Wedding Blog

I had a wonderful webinar session last night with some Perfect Wedding Guide brides. They had many great questions that I am going to share with your over the next few days.

Megan asked:

I don’t think I photograph well, so how do we avoid awkward pictures that we don’t like?

Personally, I think all brides look beautiful. I know it is cliché, but I truly believe that the adrenalin or dopamine that is released during the excitement of the wedding day gives brides a beautiful glow. With that said, I do have a few good suggestions to ensure beautiful wedding photos:

• If you are not accustomed to applying makeup, hire a professional to do it.
• Make sure when you interview your photographer, that you tell him or her that you aren’t very comfortable in front of the camera. Ask how he or she handles camera-shy brides.
• Schedule an engagement shoot. This would serve as a low-pressure practice run. You will get more used to being in front of the camera, and your photographer will have a chance to see how you move and act when he or she is shooting. This will make you both more comfortable on the wedding day.
• Remember that photos that your friends take are quite different from those taken by a professional wedding photographer. I used my Facebook page as an example. Some photos are taken by my friends and others are taken by professionals. Sometimes, I am not sure we are the same person!

Just remember to relax and enjoy yourself. Remember your wedding day is about celebrating with your family and friends. Your excitement and joy will definitely come across in your photos.

If you would like to comment on this post or discuss anything wedding related, leave a post here or email me at Susan.Southerland@pwg.com.

Your partner in perfect planning,

Susan

Good morning from Freeport. I am blogging from my balcony at the resort. Below is my view.

It’s not a bad place to have to work!

Anyway, today I want to share some advice from a great photographer I met while in Minneapolis. As I mentioned yesterday, all conversations eventually led to the state of the economy and couples who can no longer afford their weddings. I spoke with John Ray from Photography by Design and John Ray Photography to hear about his experience with the changing times.

Susan: Have you had any couples who have needed to change their contracts based on the economy?
 
John: I did have a couple who was booked who had to cancel because they couldn’t afford their wedding anymore.
 
Susan: What were you able to do for them?
 
John: I told them if they re booked their date within a year and if I am available, I would honor their deposit towards the new date.
 
Susan: What are you doing with your business to make things more attractive to budget-minded couples?
 
John: My prices haven’t changed, but I am adding features to the packages to give couples more value. Couples can choose from a “trash the dress” session or a wedding album for the same price as I’ve always charged. Also, I am going to be at the Perfect Wedding Show on Sunday here in Minneapolis. Anyone who books my services there will get a twenty percent discount.
 

Bridal shows are a great way get bargains for your wedding. It isn’t just about winning free prizes (but that is a perk!). Many vendors will give discounts and special offers if you book with them at the show. You must continue to be a careful shopper, but if you find a vendor you love, and you’ve done some research about their work, don’t be afraid to make a commitment. Your savings might be significant.

It is also a good idea to discuss with any vendor what their policies are regarding having to back out in case of a financial emergency. As with everything I suggest doing with wedding planning, being upfront about your concerns or budgetary needs is the best way to ensure a good outcome. Remember, wedding vendors are feeling the crunch of the economy too. Each one would be happy to help you in anyway possible.

If you want to make a comment about canceling a wedding vendor or to ask any wedding-related question, post here or email me at susan.southerland@pwg.com.

Your Partner for Perfect Planning,

Susan

I think photo sessions prior to the wedding day are so important. The session gives you the opportunity to get comfortable with your photographer, and he gets an idea of how you perform in front of the camera. One photographer told me that it is a great chance to see how much the bride blinks, so he knows how many of each group photo he is going to need to take!

I spoke with one of my favorite photographers, John Unrue, here in Orlando. Here are the tips he gave me (with some of my commentary as well in parenthesis).

• Wear solid-earth tones, Patterns will detract from your faces. Also, white doesn’t work well. Wear browns, blues, blacks and grays.
• When shooting outside make sure you photographer schedules you early in morning or late in the afternoon. John said that the rule of thumb is to shoot within two hours after sunrise or two hours before sunset. The natural light is best then.
• Choose a meaningful location. Before you hire your photographer, make sure he is amenable to shooting your portrait at a location that is meaningful to you. The sentimentality of the location will come through in your photographs.
• If you are really shy, make sure your photographer knows it. John said he likes to strike up a conversation with the couple to make them feel at ease. He will start by asking about how they met, got engaged and then ease into shooting. For those who are very shy, he stands further away and uses a zoom lens.
• For those of you who like interaction, make sure you choose a photographer with a good personality. (Remember I always say when shopping for a photographer, you are interviewing as much for attitude as you are for talent. Even if the photographer has an amazing portfolio, if he makes you uncomfortable, keep looking!)
• If you are very critical of your hair and makeup, bring friend along to help make sure you look your best. John says he would rather shoot things right in the camera the first time so he doesn’t have to go back and fix a lot of things in the computer. If that friend can help with a hair our of place, or a smudge of lipstick, she is a welcome addition to the shoot. (Not all photographers feel the same about this. Make sure to discuss it with him before the photo shoot.)

I also suggest getting your hair and makeup done professionally. Make sure the stylist knows whether you are having and outdoor or indoor photo shoot and let him know what color you will be wearing.

You can find more information about wedding photography by clicking here.

As always, if you have tips or questions about wedding photography email me at susan.southerland@pwg.com or post it here.

Your Partner in Perfect Planning,

Susan

One of John Unrue’s beautiful engagement portraits.

Wow! What a day. One hour prior to the rehearsal, I received a call from our photographer. She sounded awful! She had pneumonia. The photographer really wanted to come to shoot the wedding, but I just couldn’t let her go through with it.

We in the wedding industry dread calling in sick. It only happens in the most dire circumstances. This was one of them for sure. I insisted that she stay home. I was worried that she might infect the bride (who has respiratory issues) and I was worried that the photographer might get even sicker.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to go very far through my vendor list to find a photographer ready, willing and able to work the event. The new photographer even kept the pricing the same as the original photographer.

Both of these photographers are a testament to what working with a professional wedding vendor should be like. Both the sick photographer and the new photographer had the interest of the bride and groom at the forefront of the decisions they made on Friday. You should make sure that the wedding vendors you hire would act in the same manner as my two photographers. Your wedding day is a once in a lifetime event. A good wedding vendor knows that sometimes we have to forget about our bottom line in favor of what is best for the couple.

Everything with the rehearsal went beautifully. The wedding party was a lot of fun. I can’t wait to see how the big day turns out. More on that on Monday.

Makeup is another essential part of making you and your photographs beautiful on your wedding day. I truly believe that there is an inner glow that every bride gets on her wedding day that makes her beautiful. Makeup can make an already beautiful girl, gorgeous. Unfortunately, makeup in the wrong hands can make that beautiful girl, well… SCARY.

I went to my good friend and stylist, Marjorie Robinson for some ideas on how “scary-proof” your wedding day makeup.

If you can allocate some of your wedding budget for a professional makeup artist:

• Hire one for yourself and let your girls know that there is a makeup artist available for hire at each bridesmaid’s expense. (this should sound familiar if you read yesterday’s blog)
• Set an appointment in the makeup artist’s salon. Going to the salon is often cheaper than having her come to you.
• Go to a makeup counter in a department store. Often you can get a makeup consultation if you agree to purchase a certain amount of product. This is a great way to have a professional makeup consultation and application AND get great makeup to wear later.

If you cannot spend anything on a professional makeup artist:

• Practice doing your makeup several times before the wedding day.
• Make sure to wear a white shirt when you practice. Your face will look different with a white top than it would in a darker colored top. You want to make sure the makeup colors you choose look good on your skin tone with a white colored shirt.
• When you practice, have someone take a photo of you when you complete your makeup. You want to make sure that the makeup looks good on camera.
• The safest colors to use are earth tones. Avoid grays and dark blues on your eyes. They can be hard to blend.
• Avoid liquid eyeliner. This can be very difficult to apply. You don’t want to end up looking like a raccoon.
• Avoid red lipstick. It can be too harsh. Marjorie did say she might make an exception if the bride is wearing a vintage dress and has the proper skin tone.

Doing your own makeup may seem like a difficult proposition, especially if you don’t normally wear much makeup. Fear not! With a little practice and careful color selection, you will be able to transform your beautiful face into a stunning face on your wedding day.