Congratulations; Katie & Shawn, April 27th, 2013
Felt Like A Royal Wedding
I have to say, I’m pretty confident with my skills as a photographer, but I still get a little butterflies, especially before a wedding. Because I know how important every image I create will be. I like to think this helps me push myself and stay on top of my game.
Of course I’ve photographed events before where even an 89 year old grandma with an iPhone could bust out a dozen good photos and this was very much the case for Katie & Shawn’s wedding. As the day started I just couldn’t help but fall backwards into amazing photo ops.
At one point during the ceremony I literally felt like I needed to do a double take after looking at a couple of shots I took. It was like a royal wedding; Katie in an spectacular dress, the gold plated wall behind the alter at the Mission Basilica in San Juan Capistrano and the Shawn in his Air Force dress uniform. And I hadn’t even seen the finishing touches put on the reception area yet.
I was briefly afraid as images were almost coming to easy and I knew there were probably hundreds of other professionals who would have bent over backwards to photograph this wedding, which was one more reason I was really touched that Katie had asked me if I would shoot her wedding before she really even had the wedding date set.
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Don’t forget to like or follow me Facebook / Twitter /Google +
Congratulations: Jackie & Jason, March 24th, 2012
First Wedding of 2012; No Wild Horses
As far as March weddings go in Chicago, you can’t complain about 68 degrees and overcast, unless of course the last 12 days had been sunny and 80 degrees, but as most couples will tell you, the day goes by so fast with so much emotion, it would take a natural disaster to make you anything south of happy.
Part of my process of getting to know a couple, I often ask how they met, how did you propose and so on. Jackie & Jason have to have one of the more interesting stories I’ve heard and I’m sure the set backs would have had them prepared if there was another “Snowpocalypse” this year on their wedding day. To keep this brief, Jason had basically planned to pop the question at a picnic they were having while horse riding. As the couple made the trek from the Chicago burbs to downstate Illinois, Jason’s truck had a mechanical problem which essentially forced him to drive no faster than 45 miles an hour. This trip can take up to 3 to 4 hour trip at normal speeds. Finally on their picnic, it’s almost go time for Jason, and one of the horses comes undone and runs away.
As I’m sure you’ve guessed, Jason didn’t take this as an ominous sign and went through with his proposal.
The ceremony took place at Ascension of our Lord in Oakbrook Terrace. We made a stop at a local park for some informal portraits and then made our way to the Carriage Green Country Club in Darien, ironically the site of the reception for the last wedding I photographed.
Not that I’ve ever had to say different, but it was a pleasure shooting their wedding. Jason is an all around stand-up guy and Jackie, is a breath of fresh air with a contagious smile.
Congratulations once again.
Getting ready to tie the knot.
I always take care of my grooms too. You want a photo riding your Harley on your wedding day? Done. Not sure about letting one of the groomsmen drive my truck, but oh well. Got the shot.
Bridesmaids relaxing before the reception.
A littler fakery on the toss.
See more photos on my pages on Facebook and Google Plus
15 Questions for a Wedding Photographer #15; Choosing Between Black & White
15 Questions Brides Want to Know About Wedding Photography #2
One of the interesting parts of being a professional in a field for a while is you get requests from the media for comment on events, or topics relevant to that field. Recently I was asked to answer some questions for an upcoming book geared towards future brides.
I was one of several professionals who were asked questions specifically for wedding photography, so I don’t think I’ll be spoiling anything by revealing my answers, since I’m sure they’ll use others for some of the 15 answers, plus I wasn’t asked anything about catering, or how to preform a traditional religious ceremony.
I’ll be sure to post up link when the book is published, but for now I’ll be spreading the questions and my answers (plus maybe a little extra) out over the next 15 days.
Question #15
Is it possible to get black and white photographs as well as color photographs, or do couples typically have to decide between one or the Other?
Any photo taken in color can be changed to black & white with ease in the digital age. My web galleries allow couples to order photos in B&W, or a slew of other color shades if the photo was originally taken in color.
Choosing black & white for this photo was an easy call. The drab decore in the bathroom didn't do anything for the image and the purple dress was a distraction from some nice lines in the photo.
I've always been a bit torn on this image to go black & white because I like the small pop of yellow color, not to mention the image has a B&W feel to it even in color, but its the extra colors over the bride's hands that made me do it. The best part about most print ordering services today is you can do either as long as the original was shot in color.
Coming up tomorrow
Bonus Questions
I take a look at a couple of key questions I think were missed in my interview
Previous Questions
#14 Do prices typically vary for off-season or weekday weddings?
15 Questions for a Wedding Photographer #14; Off-season pricing
15 Questions Brides Want to Know About Wedding Photography #2
One of the interesting parts of being a professional in a field for a while is you get requests from the media for comment on events, or topics relevant to that field. Recently I was asked to answer some questions for an upcoming book geared towards future brides.
I was one of several professionals who were asked questions specifically for wedding photography, so I don’t think I’ll be spoiling anything by revealing my answers, since I’m sure they’ll use others for some of the 15 answers, plus I wasn’t asked anything about catering, or how to preform a traditional religious ceremony.
I’ll be sure to post up link when the book is published, but for now I’ll be spreading the questions and my answers (plus maybe a little extra) out over the next 15 days.
Question #14
Do prices typically vary for off-season or weekday weddings?
Yes, but not by much. You’re still paying for talent and experience and that doesn’t change with the weather. Neither does the insurance & maintenance on the equipment, along with advertising, light bills and the cost of the album to the photographer all stay the same in December as they do in June. Typically you can see 10%, sometimes more, but don’t expect to see 50% off. Last minute weddings can also see a discount since photographers know the likelihood of booking an open wedding date just a month or two out is rare.
If you are getting married when there's a good chance snow will be on the ground, or the middle of summer in a southern climate, chances are you might get a discount, but don't go looking for half-off Groupon style deals.
Coming up tomorrow
Question #15
Is it possible to get black and white photographs as well as color photographs, or do couples typically have to decide between one or the Other?
#13 What equipment should a wedding photographer have?
15 Questions for a Wedding Photographer #12; Determining Your Budget for Photography
15 Questions Brides Want to Know About Wedding Photography #2
One of the interesting parts of being a professional in a field for a while is you get requests from the media for comment on events, or topics relevant to that field. Recently I was asked to answer some questions for an upcoming book geared towards future brides.
I was one of several professionals who were asked questions specifically for wedding photography, so I don’t think I’ll be spoiling anything by revealing my answers, since I’m sure they’ll use others for some of the 15 answers, plus I wasn’t asked anything about catering, or how to preform a traditional religious ceremony.
I’ll be sure to post up link when the book is published, but for now I’ll be spreading the questions and my answers (plus maybe a little extra) out over the next 15 days.
Question #12
How should a couple determine their wedding photography budget?
There is no magic number here. It’s really about how important photography is to the couple and it can also come down to what a couple wants from their wedding photography. I tell each couple there are three things that last after your wedding; the rings, the photos and your love for one another. Basically nobody is going to remember in a year if you had the top shelf liquor at your wedding, but you’ll remember if you didn’t get the best photographer you could afford, so it really should be the last place you try to save money at.
Coming up tomorrow
Question #13
What equipment should a wedding photographer have?
Previous Questions
#11 What should a couple beware of with certain wedding photographers?
15 Questions for a Wedding Photographer #10; What to look for in a Photographer
15 Questions Brides Want to Know About Wedding Photography #2
One of the interesting parts of being a professional in a field for a while is you get requests from the media for comment on events, or topics relevant to that field. Recently I was asked to answer some questions for an upcoming book geared towards future brides.
I was one of several professionals who were asked questions specifically for wedding photography, so I don’t think I’ll be spoiling anything by revealing my answers, since I’m sure they’ll use others for some of the 15 answers, plus I wasn’t asked anything about catering, or how to preform a traditional religious ceremony.
I’ll be sure to post up link when the book is published, but for now I’ll be spreading the questions and my answers (plus maybe a little extra) out over the next 15 days.
Question #10
What should a couple look for in a wedding photographer?
The first thing they should look for is an actual photographer. Photography is an art, you shouldn’t first talk to a sales person, then meet your photographer after you picked your package. Once you find a photographer who’s work you like, find out if you like the photographer. I tell couples all the time, if you like my price & my portfolio, but don’t like me… Walk away. You’ll be with your photographer more than any other person on your wedding day and if you don’t feel you have a connection, think twice about booking them.
In the era of online reviews I have had less & less requests for referrals from my past couples. While chances are a photographer isn’t going to refer you to a person who had a less than perfect experience, you’ll still be able to get a feel from the little details in the conversation. If someone you know gives you a good review about the photographer they used, look into it even if it’s a little over your budget. Better to pay 10-15% more on a photographer with a personal referral than to have bad photos.
- Word of mouth is often the best way to find a photographer. If you have a photographer personally recommended by someone treat it like a golden ticket.
Coming up tomorrow
Question #11
What should a couple beware of with certain wedding photographers?
Previous Questions
#9 At what point in the wedding planning process should a couple book a wedding photographer?
15 Questions for a Wedding Photographer #8; Price Gap Between Photographers
15 Questions Brides Want to Know About Wedding Photography #8
One of the interesting parts of being a professional in a field for a while is you get requests from the media for comment on events, or topics relevant to that field. Recently I was asked to answer some questions for an upcoming book geared towards future brides.
I was one of several professionals who were asked questions specifically for wedding photography, so I don’t think I’ll be spoiling anything by revealing my answers, since I’m sure they’ll use others for some of the 15 answers, plus I wasn’t asked anything about catering, or how to preform a traditional religious ceremony.
I’ll be sure to post up link when the book is published, but for now I’ll be spreading the questions and my answers (plus maybe a little extra) out over the next 15 days.
Question #8
Why is there such a large price range among different wedding photographers?
Talent and advertising. Some of the best photographers have a following where brides know they want to use them, even when they are still single. Those photographers can start around $10,000 to $15,000. A lot of amateur photographers with regular weekday jobs are trying to make side money on the weekends, so they can survive on just $300-$500 a couple of times a year. Most professional photographers haven’t reached that rarified air of the $15,000 wedding photographer and would go dead broke charging $500 a wedding. In a market like Chicago which has over 700 listed wedding photographers, advertising is a must to stay ahead and that often means between $200 to $1,000 a month to be listed in magazines & web sites. The Knot.com <http://Knot.com> alone costs a photographer $250 a month just for a basic listing (not the front page).
Coming up tomorrow
Question #9
At what point in the wedding planning process should a couple book a wedding photographer?
Previous Questions
#7 What is the customary deposit to put down, to reserve a photographer for adate? When is the balance typically due?
15 Questions for a Wedding Photographer #4; Photo Proofs
15 Questions Brides Want to Know About Wedding Photography #2
One of the interesting parts of being a professional in a field for a while is you get requests from the media for comment on events, or topics relevant to that field. Recently I was asked to answer some questions for an upcoming book geared towards future brides.
I was one of several professionals who were asked questions specifically for wedding photography, so I don’t think I’ll be spoiling anything by revealing my answers, since I’m sure they’ll use others for some of the 15 answers, plus I wasn’t asked anything about catering, or how to preform a traditional religious ceremony.
I’ll be sure to post up link when the book is published, but for now I’ll be spreading the questions and my answers (plus maybe a little extra) out over the next 15 days.
Question #4
What is a proof and what are the advantages of the different types of Proofing?
A “proof” is traditionally a slightly corrected image printed out for a couple to preview before purchasing as a larger image, or including it in an album. With the advent of digital most proofs now consist as a web gallery where a couple can order, view or share photos from. If your photographer is going to place images from your wedding in a web gallery, but is offering a proof book as well, see if you can get a discount for not getting a proof book, as this is really a hold over from the days of film, before the internet and may be a hidden cost in your wedding package.
- If you have a digital gallery (web or DVD) having a book of printed proofs is a waste of money.
Coming up tomorrow
Question #5
What are the pros and cons of hiring two wedding photographers to take pictures at a wedding, as compared to only having one photographer taking Pictures?
Previous Questions
#3 Is it better to book a wedding photographer who uses film or digital equipment?
15 Questions for a Wedding Photographer #3; Film or digital
15 Questions Brides Want to Know About Wedding Photography #3
One of the interesting parts of being a professional in a field for a while is you get requests from the media for comment on events, or topics relevant to that field. Recently I was asked to answer some questions for an upcoming book geared towards future brides.
I was one of several professionals who were asked questions specifically for wedding photography, so I don’t think I’ll be spoiling anything by revealing my answers, since I’m sure they’ll use others for some of the 15 answers, plus I wasn’t asked anything about catering, or how to preform a traditional religious ceremony.
I’ll be sure to post up link when the book is published, but for now I’ll be spreading the questions and my answers (plus maybe a little extra) out over the next 15 days.
Question #3
Is it better to book a wedding photographer who uses film or digital equipment?
The main difference between film and digital is the look and feel of an image created with one, or the other. I tend to shoot both at weddings, but at the end of the day though it really doesn’t matter anymore, most couples will still be printing the same amount of photos to hang on their wall and they may only see a real difference in their wedding album. If you are going with a photographer who shoots only film I suggest that you do so only with a seasoned professional. Film is not for the faint of heart. Their is a reason photography has become so popular now days and that reason is because even with a point you really need to know what you’re doing.
The top right & bottom left photos were shot on film, the other two were shot digitally. The matching images were both taken within a minute of two of each other and similar settings.
Coming up tomorrow
Question #4
What is a proof and what are the advantages of the different types of Proofing?
Previous Questions
#2 Why do wedding photographers copyright the pictures they take at weddings? Is this common?
Congratulation: Stacy & Anthony 9-10-11
Family Wedding
Besides the fact it was nice to actually be sitting at a table with family instead of complete strangers at the reception. In all the years I have been a photographer, the one thing I have never done was photograph a family member’s wedding. I’m the oldest of 13 grandkids from my mother’s side of the family alone and Stacy is only the third one of us to tie the knot. With 10 more to go, I’m sure this won’t be the last wedding.
I’m delighted Stacy found such a standup guy in Anthony and it was great to be involved in her wedding in some capacity, since I was the ring bearer in her father’s wedding (my uncle).
Gettig ready.
Waiting for the limo bus to come.
On the way to the church. Weather is looking good.
Hnagin' with the groomsmen before the wedding.
The map for the bussel looked liked a map for disarming a bomb, but Stacy's bridesmaids came through.
Molly gave a great toast for her big sister.
First dance.
For a complete gallery of images & to purchase photos from this wedding, visit my web gallery
(Please contact the couple if the gallery is password protected)
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Preview of Posts to Come
Things got a little stormy at the end of Kate & Alex's wedding this summer, but they managed to miss bad weather. My advice & tips might not be able to stop storm clouds, but it could help you avoid disasters at your wedding.
It was a busy wedding season and I haven’t been posting as many tips and advice for couples about to get married, but there are a bunch of things lined up.
•Things to look out for with group photos
•Google for weddings
•Why you have a better eye for photos than your photographer
•Tips for the Groom
Plus ways to make your wedding more image friendly.
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Congratulation: Tara & Irvine, Aug. 28th, 2011
Royal Wedding with Princesses
Tara & Irvine got married at what I think is one of the most spectacular churches in the Chicago area; Rockefeller Chapel, on the campus on the University of Chicago. If you’re not familiar with it, that might be because it’s located in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the city’s south side, at a school many get confused with UIC.
The view from the choir loft at Rockefeller Chapel.
I was extremely excited to photograph this wedding for two reasons, first, while I’ve photographed couples in and around the chapel, I’ve never actually shot a wedding there. Second, Tara, runs the home daycare that my son attends and her and her family are wonderful. Their two little girls adorable and the three of them together were like princesses with Irvine in a church that reminds me of a recent royal wedding.
Tara & Irvine's first dance.
I had to throw this one in because it makes me smile.
The groom and his princesses.
(Please contact the couple if the gallery is password protected)
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Congratulations: Kate & Alex July 23rd, 2011
Surrounded by ArtKate & Alex, tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at the Smart Museum of Art, on the University of Chicago’s campus in the Hyde Park neighborhood. It’s a location I’m very familiar with, since I am an artist and the museum is only 5 blocks from my home, I’m there quite often (my son on a recent trip there, you may recognize the painting from the ring photo top left).
The couple and their guests were truly in luck, as gloomy morning skies gave way to clear blue and sunny. While the reception and ceremony were held outside, the museum was open to all guests and the ketubah signing & cocktail hour were held inside the museum, allowing for a unique backdrop for any event.
I love the similarities between this painting and Kate & Alex.
I've seen very few weddings that don't have just a little bit of drama or an interesting side story. This photo below is part of a search for the wedding bands after they come undone from the ring bear's pillow. As a former two time ring bearer myself, my heart went out to the little guy as family & the bridal party searched for them. And yes they were found.
One of the few places in the museum which is sans art, is the handicap access ramp from the lobby to the museum floor. I took this photo as the couple made their way to a small table for appetizers and some alone time just after their ceremony.
Toasts and speeches can be one of the least exciting parts of a wedding reception, but I have to give it up to the groom, for really giving a great thank speech to his family and guests. It was warm and heartfelt and given flawlessly without a single note, or cue card read.
The wedding ended at midnight, but not before some lightning showed up.
Wedding guests dance in the open air garden at the Smart Museum under a lightning storm.
(Please contact the couple if the gallery is password protected)
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Wedding Stories; Great Speeches, Angela & Ben
An Amazing Wedding Speech
[Angela, please correct me if I've gotten any part of this story wrong]
It’s no secret, weddings are extremely joyous & emotional events. Especially for the friends and family that are involved with the couple.
You’ve got a quivering bottom lip from the father of the bride as he walks his darling little girl down the aisle, a stuttering groom as he recites his vows and of course what wedding is complete with out tears from the mother of the groom and crying bridesmaids.
Seeing over a dozen or more weddings a year I don’t often get choked up, so I tend to remember the one, or two times it does happen. I find it a little funny, as earlier in the day I had mentioned this fact to Angela (the bride), and thinking about it now, I can picture her saying in the back of her mind “Oh. I’ve got something for you later”. That is assuming she knew how emotional the room would be.
Angela was the last to give a speech that night and the story she would tell would be set up perfectly by her father, whom had mentioned in his speech about Angela’s issue of not being noticed by, or being able to find the right kind of man.
Angela, continued on with this story as she took the mic. Explaining that she was depressed about not finding that one true love. So one night she sat down and started writing love letters/poems to this yet unknown man who she was sure was out there, in hopes of one day being able to give them to him.
Admitting that the whole idea sounded like something a crazy person would do, she then produced one of the poems and read it aloud in front of everybody and to Ben, for the first time.
As Angela, read her poem, she cried and sniffled through quite a bit of it, but finished strong in a giant embrace with her new soul mate.
To say there were very few dry eyes in the house would be an understatement. My own eyes were filled partially with tears and I had that dry feeling in the back of my throat. It was a wonderful moment and I was glad they allowed me to be the person to photograph it all.
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Photojournalism at Your Wedding
With an open door policy, the First United Methodist Church is a resting place for some of the city’s homeless.
I’ve heard stories of wedding photographers who’ve had car accidents, fires, or other news worthy type events take place at them, but luckily for the couples & myself, most if not all of the weddings I’ve photographed have gone off without a hitch.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t moments where I see things that tell other stories outside, or intersecting with the narrative of the wedding, what those of us in journalism might call a feature story. So I just thought I’d share this really quick post about two of those moments that happened at the wedding of Laura & Chris.
The First United Methodist Church, is right in the middle of downtown Chicago. It’s a beautiful wood lined church with stained glass windows on the first floor of what looks like an office building, and like some churches they have a policy of welcoming anyone to come in and stay for awhile. This often means homeless or transient people will find a safe place on hot and cold days. They are asked to leave before the ceremony starts, but I was early and was able to take this image before the bride & groom even arrived.
The First United Methodist Church is a frequent stop along the way for many downtown walking tours.
Also, because of the beauty of the building and it’s two chapels (there is a sky chapel as well), it is a frequent stop on some downtown walking tours. This group happen to be touring the second floor art gallery, where the bride and groom were waiting till the ceremony began on the first floor.
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Congratulations Meredith & Joe; June 26th, 2011
A Midsummer Night’s Wedding
Meredith and Joe, were married at the Millburn Church in Lake Villa and celebrated afterwords at the Lehman Mansion. Both beautiful locations that played along nicely with the theme of a Midsummer’s Night.
Accessories for the bridal and flower girl.
Getting ready.
Walking down the aisle with dad. The view from the balcony. Meredith & Joe walking down the aisle as husband and wife.
Meredith’s dress was beautiful with hundreds of flower pedal like fabric attached, her dress seemed to float when ever she moved about.
The introduction of Meredith & Joe.
Dancing under the stars and spot lights outdoors at the Lehman Mansion.
To see more images from this wedding visit my Facebook page.
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Congratulations Laura & Chris; June 18th, 2011
Poetic Wedding
If there was one thing I couldn’t stop thinking throughout the wedding day of Laura & Chris, was that I needed to know more poets.The couple met via a love for poetry and their wedding day showed a similar theme of love for the spoken word.
Their wedding day played out much like a well rehearsed poem, from the magnificent stained glass and wood of the First United Methodist Church in the heart of downtown Chicago, to the private room at Jak’s Tap in the near west side. Even forecasted thunderstorms avoided them the entire day.
A view from the balcony at the First United Methodist Church.
A view of the Church from Daley Plaza (l to r), Laura’s wedding dress, the wedding bands.
Laura & Chris shared their first dance to live guitar played by a friend.
Click Here to view more photos on my Facebook page.
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My Photos Profiled in Wedding Day Magazine
If you happen to live in the Northern Indiana area. Pickup a copy of Wedding Day Magazine and flip to page 88 and read the story of Deborah & Whitney’s wedding, complimented with the Photography of Vincent David Johnson.
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Online Vendor Reviews
If your vendors had your more upset than bad weather on your wedding day, let others know.Have you ever been out to a restaurant, only to leave so upset about the food quality, or service that you rushed right to your computer to give a them a bad review on sites like Yelp.com, Metromix.com or Citysearch.com?
While it may be little consolation after having a bad wedding experience, some of these sites actually go beyond eating & drinking establishments and your bad or rave reviews for a vendor may just help sway another unsuspecting couple towards a great vendor as much as it could save them from a bad one. Not to mention give you a little more satisfaction than ranting on Facebook or Twitter.
As a home owner I’m a big user of Angie’s List (a subscriber based rating service). While the site got some hype last year when they started doing medical reviews, I never knew until an issue of their monthly magazine did an article on wedding disasters, that vendors from caterers to photographers are also listed.
So don’t forget after the wedding, post up your own thoughts on everything from your wedding vendors to your reception hall rental. You never know, some vendors check these site frequently and may even be grateful enough to give you a discount on future services (say maybe a photographer throwing in some 8×10′s for free).
Also, if you’re still in the planning stages, don’t overlook using these sites for yourself, or to check on vendors you may already have booked to head off any possible issues that may arise.
On a final note; be wary of what you do put in writing. Especially if you had a particularly bad experience. Stick to the facts and try to keep any emotion out of it. The internet isn’t as wild as it use to be, and liable cases are popping up all over the country. While a vendor might not win a case against you, they could ruin your honeymoon too, if you need to spend money on a lawyer to defend yourself in a liable case. And God forbid if you have to take the vendor to court for breach of contract. If that’s the case, it might be best not to say anything till the trial is over.
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Image Friendly Wedding Tips #4; Classic Car
In this case the groom owned the Mini.
When most of us think of the bride & groom driving away from a wedding, it’s either in a limo, or in their own car (cans on strings from the bumper are optional).
I don’t have anything against limos, or your car, but let’s face it, limos make up for style with size and personal cars in most cases are something most have been hanging onto through college, not really great for photos.
So why not add a little charm and go with a vintage ride?
If you would prefer for the least amount of leg work, go professional. There are companies who rent out vintage cars with drivers, for everything from filming movies to driving around brides & grooms and they usually have several car options to choose from. If you’re in a rural or small urban area, as opposed to a New York or Chicago, you may need to go with this next idea.
If a car rental agency isn’t an option, or you’re on a budget, be sure to check out local car clubs. You might not have a choice of a 1937 Rolls Royce in 3 different colors, but finding classic cars from the 1950’s & 60’s shouldn’t be a problem.
Because this isn’t a full time business, some car owners may not have an exact idea of what to charge, or what will be required of them & their car.
Not that I want you low balling people, but a good dollar amount to start at is between around$100 for an hour or two. Owners who maybe have done this once or twice before may already have a price in mind.
Make sure you specify when & where you’d like the car to be used and who will be in it. Since the purpose of this post is about making better pictures, I’d suggest making sure the owner knows you’d like to be using it as a prop after the ceremony. Make sure you mention everything you have planned. Nothing will sour your mood more than finding out you can’t sit on the top of the rear seat of a convertible as you’re leaving the ceremony.
A few last tips:
- Ask for the car to be at least washed and maybe waxed the day of or before the wedding
- Ask the driver to dress accordingly and in a solid color (preferably black)
Want to see how cool a vintage car can make your wedding photos? Just Google for photos from the recent Royal Wedding where Prince William & Kate Middleton left in an Aston Martin convertible.
Save $$$ on Your Wedding, the Easy Way: Part 1
As someone who was married with in the last decade, I can tell you without a doubt the best way my wife & I could have saved a few hundred dollars, would have been by not spending $15 each on a handful of magazines and putting those $30 or $50 fancy wedding planner style trapper keepers/scrap books back on the shelf at Borders.
A lot if not most of the info in there can easily be found on internet wedding sites, by bloggers and know-it-alls like me. Also, we forget sometimes the best resources are right in front of us. Chances are you know at least a couple of people who have been married in the last few years. Especially if you are younger. If you don’t know any, chance are some one you know does.
While the popping up of sites like Yelp.com, Angieslist.com & the old tried and true Better Business Bureau BBB.org, are all great tools, nothing beats hearing it from people you know and can trust as opposed to possible fake reviews, or overly picky brides.
Be sure to ask “Would you use them again?” instead of just “Did you like them?”, as some couples might have a different budget, different taste and hidden factors like their parents might have been paying some of the bills.
Also, if you are at a wedding take mental notes on how the vendors & their services were. Don’t be afraid to ask to see a couple wedding video or album, most will gladly show them off, but don’t assume if they don’t have it yet it’s the vendors fault. I routinely have couples who take between 4-10 months to get back to me on their albums.
In defense of magazines & planning books, they are way better organized than the vast wedding based internet. Lets face it, there’s a reason we say “It reads like a book”. If you really want your books & magazines, look for freebees. Vendors, Bridal Shows and other places have been know to give them away for free to potential clients (aka the Bride & Groom).
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Wedding Dresses at Costco?
Would you look for, or even buy a wedding dress from Costco?
I have to say it sounds strange, but I shop at Costco all the time and buy name brand items (albeit in bulk) with a nice little discount. My only question is, will brides be ready to give up the pampering they get while “saying yes to the dress”, or paying 60% of the retail price make the cold concrete floors & steel cargo shelves of Costco feel as warm as a boutique.
It will be interesting to see how Costco handles the final point of sale. Will they have a dedicated sales person like they do for cell phones & cigarettes? or will it be like the pile of clothes they currently sell in the middle of the store?
Either way, brides-to-be will find out soon as a partnership with wedding dress designer Kirstie Kelly, will have her Signature collection of wedding dresses on sale at Costco.
A Kirstie Kelly wedding dresses can run as high as $4,000, but it looks like Costco will be selling six different dresses priced between $699- $1,399 (not sure if that $4,000 dress is part of the deal).
Read more here. http://www.wedding-news.co.uk/cash-and-carry-wedding-dresses-at-costco-162000/
Go Beyond the Top 3 Search Results
Finding a wedding vendor that stands out from the background noise isn’t as easy as locating the bride in this photo.
One of my main reason for doing this blog is to help couples plan out the best possible wedding day that they can. For most of us, this is our first (and hopefully only) time we’ll be getting married and even if we’ve recently had a friend or family member who tied the knot, coming across information, or tips from seasoned professionals isn’t always easy to do.
While the internet has put information at a bride’s finger tips, it’s also littered with disinformation as well and companies looking to game the system as much as they possibly can. Especially when it comes to the billion dollar wedding industry.
The tip I have today is basically look past the first page or two of results when looking for a wedding vendor. This stands true for search engine results from the likes of Google, Yahoo, or Bing. As well as vendor lists on sites like The Knot.com, Weddingwire.com & Brides.com. Common sense tells us that in most cases the companies listed at the top are the best, but unless you’ve done some internet marking yourself, you may not realize that all of these vendors are paying and paying big time to get in front of your wedding day eyes. Sites like The Knot can charge close to $4,000 a year just to be listed. Some of the bets photographers I know & don’t know in the wedding business aren’t even listed there.
If you devote a little more time to your search, you’re more likely to find vendors that aren’t paying to be number 1, and are using less of their money on advertising and more on the quality of their product, or staff used for the service part. These vendors aren’t usually high volume and will sometimes be willing to work out a sweeter deal to fill empty calendar dates.
As always, do your due diligence. Read reviews, or testimonials & ask for references from past couples.
Wedding nightmares
I’ve heard all sorts of wedding nightmare stories, although I will admit most of them are actually more like a wedding hiccup than a full blown nightmare. Which is why I think I’ve actually been paying attention to stories I’ve heard or read about brides who had their dresses on hold at Eva’s Bridal shop in Oak Lawn, Il.
If you haven’t heard the story already, Eva’s is a well known dress shop that regularly gets good reviews from it’s brides, but on Nov. 17th, a fire started at the shop and the building went up in flames and the roof came down. I was tempted to write about this before, but I was busy relaunching the blog, so now a few weeks after when I heard the story about Melissa Conley, while listening to the news on the radio, I had to share this story.
It seems that not only was Melissa, one of the brides who’s dress went up in smoke, but another bridal shop lost her bride’s maids dresses and then to top it off the venue she had booked for rehearshal dinner, Harry Caray’s in Wrigleyville, closed down out of the blue.
While one might think how does a bar themed around the former voice of the Chicago Cubs go out of business just block from Wrigley Field? I’d say the real thing to think of is Melissa, if the only issue you have on your wedding day is rain.
Melissa’s story in the Chicago Tribune
Eva’s Bridal story in the Southtown Star
Also, if you are already married and still have your dress, but really don’t foresee it doing anything but hanging out in your closet. Eva’s is taking donations for brides who lost dresses and are in a pinch. Visit their website for more info http://www.evasbridalsofoaklawn.com/
Thunderstorms. That’s the best you can throw at me Mother Nature?
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