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How Can I Cut Corners on the Invitations?

To make your invitations more personal and less expensive, do them yourself.
There are a number of paper stores and websites available where you can find
original ideas and ways to make your own invitations.

Order your invitations over the Internet instead of a printing shop (it's a little
cheaper). Mail order is another possibility.

Order a plain invitation from a company and decorate it yourself. All you need is
a hole-puncher and some ribbon and/or parchment paper.

What About the Photographer & Videographer?

Photographer’s equipment and development costs alone are huge.

Then there are batteries, film, an assistant and the hours of work on and after the wedding.

You can save money on enlargements and albums but don't penny pinch when it comes to the photographer or videographer.

After your wedding day, the only things you have left are your pictures and your video.

These are the only 2 services that last a lifetime and can be passed down to the next generation.

Biggest tip - hire a photographer that gives you your negatives, that way you can make as many copies of pictures from your wedding day as you want without having to order them from your photographer.

If you choose a photographer that does not give you your negatives, always find out how long they keep your negatives on file and if you can obtain them when they are ready to discard them.

Most photographers in general don't keep negatives past a couple of years.

If your photographer still won't give you the negatives after that point without charging you money, I would question the ethics of the vendor.

Choosing Your Music Service

A really expensive package doesn't mean that your party will last longer or that
your non-dancing guests will feel the need to shake their booty for the first time in
their life. But a crappy DJ or band will ruin your reception.

Do I Really Need a Wedding Coordinator or Planner?

Most wedding coordinators can save you money because they have connections in the industry.

You really don't need a coordinator at your reception once the dance floor is open
to your guests. That usually happens between 9-10pm.

You could hire a wedding consultant to help with the final stages of your
wedding; creating a detailed wedding day itinerary, making up a checklist for
items at the ceremony & reception locations, and confirming with your vendors.

While she won't be in attendance at your wedding, she has planned the day
smoothly on paper. As long as you follow the times closely (not exactly) and do
the events in the same order as the itinerary states, you'll be fine.

You can appoint a friend or family member to be your honorary coordinator.

Give her an itinerary, checklists (ceremony & reception items, photo and music list) and phone numbers for all your vendors.

The honorary coordinator should be someone that's organized the more obsessive-compulsive the better and not scared
to open her mouth when something goes wrong.

Consumer Information

weddings substantially improved and simplified

Traditional Versus Photojournalism

There are two sides to wedding photography right now: traditional versus photojournalism. Traditional wedding photography involves posed shots and formals with the stapled shots you see from older wedding photos. Wedding photojournalism (or PJ for short) is more candid and is based on gathering unscripted reactions and gathering photos from a distance. This is less intrusive, which means that shots are authentic, but also very hard to get since they are not directed.

Within traditional photography, there are two types: documentary style (just taking a picture) and artistic style (adding creative flair/look). Posed artistic wedding photography shots are great in the sense that the photographer, like in a fashion shoot, has control over the way the picture will look and is only limited by their vision. Documentary styles strive to just capture it for what it was.

Compromises between traditional photography and photojournalism include combining the two. This is often done by having the lead photographer pose the shots and a second shooter captures images candidly off to the side. Another compromise is posed photojournalism, where the couple acts as if the shot is unscripted. This usually gives the photographer more control over the image while still getting the attractive, natural look of photojournalism.

Wedding Packages

Once you confirm the photographer and videographer is available on the date of your wedding, ask the studio detailed questions about the package you are interested in. Make sure the studio has an available PDF download of all the packages with clearly outlined details.

Prices for a good professional photographer or videographer range from around $1200 - $6,000 (for each) depending on experience and size of the wedding. We cannot express how important it is to make sure that you are hiring an experienced professional. Make sure that the company has a large portfolio of weddings, and the style and quality of the photos are to your liking.

Digital Negatives

Digital Negatives are the original 'on camera' processed files. These files should be stored on a DVD or CD in the highest quality (.jpg photos) for easy processing. A professional photographer should always give you a full copy of all your digital negatives on DVD or CD. So, why do some photographers keep the negatives?

Some photographers like to keep control of the photographs so they can charge when you want extra prints. We always give the negatives so you can print your own at any digital shop in town. All our digital negatives are on CD or DVD. You can view these on your computer and easily take to a print shop. Just hand over a CD or DVD and get all prints you need.

5 Easy Questions
to Ask Your Potential Wedding Photographer

Asking the right questions of any professional is extremely important. Here are 5 questions to get the conversation going when interviewing a photographer for your wedding.

1) Are you the photographer who will be photographing my wedding?

2) Are you a member of a professional photographer association?

3) Ask to see photos from an entire wedding, not just the best from many different weddings.

4) Has he/she worked at your event location before? How did it work out?

5) What type and how much assistance will they provide in planning your album?

Selecting a Time of Day for Photography

Photographers will often talk about the quantity and quality of the light. Generally speaking, the best natural light for taking pictures of people occurs during the "golden hour" just after sunrise and just before sunset. The light of the early morning and late evening is more diffuse, warmer (in terms of color temperature) and at a lower angle than at midday which means fewer harsh shadows, better exposures and healthier-looking skin tones. Ideally, you should plan to have at least some pictures taken outside with your photographer during the golden hour.

Selecting a Location for Photography

If you are planning an outdoor ceremony during the summer months, you should definitely talk with your photographer about your plans. If you are planning an indoor ceremony and you have a choice of venues try to select one that is well-lit. Look for a venue with big windows (ideally west- or south-facing in the afternoon), skylights or lots of artificial lights with flexible controls.

Visit the venue at approximately the same time of day as your ceremony to see how it looks. Remember: the sun's position in the sky changes quite dramatically between the winter and summer months, so be sure to think about that when you're visiting the venue. You should also invite your photographer to see the venue and to advise you on its potential from a lighting perspective.

For formal and group photography, virtually any location will do: a park, a hotel rooftop, a backyard, beach, urban street, or remote windswept hillside. The most important elements are, not surprisingly, the quality and quantity of light. Solid shade or indirect (reflected) light are usually ideal, particularly if the images are being taken in full daylight. If they aren't available, your photographer may use light modifiers to create the effects they need. You should ask your photographer for recommendations on where to create your group and formal photography.

Scheduling Group Photography

The larger the group, the longer it will take to position everyone. When trying to figure out how much time to set aside for group photography, budget one minute for each person in each group shot. If you have two four-person group shots, set aside eight minutes. If you have one big 30-person group shot, set aside a half-hour. Your photographer may not need all of that time, but there are a number of factors that can slow down group photography:

- Missing group members. Someone is always taking a restroom break, or talking on a cell phone, or rounding up an uncooperative child just when the group shot is being set up.

- Bad lighting or bad location. Sometimes, that set of stairs that appeared perfect for a group shot turns out to be less than ideal and everyone has to move to another location. Or, your photographer may want to set up light modifiers such as scrims, reflectors or flashes to ensure a properly-exposed image and this will take time.

A typical group of bride and groom, two sets of parents, six wedding party members and another ten family members should take around 45 minutes to shoot, not including travel to and from the location. Your photographer can advise you on how much time they will need for your group.

The Mixed Blessings of Guests with Cameras

Weddings are among the most important events in our lives. It's only natural that family and friends will want to capture their own images using their own cameras. Most photographers don't mind guests with cameras, but you should keep in mind that you've hired a professional to do a very important job.

Guests with cameras can unintentionally make your photographer's job more challenging in a number of ways:

- Guests with cameras may step into the aisle as you're making your big walk, blocking the shot for your photographer.

- Guests with cameras may distract one or more people while a group shot is being taken, resulting in ten people looking at the photographer's camera and one person looking at Uncle Bob's camera off to the side. Incidentally, this is one of the reasons your photographer will take several shots of the same group.

- Guests who want their own group shots will typically wait for the photographer to finish, then shout, "Hold it, everyone!" while they take their shots. This tends to slow down the formal photography session and leaves less time for your photographer to work.

- Guests with consumer-grade, point-and-shoot equipment may have "focus assist" lamps that cast a red light on the subject just prior to the shutter firing. If your photographer is trying to get the same spontaneous shot - perhaps the two of you kissing for the first time - these focus assist lamps can create very ugly effects on your faces.

- Guests with advanced camera equipment, particularly external flashes with wireless capabilities, may interfere with the functionality of your photographer's equipment.

You can make your photographer's job easier (and get better images in the process) if you give the following advice to your guests in advance of the wedding:

- Tell them to enjoy the day and leave photography to your photographers. This won't keep all of the cameras away, but it will cut down on them. Most photographers have a way for guests to order pictures online after an event, and chances are the professionally-created images will be the ones people want on their walls, desks and in their wallets.

You may consider adding this to your invitations: "Our wedding will be photographed by [studio name]. Images will be available later for all to see. We invite you to leave your camera at home and enjoy our special day."

- Hold your group photography at a separate location instead of at the ceremony location and invite only those who will be in the shots: immediate family, wedding party, and perhaps close friends. The fewer the people, the faster and smoother the group photography will go.

You'll Never Regret Having a Wedding Video

Nothing can capture the feelings, looks, sounds and expressions of the day as well as a wedding video.

Most girls grow up wondering how their wedding day is going to look and feel. They wonder how they will be dressed, what the flowers will look like, what flavor the cake will be, where the event will take place, even down to what will be served. But few girls grow up dreaming of who will shoot the video.

In a survey, only about 1/2 of brides listed their videographer as one of the top ten elements of their wedding day. Yet, after marriage, nearly 80% of those same brides listed the wedding video as one of the most important features of their special day.

Almost 40% of brides nationwide had no video taken of their wedding. Yet 60% of Brides who chose not to have a wedding video later regretted that decision. I have yet to personally meet anyone who had a wedding video made, who regrets it.

Many times people ask, "Why should I bother having my wedding videotaped? I'm going to have my picture album to look at." The answer to this is very simple: How much would it be worth to you to see a film of your parents' wedding, your grandparents', or even your great-grandparents' wedding? Ten years ago, nobody would have considered not hiring a photographer. The photographer was the only choice for capturing wedding moments.

If you could add sound and motion to your still pictures, you'd call this video. If you had choices between seeing pictures of your grandparents' wedding, and actually seeing what your grandparents were doing during their wedding day, including hearing their voices again, which one would you choose?

Your Children and Grandchildren

If you want your children and grandchildren to know about your wedding day, don't you think you'd like them to be able to hear your vows, enjoy your wedding day music, cry along with you as you did when you and your father danced together, and laugh with you and your guests as you enjoy the day's festivities? A finely crafted video will not only capture the essence of the day, the sights, sounds, and emotions, but will be cherished by your family now and for years to come. Your wedding video is forever.

A Blessed Union

We consider the wedding day to be one of the highest points in a couple's life. It is the union of two different families and the creation of an entirely new dynasty. Weddings are a blessing bestowed upon the Bride and the Groom by the Almighty - just for these reasons alone a wedding should be videotaped.

The Golden Age

Since the dawn of mankind people have attempted to record and preserve images from life that they felt most important to them. The cavemen from Lascaux used natural pigments and crude handmade brushes to preserve their memories. Our means are more elegant and sophisticated - digital cameras, capable of capturing breathtaking photos and video.

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Using a Caterer & Choosing a Reception Venue

Hire a caterer that supplies everything you need, plates, glassware, table cloths, etc.

Make sure you're only charged for the services that you need.

Some caterers have
packages that include decorating and other items.

If your venue is decorated
already you won't need the extras.

Extras should be deducted from the bill or replaced with something else you want.

Pick fruits and vegetables that are in season.

Stick to serving food that everyone is familiar with. Fancy food is expensive.

Buffets generally cost a good deal less and give your guests the opportunity to get up and mingle with the other guests, and they can pick exactly what they would like to eat.

Make sure to read your contract and check to see if the gratuity is included. This
goes for all services.

Booking a venue that allows you to buy your own liquor is more work but saves
you money.

Depending on your culture and where you live, having a cash bar is totally
acceptable. This can be a huge money saver.

Consider only serving wine and domestic beers.

Liquor (vodka, rum, rye, scotch) plus all the different mixes you'll need adds to
your expenses.

Holding your reception in a hotel has a lot of good points. They usually decorate, have professional services, i.e. DJ, can cater well to large groups, and most likely will include the honeymoon suite, with discounted rooms for out-of-town guests.

If you're having a wedding with 75 guests or under, consider having your
reception at your favorite restaurant. You will already know the staff and how the
food is.

Order child meals for kids under 11.

Order a teen meal (same as adults but no liquor) for ages 12 to 17.

Your reception is the biggest expense. It's also where you can save the most
money if you shop around and plan well!

Do I Have to Pay a Fortune for Transportation?

Shop around; there is so many limousine companies out there. Prices do vary.

There is no rule anywhere that says, "You have to have a stretch limousine." The smaller the car the cheaper.

Other than the car and uniformed chauffeur, you really don't need any other
extras.

You can also save money by renting your vehicles from Budget, Hertz, etc. They all have new model luxury cars, sports cars and SUVs.

You really don't need the limousine to take you home after the reception. Latenight pick-ups cost $100.00+

Before the ceremony, have the limo pick up the bride and her bridesmaids.

The groom, groomsmen and parents can take their own vehicles to the church.

After the ceremony, the bride and groom can take the limo and the bridesmaids can hop
in the groomsmen's cars.

You may already know someone that owns a Cadillac or Lincoln, a fancy sports car or for fun a Beetle or an antique car. Give this person a call.

Some couples need more then one limo. If this is the case for you, compare the
cost of 2 to 3 limos vs. the cost of 1 limo bus or Chartered Bus.