planning any wedding, but it is so important to remember to prioritize. What will you have left after the actual wedding day is over, when all the cake is eaten and all the champagne has been toasted away? After months, sometimes years of planning your wedding, wouldn’t you want a fabulous wedding video of this incredible day? It never ceases to amaze me when a bride will actually pay more for seat covers at a reception than she is willing to spend on a wedding video. The seat covers, though lovely, will be sat upon, and hardly seen (they will be under people most of the time). But of course a well filmed and edited professional wedding video will be a tangible piece of priceless memories that can be shared for generations to come. I think if more couples really considered this reality, the chair covers may take a back seat!

That sounds nice, right, but what does it really mean? After filming hundreds upon hundreds of weddings, I think I am more than qualified to answer this question and perhaps offer some important insight into the world of professional wedding videography. Many brides and grooms are overwhelmed with the amount of planning that it takes to create a wedding day worthy of their expectations. Of course the economics of the event are usually a big consideration whether you are planning a smaller wedding or the next big Trump-like affair. There are many expenses associated with planning any wedding, but it is so important to remember to prioritize. What will you have left after the actual wedding day is over, when all the cake is eaten and all the champagne has been toasted away? After months, sometimes years of planning your wedding, wouldn’t you want a fabulous wedding video of this incredible day? It never ceases to amaze me when a bride will actually pay more for seat covers at a reception than she is willing to spend on a wedding video. The seat covers, though lovely, will be sat upon, and hardly seen (they will be under people most of the time). But of course a well filmed and edited professional wedding video will be a tangible piece of priceless memories that can be shared for generations to come. I think if more couples really considered this reality, the chair covers may take a back seat!Most of today’s brides and grooms are well educated and savvy, yet I think many of them have an outdated impression of “wedding video” as a whole. Unfortunately, television shows that exploit “funny” wedding videos, complete with every mishap in the book, have given false ideas to some people. They may be afraid they will be made to look bad or that the video itself will be boring. I am here to scream, shout, yell from the highest rooftops that if you choose a great videographer you will have a priceless memory that you will want to watch over and over again for the rest of your lives. Anyone who has seen what the current wave of top professional wedding videographers are producing will know how breathtaking, beautiful, and emotional a wedding video can be. The wedding video industry has evolved so much in the last twenty years. It’s a whole new ball game out there, where top videographers are producing “knock your socks off” cinematic mini movies starring YOU!

Let’s not even get into the “we’re having a good friend film our wedding with their new mini DV camera from Circuit City” syndrome. BIG MISTAKE, HUGH! You will be so disappointed when after the first 15 seconds of the bride walking down the aisle with her beaming father, clutching her trembling arm, the camera suddenly drops to the church floor and all you hear is your “good friend” cursing the equipment. Even if you have friends or family kindly offering to help, do you really want to trust some of THE MOST important moments of your life to an amateur?

Okay, so you’re a smart bride and groom and you have decided to hire a professional wedding videographer for your wedding, you won’t be sorry (if you choose the right company). Here are some tips on what to look for and what to ask.

Always look for professionalism combined with a high quality of service. Find out how long the videographer has been in business and make sure that videography is their profession. “Weekend” videographers can give the industry a bad name. They may be cheaper, but be prepared for the results. But by the same token, you don’t have to spend $4,000, $7,000, $10,000 or more, to have a fabulous wedding video. There are some really great videographers who can produce a wedding video (that you will love) for under $2,000. It just depends on your budget and how much you want to spend. There are three main things to consider when choosing your wedding videographer. First, the videographer themselves. Personality and professionalism are so important in your choice. Don’t be afraid to call a videographer and ask questions. Ask about the video packages they may offer, ask about pricing, ask as many questions as you like, this is an important choice for your very important day! Second, view actual demos of the work so you can see the artistic level and quality. Does the demo move you, do you feel the emotion? With great state of the art editing, a really good videographer can turn wedding day imagery into a masterpiece. Most top videographers have video samples right on their web sites that you can view anytime, anywhere. And third, is price. As I have already said, there is a difference in price ranges. And here’s a really important tip, start looking for your videographer as soon as you begin planning your wedding. Unlike a florist or bakery who can handle many, many weddings per day, a video company will have a limit to how many weddings they can film per day. You don’t want to miss out, the really top videographers with great prices will book up very fast and far in advance. And remember, your videographer is not just a “vendor”, but rather a hired professional “artist” who will be with you, and your family, capturing some of the most intimate and special moments of your life.

I believe in professional wedding videography. It preserves images, sounds, and feelings from those people you love and from those times of your life, that otherwise would simply fade away. Just imagine being able to see your grandmother’s wedding, well fast forward fifty years and maybe that is a gift you can give to your grandchildren. Videos mastered on DVD are archival and will last for generations to come. A great wedding video can help us piece together the fabric of remembrance. It can make you laugh, cry and hopefully make you grateful you skipped the pricey seat covers!

About the Author: Harlene Conlin , along with husband and business partner Gary, created YOU’RE THE STAR VIDEO PRODUCTIONS in Santa Barbara, California. This year marks the companies twenty year anniversary in business. In that time they have proudly filmed over 3000 weddings and events all over California and coast to coast. Harlene and Gary are also the founding members of the prestigious “Santa Barbara Event Professionals” and members of “WEVA International”. YOU’RE THE STAR VIDEO PRODUCTIONS has a client base which includes many celebrities, along with sports and political figures who appreciate their unobtrusive style combined with a high level of quality and confidentiality. Harlene and Gary have an artistic, creative, and cinematic approach to wedding videography. For more about YOU’RE THE STAR VIDEO PRODUCTIONS please visit www.see-your-memories.com.

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Ways to Slash your Wedding Reception Costs

Dec
28


Easy Ways to Slash your Wedding Reception Costs

Keeping costs within budget is a struggle for every bride, so here are five top tips guaranteed to keep you on track.

Keeping costs within budget is a struggle for every bride, so here are five top tips guaranteed to keep you on track.

Tip 1 – Trim the guest list
Keep the guest list down to just the people who really matter to you. This will reduce your costs as well as allowing you to lavish more food and wine on each person.

Tip 2 – Cut your alcohol costs
The largest portion of any wedding cost usually goes on food and drink. You can reduce your alcohol bill by hosting a daytime event, as people tend to drink less during the day. Alternatively, choose a BYO (bring your own) venue so you can supply your own alcohol at bulk-buy discount rates.

Tip 3 – Decrease the cost per head
Choose cheaper meal alternatives like chicken or pasta. You might also like to check which local delicacies are in season, as these are often much cheaper than you would normally expect. For example if you’re marrying in an Australian coastal town you’ll find seafood is much more affordable than it is in a large inland UK city.

Tip 4 – Limit your reception guests
Another way to cut costs is to invite everyone you know to the ceremony, but only close friends and family to the reception afterwards. This will let you enjoy a large ceremony with all your friends whilst limiting the cost of food and drink.

Tip 5 – Take the cake and tea option
If you’d rather celebrate with everyone but are seriously short of cash, choose a beautiful old church or historic ceremony location and keep the festivities simple. Invite all your friends to the ceremony and then to the church hall or local gardens afterwards, where they can share wedding cake, tea and a glass of sparkling wine with you afterwards to celebrate.

About the Author
Want a fairytale wedding without going bankrupt? For free cost cutting tips, wedding ideas, red hot promotions, giveaways and your wedding ‘tip of the day’ visit Jessica Howe’s site www.loveandcherish.net , home of the highly acclaimed One Stop Wedding Kit.

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An Amazing Wedding – Where To Start

Dec
28


Tips To Having An Amazing Party – Where To Start?

When planning for a wedding we encounter every type of situation from our clients. Sometimes we get calls a year in advance and we have plenty of time to make elicit the clients wishes and make sure all the details are in sync with those wishes. Sometimes we get calls from a caterer or planner who has a client that has 3-4 weeks to their wedding. I personally had a year and a half to put together my own wedding and this gave us ample time to deal with any last minute details easily and effectively. No matter how much time you have to prepare for your wedding weeks, months or years, universally speaking, every bride and groom want the same thing: To have the finest day they can imagine, and hopefully better than that. So the first most important thing is where to start? How do you go about preparing the easiest and smartest way.

The #1 way to start is to decide what is it that would make your party fabulous? What is the most important elements to your party. We achieve this by envisioning what the greatest vision of your party will look like: All dancing? Laughing? Great food? Quiet time? Music? Lights? Wild free-for-all or posh dinner dance? Sophisticated class or uninhibited revelry? What does the room look like? Classy? Clubby? Regal? Casual? Serene? Pulsating? Special effects? Great social environment with lots of mingling? What happens during the party? Casual Dancing, followed by gourmet eating? Wild Dance Club – with sexy guests or just FUN with relatives?

As simple as it sounds identifying the ideal elements of your party is the best way to begin the route to your amazing party. Once you identify the elements it gives you, the site and a talented planner the keys to insure you are on your way to success. Once you have an idea of the elements, you prioritize them in order of importance. For instance a client may decide their party is all about the fun factor and not really care about the food per se. The food is secondary or tertiary to the party being non-stop fun. That’s an important distinction to make, because for the caterer or restaurant, normally food is their priority. And food is important, certainly we all love a great meal, but it’s your party and vendors should do their best to accommodate you.

We’ve encountered situations where the maitre’ d demands stopping the party for a course even against the client’s wishes. We like to make parties as seamless as possible, but obviously that makes for a pickle, when the caterer is demanding a stop to the music and the guests be seated when the client wants to keep going. That’s why it is important to be clear about your desires in advance with everyone involved in your affair. It’s your party. You have the right to your party your way. Often times when the client prioritizes their wishes, we will captain the party for them to head off these situations. All we need is a clear direction from the client and we will assure it happens. Be clear once you know the most important elements of your party and communicate them to your planner, caterer and entertainment. If you are not clear than have a planner get you clear by asking you the right questions. A good planner will be able to determine what’s most important to you by asking you, getting your answers and checking in with you to make sure your desires haven’t changed.

Once your elements are prioritized, everything comes into focus and becomes easily managed, plus you’ll feel much better going forward because you’ll know what it is you are going for and what it’s supposed to look like when you show up. Also the vendors you have selected will be able to know exactly how to make your party great. So in the beginning sit down with your fiancee and begin to imagine, visualize and fantasize about the specific experiences you want to have and your clear vision will unfold. I promise you, you’re journey will be much smoother and relaxed as you begin to put it all together.

About The Author: Michael Sage Schindler aka Michael Sage is the multi faceted producer; planner and master of ceremonies for his own entertainment company Lightning Shakes New York. Planning and working as an MC, dancer and event choreographer for 15 years in the major event venues all over NYC for such well-known people as Donald Trump, Joan Lunden, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, CEO of Westwood One Network Joel Hollander and NBC sports announcer Len Berman. He’s one of the most preferred MCs at Trump Plaza, Harrahs, Showboat and Trump Marina in Atlantic City for special events. Michael has been invited to perform in Europe, the Caribbean, and Hawaii and all over the US as well. With LSNY, he has produced events for such companies as Wells Fargo, AIG, Brooklyn Museum, Merrill Lynch and Rado Switzerland.

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10 Things to Look for in a Wedding Photographer

Dec
28


The Top 10 Things Couples Look For In A Wedding Photographer

So you are getting married and there are so many things to do. You have the hall, your dress, flowers, invitations and now it comes time to hire your photographer.

After doing some research on the web and “hanging out” on different wedding sites I have found that most brides are looking for more or less the same things. What follows is sort of a wish list of things couples want from their wedding photographer.

10. Negatives/Digital Files One thing that couples want these days is the opportunity to purchase or have included in their package the option to buy the negatives or (in the case of digital) the digital files. Many couples feel that they should be able to make as many re-prints as they would like, whenever they want. While many photographers do offer their negatives, many do not and feel that the labs that they use will be able to give a higher quality print rather than just taking a negative to the local drug store for printing. In addition, many photographers will sell their negatives after a certain amount of time, for example a year after your wedding date.

9. Black and White Everything old is new again. Almost all couples want a mixture of color and black and white. Black and white gives that photojournalistic look to a photograph as well as a fine art look. If your photographer is shooting digital, any photograph can be converted to black and white. If your photographer is shooting film then most likely they will be shooting with B&W and color film separately.

8. Unlimited Time When hiring a photographer couple like to have the security of someone who will be with them to capture all of the wedding moments. Having unlimited time can give you the peace of mind to know that those moments will be captured.

7. Experience Does your photographer have the necessary experience to handle the stresses of wedding photography? There are many things going on at once during a wedding. The experienced photographer knows how to bring everything together and in an orderly fashion.

6. Price This can vary a lot and price was not the main criteria in choosing a photographer. Prices can range from several hundred dollars to over $10,000. At the low end are usually people who do wedding photography part time. In wedding photography, you usually get what you pay for. As you go up in price, so does the “art of wedding photography”.

5. Professional Being a professional means many different things to different people. Those photographers who didn’t respond in a timely manner and/or who were rude (and amazingly, some are) were axed off the potential list immediately. Being professional also meant that couples wanted to know the photographers “style and philosophy”. Things that also bothered couple: rudeness, disorganization, insulting comments about other brides or photographers and other unprofessional comments.

4. Flexibility Brides put flexibility high on their list. To many flexibility is key. They said, packages are nice, but a photographer that refuses to be flexible, is not going to get very far with brides. Brides also commented that photographers get caught up in the OLD way of doing things, and never change with the times. Again, this relates to being flexible.

3. Style/Approach Today couples are looking for something different – artsy photojournalism, not the same cheesy photos. Brides are drawn to photographers who have developed their own unique (but consistent) artistic style/approach. Details are very important to brides. They appreciate a photographer who focuses on details.

2. Personality What can you really say about this. It is obvious. When you spend upwards of 10 hours with someone on an important day like your wedding you had better clique. Brides often said that they “just knew” when they met their photographer that they were right for each other.

1. Listen And the number thing that kept on coming up was that brides wanted from their photographer was that they “LISTEN”. This means that a photographer really heard what a bride said before they stated speaking about the next topic. This is really important because it is the ability to understand what a client wants that will make a photographer really deliver what a bride was expecting.

So there you have the top ten. So, when you go shopping for a photographer see how he/she measures up in each of the categories listed here. Remember, your wedding is a once in a lifetime event. Take your time, enjoy the process and you will find the perfect photographer for you.

About JBS Photography: JBS Photography – Jack Saady is a Philadelphia/New Jersey wedding photographer. Jack’s work is simple yet elegant, with a sense of fashion and classic style.

Posted in Photography | 1 Comment »
 

Choosing The Right DJ

Dec
28


Choosing The Right DJ/Entertainer For YOU: 20 Questions To Ask

It is estimated that between 60 and 75 percent of brides and grooms are now opting for Disc Jockey Entertainment at their wedding receptions. The underlying reasons include the fact that DJs are overall less expensive than bands, most professional DJs have an extensive repertoire of music covering the past 60-100 years, and since they are at many wedding receptions each year from start to finish, they generally will have a very good idea of the flow necessary to make your wedding reception a memorable one.

However, there are many differences among Disc Jockey companies. One misperception is that all DJs have a day job outside of DJing. While this does ring true for most, there are many excellent Full-Time Disc Jockey Entertainers across the country. There are also some very good to excellent Part-Time DJ Entertainers, and unfortunately many more that are “human jukeboxes” out for a fast buck (i.e. hobbyists)

Choosing your Disc Jockey is one of the five biggest decisions you will need to make for your wedding reception. A Great Disc Jockey will make the party memorable while a Bad Disc Jockey can also make it memorable, just for the wrong reasons.

Use this questionnaire when interviewing potential DJ/Entertainment choices. This should help you find Disc Jockey Entertainers that are knowledgeable, courteous, and most importantly are willing to listen to you as you paint the picture to what is YOUR perfect wedding day.

1. How many wedding receptions have you performed at?
2. Do you have references I can speak with or email?
3. May I see you perform at a wedding reception?
a. No. This should be a major red flag for anyone. Would you want a complete stranger crashing your wedding reception, even for just five minutes?
4. How much do you charge or better – What kind of value will I get for my Entertainment dollar?
5. Are you limited to only 4 or 5 Hours because you have another wedding?
6. How early will you arrive for my wedding reception?
7. Are you a “High Strung” DJ? Or do you make yourself the “Center of Attention”?
8. How early do you arrive prior to a wedding reception?
9. What do you wear to a wedding reception?
10. I’ve heard horror stories of drunk DJs, DJs that smoke like a chimney. Do you do either of those?
11. Will the DJ act as a Master of Ceremony?
12. How much music do you have?
13. Do you customize music and evens to my tastes?
14. Can I control the Volume (i.e. If I ask to turn it up or down, will you?)
15. What is the payment schedule?
16. What is the cancellation policy?
17. What happens if you get sick or some tragic event happens in your life, do we have a backup?
18. Do you Sub-Contract your work out? – Are you going to be the DJ at my event?
19. Do you charge travel fees?
20. Do you charge for overtime?

About The Author: Jim Casey has been a DJ/Entertainer for over 20 years in the state of Maine. He has been featured in the three major Disc Jockey publications (Mobile Beat, DJ Times, and National Entertainer) and is the owner of djmaine.com, LLC which includes Jim Casey Entertainment www.djmaine.com and the Maine Wedding Planner.

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Top Ten Beauty Secrets Every Bride Should Know

Dec
28


Top Ten Beauty Secrets Every Bride Should Know

Every bride wants to look ravishing on her big day, so here are the top ten beauty tricks you need to know about to wow your groom when you do that aisle walk.

Tip 1 – Start a skincare routine as soon as possible.
Go to a department store at a quiet time and get a few free skincare consultations. Discuss any skin problems you may have and find out what kind of skincare regimen would most benefit you. Make sure you pick up a good exfoliation product.

Tip 2 – Drink at least two liters of water a day.
This will cleanse your system of toxins, keeping your complexion clear and giving it a bright, luminous look.

Tip 3 – Use high factor sunscreen.
Sun exposure dries your skin out, makes it look patchy and pigmented and gives you premature wrinkles. Protect your skin with high factor sunscreen and you’ll have a smooth, even complexion for your wedding day.

Tip 4 – Go with a fake tan.
If you want a tanned look, visit a beautician for a professional fake tanning treatment. Steer clear of products that may stain your dress and be sure to exfoliate thoroughly beforehand. Arrange your final application a couple of days before your wedding.

Tip 5 – Visit the hairdressers every 6 to 8 weeks.
Ask for a deep conditioning treatment each time you visit the hairdresser. The results will amaze you.

Tip 6 – Get into shape the easy way.
Make good diet and exercise part of your routine. You should be doing at least half an hour’s aerobic exercise a minimum of three times a week, so choose something you enjoy doing like dancing, running, swimming or cycling. Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and high protein food like fish, meat, seafood and poultry.

Tip 7 – Use hand cream every day and give yourself a manicure once a week.
Finish off with a professional, classic French manicure and perhaps even a pedicure the day before your wedding.

Tip 8 – When it comes to pre-wedding hair removal, waxing is your best option.
It gives the smoothest finish of all and will keep you hair-free throughout your honeymoon.

Tip 9 – Leave hair colouring to the professionals.
No home hair dye kits please! If you want to experiment with a new colour, try it out well before your wedding day so you have time to change it if it doesn’t look good. You can’t go wrong with natural looking highlights which complement your skin tone and highlight your eyes.

Tip 10 – Choose an excellent makeup artist and hairdresser.Interview several people before you make your choice, and look at photos of brides they have made up in the past. Your makeup artist and hairdresser are there to make you look great all day and you’ll find their expertise invaluable.

About the Author
Want a fairytale wedding without going bankrupt? For free cost cutting tips, wedding ideas, red hot promotions, giveaways and your wedding ‘tip of the day’ visit Jessica Howe’s site www.loveandcherish.net , home of the highly acclaimed One Stop Wedding Kit.

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More to Wedding Invitations Than You Might Think

Dec
28


There’s More to Wedding Invitations Than You Might Think

Everybody talks about wedding invitations, but what about all the other terms and items that are associated with them. Below are explanations of some of the more common terms and items that you’ll probably encounter while shopping for your invitations.

Seal n Send Invitations: This type of invitation is mailed to guests as a single-folded piece (without an envelope) having the respond postcard attached to the invitation by a perforation for easy removal. Since the respond piece is a postcard, you will save on postage for the return mailing. Prices for this product normally include seals along with a printed return address on both the back flap when initially mailing the invitation and on the perforated respond postcard.

Announcements: For those who won’t be invited to your wedding but you would still like them to know about your marriage, you can mail them an announcement card. They can be printed on the same paper as your invitation but mailed on your wedding day or immediately after with the wording stating that your wedding has already taken place.

Reception Cards: If there isn’t enough room on your invitation for listing the details of your reception or if not all guests will be invited to attend the reception, reception cards can be ordered to match your invitations and then be included as a separate insert. Please keep in mind that this card could possibly add to your mailing cost since postage is based on weight.

Respond Cards: These cards are essential to planning for your dinner/reception since an accurate guest attendance count will be needed for food and seating preparations. The respond card along with its mailing envelope will be inserted with your invitation. Remember to include a postage stamp on this small envelope which will also have a mailing address already printed on it so all your guests have to do is fill out the card and mail it back by the date you have printed on it.

Map Cards: These direction cards would be included as a convenience for any guests who might not be familiar with the location of the church and/or reception.

Printed Invitation Envelope Flaps: This option of having your return address printed on the outside envelope can save you valuable time and ensure that undeliverable invitations are returned to you. There is a small cost involved but it also gives an address to those who might not be able to attend but still want to send you a card or gift.

Lined Inner Envelopes: For a small charge, you can request your inner envelopes have a colored lining to add a special touch to your invitation ensemble. Color choices will vary depending on the invitation style you choose.

Envelope Seals: These self-adhesive labels add just the right finishing touch. They are available in many styles and are used on your outer envelope making it look like they are holding the flap down even though it has already been sealed.

Informal Notes: These are used separately from your invitations but should be included with your original order since they are usually printed on matching paper and this will save you on shipping costs. They are personalized with either your names or monogram on the front with the inside being blank for writing your thank you notes. Any leftovers can be used long after the wedding for other purposes. Blank mailing envelopes are included with them.

Not all of the above items are necessary to make your wedding invitations complete. Remember, this is your special day, so it’s your decision as to which ones you would like to include as part of your invitation ensemble.

About The Author: Sara Haese owns www.PrintedCreationsWeddingStore.com where you’ll find a fantastic selection of wedding invitations as well as save the dates and wedding accessories. Visitors can also sign up to receive her FREE Wedding Invitation Guide.

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Newlyweds and Insurance

Dec
28


Newlyweds and Insurance

Insurance issues between newly married couples is an area that is best reviewed prior to the wedding reception. Who’s policy covers the wedding gifts? If either the bride or groom has renters, homeowners, condo or mobile home insurance, wedding gifts would be covered under their policy. In a case where neither the bride or groom has any type of homeowners insurance, coverage would depend on whether or not the bride or groom has been living with their parents prior to the wedding. If either of them has been living with their parents, coverage would exist under the parents homeowners policy. The conservative way to approach this would be for the bride & groom to purchase homeowners insurance prior to the wedding to be sure there is no question as to coverage for wedding gifts and other combined personal property (furniture, appliances, etc). The nations largest homeowners insurance company, State Farm, provides a wedding gift endorsement, which can be added to an existing homeowners insurance policy to provide coverage.

Jewelry requires an appraisal to be properly insured. Most insurance companies add jewelry to a schedule, specifying the item by value, cut, clarity, color, etc. Since most engagement rings are valued in the thousands of dollars, it is advisable to insure the ring at the time of purchase. Who should insure the engagement ring? Once the ring is given to the future bride, most companies require that the bride-to-be add the ring to her insurance.

In addition to insurance for personal property, newlyweds should also combine their auto insurance policies and homeowners insurance policies since multi-car discounts and multi-policy discounts will usually develop the lowest combined prices. Couples should use some caution prior to combining policies since most companies now use insurance credit scoring to determine rates. Couples may want to combine vehicles and personal property onto the policy of the individual with the best credit. Claims history, poor credit or a bad motor vehicle record will negatively affect merging insurance policies.

To help protect assets and to develop a long-term financial plan newlyweds should also consider the types of life and disability insurance that best fits their needs and budget. Visit with a local insurance agent to get policy recommendations and coverage ideas.

About The Author: Dave Dionne has been a disc jockey in Maine since 1975 (www.djsmaine.com). He is also a licensed Property-Casualty & Life & Health insurance agent in Maine.

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It’s Your Wedding – Don’t Miss It

Dec
28


It’s Your Wedding – Don’t Miss It!

If a picture is worth a thousand words…then video is an encyclopedia
They say our most valuable possessions are the memories of our life experiences. Since the beginning of recorded history, the marriage celebration has been the high point of a family’s celebrations. Preserving the memories with motion and sound is one of the wisest investments you can make. Choosing the best videographer is a decision that takes research and careful consideration.

IT’S YOUR WEDDING …DON’T MISS IT
A string quartet softly fills the air with classical music. The mothers are wearing elegant gowns. After being escorted to their seats, they light two candles adjoining the unity candle. The man of your dreams walks to the center aisle and takes a deep breath. Your best friends carefully march to the front and await your arrival. Sighs fill the air as your niece, the most adorable flower girl the world has ever seen drops rose petals on a white runner…and you are not even in the room. You are standing in the hall with Dad getting ready to make your entrance. Without a quality wedding video, you will have missed important moments that you have been planning since childhood.

UNOBTRUSIVE
Video is naturally less obtrusive than photography. There is no need to pose or arrange people. A video camera is silent and the newer digital cameras work in such low light that rarely is a light needed on the camera. A skilled videographer will be able to catch all the events and the interactions with your guests without you being aware of their presence. When you think about it, all the emotion, drama, suspense and lighter moments are built into the event. There should be no need to perform for the camera. Look for a videographer who will work in the background without becoming the overbearing director of your event.

CALM, CONFIDENT & QUIET
Attitudes and emotions are contagious. That is why so many wedding professionals have chosen to be at a wedding event every weekend. The love and excitement that wedding party’s exuberant will leave us feeling truly good about life. In turn, our attitudes and emotions will have an effect on the people with which we are working. Choose wedding professionals who will make you feel both calm and confident.

WOW! THIS LOOKS AND SOUNDS LIKE TV
If you are going to watch it on TV, it should be of the same quality as the other programs you watch. In order to have a great quality wedding video you need a videographer who has the right equipment and is skilled in the areas of camera work, sound recording and editing. Make sure the videographers you interview are full-time professionals who use three chip digital cameras for high resolution and great color. Ask if they will attend your rehearsal to properly plan for camera angles and microphone placement. Unless you want to assume the liability for their actions, make sure they carry liability insurance and have a business license. When you visit, do not be afraid to ask and see proof. Look at sample videos from actual weddings shot by the videographer who will be shooting your wedding and evaluate for smooth and steady camera work. Do the people on the tape look natural or staged? Can you feel the emotion? Listen carefully to the audio from the music, minister, vows, readers, vocalists and the D.J.’s introductions and toasts from the reception. An experienced videographer will have carefully miked all of the above. The on-camera microphone will never produce better than home video sound. Choose a full-time professional with quality equipment, skill and experience.

THE BIG PICTURE
The love that a couple feels for each other will be with them for the rest of their life. Getting in touch with these feelings years down the road might be a challenge for some. Having a Love Story produced where the details of your romance are documented may very well be the vehicle that will take you back to the time when your love was new. Many couples will have their video include additional important elements of the wedding process such as obtaining a marriage license, a visit to the site of the first meeting or date, recreating the proposal, final fitting of the dress or a visit to the tuxedo shop. When wedding video is produced to its potential, it will do more than just record what you look like and what you say, it will truly capture all the emotions of planning the biggest day of your life. Choose a videographer who is willing to customize coverage the way you want.

HOW MUCH SHOULD PROFESSIONAL VIDEO COST
The going rate for an experienced camera operator who owns Broadcast Quality equipment is between $100 & $150 per hour. When you consider (depending on the coverage you select) the time to plan, shoot and edit a professional wedding video will be anywhere from 15 to 60 hours, you can estimate what the cost should be for a top quality wedding video. You can always find somebody who will do it for less, if you are willing to accept a lower level of skill and quality. Sometimes it is better to spend more than you have planned, instead of less than you should.

THE TRUE VALUE OF VIDEO
A young couple in my office was up front about deciding whether to include professional video in their budget. I asked them to picture themselves owning a film of their grandparent’s wedding day and how much it would mean to them. She replied that her grandparents did indeed hire a professional to record a 16mm film of their wedding. I offered to buy it from her and asked her for a price. She said, “I could never part with that film, it’s family history and probably the most important thing I will ever own.” That was precisely the point. Having a professional wedding video produced will provide joy to your family now and for generations to come. Capture the romance by investing in a professionally produced wedding video.

About The Author: John Goolsby has produced over 1500 professional wedding videos working in 14 different states and 9 countries. He is a Certified Professional Videographer and Master of Electronic Imaging and has taught video communication at California Baptist University and the University of California-Riverside. He has won numerous awards including the PROVA award for the best wedding video in the United States three times and is the Past-President and Honorary Lifetime member of Professional Photographers of California and a Wedding Video Hall of Fame Inductee. You can reach him at (800) 495-5530 or www.AmericanVideographer.com

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10 Wedding Reception Mistakes

Dec
28


10 Wedding Reception Mistakes

Every bride wants a fairytale wedding. Therefore, this article is to try and minimize problems that may occur during a wedding reception. Listed below are the more common mistakes made by brides and grooms during your wedding reception. We will tell you what to do!

Don’t get drunk and obnoxious. Keep in mind the only time brides and grooms eat during the wedding day rituals are at the wedding reception. There’s not much food in your stomach and alcohol will affect you much faster. Try and eat throughout the day and watch how much you drink. You want your guests to remember how beautiful the bride looked, not how you acted.

Don’t leave early. Your guests came from near and far to see you on your wedding day. Not staying the whole time of the reception would be a slap in the face. This will be the only time most of your family and friends will be able to see you as you will be very busy with last minute preparations the days leading up to the wedding.

Setup all the tables. Your wedding vendors will need to know where to set-up. Be sure there is a table for the wedding cake, music entertainment, catered food, Sign-in near the entrance, gift table, tables and chairs for all your guests to eat and any other tables you may have planned for specialty items.

Preplan with your vendors a day or two before the wedding. Be sure all your wedding vendors know exactly what you want. Clarify times and location so you don’t need to worry about them.

Don’t arrive late to the reception. It is customary that guests do not start eating until the bride and groom start the food line. Be sure to get as many of your pictures taken BEFORE the wedding. There are many ways to accomplish this. One is to have the entire bride’s family pictures taken. Then, have the bride return to the dressing room. Next, take pictures of the groom and his family as guests can see the groom before the wedding. This way you will not compromise the groom seeing the bride before the wedding. Therefore, all that is left after the ceremony are pictures of the happy couple.

Don’t seat the young at heart directly in front of the music entertainment. Older generations are at a wedding typically to socialize with their family and friends. If they cannot hear each other talk, an unhappy situation may occur. So, if by choice, seat the young at heart near the wedding party but away from the entertainer’s speakers.

Don’t have one particular type of music. There are many different types of people in the world. And yes, they include your family and friends. For example, the bride and groom may love country music. It doesn’t mean you have to play country music the whole night. There is a lot of celebration music besides what you like.

Start the food line or meal as soon as possible. Guests plan their meal times the day of your wedding around your reception. Guests will not eat a big meal before your wedding because they know they will be eating at your reception. Don’t starve them.

Know what it will cost you if the reception goes into overtime. Ask the reception facility exactly how long you have the hall to rent and what time you must be out. Please allow time for cleanup if you are the ones doing it. What is the overtime charge for the facility, music entertainment, photography, etc?

Greet and say hello to all your guests. Finally and most importantly, greet all your guests. Make an effort to have a conversation with each and every person. They are there to celebrate your marriage. Give them the common courtesy of thanking them for coming to your wedding.

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