The best way for you as a bride to help your photographer on the wedding day is to let everything go, experience and relish all the moments and express all your emotions. Now if you become stressed that is the emotion that will be captured. A little preparation, planning, and communicating will help for you to not only have the best wedding images possible, but to enjoy yourself so that you can cut loose and have a great time.

Communicate all your thoughts to your Photographer before the wedding day; do not feel as though he is some artistic prima donna who is unapproachable. It is better to have more information and not use it than to miss something that would have been helpful. If you see a certain style of images that you love in a magazine or elsewhere or perhaps just thought up, let the Photographer know in advance. Keep in mind to plan pictures that reflect who you are; if you are both stand up comedians, then keep the side by side formals to a minimum and think of something more creative. Another idea that can be fun is to plan a special picture for your thank you notes. Maybe hold up posters you made that say “thank you,” or just blow a kiss into the camera, whatever you creatively come up with. My only advice is to make sure you can accomplish the shot quickly.

Brides, help your grooming impaired fiancé. You know those unwanted hairs you put up with because you love him, well it is time to tell him to get ride of them for the wedding pictures. Also, it is common to take close-up shots of the hands so the time is right for the groom to have his first manicure.

When speaking with your caterer insist that the Photographers are served in the same room and at the same time as yourself. Caterers often try to treat Photographers as a second-class citizen, feeding them what is leftover at the very end of the meal and in a back room. If the Photographer is not to miss any moments he needs to be in sync with you. I have foregone many meals, for the caterer would feed me when the dancing started and/or then insisted I eat far away were I could not see or hear.

The Photographer may or may not be familiar with your location, so when you are meeting with the caterer scope the place out and see were you think would be a nice background for portraits. Ask the caterer for suggestions; from experience they will have a better feel for how the site will look on the weeding day. While planning where to do the formals I always suggest to couples to keep the travel time to the shortest possible, it always adds up to be more than you estimate and you do not want to be spending your wedding day driving around in traffic. Besides, the pictures are about you, not the landscape. I always show couples that in most of my formal shots you really see very little background, it is analogous to traveling to the Grand Canyon then only seeing a few rocks behind the group in the pictures. Keep in mind that the backgrounds are part of your canvas that is telling your story. It is nice to have something elegant or pretty behind you, but also think about how to express where your wedding occurred and the environment you established. If you are having a very stylish New York City wedding, pick a location that expresses that emotion and shows off New York City in some form. I have seen too many portraits or group pictures where the background is a banquet hall. Think of it like this, if someone were to look at your pictures ten years from now – would they know when and were the wedding was? Also, if you plan on doing portraits outside, have a rain plan already worked out; you do not want to think about how to change everything on the wedding day.

It is always difficult to decide when to take the formal portraits. Many couples shy away from taking the images before the wedding because of the old tradition of not letting the Groom see the Bride before the ceremony. There is more to this concept then just tradition. Stress is one of the many emotions being felt at a wedding, and the final hours before the wedding can be the most stressful. Keeping the Bride and Groom apart can prevent any last minute misunderstandings. Also, everyone would have to be ready that much earlier, which can add additional stress. If one family member does not arrive on time, a whole set of family portraits cannot be taken. On a less practical aspect many Brides would rather hangout with their friends, helping to stay in emotional check and have some fun, before they have to walk down the aisle.

All these concerns aside, there is no more logical time to photograph the formal images than before the ceremony. Everyone is freshly dressed – no shine on the face, no wilted curls or flowers, and your dress is spotless. You will not miss a moment of your wedding (having to leave to have pictures done) and you will have sufficient time to get all the portraits you want. I have shot many weddings were portraits were either rushed or just never taken, for the Bride was unwilling or truly did not have any time to leave the reception. A nice approach to pre-ceremony pictures is instead of just meeting somewhere, arrange for a quiet pre-wedding rendezvous. This way you still experience that “moment” of seeing each other, and I am able to capture that decisive moment as he sees her and her him. Plan a private five to ten minutes after you meet that includes no Photographer, it is nice to collect your thoughts together before the hectic pace of a wedding. Now we have time to capture images of the Bride and Groom without any distractions from family and guests.

Each wedding and every family is unique; you will know what will work best at your wedding. However, think beyond superstition, it is not bad luck to see each other before the wedding. Pre-ceremony formals are one of the ways to get the most out of your photographic experience.

If you hired an experienced wedding Photographer, they will know to get the basic wedding imagery like the cake and first dance etc… so there will be no need to list every picture you want from the wedding. If you hired someone with little or no wedding experience or an amateur, a complete list may be appropriate. However, even if it seems obvious to you it is a good idea, for many reasons, to create a shot list of all the formal images. For one, it is not something you want to be thinking about at the moment. Having a list on paper helps the formal shots run smoother and faster which in turn helps them look their best. It also assures that you do not miss a portrait of someone important to you, and it gives you a written list of all the people you should contact.

Most people fall into two camps, ones who love to have their picture taken and the rest of us. When doing formals I have found that most guests think that they are posing for myself – as if I personally want the portraits. Therefore, they can be very uncooperative, not looking in the camera, hiding behind others, wandering off, refusing direction etc. This can all be very frustrating for everybody, and that will show in the quality of the portraits; also it considerably extends the time it takes to get the shots done. When I mention to people that it is the Bride and Groom who have requested the portraits of them, it can change people’s attitudes dramatically.

If you communicate before the wedding, with each person that you and your groom would like in your wedding portraits, it can really help to get everybody motivated to create some memorable family portraits; all within the shortest amount of time and least amount of stress. Let them know how important this is to you, and how you cannot wait to see the images of all the family together. Express to them to be timely, patient and not wander off until excused. While in a group picture focus their attention on the Photographer and do not be distracted by what is going on around them, you are the model – look into the camera. Explain that this will help to make the process take the least amount of time and enable everyone to return to the cocktail hour as soon as possible. If Aunt Pat is always late, you may want to tell her to be ready 15 minutes earlier than everyone else.

This brings us to the thought process in creating your list. It is of extreme help if the list is written in the order that we wish to take the pictures. First, item of thought - are there any elderly or frail individuals, put all the pictures with them in the beginning so they can finish early and proceed to the cocktail hour. Next, place the largest groups and work down from there in a logical sequence so people do not have to get up and down numerous times and when finished can leave to enjoy the cocktail hour. This will take some time to figure everything out if you have a large family, and a divorce or two, can complicate things tremendously. I will help by providing some typical scenarios.  Use this as a guide to help determine which pictures you desire, remember there is no “norm” it is whatever you want, but be realistic (it is not only about you). Family and friends make a huge effort to attend, and often they would like to get certain pictures also. I have photographed more than one wedding where the parents have ordered a larger album then the couple. And remember you do not want your relatives bringing up that “missed” portrait at your wedding for the rest of your life.

Bride’s extended family with Bride and/or Groom
Now decide if you want to break the extended family down to smaller parts, say all the cousins
Bride’s immediate family with Bride and/or Groom
Bride with siblings, group/individual
Bride with Grandparents
Bride with Parents, group/individual

Repeat this procedure with the Groom’s side, then after the Groom’s Parents bring in the Bride’s Parents and you can have a portrait of both sets of Parents. Now most family and guests should be back at the cocktail hour, and it is time to motivate the Bridal party. Get some creative and fun shots with them, both groups and individuals and then everyone is back at your cocktail hour having a great time and talking about your talented Photographer. Now that you are alone with your new Husband you can relax, regroup a little and then take some formal and fun shots together. I like to move to a different location when possible so that your portraits look different then the family portraits.

Now if you have any other important people in your life, Godparents, college or high school friends, go to them directly, greet other people only briefly along the way, you want all the formal pictures behind you before going to the reception. You should make a separate list for these shots. If you do not do these group shots right away they sometimes tend to never get done; people leave or you just never get a chance. Also, later on it is time to let loose, celebrate and enjoy the party - setting up a group shot can distract from having fun.

Now you have organized your thoughts, created a list, composed a short thoughtful note but there is one last item to make the system work. One or two liaisons that can connect a face to the names for the Photographer. The liaisons can really help to get everybody together. It is best to have someone who is not shy and has a strong voice; your sister perhaps who can be annoying for these same reasons would be perfect. When cousin Chloe is no were to be found there will be someone to go find her. While the Photographer is composing one group the liaison can be actively gathering the next. When Grandma has to go to the bathroom, the liaison will help her and know were she is, they really can make a big difference. Remember great pictures are a team effort, extra communication, a little planning and cooperation from your family and guests will assure you of getting the most out of each image.

Back to you now, it really is your day so when taking pictures if the Photographer is asking you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable, or is cheesy in your vocabulary then stand your ground and politely say no. If you are not enjoying yourself it will show in the pictures and this is all about getting great pictures!

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Robert London been a commercial Photographer since graduating from RIT in 1987. I began to expand into weddings in 1999, for before that time I felt that the film and equipment were too inhibiting to capture a wedding on film as I would see it. With the new technologies, I started to develop my own techniques utilizing the then recent small grain films and 35mm auto focus cameras enabling me to capture the wedding as a story – the way it was- not lighting the whole room with artificial lighting and not asking the couple to stop and pose. My wedding business expanded fairly quickly considering I had no contacts in the business, and I was featured on Daily Candy in 2003, and FOX TV special in 2004. I like to call it the art of lighting to enhance the image, versus what needed to be done in the old days and what most Photographers continue to do; which is illuminate the whole scene, achieving a technically good if not perfect image yet with no emotion or connection with what the mood of the day was! This process continues with the recent advent of advances in digital imaging enabling me to achieve what I once could only imagine in my mind.

When the date is set, and the venue, entertainment, and photographer booked, the little details for the big day start to add up. Brides should have 2-3 friends they can depend on to follow through on those little details, when given the instructions. So you (the Bride), can be stress free and have less to think about in the preparations. One thing you do NOT want on your wedding day is to have tension and stress on your face for those timeless portraits captured. Delegate as much responsibility as possible. If it is in your budget, hire a wedding planner to fulfill your wedding day dreams! When the day arrives, relax, breath, and take in every moment, because the day will fly by, and before you know it, your looking at your wedding portraits, and trying to remember the day you dreamed of all your life!

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Let us at Name Your Frame & Photography, capture the day you’ve been dreaming about. We have two photographers at every wedding. Your own your images on DVD. All our wedding couples, are glad they chose us to capture their wedding memories. Check us out at www.nameyourframe.com and let us hear your dreams.

When I first began Officiating Wedding Ceremonies I quickly realized that couples who were having a non denominational, civil or even a basic church Ceremony are offered only one or maybe two out of the book, fill in the blanks with the Bride and Groom s names, canned, repeated Ceremonies. Some Officiates may offer limited personalization, alterations and additions. Keep in mind that the Officiant is the main witness of you agreeing to be husband and wife, THE WORDS SHOULD AND CAN BE WHAT YOU WANT. The bottom line is that you should EASILY be able to compile the Ceremony that you want, print it and hand it to your Officiant/Minister/Judge/Justice of the Peace and say: Here, read this.

Another problem I ran into is what I call cookie cutter or the easy repeated way to perform a Ceremony. As guests, we attend a Ceremony, sit in our chair and all of a sudden, without notice, there is the Officiant, the Groom and his entourage up front. How rude and surprising to the guests! I firmly believe that the Officiant should do some sort of a Welcome to your guests along with any needed announcements and instructions including the turning off of cellular telephones to set up what should be set up as a warm loving time.

I am also big on equality. If the Bride enters down the main aisle so should the Groom. He is an equal half of the equation. If the Bride is to be escorted by her Father; why not by her Mother also? She is typically closer to the Bride than the Father anyway. When they get to the front corner chair the Bride and her Mother can hug and kiss, the Mother can be seated and then the Father walks the Bride up to the Groom.

And since the Bride is being escorted by her parents, why can t the Groom be escorted by his parents and seated in the front row? How many Ceremonies have we all been to that the Groom s parents are never recognized and therefore treated like second-rate citizens?

If the Bride is being given away during the Ceremony by her Father, then why not by her Mother also? Therefore, why shouldn’t the Groom s parents be able to give him away? Equality! I also believe that the parents should give the Bride and Groom away during the Ceremony prior to the vows. Doing the give-away when the Bride is brought to the Groom is typically missed by the guests and it doesn’t stand out. I have whoever is giving the Bride and/or Groom away stand as a Wedding Album photo opportunity when they do the give-a-way.

As to the entrance processional, I feel that as a guest it looks so much nicer and loving to have the Maid of Honor escorted down the aisle by the Best Man and the Bridesmaids by the Groomsmen. They reach the Officiant then split to their respective positions. The theme of a Ceremony is the making of a couple, so when the wedding party enters as couples, it keeps with the theme and you don t shove the Grooms party in from the side as if they are not equal to the Brides party. It also allows your guests and your photographer to focus on one aisle instead of looking around wondering who is coming next and from where. But the bottom line is; do as you wish.

As to the rings, equality again! Unless you have a Ring Bearer, the Best Man should have the Grooms ring and the Maid of Honor should have the Brides ring. The Grooms ring is too large for the Maid of Honor s finger and she has no pockets, so she simply places the Brides ring on a finger that slides easily over her knuckle. If the Ring Bearer has the real rings, then the Best Man should be the one to tie the rings on the pillow since he will be the one to untie them.

Hopefully this will be your only or final Wedding Ceremony. Do it the way you want to and not some cookie cutter way a wedding coordinator or family member wants you to.

Finally, your Ceremony Words are the most important part of your Wedding, more important than the paper the invitations are printed on, the seating arrangement etc. Make YOUR WORDS meaningful and memorable to you, your families and your guests. If you can make your guests cry a bit, laugh a bit and tell you afterward how much they enjoyed the words of your Ceremony, you will have succeeded.

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Authored By REVEREND MICHAEL J. AHERN

I Officiate full time in Orange County, California and have Officiated over 2,000 Ceremonies. I Officiate at all Orange County, California Hotels, Country Clubs, Parks, Chapels, Beaches and Residences with Personalized, Non Denominational Wedding Ceremonies. I am competitively priced and offer numerous options, customizations and personalizations. By utilizing my services you get to decide every word of your Wedding Ceremony. http://www.reverendmichaelahern.com/

Every bride and/or maid of honor should have a bridal emergency kit on hand just in case anything unexpected happens.  Here are some suggestions of what to include in your kit:

• Sewing kit
• Safety pins
• Scissors
• Extra pantyhose/socks
• Spot/Stain remover
• Nail clippers, file
• Tweezers
• Makeup
• Lotion
• Deodorant
• Hairbrush
• Comb
• Hairspray
• Curlers or curling iron
• Hair dryer
• Bobbypins
• Iron
• Extra backs for your earrings
• Extra Glasses
• Contact lens solution
• Eye drops
• Kleenex
• Cotton Balls
• Q-tips
• Baby wipes
• Huge Umbrella
• Lint Brush
• Shoe Polish
• Tylenol
• Antacids
• Gas Relief Pills
• Throat Lozenges/Cough Drops
• Band-Aids
• Feminine Hygiene products: pads and/or tampons
• Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Mouth Waste, Floss, Mints, Toothpicks
• Mirror
• Watch
• Snacks
• Bottled water
• Camera
• Double sided tape
• Matches/Lighter
• Super glue

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Authored By Staci Sull

Staci is the owner and photographer of A Lasting Image Photography in Olpe, KS. Her business serves the Emporia and East Central Kansas area. For more information please visit her website at www.alastingimagephoto.com.

Today, anybody out of job thinks they can buy a camera, put together a great website and videotape weddings. Is this what you want for your most precious day and memories?

What to Look for:

Is your videographer Legal? Our they licensed by the City like any other business. Ask to see their business license.

Are they Insured? If a cameraman puts his camera down and guest trips and breaks a leg, you the Bride and Groom our responsible. A professional videographer carries liability insurance as well Errors and Omissions insurance.

Check the Better Business Bureau. As any legal business make sure they don’t have a tainted record and how they rate.

How many years of experience do they have and do they have back up staff. A single videographer can’t predict if he will get sick or something may happen to him, which could affect your memories. We always have a crew on call every weekend just in case. I can’t tell you how many times I get called that there videographer didn’t show up and can we send somebody right away.

Saving your Memories. How long does your videographer save the master. At our studio we have every master going back 30 years. I have had couples call me and say their house burned down and they lost everything, and I had the masters even 20 years later and may them new copies. That’s insurance.

Just getting the cheapest could hurt your wedding memories. Take the time to check out your videographer or any of your wedding vendors before you might. As they say “The inconvenience of poor quality, lingers long after the thrill of a bargain !”

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Authored By Maury Gomberg, Owner of Video Services Un-Limited

Video Services Un-Limited was just voted of best videography in Los Angeles by MYFOXLA. Backed by over 30 years of wedding video excellence, Maury and his staff have won many awards. They also produce Corporate training and professional videos. VSU is known for the Customer Service and caring about each event they record. Visit the website at of www.videoyou.com or give them a call at 800-644-0206

Professional wedding videographers can range in price from $500 to over $5,000. What gives? As long as they’re professionally trained, properly equipped and experienced, why the drastic difference in price?

First of all, it’s important to understand that videographers (this goes for photographers and other artists too), assign a value to their work based on their time, effort, equipment, expertise, and a whole lot of factors that can vary from artist to artist, depending on their approach and demand for their product.

That said here are a couple of factors for you, the engaged couple, to consider when picking a wedding videographer. Rather than making a decision based solely on price, this information will hopefully help you compare “apples to apples” and cut costs only where you really want to cut costs, and spend where your money is being put to good use, according to your priorities.

Filmic versus Documentary

The terms, “filmic” and “documentary” get thrown around a lot, and can mean different things to different people. Often times, a videographer won’t strictly belong to one category or the other. If you’re not sure where a certain videographer fits in, just ask to see a sample of a complete wedding they have shot and edited… then decide if you like it. Then, who cares what it’s called? If you like it, you like it.

Usually, a “filmic” look implies that a video has been shot widescreen or 16:9 (with the growing popularity of widescreen TVs, most videographers shoot widescreen these days anyway), with saturated colours, and some dramatic slow motion effects. It can also mean very stable moving shots created with the help of cranes or jib arms, steadicam apparatus, etc.

The advantages to going with a filmic videographer, is that you literally get a chance to star in your own professionally shot movie. You will be beautifully lit, and captured from the right angles, and only the best, most glamorous shots will make the final cut. You may never look better!

The drawback, of course, is the cost. It takes a lot of people to put a production like this together, not to mention a lot of high end equipment. And finally, there is editing time: for a truly filmic experience, several hours in an editing suite is required to synch up footage from multiple cameras, mix sound and music, create transition effects and titles, etc.

Another drawback, depending on your point of view, is it is not an ideal setup for the camera-shy. You will be surrounded by a crew, lights, and equipment. You will likely be aware of the cameras. You may occasionally have to wait for the cameras to get in place or re-enact for the cameras if necessary.

A “documentary” approach implies that your video is shot with less bulky equipment, and you might only get one or two cameramen with this approach.

The drawback of a documentary approach is it’s going to have a grittier look than the filmic approach. How gritty? Again, this is going to vary from shooter to shooter, so ask to see a sample DVD to come to your own conclusion.

The major advantage of a documentary approach is that because the equipment is lighter, the shooters have more flexibility, so they can move and capture spontaneous moments as they happen naturally. The approach is less obtrusive, and when done correctly, you shouldn’t feel the cameras around you a whole lot. The cost for a documentary approach should be less: the equipment isn’t as high end or cumbersome and you can get away with less people on set. How smooth the final DVD looks depends on the amount of time allocated to editing, and this can vary from production house to production house.

Editing versus Raw

When it comes to videography, don’t make the common mistake of thinking you are paying for just one day of service. A lot of prep time goes into any production, and after the shoot, as much as 50 or 60 hours might go into editing and refining your footage. Or not. It depends on the production company. So ask what your videographer puts into their editing process, and expect to pay accordingly for their time and efforts.

Your videographer might simply offer the raw (unedited) footage; in which case, a tape or hard drive to DVD transfer and some packaging is all that is required after the shoot. This is by far the cheapest option when scouting for video packages, but it is important that your expectations for this option are realistic.

There is a lot of software out there that can enable anyone to edit their own footage, but even if an amateur has the time, patience, and creativity to finish their own video, a professional editor is likely going to see more potential in the same batch of raw footage. If you don’t plan on editing your own footage and just want to leave it unedited, understand that everything is going to be left in, audio levels may be inconsistent, and without the benefit of chapters you won’t be able to skip to precise points of interest.

Your videographer might offer light editing; a “clean-up,” if you will, where some of the rougher, darker, uneventful footage is taken out, and dissolves are put into to soften the transitions between scenes. DVD chapters might be added. Some music might be added. A light edit will cost more than no edit (obviously), but it will give you a nicer finished product that is more entertaining to watch.

Of course, if you really want to dazzle your friends and family, you might opt for a full-on edit: which includes effects, titling, colour-correction, evening out of audio levels, montages where video is edited to music, etc. This edit takes the most time and so it will cost more.

Other factors to take into consideration: are you able to screen the first cut and have input on the final product (will your editor re-cut?). Does the editor upload your video to a website so you can proof your edit and share it with friends and family? How many copies of the finished product do you get? All these perks take more time and resources, so they will add to the cost of your wedding video.

Single Camera versus Multi Camera

Most wedding video companies will offer either one or two cameras with their packages. Some higher end companies offer more than 2 cameras.

The more cameras you have, the more angles (close-ups, etc.) and coverage you’ll have, and the more dynamic an edited finished product you’ll end up with. Obviously, more cameras mean more people and more equipment, so higher costs.

The fewer cameras you have, the less coverage you’ll get, the less angles you’ll have to edit between, but it will definitely be less costly and also less obtrusive.

Another thing to consider: adding a camera means adding several more hours of footage, which means even more hours in the edit suite. See how it all quickly adds up?

Ready for your close-up?

Hopefully, this article has shed some light on the costs and time and expertise involved with putting together a wedding production, so as to demystify the various packages and price points out there.

Bottom line, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to produce a wedding video, because we all – vendors and clients alike – have our different sets of priorities. Decide what is important to you, and budget accordingly. A wedding video is a tremendous keepsake of your special day; so choose wisely.

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Authored by Nishi Dias from Night Day Productions.
She owns and runs Night Day Productions, a small collective of videographers and photographers who work on weddings, corporate events and creative projects.

What is a Card box?

Weddings have always been an occasion at which guests like give the happy a couple a gift to help them start their new lives together. In the past, these gifts would include registry items, cash, checks, bonds etc. Today, many registry items have already been gifted at bridal showers and engagement parties. So, a relatively new tradition has sprung up in the wedding world! Guests now give cards and money to the couple and it can sometimes result in an awkward situation.

Why? Guests can sometimes feel uncomfortable having to search out the bride, groom, or close relative in order to hand them a monetary gift. However, a wedding guest also does not want to hand their generous gift off to just anyone.

Solution! The wedding card box is displayed on the gift table or a table near the bride and groom; all dressed up in the theme and matching the colors and décor of the wedding! Viola! A new tradition!

Security

With all of this generosity from your guests, you don’t want to leave anything to chance. It is unfortunate but there have been cases in the past where envelopes have gone missing from a wedding reception; some of which can be lost forever. To solve this problem, use a secure card holder that is not only attractive and elegant, but will also alleviate the issue of security. Give yourselves, and your friends and family at the wedding, peace of mind.

Styles

Wedding card boxes can really be anything you can imagine. Some of the more common styles include plain white birdcages and paper boxes. But, why get something common to hold your gifts? Your wedding isn’t an everyday occasion! It is an extraordinary day that you have put your whole heart into planning. The details like your wedding card box can be just as extraordinary and special!

Today’s wedding card box is hand painted in your colors and reflects your theme! Having an elegant beach wedding? How about a card box featuring real seashells in the design. Is your groom a die-hard sports fan? Instead of a groom’s cake, purchase a card box in his favorite team’s colors with the team logo emblazoned on it! Do you love crystals and “bling”? Why not “bling-out” your custom card box? Or, if your tastes are more simple and elegant, how about your wedding colors reflected in your box(es) and trimmed with a beautiful satin ribbon and bow?

In love with your wedding cake design? Have a custom wedding cake replica card box made as a valued keepsake. After the real cake has been enjoyed by all, you will have a lovely reminder of your special day that serves as a holder for all of your wonderful mementos and cards for years to come.

What about after the wedding?

Your wedding day was a day of joy and love. It was one you will remember for the rest of lives and you will have many lovely mementos and cards from your guests to help you keep the memories alive. Your wedding card box is a wonderful way to keep those lovely cards and mementos all together in your home.

Authored by Marni Gold from Creative Custom Cardboxes

Marni Gold is a designer of fabulous hand-crafted and hand-painted card boxes for weddings and special events. She, and her mother Linda Protovin, own and operate Creative Custom Cardboxes (www.CreativeCustomCardboxes.com). They will work with you one-on-one to design a card box that is perfect for your special day.

Are you doing your own hair?

1. Time your practice session and make a list of all of the tools and products you will need. If you are not going to be in your home, you will need to plan and pack well.

2. If you are doing your hair at your home put everything in a basket and hide it away to bring out fresh and ready for your special day.

3. Schedule times for showers.

4. Make sure there is a mirror and a counter or table to work from.

5. Make sure there are proper outlets, if not bring a power bar and extension cord. Older inns and Bed & Breakfasts’s may not have as many outlets or one near good lighting.

6. Put all of your pretty under things on first and cover up with a button down shirt or robe. This way after hair and makeup are done, just slip into your gown!

Is a stylist traveling to you?

1. Give exact, adequate directions and phone numbers. Many times brides give the directions they follow and forget the stylist may be coming from the opposite side of the highway. Or make sure she has GPS.

2. Have a spot prepared and set up for the stylist to work. It can be a large bath room, a well lit dining room or kitchen. Put out hot pads or thick towels to protect surfaces from hot tools.

3. Don’t assume the stylist can do extra people last minute. Make sure everyone who is having their hair done is mentioned ahead of time and arrives promptly.

4. Be ready yourself and allow extra time for interruptions.

Are you going to a salon?

1. Schedule your wedding day hair appointment at least eight weeks ahead.

2. Have a practice session at least a month ahead and bring a picture of your dress and your headpiece with you to the salon.

3. Record your travel time from the salon to where you are getting dressed.

4. Add on extra time for getting dressed and make-up if the salon is not applying it.

5. Ask for more than one stylist to help with the wedding party. Three stylists for a party of six is the best bet for staying on schedule.

6. Schedule all nail appointments for the day before, this also saves time.

7. Don’t expect to get your favorite stylist to do your wedding hair if you desire an intricate Updo. This is a specialty service and best left for the salon’s updo expert or team.

The Morning of Your Wedding covers this subject as well as many others and is a must read for every bride. Whether you are getting ready at home or at a hotel or other venue find great tips about stress, family issues, scheduling, petcare, food issues and more. No other book covers this hetic first part of your most important day. Be prepared!

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Authored by Gretchen Maurer.

Gretchen Maurer was approached to write the first ever, bridal-based hair industry book, The Business of Bridal Beauty, published by Milady Publishing. A licensed stylist since 1980, Maurer noticed there were too many wedding morning horror stories and wanted to see everyone’s morning of a successful beginning to a very important day. This first book was a step toward educating the salon industry and stylists.

Maurer taught seminars, classes and performed at hair shows for 12 years, presenting information to stylists to help them better serve their bridal clients. The wedding industry became Maurer’s next audience, namely wedding planners, whom she felt needed to know the inside of the salon industry. Once involved in The Association of Bridal Consultants, she spoke at many meetings and seminars.

In 1998 Maurer developed and created Weddinghair.com. In 2002 weddinghair.com was voted the #1 wedding beauty site, by Brides magazine! The web site offers over 100 wedding hairstyles each created by Maurer. Each style is photographed in a step-by-step format with simple DIY directions available for FREE in a down loadable PDF file. Her first book, along with the web site, has fostered many interviews, articles and hairstyles to appear in numerous national and local magazines and web sites.

Although Maurer did many on location weddings while working in a salon, by 2000 she left the salon environment and became a fulltime on-location bridal stylist. Traveling to numerous unique locations and servicing weddings of all sizes and budgets, Maurer experienced many chaotic and frustrating wedding mornings. Now with the help of The Morning of Your Wedding, every bride will get an inside peek to how that day might unfold, so she can be prepared for her best wedding day ever!

As a wedding professional for over 15 years, I have participated in hundreds of celebrations. As a result of these experiences, I have developed 14 tips that will make for a better wedding reception. The more you can adhere to these tips, the more likely your reception will be a success!

1. Strongly consider an indoor over an outdoor reception

This first tip can be one of the biggest impacts on the success of your event. Let me start off by saying some of the most beautiful and enjoyable weddings I have been a part have been held outdoors. However I have experience numerous events impacted negatively due to hot or cold temperatures, rain, wind, and complaints of the music being too loud from venue owners and/or their neighbors. People can’t enjoy themselves if they are not comfortable. Every bride envisions their wedding day having temperatures in the 70’s, sunny blue skies with no wind or rain when in reality that isn’t always the case. In 2008, I had 5 outdoor weddings that were impacted negatively by adverse weather or sound complaints. By having an indoor wedding you eliminate a whole host of problems from these environmental factors that can negatively impact your reception. If you have a summer outdoor wedding, consider having it later in the evening when temperatures are more comfortable and the sun has set.

2. Entertainment should be a focal point of your reception

Don’t cram your entertainment off to the side. Entertainment should be seen by all the guests. Powerful entertainment will work to fill the dance floor and must be seen as part of the action, not just the side show.

3. Where you seat your older guests is important to their enjoyment

Older guests should never be seated by the dance floor or near the speakers. This should be self explanatory.

4. Too small of a dance floor is better than having one that is too big

It creates the illusion whether real or not that the floor is full. In doing this people are more likely to dance when the crowd is dense rather than feeling they are the only ones out there. Take it from the people who know about dancing and motivating crowds, not from venue manager trying to sell you why a large dance floor is so important. If people end up dancing on the carpet or grass, the story of how your dance floor was so packed that they couldn’t even fit on it only further reinforces my point.

5. Darker is better than lighter for dancing

People feel less of a spectacle, less on stage when they think they are harder to see. That is why crime increases at night. If you are having an outdoor reception in the summer, consider having it later in the evening when the temperature is more comfortable and the sun has gone down and there is less light. One great advantage of an indoor reception is you generally can control the lighting in the room to achieve this effect.

6. Keep the exit doors closed

Having doors open invites people to their cars. It also lets light into the room which works with the same psychology as tip #5. You want to keep the focus in the reception room as long as possible. Brides and grooms should never stand by the exit door unless they want people to leave. I’ve seen rooms drain guests rapidly one by one when the bride and groom stand by the exit door.

7. Bar & Desserts should be in the same room as the entertainment

These are popular draws for people’s attention and can pull from the dance floor. If possible, have the bar and/or dessert table near the dance area as part of the whole entertainment experience. Oftentimes when the bar closes, people get the impression that the party is over. We strongly encourage you to keep the bar open the full length you plan on having entertainment.

8. Happy music keeps things going

Avoid choosing any songs that have a negative message. Respect the musical opinions of your DJ, since we do this for a living. A fundamental rule with music is people will not dance to music they do not know. Your reception is not the place to play obscure music that can negatively impact the dance floor. Let the disc jockey exercise his tools and really work his craft that you are paying him for.

9. Consider not doing a dollar dance

Why? When the bride and groom are doing this, the guests realize they can’t be seen slipping out the door and can definitely stop the momentum of a great party. If you want to do a dollar dance, do it early after the main dances and limit it to three songs.

10. People remember the beginning and end of an event

This is why we strongly recommend having your DJ play during the cocktail hour and have him do a powerful grand introduction to begin the reception. This helps your disc jockey build a rapport early and puts him in a more powerful position to work your crowd all night long.

11. It’s best to have all traditions, speeches, and photographs of the bridal party done and out of the way before the dancing begins

I have seen more parties lose steam because the bridal party has pictures taken after the bridal dance. Please have all your pictures done with your photographer before dancing begins. You may have to invest an extra hour earlier in the day, but it will save you from losing momentum and potential on your dance floor.

12. Consider having your rehearsal dinner two nights instead of one night before the reception

Why? I have seen bridal parties that were hung over the next day. They were already burnt out and it makes it difficult for the disc jockey to build any inertia throughout the evening.

13. A party should end when it shouldn’t end

Ending a party before it dies down leaves everyone the impression the floor was packed all night and nobody wanted to leave. It just feels better when people leave wanting more verses being totally burnt out with just a few guests staying to the bitter end strolling out of the venue.

14. If you have to cut corners, don’t compromise on your entertainment

I have heard from many clients who attend weddings prior to their own where there is no DJ present and they described how dead and unorganized the reception can become. It’s not just the music, it’s also the interaction, announcements and dancing that makes hiring a skilled DJ an excellence choice. We don’t just play music. We Emcee your event and help smoothly transition from one event to another. We also offer a variety of fun activities that can enhance your event. Also consider how a DJ can enhance the experience not just for you and your guests, but also the photographer and videographer to capture some really great images of your celebration.

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Authored by Dave Meine from DJ Dave’s Mobile Disc Jockey Entertainment.

Dave Meine is a leading wedding entertainer from Boise, Idaho. He has been designing successful wedding celebrations for couples for over 16 years.

These tips to keep the process of ordering, mailing and addressing your wedding invitations stress free are pure gold if you heed them now.

1. Order at least a dozen extra invitations and envelopes.

This is probably the #1 mistake that brides make. Mistakes are likely to happen when addressing envelopes so you should be sure to have extra envelopes on hand. It’s surprising how many times a family member supplying you with a list of guests inadverdently leaves out a few guests. Most invitations cost much more per invitation when ordered in small amounts, so don’t end up making the mistake of not ordering extra invitations and then having to pay more for just a few invitations.

2. Make sure to order a few extra for keepsakes.

Find out who wants keepsakes. and include this in your invitation count. There may be parents, grandparents and siblings. Many times invitations sent in the mail don’t arrive good enough for a keepsake.

3. Have your invitation envelopes delivered early so that you get a head start on addressing them

Most invitation companies will hold your order and ship everything at once. Let them know you want your envelopes first and they’ll get those right out to you. You can get started on the envelopes and save a little stress by not having to rush the addressing.

4. When counting your guest list make sure to count each couple or household as only one invitation.

Many times the bride and groom look at the guest list and count 200 wedding guests coming to the wedding. Only to realize later after ordering the invitations that they didn’t need 200 invitations but only 100 since each family or couple only needs one invitation.

5. Allow plenty of time to carefully address, assemble and mail your invitations.

We suggest allowing at least two weeks for addressing and mailing your invitations. It’s a good idea to add in a couple of “just in case” days. I know this is common sense but addressing envelopes can get tedious and the best way to be sure this isn’t stressing you out at the last minute is to give yourself plenty of time to address your envelopes.

6. Check your postage.

This is a biggie! Many invitations today are odd size or made from heavy paper and require extra postage. The postage regulations are always changing on envelope sizing, so be sure to take a complete setup of your invitations to the post office and have the postage verified. Verifying your postage assures that all your invitations arrive as planned.

7. Read up on invitation wording ettiquette

There are many different circumstances today and you want to make sure you get it right. How do you list your divorced parents on the invitation when one is remarried? Can you mention the gifts on your invitation? There’s lot’s of do’s and dont’s. Be sure you know what they are.

8. Give some thought to where you want responses sent.

Gifts are usually sent to the address on the invitation return envelope or the RSVP envelope. Make sure that the person whose address you are using is ready and able to handle the RSVP’s and the gifts that will arrive.

9. Be organized

Addressing and mailing your invitations goes much smoother and eliminates confusion if you develop a system of organization that allows you to have all your guests information on one list before you start addressing the envelopes.

10. Double check the spelling of everything on your invitation.

Not only the spelling but check and recheck that all addresses and information is correct. Then have someone else proof your invitation again. Prevention is the key to paying for your wedding invitations only once. Don’t forget, when your wedding invitations are all addressed, stuffed and mailed. Sit back with a nice cup of tea, put your feet up and take a deep breath and relax!

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Authored by Sherrie Abruscato.

Owner of Invites Galore! Custom Wedding Invitations where you can choose from a beautiful selection of custom printed invitations. Her staff works diligently to get your perfectly printed invitations shipped out to you in 24 to 48 hours.