As a wedding photographer in Charleston, I've seen just about every unity ceremony possible. I really like the symbolism in all of them and they are very fun to observe as two lovers come together forever!
So, if you're wondering what to do for a unity ceremony at your wedding, here are four ideas:
1 - Sand Ceremony - You may have seen this one before: the bride and groom each get a different color of sand and pour them together into a bowl or jar. This is a nice one, because you can keep the sand forever and display it in your house.
2 - Literally Tie the Knot - In this ceremony, you each get a decorative cord, with a third cord representing God, and you braid them together. This is another ceremony that leaves you with something that you can keep - but you might want to practice braiding together beforehand!
3 - Rose Ceremony - This ceremony has two options, you each exchange a rose as your first gift to one another, or the groom gives the bride a rose and she gives him a vase of water (which the rose cannot survive without). Of course, either way, the rose will not last forever, but it's a beautiful gesture!
4 - Candle Ceremony - You probably know of this one: the bride and groom each have a candle (usually previously lit by the mothers) and they use them to light the larger candle in the middle. Again, like the rose, candles don't last forever. But, everyone loves candles and, if you put the candles out after the ceremony, you can keep them forever if you don't light them again.
The good thing about all of these... they all offer great moments for wedding photography! The colors in the sand and rose ceremony make great saturated photographs, while the knot tying offers great facial expressions from the happy couple. And, of course, the flames in the candle ceremony offer great points of light, depending on the room lighting, for beautiful black-and-white or color photos.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Tips On Your Wedding DJ
As a wedding photographer in Charleston, I know a thing or two about the other areas of wedding planning. After all, I've seen every sort of wedding your could imagine, so I can tell what's good and what's bad, because I've seen everything!
One aspect of wedding planning, and one that you might overlook, is the entertainment for the reception. I've seen a lot of people do different things for this, from professional DJs to DIY playlists. Let me tell you - the DIY is not always the best choice. If you want an exciting reception with good flow, I definitely suggest a DJ or professional emcee with a band, and here's why:
1 - Coordination - DJs and emcees know how to coordinate between events. If you hook up an ipod to a speaker, who's gonna let everyone know what to do and when to do it? Your friend? The best man? Do they know how to get a large group of people to focus attention on anything? Chances are that they don't. DJ's and emcees do!
2 - Guest Involvement - DJs and emcees know how to get people excited! Yes, as the bride and groom, simply being on the dance floor will make everyone else want to dance. But, can you or your friends get all the guests to do the Electric or Cha Cha Slides?
3 - The Right Mix - This involves a lot: from technical sound mix to the right mix of music. A good DJ knows how to switch between songs, putting the slow songs at the right times and the upbeat ones at other times. If you hire an experienced band, they should be able to figure this out as well!
So, keep this in mind as you plan your reception and get the right entertainment for your big day! Then you'll be sure to have plenty of fun wedding photography because everyone will be having a blast!
One aspect of wedding planning, and one that you might overlook, is the entertainment for the reception. I've seen a lot of people do different things for this, from professional DJs to DIY playlists. Let me tell you - the DIY is not always the best choice. If you want an exciting reception with good flow, I definitely suggest a DJ or professional emcee with a band, and here's why:
1 - Coordination - DJs and emcees know how to coordinate between events. If you hook up an ipod to a speaker, who's gonna let everyone know what to do and when to do it? Your friend? The best man? Do they know how to get a large group of people to focus attention on anything? Chances are that they don't. DJ's and emcees do!
2 - Guest Involvement - DJs and emcees know how to get people excited! Yes, as the bride and groom, simply being on the dance floor will make everyone else want to dance. But, can you or your friends get all the guests to do the Electric or Cha Cha Slides?
3 - The Right Mix - This involves a lot: from technical sound mix to the right mix of music. A good DJ knows how to switch between songs, putting the slow songs at the right times and the upbeat ones at other times. If you hire an experienced band, they should be able to figure this out as well!
So, keep this in mind as you plan your reception and get the right entertainment for your big day! Then you'll be sure to have plenty of fun wedding photography because everyone will be having a blast!
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