Meet our Members ~ Jason Comerford Photography

Name: Jason Comerford Business Name: Jason Comerford Photography

Website: www.jasoncomerford.com

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

Blog: http://jasoncomerford.zenfolio.com/blog

Twitter: @jason_comerford

How would you describe your business?

We're a husband and wife team, and we shoot mostly weddings and families. We find it's a pretty good set-up; when working with couples, Hannah will go with the gals and I'll start with the guys. Most folks are a bit more comfortable that way. When we work with families, I tend to do most of the shooting, and Hannah helps with lighting, organization, and even wrangling kiddos.

What’s your favorite part of the job?

Being a photographer was my lifelong dream, and, now that my dream is being realized, I find that the best part of it is working with people. I meet more wonderful, interesting people in a month of doing this job than in anything else I've ever done. A Brazilian model; an author publishing a political book; a man who designs flight landing paths; a couple combining Jewish and Quaker heritages in one unique wedding; a DJ named Freedom Noble (real name, too). I love getting to meet all types of individuals, and this job brings me into contact with people whom I wouldn't otherwise meet in my day-to-day life. I love it.

What inspired you to start your business?

I first remember wanting to do this when I was 12. I got my BFA in photography and spent time working at a portrait studio after my graduation. However, working at a portrait studio when you want to run your own business is akin to flipping burgers at McDonald's when you want to own your own restaurant. After a few years, the breaking point came. I sat down with my wife and we made the decision for me to quit and pursue my own business full-time. Hannah is also a professional editor and writer, so we both work from home, spending most of our time and talents in support of the business.

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

I'm a big believer in making informed decisions. There's a few big differences between an amateur photographer (even a good one) and a professional wedding photographer, and it's not just about the quality of photos.

· A professional is familiar with the ebb and flow of a wedding day. We have a good sense for how long a particular set of photos will take based on the number of people involved, the time of day, and your creative goals. We always meet with our clients before they even hire us, and we go over a tentative schedule to ensure they have a realistic expectation of the hours required for the photos they want. This isn't a sales tactic—we really do want our clients to be well informed. From there, we can finagle things to make the best use of time and budget. The photography can have a major impact on your schedule, and having a professional to help you navigate it can be invaluable.

· A professional knows how to handle a variety of lighting situations and locations. The color of the lighting, the venue, the height of the ceiling, the size of the room, the time of day, the color of the carpet, the number and dress of guests, even the lightbulbs—it all impacts photo quality. The wedding industry standard for quality is very, very high, and professionals spend years pushing themselves in accordance with that standard.

· A professional has the right equipment. I've spent years figuring out just the right gear. We're never compensating for any technical shortcomings; our gear is a collection of carefully chosen tools designed to meet the challenges of the wedding day. You could think of it this way: it's the difference between hitting an icy dirt road in your '93 minivan and barreling over it with your 4-wheel drive Subaru.

· A professional has a contract. I can't tell you how many teary brides have approached me the week (or day!) before the wedding, telling me their photographer friend has disappeared. They're now out $100 and have no one to photograph the ceremony. Our contract not only offers you a legal guarantee that we'll be there, it even makes provision for circumstances beyond our control. I break my legs a week before the wedding? You're either getting a full refund, or (more likely) I'm finding a comparable photographer to take my place for the money you paid us. We work hard to make sure our clients aren't left in the lurch in case of mishap.

· A professional has a developed workflow and time line for giving you your photos. Again, I've heard story after story of a friend getting paid to shoot the photos, then taking 18 months to get them the finished product. Most wedding photographers have a maximum return time of around eight weeks. Most of our clients see their wedding photos in less than six. Either way, your contract will give you a legal timeframe for when you can expect us to be finished.

· A professional can direct. Amateur photographers rarely know how to organize and set up groups of people. They often fail to take initiative, being passive when it comes to telling folks what to do. While not everything has to be a set up shot, there is a time and place for speaking loudly and organizing effectively.

If you could photograph any celebrity wedding (past, present, or future), who would be the lucky couple?

Pretty sure I'd die of sheer glee if I got to shoot Benedict Cumberbatch's wedding. Don't worry, I'm a consummate professional; he would get the photos before my glee-induced death.

Wedding Photography Prices Are “Wack”

This has been sitting on my desk for sometime now (almost a year), waiting for when I had a little free time to formulate a proper response to this Craigslist post for wedding photographers :).  While I’m sure this particular bride will never see the response, I hope other brides and/or grooms with the same nagging question will get to see a response from at least one photographer who has been in the industry for 10+ years now.

A few weeks ago as I was contemplating raising our photography prices, I decided the first thing I needed to do was breakdown the time spent not only at the wedding but all the time spent before and after the wedding with post production work.  There’s this fabulous myth that wedding photographers only work the 6-10 hours one day a week while earning a large sum of money.  Unfortunately that is only a myth and not a reality.  It was much to my own dismay I realized I made less than a part time McDonalds employee flipping hamburgers!

Now those of us (I’m included in this at the moment) who charge less than $2,000.00/$3,000.00 are the photographers who lack  the strong business skills  and eventually learn in order to have a healthy business that can properly care for their customers and supply an adequate income to pay for the basics of life (roof, heat, food) that we need to charge at least $2000.00 in order to survive.

Many of the photographers who are in the price range that this particular bride is looking for are only part time photographers who hold down full/part time employment and because of these demands on their time they are unable to pursue training in photography and have little time for editing which leaves brides waiting 6 months or longer for their photographs.  That is one of the common complaints I hear from our brides is that this is what has happened to their friends and they want to be assured they don’t have to wait as long or get images that are substandard.

Another downfall of these photographers, is they get burnt out and fold their business, sometimes before a bride ever sees her wedding photos.  How high on the priority list do you think your wedding is to them now?

Now how many brides say “On my wedding day I hope there is rain, snow, driving wind or fog”, no one!  So living here in the Northwest means that most weddings occur during a three month window.  Now take into consideration that weddings most often are on Saturday this means that you can expect around twelve days a year to make the bulk of your yearly salary.

Then we have to remember that we are now entrusted by our customers to preserve their memories on one of the biggest life changing events in their life.  What an incredible honor to be selected to photograph this amazing day for our couples!  With that honor comes a huge responsibility, there are no ‘do-overs’, no second chances to get this right!  With that responsibility it means we have to know our camera inside out, meaning being technically proficient while being creative on the fly.  Uncle Bob, simply doesn’t have this experience!

As a professional wedding photographer, it means we are small business owners that not only go to fun weddings to photograph the event, we are also the photo editor, accountant, website designer, the marketing guru, customer service department, and so much more, it’s a surprisingly large amount of work involved for one day of photography! 

We haven’t gone into the expenses of owning the business!  The gear, the training, the gas to drive back and forth, the taxes, insurance (for the business and our health) and other miscellaneous expenses that come along with owning a business.  I’m not going to breakdown each of those expenses, there is no need to bore you with those.  However, I assure you they certainly add up and take a good portion of the money received.

With all that said, it’s true we have an AWESOME job!  We get to go to wonderful weddings to photograph people looking their best, meet some amazing people, be creative, be our own bosses, and have the joy of preserving your wedding day memories! 
In closing, many couples have no hesitations in spending over $5,000. for a wedding dress, thousands just to have the right venue, plus several hundreds on wedding cakes and guest favors, etc..  Yet they are willing to cut back on the photography and video, which is the one thing that preserves those special memories!

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

 

Jazz Up Your Wedding Reception with the Right DJ

Many couples, who are planning to get married, often encounter a roadblock when it comes to the right entertainment for their wedding reception.  This is because the groom might have his own preference for the music genre while the bride is more attracted to other types of music.  Naturally they will have to compromise on this at some point.  One solution that can help them come to that compromise is to hire a professional DJ for the special occasion.

A DJ can help the bride and groom find pieces of music that will appeal to both of them without alienating anyone.  Hiring the right DJ can also help the couple figure out what music their guests would like to hear and dance to during the reception.  A DJ who knows the world of music well can make key suggestions then guide the couple towards specific artists and songs that the DJ thinks would suit their respective styles.  This will help soothe frazzled nerves that are already wired due to wedding preparations.

To hire the right DJ it may be important for the bride and groom to ask around their circles for recommendations.  Most likely at least one of their friends, colleagues or relatives knows of a DJ who has a good reputation already.  And if the DJ has a unique style of work that can be great because it means you are not hiring an amateur.

Take note that a DJ does not just play music and stand at his booth all the time.  Your DJ must also be able to work the crowd at the reception with humor, patience and his own charming style and great voice, so that everyone has a nice time no matter how long the reception party will last.  Your DJ could also be the host for the party to make sure your guests stay informed of what’s going on and to keeps things moving along.  You definitely want a DJ who can also take requests for specific songs from the crowd.

Of course let us not forget the importance of your DJ having excellent sound equipment for the reception.  You should check to make sure he has back up equipment too just in case the unexpected happens.  By investing in their own equipment, DJs can assure clients of great service which helps give the impression that this DJ really knows what he is doing.  The last thing any wedding needs is equipment that is worn out, hard on the ears, and often breaks down in mid-song.  By getting the right sound equipment and hiring a capable DJ your wedding reception may be a roaring success that your guests and your new spouse will remember for years to come.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Member DUBREEZY ENTERTAINMENT  at 206-595-4948 or info@dubreezyentertainment.com.  You can check out and “like” their facebook page to see photos from  past events.

Meet Our Member ~ Lifetime Memories

Name: Janine Goehler Business Name: Lifetime Memories Weddings, Events and Officiating

Website: www.lifetimememorieswa.com www.lifetimememorieswed.com

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

What’s your favorite part of the job? My favorite part of my job is standing at the back of the aisle and watching my Bride take that special walk. Months of work has finally come together and knowing her life is about to change forever. And then watching the Bride & Groom as they come back up the aisle as a married couple.

How did you get to where you are today? I got to where I am today by taking a lot of training, hard work, determination and learning from my mistakes.

What inspired you to start your business? I am a very organized person and I love weddings. Both of these elements are essential if you want to be in any facet of the wedding business. I have always been asked to coordinate parties but when I organized my daughter’s wedding (and we didn’t kill each other) and then a wedding for an international friend, I was hooked. I just loved it so much and missed all of it once the weddings were over. I then had that “light bulb moment” and I realized that I should join the wedding business.

How is your business different from your competitors? My business is different from my competitors in several ways. First of all, I list my fees on my website and they are lower than most. It’s not that I don’t think my experience is worth more money, I know how expensive weddings can be and I try to be sensitive to the budgets. When I started my business I did a non-scientific survey of 20-something gals and they all told me that if a price wasn’t listed they assumed it cost too much or they would be “sized up”, i.e., kind of car, dress, purse, size of diamond, etc., at a meeting and then a price determined by how much a coordinator thought they could afford.

Secondly, I do not limit the amount of contact a client can have with me. Some clients need more contact with me than others and I want to be there to support them all the way.

Third, I always bring an assistant to each wedding at no extra charge to my clients.

What is your range of services? I am a Professional Bridal Consultant and an Ordained Officiant.  As a consultant I can simply give advice, be a day-of coordinator, help you find a venue and vendors or assist with every aspect of your wedding. I prefer not to be the Officant and the Consultant at the same wedding so that I can concentrate solely on one aspect but I would certainly perform the ceremony, if called upon. Otherwise, I am always available as an Officiant for most types of ceremonies.

Maintain your engagement ring

(So you don’t ever lose your bling!)

Everything worth having in life is worth receiving regular loving care. This goes for marriages, relationships, your home, your car and also for your jewelry. I learned the hard and stressful way when I procrastinated on my engagement ring maintenance.

As I stepped out of the shower one day in June, I looked down at my engagement ring as I often do every day. This time the view was shocking instead of full of lovely memories of my wedding day. I saw empty prongs with a missing center diamond!

The next few minutes were spent saying “No, No, No” and a frantic search around the tub, the drain and floor of the bathroom. No diamond in sight. My heart was sinking and my stomach was tightening. I had lost my diamond from my ring. Needless to say, not much got done for work this day. After searching all the floors of my home and the dismantling of the shower drain with no results, I made the dreaded phone call to my husband. With tears streaming down my face, my husband, being the calm loving man he is, assured me that we would get it fixed, repaired, whatever it takes. He called our jeweler and made an appointment for the following Monday to have the broken prongs looked at. Two of the four prongs had broken off at the top.

The rest of my day was spent scouring the house, the furniture, our bed, sinks, everywhere for the missing stone. I knew it was somewhere in the house because I looked at it the previous night before going to bed. Later when my husband got home from work he went under the house and cleaned out the P Trap in hopes the stone would be found there.  Ladies you do not want to have to do this. It is beyond icky!  Still no diamond found! The only good thing about this ugly activity was I knew then and there that my husband would do anything for me.

That night I went through the house one more time with a bright flashlight and all the lights in the house off….searching the floors and rugs. As I went through the half bath down the hall with my flashlight, I was feeling I would never sleep this night. Searching around the back of the toilet and toilet topper I saw a little glint. Could it be? In the cabinet over the toilet on the bottom shelf was a small round shiny object: MY DIAMOND! Yes! Yes! Yes! Happy tears and running through the house yelling “I found it! I found it!” One of my luckiest and happiest moments!

I was lucky that my center stone did not dislodge outside of my house. Don’t let this potential loss happen to you. Here are some steps to preventing this very upsetting experience.

1. Twice a year inspections - My jeweler warranties the integrity of the ring if you bring it in for twice a year inspections. Add this to your reminders on your calendar so you do not forget to schedule this inspection. They will check your ring for wear and tear, for the integrity of the prongs and to check if the stone is still in the setting properly. At this same time you can usually get your ring cleaned professionally. It will sparkle like new!

2. Regular cleaning at home – Clean your ring at home monthly.  It depends on the type of stone which cleaner you should use, if any. Ask your jeweler what the proper care is for your stone(s). A toothbrush is a good tool for a light gentle cleaning under the center stone and around the setting. Very mild dish soap is what I use. Rinse well.

3. Remove when doing yard work or other hand work - Ladies, most of us wear our diamonds every day not matter what we are doing. We do house cleaning, yard work, as well as many other things. We risk bumping or harming our engagement ring during some of these rigorous processes. I know that I always feel weird without my ring on but I take it off now when doing yard work, scrubbing and some types of food prep as well. Have the same safe place to put your ring every time you take it off. When I told one of my friends about my experience, she shared with me that she had lost her center stone while gardening.

4. Insurance – Most homeowner’s or renter’s policies have an extra “rider” you can purchase for jewelry. This can cover accidentally loss or theft…it depends on the policy. There are also separate companies who insure just jewelry. I found a really informative article on TheKnot.com about this subject. I encourage you to read it. http://wedding.theknot.com/getting-engaged/engagement-rings/articles/engagement-ring-insurance-101.aspx?MsdVisit=1

I hope my experience will end your procrastination to have your precious ring checked twice a year. See my ring below all fixed.

Ladies, don’t let my experience happen to you. I found my stone and was very fortunate.  Make the appointment to maintain your engagement ring so YOU don’t ever lose YOUR bling.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Member: Nancy Skipton of Simply Celebrations & Events LLC.

Unplugged Wedding ~ Guest Blogger

In the past I’ve blogged about being a photo friendly guest and also about guest photographers but I felt that this needed to be expanded upon a bit more… and of course I have some images to show to support why I think it’s best when the guests put their cameras down.

Last year one of my friends got married and I was so thrilled to be her photographer that day. What was even more amazing was that she had an “Unplugged Wedding” after seeing pictures and reading my rants over the years about well-meaning guests whom have inadvertently (or heck, even completely on purpose) ruined images. Prior to the ceremony, the officiant read this, “Welcome, friends and family! Good evening everyone. Please be seated. Dan and Jennifer invite you to be truly present at this special time. Please, turn off your cell phones and put down your cameras. The photographer will capture how this moment looks — I encourage you all to capture how it feels with your hearts, without the distraction of technology. If Dan can do it, then so can you.” I can’t tell you how many happy leaps of joy my heart did when reading this!!! The guests all obeyed and even after the ceremony many decided to keep their arms down and their hearts open and enjoyed the day instead of being an observer from behind their cameras.

Recently “Guest Photographers” came up in one of the photography groups I am apart of online and someone asked what the big deal is, why wouldn’t we want more people capturing images for our clients? I thought this was a great question! I don’t have a single problem with guests taking images and sharing them later on with the couple. It makes me happy to know there will be other pictures and photos of moments I may have missed or alternate angles that I couldn’t cover. I also completely understand that some have a love for capturing images and enjoy taking pictures at weddings they are guests at. However, my heart literally breaks when a guest ruins an otherwise lovely image or jumps in front of me when I’m capturing a key moment from the day. It completely slays me when this happens because while I am not remotely egotistical at all, I am fairly confident that my image would have been better than the one they captured. In the past 6 years of being a professional wedding photographer, it’s also been sad to watch the progression from seeing smiling, encouraging and happy faces as the bride is escorted up the aisle to faces hidden behind the backs of cameras and cell phones that line the aisle. These are all reasons why I am elated when I hear of couples opting for an Unplugged Wedding – or at the very least an Unplugged Ceremony.

I also want to add this: if you are a guest at the wedding, please make sure to withhold posting pictures of the Bride & Groom online until AFTER the ceremony. I can’t tell you how many “first looks” have inadvertently happened online before the wedding because a bridesmaid or groomsman have uploaded pictures to social media before the wedding and a Bride and/or Groom who were killing time by browsing Facebook saw their future intended before the ceremony. Don’t do it!!!!! Also make sure with the couple that it is OK to share the images on social media, sometimes people prefer to keep things quiet due to varying factors and you don’t want to cause undue stress.

One thing there is absolutely NOTHING I can do to combat is a flash from a guest photographer’s camera. There is rarely anything that will save the image and no repositioning will change the outcome.

These are just two of the hundreds of images of the wedding processional that I’ve had ruined from a camera flash.

I also rarely, if ever, use flash for the ceremony so the light you see here is ALL from the one camera’s flash.

This girl’s father literally shoved me aside and gave me grief because I was blocking his daughter from standing in the aisle to get an image. This sanctuary only had one aisle and very little room to move due to a small space being full with guests. I took this image to protect myself later in case the clients were upset that I had to stand slightly off center for a portion of their day. Also? The Nintendo DS made the LOUDEST noises when it took pictures. It was crazy.

Since this image was taken 4 years ago the DS’s have been replaced with iPad, which are a million times worse when it comes to eyesores.

This kid’s Dad yelled at my second shooter during a wedding and shoved his kid up in front to make sure he got an image with his iPhone during a destination wedding in Cozumel. Note, he wasn’t a guest of the wedding, just a guest of the resort.

This whole situation literally broke my heart. In many churches, photographers are HEAVILY restricted as to where they can go for images and the Heinz Chapel is perhaps one of the strictest I’ve ever worked at. We are only allowed to be outside of the sanctuary in the door opening where the center aisle is and in the balcony. We are not permitted to move during the service. My second shooter thankfully was in the balcony but it didn’t make these guests go away but luckily he was able to get images of the service where you could SEE the bride and groom. I argued, begged and pleaded for the church lady guarding me to at least allow me to go into the side aisle so I could get a clear shot of my clients when these guests jumped into the aisle but I was not allowed. Instead I just had to take what I could get and cry a bit on the inside.

Another image of a guest who jumped in front of me during a ceremony where I could not move to get around him.

The flashes don’t quit for the service either and with the white dress there isn’t a lot I can do to save these images.

This almost made me cry. Not kidding.

I had my eye on this gentleman since he was standing up on the altar with the bride and groom during the service but I was able to zoom and crop around the couple so that he wasn’t in too many of the images. Then after the pronouncement of the couple and he swiftly moved and stood RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME during the first kiss. I jumped quickly to the side but I missed the quick kiss and luckily still was able to capture the hug after but I still am SO SAD that I missed their first kiss. I sure hope he got it…

I also felt doubly awful because I had to jump in front of guests view of the couple and during a ceremony my goal is to never block a guests view. I apologized profusely after the wedding and thankfully they all were very sweet and understanding.

While this image wasn’t completely blown out, the shadows are bothersome from a guest’s flash.

Back to the Heinz Chapel and as you can see, the guest did not move for the majority of the ceremony. I’m still sad when I look at this image.

It doesn’t matter what kind of camera – how big or how small – the flash is almost always too bright to work with once it is fired.

Standing in the aisle always makes me sad because your attention immediately will go to that person and not on the subject of the image.

I really cringe when guests try to take pictures during formals because not only am I generally under a time crunch but the flashes ruin at least one or two shots for each batch I take. Eyes also tend to wander and rarely do I get everyone looking at me at the same time when there are multiple cameras present. This is the only time that I will sometimes tell guests that they have to stop taking pictures and I have been told off more times than not when I’ve had to do this. However my priority the day of the wedding is on my clients. I don’t care about the sale of the portraits but I do care about the quality of the portraits and if there is a circus going on behind me it rarely ends well for everyone involved. So, trust me when I beg and plead for you to tell people to put their cameras down and go enjoy the cocktail hour while we take some portraits with the special people in your life.

The reception generally is a time when I can quickly move if a guest decides to take pictures but when I can’t move around it? The special dances. Although I have to say, this little old guy does warm my heart a bit. He was pretty cute with his disposable camera even if it was a bit distracting with the winding.

Another guest deciding the first dance is a great time for that portrait of the bride and groom.

This is another one that makes me a sad panda when I look at it. This guest came up at the last bit of the Father/Daughter dance and there was no where I could go to get her out of the picture. Luckily I have numerous beautiful images from the dance but the last hug is always my favorite.

Another pet peeve of guest cameras during the wedding? THE RED (OR GREEN) DOT OF DOOM! These focusing beams are quite irritating because again, there’s not a lot that I can do to get rid of it outside of turning the image black and white (which still will leave a light circle). There’s quite a few images that I’ve had to toss due to these beams, this is just one of the many.

Bottom line: my priority the day of the wedding is on my clients. They have paid me their hard-earned money to make sure I document their wedding and when an overzealous guest gets in the way, it makes me sad. I think often people don’t realize what they are doing and my writing this post was in hoping to educate even a few people that will take this advice and either have an unplugged wedding or think of the professional before jumping in the aisle for that shot.

Contributed by guest blogger Corey Ann Photography.

Meet our Member ~ Green River Conference & Event Center

Green River Conference & Event Center, 12401 SE 320^th St, Auburn, WA 98092 253.333.6010                                                       Email: eventcenter@greenriver.edu

Website: www.greenriver.edu/conference                                                           Facebook: www.facebook.com/greenriverevents                                                           Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108316443236650197754/posts                       Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/grccevents/

PSWP Contact: Jaime Simmons, jsimmons@greenriver.edu

What’s your favorite part of the job?

My favorite part of the job is the first few moments of any event. To see the physical manifestation of someone’s vision, sweat, tears and good intentions is why I do what I do. I’ve been planning a long time and those first few moments always get me.

What should a bride know about your expertise and experience?

My whole team is made up our rock stars that have been in the business for over ten years! We all have the things we are really fantastic at and one of the cornerstones of our business is to match each client with the planner that is going to help them the most. Patty has coordinated weddings and other fantastic functions for over ten years. Benita is a Certified Meeting Planner who has been involved in the event industry for over thirty years who focuses on business functions. I’ve been planning events for fifteen years and am the go-to gal for offbeat events and fundraisers. Our tech team is incredible and can achieve the impossible.

How did you get to where you are today?

I am where I am today by having a diverse mix of experiences and gleaning what I to help me in the future.

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

I try to do my best to be an active part of the wedding professional’s community. I attend networking events, speak at them when asked and participate as much as I can. I also put together the My Wedding My Way wedding event every spring so that traditional and beyond couples have a resource for their weddings.

How is your business different from your competitors?

We are different than our competitors in several ways. We are an inclusive venue. Our wedding package includes lots of event rental time, linens, set-up, clean-up, and on-site coordinator, decorations and more… We are also incredibly affordable!

What is your range of services?

We offer everything from a classroom rental to conference services to a full-service wedding vendor.

What other wedding professionals do we like working with?

Everyone! We love some of our old faves… Pinhole Photographic, Lauren Bentley Photography, First Light Photography, Millennium Sound, Lucinda Larson, the list goes on… But, we ALWAYS love meeting new vendors! It’s fantastic to work with vendors that know their trade and it’s exciting to work with vendors new to the trade!

Meet Our Members ~ Bartending by Mallard

Name: Scott Mallard

Business Name: Bartending by Mallard

Website: http://tacomabartender.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bartending-by-Mallard/218194674921075

Blog: http://tacomabartender.com/blog.html

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/101333569245165099187/posts/p/pub

How is your business different from your competitors?

My only real competitors are caterers who offer bar service. I focus strictly on the bartending side of service. Many caterers will give a quote for food service and tell clients "bar service is included". That alone should send up a big red flag. I strongly urge asking for a cost breakdown of all services to be provided.

Bartenders are the life of any restaurant and or bar. Shouldn’t they being sought for their personality behind the bar at a wedding? Identifying bartenders who are engaging and charismatic offers an added touch for anyone’s next wedding, party, corporate event or fundraiser.

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

Reasons to Go with a Professional Bartender:

Many brides to be might know a friend who has a Class 12 MAST permit.

* Can they tell the bride everything you need to make sure you have on hand and in what quantities?

* Will they be offered customized cocktail menus and signature cocktail drinks?

* When they show up and find cases of liquor, coolers of ice and tables strewn about the bar area, will they be able to get it organized, chilled and be up and serving efficiently in one hour?

* Can they manage a thirsty horde of crowds up to 300 or will the line back up while they're chatting with their friends?

* Will they want to work all night while all of their other friends get to party?

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned, and would pass along to other new wedding (planners, florists, Officiants, etc) just getting started?

SEO (search engine optimization) and customer service reputation are everything. Skip the social networking to start. Anyone can put his or her name on Facebook. You need to get your name in front of people like event venue managers- People who, because of your reputation, are willing to recommend you.

What is your favorite venue and why?

Tough call. The Pioneer Park Pavilion and Foss Waterway Seaport. Why? The managers there are absolutely terrific to work with!

Meet our members ~ Rein Fire Ranch

Name: Rich Kaalaas                                                            Business Name: Rein Fire Ranch
Website: www.reinfireranch.com                Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReinFireRanch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rein_Fire_Ranch
Other: http://pinterest.com/reinfireranch/

How would you describe your business?
Rein Fire Ranch is an elegant rustic country venue nestled in the Sugarloaf Mountain Valley, just east of Maple Valley, WA.

What’s your favorite part of the job?
The People. Plain and simple. It is such an exciting time in a couples life, and I love assisting in the process, working with them.

What should a bride know about your expertise and experience?
Separate from having many years of design and management experience, I also have about 12 years of event production experience, ranging from dance events, fundraising and social events, so I have sense of the various components and how they play into the needs with respect to a venue layout and setup.

How did you get to where you are today?
A number of mistakes, and hopefully more successes. :)

What inspired you to start your business?
This is actually my second business that I have started. I learned a great deal from that one, and definitely carry that experience into this one. As to inspiration, I just don't sit still. I look upon a situation and start planning in my head. I looked across the ranch, and considered what changes I would start making to create the perfect mountain/ranch/garden setting that would appeal to couples, while at the same time retain is roots as a working farm.

In what ways do you take a leadership role in the wedding community?
Still working on leadership. I have a great deal still to learn, but I do feel that my background in design and branding is something that I have developed a great deal over the years.

How is your business different from your competitors?
With any venue that is outdoor and sort of farm oriented, each has similarities, pluses and minuses. I would say Rein Fire Ranch is different just in where it is situated in this amazing valley, as well as how far off of the main road we are. It definitely adds to the serene feel of the place.

Do you do anything special or different from your competition?
I feel that the ceremony garden and especially the gazebo that we have designed and built is very unique, and can be highly customized to each couples needs, while at the same time makes a statement in and of itself.

What is your range of services?
We offer venue rental, as well as set/up tear down services, and decorating services.

What has been your sweetest success story?
At our first wedding, it just so happened that one of the guest couples were the owners of a well established hospitality company in Seattle (venues, catering, planning…quite a large operation). The bride/groom went out of their way to introduce them to me during the reception. The praise, comments and feedback were pretty overwhelming, and truly made me believe in my vision of what this ranch could be, to couples getting married, the community, and ourselves as our home.

What was your most memorable wedding?
My own. :) Prior to really making big changes, we did our own wedding here a few years back. It is special to me obviously, but also set the stage for the big changes we have undertaken.

Who are some wedding vendors that inspire you and why?
Kelli Bielema of Shindig Events is one. She is just such a firecracker, and approaches everything with such zeal, while at the same time tossing in a bit of whimsy and deep creativity. I also have come to learn so much and become great friends with Kier and Mitzi of Firstlight Photography. Professional, Creative and down right whacky. Love them.

What are some of the pitfalls a bride can expect if they don’t hire a professional like yourself?
Missed details. Of course they come up, but without professional assistance, it can spin out of control, especially on the three days prior and during the wedding.

Who do you work well with and who is not the best match for your services?
I work best with collaborative people I think. Dictators and I don't mesh well, BUT if it is the couple getting married, I can work with it.

What are your hobbies or non-work-related activities that you enjoy?
The standard stuff, movies, hiking, we have a number of animals which keeps us busy.

What is the most awkward moment you’ve experienced while on the job?
Showing a gay male couple around the ranch, and touring the the "Bridal Suite". They asked me which one of them was to use that. I renamed it the Wedding Day Suite. :)

What is your favorite venue and why?
Well, Rein Fire Ranch, but if I picked next favorite, I really love Rock Creek Gardens in Puyallup. In addition to being amazing, Gracie and Dave have been very generous with their time and support as I have gotten the ranch up and running.

The Wedding Ceremony - When Sarah marries Sam

So finally Sarah and Sam are engaged. This is an exciting and exhilarating time for a newly engaged couple. It can, however, also be a time filled with concerns and questions about how to plan their wedding ceremony.

Let me tell you a little about Sarah and Sam, my fictional couple for this post. Sarah and Sam just got engaged after being together for several years. They both live in and grew up in Washington State. They are very excited to be taking the step of marriage in their relationship. They are both in their middle to late twenties. Sarah is not very religious but Sam grew up going to church. Some of their family and friends are very happy for them. However there are others who do not support their engagement and upcoming marriage. Sarah’s parents were divorced when she was fairly young and her mom has remarried. Sarah is close to both her step Dad and her father. Sam’s parents have been married for almost 30 years. They are uncertain if they can be supportive of Sam’s marriage to Sarah.

As Sarah and Sam start to think about their wedding day, they have many of the same questions and issues that other couples have. They, as a couple, have never had to consider the aspects of planning a wedding ceremony.

· Who will walk down the aisle with Sarah or Sam? Will it be Sarah’s Step Dad, her father, or both of them? Sarah now needs to think about what this decision will mean to each of her “dads”. Will Sam walk down the aisle with parents or alone? Maybe Sarah and Sam will each walk down the aisle alone or together and not be “given away”.

· Will they have friends and family in their wedding party and if so, how many people? Neither of them wants to alienate any of their friends or family by not choosing one of them. Who will stand up for them and support them? Many they will be unique and have a Man of Honor or a Best Woman.

· Which family members will sit in the first few rows at the ceremony? Will Sarah’s Mom sit in the first row with her husband along with Sarah’s Dad or will this a point of contention? Will family or friends who don’t support them decide not to attend at all? Will Sam’s parents come around and be there for them? How will Sarah and Sam feel about this possibility?

· Will they write their own vows or go with a more traditional ceremony based on Sam’s religious background? Perhaps Sam’s family, trying to be involved and supportive, will give lots of unsolicited advice about what they should or should not do. How will the couple address this in a strong but loving way so they can have the ceremony that they really want and still be respectful of Sam’s parents?

· Who will perform their ceremony and marry them since Sarah does not belong to Sam’s church? Will they even be able to marry in Sam’s church or will they need to consider getting married by a non-denominational celebrant at their reception venue instead?

These are a few of the many decisions Sarah and Sam will need to make for their wedding ceremony. Just the same as other couples, they will have some easy and some challenging moments during their wedding planning. They now can plan their wedding ceremony in Washington State and say “I do”. Until now, this was not a legally recognized option for same sex couples. But now, with some family support, love and good wedding planning, all the details will come together on the day that Sarah marries Samantha.

Tags: marriage equality, same sex marriage, gay and lesbian weddings, wedding day, wedding ceremonies, gay wedding ceremonies, wedding planning

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Member: Nancy Skipton of Simply Celebrations & Events LLC.

Meet Our Members: Jan Smillie, Wedding Officiant

Name: Jan Smillie                                                     Business Name: Simply Say "I Do"

Website: SimplySayIDo@yahoo.com                         Facebook: N/A

How would you describe your business?

I am a non-denominational wedding Officiant who believes your wedding is YOUR day.

What should a bride know about your expertise and experience?

A bride should know that I believe a wedding day belongs to the bride and groom. I will meet with them in person to talk about their wishes and desires for the ceremony. I learn about them, then I get busy writing a customized ceremony which is emailed to them. I will work to edit it until approved by the bride and groom.

How did you get to where you are today?

I got to where I am today by listening and by going beyond what is expected of me.

What is your range of services?

I offer a number of packages depending on your needs.

Basic Service:

· Meet with bride and groom to discuss their plans and vision for the ceremony

· Write ceremony

· Unlimited emails, texts, and phone calls to edit ceremony

· Arrive at venue 30 minutes before ceremony

· Officiate at the wedding

· File marriage certificate with county

Rehearsal:

· Attend rehearsal, up to one and one half hours

· Coordinate rehearsal

o Work with bride and groom in advance to create processional

o Work with bride and groom in advance to create plan for escorting family and VIP guests

o Practice processional and recessional with wedding party, family, etc

· Take charge of rehearsal, alleviating the bride and groom from dealing with ‘well meaning input and suggestions’ from others in attendance

Ceremony Coordinator:

· Coordinate and stage wedding party prior to ceremony

· Meet with DJ before ceremony to discuss Officiant microphone and ceremony music

Day of Coordinator:

· Basic Service, see above

· Ceremony Coordinator, see above

· Arrive at venue up to two hours before ceremony at request of couple

· Coordinate with DJ, photographer, and caterer

· Work with bride and groom in advance to create timeline for pre and post ceremony

· Keep bride and groom on schedule i.e.

o starting buffet line

o toasts

o cake cutting

o first dance, father daughter dance, mother son dance

o garter and bouquet toss

What has been your sweetest success story?

I performed a ceremony for a couple who had been together for several years and have 7 young children between them. Their children wanted them to get married - to become a family. When they finally chose to wed they didn't tell anyone. When I arrived at their home I was introduced as a friend simply joining them for a BBQ. At the appropriate moment, I told the kids why I was there. The ceremony focused not only on uniting the bride and groom as husband and wife, but uniting them as a family. We included a sand ceremony, with each of them participating. The love in that family was so evident, it was a privilege to be included in their day.

Most Vendors at Your Wedding Prefer ....

I can't tell you how many times I've spoken with wedding vendors at networking events! One topic comes up a lot in our conversations. A vendor will say, almost as if apologizing to me because I happen to be a Wedding Planner, "I try to tell my brides to hire a Wedding Planner!" They go on to say, that their jobs are so much easier on the day of the wedding if there is a professional Wedding Planner. Here are some reasons why this is the case. Some venues are insisting that brides hire a professional Wedding Planner and some have mentioned offering a discount if their brides uses a professional Wedding Planner. That doesn't mean a sister, friend, cousin or mother. It's someone who is actively in the business of planning weddings.

♥There's is a place prepared for them. A Wedding Planner more than likely has visited the venue with them if that is what they wish. They have also been given a diagram of the complete set up for the event.

♥Just as for a bride and groom, a Wedding Planner is their liaison to the other vendors and the venue as well as the bride and groom and guests.

♥If vendors have a concern or question, they don't have to bother the bride, groom or family member. They only need to contact the Wedding Planner.

♥They don't have to leave their stations or whatever task they are performing. A Wedding Planner will be checking on the bride and groom as well as with the vendors throughout the event to make sure that they have what they need.

♥They aren't asked a lot of questions by other vendors and guests about what everyone else is doing or what is going on. A Wedding Planner has given them advanced notice of the whole "game plan" including a timeline broken down to 5-15 minute intervals.

♥They don't end up helping with the setup of the wedding rather than what they were hired to do.

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