Wardrobe Change

In the last couple of years we have seen the return of the “going away dress.” What girl doesn’t want an excuse to buy another dress? For those of you who need a little justification for another white dress purchase, stay tuned.

According to Ms. Emily Post, part of the maid of honor’s duties are to help the bride into her going-away outfit and to take care of her dress and accessories until she returns from her honeymoon. For those of you who do not want to worry about leaving your wedding dress at the hotel’s front desk until your maid of honor or parents retrieve it, a going-away outfit is a great option! Not only does it save you the anxiety of leaving your wedding gown with a complete stranger, but it saves everyone else a trip to the meeting place or hotel.

Your going-away outfit is just another way to add a personal touch to your wedding day. Many brides opt for a short, flirty white dress that they will be much more comfortable in leaving the reception. Pick a comfortable dress that you will be thrilled to put on after hours of wearing a heavy wedding gown. Not only does this save you the hassle of arranging pickup for your wedding gown, but also by wearing a going-away outfit you have another piece to add to your honeymoon trousseau.

Photography by Rick Dean Photography, LLC. 

One for Every Guest

Second to dancing, what is every wedding guest’s favorite part? You got it…the wedding favors. Now we all may be counting the amount of customized candy we have consumed over the last wedding season or how your drawer is overflowing with “to have and to hold and to keep your drink cold” koozies, but somehow these are still our favorite souvenirs of a great time spent with family and friends! No doubt, koozies and candy are the go to wedding favors, but if you are looking to get a little creative there are tons of ideas out there. 

Just like any other detail of your wedding, it is important that your wedding favor be reflective of the happy couple’s personalities. If you and your fiancé are wine connoisseurs, then a wine bar complete with personalized wine glasses for your guest and your favorite wine selections would be more than fitting. For those of you going for the southern wedding theme, then perhaps pralines or benne wafers would be a great gift for those guests who appreciate all things southern cuisine. If you and your fiancé enjoy spending time in the garden or on the farm, think about giving your guests flower or plant seeds so that they can enjoy your favorite aspects of the outdoors. From garden seeds to palmetto frond roses, there are ways to customize any type of wedding favors. 

For those of you who share a passion for a specific cause, be sure to share that with your wedding guests. For the couples that have a heart for non-profit organizations or awareness groups, think about making a donation in honor of your guests. If you would like to have something to give your guests look into ordering customized wristbands that are representative of the organization’s cause. Last but not least, always remember to have a wedding photographer capture these details of your wedding day! 

Photography by Rick Dean Photography LLC 

All Things Engagement Photography

Now that you’ve got the ring and planning is in full swing, it is time for you to have a little fun! Some of you may want a perfect shot for a save-the-date or some beautiful pictures to display at your wedding reception, just remember that the most important thing is to have fun, relax, and be yourself. By doing these things, your pictures will be flawless and capture your personalities perfectly.

I am sure that all of you have probably looked through countless engagement pictures and have picked out your favorites where the couple looks blissful and absolutely flawless. All of these couples that have gorgeous engagement pictures very likely followed these few tips and tricks!

1)   Choose the best time!

When I say time I just don’t mean time of day. The season is also very important. For those couples who are football loving fans, perhaps you should plan to have your engagement pictures taken in the fall, wearing your team colors. For the beach lovers, try scheduling your engagement photo shoot on a warm summer evening when the tide and sunset is just right! Even the season can affect how transparent your personality is through your pictures. It is also important to note that if you are planning on having an outdoor shoot, the best time is about an hour and a half before sunset. This way, you can avoid those unwanted shadows caused by sunlight, but also catch the sunset as a backdrop for some of your photos.

2)   What to wear!

Now everyone needs a little Stacy and Clinton in their lives when they don’t know what to wear. These are a few tips we have learned. For engagement shoots, it is best to wear solid colors, particularly lighter ones. Solids provide a clean-cut look for photographs, and are always perfect no matter what the backdrop may be.  It is also important to remember that if you are choosing a walking shoot, you may want to give your favorite high heels a little test run. There is nothing more miserable than trying to look happy and in love when your feet are killing you! As for makeup and hair, remember that the wind is unpredictable so hairspray is a must and that when putting on your makeup, apply extra blush and lipstick to avoid looking washed out.

And last but not least…

3)   Have fun and be yourself!

Think of your engagement shoot as a time to celebrate the future that you will have with your fiancé. If your pictures are natural, your personalities will be conveyed along with the love that you share for each other! If your personalities are more funny and outgoing, feel free to crack jokes and take silly pictures. The more original, the better! The last thing you want to do is have hundreds of pictures that don’t capture your personalities and the reasons why you make a perfect match!

If you follow these tips and tricks you are sure to have fabulous pictures in the end!

Charleston Wedding Photography 

Photography by Rick Dean Photography LLC