Choosing a Wedding Photographer

For many individuals, having a record of their wedding that is permanent is important, and they will hire a professional wedding photographer who can get the job done. Many people may be curious as to the costs of having professional level pictures taken.  Here is how the money gets divvied up when paying off these individuals.

Candid photos are pictures that are taken at the wedding and the reception, and these pictures are usually put together in an album for both the bride and groom.  Many of these candid photos we put together in albums which can be sent to friends and family, and this will actually make up a majority of the costs associated with wedding photography.

When you’re looking at spending $250 are more on an album made by designers such as Art Leather, Leather Craftsmen, or a similar leather bound album, the costs can add up quickly.  The pictures and the styles are permanently attached and the albums themselves are made of leather and will last a lifetime.

Most people don’t realize why they should go out and buy such expensive leather albums, but the truth is that 10 years down the road, vinyl will eventually destroy or at least degrade the quality of most photographs.  If you’re serious about preserving your wedding memories it is a good idea to go for a very expensive model of wedding album which will preserve a photographic record of your wedding forever.

Digital options are also prevalent in the photography marketplace today, and you may want to choose these as the photographs can simply be printed directly onto the album itself.  This makes an excellent selection for wedding guests who you don’t want to spend $500 on.

The portraits themselves, such as those of a bridal portrait, also factor into wedding photography costs.  Bridal portraits are usually taken about four to six weeks before the wedding itself starts.  Some individuals decide that they also want to have an engagement portrait taken and a sitting fee and a developing charge will usually be assessed.

The session fee covers the photographers time for the session and the print charges are the costs it will take to edit, develop, and assemble the pictures.  So how much does an average wedding photographer cost?  Fees range widely depending on professionalism, but in a rural area, you are looking at around $600 and in New England fees may be upwards of a few thousand dollars. Shopping around is advised to find the best deal but remember that you will usually get what you pay for and if you want quality then you had better be ready to pay up.

To discover additional info about Wedding Flowers check out my Wedding Cake Designs web site.

 

Your Groom Speech – 5 Ideas for Success

Groom’s Speeches can be found here, Click Here!

I’ve observed lots of groom’s speeches, and there often seems to be that moment of hesitation and uncertainty by the groom. This is definitely a mistake you should do your best to avoid.

Let us start with some general suggestions for delivering any speech at a wedding ceremony.

What To Do When You Give your Groom’s Speech

  • Keep it clear, straight forward, and simple
  • Keep it short. Three or four minutes is sufficient
  • Write down down the major points on a piece of paper or a card
  • Smile at the members of your audience. This is a fun event.
  • Be sure not to look grim, like it’s a funeral.
  • Speak clearly and loudly. Maintain your voice at a volume where everyone can hear. If there is a microphone, use it.

Do Not Do These During the Groom Speech

  • Don’t mumble
  • When speaking, do not stare downward or look at the ceiling
  • Do not write out the entire speech, word for word. You just need some thoughts to keep you moving from one point to the next.

There are a couple basic things that men fear most: commitment, and public speaking. While this article won’t help you with the first one, it can be assumed that since you’re getting married, you’ve already overcome the commitment issue. So, that leaves public speaking, and it’s a lot easier than you think.

There are five things you must put in your groom speech in order to be considered a success -

Five Tips for the Groom’s Speech

  • Be nice. Say complimentary, nice things about your wife.
  • Don’t tell jokes, unless they have a positive tone to them. Remember, you have an upcoming honeymoon, the in-laws, and the rest of your life together to consider. Humor can play an important role in any speech, therefore, we will cover this topic in much greater detail in future articles.
  • Do thank your new bride’s family. You will most likely be involved with them the rest of your life, so you do want to start off on the right foot by showing your gratitude to them.
    • If you do not like your wife’s in-laws, just thank them for their support and move along.
    • If indeed you do like your wife’s in-laws, then by all means express your appreciation and fondness for them. You can also thank them for inviting you into their family.
    • If there was any financial contribution offered by your new wife’s family, now is the time to say thank you for their support.
  • Thank friends and family for coming to celebrate your wedding, and sharing the day with you.
  • Thank the Father of the Bride.

Your grooms speech is delivered right after the Father of the Bride speech, which customarily comes first.

This gives you the opportunity to play off that speech and continue by thanking him for his kind words; then begin your speech right after him.

A Short Example

“Thanks, Robert, for your supportive words. I am honored and proud to be your new son-in-law. I hope I can live up to what you expect from me. I would also like to thank my mother-in-law, Janice, who has always made me feel like a member of the family starting from when we first met, and for helping make our wedding and reception a success. I would like to give my thanks to both of you for allowing me to marry your beautiful daughter, Alison.”

With this brief excerpt, you have: You have thanked the bride’s family, mentioned their contribution to the wedding, spoken favorably about your new bride, and come off like an all ’round great guy to your audience. And, that was just the introduction to your groom speech.

The Best Groom Speeches can be found here, Click Here!

Free Wedding Speeches Can Help Novice Speakers

March 23, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Planning

Cheap wedding speeches and be found – Click Here!

If you have been called upon to make a wedding speech at an upcoming wedding, or if you just want to be prepared with a good wedding toast, then you may be happy to know that there are some sources of free wedding speeches to help you out. While these free speech resources might not turn you into a polished public speaker, they can give you some pointers and tips to on how to make your words more refined.

For the wedding reception, most couples plan for three people to give a wedding speech, although it is up to the couple’s discretion to ask more or fewer people to speak. Traditionally, there are father of the bride speeches, best man speeches and the bridegroom speeches given as part of the reception. At times, siblings, the father of the groom and even the maid of honor are asked to speak, as well as anyone the couple feels can add a special sentiment to their day.

The vast majority of people never are called upon to speak in public, so giving a wedding speech can end up being a very nerve-wracking proposition for most. The many stresses that the couple and the whole wedding party experience during the days leading up to the wedding can add to this nervousness.

This is when looking for free wedding speeches resources can help a great deal, as the more prepared one is, the smaller a part nerves will play on the big day. With the structure of a free wedding speech in hand, you can often set aside the fear of public speaking and focus on what you want to say to the couple.

It is a simple fact that free wedding speeches, which can be obtained online, can significantly help to eliminate the fear of public speaking. They can also help to solidify your thoughts, which is particularly helpful for those whose minds go completely blank when faced with the task of saying something meaningful at an event so important as a wedding.

Free wedding speeches are basically simple, pre-outlined orations, humorous thoughts and jokes and even poetry that you can use to give your wedding speech a framework to start with. While a free wedding speech will obviously be generic, it does give you a place to start so that you can insert specifics about the bride and groom to make the comments more customized and personal. The more you are able to interject interesting tidbits of information and insights into the speech, the more meaningful it will be to everyone in the group.

Downloading your favorite free speech from a helpful website will get the ball rolling. At this point, you can add your personal commentary, put some effort into memorizing and practicing your speech and then you will be ready to make your wedding speech debut.

Some of the best advice you can follow to make the most of the wedding speech you have prepared is to say it out loud over and over again as you memorize it. This will help you find just the right voice inflections and help you naturally know when to pause and what words to emphasize. With daily practice before the event, by the time the wedding day arrives, you will be calm and confident even if you are a novice at public speaking.

Although there are some who are simply naturals at giving a wedding speech, the majority of people need a little help along the way to feeling confident about giving wedding speeches and toasts in front of a gathering of family and friends. Using free wedding speeches can help you avoid embarrassing comments and will make you more assured and comfortable.

Tip on Choosing a Wedding Reception Hall

wedding-reception-hallPlanning a wedding and all that goes into it can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. If you want a traditional wedding you can still keep it simple and less stressful. The key to planning any type of wedding is to be organized. The more people involved in the decisions the more chaotic it will be.

The wedding reception is usually one of the most memorable parts of the wedding.  This is why it’s important that the location and atmosphere of your reception reflect your personality and style.  In deciding on picking a reception place you need to consider how large a reception it’s going to be and your budget restrictions.

Wedding receptions can be held almost anywhere, including hotels, country clubs, and historic buildings with banquet halls.  There are also the options of private gardens, restaurants or some type of outdoor space.  Words of caution, if you are planning something outdoors make sure you check out the weather for that time of year. You should also have a plan in case it does rain. You can be creative with where you have your reception.

Getting the place for your wedding reception is one of the first things you should do after you have set the date. Many places are booked up to a year in advance.  You should always shop around.  The time of year and the place you choose could affect the price dramatically.  You can look for reception halls in your phonebook or search on the Internet for wedding reception halls.  This way you can find out information such as, how large a place is and how many people it will hold. You can look at menu listings and pricing information.

This way you can make a list of ones that you are considering and cross off others that are either too small are not in your budget. Once you’ve narrowed down your list, you can call and set up a time to visit the different places. Make sure that you bring along  a notebook to write down all the information so you can refer to your notes later.

While you are look at the reception halls you can ask about the availability of the place during your wedding date.  When you think you have found the right place make sure you consider whether it is within your  price range. You should be certain that the price you are quoted includes the dinner for the number people you estimate.  Make sure you consider whether the wedding reception hall will adequately fit the number of guests you will be having.

Other information to find out is whether the reception hall requires you to work with their kitchen or with only certain caterers. Make sure you ask if the wedding reception hall charges for the room as well as the food.  There can be many hidden costs so make sure you ask lots of questions such as is there a cake cutting charge.  You also want to ask about any restrictions on how you can decorate the wedding reception hall.

When you have narrowed it down and have found the perfect one; you should book it immediately. Wedding reception halls are often booked more than a year in advance and you will want to make sure it will be available on your wedding day.  You will now be able to have the wedding of your dreams plus you’ll have a wonderful reception.

Photo by klaxon

How to Throw a Bridal Shower Surprise Party

March 15, 2011 by  
Filed under Bridal Parties

181977706_fa2d7b2507Modern technology might have made it more difficult to throw surprises because almost everyone is aware of what is going on around the world. However, that does not mean you cannot throw a good surprise if you wanted to. There are at least a few things you can do when you are planning to surprise someone during a bridal shower surprise party. The following are some ideas.

Making the Lists Ready

You cannot do anything without having a proper guest list first. Send proper invitations to them, with an RSVP so that you know who will actually attend and who won’t. If there are adjustments to be made, such as some of the guests find some other day suitable than what you have chosen, try to make the changes. You also have to take their traveling into consideration.

Make up a guest list of the bride-to-be’s best friends and closest family members, the number of people that you invite is really up to you and how many people you think they would like to have come.

Zeroing in on the Date

The next step in planning the Bridal shower surprise is to actually set the date. This can be somewhat tricky, because more than anything you are going to have to make sure that the bride herself is going to be able to make it on that date, but without letting her know that you are up to anything.

You can speak to her fiancé to see what his opinion is on this, and if you can get a hold of her datebook or calendar, without being overly nosy, you can check to see what dates she has free.

Keep the Bride Occupied

One thing is sure – if the bride has nothing to do, she is going to suspect something about your little surprise. But if she is kept busy, she just won’t have the time to care. Hence, if she ! is not occupied in any other way, you have to ensure that you keep her occupied. That gives room for you to plan things out without worrying that she will come to know. Of course, she must not understand that she is being kept away.

Ensure that No One talks!

This is very important, because even if one person tattletales to the bride, the whole surprise bridal shower is spoiled. Make everyone you speak with, including the ones ! you send invitations to, agree that they will keep this a surprise. It is best that you keep the weaker people out of this secret until the nth hour and that you don’t tell anyone who doesn’t need to know about these plans.

photo by ciboulette

Unique Proposal Ideas

March 11, 2011 by  
Filed under Featured, Getting Engaged

underwater scuba proposal

There are many different unique ways to propose. Here are some ideas to help you to make the day you propose a very special one she will remember for a lifetime.

A creative way would be to E-mail a 3-D animated graphic of a loose diamond with a message that says ,”Will you marry me?”  Be there when she opens the e-mail so you can see her reaction and present her with your ring.

If you both like heights, you can arrange for a private hot air balloon ride. You can ask her to marry you while you are drifting through the clouds.

Another unique idea is if your loved one is a schoolteacher or works in a large office that has an intercom system.  You can get permission to record a message to be played over the intercom. Then you can be there in person to give her the diamond with everyone cheering you on.

If you both are adventurous and are both skilled scuba divers and snorkelers you can arrange a special dive with a few of your friends. You can write your message on the diver’s slate and show her. When she nods her head in agreement, put an inexpensive expandable ring on her finger. Then when you get back to the boat you can present her with the real ring.

You can also do a treasure hunt. You can deliver a letter to her with a bouquet of flowers. Have her follow clues and at the end of the hunt you will be waiting to give her the ring.

Hire a plane to fly a banner with your proposal on it. Then be ready to get down on one knee and propose.

You could hire a magician to entertain you and your girlfriend.  For the last trick at the end of the show you could have the magician magically make a ring box appear.

At a professional sporting event arranged to have your message displayed on the scoreboard, and then present her with the engagement ring.

If you’re going to propose to her on Christmas, you can put the ring in a box and hang it as an ornament on the tree. After all the presents have been open tell her there is one more special gift for her to open.

You can put the ring in several layers of boxes so that each box will fit inside another to make your ring look like it is a big present. Have her unwrap the present and when she finds the ring asked her to marry you.

You can take her away for the weekend to a fancy hotel.  You can decorate the room with rose petals and scented candles. Make a trail with rose petals which leads to the bed. Have the ring sitting on the bed in the middle of a rose petal shaped heart.

No matter what you decide this will be a moment that you both will never forget. This is only the beginning to a bright new future.

Photo by LabLab

Why Choose A Beach Wedding Dress

March 7, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Attire, Wedding Dresses

Beach Wedding DressToday, modern brides are truly blessed because they have an option not to wear heavy and formal gowns by choosing a beach themed marriage. In this kind of wedding, brides do not have to fret about choosing a formal robe because they will be able to only wear a beach marriage dress.

Why select a beach marriage dress

Indeed, in all of the modern concepts of wedding, beach theme is one of the most well liked. Due to this popularity, a beach wedding dress has become a common option for this themed wedding as they are straightforward to pick and to hold.

For most brides, a beach marriage dress is the most appropriate marriage dress because it needs smaller time in finding what to wear for the occasion. Since they can save time, brides who prefer wearing a beach marriage dress can have more time to plan and carry out details of the complete rite.

Aside from being hassle free, a beach wedding dress is also ideal because it can provide you utmost comfort in this stressful time. It is also less costly compared to the traditional wedding gowns out there because a beach wedding dress usually come in simple cuts and designs meant for the location.

Also, before buying a beach wedding dress, ensure that this is intended to cling to the contours of your body. A beach marriage dress should be pared down and slim fit to ensure that you wont be distracted once the wind caught the hem or any bit of your dress. Perfect options for a beach marriage dress include straight-line marriage dresses, mermaid cut marriage dresses and those that are princess line cut to ensure that you can move about easily. Aside from portability because of lightweight material, also make sure that the beach wedding dress is simple to move by avoiding too much detail or accessories on it.

Choosing a beach marriage dress

Although it would appear simple, easy, there are major concerns when you select a beach wedding dress. The 1st major consideration in choosing a wedding dress should be the climate of the destination. Determining the climate is very important because this can affect your overall comfort in the wedding. Make sure that you have checked with the local weather station branch the common climate for the area before setting your final wedding date. If the area is wet or subject to storm, it is best to look for a beach that in a tropical country that the weather would not ruin your special date.

Next consideration would be the average temperature. If the beach where the function will occur is in a tropical country like in Boracay, Philippines, go for a beach wedding gown that is formed cotton or something that will let the air pass thru. Except for the material used, also choose designs that will let you breathe from the tough heat of the area. Ideal cuts are sleeveless, tube, strapless, or off-the-shoulder ones because these can offer you with final comfort in spite of actual exposure to the beach.

The sort of fabric is also a big consideration. If you are choosing a beach marriage dress for your big and special day, make sure that you select those that are styles and cuts made from fabrics that are lightweight such as organza or chiffon. This can guarantee that you’re going to be comfortable regardless of the tough winds and heat of the beach.

Looking for more ideas to help you choose the perfect wedding gown? Visit yourweddinggowns.com to read about various types of bridal dresses, you may also want to take a look at informal wedding gowns.

photo by sekundo

MULBERRY PAPER FLOWER WEDDINGS

March 3, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Flowers, Wedding Planning

Have you heard of the latest and newest trend? Mulberry paper flowers that you can use for any occasion. They are beautiful flowers that are great for weddings, proms, baby showers, bridal showers, holidays, and home décor.

Paper flowers from mulberry let you style and design your own where you can choose the flowers and colors you want because they come in many colors and types. Plus you can even spruce them up by adding beads, sparkles, ribbon, or wherever your imagination takes you.
 
Weddings especially, because everyone wants something different then anyone else’s or just to wow your friends and family. Mulberry paper flowers can be used for anyone that is special in your wedding that you desire to have a flower for on your special wedding day, also for mothers and grandmothers corsages, groomsmen boutonnieres, bridesmaid bouquets, the groom boutonnieres, and your bridal bouquet.  You can do your church decorations like an arch way or the pews or even a center piece for the church alter, plus your reception decorations like the tables or entry way, or around your cake table, or even maybe on your cake.

The mulberry paper flowers you won’t have to worry about them ever wilting and they keep their shape so they can be put together well ahead of time and designed any way you want. It will take some of the pressure off you so you can focus on other important things for your wedding.

The mulberry paper flowers you can repurpose them, reuse them, or redesign them, by putting them in your home decor, or for someone else’s special occasion, they are also great keepsakes for everyone invoved.

 Mulberry paper flowers will last for a very long time, they will even outlast you if they are stored and put up properly so they can be past down through the generations.

 These flowers are eco-friendly due to the fact that they come from a plant called a mulberry tree, which are not harmed because these trees are not cut down. Mulberry trees are only stripped of their bark to make the paper and the bark reproduces. So this way the tree continues to grow and the trees are never harmed which makes the paper very eco-friendly.

To check out these beautiful eco-friendly flowers and learn more check out our website at http://www.paperflowerweddings.com

Digital Wedding Photographer’s Planner

Digital Wedding Photographer's Planner

A full-color reference to planning for and executing a successful wedding day shootWedding photography has become a major industry, and the number of photographers getting into this field is rapidly increasing—making it even more competitive. Written by top wedding photographer, Kenny Kim, this full-color reference walks you through all the major (and minor) steps involved in planning and organizing a successful wedding day shoot.You’ll get unique advice on everything from your initial meeting with the engaged couple to the final presentation of the commemorative book. Packed with checklists, schedules, etiquette tips, and much more, this book is an essential wedding photography resource for every wedding photographer.Provides detailed

Sale Price:$21.38

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