Wedding Layers

Finding and hiring a professional photographer to document your wedding day is a sizable investment, in not only money, but time as well. By doing your research and hiring a professional that suits your style, you can rest assured that he or she is going to capture your day exactly how you want. But achieving the best possible results doesn’t end with the signing of the contract. Below are a few simple things you can do as a client before and on your wedding day to help you and your photographer capture the photographs of your dreams.

1. Develop a personal relationship with your photographer. Hopefully you have selected a photographer whose personality meshes well with yours, besides your fiancé, they are the person you will be spending the most amount of time with on your wedding day. By the time your wedding day arrives, you should consider your photographer a friend, not just another vendor. This can seem like a difficult task to accomplish, considering how busy and hectic the months leading up to the big day can be, but it can be done. Most photographers understand the importance of this dynamic and will take the initiative, but it does take a little bit of effort from you as well. You must make yourself available. Though most beneficial, it doesn’t necessarily have to take place in person. Phone calls, emails, any form of conversation will work. And it most certainly doesn’t need to pertain to the business of your wedding. The stronger this sense of friendship is between you and the photographer, not only will you feel more comfortable and relaxed around him or her, the rest of the wedding party will as well. As soon as the guard comes down, the photographic magic happens.

2. Be yourself. This may seem like common sense, but it can be more difficult than you might think. Most people aren’t used to having a photographer document their every move, especially with intimidating looking professional equipment. Though they may not realize it, people tend to carry themselves and act differently as soon as a camera is pointed at them, which looks stiff and unnatural in photographs. Others just freeze up altogether. Unless your photographer is giving you specific direction, the best thing you can do is relax, be yourself, and act as if the photographer wasn’t even there. Pay special attention to your hands, they are a good indication of how tense you really are. Relax your hands and the rest of you will follow. No need to put on an act, simply be yourself.

3. Don’t rush your wedding day. When planning the schedule of the day, allot a realistic amount of time for each separate event. Planning a shorter, more casual wedding is one thing, but attempting to pack an eight-hour event into four makes everything feel rushed, like you’re trying to run a race. Not only does it make it difficult for everyone involved to enjoy the day, it makes it more difficult to capture natural looking photographs when you’re sprinting from one thing to the next. Pace your day and cherish every moment, it is, after all, a once in a lifetime experience (hopefully).

4. Look through magazines, on-line, and, of course, through your photographer’s portfolio for specific examples of images, scenes, and body positions that appeal to you and share these ideas with your photographer before hand. It will give both you and the photographer a better sense of direction when working together. Also, if you internalize these ideas and are able to carry and position yourself in a similar way without having to be completely directed by the photographer, the photographs will look much more natural. The more the photographer must direct, the more awkward you will feel and it will show in the images.

5. Communicate with your fiancé about the photography. Often photography is of much greater importance to one half of the couple, typically the bride, but occasionally the groom. Sometimes the photographer wont even meet the groom until the day of the wedding, as everything related to photography was arranged and booked by the bride. This usually translates to the groom and groomsmen standing around in complete disinterest, with a ‘this is her deal’ attitude. If you communicate openly with your fiancé, and, even better, the core wedding party, beforehand about the photography, it will make it much easier and enjoyable to achieve your desired results.

6. Enjoy your wedding day. Again, this may seem like common sense, but with the anticipation and stress involved in planning the perfect day, it can be difficult to actually enjoy it. While there is certainly no way to eliminate the stress and worry completely, you can minimize it. If you don’t have a professional day-of coordinator, appoint someone you trust to handle the logistics of the day and let them worry about the details. You have been planning this day for months, even years, once it finally arrives, relax and enjoy it. You certainly deserve to and doing so will translate to more natural looking, joyous images.

Joshua Walker is an award-winning wedding photojournalist based in San Diego, CA. www.joshuawalkerphotography.com

Author: Joshua Walker
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Weddings are a joyous occasion when family and friends come together to celebrate and toast the happy couple. Planning your wedding day is an all consuming project and there are various guide books to get you off to a productive start. One of the main items on your checklist will be choosing a wedding photographer to record the special moments and capture the atmosphere, wedding dress, bridesmaid’s outfits, wedding party, venues and guests. Photographs are tangible, they don’t go out of date with changing technology, and provide a lasting memory for yourself and future generations to view and cherish.

Tips to help you choose a wedding photographer

It is a good idea to have a clear overview of what you need from your chosen wedding photographer. Questions to ask your self include:

• Would I like a traditional or more contemporary style? Should the emphasis be on formal or un-posed shots?
• Do I require photography taken at home on the morning of the wedding?
• Will all the shots be in colour, or some black and white or maybe others using effects such as sepia toning? Is this something I am happy to leave to the photographer to decide?
• Would I like a copy of the photos on DVD?
• Do I have any special family shots that need to be taken on the day?
• What is my budget?

These questions will help you to create a brief for the photographer when you meet. By establishing this clear brief you will ensure accurate comparative pricing, and on appointment, be sure that the event is captured to suit your requirements, and not those of the photographer.

Finding a photographer

Once you have booked your wedding day and venue, you can start creating a list of photographers to contact. The sooner you do this the better as top photographers get booked up quickly. Recommendations from friends and family are a good starting point, as you can get a first hand account of the photographer’s character, the service provided and their reliability. You can also do a Google search on the Internet for photographers in your local area or in the location where you plan to get married and view their website for additional details.

Contact photographers to qualify your list

To achieve superb quality photographs it is important to find a full time photographer who is well qualified, experienced and, ideally, has previous experience of work in your chosen venue. Make initial contact to check availability on your wedding day and then arrange to meet at your home or their studio. It’s a good idea to take along a friend or family member to get another impartial opinion on the photographer and his work.

Viewing the photographers work

You need to feel absolutely sure that the photographer you choose will capture the essence of your wedding and be able to coax out the best smiles from you and your guests.

• Do they have a flair for making the ordinary appear beautiful
• When viewing samples of the albums, ask yourself, “Do the people in the photographs look happy, relaxed and comfortable?” Postures should be confident and hand placements should look natural.
• Are you able to have a good rapport with the photographer and does he explain things clearly. This is an important aspect as you and your guests will need to take instructions from him regarding pose and positions on the day.
• Do you like their style and do the images tell the story of the Wedding Day?

Questions to Ask

• Confirm that the photographer you meet will be the one actually taking the photos on the day.
• Has he taken photos at the venue before? – ask to see examples.
• Does the photographer have professional indemnity insurance to cover the cost of retaking your photographs if something goes horribly wrong?
• Does the photographer have backup equipment and is it of the same quality as the primary equipment?
• Who will process and develop the film and prints?

Comparing quotes

Make sure you ask each photographer to quote for the same job, working to your brief, allowing you to make a fair comparison of quotations. It is important to understand what you are paying for so check the quotation carefully to establish what is included and what is treated as extras. You will find that you generally get what you pay for, and that more experienced photographers may charge more for their services. Emphasise that the quality of print is most important, and establish whether there will be use of digital photography and if so whether photos can be enlarged or edited. Once you are happy with your choice, ensure you return the signed contract and get the booking confirmed in writing. If booked well in advance, phone a week or so before the big day, to ensure everything is in place, and to fine tune arrangements.

On the day, why not also buy disposable single use cameras and leave them on the dining table for guests to capture their own unique take on the wedding. This is a great way to capture more relaxed moments later in the evening when the official photographer has left.

Beautiful Wedding Photography in Dorset. Courtenay Hitchcock is a Dorset Wedding Photographer with a contemporary, natural and unobtrusive photography style.

http://www.courtenayphotographic.co.uk/

Author: Courtenay Hitchcock
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Every bride has a vision of her wedding party as they walk down the aisle. You have a color in mind, a style and your maids have been carefully chosen. Shopping for your bridesmaid dresses should be easy, but its not. Maids or mom do not like the style, the color or the fabric. Take the sting out of shopping for your bridesmaid dresses by keeping in mind your maids body shape and their budget.

Pre shop for your maids with just ONE trusted friend, the maid of honor, your sister or your mother. Look at the different styles, colors and fabrics and narrow down your choices to no more than three dresses. Then make an appointment with the salon to bring your maids to pick THE dress, giving all the maids a choice and a vote.

When pre shopping, its really important to keep your maids body shape in mind. Happy maids equal a happy wedding. If they are uncomfortable in the style you have chosen, you will have problems. You need to concentrate on dresses that will flatter their figures, are within their budget and whether they want to wear the dress again. If you choose a knee length dress, they will have to buy matching shoes which needs to be added to their budget costs.

No one has a bridal party where everyone is built the same or has perfect figures. Every body shape is different. and none are perfect. What will flatter your size 8 sister may look awful on a size 20 best friend. If you have a large busted maid, you can not expect her to go bra-less in a plunging neckline. She will be uncomfortable, you will be uncomfortable.

Do not hesitate to ask your bridal consultant for help in choosing dresses that will flatter your maids. Tell the consultant the range of sizes, keeping in mind that their regular size will not be the same in a maids dress. Maids dresses run smaller because they are cut directly to the body, there is no ease or wiggle room in the dress. If your friend is a size 12 in regular clothes and you order a size 12, chances it will not fit her. Bridesmaid dresses are sized by measurements and they run small.

If one of your maids is a plus size, she will have to pay extra for a larger size. It is a manufacturers charge, it costs more money to produce because they use more fabric. You need to keep her in mind when choosing a dress. You do not want to put a plus size gal in a mermaid silhouette unless she is built perfectly in proportion. You also do not want to put any pear shaped or larger hipped maid in a sleek mermaid silhouette. It will not flatter them. Instead, choose a softly flowing A line skirt that flows over the hips. Your maid will look slimmer, she will be comfortable and you will be happier.

If you have a maid who is very large busted, avoid plunging necklines or any dress neckline where she can not wear a strapless bra. Many of today’s strapless dresses have built in bras and detachable spaghetti straps. Be aware that some maids will still have to wear a strapless bra. Look for a dress with a straight across strapless neckline that comes up high enough on the bodice to hid the cleavage.

If you have maids that are thick in the waistline, look for empire waist or baby doll dresses. Wrapped waist dresses that wrap to the side of the dress are very slimming and give the illusion of having a smaller waistline.

If you have a maid that is very small busted, bra cups sewn into her dress can even up her figure. It is a very common alteration and very inexpensive.

If your maids want to wear the dress again, the truth is that they probably will not because a bridesmaid dress is a formal dress. However, if you choose a color that they can wear again and a simple elegant style, they can. Long dresses can be shortened to knee or tea length. Brooches can be unpinned, straps or a little jacket or shawl can be worn with it. If you INSIST on putting them in baby pink poofy rouched pick up skirts, make sure they are all up for it and can afford the expenditure before you commit to the purchase.

Another thing to keep in mind is that not all dresses and styles come in all colors. If you just have to have a color, you will waste a lot of time shopping and limit yourself to very few choices. Instead, shop for the style and pick a shade variation based on your color choice. And please consider whether the color will be flattering on your bridesmaids.

The quality of the dress does matter. If you fall in love with a bridesmaid dress your maids can not afford, and you see a knock off of the dress for a ridiculously low price, it is not going to be the same dress you saw in a salon. The fit will be different, the cut will be different, the fabric will be different. It probably will not have that cool built in bra or enough support to keep the girls in place. It probably will wrinkle more than the original because they are using lower grade fabric. If you do not see it and can not touch it, please do not buy it sight unseen. You will save yourself and your bridesmaids a lot of disappointment.

Rose Trifero is an internationally known expert in the field of weddings and bridal fashions. She has been involved in the industry for over 31 years and has written and been quoted in national bridal magazines including Vows, the magazine for bridal professionals. She has also spent 31 years running a bridal salon. She is also the force behind http://www.beachbride2be.com, a source of information for destination weddings and http://www.WeddingLoco.com a free wedding planning site.

Author: Rose Trifero
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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My boyfriend is in a wedding party and they are getting dressed with the groom in the hotel and going to the church. After the ceremony they are going to take pictures and then go to the reception hall. We won’t have cars since it’s an out of town wedding.

How do I get to the wedding and then to the reception hall? Do I have to hope that one of the other girlfriends of the groomsmen is willing to give me a ride?

There is one thing that every couple must do when planning a wedding, and that is finding the right photographer. This may not be as easy as you think, as a lot of things depend on the photographer. You want to make sure you make the best decision since you will only get one chance at this. Having someone who captures this priceless day is important. So make sure you do not make the mistakes listed below when you are searching for your wedding photographer.

1. Having the Thoughts that All Photographers are Equal

As you know, no one is the same as anyone else. This is especially true when it comes to photographers. To get this point through, think of your favorite sport, and now think of the top two players. Notice how these players are both great, but have their own style.

2. Choosing a Photographers Based On Their Price

Choosing the cheapest or most expensive photographer, does not guarantee you they quality. You may choose the cheapest photographer and get the best quality, or choose the most expensive and get the worse quality.

3. Thinking the Right Gear With Get Great Results

Just because the photographer you choose carries around the best equipment, does not mean they are an expert using it. These expensive cameras come with a lot of great features, but unless your photographer is skilled on the equipment, these features mean nothing,

4. Letting Friends and Relatives Take the Pictures For You, and Expecting Professional Results

It is always nice to have your friends and family take pictures at your wedding, but remember that taking professional pictures needs experience. Even if your favorite Uncle does have the best camera, if he is not experienced, these pictures will not be professional.

5. Cutting Your Photographers Time

A lot of times we want a lot in a little bit of time. If you want family pictures or pictures of the wedding party, make sure you schedule time for it. If you try to get everyone together and rush the photographer to take the pictures fast, you are more than likely going to get bad results. Know who you want pictures taken of, and make time for it. Make sure you tell your photographer the must have pictures well in advance. Having a time schedule will give your photographer and chance to organize and take great pictures.

6. You Entertain Too Many Photographers

Though price shopping with a number of different service providers is often a good idea, with photography this is not necessarily so.

A good photographer often has an already established client base and relies more on word of mouth than on advertising or on overly competitive prices. Many quality photographers will not even consider lowering rates for a price shopper. While it is important to get a good price and to stay within budget for photography services, it is even more important to have a professional experience and a high quality product.

7. You Sign the Paperwork Without Looking it Over First

It is not only one of the biggest mistakes but also one of the most commonly occurring – many people do not read the paperwork provided by their photographers. If a couple is serious about getting the best photographer, they need to take the time to read the contracts. Also, any items that are discussed between the photographer and client must appear in writing.

8. You Do Not Trust Your Own Instincts

A couple may get the feeling that an offer from a photographer is too good to be true, then will ignore that feeling in order to get a good deal. It is more important to trust those instincts; if something seems fishy, it probably is.

9. Lack of Professionalism is Ignored

A person who is planning a wedding has a long list of items to attend to, so it can be easy to ignore small things, such as a photographer who is dressed unprofessionally or behaves in any way other than a business-like fashion. It may seem unimportant how a person is dressed at the time of procuring their services, but if you attempt to picture this person in the midst of a wedding ceremony and formal reception, you may understand why professionalism is vital.

10. You Do Not Make Inquiries Into the Sample Album

Amateur photographers may attempt to piece together a sample album from multiple weddings, showing only one or two of the best shots taken at each wedding. A professional photographer will show a sample album with shots obtained at one wedding, showcasing the ability to capture multiple excellent photographs during the event.

It is also important to ask the photographer about the wedding; ask specific questions about techniques used or about the wedding itself so that you know for certain that the photographer is showing a legitimate sample album rather than one obtained from another photographer.

Gareth Osgood is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For Hampshire Wedding Photography, he recommends Cooper Photography.

Author: Gareth Osgood
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Exactly what should your disc jockey be doing in the weeks/months prior to your wedding? If you think that they just show up at your reception and are ready to go – you’ve missed out on what they’ve been doing to prepare.

Typically, your DJ will meet you during the sales stage of things – you get to know him, they get to know what you are looking for. Once you’ve decided that they are the right DJ for you, then the work starts. Your DJ would lock in your date and start working on preparation. About 2 months prior to your wedding, they would meet you again and start going over details with you. If your DJ wants to meet only a week or so ahead of your wedding – just say no. You should expect more from them.

This is what a professional DJ does in the months prior to your event:

1. They have your itinerary / wedding party names to review and make sure there are no issues and that transitions from one thing to a next have a natural flow to them.

2. They would be communicating with you regarding any last minute changes you might have, sometimes talking to the banquet facility or your photographer if questions arise or to discuss setup requirements.

3. They would review your music requests and make sure they have all your key songs. Many DJs will prepare a working CD with all your selected songs on it to even further make sure there are no issues on the day of your wedding.

4. Many DJs now will work on music programming on their laptop – they will prepare just the right mix of music for social hour and dinner ahead of time. For your dance selections, they may prepare a play list so all the songs you want are easily accessible and for quick reference.

5. They will prepare their equipment and load up just the right pieces for your event and bring sufficient backup in case of emergency.

A typical wedding might require about 5-10 hours of preparation event BEFORE the day of your wedding. Ask your potential DJ how much time they invest in preparation for your event – you might be amazed at the differences between lesser DJs and true professionals.

Rob Alberti
After Hours Disc Jockey Service – MA/CT/RI
http://www.afterhoursdj.net

Author: Rob Alberti
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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When you are planning to have a wedding party, you should prepare it carefully since planning a wedding party could be something difficult for some people, especially for you who do not have any experience about it before. There are some essential things you should consider in preparing this special occasion.

Actually, in preparing this great event, you should be fun and enjoying the process of preparation. For a good start, you are able to search for any wedding books that will help and guide you prepare your event. These books can also inspire you in determining the party theme, styles, designs, or colors of your party. You may also get some tips that will be so helpful for you.

Or you may come to a wedding ceremony adviser. You are able to consult your planning to him and ask his advice. The valuable advice also can come from your parents, brothers and sisters, or friends. They may have experiences about wedding ceremony before, so they can share with you.

I can say that the first thing you should consider in preparing your wedding is the budget. As you know, the budget would determine all the things in your wedding. So, be careful with your budget. You should make sure that you have prepared every detail well and those all things fit your budget.

The most important detail you should give more attention is food. Try to be creative with the food that you are going to prepare in your party because it can be something that determines the success of your party. Usually, the guests will enjoy the party generally if the food is nice. So, be careful in choosing the food. You can hire a wedding caterer who will provide the best catering service for you.

Finally, if you feel that you are not able to handle all of the things for your party, just hire a professional wedding planner that is going to give you the best party based on the budget you have prepared. Of course, you are going to spend some extra money, but you can make sure that everything will be handled well.

Gregory W. Ortiz, the author of this article, has written many articles about many things, such as beauty pageant, self-improvement, and some tips. For his newest website, he writes about kettler table tennis. You are suggested to visit kettler table tennis since it will help you find the best prince table tennis and other information you need.

Author: Gregory W Ortiz
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A wedding ceremony serves as the most significant event in the lives of a couple.It stands as a life beacon from which all-future events flow. The actual wedding day consumes all available energy from family members.Events spiral toward the wedding magnetically drawing all toward the core ceremony much as a black hole consumes all light.It is however, a day of bliss, of joy and happiness matched only by the Honeymoon in the eyes of the Bride and Groom.That is how it should be, that is how it is.

This is also, where a professional Wedding Planner helps by taking over the stressful parts of planning, coordination, and simplifies, eases demands on the wedding party.This support provides assurance to the Bride and Groom with hope of enjoying their special day.

A Groom’s Survival Planning Guide recognizes that a wedding can be a major cause of concern, worry, and frustration.Even if engaging the services of a professional Wedding Planner is not possible, other ways exist to help you move through the maze.It seems as if there are thousands of details to handle and only you to do it.

Advice for the Groom

The very first thing you need to do after your Bride to be said yes is to assure weddingplanning is in some hands other than yours or your Bride.You really need to make sure that happens.If not, the days leading up to the vows will not be nearly asmuchfun as you expected.

As a Groom, much of the planning details go right over your head as points of interest.However, you know that your survival depends on it at least appearing that it does.If your Bride thinks, some detail about the flower arrangement is important that is good enough for you.If she is happy, you are happy.

Let’s face it you want to get married and are willing to go through all the legal requirements to make this woman your wife.In large part, the rest of the trappings could by all accounts disappear, if they would.That will not happen because a Bride lives for all the other things that make her wedding special, perfect.In large part, it is one of the differences between a Groom and a Bride.

Remember, the secret to sanity is simple make sure your Bride or her family find a qualified person to handle the wedding plans and details. It is important you meet with this person without your Bride early in the process for a number of reasons. The solo meeting is not an attempt for a covert operation, it is your effort for the planner to hear, see you. If you noticed in the first joint meeting, all attention goes to the bride. If you offer a comment, a nod might come your way but the acknowledgment goes to the bride. The reason is simple. In most cases, the bride or family engages the planner and they want the bride to be happy. Rest assured they want you both to be happy but they really want the bride to be happy.

Your goal in this meetingis to win him/her over as you emphasize that you have total faith and trust in them to make your wedding a wonderful success.Secondly, if that meeting goes well make sure you call the planner at least every week no more than two weeks, stressing that you want to any issues developing or potential problems foreseen.

Maintaining this contact with your planner will keep you effectively informed on the plans that are important to the success of the wedding.The result is you are involved without actually being involved; you will be knowledgeable of the wedding plans. When bridal discussions arise at dinners shared with parents, or soon to be, in-laws you will actually appear involved with the planning.These discussions will come all too often.

The benefit to you is you have control or at least input intothe wedding planning process such that keeping your golf game, fishing trips and travel plans intact can happen. Also sometimes in the process expect your Bride to ask you about what you are doing talking with the planner.This is the chance to make golden points.Your involvement indicates that you are actively involved to assure a success of this wedding. Additionally, you become a hero to the one that means the most to you.

As the Groom, you must understand that the global nature of weddings falling into three categories as listed below.You have options but must pay attention on how the playing field changes depending of circumstances.

Weddings viewed from experience fall into three types:

The Grand Affair

The first is the big, grand, formal, large event affair as briefly described above is most often pictured when we think of a wedding.It is the best, the top, maybe the lasting event.You already know how to work this process to the benefit of all including yourself.

The Intimate Affair

The second type is a wedding planned as a smaller, more intimate event and surroundings, attended by only close friends and family.This type wedding has less draining effect on family and friends but showers as much blessing, hope, and joy as a more formal wedding.Some aspects of a smaller wedding allow intimacy between the wedding party, attendees, Bride, and Groom, due to their personal relationships.

This one is not nearly as damaging to your lifestyle prior to the marriage as the formal event.Depending on the Bride’s family and yours it might not be necessary to hire a Wedding Planner but if things are not going right push for that.Again, with the professional in place your job is easier.

Some Brides love to plan all aspects of the wedding, making assignments for what happens and in fact becomes the wedding planner.This is a tough one.You will get your assignments and do not screw the assignment up.That usually means you no longer have an agenda, you must keep the planner’s agenda in this case the Brides.Failing on something before the wedding is just not good form.

Try to enlist someone to help the Bride, as it will allow moments of sanity, which become all too scarce as the wedding draws near.She may not realize it but the help will be a lifesaver for her and for you.

The Practical Affair

The third wedding type often characterized as the “Vegas” wedding takes place with the Bride and Groom and only one or two witnesses in attendance.This last wedding type is the least costly, the least impact on family and friends, and the one that has less financial drain on the marrying couples impending life together. It is just as wonderful as the two previous types, memories just as lasting and hopes not diminished in any fashion.

This one is just easy.Your job is to plan the honeymoon and that might include a round of Golf.Well, maybe not but that is the idea.Usually no help needed here.You also have more money to spend on the honeymoon and maybe to get that new car.

What about Real Wedding Planners?

So, not being a professional wedding planner, what would I recommend for the aspiring Bride and Groom?

If this is the first wedding for either party,

If they can afford the expense related to a large wedding:

If the families can endure the stress that comes with planning and execution:

If they can find a place for the ceremony that meets their requirement and have long enough lead-time:

Hire a professional Wedding Planner.

Go for the big, once in a lifetime wedding.There will never be another event quite like this one no matter what surprises life brings down the road.The doorway to all follows. Just do not mortgage your future with wedding expenses you cannot afford.

The other two are where I find my personal heart revolving since the focus is more on the individuals and their lives than pomp and ceremony.These more intimate events focus on the two not the many.

Putting those thoughts asides there are many places to find Real Wedding Planners.It is after all a major source of business revenue for many and billions of dollars in annual business.The service provided is real, beneficial, and supportive of a total wedding package.However, you can normally select how much, how far and what you want from your Wedding Planner to help with your budget.

Other Choices

If your head is spinning and you feel the need to punt, don’t.There are alternatives, there are many books providing help in planning a wedding event without a Professional Wedding Planner.Help in planning a wedding directed toward controlling expense is available from various sources presenting the information in a planning guide format.

Remember; always place the planning responsibility on someone other than you or your Bride to be.Pick a friend, an acquaintance, possibly a relative but from your brides side of the family.That choice becomes clear when resolving details.

Regardless of the path, you choose to follow in making your Wedding the best possible ceremony it will be a wonderful occasion.

Have a long, happy life together on the path chosen to begin the journey.

Author: Harold Simmons
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Are you planning for a wedding or are thinking of planning a wedding? There are a lot of parts to planning a wedding, and it can seem like you are all by yourself to do all the planning. Luckily wedding planning need not be complicated.

As you read this article, you will soon discover:
* The Components Of A Big Day!
* An Essential For A Great Wedding
* How To Make Life Easier When Planning A Wedding

* The Components Of A Big Day!
There are several parts to a creating a great day of celebrations. Depending on the size of the event, your work could be harder or easier. In all cases, there is still going to be a lot to planning.

By far the biggest consideration is where you will hold the celebrations. This will depend on the amount of people attending, and perhaps a choice based on a theme.

There are other factors, wedding cake, music, food, and flowers. There are also questions of how people will be getting to the event. Do you need a limo?

* An Essential For A Great Wedding
There are some things you can do to create a great celebration. The first aspect and most important is timing. Earlier you can start wedding planning; the more likely the parts will all come together at the right time to create a great day.

Investing time into planning is essential, so you can have a good idea of what you want your big day to be like. The planning phase allows you to paint a picture, which you likely already have an idea of. This picture will help you in finding the correct parts to make your wedding day a success.

* How To Make Life Easier When Planning A Wedding
There are several things you can do to make life much easier when planning a wedding. You don’t have to do all the work yourself. Your partner should be your close ally in planning the special day, and he or she can help balance what needs to be done.

It is also a good idea to get together a wedding party. This is people who will help you through the planning of the big day. They can help you shop for items, pick up stuff, etc. Selecting your team is essential, as these people will lift a lot of the burden of your shoulders.

A great idea is to have a wedding planner. Wedding planners are great because they have planned many wedding before. They know how to put a wedding together, and may be able to source things for cheaper, as they know all the suppliers.

If you can’t afford a wedding planner, there are wedding planning books available that do just as good a job, at much lower prices. These wedding planning books can help you from setting a budget, to knowing what needs to be done in what order.

Author: Koz Huseyin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cool mobile gadgets

Tip 1: What is important to you about your wedding?

This tip is really simple but very important!

Here it is……Grab that fiance’ of yours go somewhere relaxing and start to talk about what is most important to you for your wedding. Make a list of what is important to him and to you then talk about them and… you may need to compromise but that will really get you started down the path of being able to resolve your differences without ending up in divorce court!

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Food -Are you a foodie…is food really important to you or not so much Music – Are you really into music and really love to dance if so put it up there at the top of the list. If not well put it where you feel m the most comfortable.
• Flowers and decoration – How much does it matter to you that the church and or the reception venue really look sharp do you need to satisfy your inner designer?
• The Ceremony venue – Are you tied to a church or have always dreamed of a lake side or mountain top wedding? Dig deep and discover your dreams!
• Party Time – Is having a good time really up there, so good a time that you might not remember what you did the next day? Well put it up there ahead of everything else and remember that it likely will involve an open bar!!

Ok you get the idea!

Why this process is important is it helps you prioritize where to spend your money and in the process reduces the stress of planning and helps you rest assured that your day will be what you want. Oh! it can also help keep you focused on your vision.

One final thing…share your priorities with your wedding party and most importantly your photographer. Why the photographer, because she will be with you the entire day and if she knows your priorities she can focus her energy in the right direction. As an added bonus she can also fine tune her services so they match your priorities.

Tip 2: How to be a green and thrifty princess.

Your dress is the Princess dress you have dreamed about since can remember. As a little girl you may have played dress up with your friends and may even had a “wedding” or two with neighbor boy you had a crush on! It is very easy to fulfill that dream when we a in an economic boom but right now we are not so maybe you might want to think about …Plan B!

As you already know you are only going to wear that dress once (hopefully). So why spend thousands and then have it sit in a box somewhere? What else can you do?

Well for starters you could pick out a dress that can be used after your wedding… A simple number that reflects your stylishness and still keeps the princess alive.

The folks down under and elsewhere have pioneered this by opting for non-white dresses! Yes you read that right…we have seen red, blue and even green wedding dresses AND the cool thing is they seem to help create an atmosphere of fun and celebration. After all that is what it is…a celebration.

Others are opting for renting and even picking up a used one. Many of the brides who participate in “Trash the Dress” shoots get some pretty cool dresses for even cooler prices on eBay! Others have gotten great ones at the Salvation Army and even the Goodwill.

The additional benefit of all of this besides saving you money is the green factor…by focusing on multiple uses for your dress or recycling one you help reduce consumption! And that is good for all of us… plus it frees up cash for other things that may be higher on your priority list.

Stay happy and relaxed!!

Tip 3: Say no to stress on your day!!

Take the stress out!

Remember when we talked about the Princess thing? Well here is another part of that to help you reduce the stress of the days before your wedding and on the day itself.

Ok…take a deep breath let it out slowly and repeat the following: “There is no such thing as a perfect wedding however my wedding turns out is how it will be”.

Leave the rainbow to Dorothy!!

Now once you have started repeating this mantra put some serious thought into finding a good and supportive friend who also happens to be good with details. This lucky person will be your very own personal attendant and assistant. So when Aunt Susie asks “where do I put the gifts?” raise you arm and point ever so innocently while you say ” thanks for asking and my good friend (insert name) is completely in charge so I can be princess of the day and savor my memories!”

See that was easy wasn’t it?

One final thing…sit down with your friend and make a list of all those things that could or might go wrong for you, not the guests or even the groom but for you. So what would you do if you forgot your false eyelashes? Or you snagged your dress on the door knob and oops does anybody have some thread?

You get the idea… This kind of early anticipation can make a major difference in your stress level on your day.

Tip 4: Use your priority list to help you choose your photographer

Believe it or not, the photographer you select to photograph your wedding can make or break your wedding day and not just your photographs. Because he will be there with you and your family, in person interacting with all your family and guests. Every part of your wedding is touched by the photographer and her ability to coordinate, and communicate amidst the excitement and anxiety of one of the biggest days of your life.

As you will see later, we are talking about how everything does or does not come together and how you remember your day based on the emotions you were feeling. Your photographer determines this, by the way she helps you plan your wedding, the way she treats you and your family and friends, and the way she conducts herself throughout the day.

So spend some time with your photographers, pay attention to whether they are listening to you, or if they are just pitching to you. That is why it is important to know your style preferences ahead of time. Also, pay attention to their personality and make sure there is a fit in that department as well. While the pictures are important your ability to work with your photographer and her ability to hear your desires will make the difference between enjoying good memories of your wedding day or not.

One way to make help you figure this out is to make sure at least one engagement session is included in the photographer’s services. To really make a difference the engagement sessions should be at least an hour and not limited to studio poses. Engagement sessions give you, your guy and your photographer a chance to see how each other works and to adjust accordingly.

Tip 5: Help your photographer help you

Ok so you have figured out what is important to you in Tip #1 above. Now regardless of what you chose as a priority you probably still are going to have someone take photos. So this tip is very important for you to address early on and it is important because you are paying a lot of money for photographs of a very important day in your life.

Sit down with your photographer and talk about how best to use the photos of your wedding AFTER your wedding. You read that right…you see many brides pay thousands of dollars to have their wedding documented only to leave the CD or DVD containing those photos in a drawer…what a waste!

A good photographer will not only help you with the HOW part but also the WHO. And a good photographer will also not try to sell you something you may not need. Figure out if your families will want photos and how they would like to use them. Also sit down with your guy and talk about how and where you would like to use your photos. Here are some ideas:

• Would your family like a wall collection or a single bridal portrait?
• Do you want album or are you more of stack of photos do it yourself girl?
• Do you have some empty walls that you are saving for a collection of your favorite photos?
• Holiday and Thank You cards can be a great use of wedding photos…knowing you want to use some of your photos this way will help your photographer make sure she gets images that will work well for that use.

Tip 6: Make sure your photographer can deliver

This seems so obvious, and yet brides miss this one all the time, and pay a BIG PRICE for it after their wedding! Be sure the photographer has lots of happy brides and grooms, who have taken time to write and tell the photographer how happy they were with both him, and his work! We’re talking TESTIMONIALS here! From real people, with their full names, and their city and state, so you can call them if you want to, just to check them out and make sure that they really said what the photographer says they said. (That is a hard sentence to read, but you get the point! Sorry!)

I’m sorry to be so skeptical, but the switch to Digital has made it possible for anyone with a digital camera to think of themselves as professional. ALWAYS ask how long they have been photographing weddings and very important, ask to see samples of more than one complete wedding. If they have been photographing for less than 2 years get names of clients and call them.

While we all recognize the importance of budgeting if you have determined that photography is very important to you do not settle for the cheapest. A photographer who charges $500.00 to cover 12 hours of you wedding, perform accurate post production, full fill your print orders, is not paying themselves anything. In the end you end up losing memories of one the most important days of your life.

Tip 7: A Magic Way To Have A Great Wedding.

One of the things that you really want to look for in your photographer, is someone who knows how to identify the important parts of an ongoing story. One who knows what to look for and can capture it in the style you prefer without taking a hundred zillion pictures.

Also look at the photos closely does the composition reflect your style? Does the collection tell a story that is heart felt and authentic. Does each photo contain a story?

Tip 8: Be the center of the universe on your wedding day.

This is very important whether you are engaging a caterer, a venue, or photographer. Make sure you are the only show in town for them on your wedding day, especially for the services you have identified as top on your priority list.

While this is less of an issue with food service and venues it is still important to make sure they understand that you want them to focus on you on your day doing so will almost guarantee their best service. This issue is particularly important when it comes to photographers since many will cram as many weddings into a day as they humanly can. This means they must rush from your wedding, to get to another, and then rush from that one, to get to another.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, digital photography has made it extremely easy for what has become know as “Debbie Digitals” and “Uncle Bobs” to offer their “services” without really knowing what is involved in providing great wedding coverage. More often than not, they have decided that “taking wedding pictures” is an “easy” way to make some cash on the side. Nothing is further from the truth, good wedding photographs require a photographer who knows how to use a variety of lenses, understands light and can provide more than snapshots.

SO…If capturing the story of your day in a way that evokes your memories and emotions no matter when you view the photos is high priority, then this type of photographer is probably not going to be a good fit for you.

HOWEVER…If after working through your priorities you determine that photography isn’t as important as say your meal, or the music then this type of photographer may work just fine.

REMEMBER …This basic law:

You always get what you pay for!

A photographer who only photographs one wedding per weekend or better yet is very selective about the number of clients she works with will be fresh and alert for you. She limits her weddings because she understands how important this day is to you, and the importance of being there for you from the beginning.

A selective photographer is a photographer who values each and every client as more than a source of income, working with you is more than a simple transaction.

Tip 9: Choose a leader and collaborator over a vendor

Why is this so important? Well a vendor is defined as ” a person or company or company offering something for sale.” This definition implies a single transaction with little or no concern for your needs or desires, in other words a vendor implies a product and not a service. When a caterer, photographer, or venue sees themselves as providing a service satisfaction of your needs is the center of their attention. Make sure also that they see themselves as a member of your team. That way they are much more likely to be available to you from the day you decide to work with them. There is one service provider that is definitely needs to have a team approach and that is your photographer.

WHY IS THE PHOTOGRAPHER SO IMPORTANT?

As I said earlier the photographer touches every part of a wedding and very often is the sole determining factor effecting your memories of the day. A good photographer knows how and most importantly cares enough to keep everything moving on schedule and to take charge when things start falling apart. How often have you been in a wedding and had to stand around waiting with no idea of what is supposed to happen?

You see, doing a really professional and thorough job requires a huge amount of planning, care, and effort. A good photographer will work closely with you to set up a time line to make sure everything flows with ease.

A good service provider should meet with you as many times as needed to help you work out the details of your wedding especially your photographer. She can help you get ready and coach you with everything from your make-up to your dress. Most brides are planning their weddings ALONE or nearly alone, it is not an easy job. That is were a good photographer will be available to you to help with not only the photos but also be there to answer scheduling questions, event timing and generally moral support. Why? Because they know how much energy is required to make sure your wedding turns out the way you dream of it. They also know that there comes a time in every bride’s preparation when she just doesn’t want to make decisions anymore…and your photographer can help by knowing you so well that he can take some of that load off.

That way you can relax and ENJOY every minute of the day!

Tip 10: Feel good, Look good

If you remember as a little girl when you started visualizing your wedding day you saw yourself almost as a glowing princess radiating happiness and joy on your special day. However, let’s go a little deeper, your radiating beauty was there not because of your dress, your shoes or flowers but because of the feeling your got from the way everything came together smoothly and reinforced your image.

As I mentioned above most brides do their own planning and often end up fried and frazzled by the time their big day arrives. Once again the photographer is one of your strongest shoulders to lean on, because they have to see the big picture of your day in order to really capture it in a meaningful way. Most brides discover after their wedding that when they hired a good photographer what they were really hiring was a coordinator and supporter to be there when things inevitably start falling apart. They can offer a shoulder, a piece of advice or best of all they can nip a potential problem in the bud. As strange as it may seem a good photographer gets paid to be there for you and the photographs are just an added bonus.

So, as a result of having everything coming together and having someone there to handle those little disasters you feel good. That good feeling translates into relaxation which in turns reinforces and builds the beauty and joy you radiate! Your family and friends continually complement you on your glow. And you have happy memories to look back on.

Author: Bill Weaver
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Mobile device news