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Posts Tagged budget wedding
Top 6 Mistakes Brides Make When Picking A Wedding Photographer
Posted by Crystal in Photography
Wedding Photography is a hotly debated topic among wedding photographers and if you find it overwhelming, you’re not alone. Wedding Photographers offer a wide variety of packages and prices anywhere from $500 – $10,000+ and every photographer thinks that they are the best and the other guys are “cheap” or “overpriced” – “amateur” or “stuck up”. The biggest mistake that brides make is assuming that if they pay more, they’ll get better pictures. This is not always the case – in fact, I’ve had many brides who spent more for the more expensive photographer only to be sorely disappointed with the end results.
Wedding photography is important – it’s capturing those once in a lifetime memories you don’t want to miss – and you can’t do it over again. So how do you ensure that you’re getting what you want no matter what you’re budget may be? Choosing your wedding photographer is a process that should include plenty of research. To help you out, here are the top 6 mistakes brides make when choosing a photographer:
1. Failing to do the research – In just about any urban area there are hundreds of wedding photographers. Don’t limit yourself to 2-3 or “the photographer your cousin used” just to save time. Take time to visit bridal shows and local photographers’ websites to view as many photography portfolios as you can find. Narrow down your list to only those who’s work interests you and then start calling to find out which photographers are available for your date. Book consultations with photographers who are available on your date.
2. Hiring a photographer based on price rather then past work. There are exceptions but 90% of the time what you see in your photographers portfolio is what you’ll get. Many brides make the mistake of hirer a photographer because he offered a cheaper price and promised he could produce pictures just like her favorite photographer does. If you don’t love your photographer’s past work – there is a good chance you won’t love your wedding photos no matter how much you paid. Ask your photographer to see a complete portfolio or sample album from a recent wedding and immediately remove any photographer’s from your list if you are not impressed by their portfolio.
3. Forgetting to ask for a contract. If you learn even one thing today let it be this: ALWAYS have a contract. For every vendor you use – musicians, florists, venue, etc – you need a contract. This contract should include your package details, prices, any additional fees that may be incurred, etc. Having a contract helps to protect you from vendors who cancel at the last minute or fail to show up.
4. Not asking about emergency arrangements. What happens if your photographer is seriously ill on the day of your wedding? Who is their alternate? What does their work look like?
5. Not knowing the options. Many brides have regrets because they see friends with albums or other products from their wedding photos that their photographer did not offer. By taking the time to research a wide range of photographers, you will have a better idea of what your options are and what options are important to you.
6. Failing to negotiate! I am sure I am going to get hell from photographers for this one but yes, you should consider negotiation possibilities. Remember – your photographer’s time, skill and experience are worth money but each package will include different amounts of coverage, final products, etc. If you find a photographer you love, you may be able to negotiate price based on the type of package you want. For example: if your package includes more albums or prints then you need, ask if you can have those items removed for a savings.
Do you have other tips? Leave your tips and ideas in the comments section!
2 Dress or Not 2 Dress… Continuation
Posted by Jill in Bridal Gowns & Accessories
…So the next morning after debating with myself all night, I told my mom that I thought I’d made the wrong decision. At 8:20am the very next morning I called the dress shop and left a message saying that I thought I’d made the wrong decision, I knew she was going to order it that morning so I begged her to hold off. I called her 4 more times through out the morning. My dad called her. But no answer. I remembered that she was taking that day off, but I thought she’d check her messages. She didn’t.
In the meantime, mom and I had 1 more day to find my REAL dress. We had an appointment at a dress shop close to home to look at a Kristina Eaton Veil, which was OMG gorgeous online, but kind of not so pretty in person. But it was at that dress shop that I found “the ONE!” the REAL the one. I’d tried it on in Birmingham and it made me cry… even though at the time I didn’t even think it was even in the running. So I got measured. And mom wrote a check for half the amount and we left. With another dress.
So I owned half of two dresses. From two different stores. In two different states. I called my dad to tell him the “good news”. He wasn’t as happy as I was. He recommended that we put a stop payment on the first check. So we did. And we called the first shop about 12 more times. When we got home we noticed on the first contract that it said ‘NO REFUNDS. NO EXCHANGES’. I thought we were in big trouble. I thought for sure we’d end up in prison and I had terrifying visions that my “wedding night” would have to be a conjugal visit at the county jail. My parents were sure that they’d get sued. I was sure that I’d get disowned. It was a tad on the tense side.
Thankfully, early the next morning the first dress lady called us back. She was able to cancel the order. She wasn’t happy that we’d put a stop payment on the check, but she didn’t yell at me or call me names, or throw us in jail or sue us so I was grateful. She was really a wonderful woman. Her shop is Elegant Brides in Edwardsville, Illinois. She was insightful, professional, and flexible. She had beautiful gowns and a beautiful store and I’m a little dissappointed that we weren’t able to get “the one” from her.
Anyway, I’d obviously like to keep THE DRESS a bit of a secret… but it COULD BE one of these dresses…. Ps. Why can’t we wear fuscia wedding dresses?? White looks awful on me. AWFUL. I mean, if a white shirt was all I had in my closet, I’d rather walk around nekked than wear it. It. Looks. Awful. 
Printable Cupcake Wrappers for Haiti
Posted by Crystal in DIY Weddings
For all our DIY brides – here is a giveaway you’re going to LOVE – and it is raising funds for disaster relief in Haiti as well. The Daily Digi is giving away a kit that includes printables to make the cupcake wrapper and topper shown here – and you also get templates so that you can use them to make your own wrappers using other craft papers/patterns to match your own wedding.
How do you get it? All you have to do is make a donation to any organization of your choice to benefit Haiti and then email them and let them know you did!
2 Dress or Not 2 Dress….
Posted by Jill in Bridal Gowns & Accessories
After a whirlwind trip home for Christmas/wedding planning (let’s be honest here, it was really WEDDING PLANNING/Christmas… are screwed priorities a symptom of bridezilla-ism??) we have….
Centerpieces
Flowers
Bridesmaids dresses
A Wedding gown
and
A Wedding gown.
Yes. Two wedding gowns. TWO wedding gowns. As a result of a hasty decision that I’m afraid my father will be talking about until he’s 92, we purchased a wedding gown. And then another wedding gown.
I arrived in town on Friday. We shopped on Saturday and Sunday. I knew I had until Wednesday to find “the dress” or else it would be too late to order one. It was Monday. We found one that was beautiful. It had many of the things that were on my priority list. I didn’t get “that” feeling, but I could tell that it was a beautiful and flattering dress. One I could be proud to be married in. My mom loved it. So I told her that it must be “the one”. So I got measured. My mom wrote a check for half of the amount and we left. With a dress. My mom was happy. I didn’t really feel… anything.
I called J when we got home and told him that we got a dress and that it was very pretty but I felt like I had to settle. I cried. And then I didn’t sleep at all that night. I just kept thinking about how it was a lovely dress, but I didn’t feel like it was MY dress. I debated with myself about what “the one” meant, if the “one” was the one you ended up with or if there was really truly a dress out there that was meant for me. I debated with whether or not I burden my mom with my lack of certainty or if I should just suck it up and get married in the perfectly fine and beautiful dress…
TO BE CONTINUED…
An Open Letter to My Favorite Stores
Posted by Jill in Damask Weddings
Dear T.J. Maxx, Roth, Marshalls, Garden Ridge and Michaels,
I regret to inform you that if you do not remove all of the amazing black and white damask goodies from your shelves immediately, I will be terminating my almost daily visits to your stores. It seems that every time I enter your doors some black and white damask lovely beckons me, calls my name, FORCES me to buy them. 
It is due to these lovelies that I must work a part-time job in addition to my full time one.
In your aisles I call my Mother breathless, like a drug addict looking for my next fix.
“MOM” I cry “I found black and white damask LAMPS. OMG MOM, I NEEEEEEEEEEEEED these lamps”.
To which, she replies “calm down, Jill, and tell me what you’ll DO with these aforementioned lamps.”
“Ok, you’re right mom, I don’t know what I’d do with them yet… I guess I don’t NEEEEEEEEEEED them, but I really really want them”.
“Jill, put down the lamps and walk away from the store”.
Thanks Mom, your Voice of Reason has saved me from some very unnecessary purchases. But The Voice of Reason could not stop me from purchasing the black and white damask napkins 
with a monogrammed C, even though they were “too expensive” and I couldn’t find “enough for everyone”. Because, seriously, they’re amazing.
But I did refrain from knocking down the lady that grabbed a pack of “C’s” at the same time I did. Although I did audibly gasp and had to stifle the urge to say “Are YOU getting married in 4.5 months with a black and white damask theme??? AND are YOU marrying a man with a last name that starts with ‘C’?!? Are you? Are you? ARE YOU? I DOUBT IT!”.
I am proud of my restraint.
So, my dearest T.J. Maxx, Roth, Marshalls, Garden Ridge and Michaels, it is au revoir for now. We will meet again on May 23th.
Until then,
Jill
Chic Damask Ties for Your Groom
Posted by Crystal in Damask Weddings
Another great find that I know our Jill is going to love (for those who don’t know, Jill is the bride who blogs here at Budget Dreams and she is planning a Damask themed wedding). These ties are handmade and are available from Fantasy Vintage Wear on Etsy. They would be a great touch for a Damask themed wedding!
Old Pictures?
Posted by Jill in Decorations
According to theKnot.com one of the 15 ways to WOW your guests is by decking out your entry way… This is what theKnot.com has to say
We’re not saying you should spend a gazillion dollars on a 20-foot-tall floral arrangement, but first impressions are important, so take time to think out the entrance to your reception. Add a couple flower arrangements to the escort card table or have your stationer create a stylish seating chart display. A table topped with your engagement photos, your parents’ wedding albums, and any other from-the-family artifacts would make meaningful additions.
I think it’s so neat and personal to have a table full of family pictures at your wedding reception. I love love love the idea. I think it gives guests a better idea of where you’ve come from and who you’ve become. It can also serve as a tribute to the people who have helped you get there. I would like to develop a collection of pictures of my family members’ wedding pictures. I have my parents wedding picture. We also have one of J’s parents (although they are just standing by a car, it’s not very wedding-ey). But I don’t think we could go any farther than that. And I’m afraid that TWO pictures on a table might seem a tad underwhelming. But who else would we include? Siblings? That’s 3 more pictures. But I have a brother that’s not married and he has a sister that ALMOST married. So that might feel awkward. Do we expand to include friends? If so where do you draw the line? And as a side note, why do I always make things more complicated than they need to be?!?!? Hahaha! What about pictures from our childhoods? Sigh. I just don’t know… Maybe I should scrap it all together. What do you think?????
Monograms!!!
Posted by Jill in Damask Weddings, Hot Trends
I don’t know what J and I could possibly need a custom monogram for, but that sure doesn’t keep me from wanting one. Have you ever typed “custom monogram” into Etsy. OMG. Hello, stealer of my time and obsession of my soul. Etsy found 10,032 results for Custom Monogram. 10,032. And I pined after each and ever one of them. (Actually, I only got to page 20 before I decided I’d opened enough new tabs to keep me busy for a while.)
Here are a few of my favorites
I love this sash. I think it’s beautiful, elegant, classy, timeless, all those things I aspire to be! 
I think there are probably a gazillion things you could do with it, but I think it’s wonderful tied around the bouquet as they show it. Or maybe as a sash around my dress? Who knows!
This is available through Etsy seller, Michael Angela, she’s got oodles of other wedding related items that warrant your perusal. Check out the “New MRS.” aprons too. I’m a sucka for aprons.
Here’s another fav. Personalized wedding monograms. Yes. PERSONALIZED. For… get this… FIVE DOLLARS!!!!!!! Etsy seller Double Trouble Designs also has a blog… on which I’ve spent wayyyyyyy too much time. I feel like I need about 20 different personalized monograms. How do you choose?!?!? And where exactly do they go?? Yes, on our programs would be nice. And maybe somewhere on our invitations? But where else? I’m not sure… but that’s not going to stop me from buying one… or 20….
Damask Wedding Favor Idea
Posted by Crystal in Damask Weddings
It’s late here and I’m tired – but I just saw these on Beau Coup and they made my think of Jill (in case you didn’t know, she’s the other gal who writes here at Dream Weddings). She’s been filling the blog with damask wedding theme ideas as she plans her own damask themed wedding and I know she’ll love these tealight holders!
These are for you Jill – enjoy:)
Beautiful, Colorful Candy Buffet
Posted by Crystal in Candy Buffets
I recently had the pleasure of meeting one of this area’s newest wedding vendors – Ashley of Sweetness Buffet. Sweetness buffet specializes in one of our favorite topics: Wedding Candy Buffets. She’s done some amazing buffets which are currently being featured at SteinbachWedding.com. Here’s a sneak peak at my personal favorite:
I absolutely love the bright beautiful colors! Color is huge right now – and the bright fun colors in the candy and on the polka dot table cloth really give this candy buffet a fun, authentic candy shop feel. Plus – you don’t have to deal with finding tons of candy all in the same colors and you can incorporate all of your favorites easily.
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