Posted by admin on April 6, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Making Your Wedding More You
By Lindsay Sally of Big Day Boutique
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Once you sit down to start planning the details of your wedding, it can become overwhelming and confusing. You have read countless magazines, seen a hundred different styles and it can be difficult to know where to start. A way to tie it all together is by using a custom monogram. You can incorporate your colors, names and even a unique design that can be used in all the details of your wedding. It can be something as simple as the initials of the bride and groom or you can make it more elaborate with a design such as damask.
Where to use
There are countless ways to use your monogram, or a version of it, throughout all the details of your wedding. If you are sending out Save-the-Dates, this is the perfect time to use your monogram. It sets the tone for your event and gives your guests a chance to see your wedding colors and style. It can be printed on magnets, pictures, etc. Next, you can incorporate the monogram into your rehearsal dinner invitations. Remember, it doesn’t always have to be the exact same throughout. If you use your name, the groom’s name and the initial of his last name, you could use just the last name initial on certain things but in the same font.
For the ceremony details, one of the hottest trends is a hand painted aisle runner. You can have your monogram painted on the front of your runner and it will be a personalized welcome as your guests take their seats. Once the day is over, it can also be a great keepsake for you and your new husband. A few other places that you can add your monogram to are your programs and unity candle. As discussed before, it can be a simpler version of the original design, but it serves as a way to tie everything together and add a personal touch.
The reception is another great place to add your monogram. You can add it to menu cards, signs leading the guests to the reception room, candy buffet containers, favors, table numbers, slideshow screen…the possibilities are endless.
Using a monogram on every detail may seem a little extreme, but if it’s done in a simple and subtle way, it can create the perfect look to your special day.
Where to find
Once you’ve decided you want to use a monogram, you can search the internet for companies that offer this service or you can find a graphic designer to create one for you. A fun and inexpensive option is to create the monogram yourself. Whichever you choose, have a few different examples created so you can find exactly what you are looking for.
Creating a unified look using a monogram
Where to begin
Once you sit down to start planning the details of your wedding, it can become overwhelming and confusing. You have read countless magazines, seen a hundred different styles and it can be difficult to know where to start. A way to tie it all together is by using a custom monogram. You can incorporate your colors, names and even a unique design that can be used in all the details of your wedding. It can be something as simple as the initials of the bride and groom or you can make it more elaborate with a design such as damask. Read more
Filed under Wedding Décor, Wedding Invitations · Tagged with Chicago, Chicago wedding, Chicago wedding vendors, Wedding Advice, wedding DIY, Wedding Monogram, wedding newsletter, Wedding Planners, Wedding Planning, wedding professionals, Wedding Tips
Posted by admin on January 21, 2010 · Leave a Comment
“Real smile or Fake smile?”
Photojournalism vs. Traditional Photography
By Brian Kinyon
Brian Kinyon Photgraphy
Photojournalism is defined as “the art or practice of communicating news by photographs.” Weddings are certainly newsworthy, and capturing what’s happening – the way it’s really happening – is what drives most wedding photojournalists, myself included.
The idea that you want photos of the way you, your friends, and your family really, honestly look when they’re just simply being themselves (which believe me is always better than when you force a camera smile), that’s photojournalism. Capturing a candid moment when your maid of honor is on the verge of tears watching you kiss your husband on the altar, or your father when he sees you for the first time in your dress, that is photojournalism at its best. Even the simpler parts of your day, say before you even have your dress on and everyone’s just sitting around talking about the night before, also great photojournalism moments.
Now by contrast, the formal posed group photos after the ceremony, or the two of you standing arm in arm smiling into the camera as the sun goes down behind you, those are examples of traditional wedding photography. Most wedding days include a certain amount of traditional photos, but very often there is a much stronger emphasis on photojournalism because of the feelings it more effectively conveys, the reality and “trueness” of the events that are taking place.
Just to confuse things a little, there can also be a certain amount of pseudo-photojournalism, wherein your photographer may suggest that you do certain things on purpose just for the sake of getting a great picture, but with a slant on it that still lets your real personality shine through. For instance taking you onto a beautiful, picturesque bridge and telling you to simply stand comfortably and talk to all of your friends who’ve gathered around you, “forget about the camera!” With the right photographer, those shots can be every bit as compelling as a truly candid moment.
Before looking for a photographer, and especially before sitting down to meet with them, decide what balance of photojournalism and traditional feels right for you. That allows you to talk confidently about that balance with prospective photographers, and they in turn can give you their opinion on how they envision the role they feel they can play in your wedding, and ultimately, whether they’re a good fit.
Of course the most important test is simply seeing a photographer’s portfolio, and counting how many times you feel your heart melt as the images scroll by..
Photojournalism vs. Traditional Photography
By Brian Kinyon of Brian Kinyon Photography
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Photojournalism is defined as “the art or practice of communicating news by photographs.” Weddings are certainly newsworthy, and capturing what’s happening – the way it’s really happening – is what drives most wedding photojournalists, myself included.
Read more
Filed under Wedding Advice, Wedding Photography · Tagged with Chicago, Chicago wedding, Chicago wedding vendors, Wedding, Wedding Advice, wedding newsletter, Wedding Photographer, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners, wedding professionals
Posted by admin on January 8, 2010 · Leave a Comment
TO PLANNER OR NOT TO PLANNER
How to Hire a Wedding Planner
By Patti Herioux
With Love, Event Planner
That shiny new ring on your finger is just the start of your wedding planning process. Maybe you are the bride who already has a binder of magazine cut-outs -we’ve all seen that episode of ‘Friends” – or perhaps you have never given much thought to the details of what will be your wedding day. Either way, a wedding planner can be your biggest advocate in this entire process.
A good wedding planner will take your hand and guide you through the planning and execution of your day, making it as much fun and as painless as it can possibly be. She can save you time, money, anxiety and, from time to time, a bit of your sanity. As you set out to find the right planner for you, consider what it is a wedding planner does.
A full service wedding planner will be with you every step of the way. She will start by helping you select your ceremony and reception venues and be able to make recommendations for all of the vendors you need to hire. She will attend your meetings with you, help you procure contracts, brainstorm ideas, work with you to design the décor and ambiance of the day and find all the pieces you need to make your visions come to life.
Your wedding planner will serve as your roadmap to the who, what, when, where and how’s of your day. As you get into the actual celebration she will be with you at rehearsal and will oversee every detail of the wedding day. From establishing timelines and floorplans to being the point of contact for your vendors, to letting you know what comes next as the day unfolds, she will be there.
Think of her as the CEO of your event. She will make sure all the ‘departments’
have the information and items they need to enact the plan at all the right moments. She will also be able to deal with anything that may not go according to plan (something will go wrong, be ready for that) but with a good planner you will likely never even know!
As with all your vendors, but especially with you planner because of how much she will be with you, pay close attention to your personal connection and gut feeling. Do you like her personality? Does she seem to understand YOUR vision of your day? Does she seem excited about your event? Do you
feel comfortable with her? Take a few minutes to get to know each other, if you like her, assess her knowledge and background and then discuss her fees and duties.
You’ve probably seen the movie “The Wedding Planner.” That movie and the surge in bridal shows on women’s television stations created huge interest in this field. You probably have a friend (or many even you) who’s dream job is to be a wedding planner. But a true wedding planning professional comes with
background in the industry, a knowledge base of more than planning her own
wedding, and is focused on this as her career.
Ask your planner about her experience in the industry and the past events she has done. Does she demonstrate a working knowledge about weddings? Get a feel for how she has handled emotions, interpersonal conflicts, and crisis situations in the past. Does she have a comprehensive list of recommended
vendors? Ask her to explain her planning process and how you will work together. Look at pictures of her past events and ask if you can speak to former clients.
If you like her, she has the knowledge and experience level you are comfortable with, and you are thinking you would like to hire her, it’s time to talk price. Pricing for planners can vary greatly. Things such as the size and scope of your wedding, location (is travel involved), your potential planners level of experience and what extra perks are offered can affect the price. Full service wedding planning is usually charged as a percentage of the total cost of the wedding. 10
– 15% is a standard range. However, most planners do have a minimum fee for small budget weddings.
Consider the value received versus the dollar spent. I have seen planners that have paid for themselves fully with what they were able to save the client. Many times planners can get you discounts with vendors they work with often or are aware of how to get price breaks on items you have to purchase. Some planners have things in their own inventory, such as candles holders, card boxes, vases, etc. that you are free to use as a client, and therefore you don’t have that extra expense yourself.
Get a contract with your chosen wedding planner. The contract should state the specifics of your wedding date and location, the services and fees agreed upon, the date the services start, an outline of any potential additional fees and list any
tangible goods included. Review the contact specifications together and make sure you both have a signed copy. After you have a signed contract you
and your planner will start down the road to happy planning!
How to Hire a Wedding Planner
By Patti Herioux
With Love, Event Planner
-
That shiny new ring on your finger is just the start of your wedding planning process. Maybe you are the bride who already has a binder of magazine cut-outs -we’ve all seen that episode of ‘Friends” – or perhaps you have never given much thought to the details of what will be your wedding day. Either way, a wedding planner can be your biggest advocate in this entire process. Read more
Filed under Wedding Advice, Wedding Planners · Tagged with Chicago, Chicago wedding, Chicago Wedding Planner, Chicago wedding vendors, Wedding, Wedding Advice, wedding budget, Wedding Budgeting, wedding newsletter, Wedding Planners, Wedding Planning, wedding professionals, Wedding Tips
