wedding ideas with personality
Your wedding is your special day, so have some fun and add a splash of you and let your personality shine.
1. Personalized Drink
This is a great way to have some fun and play with names and colors. Some couples will combine their names, favorite things to do or college mascot. These are just a few things couples use when naming their signature drink. Using your wedding colors is yet another way to personalize your drink. Think about your personalities. Are you classic and organized then maybe a gin or vodka martini, light hearted and playful then maybe a tropical rum based drink and if you are spontaneous and adventurous then maybe a drink with ginger beer as it’s base (Mosco Mule) is the drink for you.
2. Wedding Vows
Another way to let your inner light show is by writing your own vows. Your guest will love being part of your ceremony as you tell everyone why you have decided this is the only person for you.
3. Think About Having A Band
While DJ’s are fun, a band can truly personalize your wedding reception into a live experience that everyone will enjoy. They can keep things lively by singing directly to the couple and even bring them up on stage to help sing a song. Either way you go, make you are involved in the song selection for the must haves and the don’t even think about songs.
I hope these ideas get your creative juices going and excited to start planning all those little details that will make your wedding uniquely yours. To read more great info. for planning your wedding head over to my website at www.weddingsbylee.com or give me a call at 202-744-0341.
Cheers,
Lee
Lee@WeddingsbyLee.com
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5 Things Everyone Forgets About When Planning Their Timeline
I’ve photographed hundreds of weddings and I see some of the same things over and over that people usually don’t think about when planning their timeline. These are just a few things I help my couples make sure they are aware of and work through.
1. Leave a Cushion
The biggest mistake I see couples make is running their timeline to the minute.
I consider weddings to be organized chaos. A day full of love, tears, and excitement - mix in a little alcohol and there you have it, organized chaos. Something always comes up and it will, I promise. From a baby throwing up on someone, transportation running late, clothing malfunctions, to the one that almost always happens, getting out of makeup late. So, I say to you please, please leave a cushion for the unknown.
2. Travel Time
Make sure you plan for travel time. Not only for you but for your photographer and other venders that have to travel to multiple locations. While you can just walk out of the hotel, church or into your reception, it takes your photographer time to pack everything up, get to the car, drive to the next location and unpack the gear to be ready for the next shoot.
3. Sunset Time
Every season has it challenges. Some weddings have to deal with the heat, cold, rainy season and humidity, but they all have one thing in common, sunset. The most flattering light of the day is what photographers refer to as “Golden Hour” which happens about an hour before sunset. So, when planning your ceremony, if you want to be shooting in that beautiful light, be familiar with sunset time. If you are having a winter wedding, remember sunset can happen as early as 4:30. So if you are ceremony is at 6pm in the winter it will be limited to inside photos after the ceremony.
4. Designate a Photo Wrangler
This could be one of your best decisions and this person could save your timeline. Your photographer will not always know the faces of all the people on your formal shoot list but a family member or friend that knows them is priceless. As your photographer is shooting one group, the Wrangler can get the next group ready. This way you can shuffle through them quickly, organized and stay on schedule.
5. Establish a Wedding Website
This one takes a little more work for you on the front end but will save your sanity by not have to answer the same phone call from all your family and friends. Here your guests can find all the information they need about your wedding day as well as nearby hotels, restaurants, and things to do when not at your wedding.
I hope you found these tips helpful and gets you thinking out of the box. To read more great info. for planning your wedding head over to my website at www.weddingsbylee.com or give me a call at 202-744-0341.
Cheers,
Lee
Lee@WeddingsbyLee.com
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Do I Really Need A Second Photographer?
So you just got engaged, found your dream venue, secured your date and just started to interview photographers when it comes up…1 or 2, 1 or 2, 1 or 2, what to do?
I’ve come up with a few reasons why you might want 2 photographers.
1. Those beautiful CANDID moments when people are at their truest. If you want a majority of your images to be candid, you need a 2nd shooter. Even though I shoot in a style of authentic, emotional and spirited images and while I get and love those candid moments, people see me coming a mile away and usually stop doing what they are doing before I get there. So while I’m directing the 2nd photographer can sneak around and captures those beautiful moments.
2. Two PLACES at once. If you are getting ready in different places and I don’t have time to be at both places, you will need a 2nd photographer. If you want all the detail shots of your reception, table setting, place cards, center pieces, ect… We usually take those images when family photos and bridal party photos are taken. So you will need a 2nd photographer. Basically if your timeline requires me to be in 2 places at once, you need a 2nd photographer.
3. A little SECURITY for a busy day. Although I have never missed a shoot in my commercial career or in over 300 weddings no one can control fate. My 2nd photographers are true to their craft. They all own their own studios and are actively seeking their own weddings when not working with me. So in the event I was hit by a truck on the way to your wedding, they would step into my place and conduct your wedding as if it was their own.
4. Different POINTS of view. This is my favorite. With 2 photographers you have the flexibility of one photographer shooting with a wide angel and one closeup. During the ceremony one focused on the groom as he sees his bride for the first time while the other capturing the walk down the aisle.
I hope this helps to demystify the most thought over question and I don’t mean “ the meaning of life” but of 1 or 2, 1 or 2,
1 or 2 ….what to do?
To read more great info. for planning your wedding head over to my website at www.weddingsbylee.com or give me a call at 202-744-0341.
Cheers,
Lee
Lee@weddingsbylee.com
