{Guest Post} Wedding Photography: How To Choose a Professional and Get Value For Money

Hello lovelies!

Yes, I know, it has been a looooooong time! And, admittedly, I have no socially valid excuse for not writing anything for the last *cough* three months *cough*; so let's skip past that particular elephant in the room and get down to business!

Today's post is a guest post from fellow blogger, Maria Benson.  Maria is a professional blogger interested in finance and politics, having written several articles on such categories. She enjoys researching financial products and services and writing reviews on them. During her free time her hobbies include painting and reading. She is currently working on PPI claims and she is looking forward to posting a few articles on the subject. 

And so, over to Maria for a few tips on getting the most out of your wedding photographer!

Happiness Is... {30 Day Challenge}

{A photo of something that makes you happy}

When asked how they managed to stay together for 65 years, the woman replied, "We were born in a time where if something was broke, you fixed it... Not throw it away."

Photos like this make me feel warm inside...

Until tomorrow!
Peace and Love!

Don't Leave Home Without It {30 Day Challenge}

{Something you don't leave home without}

While I am by no means what modern society may refer to as a "girly girl", I have noted that there may be many practical reasons for having certain items close at hand or about one's person when one is away from one's home.

{Advice} Part 10: Bits and Bobs

To end off this advice series, I'm going to touch on a few points that are often forgotten. They are in no particular order of importance, so sit back and enjoy!

One of the most important things I can tell you is this - it is never to early to start planning! Time flies by and you want to be sure everything is done and in the way you want it!

Wedding cakes are ridiculously expensive, so if you know someone who can bake well ask if they can help you out with a cake. Also consider a flavour and filling that will get eaten - most people despise fruit cake, so it will likely go to waste. Alternatively, consider a cake with each tier in a different flavour, or a variety of cupcakes, or even a selection of bonbons or truffles. Regardless of what route you choose, always have a tasting beforehand!

{Advice} Part 9: Stationery and Favours

Stationery

This is one of the all-time hidden costs of any wedding! No one really considers how much wedding stationery costs, but it can easily work out to the thousands.

Your wedding invitation is the first glimpse your guests get of your wedding, and you want it to make an impression! My advice - if you feel you aren't willing to shell out thousands for professionally made invitations, don't settle for the generic, store-bought variety. If you are artistic or feeling brave, you can create beautiful invitations at home for a percentage of the cost. Enlist a friend's help f you're feeling stumped, or look out for DIY invitation kits at craft shops or stationers. These go for around R350 and can help you create professional-looking stationery on your home PC. Alternatively, you can join a variety of online sites for free to get tips, clipart, ideas and templates for free. Just fill in your wording and print! If you do choose this option, be sure that the paper you choose is compatible with your printer. And be sure of your design before you hit "print", or you could end up wasting time and money!

{Advice} Part 8: Music and Entertainment

When it comes to music and entertainment at weddings, more and more couples are using DJs for both their ceremony and reception. This option allows for great flexibility with regards to your music choices for all those special moments. Like many good service providers, good DJs are booked early, so waste no time in finding one. After the formalities of the ceremony, and after the meal, people want to relax and have fun, so your music is essential in creating this atmosphere!

{Advice} Part 7: Photography and Videography

Finding a good photographer is like finding the perfect dress - difficult, but worth the wait! You want someone who is passionate about their work, who doesn't view your wedding as "just another day at the office". You also want to find someone who will capture the special moments without intruding on them, and someone who can do all of the above without costing an arm and a leg!

Most photographers have online portfolios of their work - view them! And send out for as many quotes as possible! This will give you an idea of what photographers cost and what is included in their packages. Regard only those photographers that fall within your price range - it is a myth that all good photographers are ridiculously expensive. It is entirely possible to find a great photographer within the confines of your budget.

Once you've decided what you would like included in your wedding package, what your budget is, and what style of photography you prefer, the list of photographers can be narrowed down to those who can offer you exactly what you want. Make appointments to meet with these photographers. This meeting is less about their work (by now you have an idea if they are good or not) and more about finding out if yo can work with this person. For example, if you are usually a sensitive person, chances are you will be even more sensitive on your wedding day, so find someone who will understand that and put you at ease. If you like to take charge, find someone who can take direction well without losing their spontaneity. These things will become apparent in discussion, and a good photographer what their working style is without you having to guess.

These are things to also consider when choosing a videographer. If you choose to have a wedding video made, be sure that you and your groom will be comfortable in front of the camera, or it could end up looking stiff and forced.

Some photographers offer both photography and videography, and often offer packages that include both, and most photographers offer tailor-made packages to suit your needs and budget, so discuss this with them. Even if it seems they have only set packages, ask. These are tough times and they need the business.

As with ministers, their busiest times are October to December but remember, photographers don't only do weddings. If you want someone, book them as soon as possible - you don't want to wait and risk losing them!

Don't miss tommorow's post - Part 8: Music and Entertainment

{Advice} Part 6: Your Marriage Officer

Finding a good marriage officer for your ceremony is as important as finding a good caterer for your reception! You need to keep in mind that if you've decided on a religious ceremony you need to find someone who can give you one. If you already have a minister in mind, find out if he or she is willing to conduct the ceremony at your chosen venue. Some marriage officers, for example priests, will not conduct a Catholic ceremony outside of a Catholic church. Likewise, some ministers will insist that you become a member of their church if you want them to conduct your ceremony. Always be sure that whoever you choose can give you the ceremony you want.

{Advice} Part 5: Flowers and Decor

Your flowers and decor play a huge role in setting the mood of your wedding, so pay particular attention to it. Many venues have in house florists who will assist with your decor needs. Some venues may even insist you use their florist. Regardless, always make sure your florist understands what you want, and send pictures to be sure - the last thing you want is to arrive on your wedding day to arrangements you didn't order.

{Advice} Part 4: Catering For Your Wedding

Catering is one of the cornerstones of a successful wedding. Guests may not remember what flowers you had or if you wrote your own vows, but they will remember if the food was good! Most venues have in-house caterers that cost a fraction of what an independent caterer might charge. If this is true of your chosen venue, arrange to have a food tasting before choosing your menu. Nothing is more disappointing than having a beautiful venue but sub-standard food. For this reason many couples now choose to have a food tasting before booking their venue. A food tasting will also help you finalise your menu, narrowing down your choices to two or three dishes. Ask your co-ordinator to send you a menu of available dishes, so you can get an idea of what to expect from your venue.

{Advice} Part 3: Finding Your Venue

Tres Jolie, Ruimsig

Your wedding venue is one of the most important aspects to consider when planning your wedding, and the good ones go fast! If you've already decided on a venue, great! Make a plan to visit the premises as soon as possible, if you haven't already - often something can look great in pictures, but in reality it may not be quite what you expected. On your visit also consider the atmosphere of the venue - remember, you will be spending the better part of a day there. Some venues may be too informal or too smart for your taste, or you may just not like the vibe. And it is imperitive that you do!

{Advice} Part 2: Your Guest List

Before you can get to the fun stuff, like scouting venues and choosing your decor, you need to decide how big an affair your wedding will be. Whether you decide on a smaller, more intimate affair or a larger celebration, numbers are critical! Some venues can only host smaller weddings, so before you set your heart on that dream venue, check your numbers. Your guest list will also help you build your budget. Catering, on average, takes up around 50% of any wedding budget, so decide who you want there and stick to it.

{Advice} Part 1: Announcing Your Engagement and Setting Your Date

Hello friendlies!

For those of you who missed my previous post, over the next two weeks I'll be sharing advice on planning a wedding via a series of ten posts based on an article I wrote a year ago (dork alert!).

But before I begin... Just to be clear - this series is not gospel; it is simply advice from one bride turned wedding planner based on her own experiences and seasoned with a little common sense.

That said, I hope it comes in handy!

Announcing Your Engagement

Whatever happens, make sure that you tell your family and close friends that you're engaged as soon as possible. You don't want them finding out via the grapevine - it could create tensions that are easily avoidable. The rest of your friends and acquaintances can find out via friends, Facebook, etc., there's no need to make a point of telling everyone you know  - people talk, so let them spread the word.

Emma & Willie {A Vintage Romance}

When Emma and Willie met at university in 2008, she started dating someone else. But Fate wound their paths back toward each other and, as Emma says, "the rest is history"...

Being A Good Wife: A Rough Guide

I am back!!  Alas, I was not taking a boating holiday, but rather tending to a hospitalised husband.  Nothing serious, thank the Big Man Upstairs, but it did get me thinking... 

Admittedly, I am not the kind of woman who subscribes to the self-help drivel the world seems so keen to inflict upon us - I have never read Eat, Pray, Love, nor will I ever - and I don't believe that there is one particular approach to marriage.  As varied as people are, relationships of all kinds are just as varied, and require their own special brand of care - oftentimes a formula only the individuals involved can understand.  It is (mostly) for this reason that I am particularly offended by couples who marry after so short a time.  How can one possibly know the person one is marrying, and how to care for a relationship that is for all intents and purposes in its infancy, if one has not spent sufficient time getting to know one's spouse prior to one's nuptials?  I use the passive voice (if that indeed is the passive voice) because I know far too many couples who fall into this category and it is not my aim to offend, merely to inspire independent thought.  But I digress...