Prioritize Your Wedding Budget

You will spend more time at your reception on your wedding day than anywhere else. You want a party to be remembered so you should budget accordingly. Not prioritizing your budget for the reception is one of the biggest wedding mistakes brides make. (Want to know the others? Click here) It is best to prioritize your spending on the following areas which will have the biggest impact on the success of your wedding reception.

The Venue

Selecting the right venue for your wedding reception is key. The venue is the stage for your dream wedding so you should prioritize your budget accordingly. When choosing a venue consider:

• The Guest List – Can the venue accommodate the size of your party?
• The Vibe – Does the venue create the vibe you want for your wedding reception?
• The Location – Is it conveniently located near the ceremony site?
• Photo Opportunities – Does the venue have a look you want captured?
• Price – Does the venue fit within the budget you’ve set?

The Entertainment

Your wedding reception is the party to celebrate your marriage so of course you want entertainment that delivers! You can’t understate the importance of hiring a professional wedding DJ. Your DJ will not only be responsible for spinning the music at your wedding reception, but will also act as the master of ceremonies; coordinating the night’s activities so you can enjoy your reception. When choosing a DJ consider:

• The Play List – Will your DJ work with you to develop a list of the must play and do not play songs for your wedding reception?
• The Performance – Have you viewed your wedding DJs announcement skills? Have you read reviews by actual brides?
• The Equipment – Does your wedding DJ use professional DJ equipment? Does he carry backup gear in case of an emergency?
• Appearance – Does the DJ dress in a manner that is professional and represents himself and you well?
• Coordination – Does the DJ have experience working with other vendors and creating a wedding team for your reception?
• For more signs of a GREAT DJ, click here.

The Decor

Your wedding reception is the perfect location to let your personal style shine. Again, you will spend the most time of your wedding day at this location. Some venues will provide basic decorations such as mirrors or candles that you can begin building your wedding reception look from. When selecting decor for your reception consider:

• Flowers – What seasonal blooms will be the most budget friendly?
• Candles – What centerpiece arrangements work well with candles?
• Uplighting – Are there architectural elements to highlight at the venue?
• Table linens – Are there unique ways to incorporate your wedding colors through the use of table linens?

How can we help with your wedding reception? Email us or call 248-689-0777

Fun Wedding Reception Ideas

Every bride wants her wedding reception to be fun and something people talk about for years. Here’s a few ideas that you could try to increase the fun factor.

The People In Your Lives
Recognize your guests as the important people in your lives by adding them to the reception decor. Decorate the tables in the cocktail area with framed images of you and your guests through the years. It is a great way to start conversations during the cocktail hour as the guests reminisce and socialize.

Make it a GRAND entrance
If you want your reception to be all about fun, start it off with a GRAND, grand entrance. You can stop and pose or dance your way into the room. Your wedding DJ can work with you to customize the grand entrance music so that it matches the mood you want to set. This is a great way to make a big impression and set the stage for a fun wedding . Read more about Grand Entrances here.

Add a Little Something Extra
Was you first date at a comedy club? Bring in a stand-up comic for cocktail entertainment. Want to pay tribute to your heritage? Hire ethnic dancers to perform for your guests. Enjoy going to carnivals? Tarot card readers, magicians and caricature artists might be your thing.

Have Fun
If you want your guests to have fun, make sure you do! If you spend the night circling the room to visit with your guests, many will feel obligated to remain seated, waiting for their turn to visit. The best way to get your guests to the dance floor, is to lead the way!

We’re ready to help you with your wedding reception. Click here to learn more.

Email us or call 248-689-0777

Wedding Photography Tips

Our Director of Photography, Michelle Chevatewa, is sharing some of the small things that can make a big difference in your wedding photography. Here’s a few of her big (little) tips:

It’s All In the Details. The personalized cufflinks, the invitation, grandma’s rosary, even the custom golf balls used at the bachelor golf outing have special meaning to the couple. Every bride wants all those little details she’s carefully planned and created photographed, and your photographer should get those images for you. It’s important to plan ahead and ensure those details are shared with your photographer and available for pictures. Giving your bridesmaids a gift? Why not keep them aside so your photographer can arrange them artfully for a cute photo….and then give them to your bridesmaids, for another great photo moment. Everyone loves the dress photos….and yours will look so much better on a pretty satin or wood hanger. Attention to details early in the process and shared with your photographer can make all the difference in your wedding album.

Less Really Is More. Actually, getting the room prepared for the “Getting Ready” photos is more important than most brides realize. Having a neat, well lit area makes for a much nicer backdrop to showcase you and your girls as you get ready for your big day. A room full of dress bags, accessory boxes, snack bags, and unmade beds will be distracting and detract from those special moments. When you look at the picture will you think “what a great day” or “why didn’t I clean that up”? Pay as much attention to the detail of your “getting ready” room as you do to the rest of your decor for your day.

Getting Ready. The time you spend directly before the ceremony is some of the most emotionally charged of the day. You may be nervous and a little on edge about timeline. Try to limit guests from coming in to “wish the bride luck” so that you can step back and relax a few minutes before heading down the aisle and share some special moments with your bridal party or parents.

First Look. More couples are electing to have a private portrait session prior to the ceremony. If you’re having a First Look Session, it pays to plan ahead. Think of a romantic location that would have meaning or that you would love to have as the setting for your First Look photos. If your timeline allows, you could select a location separate from your ceremony location, such as the spot you met or became engaged. This should be a special moment for the two of you; let the bridal party know that you’ll call on them when ready for pictures.

The Ceremony. Some churches have very few, if any restrictions on the photographer…other churches have rules that dictate whether a photographer is allowed to stand (or not stand), how many photos the photographer is allowed to take, and so on. It is important to learn these restrictions when booking your ceremony site so that you have a good idea of how your ceremony will be captured. – and to make the photographer aware so that you can form a plan together.

Smile For the Camera. During the day, your photographer will give you coaching to look your best, but there are some times that we just can’t interfere to remind you. During the processional and recessional, remember to look at the camera so we can get a great shot of the beautiful bride!

Formals. Family formals are a must at every wedding, but are often overlooked when planning your wedding. Most churches will allow 30 minutes for altar images so it’s very important that you have a clear idea of what group and individual photos you need at the church. Assigning a “shot list helper” to your photographer, who knows all the parties involved, can help you get those images in an efficient way. This is a great job for a close friend or cousin that isn’t in the bridal party, but wants to help. Getting the important family formals while keeping the list to a minimum will insure that there will be sufficient time for photos of the bride and groom (the stars of the day) after the ceremony.

The Reception. It’s time to party! Your reception is a time for you to have fun, sharing special time with your new husband and blended families. If you have special groups you want captured, tell your photographer, after all their your personal photographer for the day. During your First Dance, Father/Daughter Dance, and Mother/Son Dance, don’t forget your photographer is capturing your dance. We don’t like to interfere and want to capture it as it happens, but you’ll likely want one of you looking directly at the camera too! Discuss your preferences with your photographer so that you get the image you want.

Ready to start your photography plan? Click here.

Email Us or call 248-689-0777