Wedding Layers

Finding a wedding photographer can be a daunting task given the sheer number of photographers in large Texas Cities like Dallas, Austin & San Antonio; A search of the Austin, Texas Yellow Pages yields over 393 professional photographers alone! And let’s not forget the “weekend warrior” photographer, who operates off of the photography grid and whose numbers can only be estimated. So how does a bride find the right photographer in a sea of wedding vendors? Here are some suggestions:

1. Referral = 1st hand experience. If you know someone who got married recently then make this your first lead. Check out the photographer’s website or portfolio and talk to bride/groom who hired them. If you like a particular photographer’s work and he/she gets a favorable review, make an appointment to meet with them. If you like a photographers work that you’ve found elsewhere, don’t be afraid to ask for references.

2. Pick a photographer based on his/her style. If you like his/her photos from past weddings, then you’ll probably like the photos they capture at your wedding! Find out what is the photographer’s primary style? Traditional posed shots? Candid or artistic? Photojournalistic? Other? Then decide which style you like best.

3. Try not to meet with too many photographers. Ideally you will want to select less than 5 wedding photographers in your area whose style you like and who are in your price range (don’t be afraid to ask this question when telephoning). Meeting with too many photographers will get confusing and will likely be counterproductive to your search.

4. Do you like the photographer you met with? This is the person that will be following you around for hours photographing you, your fiance and family/friends on your big day. Be sure it’s someone that you feel at ease with; otherwise your uneasiness will show up in the photos.

5. Ask to see images from an entire wedding (start to finish). Just about anyone can put together a slideshow of good pictures they have taken over the years. But a professional wedding photographer can capture great photos from every segment of a single wedding – bride dressing beforehand, ring exchange, kiss, formals, 1st dance, bouquet toss, etc.

6. Request a wedding day photo schedule. One element (possibly the most important) of wedding photography that is frequently overlooked is the Wedding Day Photo Schedule, which details when shooting begins/ends (i.e., number of coverage hours), who will be photographed during formal photos and provides a specific time line for each wedding event that will be photographed. If the photographer doesn’t provide one, then request it – it will be invaluable.

7. Is there a limit to the number of photos captured? Find out how many photos the photographer estimates will be captured on wedding day and how many photos will be provided after image selection/editing. Most photographers who use digital cameras can give you an estimate based on the number of hours of coverage provided at the wedding.

8. Do you get a CD with full-sized images? Many photographers are reluctant to provide you images from your wedding on CD, even though you may pay them handsomely for covering the event. Ask about getting the images on CD and if this costs extra.

9. Inquire about back-up cameras and equipment. Does the photographer you are meeting with have back up equipment in the case that his/her equipment malfunctions or fails? Professionals will frequently have on hand 2-3 cameras, numerous lenses, and at least 2 of everything else. Wedding photographers always have to be prepared for the unexpected!

10. Beware of inexpensive photographers. The old saying “you get what you pay for” is applicable when it comes to wedding photography. If someone posting on Craig’s List offers to shoot your wedding for $250, it’s probably b/c they are new to photography. If your wedding budget doesn’t allow you to hire a professional and you think that photographs from wedding day aren’t that important, then hiring an amateur may be OK. However, if images from the big day are important to you, then don’t skimp on photography; hire an experienced professional. You’ll be glad you did.

Sources:

1. www.yellowpages.com/categories/Austin-TX/photography, 2009.

Martin Whitton is a professional wedding photojournalist who lives and works in Austin, Texas.
Email: martin@mwwphoto.com

Author: Martin Whitton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Low-volume PCB maker

When children are allowed to participate in a wedding, there are a couple of traditional responsibilities or roles that they are better suited for. While children are generally seen tossing flowers down the aisle, the duties of a ring bearer are often given to a younger individual as well.

Who Should Be the Ring Bearer?

There is no concrete tradition to follow when it comes to selecting a ring bearer. If the engaged couple already has a little one of their own, they usually become the first choice to act as ring bearer. Relatives and close family friends also make great ring bearers. When it comes to the ring bearer, some people hold the misconception that the responsibility is only entitled to that of a young boy, but girls may also hold the position.

Usually, the child selected is between the ages of four and eight, which will play an important factor the day of the wedding. You should weigh the pros and cons of choosing a younger child, who might look adorable strolling down the aisle, but may also prove more uncooperative in the long run. Younger ring bearers are notorious for becoming easily distracted and wandering off course.

To make the final decision, the engaged couple should talk it over with the parents of the child, who can shed light on their personality, maturity level, and temperament in regards to this type of responsibility. You never know when your first choice might even be too shy to carry out the role.

Also, just because you have selected a child and their parents give consent, it doesn’t mean that the child feels comfortable in becoming a ring bearer. It is important to ask for their permission as well. Young boys often do not want to become an active part of a wedding, which is better to know ahead of time before making any definite plans. It’s an issue that is better left alone than forced.

The Responsibilities of a Ring Bearer

As you plan this part of the wedding, it is important to coordinate with the parents of the ring bearer and create a familiarity with the responsibilities and procedures that involve the child. Some of the factors to consider include:

* Attire: The matter of clothing and the cost is a matter that should be agreed upon ahead of time. Usually, the cost of the rental or purchase of the ring bearer’s clothing is traditionally the parents’ responsibility, but sometimes the engaged couple will offer to foot the bill. In matters of compromise, some parties split the costs. There are also decisions that come with the type of clothing the child will wear. Some couples prefer the ring bearer to dress in a mini-tuxedo that matches the ushers, while others would like their bow tie to match the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses.

* Rehearsal: When it’s time to have a rehearsal for the wedding, the ring bearer should be present, which will allow the child to get a sense of what to expect on the big day.

* Wedding Procession: Under tradition, the ring bearer precedes the bride, sometimes accompanied by a flower girl as a partner. During the procession, the child should know where their parents are so he or she will feel less anxious about the process.

* Carry Rings on a Pillow: Depending on your plans, the ring bearer will carry a satin pillow with two wedding rings attached. It is symbolic for the rings to be tied to the pillow, which are often fakes since the best man typically holds the real rings.

* Photos: Often, the ring bearer is part of the formal wedding pictures and should be available to take his place in the photographs when the time arises.

Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas Wedding Favors. She sells many different types of party favors such as, love glass coasters, two peas in a pod salt and pepper shakers and many many more. Yolandas Wedding Favors also carries many different wedding accessories and wedding gifts such as guest books, unity candles, ring pillows, bridesmaid gifts, groomsmen gifts and many many more.

Author: Yolanda Nash
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable pressure cooker

Second marriages, or even third, are not uncommon these days, in fact four out of ten weddings are now second time around marriages and many brides are now choosing to step outside the traditional ceremony and look for a new and special way to begin their new relationship. After all you now know who you are and what you want and are no longer influenced by parents as you may well have been the first time you tied the knot.

So why consider a destination wedding:-

• A destination wedding in a romantic tropical location will be something totally different from your previous wedding and well away from ex-wife’s or husbands and locations associated with your past relationship.
• Destination weddings are generally much more informal and allow you to really let your imagination run wild. Hold the ceremony on a tropical beach with coco palms and the blue ocean as a perfect backdrop or amid the exotic flowers in a garden. Choose your own wedding vows to really personalize the ceremony and set your own theme for the whole event.
• Most destination wedding venues provide the services of a wedding planner or co-ordinator leaving you free of all the stress associated with planning your special day. You just arrive at your chosen resort with everything arranged for you so you are free to relax and enjoy the company of your guests who have joined you to celebrate the start of your new life.
• Frequently second weddings tend to be smaller more intimate occasions with a more select guest list of close family and friends. Those who really want to wish you well and do not harbour old or mixed feelings and want to join with you in celebrating the start of your new life and what better than to join you in a perfect tropical setting.
• Combining your wedding with a honeymoon surrounded by your close family, friends and often your children removes the need to organise someone to look after children while you jet off after the wedding leaving them behind.
• Where there are children involved, as there frequently are, the relaxed holiday atmosphere of a destination wedding helps to build relationships with the new family members. The children can be involved in the ceremony as ring bearers, flower girls, or ushers ensuring their participation in the beginning of the new family arrangements. Where the children are young most good destination venues will offer child care facilities ensuring you are able to enjoy those intimate moments with your new partner confident that the children are being properly cared for, looked after and entertained.
• Memories of your wedding day are there forever in the photographs and videos taken during the ceremony and reception by your wedding photographer and by your guests in a destination wedding location offers the most colourful and romantic settings possible for these treasured reminiscences.

Destination weddings were once upon a time only for celebrities, or the rich and famous, but with many countries, such as the Dominican Republic, easing the procedures for marriages for non residents there are now endless possibilities with many private villas and resorts offering destination wedding packages at affordable prices.

If this is your second chance at love and finding happiness for the rest of your life shouldn’t your celebrate in real style. You deserve the best and a destination wedding in a tropical paradise is the perfect way to begin your new life together.

Adrian Head is Marketing and Events Director at Island Villa Weddings located on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Island Villa Weddings provide full facilities for Destination Weddings at three exclusive and fully staffed villas in Orchid Bay Estates just outside the village of Cabrera. Complete wedding planning packages are offered with total flexibility to enable the couple to personalize their ceremony, reception, and all their stay at the villa resorts as well as organizing the legal requirements for marriage in the Dominican Republic. Further information about Island Villa Weddings can be found at http://www.islandvillaweddings.com

Author: Adrian Head
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Excise Tax

You want your wedding ceremony to be perfect, and the reception that follows to be fabulous, but how do you achieve that dream idea? A lot of it starts with your wedding location.

First, you will want to find venues that are suitable to your wedding theme, if you have one. Holding your reception at a seafood restaurant would be out of place for a Christmas or western themed wedding for obvious reasons. However, don’t get stuck on this idea either. If your theme is “Rock and Roll” you can still have your ceremony in a quaint church and use subtle decorations to convey the theme. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you scout around looking for that perfect location.

• Start by taking a drive around the town jotting down ideas as you pass by possible venues.
• Take your time when looking for a good location for the ceremony and/or reception. Don’t rush in and book the first place you visit. Search out 2 or 3 different locations and then do a comparison of the sites (this applies to both the ceremony location and the reception location.) In some cases, you may not be able to book the date you’ve chosen to be married on and will need an alternative choice. It’s always good to have options.
• Take a checklist of questions that you want answered when you go so you can be sure you’ll be able to find a place that will provide exactly what you want and need.
• Ask family, friends, co-workers… even strangers on the bus, if they know of any good locations. You may be pleasantly surprised at some of the inspired answers you could receive of spots you would never have thought of.
• Call and make appointments to tour your top three picks. Don’t commit to anything during your first visit. Your first visit should be to get a good visual of the location, as well as have all of your questions answered regarding the venue.
• Take notes wherever you go. Jot down impressions of when you first enter the area, note how you were treated – was the person helpful or did you have to stand around waiting to be noticed? That’s a pretty good indication of how they’ll handle the wedding services.
• Make sure to look at available parking in the area, plus wheelchair access (if it might be needed) into the building. How large is the entrance and is there room out front for people to stand when the bridal party exits? Can a limousine or several cars park out front for the bridal party?
• Bring an instant Polaroid or digital camera with you and take pictures of the outside of the building and surrounding area, including the parking lot and entrance. Take pictures of the inside as well, including the entrance hall, the altar area, pews, and rooms that can be used for getting ready just before the ceremony. These will help you to recall what each place looked like once you get home. When checking out several locations they can start to blur together. Also, you will notice things in the pictures that you may not have noticed on your visual tour.

The above tips should help to get you started in the right direction. Obviously, there is a lot more involved in choosing a special place to hold your wedding ceremony and reception than can be discussed in a short article. If you are looking for more advice on how to plan a great wedding, while keeping your expenses in check, you can find some great wedding planning e-books on the Internet that will guide you step-by-step through the whole process.

(c) 2007 Rose Smith. Are you at a loss on what you need to do to start your wedding planning? Visit First Step Wedding Planning where brides and grooms can find the resources needed to plan a dazzling, yet inexpensive wedding. http://www.firststepweddings.com. For wedding theme ideas, check out Wedding Themes and More at http://www.wedthemes.com

Author: Rose Smith
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty rates

The current “buzz” in honeymoon planning is the destination wedding. Simply put, the destination becomes the wedding chapel, honeymoon site and vacation for the bride and groom and all invited guests.

A destination wedding is more of a concept than a location. For example, if you and your fiancée love the Wild West, you could plan a wedding at a dude ranch. How about being married surrounded by undersea wildlife at a large aquarium? Or standing on lava created by Pele in Hawaii?

If the “traditional” wedding doesn’t appeal to you – the “been there / done that” of the church and reception, then a destination wedding might be right for you.

If you have a destination wedding, who will you invite? Can your family, friends and loved ones afford to travel to the destination you choose? Will you pick up the costs for their travel and accommodations?

Are you willing to “run into” your friends, family and loved ones during your honeymoon? If you are all at the same location, you will end up seeing them. Do you want to share your honeymoon time? If you do choose to share your honeymoon time, be prepared to set expectation levels with your guests. For example, will you have dinner with them one night – but expect them to leave you alone the rest of the time? Or will your guests expect you to spend the majority of the time together? Neither way is bad – but it should be candidly discussed beforehand. You do not want any hurt feelings over your honeymoon – including your own!

Consider your guest’s preferences as well as your own. You’d love to have a lavish destination wedding in the Bahamas – but your mother is allergic to the sun. Is this a good choice? Remember, when you return home any problems you had with the destination will return with you.

Destination weddings can be comparable in costs to a traditional wedding. In fact, they can be more affordable. Because attendance is generally smaller, you can devote your budget to travel and lodging instead of church and reception. Many resorts will create packages for your destination wedding to include the license, minister, flowers and reception. And, because you have multiple people in your party, you may end up with discounts on packages.

Destination weddings can be very unique and special. Destination weddings are a definite change from the traditional wedding that will live on in you and your guest’s minds for a very long time.

Before you plan your destination wedding, be sure to make a list of all the pros and cons. Then contact your travel agent for expert assistance.

Kim is the owner of Ayela International. Ayela is a brand new company founded on the belief that natural skin care is better. Ayela offers exceptional natural skin care products including true mineral make up and natural skin lotions.

Ayela also offers an incredible opportunity for you to join a fast growing company on the ground floor. Imagine if you’d joined Tupperware or Avon when they first started! Where would you be now??

Visit Ayela today to discover exceptional natural skin care products and the opportunity of a lifetime!

Author: Kim Gillett
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Duty tariff