A Bride's BFF

Sunday, November 10, 2013

3 Things To Consider Before Choosing A Photographer

When shopping for photographers, shop for QUALITY not price. It's better to have 10 great photos than 100 bad ones! As you shop for a wedding photographer, keep these 3 things in mind:

1. Equipment. Does your photographer use digital cameras or film? Ask about the quality and dependability of their equipment? A good photographer should also always bring backup equipment with them.

2. Skill. How long have they been photographing people and weddings? The only way to tell a photographer's skill is to look at their past work. Does he/she creatively pose his subjects? Good photographers are skilled in masking ugly backgrounds with creative posing and lighting. Ask to see as many photos as possible in different lighting conditions (indoors, outdoors at night, low-light, etc...). Tip: low-light photography is challenging and only the most experienced/skilled photographers will get this right.

3. Personality. Good communication with your photographer is key. The photographer you choose should be skilled at communicating with all types of people (think controlling a large crowd of unruly wedding guests and family members to all pose for a photo). Can they help ease your nerves and help you relax in front of the camera or are they intrusive and all in your face? Ask questions to try to get a good reading of their style and personality. You will spend a lot of time with this wedding vendor, make sure you like this person!

Friday, November 8, 2013

White Bridesmaids Dresses-A 2014 Wedding Trend

The old tradition of only the bride can wear white at a wedding is NO MORE. With many celebrities opting to have all of their bridesmaids dressed in white; the color traditionally reserved for the bride, may become the HOT new bridesmaids color of 2014.

Here are some tips for pulling this trend off:

Who can forget the fabulous 2nd wedding of Nene Leakes to her ex-husband Gregg? As the always glamorous Nene Leakes taught us, this trend can work fabulously when the bride is not the one dressed in all white!

via stuffflypeoplelike.com

If both the bride and bridesmaids dresses are close to the same hue then the bridesmaid dress should be a completely different style than the brides; as the lovely Kate and Pippa Middleton have done here:

via Dropout Postgrad

And let's not leave out the infamous Kardashians...be nice!

Short white bridesmaids dresses are always cute and stylish!

Pinterest via Frosted Petticoat Blog

Pinterest via Jordan McBride

Or add a bit of color...

Pinterest via Love It

A word of caution here... if you are a guest at the wedding or if you were not asked by the bride to wear white, showing up in a solid white outfit is still considered a faux pas. So don't do it!!

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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

5 Honeymoon Planning Tips

Honeymoon plans should be confirmed as soon as the ceremony and reception sites are booked. Depending on where you are going, getting all the right paperwork (passport, VISAS, etc...) and immunizations may take a while!

Honeymoon planning is a great project for the groom! It's a short, but important project with pre-defined parameters. AND it has nothing to do with the frilly business of picking out colors and fabrics and flowers and details, etc... All the things men love right?

Always book and pay using a credit card. This will protect you if your travel agent, hotel, etc…go out of business. Many credit card companies have some sort of travel protection benefits or dispute resolution process in case something you pay for goes terribly wrong. It's also a good idea to use or earn frequent flier miles with honeymoon travel.

Take advantage of honeymoon upgrades. Bring a copy (not the original!) of your marriage certificate to reap the benefits of receiving gifts, amenities, upgrades and all sorts of goodies for being a honeymoon couple. This is one time where it's ok to hold your greedy little hand out for extra perks. Work it!

Lastly, avoid traveling out on your wedding night. Weddings tend to run behind. As a result you'll be rushed and might even miss your flight. Not to mention, you will be EXHAUSTED and probably a little cranky from the long day’s events. That's no way to travel!

Have fun and enjoy you're honeymoon! Make memories that will last a lifetime. Also make sure to check out my Pinterest board of exotic and breathtaking honeymoon travel destinations.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Crowd-Pleasing Appetizers for Your Cocktail Hour

Hot dogs, french fries, mac and cheese…all foods more typical of what you would expect to find at a ballpark or a carnival rather than at a wedding. Right? Wrong! More and more couples are choosing to have less formal, comfort foods served during the cocktail hour. And the good news is, they are big hits!

When opting for these unconventional hors d’ouevres, it’s all about the presentation. You will be surprised what you can get away with serving at a formal event, IF you know how to present it in a fun, unique and artistic way. This is where having an experienced and creative caterer really pays off!

Mashed Potato Bar: Pinterest via Style Me Pretty, Cocktail Franks: Pinterest, Burger Potato Bites: Pinterest via BGH

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup: Pinterest via Wedding Wire, Mac & Cheese Cups: Pinterest, Spaghetti & Meatballs: Pinterest via thedailymeal.com

Corn Dogs & Beer: Pinterest via thedailymeal.com, Pizza Heart Bites: Pinterest via scratchingcanvas.com, Fries & Gravy: Pinterest via Project Wedding

Friday, November 1, 2013

Friday Freebies-Love Quotes

There is nothing more uplifting than a word or two of great poetry and love. TIP: choose the right words for your love, frame them and use them as wedding décor. Here are some free ones to get you started...