Wedding Photo Tips

Everyone wants great wedding photos. Using the tips below can help you to work with your photographer to capture the images you want.

Share your theme. If your wedding has a theme, vibe or feeling you are sharing through decor, color choices, etc., share that theme with your photographer. Knowing what you are trying to share on your wedding day allows the photographer to frame the shot in a way that expresses that vibe. Dark and romantic or light and happy, your photographer can work to capture images with that feeling through composition and lighting.

Wedding colors. Your wedding color or colors, help to convey the vibe you want for your wedding day. Select a color you really love, because your photographer and album designer will use your color choice as inspiration for your images.

Toasts. Encourage your toasters to approach the head table during toasts. It’s a great photograph when you can capture the well wisher and your reaction to their words.

Consider a First Look. A first look, reveal or private portrait session can be a real time saver on your wedding day. This private meeting between the bride and groom allows you to spend a few special moments in advance of your ceremony. It also means you will get some great images and not be rushed for time later in the day; allowing you to focus on spending time with your guests.

Engagement Sessions. Besides being an opportunity to get some great photos of you two, an engagement session let’s you practice loosening up so you can be yourself around your photographer. This is a great opportunity to share your creative vision, practice some fun poses, and get ready for close-ups on your big day! Best of all, an engagement session is an expression of your personality. Choose a location that tells something about the two of you. First dates, proposals, favorite hang outs, all of these can make great spots for the engagement shoot. Pick a theme to your session, choose a season you love, or let your photographer guide you through the choices. The engagement session is all about the two of you. You can also use images from your engagement session for personalized photo items such as save the dates, sign in books, and guest favors.

Make a plan. Discussing your preferences for posing, shots you must have and would like to get, and the combinations needed for family formals, allows your photographer to understand your unique needs. He or she can also give you their expert advice on how to best accomplish everything in your photography plan.

Share your ideas. Your photographer is just that; your personal photographer. If you have an idea, be sure to share it. Your photographer wants to make you happy and can only do that when he or she knows what you want. The more input you have during the photography plan building and the day of your engagement or wedding photo sessions, will create a more personalized photo. Share your ideas for locations, posing, interesting props, whatever you’d like. Your photographer wants to hear from you!

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Wedding Reception Music For A Great Party

Music sets the tempo for your wedding reception.  It lets guests know what to expect, communicates the tone of events and can accentuate the theme of the day.  So how do you use music to weave your ideas together, check out these tips.

Consider your guests.  When thinking about the songs for your wedding reception, consider the age and personality of your guests.  While much of your play list will include Top 40 and dance hits, remember that guests have some favorite songs that they like to dance to at weddings as well.  If you’re getting married near a particular holiday or season, consider adding music for that time of year as well.

Create playlists, but don’t go overboard.  When thinking about the songs for your wedding reception, it is helpful to think of them in three groups; “Must Play”, “Try To Play” and “Do Not Play”. These lists are very helpful in letting your wedding DJ know the types of music you do and don’t want to hear at your wedding reception.

Trust your DJ.  While you will likely attend a few weddings this year, your  wedding DJ will be performing at numerous events.  Allow him to use his professional skills to guide you towards songs that he knows will pack your dance floor.  After all, you do want guests to dance.

Let your DJ take requests.  Talk with your wedding DJ about the type of party you are hoping for.  Do you want music as the background for visiting or do you want a dance party?  Allow the DJ to take requests and suggest alternatives that will keep the party flowing.  A professional DJ can read the crowd and play the best song next.

Every guest request isn’t a good request.  While it’s become trendy to ask guests to submit songs in advance, it is highly suggested that you don’t ask guests for requests in advance.  If you do collect requests, make sure that you discuss with your DJ to make sure he is screening requests to make sure they match your vision.  You don’t want to create a party for one person.  If you receive 100 requests of songs averaging 3 minutes, that is 5 hours of music programming.

Music Set The Tone.  The music for your wedding reception gives your guests a cue on what kind of event you will have.  This starts with your Grand Entrance to the wedding reception.  Choosing a fun song for bridal party introductions can help get the crowd ready for your big moment and give your guests a preview of what is to follow.

Cocktail hours can rock!  The formality of the ceremony is over and guests are ready to have a good time.  The music for your cocktail hour is a great way to share your personal tastes so anything goes.  Consider acoustic artists, crooners, reggae, love songs through the ages or any other genres that fit with your wedding theme.

Keep Dinner Upbeat.  There is no rule that says you must play soft jazz during dinner service.  Coldplay, Mumford and Sons, Dave Matthews Band, Radiohead, Mat Kearney and artists of similar nature translate well to the dinner hour.  Your wedding DJ can also play songs that pickup the tempo as you get closer to the dancing portion of the evening.

Keep It Flowing.  Nothing kills the flow of a dance floor more than constant interruptions.  Work with your wedding DJ to establish a timeline that takes care of the traditional wedding events early in the reception and allows you to open the dance floor.

End It On The Right Note.  Ending your reception on a high note gives your guests a final, lasting impression.  Whether a special slow song for the romantics, or a sing-a-long for friends, give some consideration to  your last song of the evening.

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11 Tips For a Perfect Wedding Toast

Unless you are a professional emcee, the thought of standing in front of hundreds of people at a wedding reception to give a speech can be a little nerve wracking – or downright terrifying.  These 10 tips will make you feel like a pro, even if just for a few minutes.

Plan your speech.  A wedding speech is not a time to wing it – or to wait until the last moment.  Plan what you are going to say and practice saying it.  Try it before a mirror or a small group of people in advance.  Ask for feedback about the pacing – too long, too fast, etc.

Make notes that you can read.  Whether you make notes that are word for word or key terms that you want to cover, make notes that are written large enough to read.  You may also want to print them on strong stock paper so the rustling of paper isn’t heard.

Start with a quote.  Stuck on where to begin?  There’s a reason that many speeches begin with a quote.  Look for quotes, popular wedding readings or poems to begin your speech.  They can be just the inspiration you are looking for.

Decide the theme of your message.  Wedding speeches are generally well wishes for the couple or thanks to those gathered.  While the message will likely be one of the two, you can keep your comments timeless, romantic or humorous.  

This isn’t a roast.  You are speaking before the gathering of family and friends.  This is not the time to regal the crowd with off color comments or embarrass the couple.  If you decide to use humor, keep it PG and light hearted.  The funny story of how the couple met is perfect, the details of the bachelor party – not so much.

Be loose, but not too loose.  Don’t take the mic when you’ve had too many drinks.  It’s a wedding toast, save your drink for after your comments.

Use the mic properly.  If you aren’t sure how to hold the mic, ask the wedding DJ for a few pointers.  Hold the mic close to your mouth, about chin height.  If you talk with your hands, use your non dominant hand to hold the mic.  Be sure to pronounce each word clearly.  And yes, this thing is on.

Introduce yourself.  You don’t need to preface your introduction with “for those who don’t know me”.  Start your toast by stating your name and relationship to the couple.  For example, “Hello everyone, my name is Julie and I am honored to be the maid of honor…”

Keep it brief.  The wedding toast is a tradition and a chance for you to share a few wishes.  It isn’t the time to recount every interaction you’ve ever had with the couple.  Aim to keep your toast under four minutes and everyone will get to eat a warm dinner.

Focus on the couple.  The toasts should mention both the bride and the groom, not focus on one exclusively.  At a minimum, use your conclusion to wish them both well.

Raise your glass.  Remember to invite the listeners to toast the couple at the conclusion of your toast.

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Wedding Flower Colors and Their Meanings

With the change in seasons, we are thinking of all the beautiful flower options.  The color of wedding bouquets and reception centerpieces has a history of traditional meanings.  What do the colors of your wedding day colors represent?

Blue.  Whether pale and delicate or bold and deep, blue wedding flowers traditionally represent peace, serenity and new beginnings.  Popular choices for blue bouquets often include delphiniums, hydrangea, roses, orchids, and statice.

Pink.  Pink wedding blooms are thought to represent happiness and grace.  Pale blooms can be used to convey youth and innocence while bolder tones invoke fun and energy.  Think pink and you think of grace, gentility, and happiness.  If you think pink, consider garden roses, carnations, tulips, lilies, gerber daisies, peony and orchids.

Purple.  Long associated with royalty, purple weddings represents dignity, creativity and success.  It has also been the most popular choice for wedding colors for several years.  Some popular purple blooms include hydrangeas, roses, carnations, tulips, orchids, lisianthus, and iris.

Red.  Is there any color more associated with love?  Red weddings represents passion, desire and long lasting love.  While red roses are traditional you can also use mums, orchids, peruvian lilies, daisies and calla lilies.

White.  White wedding flowers offer the simple beauty associated with innocence and reverence for the occasion.  Some popular blooms include lily of the valley, roses, lilies, phlox, amaryllis, carnations, dahlias and hydrangeas.  

Yellow.  Yellow wedding flowers are the color of happiness and sunshine.  Often used to create a feeling of joy, popular choices for wedding bouquets include daffodils, roses, tulips, orchids, lilies, dahlia and sunflowers.

Orange.  Orange wedding flowers symbolize confidence, enthusiasm and optimism in life.  Roses, alstroemeria, daisies, craspedia, peruvian, asiatic and calla lilies, and tulips are popular choices for the bouquet or centerpieces.

Green.  Symbolizing good fortune, harmony and health, green wedding bouquets are growing in popularity.  Consider blooms of carnations, roses, dahlia, hydrangea, lisianthus or pom flowers.

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Handmade Elegance

When we saw how well this couple created a unified theme for their wedding at Myth Creek Golf and Banquets, we knew we had to share!  Using vintage finds, crafted objects and goldenrod hues, their wedding theme was beautifully woven throughout all the elements of their day.

The bride’s accessories had a decidedly vintage vibe, with natural elements, personal details and pops of golden yellow.

The groom’s boutonniere coordinated with the flower worn in the bride’s hair.

The bridal party attire and choice of photo locations were perfect for the feel of the wedding day.

Guest seating arrangements were announced in a beautiful handmade design.

Guests were invited to share memories of the couple.  What a fun way to include them in the wedding day!

Burlap touches and antique printing brought a sense of nostalgia to the wedding reception decor.

Golden cupcakes with butterflies in flight added a sense of whimsy to the occasion.

Vintage teacups in coordinating hues and burlap table runners kept with the theme.

The couple shared their first dance under golden lights.  Guests were invited to take a stone as part of their participation in the day.

Even the sun and flowers seemed to know to bloom in just the right shades for this day.

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15 Date Night Ideas

Date nights can be tough when you’re on a budget, especially when you are saving for your wedding budget.  But that doesn’t mean you have to stop dating!  Check out these ideas for free and low cost dates.

Game Night.  Invite a few couples over for a low cost game night.  Working together as a team is a great bonding experience.  Guys against gals is great for a little competition to make things interesting, just be sure not to be too competitive.

A Different Kind of Game Night.  Is your fiance a sports fan?  Take a break from the details of wedding planning and spend time on an activity he enjoys.  Whether it’s taking in a game from the cheap seats, or hitting the links yourselves, getting involved in one of his passions, at least for a day, shows you appreciate who he is.

Go To A Show.  Whether it’s a concert, performance or a day at the movies, matinees are great for a day out, but still budget friendly.

Explore The City.  Most large cities are great for festivals, free concerts or great scenic walks.  Spend an afternoon exploring the city.  You can even use the day to scope out locations for your wedding day Romantic images.

Visit Your Favorite Restaurant.  While dinner out might seem like a big splurge, using coupon sites like restaurant.com, can save you a few bucks.  And who doesn’t love a day without cooking?!

A Day At The Beach.  Surf, sun and sand make for a perfect day without a large expense.  Most MetroParks offer an annual pass, making it affordable year round.

Visit The Zoo.  When wedding planning is turning you into a bear, drop what you’re doing and go visit the real thing!  A day at the zoo is great for a leisurely stroll, watching the animals play and some downtime with each other.

A Day At The Orchard.  Whether picking summer strawberries or fall apples, orchards are a great place to spend the afternoon.  As a bonus, you’re spending the day picking fruits which are perfect for your pre-wedding diet.

A Night Under The Stars.  Grab a blanket, a bottle of wine and drive away from the city nights.  Spend the evening watching the stars and talking about your plans for the future.  Check out http://www.space.com/skywatching for stargazing highlights.

Go Back To School.  Did you attend school together?  Spending a day on campus, reminiscing about your time there, or cheering on your alma mater for a game can provide some relief from the wedding planning process.  If you didn’t attend school together, this is a chance to show your fiance where you have been.

Get Involved.  Look for opportunities to serve your community together.  Clean up a park, serve at your church, or work with a charity close to your heart.  Working together to make the world better will bring you closer as a couple.  To see how Mike Staff Productions gives back, click here.

Visit Museums.  If you haven’t been to a museum since your fifth grade field trip, it’s time to go back!  Visiting the museum as an adult allows you to truly appreciate all they have to offer.  And as a bonus, on a hot day they are great for an air conditioned activity.

Go Ice Skating.  Cold temps don’t have to force you inside.  Visit a local ice rink for some winter fun and finish the day with cocoa!

Have A Picnic.  Pack a basket lunch and head to the park.  Swing on the swings to bring back the happy times as a kid.

Sip, Sip, Enjoy… Go wine tasting. Check with any specialty wine stores in your area; some offer free (or really cheap) wine-tastings.  Grab your favorite bottle and head home to relax the night away.

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