Lost Leaders Create a Lost Sales Belief For Service Professionals, Small Business Owners & SOHO

Many service professionals, small business owners and SOHO especially consultants and executive coaches engage in the marketing practice of lost leaders. This marketing strategy is to attract people to them with the belief that give them something free and they will buy. Unfortunately, the reality is unless the person receiving this "freebie" is a qualified potential customer (a.k.a. prospect) the likelihood of a sale is almost as far away as without the free offer. Sales Coaching Tip: Build it and they will come is not a viable strategy to increase sales.

Lost leaders can be seen in many retail stores from grocery to clothing to even restaurants. There are even some specific days such as Black Friday where the premise is all about giving something away at below cost.

The essential problem with this marketing strategy is that is creates a lost sale belief. If, I as a sales professional believe my service is a lost leader, then why should I be surprised when I do not earn the sale. Sales Coaching Tip: You receive what you believe.

For those who engage in this practice, a better way to think internally which is always reflected consciously or subconsciously externally is delayed billing. Yes you will give this individual something free that is value added laden. However, upon completion of whatever the free offering is, this person will become a client and thus you are only delaying the billing for your services.

Let me share with you one example in case you are confused. Many executive coaches and even some consultants provide a free coaching or consulting session. Some of these folks may actually throw in an assessment to sweeten the offer. This assessment may actually cost them some hard cash usually under $25. The conscious belief is so what it is just $20 bucks and I spend that on lunch while the unconscious belief is No big deal if I do not get the sale. This unconscious belief I believe is the sales killer because you as the salesperson are broadcasting this without even knowing it.

When you adopt the delayed billing belief, you are now broadcasting subconsciously to the other person that you believe he or she is a potential client. Your body language is now in congruency with that belief as is your verbal communications.

Within the education based marketing approach, lost leaders are one proven strategy provided the free offering has incredible value and is being offered to a potentially qualified customer. If you are engaged in this strategy, then stop thinking lost leaders and begin to think delayed billing and realize your goal to increase sales.

Should I Hire a Photo Booth Rental For My Wedding?

Every bride has asked the question, "Is photo booth rental a good idea for my wedding?" In most cases, the answer is a resounding YES! Now if you are talking about the old school or DIY photo booths where only two person can sit on the bench or the booth is simply hideous to look at then I can understand your concerns. I would not consider that type of photo booth for my wedding either. Not only will those booth ruin the theme or decor of your wedding, it might stand out like a sore thumb. And let's not get into the liability aspect of the DIYer's photo booth. Fortunately, time has changed and modern photo booths are phasing out the old and self-built ones.

Before you book any photo booth rental, make sure you check out the vendor's website. Take a look at the photo booth design. Asked the vendor a few questions. Is it made out of wood? Is it easily transportable? Some vendors will charge for idling fees (the amount of time the booth is sitting idle at the venue) and some will not. That all depends on the vendor, staffing and how difficult it is to transport the booth.

Now the following question that brides often ask is, "Why do I need a photo booth if I already have a photographer?". Well, that's a great question! The photographer's job is to capture all the precious moments that happens on your wedding day with the bride and groom being the subject. Occasionally, he/she might snap a few shots of the guests and that's it. The photo booth's job is to grab pictures of all the guests that attended your wedding. Not when they are talking or daydreaming but when they are willing, happy and engaging! One thing I've noticed during our photo booth rental was how everyone genuinely had so much fun taking their photos. The photos shows the raw emotions of happiness - people laughing, waiting anxiously by the printer for the photo to develop, or gathering in groups to judge their latest adventure into the photo booth. Photo booth rental is a huge hit on all of our rentals.

The greatest thing about the photo booth is the sense of spontaneity. There's no photographer telling you how to smile, how to stand, or that your smile needs to be more 'genuine'. From the time your wedding guest pushes the touchscreen monitor until the four photos have been taken, the most crazy, fun, and humourous things could be captured onto film.

We also get to see the purest feelings of love displayed in the photos: a group of friends, packing themselves into the photo booth to make the silliest faces possible. an elderly couple - perhaps the grandparents of the groom? - sneaking into the photo booth for their millionth kiss together. and the bride and groom themselves, bride in groom's arms, for one of their first kisses together as husband and wife.

Recently we attended a very classy event at Caesar's Windsor, we captured some of these emotions onto video.

Unleash the party and unleash the love with your very own wedding photobooth!

Why You Should Avoid Cheap Wedding Photographers - And Why You Should Be Happy to Pay More

Finding a wedding photographer can be a hard task. Many people only look for cheap wedding photographers; off course they end up saving some money, but this more often than not comes at a high price. Of course nobody will know what this high price was until at least a month after the wedding. Beware of minimal wedding quotations... more often than not they are at the base of a photography disaster. If a wedding photographer offers his services for say 250 or 300 Dollars, giving you three hours of photographic coverage, he or she is very likely to have to turn down a bigger booking for the same day later on. An amateur will probably not have another bigger booking ahead, so there is nothing to lose.

A professional wedding photographer will take much more than 250 or 300 pounds for a day's work (I'll tell you why later), so if he or she will really take so little for a day's work (and a lot more work after your wedding, as you will read later), chances are that he or she is not a professional photographer but just an amateur. Good luck to you! Most people looking for cheap wedding photographers have never hired a wedding photographer before, so they don't really know how to look for one. It's a zoo out there and it's really hard to find good and true information.

The internet doesn't really help either, because virtually all wedding websites offer paid information that can't obviously be negative, as everyone tends to safeguard their advertisers. It is not easy, but you should try to find a website that has no advertising interests and that will tell you how a photographer really is. The best place for this purpose is a customer reviews website, but again, it's very hard to find them.

By reading a wedding photographer review you can see what other people had to say about their experiences. Someone who is not very confident in his/her performance (for example a weekend photographer, a student or a freshly graduate), will still advertise all over the place, this is what makes the choice really hard: internet is reachable by virtually anyone, anywhere on the planet. It's not like years ago, when you could only purchase expensive adverts on real magazines. Internet is free! So you don't really know who is a pro and who is a student out there.

Talking about Canada, Vancouver is statistically the most expensive city in Canada, but a Vancouver Wedding Photographer is not necessarily more expensive than other wedding photographers in Canada. Inexpensive wedding Photographers can be found in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto Ontario, as well as in Vancouver. The real question is: do you want a cheap wedding photographer? A wedding involves a lot of "invisible" work that, like it or not, it has to be paid for. In my experience with weddings, the average photography job will keep a person busy for about 70 hours all included. Yes, that's right.

Beginning from meeting the bride and groom, to the delivery of the wedding album, wedding box or any other kind of finished work, a wedding is very time consuming for a photographer. The days in which wedding photographers only shot 100 images during the whole day are long gone. Nowadays wedding photographers (with the advent of digital photography) shoot a very large number of images, often touching the 2000 mark and these images require some substantial work. They eventually need to be digitally edited, fixed, chosen, printed, sorted, mounted... it's an awful lot of work! Getting the picture?

If you divide the total cost of the photographer by 70 hours, you will see what the Photography Company (NOT the Photographer) is actually getting. To that amount you have to take away all of the expenses (including the office rent, personnel expenses and bills) and you will easily see that there will be not much left. At this point there could be THREE possibilities: Someone that offers you very low wedding quotations is very unlikely to be a professional photographer because he or she:

1) Will NOT mind to work nearly for free (hobbyist)

2) Will NOT work for 70 hours on your wedding (probably has another job)

3) IS in desperate need of building a portfolio to gain work (zero experience)

All three cases are screaming an eventual DISASTER... So, as you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when choosing a wedding photographer and by now, you should understand why wedding photographers are expensive and why a cheap one cannot possibly be a pro. If you do want to save money and are willing to take a few risks, then I would advice you to hire a student photographer. Always make sure to get some sort of references; a teacher reference is considered to be the best one. In the early days photographers heavily relied on photo labs. Nowadays everything is done digitally, so the lab is history. The downside of this is that the photographer has a workload that is much bigger than before.

The reason why so many hours are needed is because digitally editing images takes a very long time. An image must first be opened in Photoshop (or similar photo editing program), it must be color calibrated, brightness, contrast, hue, white balance... there are so many adjustments to do and these are incredibly time consuming. Without creating any special effect, a single photographs will keep a photographer busy for approximately 6 minutes. Now when you multiply the average 6-7 minutes by the images you are getting, you can easily imagine what the photographer has been though. Then if you are getting some images with special effect, that can take hours for each photograph... 30 minutes is a short time for these modifications. I have heard many times people complaining about how much a wedding photographer makes: "1000 Dollars for just one day of work!" But it's not... it's 1000 dollars for about 70 hours of work... that is two weeks and it's not much at all when you think of all the bills and tax they have to pay to keep their business running. I hope this article helped you understand why photographers charge so much money for "one day's work".

Top Things to Consider When Choosing a Wedding Reception Venue

When looking for a venue to hold your next big event, conference, or wedding reception you may feel overwhelmed by all the options you are faced with. There are so many important factors that should be considered when making your decision and it can be difficult to know where to start. One helpful tip would be to make a list of what is most important to you when booking this event. Also, never sign the contract until you are sure of any additional charges that may have been tacked on.

The best way to gauge how your event will look if booked at a particular banquet hall is to interact face-to-face with the on-site event planner. The person that is heading up your event on location can be the biggest supporter of your event but they can also be the biggest opponent to the success of the event. The interest, time, and effort that you feel they are willing to spend in the initial meetings with you can be very telling of how the rest of your interactions and overall experience will be. Finding a event planner and venue staff that is accommodating to your requests can be just as important as the actual venue itself.

That being said, there are a few things about the venue itself that are absolutely necessary to know upfront and consider in your decision. First of all, the capacity of the room can help you decide if a location is even worth looking at for the event. If the room is not going to fit the anticipated number of guests, move on from it unless the venue is worth cutting down on your list. While evaluating the room, check the d矇cor. Does the room need a lot of added decorations to meet your standards? Will this fit in the budget? If you feel that money could be better spent on another area of the event than look around at your other options.

Besides a friendly, accommodating, staff and a beautiful room, the guests of your event are going to remember the food they are served. Never trust that because you like everything else about the location the food must be great too. When forming the menu, start by asking your planner what some favorite dishes are among the staff or from past events, then work from there. Always sit for a taste test of your final menu and don't be afraid to change something that doesn't taste just like the menu description describes. Taking these precautions should help in guaranteeing that the major bases of your event are covered.

Wedding Decor Planning - Find Your Wedding Motif

I come across many brides who become bemused when they start to study what they want for their wedding receptions. After being bombarded with so many images of flowers, tables and centre pieces, their original vision becomes lost. A lot of brides simply can't find anything which inspires them. Others have a feel of what they'd like but find it tricky to visualise or articulate it. However you feel, there is a way you can focus and create an event that fulfills your hearts desire. This simple task is really beneficial for brides as it helps them encapsulate what wedding decor style to go for.

Every bride ought to choose a wedding motif before they begin the planning process. A wedding motif is the visual representation of your style. It is a emblem or an item that will denote what you want your special day to be. An illustration would be a white swan for a bride who wants an elegant day or an orchid for an exotic event. Your motif can be anything an animal, a flower, an object, a landmark, a precious stone, or a fruit.

I usually suggest beginning with a brainstorming session. Say for example you getting married in spring, brainstorm things that remind you of spring; tulips, Easter, birth, renewal, energy etc. If you've already chosen a theme such as Vintage, expand on that in your brainstorming session; tea party, pearl, parasol, bird cage. When you have a list of words, let imagery inspire you. Search for images that signify these words, the internet is especially useful here. Save the imagery that you are drawn to and you believe characterise you and your partner. From here you can design your motif.

When you have your symbol be it a grapevine or a bunch of lavender, you can use it to help select every feature of your wedding decor. It makes choosing wedding decor, flowers, invitations and even colours much simpler and easier. Your symbol can be used within the decor. You may like it so much it could be used to embellish parts of your decor. The symbol may be recurring on your napkins, plates, chair covers, the possibilities are endless. You may just end up with an ideas board and you can't choose between the symbols. This can work to your benefit also - just use the several different symbols to make up the components of your theme.

An different but sometimes more difficult idea to finding your motif is to choose your archetypal bride, Pocahontas, Maid Marian etc. You can even use celebrities, Katie Price or Princess Diana. Your archetypal brides style will determine the style of the rest of the wedding decor.

Creating your motif is a fun task and it will really help you decide what kind of wedding you'd like. You can also use it in your wedding decor too. To demonstrate, let's say your symbol is the daisy. This instantly conveys that you would like an informal, personal day, perhaps in the open air, pinks, yellows, greens, spring/summer colours, natural, fresh, light and airy wedding decor. There you have it - you've just discovered your perfect wedding decor style.

SEO Tactics With Content Laden Links

Content-laden links

Search engines love context when assigning link values. In-line or content-laden links positioned within deeper page content provide search engines insight into the physical architecture of your website. By placing in-line links within the textual content of your website, you offer search engines a semantic structure to index.

How is this useful? Okay, that all sounds interesting enough - but what does that mean in the real world? When designing the structure of your website (and you are mapping your content before you construct it, right?) a main navigation or link structure is typically created. We will refer to these links as "top level" anchors:

Home - About - Services - Contact Us

Search engines place more value on content-laden links than your "top level" navigational elements. Your main navigation elements are clearly still important - after all, the usefulness of your site is more important than its rank on Google - what good is being found online if nobody finds your site compelling? Luckily content-laden links act as an SEO tool and a benefit to the user experience.

For example, an average website homepage contains some general introductory copy (and typically some imagery to add aesthetic value). Lets focus on the introductory paragraph.

If we target a keyword that has value or describes one of the major aspects of the website and turn that word or phrase into a link driving users to more information about the topic, we have created a useful content-laden link.

Let's say we are discussing a photography website. We will assume that "Wedding Photography" is the principal money maker for the company. So we have selected it as our first in-line or content laden link in our introductory paragraph on the website homepage. The text link "wedding photography" will direct our visitors to a page under the "services" section of the website. More specifically our content laden link will lead to a page called "event photography".

We can choose to make another text-based link from our intro paragraph. However, it is important to note that Google assigns more value to the FIRST in-line or content laden link it encounters. Therefore, you do NOT want to over saturate your homepage copy with links. If you do decide to target a second key phrase in your homepage copy, know that Google will rank its value as less important.

Why where your links point to within your website are very important

This basic hierarchy of creating content laden links establishes page relationships AND dictates the structure of your website to search engines in a meaningful way. Funnel main points or channels of information via in-line links with keyword text across all pages of content. As a result, each main section will refer to a subsequent category/subsection or topic that is more focused and refined. For example, remember we decided to make a link out of the text "wedding photography" in our intro paragraph? Well we should send that link to a sub-page of services. A subpage of services could be "Event Photography." But lets go one step further. Our website should include a whole separate page under "Event Photography" just for wedding photography. So visualize:

HOMEPAGE COPY LINK > SERVICES > EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY > WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

We are basically traversing the page structure down into more specific content. This lets Google know the relationship between these sections and adds value to them (in terms of the hierarchy of importance we've created). This is a way to let Google fully index your content. It shows your site is logical in structure, and your keywords are more effective this way because they are targeted within your own website.

Wedding Photo Album Compiling - Professional Or Amateur Photographs

The wedding photo album is a crucial part to remembering the best parts of your wedding ceremony. You can have one professionally compiled, which will consist of photos taken by a professional photographer and steer wedding; or you could have an album containing photos taken by friends and family members at the ceremony. This can give a unique insight into the ceremony as a whole.

If you are having a professional photographer take photos at your wedding, then chances are they will be including a wedding photo album with their charges. Many photographers offer a wide range of outputs you to choose from so you can pick out exactly what you want your cherished wedding photos sitting. However, these albums can be overpriced because they come from a professional. Like with most things, sometimes prices are jacked up simply due to the fact that they are being sold by a professional. It is possible to also get the photos from the photographer and compile your own album. This can be a more affordable alternative.

If you do not have a professional photographer coming to your wedding, then having the photos taken by the people who attended the wedding is a good idea. A wedding photo album that includes pictures taken by loved ones can do much more intimate than those taken by professional. What your friends and family lack in professional skill, they make up for in caring and being all over the ceremony. A professional can only be in one place at a time. If you have more than one person take photographs, then you can get every detail from different perspectives.

The album itself should be high quality solo last for years to come. The more common and more durable albums you can get will be made of leather. These can be customized to your liking if you want them to be, and they will last you for much longer than you may expect. These are where the more expensive options, but if you really want to album to last that is a good way to go.

Look of the album itself is almost as important as the photographs that it contains. Make sure that the album you choose is appropriately themed for your wedding so that you can look at the cover alone and recollect fond memories of that day. This way those memories will be ingrained into you forever, even the ones that you would not expect to remember.

It should be no small emphasis and how important the wedding photo album is. All of your precious memories of the ceremony will be stored within, and you will be able to look at them whenever you want. People cannot remember every detail of every day for but so long, and the same can be said even for days as important as your wedding.

Wedding Photography Tips - How to Take Great Table Shots

One of a photographer's least favorite types of pictures to take at a wedding is the table shot, the pictures of the guests at each table at a wedding reception. This is because it is hard to get everyone from a table organized, and it does not have the artistry of other photos at a wedding. But this does not mean they aren't important or you don't have to put much effort into them. On the contrary, these table shots are popular with wedding couples because they are a testament of who attended their special day. Moreover, for many guests who are on the fringe, that is who are not family or close friends of the wedding couple; this may be the only shot of them from the entire wedding. As I said above, chances are these are not going to be your most artistic shots of the night. The important thing in these pictures is that everyone is present, visible, in focus, and looks all right. In this article I am going to give you a few tips on how to make these shots turn out as nice as possible.

One of the most important things to taking table shots is having a strategy. Normally you will not be able to just go around the reception hall and get every table in order and at the same time. People will be walking around, or there will be servers coming by, so you will need to find a time to shoot each table. The first thing you need to do is keep track of which tables you shoot since you probably won't be able to get all the shots at once. Likewise, only shoot a table if everyone at the table is available for the picture. It doesn't make sense to set everyone up, do the shot, then have to come back and do the exact same shot later in the night. Therefore, as you are walking around taking other shots, you need to be looking around for tables where everyone is present. If you have an assistant, put him or her in charge of this.

The most common method to taking a table shot is to have everyone set up behind the table. Obviously make sure everyone is set up so the heights look pleasing to the eye, that is, not all the tall people on one side of the shot for example. Again, if you have an assistant, put him or her in charge of setting up the guests. Have people place their hands on the back the chair if it is just hanging there in the air. Make sure you get enough shots to account for the chance that someone blinks. With more people, there is more of a chance that at least one of them is blinking. Don't be afraid to make the guests wait a few seconds more to get some extra shots. You already took the time to make sure everyone from the table is present, and to set them up so they look nice. It would be a shame to have a blink ruin the shot.

Another tip is to make sure the table is neat. This does not mean taking all the plates off the table. You can crop the table so that only a small part of it is in the frame, but you still need to make sure that there is nothing distracting in the shot. After all, you never know if this is the picture they decide to frame and put on the wall.

One more thing to keep in mind is your F-stop. Try to use a larger F-stop if there is going to be a lot of people in the photo. Remember the saying eight is great. So set your F-stop to 8 if there is enough light (ambient or strobe). Likewise, try to set up the guests so they are all in the same depth of focus plane. Depending on your camera lens, you may not want to crop so tight in camera. Some cheaper lenses are very soft around the edges, so it would be better to do your cropping post-production. Having people's faces out of focus due to soft edges will kill a table shot.

Try these tips the next time you do table shots at a wedding. Thanks for reading!

How to Plan the Perfect Wedding Ceremony

What is the real focus of this day? The Ceremony! The whole reason for the day is the fact that you have found the love of your life. The most important moment is when you say, "I DO." It is the moment when two lives join. Two families unite and a new generation is born, that is so awesome. There is so much focus put on the dress, the reception, and the flowers; let us not forget the most important part of the day. Let's talk Ceremony.

Your Wedding Ceremony should be full of meaning, reflecting the story of you and your fianc. So let's break it down into three doable pieces.

1. Music and Reading Selections


2. Ceremony itself includes the Opening Commentary, Declarations of Intent, Exchange of Wedding vows, Blessing of the rings, Exchange of rings.


3. Reflections of you and your fianc.

First, here is a typical Order for a Ceremony. Pretty generic, how do we make it special.

• Ushers seat the guests (Prelude music playing)


• Special music begins


• Mothers/parents/VIPs enter and light candelabras


• Parents of the Bride and Groom are seated


• The Minister and Groom enter and proceed to the front


• The Bridal party enters and proceeds to the front


• The Ring Bearer and/or Flower Girl enter, proceed to front, sit down


• Music concludes for bridal party


• Ushers unroll the aisle runner


• The Minister asks the audience to rise and welcome the Bride


• Music begins for the Bride's entrance (Processional music)


• The Bride and her escort enter, and are met by the Groom


• Bride's music concludes.


• Opening commentary


• Bride and Groom light "family candles" to represent their families


• Bride and Groom present flowers to parents and/or VIPs


• "Declarations Of Intent" by Bride and Groom


• First reading (religious or romantic literature)


• Musical interlude (solo, etc.)


• Second reading


• Special music (musical interlude, or musical and vocal performance)


• Exchange of wedding vows (traditional or customized)


• Blessing of the rings


• Exchange of wedding rings (traditional or customized)


• Minister's prayer of blessing for the Bride and Groom


• Bride and Groom light Unity Candle (music in background)


• Final commentary


• Bride and Groom kiss


• Introduction of the new couple by the Minister


• Recessional music begins


• Bride and Groom exit


• Bridal party exits


• Minister's instructions to the audience.

Let's make this the ceremony that people talk about. A year after the wedding what do you want to hear from your guests? What will they say about the ceremony? I want them to walk away saying that was the most touching wedding I have ever been at. I felt so connected with the whole event.

1. The Music and Readings will influence every aspect of your ceremony.

• The mood and ambiance you want to create begins with the music. Take the time to think about your guests. Was there a special song that your Grandparents waltzed to when they were young? What music touches your heart? When the room goes silent, the doors open what music can you hear as you put your arm in your father's arm and begin to walk to you new life?


• The music played while your Mothers light the Unity Candle will reflect two families. We had one Bride and Groom have an instrumental of "Someone to Watch Over Me" play, and as the Moms lit the candles a reader expressed the Bride and Groom's thoughts about the love and support their parents had given them, as they became adults. There was not a dry eye in the house! They were simple, sweet, and short thoughts that were very touching and truly set the loving tone for the rest of the day.


• The lighting of the Unity Candle by the Bride and Groom can be special. The same couple had an instrumental played and as they lit the candle, the parents had a reader express their love for their children. Again not a dry eye in the house! They then presented each Mom with a rose that had a pretty silver key chain with their an picture and a poem on the other side. What a nice keepsake for the Moms.


• Someone you care about should do the Readings. Readings can come from The Bible where you can find many scriptures that reflect the quality of love. You can use poetry or excerpts of a Novel. You will have to check with your Officiate to determine what is acceptable.

2. The Ceremony Itself

• Talk with your Officiate about their opening comments. How much can you influence this? Ask if you can get an overview of what he is going to say. This can be touchy; some Officiates may be pretty set in their ways. Talk it over with them and let them know what you want. Some Officiates will include a cute loving story of how you met. You want it to be personal, not cheesy.


• Exchange of Vows, This is a personal choice. Do you want the traditional exchange or are you going to write your own. Again, you will have to consult with your Officiate to find out what is acceptable to him or her.

3. Your Ceremony should reflect you and your fiance. There should be personal touches wherever you look.

• Personalize your runner by adding your Monogram in the center or on the ends.


• Programs can be made interesting to read. Rather than having, the same old program, make it special. You can highlight the basics that everyone includes but then add a paragraph on how you met, a funny moment in your relationship. We had one Bride that didn't even put anything about the ceremony. She wanted people to know about the people in the wedding. She then included a poem about growing up on the cover titled, "Suddenly." The inside cover was a letter from the Bride and Groom genuinely thanking everyone for coming. She and her groom then wrote about each person in their wedding party and why they asked them to be in the wedding. People actually enjoyed reading their program. It gave them something to smile about while they waited for the ceremony to begin.


• Your sign in book, make it unique. You can ask your photographer about a picture sign in book. Your guest can then write little notes to you. make sure you have an attendant letting people know they are to write in the book with pictures. You can also make one yourself if you need to save money. Just "Google" "Make your own photo guest book, "you will get all kinds of places to do it yourself. You will then bring this sign in book to the reception for those that missed signing it at the ceremony.


• I love this idea. It came from Thomas Witham Day of Dreams - Wedding Ceremonies in Chicago. As you enter the ceremony on your father's arm after a few steps, stop hug your father's arm a little tighter and look into your Dad's eyes and just give him a smile. You are his little girl and always will be. You have no idea how difficult this moment is for a parent. The treasure that he is about to give to the young man in front can never be measured. Take the moment, when you look back at the pictures or the video I guarantee you will need a tissue.


• Family traditions-Are there any old traditions for example we had a Scottish wedding where we tied heather along the aisle. Ask your family.

The most important part of the day is the Ceremony. Make your ceremony meaningful and unique. Remember to keep things in perspective and enjoy the moment.

Importance of Hiring a Professional Wedding Photographer

You will hardly find a woman who does not dream of a posh wedding with a gorgeous white dress, tender flowers, smiling guests and numerous photos, depicting each moment of this happy event. However, in addition to these romantic fantasies, wedding involves much preparation and planning. To ensure that the special day goes without troubles, any engaged couples should consider lots of important details. With all this marriage planning fuss, many couples neglect the importance of hiring a professional photographer.

Many people ask their guests to take pictures; however, there are no guarantees that you will get quality photos. Wedding pictures will remind you of your special day, thus it is important hiring a professional who will capture every single moment of your happy day.

In order get quality pictures depicting the atmosphere of your wedding ceremony and celebration, it is crucial to find the right photographer. The process may take some time, so it is recommended starting your pursuit well in advance. To find an experienced cameraman, you may seek advice from your friends or surf the Internet. Most professional photographers have websites where you can find detailed information about the offered services and samples of pictures. Whether you are looking for a cameraman online, or follow recommendations from friends, the first thing you need to do is to check the portfolio. This will help you understand what photos you may have in your family album. To come up with the right decision it is recommended getting feedbacks from the former clients. Finding customer reviews is easy if you are looking for a photo taker online. Thus, be sure to read what people say about the photographer you consider hiring.

A photographer is an important person on your wedding, thus avoid making rash decisions. To get more information about the photo taker and the services he/she offers you need to talk to this person. Live communication will help understand if you feel comfortable with this individual. If you feel any discomfort or if you understand the cameraman is not going to stick to your recommendations and requirements, you'd better continue your pursuit and look for a more compliant person.

Do not forget about your budget. Since wedding is an expensive event, you need to know how many pictures you will get for your money. Besides, ask the photographer how long he/she will be present on your wedding. If you want the photo taker to spend the whole day with you, be ready to shell out a tidy sum.

Photography Ideas - Tips For Taking Wedding Photos

Photography is a visual art. Creative photography ideas are important in wedding photography. Taking photos at a wedding venue is a challenge as the activities and light conditions there changes from second to second. Here are some basic photography ideas for a beginner wedding photographer.

How to prepare for a wedding photograph

Preparation from at least from a month before gives you great photography ideas. Getting to know the couple is good to understand their views about their wedding photo album. Ask questions like, where is the venue? How many guests are expected? How many photographers are hired for the ceremony? This will help you plan for great shots.

Know the wedding location

Spare time and visit the venue to get some photography ideas for a wonderful click. Also find a position to locate your self on the wedding day. Check out the reception area and other places of activities like the dance floor

Photography kit

Now you have some photography ideas in mind, and it is time to organize your tools for photography. Make sure you have kept your camera, tripod, lenses, memory card and portable drive. Do not miss out to take an assistant along with you to the wedding venue. Be it your friend or colleague, an assistant can help you arrange things at the venue and share your stress.

The wedding day has arrived and its time for you to be attentive and tricky with photography ideas. If you are asked to take photographs of the bride or groom getting ready for the wedding, be the first one to reach their home. In the church, position yourself in the predetermined place. Do not take too many photographs in the beginning itself, you have a long day ahead with a number of glorious scenes to click. If you are required to take group shots, start with big groups so that you can have combinations of friends and relatives pictures to stick on the wedding album.

You are almost done with the wedding photography. Edit and remove redeye, cropping, etc. Use stunning creative Photography ideas that suit the function and place. Load the photos in a CD or DVD and deliver it to the lovely couple and get your next photography order there itself.

Photojournalistic Wedding Photography - Flash Techniques

Although most photojournalistic wedding photography shoots are done using ambient light, there are situations whereby the lighting situation might not be ideal to turn out good pictures. That is why judicious use of an external flash plays an important role in assuring great shots and happy clients.

A good photojournalist uses the external flash at appropriate moments to complement available ambient light. With a flash mounted at all times, you can address any kind of lighting situation, without having to scramble for one when the need arises. Many a time, the use of flash creates a distinction between getting the shot or not getting it at all. Therefore, there is no need to be so adamant in insisting that you follow the fad of just using ambient light in your photojournalistic wedding photography shoots.

These are some examples which make the external flash an indispensable asset:

i. Indoor shoots

While many couples opt for a casual outdoor solemnization ceremony, there are some others who would prefer to have their ceremonies conducted indoors, such as a hotel ballroom or clubhouse, so that they are not at the mercy of unpredictable weather changes. While shooting indoors, it is practically impossible to expect to shoot using ambient light. The use of an external flash here would ensure that your subjects are correctly exposed.

To prevent harsh shadows being cast behind your subjects, you should at all times avoid pointing the flash directly at them. Try using an omni-bounce or bounce card to soften the flash falling on your subjects, so as to foster an ambient feel and creating atmosphere while reducing the evidence of flash. Flash can be bounced off the ceiling, walls, wedding gown, a guest's white shirt or anything available that reflects light well. Bouncing softens the light source by effectively making the source larger and spreading it out in every direction to eliminate hard shadows. Using sideway bounce off a wall can also create side lighting in rooms with very flat illumination and directional effect for simple portraits.

ii. Fill-in flash for outdoor shoots

When faced with a strong backlight situation, the camera's exposure settings will automatically underexpose the subject to compensate for the bright background. Using a fill-in flash in such situations will illuminate the subject, hence preventing them from being underexposed. It can also be especially useful for keeping eye sockets from getting too dark or to lower the contrast ratio of shadows and highlights in direct sun. For best results, you should shoot in A mode, and put your external flash on high-speed sync, a function which is available in most TTL flashes. This creates a nicely exposed subject and ambient background. When the subject is close, and the sky is clear or partly cloudy, you can also take advantage of high-speed sync and use a fast shutter along with negative exposure compensation to darken the background, saturate the blue in the sky and add a little drama to the clouds above. Darkening the background here allows your subject to stand out from the background, instead of blending in, hence creating more depth in the picture.

Contrary to the use of bounce flash indoors as explained above, direct flash rules reign for outdoor shots - no diffusers or modifiers, no bounce. Here it's used as either a slight fill to get rid of harsh shadows, or to bring the subject in balance with the ambient light - usually for strong backlight situations. For fill-in effects, try using strobes at about -1 to -2 power on your flash.

iii. Freezing an action

As events in a wedding evolve so quickly, there will be times you need to freeze an action. Some examples include a couple dancing and a wedding march-in. While shooting without a flash creates the "blurred movements" of an event, shooting with an on-camera flash shows the static action using a faster shutter speed.

Your Wedding Photo Equipment - What You Must Have and Why

Regardless if you are an amateur or a professional photographer, if you commit yourself to a wedding you must have top notch photo equipment. Countless times I've seen wedding photographers shooting a wedding with less than standard equipment. This is not only very unprofessional, but it is also very risky; if something goes wrong with your amateur camera, go tell the bride that you can't finish the job.

What is an adequate photographic equipment for a wedding photographer? Simple: the top, the best, the most expensive. No way around it. It is useless for me to list camera models here, because especially with digital photography, cameras evolve very quickly and before long this article would be dated. Instead choose a brand among the world's five best (Leica, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Canon, Nikon), look at the top 3 most expensive cameras... and pick one. That is the camera you will be expected to use at a wedding. Anything less will not be top notch photo equipment.

What are the lenses you need for a wedding? The more the better. Each lens gives you a different point of view and a different prospective. So why limit yourself... get as many as you can afford. Each different lens will open new possibilities by enabling you to get new ideas. As a rule of thumb, you will be expected to carry at least three lenses: a wide angle, a normal lens and a telephoto lens.

Because of the several moving optical elements, zooms are not very good quality wise (unless you spend really a lot of money) but they are commonly used at weddings when the photographer shoots using the reportage style.

What about the flash? Flashes are an integral part of your photo equipment. Believe it or not, I have encountered people that intended to shoot a wedding without a flash... simply because they didn't have one. Were they mad? No, they were just amateurs and unfortunately the market is filled with those. Most of a wedding day takes place indoors and you must have some sort of light aid, or most of the photos will obviously be improperly lit. Once again, only buy top notch flashes, yes I said flashes, because you need at least two of them: one to use and one as backup. There are two main brands for flashed: Metz and Quantum Instruments. Regarding Metz, I advise you not buy the latest Mecablitz 76 MZ-5 as in my opinion is a poor flash.

As a professional photographer, I am always looking for the very best performance in a flash, as well as in all my photo equipment. My wonderful old Metz 60 CT-4 was getting old, so I thought it was time to update. I got this new digital flash thinking it would have been just better than the previous one, but I was wrong. I used it once and sold it!

My first disappointment was when I realized that the recharging time is longer than the 60 CT-4... I imagined that the compact battery, as a result of technological development, would have performed at least like the one on the old 60 CT-4, but instead it's just a smaller/less powerful battery. On a wedding job I usually rotate the head of the flash all over the place all the time. This new Mecablitz 76 MZ-5 flash has a locked head; to rotate it you have to press a button in the back, which is not that easy and/or comfortable to do and it got me stuck a few times, causing me to miss that special shot.

I was in a quiet church when all of a sudden the newly installed cooling fan at the bottom of the head turned on... it is relatively loud and some people turned around to see what it was. To me it sounded like a vacuum cleaner and I simply cannot go around churches with photo equipment that gets people turning around... the job of a wedding photographer requires discretion. This fan stayed on for a long time, causing me some embarrassment...it just wouldn't stop! The ready flash beep is also very loud and it also gets people turning around, other than really bothering my hearing and nerves. There is no way to lower the volume. When using it in manual it is not as straightforward as the old 60 CT-4; you have to change the f/stop by pressing a few buttons on the control unit... when things are happening fast in front of you there simply isn't time to go through these electronic menus, that require me to put some extra thought and attention into them... nothing beats the old 60 CT-4 with clear manual dials that you can change without even looking.

In the whole I believe this is the worst flash Metz has ever produced. The only positive thing about it is that you can change the power of the small fill flash by operating a little dial on the site. As a result of this sad experience, I bought another old 60 CT-4, still king of flashes.

Used photo equipment is often very cheap, but make sure you get it from a proper dealer that took the time to test it and refurbish it. Professional equipment is usually worn out by the time it is sold, so make sure you are not throwing away your money.

Hiring a Photo Booth for Your Wedding

Party Photo Booths in the UK

What about a Party Photo Booth for your wedding?

As you go through your planning list, there are some essentials that appear on almost all; rings, dress, venue, flowers, photographer etc., more and more though, budgets include some form of activities or entertainment for your guests, over and above the traditional DJ.

Trying to provide appropriate entertainment, often when the diversity of the guest list has several generations, can prove a daunting task! Fortunately, this is something that the internet has helped change and at the click of a page, thousands of ideas and service providers spring onto the screen, with many willing and able to travel throughout the country especially for you!

One of the most recent additions to this list is are Party Photo Booths, which is usually hired for a fixed period of time. Having gained a degree of popularity in the south they are now proliferating throughout England, Scotland & Wales and indeed one or two now available in Ireland available for hire in Northern Ireland. There isn't a single national operator, currently most vendors are in the event management or wedding photography business, and this is an additional service.

"So why would you hire a Photo Booth"? Distinctly a Photo Booth is neither a photographer nor a substitute for one, indeed the two couldn't be further apart. True, when booking one, you should always ensure they are both using high-resolution, quality digital cameras but the key difference is one provides a service and the other fun entertainment!

Photo Booths themselves come in a variety of guises and sizes, the traditional or retro, which resemble the passport booths found in supermarket foyers, or alternatively a softer booth enclosed by curtains. Some may have a more contemporary appearance; others still a theme or design element. Unlike in the high street these aren't coin operated, instead it's free for your guests with the push of a button. Ultimately they all do the same thing, take a series of images behind an enclosed curtain and produce them as an instant print!

Additionally the vendors will also supply a myriad of accessories and extras either as part of the booth hire package or as additional options.

"Does the type of booth change what it does"? No, is the short answer, but it may have an impact on the images! You can't, for example, get many people in some of the smaller traditional solid booths.

As a standard with any hire, you should expect unlimited photos throughout the duration of the hire period and an optional prop box full of silly hats, glasses, wigs etc intended to add to the entertainment.

To help you and your guests get the most from the hire, generally the Party Photo Booths will come with an attendant or two. In most instances though the booth operation will be controlled by the guests themselves, who when ready, simply press a button to start the sequence. There may even be print options such as colour, black & white or sepia?

The next thing to consider is the prints themselves, modern software allows for these to be changed relatively simply. Most providers will have a range of designs likely to include standard, double strip passport-sized images together with a range of other options. In addition, almost without exception, they will offer some kind of personalisation of the final print such as your names, date etc. These are likely to be displayed on the vendors website, and will need to be ordered well in advance of the event. If you want something specific, it's worth asking and if your not sure ask for some samples electronically or by post!

Many companies provide an array of options perhaps the most popular being a 'guest book'! A brilliant keepsake.

Another popular option are online galleries. If you want privacy, check that the vendor can offer this password-protected, you may prefer however, to have your images available via a social networking site such as Facebook and or on CD or DVD.

Key rings, USB memory wristbands, duplicate prints, enlargements, projected images, montages and mosaics feature as standard options with many providers, several others strive to find more unique options.

Prices across the country vary from vendor to vendor and depending on your venue, in relation to them, some travel costs may form part of the equation. As for the cost of hire, expect to pay at least 500 to 800 for a package from a reputable company, dependent on location. Remembering that like the photographer, this uniquely offers a permanent keepsake to you and your guests long after the event.

The Importance of a Pre-Wedding Shoot

Most photographers include a pre-wedding shoot as part of their packages as they feel it is important to get to know their clients before the wedding day. This way the client can sample their style of photography and dispel any fears they may have about being photographed, so on the wedding day they will look more natural and relaxed.

The shoot takes place approximately 3 months before the wedding day it is typically outside using natural light which is more flattering and enables the photographer to capture the couple naturally. Often photographs are taken of the couple individually as well as together this gives them the experience of how they would be photographed on the wedding day.

There are countless advantages of a pre-wedding shoot; building rapport with your photographer, as it's a long day to have a stranger with you on your wedding day. Understanding how your photographer works and seeing the results of your pre-wedding photographs of the day and give you confidence that your photographer will capture fantastic shots of you both on the wedding day.

If your photographer has not photographed at your venue before it is a good opportunity to combine the visit to the venue along with your pre-wedding shoot. If you're wedding is taking place in Autumn or winter you may like your pre-wedding shoot to take place at your wedding venue in the summer, this way you will have a selection of contrasting seasonal images from your wedding venue.

Wherever you choose to have your pre-wedding shoot embrace the experience, as it's a great opportunity to have some relaxed spontaneous images together with a professional photographer as you may not have had any pictures taken professionally of the two of you before.

It's important to the photographer to understand how the couple wish to be photographed and find out if there are any concerns the couple have regarding public affection or which side they prefer to be photographed. Or there may be a considerable height difference between the couple and they wish to see how the photographer can approach this. Viewing the pre-wedding images with your photographer is just as important as the shoot itself, this way you can give your feedback to the photographer so they are aware of your preferences.

They will have options and make suggestions on how best to use your pre-wedding images. These options may include a sign frame, guests can write their personal message around the mounted image on the wedding day instead of a guestbook. This way your favorite image from the shoot will be on display at your wedding. The concept is a real talking point and you'll have a lasting memory displayed on your wall of the messages your guests have written on the day.

An alternative is a photo guestbook this would have a selection of your favorite images from the pre-wedding shoot alongside blank pages where your guests can write their own personal message.

Top Wedding Planning Tips

1.) Staying organized is the best thing you can do to make planning your wedding go smoothly. Purchase a nice three-ring binder (and a three hole punch) with dividers to keep all of your contracts and paperwork organized and easily accessible.

2.) When asking a friend or relative to be an attendant in your wedding, be sure to explain what his or her responsibilities will be up front. This will avoid confusion later on.

3.) Try to register for gifts four to six months before the wedding. This will allow guests to purchase items from your registry for pre-wedding events. The best time to register is on a weekday evening, when crowds are thinner. Be sure to go back to the store(s) and update your registry every so often, as many stores turn over their inventory on a regular basis.

***Never include registry information with the wedding invitation - this information needs to be spread by word-of-mouth or can be included at the bottom of the shower invitation.***

4.) It is a nice idea to provide a map of the ceremony/reception site(s) in the invitations for out-of-town guests. This is one of my favorite wedding planning tips. This will cut down on a lot of confusion later on.

***As you receive response cards from your guests, write the name and address of the guest on the back. Keep the RSVP cards in alphabetical order in a recipe box. When you open your gifts, pull out each guest's card and write a description of the gift you received from them. This makes writing thank-you notes a snap!***

5.) The safest way to pay for wedding purchases is by credit card. This is one of the most important wedding planning tips. This way, if there is anything wrong with the service or product, or if there is a breach of contract, it is easier to track the purchase and get a refund if necessary.

6.) When shopping for a photographer, be sure to view a complete album of one entire wedding. Look for consistency in the shots. Seeing only "the best" pictures from many weddings does not show consistency in work. Ask yourself if the shots adequately tell the "story" of the wedding. Also, ask lots of questions, and really get to know your photographer. Remember, this person will be with you from the beginning of your big day to the end, so you want to be very comfortable with them.

7.) You may wish to look into purchasing wedding insurance. Contact a reputable insurance agency for more information.

8.) When you order your wedding flowers, be sure to order a separate "toss bouquet."

9.) Select your cake baker 3-6 months in advance. Have fun "taste-testing" different flavors!

10.) An 'emergency' kit is essential for the day of your wedding. This is an extremely vital wedding planning tip. Pack extra makeup, a comb, hair pins, needle & thread, scissors, safety pins, a nail file, clear nail polish, band aids, tissues, tooth brush, medicine, etc.

11.) Schedule your hair and make-up appointments three to six months in advance of the wedding.

12.) Try to get enough sleep, drink lots of water and eat nutritious meals during the months preceding the wedding. This will help you have lots of energy, feel great, and will make your hair, skin, and nails look their best.

13.) To avoid puffy eyes the day of your wedding, drink plenty of water at your rehearsal dinner, and avoid salt and alcohol.

***Ladies, indulge yourself with a relaxing massage a few days before the wedding. Nothing will help to calm your nerves more than the tranquil environment of your favorite spa.***

A Wedding Master of Ceremonies' Best Friend - A Reception Checklist For Everything You Need to Know

A good MC has uses both sides of their brain at the same time. On the one hand, They have to be creatively spontaneous and react to what's going on around them.

On the other hand, their job requires them to stick to a very rigid structure; most often known as a runsheet.

The value of a good runsheet cannot be underestimated. A very detailed agenda becomes a checklist. An MC relies on this to make sure they remember everything without committing it to memory. That's why the following checklist is the MC's best friend.

The best students make their own shortcuts, so use this list and adapt it to your needs.

PREPARATION AT HOME

• Shirts ironed / shoes polished / suit dry cleaned
• Briefcase:
  
  
  
  1. Pens and folder
  
  
  2. Copies of the run-sheet
  
  
  3. Clothes brush / fresh breath mints / toothbrush & paste
  
  
  4. Voice warm-up tape / mobile phone / wrist-watch
  
  
  5. Sound system / personal PA (optional)
  
  
  6. Street directory or GPS

ARRIVAL AT THE VENUE

Function Manager: Check serving times / menu or buffet? / Professionals' meals?

• Location of rest rooms / light dimmer / gift table / guest list / smoking area


• How will guests know where they are sitting?


• Check house microphone level & lectern placement


• Disc Jockey: synchronize music selections

ARRIVAL OF GUESTS

• ENTRANCE lights up


• photographer and videographer ready to shoot?


• MC's OPENING SPEECH

GRACE (if required)

DINNER

• Lower lights


• Confirm the speakers

SPEECHES

• Lights up


• Check if photographer and videographer ready?


• Special gifts ready to be presented? E.g. flowers


• Extra glasses of champagne next to the lectern


• Introduce the Speakers


• Segue into the Cutting of the Cake and the Bridal Waltz / First Dance

DANCING (The MC can eat their meal now)

• Announce last songs


• Throw Bouquet / Toss Garter


• Organise Farewell Circle and Guard of Honour


• FAREWELL - the MC says goodnight

Finally the MC packs up and smiles as they leave the venue staff who, only a few hours ago, welcomed them as part of their team. He (or she) drives home exhausted but satisfied that they have contributed to another successful celebration of love.

The importance of the MC's role in the success of a reception has led to the rise and popularity of professional wedding MC agencies. These company's provide the bride and groom with a multi-lingual selection of the most appropriate MC's.They also provide training materials for speakers and toastmasters to extend their skills in a new and enjoyable way; albeit only on the weekend.

Vintage Wedding Dresses to Bring Back the Ornate Wedding Style

Heritage weddings have always ahead a fascination for most modern brides. They want to recapture the glory of those forgotten days when splendor and unabashed detailing was a completely natural part of weddings. Brides were decked up in gowns that were so scrumptious that they set fashion trends even today. The wedding had highly elaborate themes, which made the event a royal experience every single time.

While the royal wedding experience might not fall within every one's budget anymore, the vintage wedding dresses can still bring back the magic of a heritage ornate wedding. However, you must have a basic knowledge about the many designers who are experimenting with this niche. You need to find designer pieces, which have been restored, in the exact style of the era that you want to revisit. Vintage dresses can incorporate just the style or even be restored pieces in the exact fabric that was used during the time.

Your budget will determine the collection that you should choose. However, it is always a sensible thing to have a slightly flexible budget to accommodate for any fancy (regarding your wedding dress) that might catch you at the last moment.

Lace wedding dresses are very popular choices for most designers now. Brides love the simple detailing of the lace on their gold, champagne, or pure white gowns. This detailing can very well spell the difference between overly simple and elegant dresses. The trend is veering towards necklines that are either scooped low or built in high in lace. This gives an illusion of a slimmer more enhanced neckline. The brides look taller and leaner with this kind of cut.

Vintage has not brought back bulky. You can expect to see heritage wedding gown styles in fabric, which has a sleeker effect. Satin, silk, and even velvet can be seen from time to time on vintage wedding fabric and dress restoration.

The trains trailing behind the vintage gown is dependent on personal choice. Some brides like to include it in the wedding but detach it when reusing the gown for some other special event. However, even the trains are very sleek and designed to adjust with the modern sensibilities of the age. There are different styles of the veil, which you can experiment with to give your vintage dress an innovative makeover.

Veils can be of different lengths and the style of the veil will reinforce the look of the dress on your wedding. Birdcage veils are excellent for brides who are looking to display a more elaborate wedding gown. This style of veil ends right below your chin. Thus, the look is just heightened by a sheer covering of the face.

The shoulder length or mid chest length veil can be used by brides who have a longer train trailing behind their dresses you can also use this style of veiling to compliment your lace wedding dress and the various detailing on the neckline or the back of the dress.

The 4 Components of a Hawaiian Theme Wedding

A destination wedding on one of the beautiful Hawaiian islands is the dream of many newly engaged couples. Unfortunately not every budget or situation allows for such extravagance, but don't allow that to stop you from having the Hawaiian wedding of your dreams! Planning an exotic Hawaiian themed event is easier than you think. There are several necessary components to pull it off - venue, attire, food and ambiance.

Venue/Location: You can go all out with this theme and have both a Hawaii theme wedding and reception. The most ideal location for this theme would obviously be the beach, however don't get discouraged if this isn't a viable option for you. You will need to rely heavily on decorations so select a venue that will allow you the freedom to completely transform the space into the paradise you envision. If weather and season permits - an outdoor location (park or a large backyard) would be perfect. The decor is essential for this theme. Sand, tiki torches, seashells, paper lanterns, tropical flowers and even rented palm trees should be used to give an authentic feel to your Hawaiian themed wedding.

Attire: Whatever you do, don't send your groom to be on a mad dash to locate all the Hawaiian shirts in town! Yes, Hawaiian weddings are relaxed - but they are also very ceremonious at the same time. A tie and double breasted wool suit is totally out of place, but you don't want to the opposite extreme either. For your groom and his groomsmen, think linen suits in an off white or khaki color. You can add beautiful splashes of color with your bridesmaid dresses. Fun exotic floral prints or vibrant solid colored chiffon gowns are perfect compliments.

Food: You should feel free to have fun and really experiment with the food selection. If possible, hire a caterer that specializes in Hawaiian cuisine. For the most part, your guests will be completely unfamiliar with traditional Hawaiian food - so offer sampler tables. If your venue prohibits you from using an outside catering service - you should choose a menu that incorporates traditional flavors and foods of the island; roast port and seafood along with pineapple and coconut flavors are great additions for your reception menu. Your drink menu should feature icy pina coladas served in hollowed out coconuts or cocktail glasses adorned with mini paper umbrellas.

Ambiance: All of the aforementioned components will help create the overall ambiance of an authentic Hawaiian wedding, but there are a few more things you can do that will act as icing on the cake so to speak. Have your hostesses great every guest with floral leis, this attention to details is a nice touch and your guest will feel the "mood" immediately upon entering. The right music will take your reception to the next level. Treat your guests to an authentic Polynesian performance complete with music, drums, men and women in little grass skirts! It will be a hit with your guest and make your wedding the most memorable.

Finally, send your guests home with Hawaiian themed parting gifts to commemorate their trip to paradise!

Wedding Flowers Budget - How Much Do Wedding Flowers Cost?

Your floral budget can certainly run the gauntlet. On average you should expect to spend about 8-10% of your overall wedding budget on the flowers. This will include the bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, and any ceremony and reception decor.

While this is a good estimate, you can modify many floral elements to determine the actual amount you will spend on your wedding flowers. Factors such as whether or not the flowers you choose are in season in your area, the number, size and complexity of the arrangements, and the location of the ceremony and reception all influence your final cost estimate.

You should already have an idea of your overall floral budget before meeting with your florist for the first time. That said, there are a number of ways to cut costs without cutting elegance and beauty.

Ways to Save on Wedding Flowers:

• Reduce the number of attendants in your wedding party. Less attendants means your florist will have to create fewer bouquets.


• Reduce the number of guests at your wedding. Fewer tables means fewer floral centerpieces.


• Choose in-season wedding flowers. They are often less expensive and easier to find. For a list of common flowers for each season, visit our wedding flowers by seasons guide.


• Choose a naturally beautiful location. A springtime wedding in a garden hardly needs additional floral arrangements, while an ornate church may be breathtaking on its own. Also consider that many facilities are decorated for the holidays, so holding a December wedding may provide you with gorgeous poinsettias and garland free of cost.


• Choose less complicated flowers. Certain flowers will run up of the cost of your floral budget no matter what season. Ask your florist to review your options with you.

1. Flowers that tend to be expensive: Lily of the Valley, Calla Lily, Orchids, Magnolias, Peonies, Gardenia and Hydrangea.


2. Flowers that tend to be moderately priced: Orange Blossoms, Lavender, Daffodil, Daisies, Chrysanthemum, Carnations, Roses (due to huge variance in kind, quality, and color) and Greenery, such as ivy

Consider options other than floral arrangements for table centerpieces. Ask your florist for ideas. Scattered flower petals surrounded by votive candles create an elegant effect that won't maximize your floral budget. This list of unique wedding decorations offers even more ideas for alternative arrangements

How to Choose the Best Wedding Catering Company

The ability of a wedding caterer to work with certain locations is an important thing to be aware of. Many caterers will work with areas in churches, major meeting halls and even some outdoor areas around the London or midlands areas. However some wedding catering companies will have limits with regards to how many people they can support for different catering needs. It will be best to see if a good amount of versatility is involved when it comes to getting a wedding caterer ready.

It helps to see how far a wedding caterer can be from the site of the wedding. There are a number of different caterers around the London and midlands areas along with other parts of the UK. There are also plenty of wedding facilities around the London and midlands areas too. Therefore it will help to see who is relatively close to a facility that a wedding will be taking place at.

This is an important consideration to be aware of in that many wedding caterers will charge extra for travel from one area to another. This is an important thing to see in that the costs that are involved for travel and gasoline can vary in accordance with each UK caterer. After all, traveling from London all the way to the midlands can be something expensive for a caterer to be able to handle.

Another thing to see is that in some areas a facility that can handle a wedding reception will work with its own catering company. It will help to take a look at what that facility has when it comes to getting foods prepared for a wedding. If the services that are being offered by that company are not good enough then it would be best to hold the wedding reception in some other area so that another caterer can be used.

All wedding catering companies can work with a variety of different types of foods. A good thing to do is to check out all of the options that can be made available with regards to foods that are available for serving to people at a wedding. Cuisine options can include tapas, salads and soups, main entrees, side dishes and desserts. Each caterer will work with all sorts of options for every palate so it helps to take these factors in mind.

The alcohol policies that different caterers can work with should also be considered. A caterer should be one that can offer a good drink list that includes not only non-alcoholic drinks but also plenty of alcoholic options. Some will offer wines that can come from large wine lists while others can offer different types of beer and even some specialty drinks.

Be sure to take a look at how the alcohol can be sold. Sometimes a company will offer a cash bar where people have to pay extra money for certain alcoholic drinks. In other cases a company will include the drinks with the rest of the catering materials.

An important thing to see deals with how well the caterer can adjust to the dietary needs guests can have. There are many cases where some people who are attending a wedding could have to avoid certain foods due to health reasons. In many cases people might avoid certain foods because of personal reasons. Whether a person is a vegetarian, is allergic to certain ingredients or is supposed to avoid certain types of foods it will help to be sure that a wedding caterer can be found that can adjust its cuisine and cooking habits in accordance with different people in mind.

The last thing to check out with regards to the foods at the wedding deals with, of course, the wedding cake. Many wedding catering companies can work with in-house bakeries that can help to get cakes prepared. A variety of cake designs can be made available by a catering company so it will help to take a look at what options are available. These include cakes that can come in multiple tiers. Don't forget to also watch to see that the cake that is being prepared is one that is large enough to where it can be enjoyed by everyone at the wedding.

Be sure to think about how early in advance a catering service should be planned. In order to get the most beautiful foods ready for any palate it will be important for a caterer to have plenty of time to prepare. In most cases a caterer will require a customer in the UK to book services in London or the midlands about a month or earlier in advance. Therefore it will help to take a look at how soon a client needs to get reservations ready.

Don't forget about the costs that are going to be involved. Some wedding catering companies will charge clients by the head or by the amount of food that is going to be handled. All companies offer different billing rates so it helps to take these options in mind when getting a catering company to work for one's needs.

It is great to take a look at all of these things when looking around for wedding catering companies around the UK. There are many London and midlands wedding catering companies to choose from and when looking around for different companies like these it will help to take some things in mind to make sure that a caterer is one that can work with one's wedding event needs in mind. This is so a good wedding reception can be enjoyed by all and that there will be no problems involved with the entire event.

Facts About Photography

Whether you are watching TV or just going through the pages of a magazine, you are bombarded with photographs that force you to think and feel about the subject; it doesn't matter if the photo is about a beautiful women or a dilapidated structure. Photography is an art, very much similar to a painter who uses a canvass. The big difference is the use of lighting which a photographer can use to portray the subject in a manner he wants to. This is done by a painter using different shades of colors.

This is one profession, where there is really no difference between a professional and amateur. You really do not need to go to a school to learn how to click. It is having a knack to click at the right time and at the right moment. A good photographer knows when and where to click to get a stunning photo that also looks natural. For taking a natural photograph, natural sunlight is critical. Photographers have had to wait for several days before taking a photo as the light which would be optimum was not there. Photography involves both the nature and the subject who is being shot. It is the fine balance between the two which can make a photo great or ordinary.

Every photo is a new experience for the photographer as it teaches him what he should do to improve the next time. Photography as a profession has been revolutionized by the advent of digital cameras as these gadgets do a lot on their own and much effort and time of the photographer is saved in arranging different equipment which he used to do earlier.

But even with these amazing digital cameras, a photographer may have to wait for a long time before the crucial things like weather conditions; angle of the sun, amount of sunlight etc. are optimum for the photos to come out the way the photographer wants. Photography is done for various reasons. It is done for fun, as a hobby, to preserve memories of an event, shoot special moments, to send some message and finally for entertainment.

Though photography is natural and natural photographs are most eye catching, some types of photography like fashion photography, product photography, wedding photography etc. are time based and do not depend upon natural sunlight to complete the job. Photography is an art that is evolving all the time and the introduction of new technology makes it fresh and exciting to those involved in it.

New Styles in Wedding Photography

Wedding photography is an ever-changing discipline which demands creative expertise, imaginative and prescient vision, and extremely technological proficiency.

In past times wedding ceremony photography has been typically tied to rigid posses devoid of very much reverence for the main tale, emotion, love, as well as behind the actual scene activities on the affair.

Even though there continues to be a large portion within the wedding photography which practices classic wedding photography having its pre-planned positions, as well as re-enactment of the particular wedding ceremony top situations like the kiss, the actual wedding ring exchange, and so on., the present day marriage husband and wife requires a far more modern day technique to their own wedding ceremony.

Marriage ceremony photojournalism has become in style in the past several years. The fundamental concept driving it has been the actual capture of the wedding ceremony events without the interference or perhaps direction from the actual wedding photographer. The wedding photographer will there be in order to catch the true heart and soul on the wedding day. Because of this authentic technique the pictures undoubtedly are a accurate portrayal from the wedding ceremony. Really hard core wedding photographers will likely be completely in opposition to posing virtually any marriage ceremony associated occasion. In the event that it does not not take place in the wedding ceremony it will not end up being documented. It may include friends and family group pictures.

Many professional photographers provide a hybrid method to wedding photography, typically combining conventional as well as traditional wedding photography. With this strategy the particular wedding photographer concentrates on recording wedding ceremony day however the coverage as well incorporates a session using the husband and wife for conventional posed as well as semi-posed photographs as well as friends and family group pictures.

The most recent development within wedding and reception photography is actually towards an even more contemporary technique. Influenced by popular bridal publications the wedding photographer attempts to help make the particular couple's dreams realistic.

Within the vogue wedding and reception photography method the actual objective is always to help make the wedding couple appear their finest. The passionate interplay is actually glamorized to it's optimum manifestation. Any everyday husband and wife turns into like wedding celebs. Focus on details is essential to obtain an ideal appearance. This kind of technique demands quite a lot of creative talent guiding the camera as well as excellent personal computer photograph cropping and editing proficiency to create a distinctive image. 1 / 2 the picture is created within the camera with the actual other half attained though electronic digital photo editing as well as adjustment.

Which type is the most suitable, will be for you to determine. In our practical experience a large section of the actual marriage newlyweds wish to seize the reality, specifics as well as ambiance from the wedding ceremony yet simultaneously they've got dreams regarding their own wedding and reception and exactly how they ought to appear.

While searching for the best Fort Dodge photographers or any where else, look carefully towards the photographer's collection and find out the way it concurs along with your own viewpoint with just how your wedding day needs to be photographed.

Wedding Services - Booking the RIGHT Wedding DJ

Planning a wedding is truly a full time endeavor. It requires an enormous amount of detailed work and time. While caterers, floral designers, and logistics/location etc., are all important projects in the wedding planning process, one of the most important and tedious tasks is knowing how to book the right Wedding DJ. Evaluating and selecting the right wedding DJ involves a tremendous amount of time and research. Narrowing your selection takes longer than most would think, but doing this will pay off when your informed selection results in a professional DJ that will make the most of the biggest day of your life. Just like many other professions, there are services that over promise and under deliver. This leads to unhappy clients and ruined memories. One way you can avoid a disappointing wedding reception from occurring is by conducting thorough research. When talking with the various wedding services companies, you will realize all the options you have available as a client, and thorough research will allow you to experience the difference between companies.

Getting To Know the DJ Company is of the Utmost Importance.

You might think that with all of the other tasks associated with planning your wedding, you can simply make your selection online, or as the result of a brief telephone conversation. This could be a major mistake. The ideal wedding DJ service would encourage you to meet in person to get a feel if there is a good match for your wedding and learn WHY the company has many satisfied clients. The best way for potential clients to learn about wedding DJ services and get information to determine if the company is a 'good fit' for them is to visit their office for a brief meeting. This way they can see examples of the work, and learn more about the company. Those wedding DJ s, that have succeeded for so long have done so primarily because they have built a Wedding Services Company by making people happy. You definitely want to deal with DJ companies whose main focus is on client satisfaction. They should operate under the philosophy of "we don't want our client's money unless they are really, really happy with the services we have provided".

Setting the Right Expectations--And Communicating Those Expectations

When booking wedding DJs, it is perfectly normal to ask your master of ceremonies detailed questions. Even more important, however, is for the DJ to effectively ask detailed questions as well. A well experienced and reputable DJ service knows exactly what questions to ask of the bride to insure that she will get exactly what she wants and expects for her reception. Setting the right expectations and then communicating those expectations clearly to the bride is the key to insuring she is not only on the same page, but that she can also walk away from the meeting KNOWING that all loose ends have been tied. While talking to your DJ, a good topic to discuss besides dedications, requests, and special announcements, is how many happy clients do you have? And, can you provide videos demonstrating this, and/or recent testimonials of satisfied clients? You know you've selected a reputable company when you are provided with recent glowing testimonials.

Remember to keep the points above in mind when meeting with your DJ. This will give you some guidance on determining if company you are interviewing is a good match. The more questions you ask the better! And again, the right questions asked by your disc jockey allows him or her to fully understand what you are looking for in order to fulfill all the needs your special day requires. You are discussing your wedding and they should be as excited as you are about it. Your DJ should give you helpful recommendations and effectively communicate these important points with the ultimate goal of instilling confidence that you have properly researched and selected the right Wedding DJ. And if you can leave the meeting with a feeling that the DJ knows you and what you want, you can walk away with confidence and peace of mind.

Wedding Services-One Stop Shopping

Speaking of communicating, if you could hire a Wedding Services company that not only provided DJ services, but also included Photography and High Definition Videography in their mix of services, do you think that would help expedite the planning process, and more importantly instill confidence and help with vital communication? Of course it would! Most DJ companies do not combine these services, although there are reputable companies that will combine these 3 services, so a great tip would be to do your homework and seek them out. Knowing how tremendously stressful the whole wedding planning process is, selecting a reputable wedding services company that can successfully combine these 3 important services, together with a team of established long-time professionals is what I would call intelligent wedding planning. And that translates into a memorable, well planned wedding reception!

Plus Size Wedding Dresses - Move Over Barbie Brides!

In real life, real women do not have Barbie doll proportions and recently all eyes are riveted on curvy models on the catwalk and they're doing just as fun as their thin-reed counterparts. Thus if you are a plus size, you shouldn't go red all over the face shopping for a wedding dress.

Plus Sized and Sexy

Size 16 Crystal Renn is proving that curvy women can ooze sex appeal in plus size dresses. This Florida model broke barriers in the modeling world by placing the curvy women in the frontlines of fashion. Just by watching her in different flirty, girly, and sophisticated dresses, you can already imagine how great you can look in of those stunning plus size wedding dresses. Now you know that if you are a size 14 or 18, you can swing it. Say goodbye to starving yourself to a size 10 if you are a size 18.

In the first place, your groom loved you from the start proving that in love, weight does not matter. Top designer labels also adore the full-figured frame; now there's no reason why you should buy a size 10 dress when you are a size 14 or 18 to copy the unhealthy looks of reed thin models because this is the vogue.

You can choose several designs from the plus size wedding dresses - sheaths, princess cut, ensembles, off-the-shoulder and sleeveless numbers. Remember these are all designed for the full-figured women, apple-shaped or pear shaped and the fabrics used are all selected to create a slim silhouette. You can buy your plus size wedding dress with confidence anywhere and anytime.

Let Your Natural Beauty Shine

Imagine yourself exercising 8 hours a day and wearing out your joint muscles and eating vegetables day in and day out and avoiding even the slightest hint of sweets and butter! Your hair will fall off and you'll be irritable and unfocused. What a miserable preparation for a wedding day. Don't punish yourself beyond your limits; exercise to tone your muscles and eat healthy to put a glow on your skin. Let your natural beauty show instead of stunning your groom and your friends with a new look that isn't you.

The same rules apply when you choose a dress from a rack of plus size wedding dresses. Go for softer fabrics and dress style to complete your body shape. The bridal salon's bridal specialist will help you sort out the dresses until you find one that's perfect for your height, coloring, and body shape.

The concession you can make to the Barbie look, is copying a Barbie hairstyle. Ask your hair stylist if you can swing it with an 'up do' or just let your natural hair flow in its natural curls or waves. A diamond studded hair clip or flowers in your hair are ready options for long or short hair.

Don't forget too to choose the right accessories to complement your frame and to match your wedding theme. Chunky accessories may not be suggested by the bridal shop specialist and that's right. A string of pearls to accentuate a low cut front is just the style full-sized models in their plus size wedding dresses would use or watch the latest plus sized fashion shows and observe accessories and hairstyles.

So who says you can't be sexy unless you are a size ten? Move over Barbie brides, here come the full figured brides in their plus size wedding dresses.

Travel Photography - What Camera Gear Should I Take?

Probably the most popular type of photography today is travel photography and millions of people take photos during their holidays around the world, in the most beautiful travel destinations. But not every tourist with a camera can be truthfully called a photographer and not all images captured during our travels can truly be called photographs.

Nevertheless, many people that like to travel have also become photographers along the years, either as a secondary hobby, or just to keep beautiful memories from the places they visited. The majority of people though, still do not know the difference between a picture and a photograph.

If you are planning a trip and need to know a few basic tips and advice about what to take in your baggage in terms of camera gear, below you might find some valuable information in that matter. Travel photography is all about the ability to take good photos on the go.

While traveling, you need to be prepared all the time to seize the perfect moment, you need to be able to get around fast and easy and that means reducing the size and weight of your equipment to the minimum.

Unless you are serious photographer, traveling to a destination on an assignment, you should try to take with you just the strictly necessary camera gear. You cannot enjoy a trip carrying a huge backpack with several camera bodies, half a dozen lenses, tripods and so on.

Camera body - If you have a compact or bridge camera, then just take that with you, but if you are serious about photography, you should own one or more DSLR camera bodies. Just take one of them, the most versatile and lightweight you have, the one that you love the most and offers good results in all situations.

Almost all camera manufacturers have a huge lineup of models available, some of them better suited for travel photography. Depending on your personal preferences, try to also consider the size and weight of the equipment.

Lenses - In terms of lenses, things are not as simple as it might seem. There is a huge variety of models that vary in terms of several characteristics. The basic recommendations would be to just take one or maximum two lenses in your travels.

Either choose an all around lens with excellent quality, or a wide lens and a short telephoto lens in order to cover all your angles. Also, try to take good quality lenses, that give good results in most lighting conditions and also consider the weight of these lenses.

Accessories - Although hard to believe, most people forget these accessories when packing for a trip. They usually pack their cameras and forget the charger or the memory cards. You might not be able to find the right accessories at your destination, so try to make a list with the basic accessories you will need. First of all, pack your charger and spare batteries, as many as you can.

Also, take more than enough memory cards with you. These are extremely small and light and also easy to carry. If you think you need a tripod and you have the space for it, try to find a smaller one. Lastly, try to pack some cleaning kit for your camera, as while you travel, the equipment will surely get pretty dirty.

4 Things to Know Before You Book a Photo Booth Rental Company for Your Wedding

The big thing these days to have at a wedding reception, birthday party, reunion, or really any event is to have a photo booth. But if you have never rented a photo booth before what should you know?

The first thing you should ask is what type of camera does your photo booth use? Why is this important? Some photo booths use a "web cam" camera, these produce a lower resolution than normal cameras, they are cheaper for the photo booth operator to have in their booth and can cause blurry pictures. What you want in a photo booth is a DSLR camera, these are the cameras that the professional photographers use and provide the best photos.

The next thing you want to know is what type of printer they use. The worst case is a regular computer printer not made for photos, then there are "photo printers" that use the same type of ink cartridge as the regular printer. These printers do not give a good result and use the printer paper that you can buy at best buy or staples. You want a company that use the "sub dye" printers, these are more expensive printers (usually cost the operator about $1000) and uses a ribbon type of ink which provides the same prints as you would get at a photo store.

Does it cost for setup? Believe it or not some booth rental companies charge for setup. If you need them to setup hours before the event ask for a rate that would include "down time" which is time that the booth is not running.

What type of features does each package really contain? Ask about what you get with each of their packages. Plus if your event is not on a Saturday, ask if there is a discount for your date and what is their deposit.

Photo booths are a great way to wow your guest with custom photo strips with your information on them. It also gives a great conversation piece for all of your guest and something they can trade between each other. It is now a must have for every event for everyone. Also make sure to let your rental company know if your reception is on anything but the ground floor as some photo booths cannot go upstairs. One nice thing to do is if your photo booth operator is treating you good is to offer them food or even a tip.

If you want to spice things up a little bit you can ask about prop rentals or ask if you can use your own props for your event. This will make your photos more funny and interesting. One item you might want is a photo book if you are using it for a wedding, this way your will receive a copy of the strips to put into your book and everyone writes comments to you and you get to keep it as a present and is a perfect memory for your wedding. I highly suggest this as part of your package.

Also ask if you get the photos on a flash drive or CD for you to keep all the photos also that way or if they upload it to their web site or Facebook so all the guest can get a copy of other photos as well. This will make it more fun for all of your guests.

Five Questions All Brides Need to Ask a Wedding Photographer

A wedding photographer is one of the most important service providers for your wedding. To capture the magic of the moment can not be understated. Wedding pictures will be with you a lifetime and you want to be certain the person you hire will be the very best for you. But how do you go about selecting and hiring the person that that will capture the memory of a lifetime? How do you know she will "know" how to capture the best possible picture to truly tell the story of your wedding?

The person you hire for your wedding is a service provider first and secondly she is an artist. From your very first interaction to the final follow-up meeting she has to be the most in tuned provider at your wedding engagement and with you! Once your wedding day is set get on the hiring of your photographer ASAP. Be sure to take your time interviewing a number of photographers. And when you interview - understand that although pricing is a factor - it cannot be the sole deciding factor. Cheap is never the best. And "truth be told" you will get what you pay for. Wedding photography is art, business, and service. So make sure that you are money-smart when selecting the wedding photographer.

How do you do that? You start by asking five questions:

1. Who will shoot the wedding?


2. Do you have wedding albums to look at?


3. Do you have a list of recommended vendors?


4. Do you upload photos from the event to an online gallery and how long are they available to view?


5. What style of photography will be used and in what format?

Who will shoot the wedding?

From the very first meeting to the last you want to know that the wedding photographer you select will know you, understand your wedding needs, understand what is important to you and your family. You also want to know her style as a businesswoman. You want to be comfortable with her and confident in her experience, her promise to deliver, and her guarantee to your schedule. On your wedding their can be NO surprises!

Do you have wedding albums to look at?

Your meeting with the wedding photographer should include the review of albums. You will want to see the progression of the album so you can glean insights into the artistic view of the photographic experience of weddings. Why - because you want to be able to identify with your photographer's artistic eye. Does her art coincide with your vision? Does she capture the essence of the wedding? Can she portray in pictures the beauty, the love, and memory of your very special day? To know that you need examples, you need to see actual albums.

Do you have a list of recommended vendors?

A professional wedding photographer will have a wedding vendor list recommended other professionals, to help facilitate and make your wedding day a success. Do you upload photos from the event to an online gallery and how long are they available to view? This feature of her service satisfies all the family members and of course the bride and groom. Getting "early access" to the memories of your wedding day increases the anticipation for your personalized wedding album and prints.

What style of photography will be used and in what format?

Wedding photography comes in varieties or styles that include traditional, photojournalism, documentary, full color or black and white. With regard to format be sure to ask if the wedding will be shot with digital camera, film, or both? You want to know these things so that you can communicate with this person what you like and don't like.

These are the top five question to ask your wedding photographer. They are not exhaustive by any means but an excellent start in making your wedding day a huge success.