1. Do you really want a wedding video? Although friends and family members may be pushing you to memorialize your event in every stunning detail, you might be hesitant for any number of reasons. First, you may have seen examples of wedding videos gone wrong. Although you almost certainly want to capture fond memories of the festivities, you may not be so keen to watch footage of mascara running down your face as you sob through your vows, or your cousin getting drunk and puking on your dress, or a fight between your parents and your new in-laws over the bill. Yeah, it happens. Perhaps you’re just a traditionalist and you’d rather spend your money on a fantastic photographer rather than splitting the budget between photos and video services. Just don’t let anyone push you into video if you’re not comfortable with it.

2. References. You want your special day to be smooth as silk and that means hiring vendors that will relieve your stress and take care of everything. So rather than running through listings in the phone book or online to find a videographer, ask family and friends for referrals. The people you love and trust won’t steer you wrong. But you should still do a consultation to make sure that the vendor you choose offers the services you want and that your personalities mesh.

3. Skill and artistry. Some couples want their wedding to be a serious and traditional affair while others prefer to emulate spring break in Cabo. The point is, each duo has different goals and aesthetics. The trick is to find a videographer who can capture the essence of who you are as a couple and display it in your wedding video. For this reason, it behooves you to see samples that showcase the skill and artistry offered. For example, do the videos look like they came out of a Hollywood studio, or are they something your 12-year-old nephew could make on his laptop? Quality and feeling are both important factors in choosing the right vendor.

4. Price. Most people don’t want to start with a number, but everyone has a budget. So if the cost of services is a major issue you should definitely ask for a price guide before your fall in love with the videographer.

5. Methods of delivery. This modern medium pretty much
demands digital duplication services, but you can probably decide if you want your raw footage and any edited video clips delivered on DVD or via some sort of download. Just make sure that you will have access to ALL of the footage taken so that you have it on hand if you decide you want to do something else with it down the road.

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Things to Consider Before Hiring a Wedding Videographer

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Fun for the Groomsmen: Decorate the Getaway Car

After the flowers have died, the cake has been eaten, the guests have all gone home, and the honeymoon is over, your wedding photos will help keep your happy day alive for you by preserving those magical memories forever. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the rest of the wedding planning, finding an affordable and talented wedding photographer can be a daunting task. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when hunting for the perfect shutterbug.

Can you work well with your prospective photographer? You want your personalities to be compatible, so make sure to find someone you feel comfortable with. You may want to consider asking a close friend or family member to use their skills as a wedding gift. It is important to keep in mind that not just anyone with a camera has the appropriate level of skill to shoot the most important day of your life. Ask to see a portfolio. Examine their aesthetics and style to see if it meshes with your own ideas. You can test the waters by asking the candidate to shoot engagement photos, giving you the opportunity to see how well you work together as well as a chance to measure their talent and test their artistry. However, it is important to remind yourself that if you are going to use an amateur photographer, don’t be surprised if the results don’t live up to your expectations. Hire a professional if it is within your budget.

Ask for recommendations from your friends or family who have recently been married. Comparison shop by visiting local studios and asking to see portfolios. When interviewing a prospective choice, inquire about the types of cameras or special effects they will be able to offer. Make sure to ask if they have backup equipment they can use if their regular set happens to fail at an inopportune moment.

Discuss your budget with the photographer you choose and see if they can work with you if their prices are outside your set cost limit. Make certain that you understand the price package and everything it contains. This includes the actual hours the photographer will be working as well as the time they will spend developing prints after the wedding and creating wedding albums.

Make a list of the specific shots you want before your wedding day. If you can, visit the sites you plan to use with your photographer ahead of time, preferably at roughly the time of day when you intend to shoot. Discuss the time you want your photographer to arrive and the time they will be finished shooting. Little decisions made ahead of time will save you money and energy when you are distracted by enjoying the actual wedding itself.

The biggest regret most people feel after their wedding adventure concludes is that they are not satisfied with the wedding photographs. Investing some time into researching local studios or photographers as well as understanding a bit about how photography works will help you in your quest to find the perfect person to capture your special day.

Sarah Danielson is a contributing writer for Essence Photo and Video, the best in Chicago wedding photography and videography for your special day.

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What to Look for When Hiring a Wedding Photographer

1. Choose a goal. First and foremost, you need to have a basic goal in mind. What are you trying to do with your website? Is it targeted at getting information to friends and family or would you like to reach a larger audience? Do your interests lie in sharing your personal experience or are you looking to help those who are planning their own weddings? Are you hoping to make money, or is the enterprise just for fun? Answering these questions before you start is essential to ensuring that you find the services you need to succeed.

2. Find help. If you’re totally new to the game you’re going to need some outside help to get started, and there are many resources available to you on the worldwide web, including how-to lists, tutorials, and even forums and chat rooms with users that can offer you step-by-step advice on how to proceed. You can check out one or all of these options, depending on your level of familiarity with terminology and web technology in general. But if you have specific questions, forums aimed at website development can likely put you in contact with actual people that can answer them.

3. Choose a web host. This can be a difficult prospect because there are so many options available. But there are a couple of things to consider when choosing a host for your site. Cost is an obvious consideration, and there are plenty of free sites out there that will work great for your average personal site or blog. But if you’re looking to monetize your online operation, you’ll likely need to shell out some money for a reputable web host (one that offers flexible storage options and rarely suffers loss of service, for example). From there you need to consider what kinds of choices they offer in the way of setting things up for you. Some come with templates and tutorials while others expect you to do it all on your own. Doing your homework here could be really helpful in the long run.

4. Pick a name. Of course you’ll have a name in mind, but you need to browse domain names for sale to find a match, and you might not get your first choice. Here, too, you have some options, though. If you’re starting a business then you’ll likely want a dot com, but these can be the most difficult to obtain. However, a personal site that is not aimed at earning could be a dot net or other suffix, which will greatly expand your name options.

5. Build your site. Now it’s time to add the content that will make your site unique, and the easiest way is by using a program (rather than, say, learning HTML or Java on your own). WordPress is a good option for those looking to start a blog, and for a more complex website, consider the old standard, Dreamweaver.

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How to Create Your Own Wedding Website

Whether you are super besties with the bride or the groom or just barely acquainted, you will still want to make sure that your wedding gift is both appropriate and unique. Consider these suggestions for gift options to make their wedding reception magical.

A picture frame. It’s a classic. You know that they’re going to take a million photos and they will need somewhere to put the most special. Plus, if someone else has the same idea, you can safely bet that the happy couple will have a picture just waiting for yours too. To make yours extra unique, you may want to consider having it engraved with the names of the newlyweds with a little message as well.

Wine stoppers. Once the cork has been removed from a bottle of wine it tends to swell, which makes the bottle harder to re-cork. From crystal to stainless steel, these are easily storable souvenirs that many couples will be able to use in the years to come. Pick out a set with their initials, and when they’re celebrating future anniversaries, they’ll think of you!

Or just plain wine. Add to their collection with a variety of vintages. You can also plan ahead by purchasing a bottle that will be best imbibed on their tenth anniversary (or their twentieth … or their fiftieth!). Include some personalized wine glasses.

Bedding. The more luxurious sheets, pillows, and pillowcases you provide, the more they’ll be reminded of the hotel where they spent their honeymoon. Aim for a high thread count.

Luggage. They will probably need some nice new luggage, especially if their honeymoon is somewhere far off in the distance. Even matching totes or two leather duffle bags will give them something fancy and new to bring along, or as storage for carry-on items on the plane.

Food. Send them on their honeymoon with something to munch on, such as a gift basket of cookies or a box of chocolates. Hand-made offers a personal touch they’ll remember.

Scrapbook. The happy couple would love a memento of the entire process, but after the ceremony is over and the honeymoon is done, someone has to send out thank you letters. You can help by collecting any paraphernalia – such as examples of invitations, save-the-date cards, or even some photos from your own collection that document the evolution of the bride and groom’s relationship – and beginning a scrapbook yourself. Make sure to leave a few extra pages so they can continue to work on it or add their own materials.

Candleholders. Personalize them so they can bring them out whenever they’re having a romantic dinner at home … just the two of them. Include candles to get them started.

Matching watches. Remind them that their love is timeless. Go sleek and stylish. You might also consider sweetening the deal by including as part of the package future care and problem-solving. Something like a gift certificate to help with future maintenance, such as Rolex watch repair … just in case.

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The Best Wedding Gifts for the Bride and Groom

1. Los Olivos, California. A lot of couples would love to take in the scenic vistas of Napa Valley, stay at spa resorts, and sample some fine cuisine and vino in northern California’s wine country. But unless you want to spend a lot of money for snobby viticulturists to tell you that you don’t know the first thing about wine, opt for the southerly counterpart: Los Olivos. Located just north of Santa Barbara, the “other” wine country in SoCal can offer you tasting rooms galore. Best of all, they’re manned by experts who are helpful, courteous, and unfailingly pleasant. You can find lodgings and aebleskiver (Danish pancakes) in nearby Solvang and the beach is just a few minutes away.

2. Fiji. If you’re looking for an island paradise that is secluded and romantic, forget about spending $500 a day (on hotels alone) in Hawaii and head to Fiji instead. By booking a package (through Pleasant Holidays, for example) you could get five nights at a spa resort with roundtrip airfare for as little as $1,000-1,400 per person. That’s what you’d pay for lodgings in Hawaii and you’ll get all the white sand and clear surf you can handle in Fiji. Plus, you’ll pay a lot less for food and other amenities.

3. The Philippines. With 7,000 islands to choose from in this chain, you’ll never get bored. And many offer diverse draws, from white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters to rainforests to active (and inactive) volcanos. There are plenty of secluded resorts to tempt young couples in love, the people are warm and welcoming, and the foodie culture means you’ll find loads of fantastic dining. Plus, you can find 9-day, all-inclusive, island-hopping packages for less than $2,000 (U.S.) per person.

4. Costa Rica. This gorgeous Central American country is only just beginning to be seen as a tourist destination. The result is that prices are low, the natural beauty is unspoiled, and there are very few other tourists to contend with, all of which make it an ideal destination for your honeymoon. There are so many beautiful places to stay, but consider an ocean-view bungalow at the Lapa Rios Eco Lodge, which can be yours for four nights for less than $3,000 per couple (not including airfare). Or save some dough by foregoing the nature reserve and opting for more traditional accommodations.

5. The south of France. When it comes to luxury travel, you can find it in spades in this country associated with romance. Unfortunately, you’ll also discover the attendant cost. Luckily, there are ways to save. The southern region of France may be known for the fabulous French Riviera, but traveling inland will net you rolling hills, abundant vineyards, and major savings on lodgings (rent an apartment, look into time shares, or simply stay at a quaint B&B). Then take the train to Paris for a day or two. It’s a great way to get your honeymoon in France without paying an arm and a leg. Just keep an eye on airfare; it tends to drop in the fall.

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Unique Honeymoon Destinations that Won’t Break the Bank

In truth, there are just a couple of things you’ll want to take into account before making your decision between the two. You need to consider your dress, your own personal aesthetic, and the tone of the wedding. Let’s start with the dress. If you have chosen a dress that is modern, like a strapless corset gown, then you may want to stick to the modern feel by wearing diamonds. Ditto on dresses that are exceedingly understated. Diamonds provide a decidedly younger look and a little flash can enliven a dress that is simple and sophisticated. Pearls, on the other hand, will denote a certain amount of maturity while also fading into the background rather than taking center stage. So they work best with dresses that are more modest (think Grace Kelly’s gorgeous lace concoction) or frocks that are already adorned with embellishments.

Now you’ll want to consider your own personal style and preference. Are you outgoing and spontaneous or shy and retiring? Do you revel in nabbing the spotlight or would you rather operate behind the scenes? While it’s true that every bride becomes the center of attention on her special day whether she wants to or not, you can maximize the impact by throwing some bling into the works or tone down the flash by opting for much more conservative pearls. Every detail counts, so think hard about the amount of attention you want to draw (and what kind of attention you’ll incite with your ensemble).

Finally, you should choose pieces that are in keeping with the tone of your wedding. If it’s a lavish affair set to rival the recent royal wedding, then perhaps diamonds are in order. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a quiet ceremony and reception restricted to only close friends and family and you can’t stand the thought of a major production, perhaps pearls are better suited to the style of your event.

Of course, you could mix it up by selecting pieces that feature both diamonds and pearls. There are no laws against pairing the two and you may be able to meet all of your stylistic goals by choosing a few pieces that put the best of both worlds together. Heck, if you’re daring you could even go all out and include colored gemstones (although this is a little risky since color trends come and go). As long as you take the time to consider the implications of your choices where diamonds and pearls are concerned you’re sure to come up with a look that is 100% right for your special day.

Sarah Danielson is a contributing writer for www.icingonthering.com located in the downtown Los Angeles jewelry district, where you can find a variety of loose diamonds and engagement rings.

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Pearls or Diamonds for Your Wedding Day?

2. Accessories. Your dress may determine the type of accessories you choose, including shoes, a veil, gloves, a handbag, and so on. And the best rule of thumb here is to keep the focus on the main event. If you allow the accessories to overpower the dress, you’ll end up looking like a muddled, white mess. So don’t do anything too fancy or over the top with the extras. Simple and understated is the way to go.

3. Jewelry. This is one type of accessory where you can add a little more visual interest to your ensemble and really highlight the fabulous features of your dress. Suppose you have a sweetheart neckline; a long pendant is the perfect accent. And if you have a higher neckline you can skip the neckwear and opt for drop earrings. A sleeveless dress may call for a bracelet or cuff of some sort. The idea is to choose jewelry that enhances the outfit, and you can even add some color as long as it’s suitable.

4. Hair. Funny enough, this will probably be the most personal aspect of your entire look. But even if you generally like your hair a little wild or punky, consider going with a classic and sophisticated look for your wedding day. Years down the road you’ll be happy you didn’t go for a trendy style that faded out like the fad it was.

5. Makeup. For starters, you should think about contact lenses if you normally wear glasses. Specs will hide both your eyes and the makeup you put on, but contact lenses will let everyone see your beautiful face (and still let you see theirs). From there you should keep your makeup as natural as possible while still highlighting your best features. It’s usually best to play up your eyes, so make them pop by opting for neutral tones with a touch of color that is opposite from your eyes. Girls with baby blues should go for taupes or grays while hazel or green eyes look best with hints of gold or lavender. And the brown-eyed girls should opt for deeper plum tones. As for cheeks and lips, a hint of color that is just slightly rosier than your natural shade is the way to go. You don’t want to look like a clown, and makeup that enhances your looks rather than changing them will still be appealing years from now, when you’re showing the photos to your grandkids.

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Fashion Dos and Don’ts for the Big Day

1. Venue. It won’t be much of a party if you have no place to hold it, which is why most couples start by booking a venue. But if you’re on a tight budget you may be woefully underwhelmed by the spaces that are in your price range. Keep in mind, though, that it’s not so much the place you choose as what you do with it that makes it special. So think about renting a public space (like a park, for example) or asking a friend with a big house or yard to host the event. Then spend the money you save on over-the-top decorations.

2. Décor. All the little pieces that make up your décor are going to add up to a major expense, with furniture, place settings, and centerpieces topping the list of must-haves. But there are also many ways to save. If you don’t want the traditional table-and-chair arrangement, secure couches and side tables from a furniture rental place for more intimate seating. Then dot the tables with candles for mood lighting. You could also skip expensive floral arrangements and go modern (and inexpensive) with paper flowers, which you can create on your own with recycled paper (printed pages in black and white are super chic), pipe cleaners or bare wires, and patterns that can be found online.

3. The dress. The dress is a matter of great importance for most brides, but it can also become a major expense if you’re not careful or open to alternatives. If you’re like most women, you’re looking for the perfect dress, even if it’s out of your price range. But don’t fret: you can still have it (albeit without the label). Simply take a picture of the dress you want to a seamstress and have her recreate it for you at a fraction of the cost.

4. Eats. Catering can definitely be costly, but you can save by eschewing the standard multi-course meal (although you should note on the invites if you’re not serving dinner). You could host an afternoon tea, set up shabu-shabu stations, or even provide a dessert bar for something different and special. As for drinks, provide the basics (beer, wine, and champagne) and skip the open bar. And remember that most people buy their wine at the grocery store; it doesn’t pay to splurge when no one can tell the difference.

5. Entertainment. Over-the-top event entertainment calls for something special, but that doesn’t mean you have to hire a troupe of acrobats or belly dancers for the event. If you’re going to have a wait-staff anyway, why not opt for singing and dancing waiters (they’re all aspiring actors anyway, right?). Or hire a professional dessert chef to create your cake while guests watch and then get a DJ to pump up the jams on the dance floor. You don’t have to spend major money to go over the top with your wedding entertainment, and if you know performers you may even be able to finagle a freebie as a wedding gift.

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Your Over-the-Top Wedding (on a Budget)

How exactly do you want your pet to function during your wedding? Do you want your cat to lie at your feet, purring, with the rings attached to her collar? Would you like a mourning dove to fly from your shoulder to the shoulder of your intended? Or would you prefer your puppy to lead the way, trotting down the aisle and greeting attendants as he goes? Before the ceremony gets underway, consider exactly what purpose your pet will serve. This may mean extensive training, particularly for younger or unruly pets. You may even be able to work with budgerigars such as a Myna bird to tell your spouse, “I love you!” Or, even more simply, your best friend may be able to stand at your side with both your hands resting on her head as you both say, “I do.”

The wedding site itself will determine the role your pet will play. Some hotels may not allow animals on the premises, or you may have to pay extra for the privilege. Open-air ceremonies might be dangerous, especially for birds. If your pet isn’t able to attend the ceremony, you may be able to incorporate them into the reception. Consider dressing up your dog with a little bow tie and then, accompanied by a walker, he can lead your guests to the reception area.

Consider the size of the pet when planning. Small pets, such as mice, rats, hamsters, and guinea pigs, can be carried down the aisle by a flower girl or ring bearer. If you plan to use a large pet, horses might be utilized to draw a carriage that carries the newly married couple away to their honeymoon or to the reception. If you are a cat owner, be aware that they may not be ideal for a socialized situation. If they are more dog-like, however, and not frightened or angered by the large crowds usually demanded by a wedding party, you may be able to work them in by using a leash or in a pet stroller.

Ultimately, you must be flexible when it comes to incorporating your pet into the ceremony. Problems may arise, and you will want to consider possible alternatives in case your pet doesn’t work out at the last moment. Your guests may be frightened of your pet or allergic, and you must consider their well-being. Will a photo or video of the pet suffice? Unruly pets require additional strategies. A dog bark collar may be necessary to prevent inconvenient barking at inopportune moments, especially once the ceremony is underway … no going back now!

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Animal Lover? How to Include Pets in Your Wedding