Meet our Member ~ Art by Leonhardt Photography

Name: Tony Leonhardt       

Business Name: Art by Leonhardt Photography

Website: coming soon!     

Facebook: www.facebook.com/artbyleonhardtphotography

Blog: artbyleonhardt.blogspot.com/       

Google Plus: gplus.to/artbyleonhardtphotography (Google+ page coming soon!)

What should a bride know about your expertise and experience?

I've been photographing weddings for the past four years, with over 12 years experience with classical black & white photography. I'm trained in both digital and film photography, having earned a Bachelor's degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Since moving out to the Seattle-Tacoma area from Miami only two years ago, I've shot photos for over 40 weddings. 

What inspired you to start your business?

Weddings are a thrill to photograph! Who wouldn't want to start a wedding photography business? Having worked with various wedding photography studios on the West and East Coast, it's been impossible to not have fun documenting the memories of a bride and groom's perfect day. I think if one can't enjoy shooting a wedding, find something that is fun. Luckily for me, I have a blast each and every time I work as a wedding photographer. There's so much joy and happiness that it is infectious. This is why I'm branching outwards to establish a business of my own.

Do you do anything special or different from your competition?

The printmaking services that I can offer vastly differ from a typical digital photo package. I can print using classical black & white techniques, use antique alternative process style printmaking and maximize the potential offered by film and digital mediums. I love capturing the artistic image that other image makers may not see or notice.

As for the day of the wedding, I simply don't stop working. My work ethic on a shoot makes me extremely productive. I'm always on the go, shooting during every busy and slow moment so that I can capture every memory that happens that day. I don't leave any stone unturned, or any memory undocumented.

What was your most memorable wedding?

Last year I flew to Miami to photograph a destination wedding for a close friend. After the ceremony, the bride and groom checked in early to their honeymoon suite down on South Beach. With only minutes to spare before leaving for the reception, we all ventured out onto the beach for some quick photographs among the jaded Miami sun worshippers. To our surprise, the entire beach began clapping and cheering for the couple as they posed quickly for some unforgettable shots! It's one of the most unforgettable moments I've ever had as a wedding photographer.

                      

What are some of the pitfalls a bride can expect if they don’t hire a professional like yourself?

I understand that everyone works within a budget for a wedding. However the services I offer -including my creativity and passion for the perfect photo- are well worth my value as a professional. My images and work ethic are the best references I will ever need. I can guarantee the value of my work and my years of experience definitely show with the superb quality of my photography.

Size Does Matter

Newly engaged couples are so excited about their upcoming wedding they want to shout the news to everyone … and invite everyone and anyone they ever met. Think about this before you do that and how it will affect your budget.

I love big fun weddings and I know this sounds simplistic but in the excitement sometime we forget … for every person you invite your cost goes up considerably. Just ten extra guests can put you way over budget. For each invited guest you must, in some cases, even pay for another chair, six to ten extra guests means another rental table, plus tablecloths, napkins, overlays, centerpieces, chair covers and sashes, favors and the biggest cost of all, the food and drink. Sometimes you must even rent a bigger, i.e., more expensive venue to accommodate everyone.

As you should choose your wedding party carefully and never regret your choices, choose your wedding guests just as carefully. Of course, close relatives and friends and their significant others are on top of the list but everyone in your office building or yoga class does not need nor necessarily even want an invitation.

The Groom’s guy friend do not need to bring some gal, any gal, just so he has a date and the same goes for the Bride’s girlfriends. Hey, weddings are good places to meet your peers and potential love matches. It happens all of the time!

Example of nice spacing between tables/lots of guests but huge venue

A big trend now, especially for evening weddings, is to make them adult affairs only. Although most venues will give you a break on children’s meals, the cost can still add up fast for the little ones.

Don’t get me wrong, I love kids too but consider if there are children in your wedding party and what they will do after the ceremony. Are there friends and relatives that would really be upset if they could not bring their children or would most of them relish an excuse for a “date night” at your wedding?

Then there is the cake issue. Most children do not understand the significance of a wedding and only look forward to that slice of cake they have been promised. It is truly the centerpiece of your reception and you have spent hundreds of dollars on … cake. It literally has to be guarded all night long. It seems to be the kid’s very favorite place to hover and run around at every wedding!!! There is no right or wrong answer to this question and every couple has to answer it for themselves, keeping cost in mind.

Example of a crowded space/lots of guests/big venue but just not big enough

Even the cost of the invitations and postage should be a consideration when creating your guest list. My best advice is to go slow and consider all sides of the question, “to invite or not to invite” because the size of your wedding really does matter in dollars and cents (and sense too).

Contributed by Professional Member of Puget Sound Wedding Professionals - Janine

Lifetime Memories Weddings & Events

Meet Our Member ~ Bridesclub

Each month we will be sitting down with a member of the Puget Sound Wedding Professionals Networking Group to ask them questions about their business, experience and insights on weddings.  This month, we are with Brad Buckles of the Bridesclub

  Name: Brad Buckles

  Business Name: Bridesclub

  Website: http://bridesclub.com/

  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/bradbucklesbridesclub

  Blog: http://bridesclub.tumblr.com/

  Twitter:  http://twitter.com/bradbuckles

 

How would you describe your business?

I would describe my wedding business, the wedding expo as an opportunity for brides and wedding professionals to meet and talk about weddings and services on a personal one-on-one face-to-face relationship.  We find that brides are looking to hire somebody that they feel comfortable with.  Wedding professionals do their best work for brides they care about - Wedding Expo is an opportunity for this relationship to start.

How did you get to where you are today?

I got to where I'm at today by spending a lot of time communicating with individuals and small businesses.  Helping people achieve their goals and helping small businesses grow.  I do this a lot with research, travel, the opportunity to meet with people one-on-one.  Talking with them about parts of their dreams, plans and ideas.  Goals that they can achieve.  Helping them set goals.  Helping them build their business first.  I know if I can do that then my business will be fine.

What inspired you to start your business?

I can't really say I was inspired to start my business.  I can say that I've been inspired several times throughout my career in making choices that would benefit my clients as well as help brides plan their wedding day.  I do look for opportunities to stay inspired and relevant in our industry.  I see a lot of wedding shows every year.  I speak with a lot of wedding show producers frequently.  We discuss everything about our businesses.

In what ways do you take a leadership role in the wedding community?

I have tried to be a leader in our wedding community by giving back in a variety of different ways.  I serve on a couple of different board positions for a couple of different wedding associations,  I believe in helping those that are in need of help at times when they are challenged with some of the biggest decisions that they have to make.  I listen and offer advice to everyone I can!

Do you do anything special or different from your competition?

One of the ways that I have tried to be different is by listening to the individual needs of my clients.  Trying to help them in a personal way.  Build their confidence, help them, be there for them when needed.  Sometimes I have to make difficult decisions and I try to do that with the needs of my clients first.  Not always easily done.

One thing that we are committed to doing is helping to educate our clients with knowledge.  We teach seminars and host speakers regularly throughout the year to ensure the necessary success of our participants.

Seattle Wedding Expo Jan 14-15

Hawaii Bridal Expo Jan 21-23

Tacoma Wedding Expo Jan 21-22

Everett Wedding Expo Jan 28-29

Wedding favors, are you doing your guest a favor?

All you have to do is clean-up duties for a few weddings and you will see that there are favors left behind on the tables or left in what might have seemed like an ideal place for everyone to know that these were for guests to take home.  If someone has put a lot of time into them, they will think of all the hours that have kind of gone down the tube! There's always ribbon that is abandoned that was wrapped around a box or some object with or without a personalized message on it.  Also if favors are too much geared to female guests or male guests, a good number of favors will be left behind.

What favors seem to be used or make it home with their guests?  I would say that in general they would fall into these categories.

1.  Something with a little bit of practicality.
2.  Food, if you have something that is prepared to avoid common food allergies and is so noted.
3.  Something that has universal appeal.  Take into account age and gender of your guests.
4.  An object that has the bride and groom pictured in it.  Perhaps they can use the frame for something else later.

Don't count on personalized napkins to be a favor!  Who wants to take home a dirty napkin? No one that I know of!  I'm not saying don't use personalized napkins.  I think they add a nice touch.  It might help people remember your anniversary date if nothing else!

If you have a centerpiece that is a live fish that someone will win at a particular table, that can get interesting.  It's good if you're certain that one out of every 8 guests seated at a table is really going to want to go home with a fish.  Please remember that if you do this, that you provide food and instructions on how to take care of the fish.  If someone doesn't win the fish you want to still make sure that they have something to enjoy as a favor to take home.  There are many creative ways to determine who wins the fish!  It's also okay if someone doesn't want that little fishy and hands it off to someone who does.

Some people set up a candy buffet with containers for people to fill with candy and take home as a favor.  I would suggest that you have some that are set up for diabetics!  This will make them feel like they have taken into consideration rather than just another painful reminder that they can't enjoy candy or sweets anymore.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Janis Flagg of Greatest of Days, event planning and design.

Why Choose a Professional Wedding Photographer

Not quite ten years ago my wedding photographer, a budding amateur, charged me for cost of film, processing and $200.00 for his time. He showed up without a flash, so most of the photos wound up being underexposed or grainy. Fortunately, he was Nikon based so I lent him my flash. He got some passable candid shots of people talking or hanging-out but no keepers of group shots of the family. Most of the relatives were 200 lbs. and beyond and didn’t appreciate seeing photos of them shoveling food down their nostrils or bellies protruding through a misfit wedding garment or rented tux. Nothing ever became of the photos. To this day they’re in a lost drawer collecting dust.

Did he have wedding photography experience? Yes, he had helped a couple of times and had a dynamite portfolio. A caterer had highly recommended him. Later, I visited the caterer’s home she had walls of his landscape work. Being an accomplished landscape photographer he had little experience with people or wedding photography. He even showed up in blue jeans. He worked as an assistant on a couple of jobs and just clicked the shutter while the contracted photographer posed and coordinated the shots. He had no real-time under pressure to perform wedding experience. He kept interrupting asking what shots I wanted next even though I had faxed a shot list a week earlier.

Ten years later the wife still reminds me that we should’ve hired a pro.

Pushing my personal experience aside, in 2010 the economy was depressed so many brides sought less expensive alternatives to professional wedding coverage. In the following three scenarios the client decided to either entrust the talents of a close friend or budding amateur.

Scenario #1. Dark-skinned Afro-American bride with fair-skinned groom.

Apparently our extremely young sleepy-headed groom showed up with problems. In the photos, his shirt wasn’t tucked in, clothing was badly wrinkled and hair was uncombed.

The groom’s images were properly exposed but his poor bride appeared darker than life. Apparently, the photographer had limited knowledge of flash photography and relied on the camera’s automatic settings thus underexposing the darker skinned bride. According to Mom, this was the photographer’s first attempt at photographing interracial couples.

Attempts to forewarn the bride’s mother proved fruitless. The bride claimed that her best friend had been dreaming of this experience day and night and she didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Nine months later, wedding images surfaced via Facebook. Mom was furious, the bride reportedly still cries whenever the topic arises and now she’s angry with her best friend forever.

Scenario #2. Outdoor ceremony in bright sunlight.

Bride #2 later admitted that she based her hiring decision on budget and on the photographer’s outdoor photojournalistic portfolio. The wedding took place outdoors at a local marina under intense bright sunlight. The bride figured what could go wrong… all the light is provided and the photographer claimed to be a natural light candid type photographer. Well, the bride didn’t factor in the photographers inexperience in dealing with bright overhead contrast producing light. Eye sockets were shadowed while faces were full of bright spots or specular highlights. Ornate details in her deceased mother’s refitted wedding dress were blown out or lacking. The photographer compensated by unsuccessfully using Photoshop filters on each image. The bride, a Photoshop guru, spent hours doctoring the images but was only able to rescue a few.

How could these problems have been prevented? Simply avoiding the bright sunlight would’ve been a bright alternative and using an off camera flash to balance a contrasting situation or maybe a combination of the both.

Scenario #3. A medium skinned Afro-American couple in white wedding garments.

They decided on a church friend “an up and coming photographer” who was good with a camera. The ceremony was an indoor church wedding. The photographer used a flash; but often, and more toward the end, the flash failed to fire. In the excitement he failed to notice that the flash wasn’t operating properly. The batteries were probably too exhausted to fire at the end so we ended up with dark shinned people in a dark church grossly underexposed.  The photos showed a bunch of flatfooted, slouching, overweight, eyes closed people in basically uncomplimentary poses.

The bride printed some pictures at Wal-Mart but the contrast and colors were off. The faces turned out too dark so the photos were unusable. After fussing at the technician, Wal-Mart gladly refunded her money. The bride requested that I work with her to develop a professional album or adjust the digital files. I agreed to point her in the right direction; however, upon closer inspection, I noted black spots on the digital files in the same location on each image. The photographer had dust on his camera’s sensor which now has to be removed manually on each digital file.

On a minor note… most professional labs offer free color correction on prints. The MART type labs only offer as is type printing.

Summary

When all is said and done, the only tangible memories left are the photographs. Correcting another photographer’s mistakes is time-consuming and usually cost the bride lots of money so many pros seldom contract to do after-the-fact cleanup. Here we are in 2011 and these brides are still crying their eyes out because they got a second rate record of a once in a life time event. Take good advice, if you want to minimize post-wedding horror stories, contract with a pro. Your firstborn and unborn bloodline will hold you in high regard forever.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional member John of Pendleton Imaging & Photography.  They can also be found on Facebook.

The Bride-Zilla's List of How to Really Annoy your Wedding Florist*

From the beginning to the end, these are sure-fire, tested techniques you can use to compromise the patience, flexibility and sanity of your wedding florist.  Use these techniques with caution.  You don't really want to cause her any irreparable harm -- or do you?

1). Make an appointment and not show up. Assume that if you texted her alone, or e-mailed her alone, she got your cancellation message.  You will have wasted hours of her time, and caused her undue worry and frustration, while she waited for an actual phone call.  And you can blame her for not being a good communicator because she didn't see your text or e-mail.

2).  Reschedule and then cancel again at the last minute.  Insist on another appointment.  This will cause her to want to call her therapist.

3). Have no idea of what you want or even like for flowers. And when she shows you a lot of beautiful and creative options, act passive and emotionless.  She'll wonder why you even came to see her, and how you managed to get engaged.

4). Be completely stuck on hard-to-get, out-of-season, very expensive flowers, because you saw them in a magazine and they're pretty.  She will suggest other options.  Accuse her of being closed to new ideas -- after all, the magazines are always "on trend," and she just "ties flowers together with a ribbon."  What does she know, really?  She will try hard not to be flustered by your lack of regard for her experience.

5). Don't bring any color swatches, pictures of dresses, samples of fabric, copies of your invitation, or anything at all to your consultation that might help her figure out your tastes. Leave her guessing all along.  And when she finally comes close to guessing your taste, tell her she's the fourth florist you have interviewed, and you don't think you like her "style."  She will try very hard to be nice to you as she walks you to the door, but as soon as you leave, listen for her to start slamming her head against the wall, or throw herself to the floor in a total melt-down.

6).  Have no budget to pay for your expensive tastes, and still expect that your florist will come through for you. After all, you've read all of her reviews, and past brides have said she's a "miracle worker!"  This will give her stress-induced colitis, and make her head for the medicine cabinet.

7). Insist on micro-managing every detail, like exactly what number of rose petals will go into each paper doily cone, how many gel marbles will go into each centerpiece, and how many loops will make up each aisle bow, exactly what combination and quantity of flowers will be used in every single arrangement.  This will tie her creative hands behind her back, and really make her nutty.

8).  Change the parameters, drastically, after your initial consultation. Lead her to believe you have thousands to spend on your large and complicated order, let her work hard on a quote for you, and then after the fact, tell her that you have less than $500.  Or, let her know you have a simple budget and simple needs, and then surprise her later with 40 complicated centerpieces.  Be self-righteously annoyed that her estimate went way up.  This will make her want to drink heavily.

9). Vandalize to Scandalize. After she creates picture-perfect bouquets for you, let your photographer convince you to throw them up in the air, or jump with them, to get a fun, active shot.  Then, when they break, innocently send your bridesmaids running to her to ask her to "fix" them.  Stand back and watch her reaction carefully.  Did she stifle a very shocked expression? Then, CONGRATS!  You've succeeded in scandalizing her!

10). Think of other ways to abuse the flowers early in your wedding day.  Insist on hand-tied, very thirsty flowers, and then DON'T put them in vases at all during the day.  Better yet, plan to cook them thoroughly in the hot sun hours before the wedding during your outside photos.  Then accuse her later of giving you "flowers that died."  She will really not know what to say, and just stand there, wondering if she should cry.

And a Bonus tip!

11).  Have her make a nice tossing bouquet for you.  Then don't throw it.  Throw your own gorgeous masterpiece, or your maid-of-honor's bouquet instead, because you couldn't find the toss bouquet, even though your florist told you she would place it in a vase by the guest book.  When she hears about it later, she will go bonkers -- especially if you fixate on it, accuse her of not supplying a tosser for you, tell all your friends about it, and actively try to gut her reputation online with uncharitable reviews.

*Author's note:  These tips are intended only for True Bride-Zillas.  Nice Brides will be given a list of their own in the next post.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professionals Member Julia Miller of Julia’s Floral.

DIY or Not?

One or two generations before us, families pitched in to help the happy couple put on a beautiful, yet simple (compared to today's celebrations) wedding and reception. Brides purchased gowns or dresses that they could wear again for special occasions, and passed them to their daughters. Wedding flowers were plucked from the mom's garden earlier in the day. At the reception, guests were served wedding cake and punch — made by a family member. For most weddings, the only professionals were the pastor from the church, the organist/pianist and the photographer. Everything else was done by family and friends.

Today expectations are much higher for weddings and receptions. Extensive arrangements are made for the events, and there are wide choices of wedding professionals who have years of experience creating beautiful celebrations. Their experience can save the couple lots of headaches and money!

What to consider when DIY:

• What is your time commitment and what are the costs involved? What are you expecting? If you or your friends are not experts, typically it will take more time and possibly cost more than you anticipated.
• If you want to hold your wedding or reception at a home, remember that you will need to rent everything (tables, chairs, linens, etc.). Someone needs to set-up and take-down all of it. Someone needs to prepare the home and yard for a large crowd. Home bathrooms and parking areas are generally not suited for large crowds. You may have to rent porta-potties or buses to transport people. In the end, it may cost less to rent a full-service facility.

When to DIY:

• If you, a family member or friend have an expertise in a field that relates to your wedding / reception, consider asking them to take care of it for you.  First, see samples of their work. Set your parameters. Offer to pay for their supplies / costs or give them a gift for their time / services. Always write a thank-you note.
• If your budget constraints require DIY, research costs of supplies, borrow what you can, shop at thrift stores, and find someone to do it for you — preferably not a member of the wedding party or a family member — they want to enjoy your special day.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional member Paula R. Lowe, publisher, South Sound Wedding & Event Magazine.  She is also the producer of the South Sound Wedding Shows.

Heirloom Brooches enhance Wedding Flowers

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Heirloom Brooches enhance Wedding Flowers

As a hopeless romantic, I think there isn't much on earth as beautiful as flowers, except perhaps, gorgeously crafted heirloom jewelry.

So when Juliet met with me, and revealed her fondest desire for a vintage, romantic wedding in Tacoma's beloved historic, Gothic-style Holy Rosary Catholic Church, I just had to ask:  "Do you have any heirloom brooches in your family?"

Juliet's maternal grandmother left behind some lovely things, including a nice variety of pretty brooches.  Selecting a clear rhinestone brooch and matching earring set, I adorned the peony, dahlia and garden rose bridal bouquet, and then added a pink tourmaline brooch to contrast with its ivory organza handle.

Juliet wanted some eclectic design in her wedding as well, so I styled unique combination bouquets for each attendant.  I still remember trying those five different brooches with the array of bouquets, finally deciding to contrast the jewels with the flowers, so they would be more visible and memorable features of the wedding.

These photos, by Gash Photography, give an idea of how heirloom jewelry can enhance a wedding.  And the intangible benefit in this case was Grandma's presence with this family on Juliet's wedding day.

                             Look closely and you can see the brooches in these bouquets.

              Each bridesmaid carried a different bouquet, all adorned with a family heirloom.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Member: Julia Miller of Julia’s Floral

Why You Should Not Plan Your Wedding Online!

What??  Well, not entirely, that is!  If you are interested in truly getting the best deals, the best information and have your questions answered in real time by someone who isn't anonymous or unknown to you, you must meet vendors face to face!  It's hard as millennials to get comfortable with this concept.  This is uncomfortable for a lot of individuals, but particularly in this age group.

It feels like I am online almost constantly, but as a Wedding Coordinator, I know all too well that you cannot get the very best information for planning a wedding online.  You will only get the best prices and advice by talking to people who are in the business and have relationships with real people who specialize in their particular area pertaining to weddings.

It's easy to sit at the computer, and it's actually a ton of fun to see all that is available out there to customize a wedding.  However, planning a wedding isn't all about what it will look like or just picking vendors without really getting to know them.  How do you know what questions to ask a vendor?  How do you know if you are seeing the warning signs or not?  How do you know if you are even going to like them?  Do you really want to get advice from other brides on how to plan a wedding versus people who know what the realities are to every detail of a wedding?  Do you know what you should ask before signing any contracts with a particular venue or vendor.  Do you know why things costs what they do for your wedding, i.e. catering vs. a nice dinner out or why you might not be saving money getting your wine or champagne at the big box stores?  Do you know why you're going to pay more for a particular type of flower at certain times of the year?  Do you know what the laws are in your particular state as compared to advice you get online?  How will you know if you have all the bases covered without getting an education first on the essentials of planning a wedding spoken from proven professionals?

What you don't know can hurt you!  As a bride, you would have no way of knowing how many venues and vendors are hoping for Wedding Coordinators to conduct workshops to teach brides about the wedding industry.  It's a concept that would prove to help brides and also make wedding vendors and venues be able to serve their clients much more efficiently which saves money for everyone in the long run.  So why mention all of this?  If this was not true, you would not be hearing more about venues requiring that a bride hire an independent Wedding Consultant in order to book a wedding at their venue.

For the benefit of all brides out there planning weddings, you must look for opportunities to learn in real live situations, workshops and stop limiting your advice only to websites, forums and yes....blogs!  You have to get out in the real world to save yourself a lot of time and money. Hey, wouldn't it be cool to have a shorter engagement?  Now that can save you a LOT of money!  One example of how you can do that is to go to www.bridal4-1-1workshops.com and take a look at what you're not taking advantage of.  For every 10 hours  (maybe more) you spend on the computer filtering through information about planning your wedding, you could find more information from a workshop or a Wedding Coordinator in just 2 hours.

So it depends on how much you trust information online to be reliable as compared to a professional who makes it their livelihood and truly has a passion for what they do.  If they didn't have passion for what they do and the greatest desire to help brides, they would probably choose another line of work.  Their jobs require long hours before and after the wedding, weekends away from home and family, and a phenomenal amount of time marketing for the number of clients they might receive.
I absolutely love being online and I wouldn't have a business without it, but brides and wedding vendors alike, we have to get out in the real world to really know what is going on in the world of weddings.  No matter what we would prefer, there is no substitute.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Janis of Greatest of Days Wedding & Event Planning.

Wedding Traditions (4-1-1)

Earlier today I was skimming through various wedding related articles and found one from ‘The Knot’ about wedding traditions.  This one was of particular interest in regards to your wedding day photography.

Old School: You shouldn't see each other until the ceremony

New Rule: Schedule a "first look" photo shoot (you and your groom meet with just the photographer before the ceremony). This frees up more time after the ceremony so you can actually enjoy your cocktail hour, and it also lets you spend a few precious moments with your soon-to-be spouse before all the wedding craziness sets in. (Trust us; it will!)

You can see the entire article by clicking on this link:  The Knot – 10 Wedding Traditions.

                       (Photo found online – Queen Alexandra in her wedding dress and veil) 

Many of the couples who hire us, opt to do their photos before the wedding and having a reveal – in front of the camera or in private.  There are still a few who tell me “It’s bad luck” and wait until after the ceremony – we work with YOUR schedule!  However, I still want to share how this tradition came about.

Long ago – back in the day of pre-arranged marriages, the bride and groom more often than not, never saw each other before the wedding ceremony.  The bride wore veils covering her face during the ceremony until that first kiss sealing their marriage.  If a groom were to see the bride and not show up, this often caused a war between the families, nations, etc.  This is why it was deemed as ‘bad luck’ for the couple to see each before the wedding!  Not really the most romantic thought knowing that it was because of fear that if the groom would see his bride, not like the looks of her and then bolt!

 Even when couples were acquainted before they married, it was still considered bad luck for the groom to glimpse the bride pre-ceremony, as she would not be pure and new. Nor was the bride  to see herself as it was believed that if she saw her reflection she would leave some of herself behind in the mirror. 

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional, Monica of Family Affair Photography

A bride’s best accessory is …

… a beautiful headpiece?  Fabulous jewelry?  Nope.  A bride’s best accessory is a well dressed groom!

You’ve gotten the perfect dress, but what is your man going to wear so he doesn’t look like the bartender at the reception instead of the groom?

If you’re wearing a short or tea length dress a tuxedo or dark very classy suit worn with an elegant tie would be a nice compliment to your outfit.  Your groom could opt for a standard length tuxedo in a variety of colors if your gown has either a cathedral, chapel or sweep train.  A shirt, vest and tie in the same color as your dress has a distinctly “groomish” look.  Maybe it’s time for him to learn how to tie a bowtie.  Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Kanye West all wear them.  A cathedral train can also be worn with tails.  A tailcoat, properly fitted makes a man appear taller and slimmer.

Whatever look you settle on a good fit and an elegant style are always in fashion.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Member Barb of Top Hat Formal Wear

Six Reasons Your Clients Might Not Take a Vendor's Advice on Hiring a Wedding Coordinator.

We've all been there when we have a client who says they have a friend who is caterer or a DJ, their brother has his own band, or someone they know will be really good at taking their pictures.  With Day-of Coordinations this is more typical.  You get what you get when it comes to the bride's mixture of vendors.  Nothing is likely to change even though you see the recipe for a disaster and warnings often fall on deaf ears.  (Put this in your contract!)

I cringe when I know there isn't going to be a professional DJ to work with as well as other professionals.  I hear from the professionals all the time that they have told their client that they need a wedding coordinator.  When I recently asked a very talented DJ how often they had a wedding where there was a professional Wedding Coordinator, he said it was about 1 in 10.  He said that usually a mother will take care of all the planning.  These wedding professionals love having a professional Wedding Coordinator as much as we love working with other professionals.  It helps all of us do our jobs the way we prefer to do them and stay within our areas of expertise.  We all want to make each other look good!

So, this is what I get from all of this.  Wedding Coordinators must find ways to help these vendors who know what they're talking about, change their client's mindset to ever be comfortable enough to hire a wedding coordinator.  I see that this task is one that Wedding Coordinators must take on to help other vendors who want to refer us.

I would love it if anyone would add to my list of ideas to help vendors promote a Wedding Coordinator or a list of reasons you believe a wedding coordinator is such a hard concept to "sell".

Possible myths they will run into:

1.  Wedding Coordinators are only for "rich" people.

2.  Wedding Coordinators are snobs!

3.  Wedding Coordinators are just like the ones you see in the movies.

4.  Wedding Coordinators take over your whole wedding.

5.  The person at the venue is taking care of everything.  

6.  You can find all of your vendors at a show.  (Maybe if all vendors participated in every show and you really got to know them in that type of environment.)  What if a bride hates crowds?  

Possible answers to those myths and misconceptions:

1.  Wedding Coordinators save by way of passing on discounts to clients that the vendors give to them knowing that their job is going to be easier than if they didn't have a coordinator.  Coordinators save vendors time!

2.  Most Wedding Coordinators do what they do because they love to help people.

3.  Being a Wedding Coordinator is a lot of really hard work.  There's nothing glamorous about finding out that the city employee didn't open up the restrooms, graffiti appeared overnight, you're going over the floor with a lint roller to pick up confetti or glitter so that the client gets their deposit back.  Like in the movies?  Hardly!

4.  A good Wedding Coordinator will listen above all else to what a bride envisions no matter how hard it is for her to convey her dream wedding.  Wedding Coordinators are thrilled when they hear the words, "This is just the way I saw it in my mind, but I just didn't know how to make it happen!"

5.  People at a venue even like it when a professional Wedding Coordinator is onsite so they can take care of their staff and venue responsibilities.  The venue contact person cannot read a client or be counted to catch the bride's glance in their direction every time she needs something.  If brides only knew how busy these venue coordinators and their staff were for an event, they would understand.

6.  A Wedding Coordinator spends a lot of time getting to know vendors and the quality of their work.  The same is true for studying venues.  We want to know what will match the bride's style, personality and budget.

Most Wedding Coordinators give at least some amount of time in the form of a free consultation.

I never have a consultation without hearing a bride, groom or their family members say, "I never would have thought about that!"  What pains me the most, is knowing that I could be helping people have a much less painful, less time-consuming role in planning their wedding and not be completely tired out on their wedding day, along with their family and friends!

As always, wishing you the greatest of days!

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Member Janis Flagg of Greatest of Days Event & Wedding Planning.

A Week in the Life of a Venue Manager

A day in the life of a venue manager just won’t give you the full picture of everything we do – so here’s a picture of a week!

I spend the first part of the week putting together “the packet”. The packet consists of Banquet Event Orders – the paperwork that details menu selections, start and end time, setup, audio-visual, etc., for each event we have coming the following week. The packet varies from one page to forty pages, depending on the number of events and their complexity. Along with the packet, I create an Excel spreadsheet each week that lists all of the events and monetary details so the rest of the building is aware of what business will be coming in and where the events are located.

In between the packet and the spreadsheet, I am welcoming the clients whose event is onsite that day, answering questions for the staff, and answering the phones when the front desk cannot. (As we are a hotel, I serve a few more functions than just a venue salesperson would.) My role allows me to wear many hats; if an event also has group rooms, I take care of the booking and contracting of the rooms and the event. I often do tours upstairs of the sleeping rooms in addition to our banquet/meeting space. I also manage the changes to events where the packet has already gone out – whether that is a change in count for meals, the client needs to change setup, etc. Sometimes I work from home at night if I receive pertinent emails after hours to ensure the client’s needs are taken care of.

All week, I answer inquiry phone calls and emails about future events. We receive leads and inquiries from multiple sources, so I often have several events that I am bidding on or filling out a proposal for. Sometimes I’m needed by the staff to assist in setup or service at an event. I check in with them several times a day to see how everything is going, and run interference if a client has a question or billing issue. I try to be onsite for our major events, first to initially greet the client, and then to be present for the duration of the event to ensure they are comfortable and everything goes smoothly. I have a fantastic staff that I never have to worry about, but the client often feels better just seeing me. J

Thursdays are typically spent mostly in meetings. I have a meeting with the Chef and the Banquet Captain. It’s their chance to ask questions or give me feedback on the last week’s events, as well as review the upcoming events. After the Food and Beverage department meeting, we have our weekly staff meeting. The managers of each department meet once a week to go over any issues that have arisen, upcoming projects, upcoming events, maintenance needs, etc. Upon the completion of this meeting, the Sales Department (again, I wear multiple hats), meets to talk about strategy, groups we are bidding on, and sales activities we are planning on participating in. By the time I am out of meetings for the day, I usually have just enough time to respond to emails and voicemails, and then it’s time to go home!

Fridays are catchup and project day. Our newsletter and media projects are typically done on Fridays, along with any other items left until the end of the week.

Saturdays are almost always spent with clients, doing site visits and planning, and events! I am off Sundays and Mondays so I can work Saturdays, the most popular day for social events (weddings, auctions, anniversary parties, etc.)

By the end of Saturday I’m ready for my weekend, so I can start all over again!

Contributed by Puget Sound Member Kati Wright, The INN at Gig Harbor

Convertible Wedding Dresses

One thing I’ve heard several brides complain about is how difficult it is to dance in the long flowing wedding gowns – even when bustled.  The option has been to buy a second gown/dress for the reception.  With the costs involved in a wedding many can’t afford the two dress option.

The new trend is ‘convertible wedding dresses’, which gives you the classic wedding gown for the ceremony and then when it’s time to party, with a quick adjustment you are now free to dance the night away!

                                                       David Tutera for Faviana

                                                                Martina Liana

                                                          Morgan Boszilkove

Would you consider a convertible wedding dress or do you want to stick with a traditional dress or even have two dresses?  Please feel free to leave your opinion/thoughts below in the comment section.

Simple and Sentimental Solutions to Wedding Problems

I had a bride who wanted an outdoor ceremony and she did get just that and the weather was beautiful.  This bride hired me very late in the game and I needed to find out as much as possible about her dream wedding and do it very quickly.  I soon learned that they wanted a program placed on all of the chairs.  Are you thinking the same thing that I thought at that moment?  Outdoor wedding, programs on chairs.  Hmmmm.  I saw programs flying all over the place with any gust of wind.

Since I knew that this bride was very much into doing what was "green" for her wedding, I suggested that they put nature into the wedding ceremony to solve the potential problem.  I explained to them some of the ways a rock ceremony can be a part of a wedding.  I was also thinking that rocks could hold those programs securely in the chairs!  This bride was very creative and turned it into a very sentimental part of their ceremony.  Her family had property on a beautiful lake with a type of stones on its shore that were flat.  This lake had special meaning for many family members as you can only imagine all the good times they had together, probably tossing these types of stones into the lake as kids.

After the ceremony, all of the guests who had been instructed to hold the rock and make a good wish for the bride and groom and place the rocks into a special box.  I love the picture of the bride and groom walking through a meadow with the groom carrying the box filled with good wishes.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional member Janis Flagg, Greatest of Days

Planning for Wedding Shows

Are you planning for your wedding?  Wedding shows are one of the best ways for a future bride to get to know the latest fashions, meet wedding vendors and get dozens of tips.

Are you planning for your wedding? 

Wedding shows are one of the best ways for a future bride to get to know the latest fashions, meet wedding vendors and get free consultations on just about anything that you would require for your big day whether it is the bridal gown, the wedding venue, the wedding cake, the floral arrangements, the bridal bouquet and the list goes on. Whatever it is you might be looking for, you are sure to find it and much more at a wedding show.

The best reason for attending wedding shows is that you can compare the various wedding vendors all under one roof while you would have to rush from one place to another otherwise. It is basically a place for you to know what your options are and to get familiar with the wedding vendors so you can decide on whether you want them to be part of your wedding day or not. You can make appointments with those wedding vendors that you might be interested in. This will save you a lot of time and effort.

Before you go to a wedding show, arm yourself with a little notebook and pen.  There will be plenty of things for you to write down. It would be a good idea not to carry a handbag but to put the cash and other things you require in your front pockets in case you leave it somewhere or have it stolen. When you enter the wedding show you are generally greeted by a somebody with a bag filled with all kinds of brochures inside. This is just right to collect all the extra information that the wedding vendors are more than willing to give you.

At wedding shows, you will find a lot of wedding vendors including bakeries to provide you the wedding cake, bands to provide you music, designers for your wedding dress, vendors selling you wedding venues, caterers for your wedding buffet and many more. Many vendors offer free or discounted coupons so make sure you don’t pass up these offers. Make sure you take a look at every booth at the Expo unless of course you have already placed your order for the item they are dealing with elsewhere.                                                                                   

Generally there is a fashion show; here they will showcase the latest wedding gowns as well as other fashion accessories and jewelry including wedding bands. There almost always is some entertainment so the entry fee that you pay covers that. Make sure you know the timings of the important events that you are interested in when you visit a wedding show.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Brad Buckles of Bridesclub and the Bridesclub Wedding Expos.

DJ Interview

We’ve been given the opportunity to share a few snippets from the following interview on our blog.  To view the entire interview please check out Red Letter Events “Behind the Veil". 

RLE: What is the biggest misconception that brides have before they meet with you for the first time?

Ollie of Gen X Productions: The biggest misconception that we run into is the difference between a DJ playing music at their wedding or having a professional DJ company that helps with planning, day-of coordination of the Ceremony and Reception, keeping the flow and being very professional. DJ’s have an incredible amount of control at a wedding and can really affect its overall outcome and success. Lots of our clients are amazed as we walk them through our planners at the amount of details that weddings can have.

RLE: What are some questions that brides should ask when interviewing DJs?

Ollie of Gen X Productions: There are many but here are some of the most important ones that are asked when meeting a Professional DJ Company:

• Are you the DJ that will be at my wedding? If not, will I be able to meet them before I book with your company?
• How long have you been in business and could I read some recommendations of some of your past clients?
• Do you have a contract or agreement; are you insured and do you have a business license?
• Are there any extra costs with equipment and meetings of what we have gone over?
• Do you drink or take smoke breaks at weddings? (We never do)
• Do you provide both MC & DJ services? (They should)
• Do you have backups in place for unforeseen circumstances? (Most companies don’t like this question)
• Do you use professional grade equipment, microphones and speakers? (Just gage how they respond, if they are confident,then you’re OK)
• Do you charge for setup & take-down and how early do you show up on the day of the wedding? (No charge & 1-1.5 hours is recommended)
• What do you wear at weddings and are there any options?

There are many more questions but these are the most common.

Contributed by Puget Sound Members Generation X Productions and Red Letter Events.

Becoming a Wedding Photographer

Often times we, as wedding vendors hear from people stating that they want to become a wedding photographer, DJ, florist, wedding planner and so on.  Over the next several months we will feature entries on becoming a wedding _______ (florist, DJ, etc.) written by current professionals in the field . We will start this series with ‘Becoming a Wedding Photographer’, contributed by Monica of Family Affair Photography.

    ______________________________________________________________________________

Many times I get the impression that those wanting to get into wedding photography think it’s an easy way to make big money and that it’s going to be one big party.  Before I go into ‘becoming a wedding photographer’ I’m going to share how I ‘fell’ into this profession.  It actually started with an offer to photograph my nieces wedding.  I refused several times, they repeatedly offered and finally sweetened the deal and I said yes. 

Immediately, I started reading everything I could get my hands on about wedding photography, and I also spent a considerable amount of time studying the work of other wedding photographers.   The exhilaration, the adrenalin rush of the wedding day is what inspired and motivated me into starting my own business.  I think to this day that it was my sheer eagerness and JOY of the field that propelled me and not aspirations of making big money or parties.  When I talk to other successful wedding photographers I often hear the same thing, this is a career that brings them joy and often times the first weddings were those of friends or family.

Since that first wedding, I have learned a lot from experience and from talking to other wedding professionals who were willing to offer some guidance.

Let’s get this out there:  Great camera’s don’t make great photographers!  Learn photography before anything else.  A wedding photographer is responsible for capturing the most precious moments in life, and a wedding is NOT the place to learn photography!  As a wedding photographer you are expected to know your camera intimately, to be a master of your chosen craft.  Unfortunately having a new camera doesn’t automatically make you an efficient and reliable photographer.  Learn composition and develop your artistic vision. 

Things don’t end once you’ve photographed a wedding.  In fact it’s after the wedding that the work starts.  I’ve heard from several photographers who have said that for every hour shooting at a wedding it will require about 2 additional hours in post production work.  This means learning and mastering digital workflow, processing the RAW images, file management, image correction, color management and enhancement.  Even great images often need a little something more. It’s pretty much expected you’ll be doing some correction. Don’t think you can shoot and burn and get a reputation for great work.

LOVE photography more than anything else.  Don’t come into the wedding photography field filled with aspirations of making BIG money.  While it’s true, there are many successful wedding photographers that make a lot of money.  Many of those photographers are also successful speakers, teachers, mentors, etc. to other wedding photographers.  According to the Professional Photographers of America, the average photographer in America makes about $24,000.00 a year. 

When you start photographing a wedding learn to focus on QUALITY vs. quantity.  Is there really a need to take 2000 photos per hour?  No bride is going to want the quantity, they much rather have the heartfelt and beautiful images.  Think about your shots, look for the special moments.  Keep your eyes and heart open to capture the unique and beautiful moments that naturally occur during the day.  Remember that long after you have moved on, your photographs will last forever and will someday be viewed by future generations of that family. 

During the wedding day, keep moving even if your tired of being on your feet for 8 plus hours, you need to be ready and alert what is happening around you.  There is a fine line you need to learn as to when you hide and become ninja like and when you get out and interact with the guests.  Knowing this will produce some wonderful images of the day.  Experience is going to be your best instructor on this.  Starting off as an assistant for a photographer would give you an edge on this, you can learn by observing the pro and by asking them questions after the event.

There is an old rule for the successful photographer and it’s one I admit that I still struggle with to this day.  The rule is “80% business, 20% photography”  Sometimes it feels like it’s 90% business and only 10% photography.  Unfortunately if you want to make photography your business you have to be much more than a photographer while still excelling at offering your customers great images.  If you want to get hired you need to sell yourself, make your customers happy and promote your abilities.  Being a great photographer is much more than clicking that shutter!  If you aren’t ready to handle the business end of photography, you can always work with other photographers.

Lastly learn something new everyday by taking classes, reading or getting out with your camera.  Join different photography groups.  There are many professional photography organizations that offer different levels of membership based on your skills and knowledge.  Some worth checking out:  Professional Photographers of America (PPA), and Wedding Portrait Professionals International (WPPI).  Attend their workshops, seminars, and meetings.  Learn and share tips, techniques from other professionals in the industry.  Never stop learning. Always practice, observe and study.

There is so much to share when talking about becoming a wedding photographer.  It IS a joyous and rewarding career.  If you decide to pursue wedding photography, always remember that as a wedding photographer you’re in a service business.  Always serve your clients with care and attention to detail that you would expect on your own wedding day or daily life for that matter!

Exploring the Possiblities

Puget Sound Wedding Professionals is proud to announce to upcoming events that are being produced by a couple of our members.   The first is the inaugural Wedding Walk Tacoma on Sunday February 20th, followed by the Bridal 4-1-1 workshops that will be held in Tukwila and Tacoma in March.

       

                Wedding Walk Tacoma

Wedding Walk Tacoma is a one day event that will introduce prospective brides, grooms, wedding attendants and their family and friends to Tacoma, as a one-stop shopping destination for weddings, while sampling excellent food, wonderful beverages and touring Tacoma’s most beautiful places to get married.

Brides, grooms, friends and family will walk the Downtown Tacoma Business District, stopping at the Marriott and Pacific Grill Event Center,  then walking down Pacific Avenue to the Tacoma Art Museum, Union Station, and the History Museum before crossing the Chihuly Bridge to the Museum of Glass on the water.
There are approximately 60 premier businesses and sponsors participating from categories such as floral design, formal wear, hotel and banquet halls, invitations and printing, jewelers, photographers, salons and spas, shoes and accessories, and bakeries.

Participants can choose to walk, ride in a limo, or hop on Tacoma’s Link light rail to the featured venues. After visiting all locations, participants will be entered to win a Grand Prize Raffle.

http://www.weddingwalktacoma.com

 

  

                    Bridal 4-1-1 Workshops

• Wedding Tips from Professionals
• Planning Advice for your wedding
• Q & A with up to 16 different vendors
• Wedding Checklists, Giveaways, DIY Advice

If you are planning your wedding and have questions or concerns, these workshops are for you! Every bride has questions and sometimes no one to ask. Come listen to wedding professionals with answers. The workshops are designed to help you learn to interview potential vendors such as photographers, florists, DJs, wedding planners, officiants, caterers, etc. The workshops will provide you with information to make wedding planning decisions with ease, choose the best wedding dress or wedding flowers for you, and connect you with wedding professionals with DIY solutions.

Each workshop is a series of four 2 hour sessions with up to four wedding vendor presentations each session. Sign up for one session or all four. The first workshops will be held in Tacoma and Seattle/Tukwila starting in March 2011 . Future workshops are planned for Auburn, Gig Harbor, Sumner and other upcoming locations .

$10.00 per person for each session through January 31, 2011. Starting February 1, $15.00 per person.

Call 206-601-6957 or email nancy@simplycelebrations.com

For more information and to buy workshops, go to www.bridal4-1-1workshops.com

Unusually Unusual

We recently asked our members of the Puget Sound Wedding Professionals group to share memories from weddings that had an unusual, different or creative twist on their event.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm not sure how common this practice is, but I was exposed to it for the first time last year and thought it was a great idea.  After receiving their engagement session images, my clients spent an afternoon at a local winery where they took part in a wine tasting and then made small batches of their own unique wines for the upcoming summer wedding.  The winery tended their wine until the fermentation process was complete, at which point the couple returned to bottle, cork, and label the wine.  They were able to select several photos from our engagement session to create gorgeous bottle labels.  The guests loved the personal touch and everybody wanted to take a bottle home!  These wines would make great guest favors or bridal party gifts as well.  Two Puget Sound Wineries I know of that provide this service are Classic Winemaker's in Lacey and Castle Bridge Winery in Kent.  

Katie Cann-McTaggart

R e d  S p a r r o w  P h o t o g r a p h y

www.redsparrowphoto.com

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We photographed a wedding several years ago where the guests at each table had to sing a love song of their choice before they would get released to the buffet line.  Most of the tables would all sing a verse together while other tables would let one brave singer sing solo and allowing that person to go to the head of the line. 

The bride and groom, along with all the guests were laughing and enjoying the selection of songs, some were sung off key, some with verses wrong, but it made for a fun way to get released to the buffet line.

We didn’t hear any objections to the singing from any of the guests, even the ones without singing voices since this was a group participation activity.

Monica

Family Affair Photography

www.familyaffairphotography.com

   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are two great unique ideas that a bride of mine an I came up with. The boxes that look like a wedding cake are for cards that guests bring to the wedding. It was super cute and different than the usual basket etc. The other was the wall banner. What to do with a big ugly wall? Her theme was monograms so her friend painted the plain muslin and hung it on a dowel and then we up-lit. It was a great backdrop to the head table instead of the plain wall.

 
Melanie Benson

Melanie Benson Floral Design

http://melaniebensonfloral.com

 

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’d love to see a wedding catered by one of Seattle’s award winning food trucks – www.marinationmobile.com. They have the BEST food. The wedding could take place at a nice outdoor location with a place for the truck. The reception area could be decked out Hawaiian – Korean Style. Paper lanterns and grass skirts! Bright colors. I think I would be a fun, casual, delicious event. Maybe I’ll do it for my birthday!

www.marinationmobile.com.

Cheers! Rachel

www.rachelrauschphotography.com

www.photomusela.blogspot.com

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. We have an upcoming wedding that will have the ring bearer carrying a pillow with the bride’s ring and the flower girl carrying a pillow with the groom’s ring.

2. I’m seeing more rainbow weddings. The latest example is a bride that picked black dresses but then gave her bridesmaids a swatch of ribbon in either yellow, orange, pink, purple or blue and asked them to buy whatever shoe they wanted in that color. Their flowers will be that same color and the groomsman they are walking with will have a tie that is predominately that color and a matching boutonniere.

Barb

Top Hat

  http://www.tophatfw.com/index.html

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

A while ago I got to photograph an Afghani wedding.  I also did the engagement party, which, though these are common in their culture, was bigger than most regular weddings I shoot! So while the music, food, and traditions were all different and a lot of fun, there was one in particular that was REALLY enjoyable to watch.  Dance battle for the cake knife.  When it came time to cut the cake, the groom's cousin danced onto the dance floor carrying the knife. Every attempt at retrieving the knife on Ajmal's part resulted in a graceful twirl away and no knife!  Thankfully, as the night had progressed, Ajmal's parents had been stuffing his pockets with moderately sized bills. Very quickly, a rhythm was established to the dance-- bribe, rejection. Bigger bribe, further rejection! By the time she decided to give in, I counted the dancer to have made somewhere between $150-$250!

And all for a piece of cake. I hope it tasted good!  I have to tell ya, I WOULD love to see this at more weddings.  (And maybe more traditional Afghani food!)

Jason Comerford Photography
http://www.jasoncomerford.com
http://jcomerfordphoto.blogspot.com/

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feathers and fishnet are a few other popular trends brides tend to overlook. Remember ladies, your the star of the show!

The Bella Look

Http://www.thebellalook.com

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Popcorn stand. Latte stand.

Angie

www.angiedphotography.com

http://angiedphotography.blogspot.com/

   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

One of my best girlfriends got married at the Pantages in downtown Tacoma.  The ceremony was on the stage and the reception in the gorgeous lobby. That made it a unique wedding but she had other touches that made it a wedding to remember. They had decided early in planning they didn’t want a traditional cake so when it came to that reception moment for cake cutting the D.J. quieted everyone down and told us to listen. Off in the distance we could hear  the ice cream truck music and it was getting closer! The truck pulled right up to the door and everyone was invited to go out and pick whatever they wanted. It was such fun!

Barb VH

Top Hat formal wear    

  http://www.tophatfw.com/

   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I recently saw this at a wedding, they had a ‘ring warming’ ceremony.  During a ring warming, the couple’s wedding rings are passed among their guests, who are asked to say a prayer or make a wish for the couple over the rings while holding them.  This intimate exchange injects all of the loving energy of the couple’s friends and family into the rings that they’ll be wearing for a lifetime.

It makes for a very inclusive element of the ceremony and further connects the couple with their loved ones in attendance. 

Nancy

Simply Celebrations

http://simplycelebrations.com/

   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many weddings will have guests throwing bird seed or blowing bubbles as the couple exits and leaves the reception. 

At a wedding we photographed, the wedding party went out and stuffed the get-a-way car with helium balloons.  So, before the couple could make their escape, they had to let all the balloons escape from the car!  It had all the guests cheering and laughing.

Monica

Family Affair Photography

www.familyaffairphotography.com

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In reality all weddings are unique in their very own way, just as no two snowflakes are the same, no two weddings are the same either.