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Many of you know me as a Ct. wedding photographer, one of many Wedding Photographes in Ct. and New England. BUT, I also shoot around the country. Really, I’ll shoot your wedding where ever the beautiful day will be held.
At the same time, maybe I’m not the 100% spot on perfect guy to shoot your day. And that’s fine, if the team at TAB Photographic don’t work, well, we may cry a little but we’ll get over it.
And the best part is that there’s now a wedding photographers site that lists only some of the top wedding photographers in the country. From Ct. wedding photographers to California Wedding photographers such as Lili Durkin Photography.
Quite seriously, some of the best wedding photographers around. And while some may attempt to break the bank, some are also priced in the lower spectrum of your Wedding budget.
So if you’re looking for a wedding photographer and want to look through some great options that cover more than just one state as wedding photographers, check out WWW.NATIONALWEDDINGPHOTOGRAPHERS.COM
Truly some great photographers that will rock your day out!
Being a wedding photographer, destination weddings are just one of the perks. Much like enjoying the wonderful energy of each wedding, shooting a destination wdding is no different. There’s just more of an adventure there. Just as the couple has the adventure of going somewhere fresh and exciting for their day and they get to turn it into a fun filled time of travels. Being a destination wedding photographer means the same for me. And just because there’s expenses involved for me to get there my stay and more. Don’t think that destination wedding photographers are going to put that all on you. I know that for me, it’s more about the adventure than the price. I generally don’t charge over what I would charge for a normal wedding. Instead, I take it as a fun excursion with a beautiful day placed in the middle. Your day.
Some couples look at destination weddings and think, “no, we couldn’t afford that”… That’s surely where the thoughts need to stop. With the average wedding in a local spot costing $24,000-$28,000.00, a destination wedding doesn’t have to break that mold. As a matter of fact, you can generally pull it off for less. One main reason, less attending. Only those that truly love you will travel for you, meaning the co-workers, clients and more won’t step up. So instead of having 200 guests at $75.00 per person, try 80… Sounds better right. Not to mention being able to offer a bit more and enjoy the company longer and hey, everyone gets a mini vacation….
First off, if you’re bringing 80 guests to a beautiful location, work with the hotel or inn. They want all the business you can bring them and you shouldn’t be paying full price for any of the rooms. Be sure to bring this up with the hotel so that guests can get that discount!!!
Same goes with the flights. Don’t book weekends that are going to cost your guests thousands. Be kind and mention the discounted rates to them. Even for airfare, American Airlines offers discounts for 10 or more of 10% off the published rates! That can save hundreds when combined together.
FAIR WARNING IS CRUCIAL! Those save the date cards, get them out ASAP! Guests will need the time to plan and save. It will be an unexpected vacation but one they will surely enjoy and you will enjoy having them be a part of your day.
Beware of the legal parts of being married in other countries. Some need blood tests or X-rays, some have extra fees, some require permits and more. Don’t let a snag happen upon arrival. PLAN PLAN PLAN…. One of the best ways around that is to hire a professional event planner to be sure all holes are filled before you take off.
Don’t stress… When planning a destination wedding, many of the little things you would deal with in a hometown wedding are out of your control. Even some of the big things. Try to let it go.
And set your watch to island time and your mind to island mentallity. The locals are going to move a little slower, get back to you on their time and in general, are going to be quite a bit more relaxed than the mainlanders would be. It’s just part of how it goes. Don’t stress if something is running late. It’s island life…
And for the big things, bring your own. From music to photography. Some of the resorts will work all that in. But those are two of the most important parts of your day. Especially the photography. It’s one of the few things that you will have after your day. Photographers will still work wit your budget and you’ll find many bands will do the same. It’s part of the adventure for everyone. THink about what’s important to your day and plan accordingly.
Most of all. VISIT… Before your day, take a little trip to your location of choice and dig around. Find the places you really like. Meet anyone that will be an integral part of your day. Most of all, just take it in and make sure this is the place for you….
Again, being a photographer is a great thing. Being a wedding photographer is even better. And being a wedding photographer that shoots destination weddings as well! Yea, that just rocks!!!
Shine on,
~Tim
Some may wonder, you’re wedding photographer in Ct. or a destination wedding photographer. What do you know about having, of all things, a bachelorette party. Well ya see, as a wedding photographer I do a ton of research non-stop about weddings, tips for weddings, ideas for weddings, wedding themes and more. See, being a wedding photographer doesn’t mean my job stops there because I believe in helping across the board. And recently, one of my brides, who I must say just got a stunning wedding dress from J. Crew, asking me about her bachelorette party. At first I wasn’t sure what to think, then it hit me… Tell her what you know and what you don’t, go find the answers.
SO… A Bachelorette Party, I mean come on, you’re probably going to hear about things that happened at the bachelor party so why not have your own. And I’m not talking about a diamond crusted Tiara with an oiled up stripper… (unless that’s what you want)… I’m talking some other great options. So here we go. From your wedding photographer to you…
First off, when does it take place. Really anytime through your engagement. But you should be sure to keep it clear from the last week of hectic planning. So it just comes down to when all the girls can get together. Which may not be easy with bridesmaides generally spread across the country. And with them, one has to wonder who’s in charge. Really anyone that wants to grab the reins can go for it! And anyone who wants to help can jump right in…
Who comes, anyone you’re close to. They don’t have to be on the wedding list but should be close pals and no more than about 20. And that may even be over kill…
It seems like they don’t really stand still. The bachelorette party seems to always be on the move. From bars to clubs to movies and more. But don’t forget about other ways of celebrating that may be just as much and at times more fun!!!
Kayaking trip, resorts, spas, beaches!!! All make for great times!
Some ideas and trends:
OK – so you’re not the table dancing, inflatable phallus type of bachelorette. Relax – there are plenty of other ways to celebrate your final send-off. Here are some g-rated bachelorette party alternatives:
Adventure Bachelorette – go hiking, rafting, horseback riding, or camping.
Spa Party – gather the girls for some serious pampering
Fondue Party – or any other style of intimate dinner party (fondue just seems to make things more fun!)
Beach Weekend – enjoy some sun, sand – plenty of tropical beverages.
Casino Night – all bets are on! Set up game tables, break out the decks, and test your luck with a roll of the dice.
Wine Tasting – hit up Napa Valley (or the nearest winery) for a day – or weekend – filled with good wine, good conversation, and good friends
I can’t say as it’s an easy thing, choosing a wedding florist and all… Let’s face it though, you want flowers, you almost need flowers. So what do you do? Where do you start? What kind of flowers, what florist??? First things first, you obviously have a theme you want to go with. Colours you want to use and an over all appearance that you’re trying to make work. So go with it. But if you really want to make your day something else, ask florists about flowers you may not see every day or at every wedding. Sure, late summer into early fall you have sunflowers that are beautiful. But the rest of the year, put the work into their hands. Have things ordered. But do so in time that the flowers will actually be there. But the other key, is the florist themselves. Look at many, DO NOT CHOOSE the first one. You may see the flowers and they may look beautiful, but STOP, you’ll think that about all florists. Look at the bouquets they’ve created in the past. Look at the details of how they wrapped the stems. That’s one thing I’ve seen as a wedding photographer is the bouquets not really holding together through the night. Where at other weddings they’re as this as a brick! Ask them how long they will have the flowers before your wedding. That last thing you want is flowers that are already wilted. Ask them how they will transport them. Many florists just lay the flowers in boxes and drop them off. The flowers sit for a few hours in these dry boxes and start to wilt right then and there. My mother has done flowers for many weddings. It’s not her career, she does it out of her garage but you know what, never is a flower delivered that isn’t in water. From the bouquets to the center pieces. They’re in water until the last minute. PERIOD! I can’t say as if this was the most informative, but the point I’m trying to get across is simple. ASK QUESTIONS. A flower is not a flower is a flower… Ask where the flowers come from, how long they’ll have them pre-wedding, how they will be transported, what kind of fillers are going to be used, what is a back up plan if special order flowers don’t come through??? ASK ASK ASK…
Excerpt
As a wedding photographer I see all toooooo often photography being put on the back burner while the wedding dress, the cake, the reception venue and more take center stage. I don’t say this because I’m a wedding photographer, I say this as an individual that wants you to have the best memories captured! PUT THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY on the top of your list. There are many reasons for this, some of which are outline below, but before we go any further I want you to just think about it from one direction…
3-7-15 years from now, the day will be way in the past… Now stop, what will you have to remember YOUR day, possibly the day you dreamed of your entire life??? You’ll most likely have the dress, heck, you may even still have the top of the cake in the freezer…. What you won’t have are all the small details, you won’t have the DJ, you won’t have the food, you didn’t purchase the venue where the reception was held, nor the Limo, the church and more. But what you will have are the photos. You’ll have the wedding photos which you will have hopefully looked through since your day. So now the question is, do you want photos that are just that, photos, or do you want so many of the moments, the laughs, the smiles and the details in beautiful pieces of work? The photography truly is one of the few things you’ll still have years down the road. And below are a few tips to help you find the right photographer… Before those are 3 simple guide lines that I like to pass along…
- LIKE THE PHOTOGRAPHERS WORK!
- LIKE THE PHOTOGRAPHER SO THAT EVERYONE GETS ALONE
- And last but not least, MAKE SURE IT WORKS FOR YOUR BUDGET
- In my eyes it’s advisable that you begin looking for a wedding photographer the second you get engaged. Why? Quite simple, first off, the more you get done and the sooner it happens, the less stress you have in the future. Secondly, wedding photographers book up fast, at least the great wedding photographers. We’re not even done with 2008 yet and I personally have weddings booked into 2010! The photographer you find should provoke a reaction with in you, and not a bad one.
- Find out how much experience the photographer has, not saying that in-experienced photographers don’t know what they’re doing. I mean heck, we all needed to start some where. But what I can say on a personal level from as a wedding photographer is that experience means we know where to be and when to be there. We can generally be ready for shots before you even know what’s about to happen. Let alone knowing how to work with other vendors on your day, the schedule, not being in anyones way and more.
- Studios which employ more than one photographer can be a bit shady. Why? Because at times you never really know who’s going to show up to shoot your day. They can promise one person and have another show up and more. How would you feel with a stranger walking into your day??? Let alone following you around for the entire day. God forbid you not get along with said photographer.
- Make sure you know what you’re getting. Now adays with digital, most photographers include all images on CD, just make sure you also share the rights so that you can print images if you so feel the need. Get everything in writing, no verbal promises at all!
- Get a contract and book with a deposit. Wedding photographers truly do book their days fast and you don’t want to spend all this time finding the right photographer only to lose them to another wedding because you didn’t leave a deposit and get a contract.
- Make sure to schedule all the time you want. From before the ceremony through the reception. I personally don’t believe in setting strict time limits, but you will find some photographers that put 6-8-10 hours time limits with no wavering. 6 hours hits and they’re gone!
Honestly, I could go on, but that’s a good place to start… Just find someone that you like, has great work and fits with your budget and style!!!
Shine on,
~Tim
Okay, so maybe I’m not just a Wedding Photographer in MA. as a matter of fact I’m located and generally work as a Ct. Wedding photographer, HOWEVER, that has not stopped me from my “worldly” travels. At least around this part of the world! From Portland Oregon to Portland Maine weddings, I’ve been there and done them.
How does any of this possibly revolve around wedding tips? I can’t say as if it does. I just really wanted to share two things, ONE! Some pics from the Sturbridge MA. Wedding that I shot last weekend, and the second, is how I just booked a St. Augustine FL. wedding for 2009! Let alone another for 2010!!! Seriously, how I took my dream of being a photographer, let alone wedding photographer, following in my fathers footsteps with the camera, just rocks! It all just rocks! Anyway, a couple pictures from the Sturbridge MA. wedding that was held at the Publick House!
I came across this video and thought it would be something many would find quite useful! I’ll have a video up very soon about some trash the dress shoots as well!
Shine on!
~Tim
Quite honestly, one of my favorite parts of what I do. Not because I get to eat it, not because I’m part of the design, but quite simply because I have a sweet tooth and love any sort of art. And let me tell you, I believe that the right cake company truly does take the wedding cake to a new level!!! Don’t believe me though, I only get to see these from the wedding photographers view, but check some of them out for yourself… And below are a few tips and ideas to maybe help keep the cake under $20,000 too…
One of the other things to think about is how many people will actually care if they’re eating the cake? I have been the photographer at a couple wedding receptions where they had a smaller cake and some really fun cupcakes! Even that was a brilliant idea, and then of course there is the main wedding cake and a sheet cake in back that get’s served. So many possible ways to keep the budget down one what could be unreal!
#1 Recognize this: the more time, labor and materials used on a cake, the more expensive.
#2 Use a fake bottom tier. Why not use cardboard for the bottom tiers with the real cake at the top tiers? Nobody will notice.
#3 Buy a small wedding cake and make it up with cupcakes or sheet cakes. Visit the supermarket for options, instead of the bakery.
#4 Pass on the fancy fondant icing. The least tasty frosting is also the most expensive.
#5 If you cut down on your guests, you’ll cut down on the slices and overall cake price.
#6 Dare to do it yourself? With a little help from your friends of course.
#7 Stick to traditional shaped cakes (that would be round): even squares cost more.
#8 Know where your prices stand: cake slices typically cost from $1.00 to $6.00 a slice, and can go as high as $15.00 per serving!
#9 Price depends more on the style of the cake, rather than the flavors, so think about borrowing your cake materials or decorations, or requesting them as gifts (if it makes sense). For instance, opt for disposable cake pillars instead of crystal or get a cake topper as a wedding present!
#10 Dress up a plain cake in a unique and memorable way.
In the future I’m sure cakes will come up again in the future, as I continue to see more fun ideas at weddings around the county.
Just remember that no matter where you live, if you’re looking for a wedding photographer, out of all the wedding photographers out there, I’m still here!
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