How To Choose The Right Wedding Photographer For Your Big Day

How To Choose The Right Wedding Photographer For Your Big Day by Gregg Hall

Choosing a wedding photographer is a very important part of wedding planning and as your special day approaches this needs to be at the top of your list. If you have already got your dress handled, ordered the cake and set the location it’s time to lock in a photographer. Here are a few tips to help you with the process.



The pictures that you get from your wedding can really only be taken at the event so it is absolutely crucial that you get a professional wedding photographer, there will be no second chances to get the shots. There are many things to think about including the cost and what kinds of packages are offered.



The price of a good photographer can rival the cost of your honeymoon so you definitely want to plan it into your budget. There will be many options available to you from basic shots of just the ceremony to a complete history of the entire day from preparing for the wedding all the way through the reception. Most people choose for a package that is a compromise somewhere between the two extremes.



Just as if you were contracting a painter or even someone to do work at your home you will want to see samples of the person’s work and check out their portfolio. If you are talking to a photographer that is a professional they should have a website available with samples of their work available online. This is how we found the photographer we used for our wedding. I also recommend choosing one who uses digital cameras as this almost guarantees good shots since they get to see the picture as soon as they take it. As I said earlier there are no second chances are and this is supposed to be the biggest day of your life. You want someone who can capture that day for you so you will have it forever.



The next thing you will want to do is decide on the number of prints you will require so that you will have enough for both sides of the family as well as yourselves. Of course, as the bride you will want one large one to frame and hang up in a main room. Be prepared for the prices of larger prints, they are not cheap! Usually the photos taken right after the ceremony are the most expensive as these where the photographer spends most of his time. We were very lucky and the photographer we chose liked us and ended up taking more pictures than we had paid for including hanging out at our reception for two hours.



You can also ask if they do video, if not maybe a friend or family member could do an amateur video for you. Another cool idea that sometimes gets shots that were not seen elsewhere is to give throw away cameras to your guests who can take pictures from their vantage point! Just take your time and you will find the right person to shoot your wedding!



Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find discount magazines wedding photographer at http://www.magazinesubscriptionsdiscounted.com

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How To Choose A Wedding Reception Venue

How To Choose A Wedding Reception Venue by Rebecca Sherman

Just as the site of the wedding ceremony often sets the atmosphere for the service, the place chosen for the reception is the key to its enjoyment.



Traditional Reception Sites



Even in areas where reception sites are plentiful, the most popular sites are often reserved more than a year in advance. The wise couple will reserve their reception location before making other plans. Many couples have found it necessary to choose their wedding date based on "availability" of the reception site. Couples have also found that it is often much easier to book a reception on a Friday or Sunday. Some facilities will even offer special discounts/incentives for receptions held on days other than Saturdays.



When it comes to finding a reception site, there are many types of facilities from which to choose. Hotels, catering halls, country clubs, and restaurants are some of the most popular sites for receptions. Other sites often used for wedding receptions include clubhouses operated by organizations including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, athletic, ethnic clubs, service organizations and university unions or even museums. These venues range in capacity from intimate parties to grand affairs. These various facilities also range in style from extremely casual to the utmost formal, keep in mind prices vary greatly too!



When choosing a facility the bridal couple must first determine an approximate number of guests to be sure the location can accommodate their needs. Budget and location are the next factors to consider, followed by preferred ambiance and other special desires.

Reception site managers all agree that the first piece of advice they make to couples looking for a reception site is to know their budget. Only when financial limitations are known can further details be planned. For those on a tight budget, the church hall is a favored reception site, usually available at little or no cost and offering convenience when held immediately following the ceremony.



Other things to keep in mind when searching for the perfect reception site is whether the site can accommodate parking needs, dance space and music requirements. What are the policies on beverages, food and catering services, time restrictions and decorations? Are tables, chairs, linens, silverware and other accessories provided? Check on rental fee, deposits, and date guarantees.



It is important to view the facility before making any final decisions. Looking around, asking questions and if possible viewing the facility when it is set up for a similar type of reception will assure that the couple will be happy with their choice. Once a decision is made the couple should discuss any special needs they or their guests may have with the banquet/site manager. The day of the wedding will be too hectic to deal with any of the details and when the couple arrives at the reception, it will be time to celebrate!



Outdoor Receptions & Tents



Alternative ideas to the traditional reception site list can include city, county and state parks, or one's own backyard! While some parks have shelters available in case of inclement weather, others rely on the rental of tents as shelter. (Since each park has their own restrictions and rules, it is vital that the couple knows well in advance, what they can and cannot do).



The use of a tent combines the feeling of the great outdoors with protection from the elements. Tents come in a variety of styles and can play host to a casual event or elegant gathering. Rental companies can supply beautiful white tents with French window sidewalls, dance floors, lighting, tables, chairs, fountains and more to provide a breathtaking atmosphere for any celebration. Tents are available in many sizes; some can even accommodate over 2,500 people! Professionals in the tent rental business can help choose the size and style that will be best for the event.



The great outdoors also provides many options in food choice from picnics to formal sit-down dinners. Caterers can be hired or the do-it-yourselfer can turn to rental companies for food service equipment and portable bars.



When choosing an outdoor venue there is one more thing to keep in mind, the need for restrooms. Some companies that carry portable restrooms will rent them for special events. Companies that specialize in the business may surprise many. Their units are clean and can come equipped with flushing toilets, sinks, mirrors and lights, providing all the conveniences of an indoor facility outdoors!



Catering



Indoor or out, reception guests look forward to food and refreshments. And indoors or out, professional caterers offer a full range of culinary delights and services. Formal dinners, buffets and brunches can feature a variety of tasty cuisines. Hors d'oeuvres, salads, breads, desserts, pastries and even pig roasts are available for reception fare. Caterers today can satisfy the tastes of any couple, not only for receptions, but also for rehearsals and showers.



Many facilities may be under contracts with specific caterers. This means that when a reception facility is chosen, the facility may dictate who will provide the food. If a facility is chosen that lets the couple choose their own caterer; there are a delectable variety of caterers to choose from.



Caterers can be found in the phone book, online, at wedding shows and by asking friends and relatives for their suggestions. Word of mouth definitely has meaning here. When calling around for prices and menus, a couple should also ask about sampling before making a final decision. Some caterers specialize in the business, while others can be part of a restaurant or food market who will go off premise to cater. With such a variety to choose from, there is certainly something for everyone's taste!



Rebecca Sherman is an editor at ModernWeddingPlanner.com


Planning a Wedding? Our Free Wedding Planner has sections to track guest information, RSVP’s, budgets, shower and wedding gifts and More! Plus export your data to Excel.



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How To Have The Wedding Of Your Dreams

How To Have The Wedding Of Your Dreams by John Savage

Choose the type of wedding you want carefully as it

will be a day you will remember forever. The day you and your love will tie a bond between you that will last forever and you will want it to be special beyond belief! What day am I talking about? Your wedding day; it is the day that little girls dream of and mothers sigh when hearing the news of.



Now that the event is in the planning stages are you going to have it inside a lavishing church? How about on the beach, as the sun sets over the lapping waves of the ocean?



Lapping waves sound so romantic don’t they? Sunsets, what could be better?



Here are some simple things to think about when choosing your wedding location and whether or not those lapping waves could be a blissful romantic soul soother or a nightmare in the making.



First, think about choosing the site of your ceremony. The beauty of the ocean or a river path needs little embellishment. When planning an outdoor wedding, let the location speak for it’s self. And remember that Mother Nature speaks loudly so make sure an outdoor wedding is exactly what you want by using these questions in your decision-making lists.





THE PLACE:

• Is the place you are looking at free of other events on the date you want?

• Are all permits and papers easy to access, do you need special permissions for large parties?

• Will the space where the chairs will be placed in loose sinking sand or is the beach full of storm debris?

• Do you have a long flowing gown in mind? Would a church floor be better then a lawn, for the dry-cleaning bill afterward?

• Does my area have storms in the month I want my wedding? If so, should I have the ceremony inside or rent a tent?

• Does both families agree on style like casual, religious or traditional wedding?

• If you have a particularly long ceremony think about if you want guests to be prepared to wait to use the restroom (if on a beach, or be prepared to rent extra facilities.



Once you have an idea of the area you want your wedding to be performed in you can add the type of building you want it to be in, by using this list of things to think about.



TYPE OF TENT OR BUILDING:

• Will it be a frame tent or a tent with center poles and ropes on the outside to secure it? Will the area hold tent stakes?

• Should you rent a church or community center because a large portion of your family are elderly and cannot walk well on sand or winding paths?

• Does your local park have the perfect place like a gazebo or arbor free of charge to local residents?

• Open air means wind, bugs, and birds.



You now have some basic ideas about the place of your special ceremony and type of building, tent or open area you may enjoy. You might want to think about how large a wedding party that space can hold.

HOW MUCH SPACE YOU NEED:



• The number of people attending the wedding determines size of your area.

• Style of wedding. Will it be a formal or casual style?

• Size of the band or do you have a recording for processional music?

• Size and shape of chairs or bench for setting guests and number of aisles required.



You might have a difficult time hauling a tent or canopy with aisle runner, kneeling benches, candelabras, a wedding arch and other accessories to a small-secluded beach or riverside. If this were a concern for you it would be better to hire a professional rental company that can help you coordinate all the extra details that must be imported for an outdoor event.



An outdoor wedding can be the most wondrous of occasions and hold a place in your heart and memory forever. With a little forethought and planning your day can go off without any hitches and I hope these hints about what to think about when planning your event helps you on the way.



My last suggestion would be to talk to your local wedding specialists before jumping in feet first.

Good Luck and congratulations on your up coming wedding and God Bless.



QUOTE “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness."

- Henry David Thoreau



John Savage is married to a wonderful lady who has dedicated her life to making individual, dream, wedding gowns

To learn how you can have the wedding of your dreams Click Here to visit my blog



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