10 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer

Sharing your wedding day with the people you love is what makes the day that much more special! This connection with your guests shouldn't stop with your friends and family, but should cross over to your vendors as well.

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It is so important to hirer professionals for your wedding and their experience in the business is what will ensure that your day is everything you dreamed of and more. However, it is even more important that you find a real connect with these vendors as well. In addition to spending this momentous day with your loved ones, you will also be sharing a lot of it with your vendors; specifically your coordinator and photographer. When hiring these professionals think about not only what your are looking for from a professional service standpoint, but also form a personality standpoint. At the end of the day, your personal connection with your vendors is what will make your wedding day experience that much more enjoyable!

Here a few questions to ask yourself when you are meeting with photographers and coordinators for the first time...

1. Are they experienced in the business? 
2. Do they understand my vision?
3. Do they offer services I am looking for?
4. What parts of the day will they be involved in?
5. Does their style or rang of styles compliment my vision? 
6. Do they listen to what I say? Do they listen to my ideas and offer suggestions or are they pushing their own ideas?
7. Do I feel that can express what I would like for my wedding day to them?
8. Do I feel comfortable around them?
9. Would I refer them to friends and family?
10. Most importantly, could I see myself being friends with this person?

Wedding Planner, Wedding Designer, Event Coordinator, Venue Coordinator - What is the Difference?

With today's information overload, sometimes the lingo of the wedding world can seem a little confusing and overwhelming. Planner, coordinator, designer - it's all the same right? Actually no...there are many differences between the types of wedding assistance you can receive. Below is a basic breakdown of how we classify each of the different types of wedding planning professionals...

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Wedding Planner:
From vendor referrals to timeline management, a wedding planner is the perfect tool in assisting you from "Will You Marry Me?" to "I Do!"  A wedding planner is an experienced event professional who can confidently guide you through the entire wedding planning process. Their expertise is your navigator through the complex world of all things wedding! Although planners have a variety of service offerings, typically their services include: budget management, vendor referrals, venue selection, to-do check lists & confirmations, vendor meeting attendance, design assistance, creation of a detailed day-of timeline as well as wedding day coordination & management. Since a planner is seen as someone who can "do-it-all", a common misconception is that they will "take-over"  your wedding and control your creative freedom....quite the opposite! A planner is there to foster your creativity, inspire you with new idea's, share wisdom's from their experience and most importantly ensure all of your vendors understand and compliment your vision!

 Wedding Coordinator: (a.k.a. Event Coordinator, Day-of Coordinator, Independent Coordinator)
Although many use the words coordinator & planner interchangeably, for most, their roles are quite different. A planner is typically involved in the planning process early on, where as a coordinator comes into the picture further down the road. Often they start assisting a month or two before the big day. Their services typically included: gathering key information about your wedding, finalizing details, contacting and confirming your vendors contract obligations, establishing a wedding day timeline and most importantly facilitating & ensuring a smooth and stress free wedding day! All in all, a coordinators key role is to tie-up loose ends, bring all of your plans/details together and manage the day-of your event. So as you can see, a wedding planner is typically also a wedding coordinator, however, a wedding coordinator is not always a wedding planner.

Venue Coordinator: (a.k.a. On-site Coordinator, Facility Manager, Banquet Manager)
A venue coordinator is typically an appointed contact by the venue to assist and answer any questions you may have about the venue itself or its affiliates. Their services often include: providing a vendor referral list of vendors they have worked with in the past, creating a timeline for the wedding day in regards to the venues roles & responsibilities, assisting with the catering timeline  (if caterer is correlated with the venue) and assisting with the rehearsal & ceremony process (if ceremony is held at the same venue). Although venue coordinators are a great resource to have, there are a few misconceptions when it comes to the actual roles of venue coordinators. Many anticipate that a venue coordinator is more like a wedding planner or independent coordinator, where-in they will assist you in all planning aspects. Although some do assist with all aspects, most venues have a somewhat strict guideline of what they can assist you with. Some of their limitations include: they usually only have set list of vendors they can recommend, they can only assist with details that pertain the the venue itself, they can not assist you with your ceremony if it is held at a different venue, typically they will have one person assisting you with the planning and another person  there the day-of the event and typically they are not present for the duration of the event. However, they are an expert about their venue and are a great resource to have. Having both a independent planner/coordinator with a venue coordinator is great way to ensure nothing is forgotten or left out!

Wedding Designer:
A wedding designer is your creativity muse. Their role is to ultimately design the look and feel of your wedding. From color swatches to theme creation, their job is to draw out your vision and make it a reality. Their responsibility is mainly focused on the design element of your wedding rather than the planning or coordinating aspects. However, many planners and coordination also incorporate design elements in their packages.

At the end of the day a planner or coordinator is there to make your wedding dreams come true!  Why spend 12 months planning and creating your dream wedding only to have the day-of left to chance?

5 Things Many Brides Forget

It's hard to imagine with all the planning you are doing and with all the tools available to brides, form bridal 101 books to planning binders to organizational websites, that you might have left something out. But from our experience, even with all these tools and guidance at least one of the do-to's slips off the list. As planners we try to make sure that you have thought of everything and below are a few reminders we share with our brides of items that tend to be forgotten.

1. Final Confirmations/Timelines for Vendors - Many professionals have their own system that works best for their type of service when it comes to organization information for your wedding. If you do not have a day-of coordinator or point person for the day-of your wedding, some of the details can be slightly different for one vendor to the next. It is important that you confirm times and locations with all of you vendors at least a week out to make sure everyone is on the same page. Or create a master timeline for all of your vendors to follow. Your bridal party will also have a busy schedule that day, with hair, make-up, pictures, toasts etc...make sure you give them a break down of the day as well so they are not overwhelmed and know where to be when.
2. Bringing the Legal Documents - This is one of the most important aspects of you wedding day; after all it is the signing of the marriage certificate that legalizes the entire marriage.  Make sure to apply for you Notice of Intended Marriage at least one month and one day before your actual wedding day. Also don't for get to bring multiple copies of the marriage certificate to sign after your ceremony!
3. Bringing Your Overnight Bag - Many couple get so excited with the wedding itself and the honeymoon after that they forget about planning for the night in between. Often you can check in early to your overnight suite and have a friend drop off these items before hand. If not, designate someone to to hold onto your bags or drop them off later. 
4. Know Who Takes What - After you have celebrated at your reception, said your final good-byes and are whisked off to your honeymoon suite, there are still many items that need to be collected or taken care of. These items include gifts, left over favors, centerpieces, toasting flutes, cake serving wear, cake stand, flowers, guestbook..etc. Of course after a long day of fun, clean up is the last thing you want to think of. If you do not have a planner/coordinator to collect these items for you, make sure you designate a few people before hand to collect these items. With a team of helpers, they should have things gathered in no time!
5. Picture Time - Your wedding photos will become one of the most cherished mementos from you wedding and often times you only have one moment to capture that perfect picture. It is important that you really outline with your photographer what photos you want and with whom. Remember, unless you tell your photographer, they probably don't know who aunt Sally is or that she flew over 3,000 miles to be in this once in a lifetime family photo. Make sure your photographer has a complete list of who you want in each photo. Also, tell your family and friends that you would like to be in your photo's were they need to be and at what time. You don't want to spend have of your time looking for wandering family members.

Buffet or Plated Service- My Only Catering Options?

Are you tired of the traditional buffet or plated service catering options for your wedding reception? To add little wow factor and entertainment for your guests, consider Food Stations. This can be a fun way to keep the mood of your wedding very social. Depending on space and price conditions, set up 5 to 10 Chef-attended stations around the room. Each station can feature a different type of cuisine or different variation of one type of cuisine. Every station should include guest interaction and a unique presentation to ensure that overall wow factor for your wedding reception! You want to encourage people to move around the room so they can taste each of the delicious cuisines, so make sure you make it easy for them to do so.

Do you like buffet and plated service, but know with your time and/or space constraints, you need to consider other catering options?  If this is the case, Family Style Service may be a better fit for you. Family Style catering serves your meal on platters to each table and guests are then encouraged to serve themselves. Much like the name implies, this style of catering allows your guests to become more intimate as they gather around their meal much like a Thanksgiving feast with family.

The Four C’s – Outside your Diamond Selection

We are not talking cut, color, clarity and carat, but rather another set of “C’s” that relate to your overall wedding experience; compromise, consideration, communication, and celebration!

Marriage is a momentous and joyous transformation in a couple’s life. Often times, how a couple works together on their wedding plans can forecast how they will approach other major decisions they will come across in their life together.  

Weddings are a beautiful and exciting event, but just like marriage, planning wedding can also be a lot of work. Just remember at the end of the day, your wedding is about you and the one you love coming together! The four “C’s” are a great guide to helping you master the wedding planning process.

1. Compromise: This is an important day for many people. It is always a nice gesture to make sure everyone feels included in some way.

2. Consideration:  Try to take into consideration the thoughts, feelings and emotions of others during this sometimes-stressful process.

3. Communication: Try to be very specific about your thoughts and expectations. As they say, communication is key to a great marriage…so get your practice in early!

4. Celebration: Sometimes you can be caught in all the little details of your wedding. Just remember, at the end of the day you are there to celebrate one of the most joyous milestones in your lives!

Wedding Planning Tips - How to Make The Most of Your Wedding Photography

Once you hire a professional photographer for your wedding, you already know you are in great hands, but here a a few things to think about to help learn about the process and make their job easier! 

First, make a list of who you want in your photo's and in what location. Make sure you include their full name and title. [ For example: Location -  At Golf Course 18th Hole People -  Brides family including Mary Jones (Mother of the Bride),  John Jones (Father of the Bide)...etc.] By having this list you will help streamline the photography process by knowing who you need when and where. 

Second, make sure you realize your photographer is not your time-keeper. They are there to capture every moment perfectly, and make sure that you wedding photo's are as beautiful as ever! In order to help your photography stay on track while still allowing him or her do what they do best, have a Wedding Planner or friend close by who is very familiar with your timeline and knows what your time limit is.  Also keeping your list handy can help prepare the next group being photographed and move along the process.

Finally, many brides and grooms enjoy taking photo's with all their guests at each table. If this is something you are also considering, try to allot at least an extra 30 minutes for this photo session. Often times, when visiting each table everyone wants to say hello and congratulate you, which usually takes more time than expected. 

We hope these tips help put you at ease and assist your wedding photographer to capture every moment of your special day beautifully!