Wedding Photography on a Budget

Wedding photography prices vary depending on what you need from your photographer, their experience and skill level. There are other factors that need to be considered, and before you choose to skimp on your wedding photographer rather than , say the flowers or the food, consider how important it is for you to  have top quality wedding photos. Where is it on your priority list?

There are two basic styles of wedding photography. There is photojournalistic wedding photography, which will be a little more creative and likely cost a little more. The photographer will be an expert at capturing important moments without requiring you to pose every few minutes.

Classic wedding photography will include primarily posed shots and will not capture too much of the action on your wedding day. You photos will have more traditional pictures of all the main parts of your wedding, like the cutting of the cake, first dance and perhaps table shots of your guests.

You can manage great quality wedding photography on a budget. The key thing is to shop around for a photographer. You want to like (or even love) their work when you flip through their portfolio. Ask if their rates are flexible when it comes time for you to order your prints. Will you receive all of the shots on CD after you have paid in full?

When your big day is over, you will want to have a beautiful collections of photos to look at for years to come. Make sure you don’t sacrifice quality for savings.

The following video has tips for finding the right photographer for your big day and some thoughts on why you may not want to skimp on the photography.

Dress Shopping with the iBridalGown iPhone App

Finding the perfect bridal gown just got a whole lot easier.

If you are struggling to keep an organized, detailed record of countless  dresses you’ve tried on, you are probably  frustrated and wishing there was an easier way to keep track of everything.

The iBridalGown application for your iPhone or iPod Touch was created by a bridal salon owner who understands how complex it can be to keep the gowns you like best straight in your mind and recorded on paper. This app was designed to take away that frustration and help you enjoy shopp0ing for your wedding gown.

iBridalGown for your iPhone allows you to do exactly what you need to do. You need to be able to carry all of your information about every dress you are considering with you. You need to be able  to show your friend pictures of you in these gowns, compare prices, quality and style all in one place.

Or you could just pick a dress in a single afternoon shopping outing, but we know that isn’t likely!

If you can pick a dress that easily, the you don’t need this app for your iPhone! Save your money for another wedding expense.

If you are the type of bride who needs to try on every wedding dress in the city – and perhaps the surrounding cities, you need this. It will be well worth the minimal investment to have a record of everything in the palm of your hand.  Even if you fall somewhere in between in your needs, this can still help simplify your dress shopping experience.

From their site:

“You can even use the iPhone’s camera to take one or more pictures of the gown and save it along with the rest of the information. Your favorite dresses are stored in an easy-to-navigate list, from which you can view the details, pictures, and even get directions to the bridal salon!”

Are there other choices  for wedding gown shopping applications in the app store? Of course, but this app has the top ratings and offers the most (in my opinion) that brides can actually use effectively to take some of the pain out of choosing a dress.

4 Unique Manhattan Wedding Venues

Everything you can imagine or dream of is at your fingertips when you are planning a wedding in New York City. You will not be short on choices, in fact, you may find your self with too many choices!  Wedding venues in NY are diverse. Have a very clear picture of what you want your wedding day to look like, or start touring facilities and see what feels good to you!

Here are 4 Manhattan wedding venues that are a little different than the standard ballroom reception sites and have that unmistakable NYC flair.

620 Loft and Garden: Outdoor wedding space in Midtown Manhattan is rare and sought after.

Indoor Space at 620 Loft and Garden

Tribeca Rooftop Offering incredible panoramic views and classic New York style:

Top Deck at Seamen’s Church Institute Located on a original cobblestone street in South Street Seaport, this unique wedding venue appears to be a modern day ship moored  at a historic 19th century pier.

The New York Public Library: This NYC historic landmark offers a dramatic wedding venue:

Take your time searching for the  perfect wedding venue for your needs.  What is most important to you? The perfect location or the view of the river?  Do you want a space that can accommodate 50 people of 250? Will you hold the ceremony and reception all  in one place? What’s more important to you, drama or comfort? Space for dancing or ideal space for photos? Thinking through these points will help you narrow down your choices and find the wedding venue that is just right!

7 Tips for Planning a Green Wedding

Your wedding day is a perfect time to express your love and commitment to the planet  while you are celebrating  the beginning of your new life together as a couple.

Are you searching for way to have a eco-friendly, greener wedding day? Reducing the carbon footprint of a major event is not as difficult as you might think. There are many little things that you can do to make your wedding greener without sacrificing style, busting up your budget or disappointing your guests.

Here are 7 little things you can do to have a green wedding:

1. Shorten your guest list. This one step will save you money and reduce the carbon footprint of your wedding on every level. You will reduce travel and consumption on everything from food to centerpieces.
2. Buy locally grown food and  flowers. Buy in season flowers that don’t need to be shipped from afar. The very greenest option is to eliminate or reduce the use of flowers in your decorations. (I know, that’s a tough one!)
3. Pass on the paper plates, cups and disposable cutlery. If you don’t have enough Reusable dishes and cutlery are the greenest choice, but if your need to supplement, try compostable dishes  and utensils made from potato starch.
4. Look for a caterer who specializes in organic, sustainable food choices.
5. Consider sending e-invites instead of paper. Request that your  guests  reply by email. If paper is a necessity, opt for hemp or recycled invitations.
6. Register for gifts with care. Select only items you truly need and will use in the long term. Offer an option for your guests to make a donation to your favorite environmental charity instead of, or in addition to a gift.
7. Hold your ceremony and reception all in one place. This will cut back on the transportation for all of your guests and save you money transporting the bridal party!

As you plan your green wedding, consider how each and every decision you make will effect the planet. It is amazing how helpful it is to make a few simple changes to your plans. You will be so glad that you did!

3 Ways to Organize your Guest List

After much discussion and consideration, you have finally completed your guest list. You’ve taken the time to figure out how many guests you would like at your wedding and how many you can afford to have attend.  You are ready to order your invitations.

Are you organized?

Do you have all of your guests full names, addresses and phone numbers in one easily accessible place for future reference?

How do you plan to keep track of your guest list – which you will need to refer back to throughout the planning process?

Here are a few tips to help organize your guest list:

1. Use a template or design your own spreadsheet. Ensure you have potential guests’ full name and address entered.  If you are missing information, ask your mom or a bridesmaid to help you make the calls to fill in the blanks.
2. In your spreadsheet setup columns to keep track of who has responded to the invitations, a column for meal choice, and a column to check off when you have sent your thank you note after the wedding.
3. Keep your list up to date. As you approach the big day this information will be essential for finalizing plans with the caterers, setting up the seating plan and ordering wedding favors. Keeping your list updated will prevent you from making any costly mistakes.

If you are considering setting up a personal wedding website, you may want to select a site that provides you with custom guest list organization.  Some sites will even allow your guests to RSVP and it will automatically do the updates for you. This is a great time saver that is worth looking in to!

Watch for a post here at Best Wedding Days about choosing the best personal wedding website including reviews of both free and premium sites – coming soon!

Write Your Own Wedding Vows

Writing your own wedding vows may seem like a terrifying task at first. There are a few things that  you can do if you are stuck and need a little push to get started.

*Before taking the time to write your own wedding vows, check with the officiant of your wedding, as well as your fiance to be certain that custom vows are appropriate for your ceremony. Some religions require that you use their traditional vows, although they may permit you to add a few words of your own.*

Tips for Writing your own Wedding Vows:

• Research: If you don’t know what to say, but you want your vows to be unique and special, look at what other people have done. Consider using classic passages of poetry or quotations from classical literature.
• Ask Yourself Questions:  Have a seat. Get comfortable. What do you love most about your future spouse? What do you enjoy doing together? What did you think when you first met him /her? What impressed you most – his eyes, her smile, his laugh, her sense of humor? Take this opportunity to tell your fiance how you feel and make them feel treasured and beloved.
• Make a List: Compile all of your thoughts from the above questions into a list. Make the list as long as you can. You can edit it and use only the best, warmest or touching parts in your vows. Save the list to give to your spouse at a later date (it make a sweet gift)!
• Personalize Traditional Vows: If you are still feeling stuck in composing your vows and putting it all together, try reviewing traditional vows and making them your own by adding a few points from your list above.
• Read it Aloud: Do you think you have something you like? Try reading it aloud a few times to see how it feels to day he words and how it sounds.  Edit your personal vows a little more if needed.

Keep in mind that your custom wedding vows do not have to sound like they were written by a master writer. Sometimes simply  expressed, sweet emotions mean the most and will be easily remembered.

How to Save Money on your Wedding Invitations

If you are working with a tight wedding budget, invitations are a great place to cut costs without sacrificing quality or style. Comparison shopping and cutting back on the extras will save you money and simplify the process.

1. Shop Carefully. Get a clear idea of what you want and then look for wedding invitations that are similar in style or meet your specifications at discount stores, Costco or online outlets. You may be able to find exactly what you want shopping online for significantly less.
2. Consider eco-friendly options. Request that your guests reply via email or go entirely paperless with e-vites. Set up a free website for your wedding and allow guest to reply there, make their meal choice and get directions and hotel information. This small green effort will save paper, time and the cost  of mailing these resources.
3. Simplify. Choose a simple, but elegant design for your invitations and eliminate the extra envelope and layered papers. You will save on the cost of the  invitations and the additional postage.
4. Check Postage. Check the size and weight of your wedding invitations to make sure they can be sent with a regular first class stamp. If you have a huge guest list, the postage can really add up quickly! For more information check the US Post Office for postage rates.

Do you have any money saving suggestions? Please let us know in the comments below. Good luck and have fun finding beautiful wedding invitations at a great price!

Traditional Wedding Vows

Have you chosen your wedding vows yet? It is a big decision for many couples and often one that gets put off until the last minute.

If you are unsure about what you want to say, or are very uncomfortable with writing your vows yourself, traditional wedding vows  may be the best choice for your wedding.

Traditional wedding vows are classic and elegant.

Here are some samples of traditional wedding vows:

1. I (___) take thee (____) to be my lawfully wedded (husband/wife), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health till death do us part.

2. I (name) take you (name) to be my beloved (wife/husband), to have and to hold you, to honor you to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times and in the bad, to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.

Remember, these are your wedding vows! If you are going to say these vows and mean them, you should certainly be comfortable with  what you are saying as well as the meaning of each and every word. You can personalize traditional wedding vows to make your ceremony unique. Just make slight changes, yet still maintain the traditional and memorable expressions.

5 Ways to Reduce Wedding Planning Stress

Some couples love planning their wedding. It’s all fun and exciting and they agree on everything. Lucky for them, huh? Not all couples have it so easy. Future in-laws may be involved in the planning, (or want to be) and depending on your budget, it is possible that you are constantly compromising what you want and getting just a little cranky about it. Trying to pick a band or the main courses for the reception can become a full out war. Trust me, this is not a battle worth getting into, but if you find yourself there, stay calm, breath deeply and set your boundaries.

I know you have a lot of people that you have to please, and they all want something different from you.  Do you have what you need? It is not about them. It’s just not. And if you need to mention that to someone making demands along the way, I suggest you do – in a calm, gentle way, of course.

Keep in mind this is your wedding – not your best friends, not some Hollywood diva – you’re wedding. To reduce wedding stress, don’t compare your plan to other weddings you have been to or watched on TV.  Make it unique. Let it reflect who you and your fiance are. Forget about all the expectations. Will you have a good time at your wedding if it is some one else’s dream?

Wedding Planning Stress: The Budget

Is your budget the number one source of stress for you? Let some of the extras go and focus on making the most essential parts of the wedding exactly what you want. Go smaller with the centerpieces, eliminate the raw bar or chocolate fountain or anything not completely essential to you enjoying your day.  A simple wedding can be beautiful and classic. Keep things simple and you will eliminate the stress – both financial and mental – and your guests just may feel more relaxed and enjoy themselves more.

Tips to Reduce Wedding Planning Stress

The following a re a few things to keep in mind when wedding planning stress is getting you down:

1. Learn to compromise. I am not saying give in on the details you care about most. I’m telling you to prioritize. Compromise on the parts of your wedding that don’t make your top five list.

2. Stop comparing. This will be your day. It doesn’t need to be like anyone elses.

3. Remember, this is supposed to be fun. Planning you wedding can be fun as long as you don’t let every little detail drive you crazy! I’m not saying that the small details aren’t important. I’m saying that your sanity (and your relationship) are more important!

4. Take a Break! Chances are, most of the wedding stress you are feeling is self-imposed. Give yourself a break when you need it. Everything will not fall apart if you take a day off from your planning!

5. Keep love first. Remember what this event is about. It is a celebration of your love! Don’t let your desire for the dream wedding overshadow the significance of what you are doing. You are commiting your life to the person you love. Keep that the focal point in your wedding planning – and in your life!

Wedding Guest Books

Wedding guest books started their purpose as a book to help couples remember those who attended the wedding, and to get thank-you notes sent out. However, today a wedding guest book has a deeper and more sentimental value than it used to years ago. A wedding guest book can be prominently displayed in your house after the wedding to show off your memories of your very special day.

At most weddings, the guest book is in a place that is close to the entrance, such as at the reception or where the wedding is held. You do not want to have the book block anything, such as the gift area, so placing it right is important. Some couples appoint a member of the wedding party or a family member to keep an eye on the book. They will then ensure that all the guests sign their name, as well as write a few words of well wishes. If desired, this person can also carry the wedding guest book around to ensure everyone has a chance to sign it.

Traditional methods worked well for the guest book in the past, but sometimes this book would get put in storage or put away in the attic or basement, never to be seen again. Unfortunately, this means the wedding couple wouldn’t have the chance to see beautiful memories of their guests to share with each other.

Many brides and even grooms look for a beautiful guest book to set out for their family and friends to sign so that they can keep these memories alive for years to come. While years ago this was just a way to keep things straight, nowadays a wedding guest book has become a beautiful home decoration. What you can do is only limited by what you can imagine.

Many couples realize that things can get a little hectic during both the wedding and the reception. So with this in mind, they may choose to enclose little note cards when they send out their invitations, along with a beautiful customized pen. These pens can be made with the couple’s name and wedding date on them. Guests are encouraged to fill these cards out with their names and special notes to bring to the wedding. They can then be collected in a basket for just that purpose. Many guests like this because they can take the time to think of a special message.

Some couples also use video cameras and Polaroid pictures to commemorate the event. The video camera is taken from guest to guest for capturing congratulations on tape. Polaroid’s can be taken of everyone, and then signed by that person, to go into a pretty book for later viewing.

A wedding guest book is just one of the many wonderful and unique ideas to keep your memories alive from this terrific day. You and your significant other can definitely find something to make your day as special as possible.

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