And congratulations to wedding planner Lynn Ianizzi of Finer Points, and the staff at the Joshua Wilton, for putting on an outstanding event. And to DJ Danny Craig for keeping the dance floor full for nearly three hours. (Never an easy feat.)
Monday, June 01, 2009
Harrisonburg - JMU - Joshua Wilton
Beautiful weather Saturday, great couple, fun families... could not have been a better day for Emma and Alan. We've barely started going through photos, but here is a sneak peek for family and friends to check out.
And congratulations to wedding planner Lynn Ianizzi of Finer Points, and the staff at the Joshua Wilton, for putting on an outstanding event. And to DJ Danny Craig for keeping the dance floor full for nearly three hours. (Never an easy feat.)
And congratulations to wedding planner Lynn Ianizzi of Finer Points, and the staff at the Joshua Wilton, for putting on an outstanding event. And to DJ Danny Craig for keeping the dance floor full for nearly three hours. (Never an easy feat.)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Clifton Inn, Charlottesville VA
Rained in Charlottesville a couple weeks ago for Rebecca and Matt's wedding, but the Clifton Inn was nice enough to hold a tent over from the previous day's wedding... so everyone stayed dry. You know a staff cares when the Event Coordinator and Facility Manager are hard at work on umbrella duty. This was our third time at the Clifton Inn in the last couple years, and as always they did a wonderful job.
Congratulations Rebecca and Matt!
Congratulations Rebecca and Matt!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Bubbles over Rice (or Bird Seed)
Another of our less than thought-provoking survey results:
Couples prefer bubbles by a 3 to 1 margin over rice or bird seed. Why? Less mess, less cleanup, and bubbles don't run afoul of increasingly tight venue restrictions. (A number of venues prohibit rice and bird seed in their contracts - they don't want to clean it up or avoid hungry birds later.)
Plus bubbles are a lot less likely to end up in your hair, your gown, or your eyes. And from our point of view they tend to make for better exit photos.
Couples prefer bubbles by a 3 to 1 margin over rice or bird seed. Why? Less mess, less cleanup, and bubbles don't run afoul of increasingly tight venue restrictions. (A number of venues prohibit rice and bird seed in their contracts - they don't want to clean it up or avoid hungry birds later.)
Plus bubbles are a lot less likely to end up in your hair, your gown, or your eyes. And from our point of view they tend to make for better exit photos.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Reflections on 2009 Wedding Dress Trends
Okay, so the word "reflections" was chosen just so we could fit this picture in...
... but it's also appropriate. Since we've been photographing weddings for years, we have some experience with trends and changes in tastes and wedding styles. From what we can gather, here are some wedding dress trends for 2009:
An easy way to find clues about what designers are thinking is to look at the keywords they use to describe their wedding dress styles: this year it's words like construction, waves, sophisticated, folds, textures, glamorous, scale, proportions, old hollywood, seductive, necklines, lace, small details, short, blooms, color, lightweight.
More designers are using fabrics to create small details that add a little flair to their gowns. Beadwork and glitter are still be popular, but early looks show layering and dress construction that further helps to create a sense of drama, especially in oblique lighting.
Short dresses are also coming back, and will be more popular in warmer areas.
Strapless gowns will still be popular, but necklines and sleeves can be elegant, too. (Plus strapless gowns create the universal problem - no matter how well they fit, gravity takes a tool and you'll spend a lot of time pulling your dress up.) When you're choosing, think about the environment you’ll be in for your wedding day, and try on a few dresses with straps just to be sure strapless is right for you.
... but it's also appropriate. Since we've been photographing weddings for years, we have some experience with trends and changes in tastes and wedding styles. From what we can gather, here are some wedding dress trends for 2009:
An easy way to find clues about what designers are thinking is to look at the keywords they use to describe their wedding dress styles: this year it's words like construction, waves, sophisticated, folds, textures, glamorous, scale, proportions, old hollywood, seductive, necklines, lace, small details, short, blooms, color, lightweight.
More designers are using fabrics to create small details that add a little flair to their gowns. Beadwork and glitter are still be popular, but early looks show layering and dress construction that further helps to create a sense of drama, especially in oblique lighting.
Short dresses are also coming back, and will be more popular in warmer areas.
Strapless gowns will still be popular, but necklines and sleeves can be elegant, too. (Plus strapless gowns create the universal problem - no matter how well they fit, gravity takes a tool and you'll spend a lot of time pulling your dress up.) When you're choosing, think about the environment you’ll be in for your wedding day, and try on a few dresses with straps just to be sure strapless is right for you.
More Congratulations
More congratulations are in order. We photographed Jeremiah and Erin Bishop's wedding several years ago....
Jeremiah is a world-class mountain bike racer, and last year he won the U.S. National Mountain Bike Championship in both the short track and the marathon classifications. (Just how good is he? In 2006 he placed eight at the World Championships, which is the highest placing of any U.S. male at that event in over a decade.)
He's also a versatile rider; above is a photo we took at the 2006 Tour of Shenandoah road race, an event he entered just to mix up his training (and as a favor to race organizers.)
He's also been invited to be on the panel of the Washington & Lee University Institute of Honor Conference this month, "Sports in America: Playing Fair," where he'll discuss his views on doping and illegal performance enhancement. (Quick summary: He's against it.)
It's quite an honor, since the conference features speakers like Myles Brand, the head of the NCAA, Travis Tygert, Senior Managing Director and General Counsel of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and Jeffrey Toobin, lawyer, author, and legal analyst for CNN and The New Yorker.
Jeremiah is a world-class mountain bike racer, and last year he won the U.S. National Mountain Bike Championship in both the short track and the marathon classifications. (Just how good is he? In 2006 he placed eight at the World Championships, which is the highest placing of any U.S. male at that event in over a decade.)
He's also a versatile rider; above is a photo we took at the 2006 Tour of Shenandoah road race, an event he entered just to mix up his training (and as a favor to race organizers.)
He's also been invited to be on the panel of the Washington & Lee University Institute of Honor Conference this month, "Sports in America: Playing Fair," where he'll discuss his views on doping and illegal performance enhancement. (Quick summary: He's against it.)
It's quite an honor, since the conference features speakers like Myles Brand, the head of the NCAA, Travis Tygert, Senior Managing Director and General Counsel of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and Jeffrey Toobin, lawyer, author, and legal analyst for CNN and The New Yorker.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Thanks for a Great 2008
Thanks to all our couples for a wonderful 2008. We were fortunate enough to photograph weddings in Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Lexington, Staunton, Waynesboro, Luray, Richmond, Woodstock, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Fairfax, Alexandria, Manassas, Arlington, Reston, Woodbridge, Warm Springs, Winchester...
... Front Royal, Roanoke, Culpeper, and Staunton, plus out of state locations like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Raleigh, Monterey, Philadelphia, and New York.
Everyone at BlackBird Images wishes you - and for a number of you, your recently born kids or kids on the way - all the best in the years to come.
... Front Royal, Roanoke, Culpeper, and Staunton, plus out of state locations like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Raleigh, Monterey, Philadelphia, and New York.
Everyone at BlackBird Images wishes you - and for a number of you, your recently born kids or kids on the way - all the best in the years to come.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Don't Be Afraid of Unusual Angles
If the only times you've been professionally photographed were in a portrait studio, you're probably conditioned to the same old poses and camera angles. Even so, be open to trying something different - the results can be striking.
(It also helps that, in this case, there are picnic tables at JMU's Arboretum for us to stand on.)
(It also helps that, in this case, there are picnic tables at JMU's Arboretum for us to stand on.)
Quick Photoshop Discussion
At just about every wedding at least one person will say something along the lines of, "Oh, that's okay... they can always Photoshop that out." And it's true - skilled Photoshop users can do magical things. We perform some type of corrections on every proof: cropping, adjust light levels, correcting color castes, and sometimes retouching minor imperfections. Or we'll do a lot of work to rescue a what can be a great photo, like in this case.
Occasionally we perform major surgery: turning ex-boyfriends into bushes, removing objects from the background, even putting people in a photo who weren't originally there.
But what we don't do is turn people into something they're not. Here's a notorious example of photoshopping; the version of Faith Hill on the right is the original photo, retouched on the left.
As you can see, she got thinner, picked up a healthier glow, and had her face smoothed significantly. (What's ironic is if they had used the original photo, most people would have thought she looked odd, since we're all conditioned to seeing heavily-retouched photos in magazines. Our paradigm has changed so what's real no longer looks real.)
Here's a Jessica Alba before/after version.
The lighting is a little different, but you can easily see where some shaping/sculpting has been performed.
There are tons of examples of celebrity retouching, so we'll stop there... but you might like seeing a couple examples of outright Photoshop mistakes. Here's one from England's Daily Mail; evidently an editor felt the magazine the gentleman is holding had to go, but the tech didn't finish the job.
Now check out this image of Beyonce. It's a striking image... which may distract you from the fact there's no way her hands could be in that position. Check out her right shoulder; the only way to push your shoulder forward like that is to angle your arm backwards at the same time. (Try it.) Yet somehow her right hand has managed to sneak all the way back around to hold the perfume bottle.
Along the same lines is the Spiderman 2 poster. While artistic license is definitely assumed for movie posters, it's still hard to imagine how Kirsten Dunst's arm is long enough to reach under and then up to Spidey's shoulder, especially the way her upper arm is angled.
Does it really matter? Nope - without her hand on his shoulder, the poster loses a lot of its emotional effect. While she's clearly hanging on, showing her hand with her fingers spread also implies an intimacy and a sense of caring... so while this pose is anatomically impossible, you could also argue it's necessary for the poster to be successful.
But... what's not so understandable is altering what at least pretend to be news photos. In the photo below Brad Pitt is carrying one of his kids with his left arm... yet the same child's face is floating over his right shoulder, too.
What does all this have to do with wedding photography? Maybe not much... but maybe a lot. Imagine you're, say, Jessica Alba. You're undeniably beautiful, yet when you pick up a magazine and see how much retouching the editors felt needed to be done to your images, how good can that feel? Clearly the implication is you're good... but not nearly good enough.
Bottom line? Be yourself. Relax. We'll help you look your best while making sure your photos show the real you - not a plastic version of you. Year later when you look at your photos, your first thought will be, "Wow - I looked so good and was so happy that day..." not "Wow, they sure did a great job retouching my photos."
Occasionally we perform major surgery: turning ex-boyfriends into bushes, removing objects from the background, even putting people in a photo who weren't originally there.But what we don't do is turn people into something they're not. Here's a notorious example of photoshopping; the version of Faith Hill on the right is the original photo, retouched on the left.
As you can see, she got thinner, picked up a healthier glow, and had her face smoothed significantly. (What's ironic is if they had used the original photo, most people would have thought she looked odd, since we're all conditioned to seeing heavily-retouched photos in magazines. Our paradigm has changed so what's real no longer looks real.)
Here's a Jessica Alba before/after version.
The lighting is a little different, but you can easily see where some shaping/sculpting has been performed.There are tons of examples of celebrity retouching, so we'll stop there... but you might like seeing a couple examples of outright Photoshop mistakes. Here's one from England's Daily Mail; evidently an editor felt the magazine the gentleman is holding had to go, but the tech didn't finish the job.
Now check out this image of Beyonce. It's a striking image... which may distract you from the fact there's no way her hands could be in that position. Check out her right shoulder; the only way to push your shoulder forward like that is to angle your arm backwards at the same time. (Try it.) Yet somehow her right hand has managed to sneak all the way back around to hold the perfume bottle.
Along the same lines is the Spiderman 2 poster. While artistic license is definitely assumed for movie posters, it's still hard to imagine how Kirsten Dunst's arm is long enough to reach under and then up to Spidey's shoulder, especially the way her upper arm is angled.
Does it really matter? Nope - without her hand on his shoulder, the poster loses a lot of its emotional effect. While she's clearly hanging on, showing her hand with her fingers spread also implies an intimacy and a sense of caring... so while this pose is anatomically impossible, you could also argue it's necessary for the poster to be successful.But... what's not so understandable is altering what at least pretend to be news photos. In the photo below Brad Pitt is carrying one of his kids with his left arm... yet the same child's face is floating over his right shoulder, too.
What does all this have to do with wedding photography? Maybe not much... but maybe a lot. Imagine you're, say, Jessica Alba. You're undeniably beautiful, yet when you pick up a magazine and see how much retouching the editors felt needed to be done to your images, how good can that feel? Clearly the implication is you're good... but not nearly good enough.Bottom line? Be yourself. Relax. We'll help you look your best while making sure your photos show the real you - not a plastic version of you. Year later when you look at your photos, your first thought will be, "Wow - I looked so good and was so happy that day..." not "Wow, they sure did a great job retouching my photos."
Monday, December 29, 2008
... But Traditional is Also Great
Our last post may cause you to think we favor non-traditional or heavily-stylized photos. In the end we favor making our clients happy: If you want non-traditional, we'll deliver. If you prefer a classic look, we'll deliver.
For example, one of our wedding favorites from the last couple years is this photo.
Why? It's not stylized or photoshopped or meticulously posed; instead it's clean, simple, clearly evokes a time and a place... and captures both Shelley's warmth and her sense of playfulness.
Most importantly, it's the look she wanted.
For example, one of our wedding favorites from the last couple years is this photo.
Why? It's not stylized or photoshopped or meticulously posed; instead it's clean, simple, clearly evokes a time and a place... and captures both Shelley's warmth and her sense of playfulness. Most importantly, it's the look she wanted.
Bridal Portraits - With a Twist
Traditional bridal portraits will never go out of style, but more and more brides are looking for something less conventional. In fact, some of the shoots we've done recently would never be defined as bridal, even though that was the clients' intent. They wanted something different... and we think you'll agree they got it.
Keep in mind these take time and effort to shoot - on our part as well as yours. Hair, makeup, location... all are critical. (For the photo above you need to be willing to stand partly unclothed in 40-degree temperatures on a windy beach.) Or you may want something a little less literal and heavily stylized ---
Again, you can't just roll out of bed and get this kind of look. (Great genetics help, too.) But a studio isn't always necessary - we pulled this off under natural light coming through a high window. It was a two-minute setup that turned out to be Michelle's favorite from the entire session, for reasons that are hopefully obvious.
Time of year is critical, too - the cherry trees were in full bloom for less than a week, but they're perfect for the look she wanted.
So if you're looking for something non-traditional, start talking to us now so we can pull all the elements together!
Keep in mind these take time and effort to shoot - on our part as well as yours. Hair, makeup, location... all are critical. (For the photo above you need to be willing to stand partly unclothed in 40-degree temperatures on a windy beach.) Or you may want something a little less literal and heavily stylized ---
Again, you can't just roll out of bed and get this kind of look. (Great genetics help, too.) But a studio isn't always necessary - we pulled this off under natural light coming through a high window. It was a two-minute setup that turned out to be Michelle's favorite from the entire session, for reasons that are hopefully obvious.
Time of year is critical, too - the cherry trees were in full bloom for less than a week, but they're perfect for the look she wanted.
So if you're looking for something non-traditional, start talking to us now so we can pull all the elements together!
Shenandoah River
We scheduled a sunrise engagement session a few weeks ago and while waiting for the couple to arrive were treated to this. Definitely makes getting up early worth it ----
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Church Photos
We tend to focus on faces - kinda natural, since we're wedding photographers, not landscape or architecture photographers. But we've gotten a lot of requests to see church photos, so here are some random ones from the last few months. Bonus points if you can name all four churches.
In order, First Baptist Church, Woodstock; Jackson Memorial Hall, VMI; First Baptist Church, Waynesboro; Parkview Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg.
In order, First Baptist Church, Woodstock; Jackson Memorial Hall, VMI; First Baptist Church, Waynesboro; Parkview Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg.
Renewing Vows - One Week Later
A few months ago we photographed a "second" wedding ceremony; the couple were married in Arizona, went on their honeymoon, then came to Virginia to hold a second ceremony for local friends and family. Here they are outside the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Staunton (where we've photographed five receptions this year alone.)
We've seen more of this type event in recent years - destination weddings are still popular, but often the couple will limit the guests at the destination and then hold a second service (or just a reception) for those who were not able to travel.
Speaking of the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, they do a consistently great job with receptions. The location is great, the service is excellent... we're always happy to work there. If you're looking for a venue, check them out.
We've seen more of this type event in recent years - destination weddings are still popular, but often the couple will limit the guests at the destination and then hold a second service (or just a reception) for those who were not able to travel.
Speaking of the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, they do a consistently great job with receptions. The location is great, the service is excellent... we're always happy to work there. If you're looking for a venue, check them out.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Old Hickory Golf Club - Woodbridge, VA
A few more photos from Kirsten and Ryan's wedding in Woodbridge, VA. Foliage was pretty, but Kirsten looked even more spectacular.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Fall Weddings...
Quick post to show the splendor of fall foliage... we were in Woodbridge, VA for Kirsten and Ryan's wedding. Kirsten had found this spot less than a mile from the country club where the wedding was held... perfect!
Friday, October 31, 2008
VMI Wedding
Face it - we get to go to pretty cool places to photograph weddings. Last week's wedding was at VMI in Lexington, VA. Here's the bride before the wedding on the parade deck, the huge field circled by a majority of the campus buildings.
You can visit much of the campus anytime, but the barracks are off limits... unless you're with the right company, it seems. Here's the groom and his groomsmen at the entrance to the barracks area - this part of the campus you can see even if you're not a cadet or member of the administration.
So far so good, but then the guys decided they'd like to go inside for a photo where they used to live. What you can see below are the guys on the second floor balcony. What you don't see are the disapproving stares and muttered conversations of cadets who are not at all happy that visitors are inside the barracks. (According to one of the parents, they had only been inside twice during their son's four years at the school on official visiting days.)
I guess it helps to have seven alumni along, including Marine, Navy, and Army officers, if you're going to break a regulation or two.
The Chapel is beautiful; it's a wonderful blend of tradition and history. (By the way, the museum located in the basement includes Stonewall Jackson's horse, Little Sorrel; he looks a little the worse for wear - admittedly, we would too over a hundred years later, stuffed or not.)
The walk back down the aisle is interrupted by the saber arch, a military wedding tradition. (And kudos to the cadets in the honor party; they stood at attention for well over an hour before the service even started.)
The couple aren't allowed to pass until a kiss is exchanged; it's a very cute moment.
We decided to extend the saber arch tradition in honor of the groom's gift to his new bride; here they are in front of the new BMW he surprised her with while we were taking post-ceremony photos.
The cadets are incredibly professional, for want of a better word: They're dignified, reserved, respectful... very impressive. Their demeanor makes them seem older than their years. But right after we took this photo, one of the cadets asked me if we needed them for anything else.
We said we didn't, and thanked them for their help. He then whispered, "What's the deal with the car, anyway?" We told him it was a gift, and he softly said, "Sweeeet..." It was a very cute moment and a reminder that, inside the uniform and the discipline, the cadets are still just kids.
VMI is a neat setting for a wedding, but don't get your hopes up: You have to be an alumni. It is a memorable site, but it was also fun to watch the alumni attending the wedding reminiscing. Clearly the bonds built while at the school last a lifetime. Note in the photo below the groom's sash; that signifies his status as a VMI alumni.)
Congratulations to Jennifer and Parker!
You can visit much of the campus anytime, but the barracks are off limits... unless you're with the right company, it seems. Here's the groom and his groomsmen at the entrance to the barracks area - this part of the campus you can see even if you're not a cadet or member of the administration.
So far so good, but then the guys decided they'd like to go inside for a photo where they used to live. What you can see below are the guys on the second floor balcony. What you don't see are the disapproving stares and muttered conversations of cadets who are not at all happy that visitors are inside the barracks. (According to one of the parents, they had only been inside twice during their son's four years at the school on official visiting days.)
I guess it helps to have seven alumni along, including Marine, Navy, and Army officers, if you're going to break a regulation or two.The Chapel is beautiful; it's a wonderful blend of tradition and history. (By the way, the museum located in the basement includes Stonewall Jackson's horse, Little Sorrel; he looks a little the worse for wear - admittedly, we would too over a hundred years later, stuffed or not.)
The walk back down the aisle is interrupted by the saber arch, a military wedding tradition. (And kudos to the cadets in the honor party; they stood at attention for well over an hour before the service even started.)
The couple aren't allowed to pass until a kiss is exchanged; it's a very cute moment.
We decided to extend the saber arch tradition in honor of the groom's gift to his new bride; here they are in front of the new BMW he surprised her with while we were taking post-ceremony photos.
The cadets are incredibly professional, for want of a better word: They're dignified, reserved, respectful... very impressive. Their demeanor makes them seem older than their years. But right after we took this photo, one of the cadets asked me if we needed them for anything else.
We said we didn't, and thanked them for their help. He then whispered, "What's the deal with the car, anyway?" We told him it was a gift, and he softly said, "Sweeeet..." It was a very cute moment and a reminder that, inside the uniform and the discipline, the cadets are still just kids.VMI is a neat setting for a wedding, but don't get your hopes up: You have to be an alumni. It is a memorable site, but it was also fun to watch the alumni attending the wedding reminiscing. Clearly the bonds built while at the school last a lifetime. Note in the photo below the groom's sash; that signifies his status as a VMI alumni.)
Congratulations to Jennifer and Parker!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Staunton Bridal Portraits
We saved this post until today to make sure Jennifer's fiancee Parker wouldn't see her bridal portraits before their wedding Saturday - the dress, hair, etc were all a surprise for him.
Downtown Staunton has a number of neat locations... plus Jennifer's classic gown and veil fit right in with the old-town feel.
The train station is a perfect spot - lots of different looks and basically deserted much of the time. And right across the street is a quaint little street... we couldn't resist taking advantage of the red door.
And we also took advantage of the courtesy of a tour group. The city operates a few cable car-ish buses for downtown transportation. We flagged one down and asked the driver if we could use the bus for a few quick images. He was a hesitant, but the tour group (they all had name tags - must have been a tour group) talked him into it. Made for a classic image - and kudos to Jennifer for pulling off an amazing pose with about 50 people watching.
Downtown Staunton has a number of neat locations... plus Jennifer's classic gown and veil fit right in with the old-town feel.
The train station is a perfect spot - lots of different looks and basically deserted much of the time. And right across the street is a quaint little street... we couldn't resist taking advantage of the red door.
And we also took advantage of the courtesy of a tour group. The city operates a few cable car-ish buses for downtown transportation. We flagged one down and asked the driver if we could use the bus for a few quick images. He was a hesitant, but the tour group (they all had name tags - must have been a tour group) talked him into it. Made for a classic image - and kudos to Jennifer for pulling off an amazing pose with about 50 people watching.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Wedding Planning Advice from Brides #3
More wedding planning advice from couples after their wedding:
"Our motto all along was to keep it simple. We wanted the day to be special but did not want to spend such an enormous amount on the event. With a budget of under $10,000 I think we did a good job and were pleased with the experience. We were able to be budget savvy by utilizing the internet. Our invitations, flowers, vases, ribbon, and bridesmaid dresses were all ordered online.
"Things I loved about the wedding (other than our amazing photographers) were the flowers, the cake, and the bridesmaids' dresses. We saved a ton of money by ordering the tulips from a supplier in Holland. Folks got together the Friday before the wedding to help with the flower arrangements and I even made my own bouquet! The simplicity of having one type of flower throughout was stunning. The bridesmaid dresses were simple and ordered from an online JCrew sale. I know for a fact they have actually worn the dresses again!
"One thing I do recommend to all of my friends is to do a practice run for the hair. I was able to communicate with my stylist and we both understood what I wanted. As such on the day of the wedding I was calm and relaxed, knowing that my look would turn out exactly as I had planned. We also saved money by having the folks at Origins apply my makeup for free! "We were successful in not letting the planning overwhelm us and not get carried away with expensive details.
When I look back, I do sometimes wish we could have changed the venue from the church social hall to a local vineyard. Naturally, that would have cost significantly more money but if I could change one thing, that would probably be it. Overall, the day was wonderful and we were able to enjoy every minute of it. The details all reflected our personalities and style. We are so happy being married and believe that it was the best decision we ever made."
"Our motto all along was to keep it simple. We wanted the day to be special but did not want to spend such an enormous amount on the event. With a budget of under $10,000 I think we did a good job and were pleased with the experience. We were able to be budget savvy by utilizing the internet. Our invitations, flowers, vases, ribbon, and bridesmaid dresses were all ordered online.
"Things I loved about the wedding (other than our amazing photographers) were the flowers, the cake, and the bridesmaids' dresses. We saved a ton of money by ordering the tulips from a supplier in Holland. Folks got together the Friday before the wedding to help with the flower arrangements and I even made my own bouquet! The simplicity of having one type of flower throughout was stunning. The bridesmaid dresses were simple and ordered from an online JCrew sale. I know for a fact they have actually worn the dresses again!
"One thing I do recommend to all of my friends is to do a practice run for the hair. I was able to communicate with my stylist and we both understood what I wanted. As such on the day of the wedding I was calm and relaxed, knowing that my look would turn out exactly as I had planned. We also saved money by having the folks at Origins apply my makeup for free! "We were successful in not letting the planning overwhelm us and not get carried away with expensive details.
When I look back, I do sometimes wish we could have changed the venue from the church social hall to a local vineyard. Naturally, that would have cost significantly more money but if I could change one thing, that would probably be it. Overall, the day was wonderful and we were able to enjoy every minute of it. The details all reflected our personalities and style. We are so happy being married and believe that it was the best decision we ever made."
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Want to Be a Great Wedding Guest? Here's a Not-To-Do List
A few days ago we did an interview for Fox News, sharing wedding-day horror stories about rude or tacky guest behavior. For fun we thought we'd recap a few here. All the stories are true. Here are some things you should never do at a wedding:
- Arrive less than 10 minutes early. Every wedding has a few latecomers, typically right when the bride is ready to walk down the aisle. More than once all the bridesmaids have entered, the music changes to signal the bride's imminent entry, the doors swing open... and ten people rush in and struggle to find seats. (We've even seen brides have to stop mid-aisle to wait for late arrivals who decide they'd rather sit on the other side of the aisle - and pick that moment to change seats.) The bride's entry is a huge moment - don't spoil it by being late. If you are running behind, linger outside until you know the bride has walked the aisle, then slip in the back relatively unnoticed.
- Leave your devices on. Sounds simple, but at probably 1 out of 4 weddings someone's cell phone rings. You're not that important - turn if off for twenty minutes.
- Dress down. While you may want to be comfortable (who doesn't), dressing up for the wedding shows respect for the bride and groom. If you're not sure what to wear, ask. Over-dressed is always better than under-dressed. Weddings aren't the time to express your individuality.
- Mob the bride and groom immediately after the service. Some guests make a beeline to hug the bride and groom once the ceremony is over. It's a nice gesture, but it spoils any chance the newly married couple has to enjoy a semi-private moment together. Give them a chance to enjoy each other for a couple of minutes - it's the last private time they'll have until the reception is over.
- Complain about the food. The bride and groom likely spent a lot of time planning the menu, even if it's simple and straightforward. There's no way they can accommodate everyone's tastes - don't expect them to. If you don't like what's available, nibble a little and then grab a bite on the way home. While you may think you're complaining about the caterer, in effect you're ultimately criticizing the bride and groom... after all, they chose the food.
- As a matter of fact, complain about anything - or anyone. The bride and groom want their day to be perfect. Sure, another wedding may have been more fun, or more lavishly catered, or had a better band... but who cares? Comments you make are bound to be overheard - don't spoil the couple's day by complaining or gossiping. If you must, save it until you get home.
- Make the wedding about you. Getting drunk and having to be carried out (literally) by security and loaded into the back of an SUV may sound like a funny story to tell your friends later, but for the guests... not so much. Undressing on the dance floor? Making a 15-minute toast explaining how important you are to the bride, instead of talking about how important she is to you? Deciding the bride has to throw her bouquet instead of giving it to her grandmother as she planned? Trying to change the reception schedule, on the spot, without even consulting the couple, because you're positive your way will be a lot more fun? Throwing a fit because the groom doesn't want a posed family photo that includes the guy you met a week ago? In the light of day those don't sound like good ideas, but we've seen every one of them happen. Let the bride and groom set the tone for the wedding, and act accordingly. It's their wedding, not yours.
Historic Sites as Wedding Locations
We've noticed that couples are increasingly using historic sites as their wedding locations. Churches, resorts, and wineries are still popular choices, but many couples seem to be looking for something a little different. With a little research you can find a wide variety of venues offering a wide variety of services and amenities.
Some, like the Cyrus McCormack Farm in Steeles Tavern, VA (not too far from Lexington) simply let you use the grounds; everything else is up to you and your vendors to provide. Others, like Charlottesville's Ash Lawn (James Monroe's home) can provide everything, including on-site kitchen facilities for your caterer, tents, a pavilion... basically it's a full-service location.
Finding a spot in your area is easy. Use search terms like "historic wedding site fairfax" or "wedding location historic richmond" and you can find the local government site listing venues. For example, here's the site for Fairfax County, and here's the site for Prince William County. Another added bonus: Costs also tend to be somewhat lower than at for-profit locations.
Some, like the Cyrus McCormack Farm in Steeles Tavern, VA (not too far from Lexington) simply let you use the grounds; everything else is up to you and your vendors to provide. Others, like Charlottesville's Ash Lawn (James Monroe's home) can provide everything, including on-site kitchen facilities for your caterer, tents, a pavilion... basically it's a full-service location.
Finding a spot in your area is easy. Use search terms like "historic wedding site fairfax" or "wedding location historic richmond" and you can find the local government site listing venues. For example, here's the site for Fairfax County, and here's the site for Prince William County. Another added bonus: Costs also tend to be somewhat lower than at for-profit locations.
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