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!
The traditional registry typically includes tableware, linens, and china, but what to do with all these home goods when you haven’t got the home? Many young couples are just starting out when they get married, and more than anything, want to be first time homeowners. Guests’ gifts would be much better spent on the home itself than goods to fill it! It’s easy to create a registry so that your guests can give what you really need…
1. Share Your Story and Home Ownership Plans: In your Registry Note, describe your new home in detail. Do you have a specific type of home in mind? Are you going for a down payment or doing a remodel? Or are you building your own home from the ground up? The more guests know about your new home plans, the happier they’ll be to help you get there!
2. Create a Gift List: Don’t leave your guests guessing! Instead of a Home Fund for guests to donate to, create a Home Gift List with gifts that guests can actually give you. They’d much rather give you a gift than donate to a fund to feel like they’re really giving you something special and unique. Our Rapid Registries are perfect for setup!
3. Make It Personal: Guests love the intimate experience of picking out a special gift that they’ll always be remembered for, so make sure the experience of perusing and shopping from your registry is as gratifying as possible by personalizing your site. Add a Welcome Note to introduce your guests and make them comfortable with the process. Our Greeting Bank is perfect for inspiration! Fill out the About Us so family and friends can read all about your relationship and upcoming marriage and plans.
For a gift that’ll last a lifetime, there’s nothing better than a new home!
With the holiday season behind us, many recently engaged couples are ready to set the date and start planning the wedding! It can be tough to keep the budget in check during the planning, but Greg Jenkins of Bravo Productions is here with tips to help you stick to the food and beverage budget, barter with the venue for provisions, and maintain a quality and affordable wedding.
The key to sticking to your wedding budget is to do your homework first! Approach the planning process from a standpoint of strength and knowledge to barter and negotiate with the best results. If done successfully, the wedding couple will save money on their Big Day!
1. Review the big picture and put your dollars into what is really important. Don’t spend money on expensive appetizers when simple cheese and fruit platters might very well suffice. Do you really need to spend $20 per bottle for champagne or will a simple one-glass champagne toast be just as nice? Barter with the venue to see if they might offer a complimentary glass of champagne to all of your guests. If you are using a hotel for the reception and generating room nights, you are in a better position to barter.
2. Opt for less pricey food. Eliminate the carving stations of prime rib and jumbo shrimp, opting for more inexpensive fare such as chicken, fish and mini appetizers. Barter with the venue to provide you with something comparable at a lower price. Mini crab cakes could easily replace the jumbo shrimp.
3. Skip the cake. Instead of the big wedding cake, suggest that the venue create a wedding cake using mini cupcakes. The rule of thumb is that most guests take two bites of dessert and the remainder is tossed. Let your caterer know you want something that is tasty and a great photo op, but not something that re-creates Princess Diana’s. Set a budget for the dessert and stick to it.
4. Go seasonal. Serve seasonal vegetables instead pricier items that are out-of-season such as asparagus, artichokes and exotic fruits such as mangoes, papayas, etc.
5. Talk to the venue. Ask the venue whether you can purchase food on consumption. Many venues won’t propose this to a bride, but the benefit is that you pay for food and drinks that are actually consumed.
6. Negotiate with the reception hall. Maybe they’ll provide the space free with a guaranteed amount that you will spend on food and drinks. In addition, negotiate the contract where the venue reduces their service charge — perhaps from 18% to 16%.
7. Ditch the bottles. Request pitchers of water instead of bottled water.
8. Lunch over dinner. Negotiate for the luncheon menu for your evening dinner function. It’s basically the same menu and dinner menus always cost more.
9. Barter for complimentaries. Perhaps the venue will throw in charger plates, perhaps they will provide you with a one night stay if you are using a hotel.
10. Reduce the number of invited guests to your reception. Instead of 200 guests, you can probably live with 150. If you multiply 50 people x $40 per person, the savings is $2,000.
11. Research the venue. Consider their ‘peaks and valleys’ in deciding when to host your reception. You can negotiate a better price during a less popular season or timeframe. June, July and August weddings will cost you more.
12. Go smaller. Suggest using smaller plates to control guests’ consumption.
13. Buyer Beware – Do some research and compare whether the venue’s ‘wedding package’ will actually save you money. Many venues hire a florist to create the centerpieces and then mark up the price when offering them to you. It might be well worthwhile to hire your own florist. In addition, some deals sound too good to be true, and you’ll often end up spending more money in the long run. Save money, but be a wise and smart shopper in making decisions for your wedding needs.
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Greg Jenkins, partner of Long Beach-based event planning and production company, Bravo Productions, has 25-years of experience in the special events industry. Jenkins is a five-time Gala Award nominee and has won two Galas by Special Events Magazine. Find him on Facebook, Twitter, or reach him by email.
Weddings are very traditional affairs – almost every aspect comes with its own history and ritual. Though tradition can be one of the most special parts of marriage, it sometimes blinds couples to all the possibilities available to get creative. What’s always worked for generations past may not make sense for many couples today.
Case In Point: the wedding registry. How many couples really need or even want table settings for twelve, or crystal bowls and vases? Especially in a city where extra space is hard to come by, the typical registry just doesn’t always make sense.
This is where a cash wedding registry comes in. It allows couples to register flexibly so that you aren’t stuck with physical items for which you aren’t ready or don’t have space. Using the format of a traditional registry to communicate your non-traditional wishes is a way to abide by etiquette and is sure to please guests because it looks, feels and functions just like a department store registry. This way you get exactly what you want, not ‘stuff’ you don’t and guests still have the fun of picking out a special gift. If you can dream it, you can add it! From honeymoons to home down payments, electronics to a Broadway show, even date nights and charity. Yes, it’s true, a non-traditional registry can include all that and more!
Register For Your Honeymoon
Modern minded couples who aren’t looking for more household items absolutely love honeymoon registries! Instead of dishes or towels, friends can give you nights in the honeymoon suite, flights to your dream destination, romantic dinners and all the memories that come with them.
Register For Your Home
A non-traditional registry is perfect for the big-ticket items that are difficult to register for at a department store because they make great group gifts. For city dwellers, fancy china and appliances are hard to fit into a small apartment. If you’d prefer is a new flat screen TV or new (grown up!) furniture, then put your guests’ generous gifts towards something that will truly be of use in married life.
Register For Date Nights and Hobbies
The fun doesn’t have to end after the honeymoon. Keep romance alive by asking that guests help you purchase dinners and tickets for date nights. Or, set aside some time for fun and register for what you love to do together, like camping equipment, beach supplies or cooking lessons.
Register For Cultural Activities
When you live in a place that’s just brimming with culture, it’d be a sin not to take advantage of it! Register for show tickets, museum passes and even yoga classes. What better way to use your gifts than by gaining new experiences?
Weddings are all about tradition, but be excited to go in a slightly different direction if that’s what is more meaningful for you.  Guests want to give you a special gift, so if the traditional ‘stuff’ isn’t for you, give them options that would really make you smile and that you’re sure not to return. There are lots of options out there to let your creativity run wild. Have fun and happy registering!
