Wedding Planning Articles, Tips & Advice

Questions To Ask When Looking For A Wedding Officiant

by Rabbi Melinda Bernstein

Choosing an officiant is one of the most important steps in the wedding planning process, especially if you’re not affiliated with a religious organization. Here's a list of questions and suggestions to make it easier for you. Do…

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Selecting the Music for your Wedding (Part 1 - Cocktail Hour & Dinner)

by Bethany McDonald

Choosing the music for your wedding can be a very overwhelming process: trying to pick songs that will keep your guests happy, songs that you and your fiancee enjoy, songs that your family is asking for, and songs…

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Selecting the Music for your Wedding (Part 2 - Dancing and Do-Not-Play Lists)

by Bethany McDonald

Step 3. OPENING THE DANCE FLOOR Now comes the fun part. Picking the music for the dancing portion of the evening is just a matter of choosing songs that will get people on the floor. We like to…

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When Choosing Music For Your Wedding

by Francis Danis

When choosing your music, it is important that you take into consideration the theme of your wedding. It would be a great idea to hire musicians that can produce the kind of songs that you've been looking for.…

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The Importance of a Professional Wedding Officiant

by Terry Perez

Brides and grooms often overlook the importance of the person actually conducting their wedding ceremony. They place great care in a place, date, and time, but do not consider that the ceremony will not go forward without an…

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Cutting Back on Your Guest List Saves Money

by Nora McCoy

How many times have you said "When I get married, I want...?" Now you are getting married and the budget comes into play and you come to the realization that what you wanted isn't in the budget at…

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Finding Your Photographer

by Shane O'Donnell

I know that when you finally have said "yes" to the big question, that is when all the work begins. My simple tip for you regarding finding a photographer is to go with someone you like. Once you…

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Finding the Right Hall For Your Guests

by Darryl Jacobsen

I was recently offered a unique opportunity by a banquet facility that recommends our services. They wanted to completely change the layout of their main ballroom and they requested my input as to what I thought their clientele…

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Guest Interference With Your Photographer

by Daniel Sheehan

Very often at weddings while I am making formal portrait photographs of groups of people, friends or family want to stand next to me or off to the side to try and get the same photo I am…

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Dealing With Stress on Your Wedding Day

by Tim Brown

Stress. It seems to be something that can eat away at all of us. It's how you handle the stress that matters and that's one thing I hear from all the couples I shoot."Tim, you kept us on…

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Helpful Ways to Ensure That You Get Great Wedding Photos

by Parris Whittingham

I am often asked, "how can you ensure that your photographs of my wedding will be as good as the ones on your site?" The simple truth is... I can't. At the end of the day, every wedding…

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Get More Than Expected with a Wedding Video

by Trish Kondreck

There is total silence. At the altar the groom awaits his bride. The organist begins the wedding march, the doors open and in steps the bride.The look on the groom's face as he sees her for the first…

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Hindsight is 20/20

by Ivan Apfel

When I was a teen I had a car accident that was due to simple bad decision making on my part. After the accident, my grandfather only said one sentence to me, "Hindsight is a wonderfully useless thing."As…

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Helpful Hints for Formal Portraits

by Anja Ulfeldt

Scheduling formal portraits at your wedding is a delicate task. You want to be sure to get those once in a lifetime shots of all your friends and family who have come from far and wide to celebrate…

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Relating to Your Wedding Officiant

by Marie Tyler Wiley

The trend these days seems to be delaying selection of the officiant until very late in the wedding planning process. This is puzzling, as the union cannot be solemnified unless an officiant is present. The celebrant should actually…

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Wedding Photography -- Planning Ahead Pays Off

by Emily Law

It's true throughout life, but never more so than during those stressful days in your life. On your wedding day I have a few tips that will help make the most out of the time you have to…

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The Receiving Line

by Richele Wharton

Depending on the number of guests you have attending your wedding, you might want to consider not having a receiving line until everyone is at the reception site. Most couples would rather wait to see each other for…

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Tips for Combating Wedding Stress

by Varnita Leppo

Whether you are a bride or a groom-to-be, planning your wedding can be a time of great stress. Here are a few tips to help mitigate the stress of planning your big day. Many times, brides and grooms…

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"Wait, What Happened To All The Amazing Pictures?"

by Ivan Apfel

So, it is time to decide on your wedding photographer. You search all the wedding sites; you check out all the photographer's listings. You look at their sites and all the beautiful pictures and all the not so…

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The Art of Wedding Photography

by Tony Schreiber

I got an amazing phone call today from a potential bridal client. She didn't know anything about wedding photography. Can you believe that? It only dawned on me as obvious just now. I told her that people don't…

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Getting the Most From a Bridal Show - Part 3

by Larry James

Don't be afraid to tell someone that you already have booked his or her service with another vendor. Take a minute and visit with them anyway. Who knows? You make pick up a tip or suggestion you or…

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Getting the Most From a Bridal Show - Part 2

by Larry James

Bring your fiance with you for at least one trip to the event, and then go again with your mother, your maid of honor, future mother-in-law or girlfriends. Going twice allows you to really take in everything you…

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Getting the Most From a Bridal Show - Part 1

by Larry James

Attending bridal shows can be most helpful in planning your wedding. Here are some tips that will help you get the most from your bridal show experience. Where else but at a bridal show can you preview ceremony…

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Finding Common Ground in Wedding Ceremonies

by Rev. Leah Light

Those seeking to marry used to have two choices only: a reverend or rabbi of an established church or synagogue, of which one usually had to be a member, or a civil ceremony at the courthouse before a…

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How Do I Choose?

by Christina Kiffney

As a professional photographer, I get to hear everyone's stories, and usually the stories they tell are about what went wrong. Generally, couples want their wedding planning to be simple and within budget but get overwhelmed with advice…

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The Benefits of an Engagement Portrait

by Shawn James

Thinking of having an engagment portrait taken? Well, it is a good idea. The benefits of having an engagment portrait are many. You can get to know your future photographer and then decide if you want to hire…

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Wedding Planners Get the Job Done

by La Shawn Witt

Any wedding is complicated. There are myriad details to be discussed, budgeted and executed. But like most brides, your life is filled with demands - job, home, friends and social commitments, and, of course, him. You may not…

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Want Great Photos? Don't Forget These Important Tips

by Krista Lee

In order to make your wedding images as beautiful and memorable as possible, it is very important to take a few things into consideration. Many people forget that the time of year, the time of day, and the…

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Things to Consider When Hiring a Calligrapher For Your Wedding

by Maren Nicholas

The word "calligraphy" literally means "beautiful writing" and is commonly know as "the art of the written word". It traditionally has been used in the holy scriptures, royal correspondence, works of art and many other significant events. It…

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Why Should I Have My Wedding Day Professionally Videotaped?

by Bernard McRae

Your wedding day is a once in a lifetime experience. After months of careful planning to make your celebration perfect, your emotions will fly by in a heartbeat - laughter shared with friends and family as you prepare…

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What Are You Looking For in a DJ?

by Connie Spicer

Many brides and grooms-to-be ask about the services we DJ's provide and ask why our fees are always so high. It isn't just a matter of time for disc jockeys: we have a huge investment to protect, and…

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Guest Book Alternatives for Modern Weddings

by Sarah Westerfield

Many brides are looking for a way to incorporate traditional items into their wedding with a modern twist. One of the simple ways to accomplish this is with a guest book alternative. Traditional guest books are usually bound…

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The Unity Sand Ceremony Service

by Sarah Westerfield

The Unity Sand Ceremony is a novel alternative for the popular "unity candle ceremony" incorporated into many of today's weddings. The essence is to symbolize the union of "two into one". This sand version is not only beautiful…

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Ten Secrets to Great Photographs

by Grant Younglove

1. BE SELECTIVE ON YOUR LOCATION. Put some effort in choosing a beautiful location for the majority of your photographs. If a beautiful theme restaurant is not possible, ask a friend or relative if you may use their…

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Digital Wedding Photography - What You Need To Know

by Kim Wieas

You're interviewing a potential photographer and she mentions that she only shoots digital. Huh? Digital for a wedding? Yes, ma'am. An estimated 80% of wedding photographers have taken the digital plunge. Why? Because today's professional digital cameras are…

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After you've said "Yes"... The age old question... "Now what?"

by Marie Tyler Wiley

After you've said "Yes"... The age old question: "Now What?" You've got the ring, you've got the guy/gal - you even have your wedding officiant. But what happens now? The way I handle my affairs is as follows.…

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Planning an Outdoor Wedding

by Michelle O'Connor

Q: When a bride is selecting an outdoor location for her wedding, what do you suggest to her regarding a bad weather back up plan? A: There are many lovely outdoor wedding locations - beach weddings, lake front…

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