Wedding Photos

We know of the Chinese proverb that says "A picture is worth ten thousand words." Photos are the most dynamic souvenirs a newlywed can ever have. Viewing wedding photos together, whether right after the wedding day or twenty five years later, creates that magical moment that no other kind of photo can evoke. Wedding photos are special in that way.

Brides are the ones who can best recommend the PERFECT wedding photographer or "bad mouth" the worst of them. Great wedding photos do not come by accident. Achieving them requires you to first know what you want to see in your photos and to be clear and bold in communicating that to your photographer.

Now that your wedding photographer knows what you want, how about listening to his suggestions? After all, he is the more experienced one, and probably the more creative one too. For starters, he has probably been to more weddings (and taken more wedding photos) than you could ever dream of! Listen to some ideas he will throw your way. Who knows? They may just be your answer to a most memorable out-of-the-box picture-perfect wedding!

Traditional Wedding

Traditional weddings take place in churches and a variety of other venues, and a traditional wedding ceremony needs a traditional wedding processional. Here, I will walk you through some choices as you choose the music to accompany you on your walk down the aisle.

A wedding is a thing steeped in tradition. While today's modern bride has choices that brides did not have even ten years ago, many brides still choose to follow a more conservative and traditional route when it comes to their wedding ceremony. Whether your wedding is going to be in a church or in the garden behind your house, a traditional wedding processional can add a touch of class and tradition as you make your way down the aisle.

First, look to the masters of traditional music. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, Haydn, Vivaldi. Any name you recognize from classical style music is a gold mine of traditional wedding music potential. Almost all of the music from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" works well as a wedding processional... and the same is true for Handel's "Water Music". Search online for these popular composers and spend some time just listening to their music. Maybe something unique will pop out at you.

Traditional wedding processionals are all about matching the mood of the music to the style of the wedding. Even though you are thinking of tradition, that does not mean you have to choose slow and boring music. Lighter and slightly faster music is perfect for a joyous outdoor summer wedding, while a slower, regal tune works well for a formal evening wedding in a large cathedral. Listen to the music you are considering and picture the atmosphere, time of day, and the decor of your wedding to see if the music matches the ceremony you are trying to create.

Wedding Photography

What is Wedding Photography?

For most couples, this may sound an odd question to ask, most would answer that wedding photography is the kind of photography done during weddings. That is partly correct. But that over simplifies the meaning of wedding photography. The art of wedding photography has change tremendously in the past twenty years. Today it may even have a different meaning for each couple.

In the past, wedding photographers are technicians behind a black box almost mystical that very few would even try to operate it. Back then, wedding couples are hiring wedding photographers to produce wedding pictures of their big day. It is to simply record the event. And the one they chose might be doing six weddings a day.

In 2010, almost all wedding guests have their own digital camera that could produce well-exposed pictures at very minimal cost. What it means is that the professional wedding photographers must have something more to offer to their wedding couples. At the same time, the digital revolution also allowed wedding photographers the new technologies to offer something different. This is one of the reasons why wedding photography has improved compared to what it was years ago. It also attracted people who would never venture into wedding photography if not for the new technology of digital photography. Wedding photographers who at their prime offer beautiful and stunning photos that record the wedding in an artistic and narrative, sometimes evocative and most of the time in a flattering manner.

But it also means that being a wedding photographer today; one has to be able to offer something not seen before. True to the complexities of wedding photography today, it would not be true anymore that all wedding photographers are the same and that all wedding couples desire the same kind of photography.

Here is a Guide to Photographic Methods

The good thing about the Internet is it makes it easy to research the work of a big number of wedding photographers. Check some photographers' website and you will be amazed by the different photographic styles.

Reportage photography is also known as documentary or photojournalism photography; it is best described to have an approach which simply covers and document the event without directing the wedding couple or its guests. Instead it tries to capture the event as it happens in the most natural and creative way possible.

Traditional wedding photography is use to describe the old fashioned way of lining up the wedding couple, their guests and family for traditional photos.

Contemporary wedding photography can be described as glossy which can be trendier than traditional wedding photography.

My humble advice is to look beyond the labels of wedding photography. It can be more confusing than being helpful in deciding which kind of wedding photography suites you as a wedding couple. Another reason is that the style often times is a combination of several photography styles anyway. Third, it implies that wedding photographers offer just one style of photography during their wedding coverage.

In reality, weddings offer a chance for wedding photographers to show different photography styles. Wedding photographers sometimes just can't ask the couple to move to a spot where there is a better light during the wedding ceremony. Also, it is quite often that couples expect to have formal photographs which show them at their best. Even the most modern weddings will require having traditional and formal family shots.

Many photographers excel in one style of wedding photography and emphasize their skill and it may even be part of their marketing strategy. Some would describe their kind of wedding photography as a mix of classical and modern. It may be a mix of reportage and contemporary. It is quite necessary to have a time with the wedding couple wherein they will be directed to be at their best. It will give them the kind of photographs that can be described as fine art. The limited time of weddings make it important for wedding photographer to be a good director.

Celebrity Weddings

What I can't figure out is why any one cares at all. Think about it! Do you really want to start your marriage off by planning your wedding day to be like those of celebrities? How many of the couples above will be divorced in the next five years? Celebrity weddings do not intrigue the news media because of their ritz and glamour. The real reason that the media drools over celebrity weddings is because celebrity marriages are disasters. A celebrity marriage is an announcement of a major disaster waiting to happen.

I am not saying that you can't take ideas away from celebrity weddings. Sure, take an idea here and there. So you liked some of the decor at Brad and Angelina's wedding. Fine, take some of those ideas and run with them. Celebrity weddings can give us great ideas. Just don't get too carried away and pattern your special day after someone else's especially when the celebrity marriage that follows that glamorous celebrity wedding is probably going to sink faster than the Titanic itself.

To the average person, celebrity weddings (and celebrity marriages for that matter) are nothing but fluff. People don't see celebrities as real people. Instead they see them as the characters they play on television or at the movies. You want your wedding to convey that you are in love with his person and you are going into this marriage forever. You don't want to convey to people that this is just part of some fantasy headed for a bad ending.

Beach Wedding

So he finally popped the question and now the planning of the wedding of your dreams begins! Many newly engaged couples are opting for more informal ceremonies, saving them time, money and creating a more intimate gathering for friends and loved ones. The allure of having a beach wedding is obvious and number one on a lot of couple's lists. Saying their vows outside amidst the beautiful weather and sounds of the ocean is heavenly and a great way to start a future together.

As great as it all sounds and as less stressful as some people may think there are numerous things to consider when planning a beach wedding, sometimes more so than a traditional wedding. Coming up with beach wedding ideas can get overwhelming and tricky.

As there are numerous things to consider the priority tends to fall on the following;

Beach wedding invitations: Adding a beach theme to your invitations is a great way to get your guests in the mood for travel.

Beach wedding dress: Finding the perfect dress for a beach wedding can be confusing due to fabric, length and style. Most beach brides opt for more casual dresses with lighter fabrics, which are easier to pack.

Beach wedding destination: Where will the ceremony take place? Is there an island you have always dreamed of and what are the marriage licence prerequisites for that country?

Beach wedding favors: Thank your friends and family for sharing your special day with beach them favors.

Beach wedding gifts: Thank your bridal party with ocean theme gifts that they can use to remember the occasion.

Beach wedding decor: How will you decorate the reception area? Will you keep it simple or will you add touches of the ocean and beach to keep the theme going?

Even though those are the more important issues to address, there are many others that will sneak in. In addition to your dress you will have to consider what type of beach wedding shoes you will wear... if any at all. How will you style your hair? Beach wedding hairstyles can be loose and free or tide up as to keep the elements from taking control of it.

Something else to keep in mind for your reception is the type of music you will play. Will you hire a local band or will you play beach wedding music? And how about the design of your cake? There are many wonderful cake designers who can incorporate beach themes into their designs.

Overall, the experience of planning a beach wedding can be creatively exciting due to the many beach theme options available these days. So the most important part is to have fun and make it as whimsical as you had always hoped. The ocean is a powerful, wonderful entity, so let it inspire you for your special day and your future with your loved one.

Simple Wedding Dresses

There are as many different wedding dresses out there as there are types of brides. Some want to have a princess wedding and some want to have something simple. There are even some that do not want a wedding at all. When it comes time for you to choose your wedding dress, think about what excites you and also what goes with your personality. Your wedding is a reflection of you as a couple, but your dress is a reflection of you alone. If you want to find simple wedding dresses because those are what suits you, you are in luck. There are many great ones out there on the market.

As a matter of speaking, simple wedding dresses can be inexpensive, but not always. Some of the most expensive dresses are very simple. When you shop by style, you can also shop by price tag. If you are going for the least expensive, there are plenty of places to shop. Some go to discount bridal boutiques, and some like to shop in department stores. You can find some great looking simple white wedding dresses that are not always made to be wedding dresses. That does not mean that you cannot use them as such. They can be very simple, quite elegant, and above all, right in your price range.

If you do not care how much you spend on simple wedding dresses, you can shop anywhere that you like. What makes a dress simple is subjective, but most would say that these have a skirt and bodice without a lot of embellishment. That does not mean that they have to be plain. Simple and plain can be two different things. You can find a white dress made of gossamer material that shimmers when you walk. You can have a silver belt around the middle. You have a great looking wedding dress that is simple, but far from plain.

Simple wedding dresses can also be made to be something else if you have been gifted one but you want something with more to it. You can do this yourself, but it might be a better idea to find a seamstress to help you with this. You can have tulle and beading added in some cases, though you do have to be realistic about how much a dress can be changed before you would be better off buying a new one or before it is no longer a good idea because it is falling apart. A smart seamstress can do what you want and will tell you if your vision is even possible.

You can find simple wedding dresses online. These may be one of the best types to buy on the internet because the fit is more obvious and you can tell if the simple style fits your body type. Shop around for a great price, and choose a site that allows you to return the dress if you get it and you hate how it looks on your body. Most good sites understand that shopping often means trying on, so they make it easy to do returns. They want your business. Search until you find the full service bridal dress shop online and you can find a great price on an a amazing yet simple wedding dress.

Wedding Bouquets

Did you know that the humble beginnings of the wedding bouquet were garlands made of herbs? It is true, each herb ad flower suggest its own special meaning. Down through time the floral wedding posy of a beloved queen replaced the simple wedding garland, and then Hollywood with all its glamour, fashioned the use of exquisitely created wedding bouquets and new brides of that time created a wedding trend by wanting their own bouquets to resemble those of the stars. The styles of wedding bouquets have swung back to nostalgic times for some brides and their choices of a wedding bouquet.

The wedding bouquet represents fertility and is to compliment the bridal gown. There are several different styles of wedding bouquets and they carry in the manner of which is their creation. Crescent and cascading bouquets as well as heart shaped and round bouquets carry in front. Wedding bouquets which are delicately small and lightweight such as single blossoms or nosegays are carried to your side in one hand, however if you choose to make these simple bouquets more elaborate, you may wish to carry them in front as well. Floral pomander styles of bouquets carry to the side by an adult and to the front for children. Arm bouquets style in wedding bouquets shall rest upon the forearm across the inner bend of the elbow so to carry in the cradle of your arm. There are many other bouquet styles to choose from, so be sure to investigate and compare to find the perfect wedding bouquet for your own wedding.

Long ago, it was improper for a gentleman to pronounce to a lady what his feelings for her entailed, instead he let her know by the flowers that he gave to her, and all flowers had their well-known meanings. Roses of different colors tell of love. White roses mean charm, innocence and beauty, while a red rose admits to passion and dark pink roses express thankfulness of finding one another. Shades of green or ivy in roses stands for marriage devotion. Tulips speak of love undying, while daisies represent an innocent and romantic spirit. Remember calla lilies associate the sophistication of charm and elegance to any wedding bouquet. Of course, these are just a few, although you should put some deep thought into what type of flowers your wedding bouquet should be. In addition, you may want to consider a special wedding bouquet just for its throwing ritual, this way you shall have your own wedding bouquet keepsake, and so will the friend who captures your throw.

Since wedding guests of the younger girls love the play of throwing and catching, a favor of miniature wedding bouquets for the girls in attendance would add a nice touch to your wedding, making fashionable memories of keepsakes. A centerpiece arrangement composed of miniature wedding bouquets that can be the setting for such wedding favors. As you know very well there is just something special about having your hands on a wedding bouquet.