When it comes to wedding photography, you’ve gotta choose right! After all, the photos will last a lifetime. Lucky for us, we’ve got the fabulous photography duo from Moss and Isaac blogging with us today to fill us in one of the biggest questions photographers get…
As Wedding Photographers, one of the most frequently asked questions we get is “Should we see each other before the ceremony?”
Although some brides like to be traditional, we think you should. Here are some of our top reasons you should consider doing a first look:
1. It’s so nice to see each other for the first time privately (besides your photographers…of course). It allows for you both to spend a few minutes really taking in the moment and feeling the emotion together without anyone else around. We like to take the bride and groom off by themselves for at least 30 minutes after the first look to capture the couple portraits at a time when you are feeling amazing. Traditional couples who don’t do a first look seem to feel rushed after the ceremony to complete the long list of family, wedding party, and couple photographs while everyone else waits on them to finish. It puts more pressure on us as photographers when the bride and groom are anxious to get to their celebration. If you choose to do a first look, it might turn into some of the only un-rushed, alone time you and your fiancee will get all day.
2. Enjoy your reception. You spend a lot of money on the cocktail hour/reception, you might as well have fun. If we have to do couple photos, plus family/wedding party, it easily takes the entire hour…and some sometimes it can get a bit stressful because everyone is ready to go celebrate.
3. It’s really nice to have great close up photos of that first moment. Of course, your photographers should have photos of the ceremony as well, but it doesn’t allow them time to set up the photos and have control of the area like doing a first look does.
4. Consider the time of day: The light is better during the day, or at sunset, that it is at night. If you want your couple or family photos taken outside, you’ll need to consider what time of day the photos will take place.
5. It’s a stress reliever. Believe me, the brides and grooms that see each other at a first look are instantly calmer and happier. There is just something that happens that is a bit magical and can’t even be explained.
It’s good to discuss these points with your fiancee before making your decision. Whatever your choice, we are sure it will be the right one for you. There’s no reason to let the little decisions weigh you down. Either way, your wedding day will be your best day yet….we hope you enjoy the entire process of getting there.
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Drawing from graphic design backgrounds, Moss and Isaac (ie. Leigh Anna Thompson & CJ Isaac) take a documentary storytelling approach with their wedding photography…using well-crafted portraiture and detail photographs to round out the tale of the wedding day. With an easygoing spirit, Leigh Anna and CJ put people at ease with their southern charm and the large smiles that they can’t seem to wipe off when they have a camera in hand. Their passion lies in capturing the fleeting moments…the look, the kiss, the excitement, the details…all of the beauty and emotion that surround the milestone moments of people’s lives. Contact them via: info@mossandisaac.com or 646-470-5266. Follow their work on Facebook and Twitter.
Think of what’s on a typical registry – stuff like linens and silverware, right? Well, that stuff’s not too fun! Wouldn’t guests rather get you something that will truly make you happy and give you a lifetime of memories? Now they can! With a Deposit a Gift registry, you really can register for a fun first year of marriage. Here are some ideas to get you started…
The Honeymoon: Kick off life as a married couple right! Make your dream honeymoon come true by registering for travel costs, accommodations, lavish dinners, and local activities. Check out what this couple did for their honeymoon across Europe.
Weekend Trips: Whether you like camping trips or beach days, fill your weekends with your favorite activities by registering for these excursions and the gear to go with ‘em!
Date Nights: Don’t let the romance go when you get back from the honeymoon. Keep the spark alive by registering for dinners, movies, and anything else that makes the perfect date night.
Cultural Events: Museums, performances, sporting events – have fun and keep learning!
Marriage should be fun – and with a registry filled with your favorite activities, it will be!
Money can’t buy happiness – people have been saying it for years! Filling your home with clothes and knick-knacks won’t make you as happy as you think. But new experiences and memories sure will! The truth is, spending money on experiences and bigger goals and dreams actually makes us more content than filling our homes with more things. So for newly engaged couples putting together a registry, is it possible to ask for experiences? It sure is!
Enter: The Deposit a Gift cash registry, with all the tools needed to build your custom wedding site and registry. But not all guests are familiar with the idea of a cash gift registry, so it’s important to set up your site so that guests understand the gift of experiences. And our Note Bank is the perfect way to do so! We provide you with plenty of templates to introduce guests to your wishes with wording that focuses making memories as one of the best gifts of all!
So, now that you’ve set up your site, what should you put on your registry? There are plenty of ideas, and our Rapid Registry tool will certainly give you some inspiration! Look specifically in the Rapid Registry ‘NEWLYWED ACTIVITIES’ category.
Here are some of the favorites:
Lessons: Never stop learning and growing! Golf lessons, cooking workshops, dance classes – you’re never too old to learn something new.
Hobbies: Whether you love gardening in the backyard or Scuba diving off the coast, extra funds to support your hobby are always appreciated.
Vacation: Do something fun! Where have you always dreamed of going? Add travel costs, hotels, and activities to your list to make your dream vacation come true.
With Deposit a Gift, you get all the tools needed to get exactly what you want! Take a look at our Testimonials to see how much success other users have had.
By now, you know all the benefits of an alternative wedding registry and you know that they’re perfect for honeymoons. But you might be left wondering, “How can we have a shower when there are no physical gifts yet?” After all, the point of a shower is to shower you with gifts, right? Well, if you take advantage of some of the tools Deposit a Gift offers you, you’ll have no trouble at all throwing the perfect shower!
Get the Guests on Board
This is an idea that many guests are not familiar with, so make sure they understand the idea before the shower begins. Include a note on your registry to let guests know why exactly you’ve chosen this new kind of registry. Describe their contribution in terms of giving the gift of experience. They’ll be thrilled to know that their gift will go towards a lifetime of memories.
Print a Gift Certificate
When a guest purchases a gift, they get the option to print out a gift certificate:
The certificate is a great way to bring a tangible gift to the shower. You can even get creative with it too. For example, for a gift for a tropical honeymoon, try wrapping the certificate around a towel or putting it in a beach bag with other beach goodies.
It’s All in the Theme
Turn your honeymoon locale into the theme of your shower! Try incorporating the food and music of your chosen destination into the shower. It’ll give the guests a taste of what their present has given you. Like these French macaroons for a Parisian honeymoon shower…
Photo Credit:Â Style Me Pretty
With just a little effort, you’ll be sure to have a shower to remember! And remember, we offer a monthly prize for the most creative shower. If you think that’s yours, then take a look at the contest details here!
Here it is: the final post from SmartBride Boutique’s guest stint on our blog.  If you haven’t been following along, be sure to check out their previous posts on how to sell a wedding dress, buy a used one, and avoid the mistakes of dress shopping.  This week’s post is all about getting designer style for less. Have you found the wedding dress of your dreams only to find that it’s out of your budget?  You’re not alone! About 25% of brides surveyed by SmartBride Boutique went over budget on their wedding dress. We get it. You want to look fabulous and stylish without spending a fortune, and these 5 tips will help you find designer names and fabulous style without paying designer prices.
Designer Vera Wang 1G136 Wedding Dress for sale on SmartBride Boutique
1. Lose the Extras
Sometimes you try on the dress of your dreams, only to find out the stylish deco belt or beautiful shoulder sash are extra. Be aware that added trimmings can blow the budget!
2. Avoid Custom Alterations
Unless you’re practically perfect in every way (ie. Mary Poppins), your dress will need alterations.  Budget a few hundred dollars for typical alterations, like shortening your hem.  Custom alterations, like adding or altering a sleeve, bustles, or changing the neckline will increase costs significantly.
3. Go Online!
You probably already know this, but after you’ve found some favorites, search online to see if you can find your dress at a reduced price. Websites like SmartBrideBoutique.com have thousands of new and used wedding dresses by Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier and more, at about 50% off their retail price!
4. Look for Simple Silhouettes
The more material used to make your dress, the more expensive it will be.  Dresses with layers of tulle and organza, or heavy lace and beading will cost more than a simple sheath because of the amount of fabric and detail that’s used to construct the dress.
5. Shop Sample Sales & Evening Gowns
Sample sales at bridal shops happen throughout the year, and you can get dresses at 30 to 50% off retail! A word of caution: don’t forget to factor in the cost of alterations and dry cleaning.  We’ve also heard from brides who’ve found a white evening or cocktail gown at non-bridal retailers for less than the cost of any wedding dress they tried on.
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Leah Andrew and Andrea Lown run SmartBrideBoutique.com, a premium wedding classifieds website where brides can buy, sell and save on wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, décor and accessories. Recent brides sell new and used wedding items to recover 50% of their costs. Brides-to-be shop new and used wedding items to save 30% to 70% off retail! Smart Brides can have their cake and eat it too! Connect with SmartBride on Twitter and Facebook.
