Photographers are a whole different breed of folks.  I honestly believe they are artists.  They just see the world differently than the rest of us.  I often wonder at how they manage to see things through the lens of a camera, literally, all the time.  To me, it seems amazing at how they can take the details of life and just make it so much more significant.  Wanna see my fave photographer?  Well here she is!  Ms. Kate Mefford of Juxtapose Photography.  Check her out!

Kate has helped me with so much, from my headshots to my logo.  She’s an amazingly talented woman and has the most fun personality I’ve ever met behind a camera.  Here’s why you should hire her:

• She makes being in front of a camera easy. (NOT an easy task)
• She doesn’t do formula shots.  (You know, that same old pose you’ve seen in every wedding album.)
• She captures the essence of her subjects personality and relationships.  (I can’t tell you how much some of her shots have made me want to cry with the touching looks she captures!)
• She’s a true artist and only gives you the best of the best.

 I could go on and on, but why?  Check her out by reading her blog and giving her a call.  I promise you’ll love her as much as I do.

As much as all brides refer to magazines for advice on everything from dresses to etiquette, the magazines don’t always get it right.  I was just reading a quiz in one of them and the question asked was what do you do when 20 invitees do not send back their response cards?  The answer rightfully stated the invitees should be called to verify attendance or not.  However, it suggested that the bride’s mother be the lucky one to make the phone calls.  Unfortunately, this is incorrect according to etiquette and common sense.  

While you definitely want to verify attendance so you know how many steak dinners you need to pay for, it is awkward for a guest to tell the bride or her parents an honest no if they do not intend on coming.  Save yourself a little heartache and delegate this to those who guests would not find it as awkward to be honest with.  If you can, please ask a bridesmaid or your wedding planner to make these calls for you.  The calling party can simply say something to the effect of we’ve had some guests that did not receive their invitation and wanted to make sure you had received yours?  Will you be attending?  If they hesitate, politely let them know a correct headcount is needed for the caterer.  The lost invitation line gives them an out for not responding on time and the caterer information lets them know it’s an important request. 

I’m off to school again!  At least, for the next few days.  As always, I’m constantly trying to learn new things and keep up my skills.  So, I’m off to the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners for their 3 1/2 day course.  Wanna see what I’ll be learning?  Check it out at http://aacwp.org/certification.html.  Should be lots of fun and I can’t wait to meet new friends!  The organization is pretty new, but the ladies who founded it are top notch.  I’ll keep you posted on how it goes! 

I absolutely love to read and of the many topics, of course weddings is one of them.  My fave book for weddings at the moment is Simple Stunning Weddings by Karen Bussen.  Karen lets everyone know that using simple ideas can make a wedding fabulous, such as using only a trio of colors and empasizing that trio through everything from floral to table linens.  With advice on everything from centerpieces to budget, it’s a fascinating read.  Even better, she describes ideas and how to come up with your own for 12 different types of venues.  Amazing!  If you’re still in the beginnings, this book is a great reference!

Your florist is one of the most crucial vendors you choose, yet I feel most brides pick their florist without looking at qualifications, references or even portfolios.  Florists are key to framing the look and style of your wedding, so please be careful!  Most brides choose their florist by word of mouth references, which is a great tool, but is not the only criteria one should look at.  Here are a few items that are important to myself when evaluating a florist:

Experience - How long has the florist been doing this and how much of their business comes from weddings?  Many florists offer wedding services, but this may not be their main interest or priority.  You want a florist to WANT to make your wedding special.

Creativity - When you look at their portfolio, do you see the same thing over and over?  Is it simply a book from 1800Flowers? Or is it pictures from the weddings they’ve done?  Are there fun, creative and unique ideas or is it only traditional items?  If you want something different and unique, you want a florist who has done something different in the past.  This shouldn’t be their first attempt at something new.

Proposal - Your florist should have a written proposal to explain their offer.  The proposal should include specific flowers to be used, possibly a sketch of the most important items, and specific pricing and payment terms.  This is for both you and your florist to know what the expectations are and is your main communication tool. 

Curiousity - Your florist should be curious!  They should ask questions such as:  What does your dress look like?  Where are you getting married and what is it like?  What’s your favorite flower?  What flowers do you not like?  If they aren’t asking you questions, they are not going to put together something that is meaningful to you and it may not even fit the surroundings.

Florists are wonderfully creative people and I think you’ll find most fit these criteria.  Word of mouth is still the best way to find your florist, but these tools will help you to narrow down your choices.