Wedding Photo Ideas and Projects

Pictures are important both before during and after your wedding. There are plenty of DIY projects that you can do to impress your guests and have memories that last forever.

Before your wedding, one of the best ways to get to know your photographer is to have an engagement photo session. Once your photos are all set and ready to go a great idea is to use your favorite for your “save-the-date” invitations. Simply upload your photo to a printing website, like VistaPrint, and you can add the affects you want to make your cards unique.

During your wedding, you can find interesting ways to display photos at your wedding reception. You can always re-purpose old photos and use them as coasters for your guest’s drinks, or use them as a part of your wedding program. To honor your parents or grandparents marriages find photos of their wedding days and display them as well, it is great way to bring out the sentimental nature of the day and make the moment even more special. 

After your wedding, looking at all the photos may be overwhelming. Sit down with your spouse or maid of honor when you are ready to scrapbook your day. Choose the best photos that you feel best describe your day. Make it like a story, highlighting the most important parts of the day, keeping the categories semi even (getting ready, wedding ceremony, candid’s, cake cutting, dancing, and speeches are popular categories). Also, be sure to have the most important people well represented whether it is your immediate family, bridal party or friends.

If you are looking for some specific ideas one of the best sources for planning your wedding is Pinterest. There are millions of great ideas here that can help give you the inspiration to make your day even more memorable.

Fun and Silly Wedding Ideas: Witty invitations, photos, and more!

Wedding News: Humorous invitation goes viral, even passes royal baby!

A Chicago couple held a memorable and fun ceremony, by jesting with their guests. Doing something a bit “out there” can be a memorable experience for everyone; this couple took full advantage of their collective wit and charm. They did it by teasing their guests with a bit of humor before the ceremony.

Attendees of the Kerr/Sabina wedding received a rather unique invitation in the mail. When asked for their RSVP guests were encouraged to select from a few witty and creative responses. Attending guests could select comical options like “I’m in your wedding party, idiot! Wait, is this optional?” or “Two Words: Free Booze”. Guests who were unable to attend the ceremony were prompted by a playful guilt trip stating, “I’m lame, on a scale of 1-10, my lameness would be in the 9.5 to 9.8 range”.

(read more here)

Don’t be afraid to have a little fun with your wedding invitations, photography, music, and stationary!

Katie Kerr, bride, told abcnews that she just wanted to have some fun with her invitations, and so she did. It all depends on the couple, but if you’re the type that likes to tease and banter, you may want to take a page out of the Kerr/Sabina book of wit.

Obviously, with the invitation gone viral, copying these exact options would put your invitations at about a 9.9 on the lame scale, but mimicking the idea in your own way could be a lot of fun! Even if your invitations don’t suddenly go more viral than the birth of the royal baby, you’ll still make your guests chuckle and smile for your special day.

A few ideas you can use to make your own include…

I will attend:

_I plan to object

_My presence is your present

_It depends on the bridesmaid dress you picked

_I’m only going for the cake/booze/pretty bridesmaids (circle one)

_I’m too polite to say no

I cannot make it because:

_A slight jab at the guest for not coming, but nothing overly mean

_Joke about a well-known fact about the bride or groom

_Celebrating alone (for those who live far and can’t make it)

_Other:__________________________________________

 

Memorable Proposal Ideas

There is nothing more exciting to a woman than a unique proposal. As we all know, newly engaged women will tell the tale of the proposal to anyone who will listen.

While there are many ways to propose to the woman of your dreams, it can be difficult to come up with an original idea. For you men who are planning a proposal in the coming months, with help from The Knot, we have compiled a list of the best, wedding proposal ideas.

1. Proposal aboard a private sailing yacht: Whether you choose an afternoon or evening sail, take your significant other out for a cruise around the NYC harbor and propose on the water, complete with champagne to celebrate!

2. Newspaper Ad: Take out a full-page advertisement in a newspaper your girlfriend reads daily.

3. Love Note: Write a love note with the proposal at the end, and place it in the book your girlfriend is currently reading, or somewhere she will find it. When she finds the note, surprise her with the ring.

4. Magnetic: Spell out your marriage proposal in refrigerator magnets, for a playful, sweet proposal.

5. Treasure Hunt: Send your girlfriend on a treasure hunt around the city to all of your favorite spots. The last stop should be you down on one knee!

6. Write it in the Sky: Hire a skywriter to write the proposal in the sky.

7. YouTube: Make her a YouTube video with the proposal and tell her you have a video you want her to see; you’ll know when to get down on one knee.

8. Fortune Cookie: Make a personalized fortune cookie with your proposal as the message.

9. Candles and Roses: Have a trail of candles and roses leading to the ring.

10. Family Affair: Have both your families around for the proposal, ready to celebrate with you when she says yes!

While we think these are great proposal ideas, we recommend taking them and making them your own. Think of these as a jumping off point!

The Benefits of Photo Wedding Favors

Current technology allows today's brides a wide array of options for fun photo favors. While traditional wedding favors are less costly, like small mints, personalized favors are a strong and sentimental way to say thank you to all of your guests. When your guests RSVP and you have a total of how many favors you have, that is a good time to decide.
Customizing each wedding favor to fit your relationship with that person could talk too much time, and it is sometimes expensive. Though the perfect way to show you care, if you have many guests it can be far too stressful.

Edible Favors

Some couples will give mints, candy, and even personalized cookies as a favor. While you can get these from a local bakery or candy shop, it might be better to use that part of your budget on tangible wedding favors. Your guests will be full of food, spirits, and cake, all the while dancing; chances are they wouldn't even eat the favors for a few days.

Photo Frames

Luckily, there are a few ways to show your guests that you appreciate their support without having to personalize each individual favor. Consider placing frames on the tables; your guests will love frames that contain photographs of the newlyweds. You can employ various frame styles and poses to create a variety from which your guests can select.

Charitable Favors

Instead of favors, if you and your new spouse feel strongly about a cause, you could make a donation. However, if you do this, tactfully explain about your gift to an organization by placing a decorative card on each table. Though this is a common practice, just remember, you're not giving your guests a keepsake from your special day.

Other Unique Ideas for Wedding Favors

Three Ways a Photographer Can Ruin a Wedding

When you begin looking at vendors for the various parts of your wedding, you start looking for services that you've never needed before. You will most likely have to hire companies and professionals that you know little about. This situation can put a couple at a severe disadvantage, unless they do thorough research.

For example, the entertainment at your wedding and the photography are two huge components, and they could ruin everything if executed poorly. I have been photographing weddings for a long time, and with many happy couples, I will share a few tips. Asking vendors the right questions, will help you pick a photographer that you’re confident will NOT ruin your wedding.

When it comes to wedding photos you must be confident that the photographer you hired will work in synergy with you, if not it could ruin the wedding and even worse, the photos.

Etiquette Manner and Behavior

Obviously, your wedding photographer must be polite to your guests, it goes without saying. Some photographers prefer that your guests refrain from taking their own photos, and others do not. Simply ask the photographer for his or her opinion on the matter, and make your decision accordingly. In any event, your wedding photographer should never yell at your guests, but it has happened in the past.

Waiting Over a Year for Photo Albums

Couples should expect a decent waiting period for their wedding album; however, some have waited up to eighteen months for their photos, which is unacceptable. Ask you photographer the usual turnaround time, and make an agreement upon the terms of a due-date.

Photographers, Cameras, and Guests

Of course you want spectacular photos with tear inducing scenes, and photographers like myself know how to execute these perfectly. Sometimes, we have an extra set of eyes with us to try to catch perfect moments as they happen. Inexperienced photographers often disrupt the guests when attempting this elusive move. Overly aggressive photographers can aggravate your guests by being in their face too much, especially those in the wedding party. 

When you ask potential photographers how they like to work, a good answer would explain that he or she likes to stay out of the way for majority of the time, but will interact with guests throughout the night for close-up and entertaining reception shots. This shows that your photographer knows to use each tactic in moderation, to blend in with the surroundings of the wedding.

If your photographer answers, saying that he likes to stay out of the way and hide, that may not be great either. Lurking in the shadows could creep out your guests, while the couple will want to see some confidence and humor.

If you ask the right questions, and you know what to expect, you can develop a close and friendly relationship with your photographer. Feeling confident and comfortable will make it easier to explain if you want your photographer to do something different from the norm.

Supply Your Wedding Album With Memorable Reception Photos!

Memorable Reception Photos

Your big day has finally arrived. The ceremony went perfect. All the guests are heading over to the reception. The photographer was snapping pictures during the whole thing and, now, the party can start. However, don't forget about how important the reception is in terms of pictures. This is the time where you and your partner are celebrating your new lives together, so the pictures have to relay those feelings of exhilaration and joy. Here are two helpful hints to get the most out of your reception pictures.

First of all, make sure the photographer gets photos of the whole reception. There are definitely special moments between you and your partner that you want to be sure the photographer documents perfectly (for example: the cake cutting, first dance, etc...) However, there is a party going on all around you, and you  most likely won't get to experience it fully due to having to go around greet everyone. So, be sure the photographer gets a lot of pictures of the excitement and fun that not just you and your partner are having, but also those around you.

Secondly, be sure that you get pictures with your guests at the reception. This may sound like a no-brainer, and, sure, this usually happens to some extent as you walk through the crowd and greet your guests. Just be aware of who you definitely want to get a picture with. This can be done candidly, or you can plan it out more, but having arranged pictures with family and friends at the reception can add a lot to your memories of your big day. Be sure you don't miss anyone in the hustle and bustle of the excitement.

This is an important and special event, it's also a stressful day. It's easy to overlook and forget certain things. Just try and remember to think of where the photographer is so that you can be sure he/she documents your wedding the way you want it to be documented. Keeping these two points in mind can help keep the picture-taking aspect on the right track, while still allowing you to enjoy your reception.

            

C

Considering Royal Blue For Your Wedding?

 Royal Blue

Royal blue itself is a dramatic color, so if you plan to use it, you want to pair it with something stunning and bright. Compliment the navy blue with the ideal colors to create a stunning and captivating reception. 

Royal blue and silver is one of the best combinations because of their beauty and elegance together. When these hues blend, they create a romantic, nighttime feeling.

Royal blue is often a difficult color to match, so blending different shades of the same color work awesome. Check out this sweet blend from Theperfectpallet.com

If you're having an outdoor or boat themed wedding, then whites and bright yellows are great to pair with navy or royal blue. These preppy colors give off a nautical theme.

You could always go with the traditional red, white, and blue color scheme for the patriotic enthusiast in your life. 

Royal blue gives off a slight hint of purple, which means it blends well with hot pink for an energetic and fun look. These are popular colors so your guests will have no difficulty finding the perfect outfit for your special day!

Regardless of the color you choose to blend with royal blue, the photos and venue will look amazing! Look at some of my favorite shots, featuring royal blue!