Archive for May, 2009
Choosing a Wedding Photography Package
Finding an affordable wedding photography package isn’t easy. Every bride wants the best for her wedding, but the reality is that not every bride can afford the best. Many couples have limited budgets with which to work and all too often, they find themselves having to cut corners to avoid over-spending. The first aspect of a wedding that is slashed for costs is the professional wedding photographer.
The reason for this is that wedding photography prices are anything but standardized. Depending on the photographer you select, the format and style of photography and the length of the celebration, the base rate can fluctuate wildly. Added to this is the fact that there are almost limitless options in the wedding photography package. The more extras you add, the higher the price.
Many who are seeking budget wedding photography decide to spend their money on hiring a better photographer to do less work. Rather than selecting a lower priced photographer and ordering a huge photo package, they go with the photographer that they most trust and order a smaller package. Some couples even forgo the traditional wedding photography package altogether and simply buy the negatives or original digital images from the photographer. These couples then use their own technological savvy to create personalized albums and reprints that are meaningful to them.
Some professional wedding photographers maintain a traditionalist view. They feel that as the expert, the wedding photographer is the only one truly suited to put together the wedding album. This argument does have some merit. The photographer is the only one who knows what he or she was trying to convey in each shot. Additionally, the photographer works closely with trusted contacts at the developing lab and is able to judge when photos return with imperfections. He or she is familiar with color balance and stylistic concerns and is therefore quite adept at placing the photos within the album to create a pleasing whole.
On the other hand, scrap booking and other DIY projects have become extremely common option to a traditional wedding photography package. Today’s couples are generally quite adept at working with photos, doing retouches and fixing color problems on their home computers. For these couples, their wedding album is just another fun home project.
Many couples opt for the best of both worlds. These couples purchase a basic wedding photography package that includes a small album and a few reprints. They also purchase the original media and create a personalized album as well. They may do reprints and reorders themselves, or they may order these items from their photographer, depending on how much time and money they have. This way, the couple receives a classic wedding album to show their children and grandchildren, as well as the ability to personalize and scrapbook to their hearts’ content.
Whatever your feelings on wedding photography packages, you are certain to find a photographer who will meet your needs. The wedding photography market is changing rapidly and photographers are adapting to the times. Perhaps you want a traditional large wedding photography package that includes an album full of traditional posed photos. Maybe you want to purchase nothing but the photographer’s time and the raw media. Or perhaps you want something in between, a small photo package that also includes the original media. The choice is yours. It is your wedding and you deserve a photographer that will work with the choices that you make.
About The Author
How to Have a Princess Wedding on a Budget
Princesses are very popular among little girls these days. However, adult women are quickly joining in on the princess trend and enjoying the fun too! This trend seems to be seeping over into the wedding industry and has created a new niche for brides and princess coinsurers to explore.
If you are getting married at Disneyland, DisneyWorld, or at another princess destination, this article will give you some tips about how to have a fabulous princess wedding on a tight budget. Of course, if you have extra money to spend, you can make it more extravagant in several different ways.
First, you need to decide on a location to get married. Disneyland is a great place to have a wedding and/or a honeymoon. Sleeping Beauty’s castle is a stunning location for photographs and sets the mood entirely. Who doesn’t want to be swept away by prince charming and honeymoon to the happiest place on earth, Disneyland? However, if Disneyland is not in your budget, you could easily set up a castle or princess theme at your local church or recital hall.
Second, what should the bride wear? Traditionally, brides wear a white wedding gown. This trend is still very popular, but why not change it up a little and wear an adult princess dress instead of a wedding dress? Your guests will appreciate the fun and unique aspect of the wedding and it will be something new and exciting that you can do. There are many adult princess dresses out there including a great brand called Little Adventures. They have beautiful adult princess dresses that are actually machine washable so you can keep them for years to come. They are reasonably priced around $60, but you must have a fullness slip underneath your princess dress to complete the princess look. The slips run around $40. Many online retailers sell Little Adventures adult princess dresses and offer free shipping. So, for around $100, you can be Cinderella, Snow White, or beautiful Belle.
What should your wedding party wear? You could get a prince costume for your husband to be. Your bridesmaids could each wear a different adult princess dress. For example, if you wear Cinderella, they could each wear Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Belle or Rapunzel. The flower girls could wear a princess bride dress or any other princess costume for little girls like mermaid, pink princess, or a beautiful Medieval princess dress.
There are many activities you could provide at a princess wedding like a Royal ball where you invite guests to come dressed up in their favorite prince or princess costumes. You may want to have a special castle wedding cake made and medieval type snacks or finger foods to serve. You could have Cinderella’s carriage to take you to and from the reception.
Whatever you decide, your princess wedding will be unique and fun for you and for your special guests!
About The Author
Make Your Wedding Favors for Cheap!
The question most brides-to-be or couples getting married have is “How do I make wedding favors for cheap?” Before I begin to answer this question, I want to establish one thing. When using the word cheap, it doesn’t mean that you’re not giving it all you have. You’ve already spent a lot of money to make this day perfect. Therefore, here are some cheap or inexpensive ways to make wedding favors. Save yourself a little money, you could even use it on the honeymoon!!
Here are some really cool ideas to save money and get two things done at once:
• Flower Arrangements
Make a small flower arrangement for each table setting. This can serve as both a favor for your guest and decorations for the table. You can normally find little glass containers at Wal-Mart or the Dollar Store for pretty cheap. Add some of your favorite flower(s) or a flower of your favorite color. You can even make it seasonal depending on when your wedding is. Have fun! Be creative!
• Candles
I know, everybody suggests candles for wedding favors. But find your favorite shape or scent and give each of your guests a small candle. This will make it personal for your guest. It will tell your guest you wanted them there and make them feel special. Use tulle and/or ribbon to make it more festive!
• Small Frames – One of my favorites!
You can find small frames and make them place card holders. Each of your guest will have a frame to take home with them. If you don’t want to assign seating, put a special message or quote in each frame. Your guest will have a special way of remembering you!
• Wine Glass Markers
Make wine glass markers with some wire and beads. Then find a small box and wrap ribbon around it. You need one for each guest. It will also be helpful to keep each other’s wine glasses separate!
• Personalized CD of you and your fiancée’s favorite songs!
You can buy CD’s at Office Depot, Staples, Wal-Mart, etc… for cheap. Then decide on 10 or so songs to put on there. Burn them to the CD; attach a label or write on each one. You can buy “print-on” labels wherever you buy the CD’s. Then give each guest one! It’s a cool personal gift.
You can pull off your big day and save some money. Don’t make it look cheap either. Make and create your wedding favors for cheap!! You can do it!! Remember to have fun and be creative!!!
About The Author
You Can Have An Elegant Wedding On A Small Budget
If you have a smaller budget, you’re probably afraid that all of your guests will realize it. But honestly, a twenty thousand dollar wedding isn’t necessary. Many couples have done it for a lot less, and no one could tell.
What’s important
Like coming up with the original budget, you need to determine what the most important things of the day are. Do you want the designer dress? Must you have the reception at a fancy hotel?
Some things that you may want to spend money on: photography and rings. These are two things that you will keep long after the wedding day, so these are the things that should be number one on the planning list. Don’t skimp.
A cheaper ceremony
If you’re able to have your ceremony outside, then that can be the least expensive way to go. Not only are you able to take advantage of nature, but many of the times, it will be free for you to use. Places that may work are parks and botanical gardens, friend’s backyards, and beaches. Of course, these are rather weather dependent, so you’ll have to have a backup plan as well.
Find someone that you know who is a minister to do the vows, and ask that their marriage gift be the fee. This is a perfect way to include your friend and save them the trouble of giving a gift.
Skimping on the reception
The best way to keep your costs low for the wedding is to have the ceremony and reception in the same area. Even if you do have to pay a fee, then it’s only once. Another way to cut down on reception costs is to have a light afternoon cocktail hour in lieu of dinner. You can serve appetizers and drinks instead of a pricey meal.
You don’t necessarily need a band to keep the fun going either. A lot of couples have found that a friend with a multiple CD player and a good variety of CDs is just as good as a deejay. And most friends are willing to help out at the wedding if they can anyways.
Be creative when you go out and look for all of the things you need for your wedding. You’d be surprised at how many things you can save on. One couple made their own programs, decorations, and had it at a friend’s house for about three thousand dollars. The guests exclaimed that they’d been to more expensive weddings that weren’t half as beautiful.
Something to think about.
About The Author
Amy Spade is an expert on planning weddings, and she has written an amazing totally free minicourse on how to make sure that you have the day of your dreams, and avoid wedding day disaster!
Get the free course “Your Special Day from Start to Finish” now at at http://www.weddingdata.com.