Wedding Wednesday - DIY Stationary

There was once a time when wedding stationary was one of the larger costs in the lead up to your big day. Most couples would pay a calligrapher or other professional stationary maker to create their invitations, place cards, order of service and everything else. This soon added up the costs and made the plan for an inexpensive wedding blow way beyond budget.

These days it is more and more popular for brides and grooms to attempt their own stationary. This is great fun and allows you to be as creative as you like, for a fraction of the cost of a professional. The colour options are endless, as are the styles.

There are thousands of online resources available these days for creating your own wedding stationary, but often it is as simple as having a bit of a play around in a word processing document and buying the right materials. Then all you need is patience and time and you have yourself a very lovingly made DIY stationary set that will wow your guests.

In future weeks I will go into detail on some of my own wedding examples, as well as future invitation samples I will be creating.

Wedding Wednesday - Choosing a Photographer

 As many bride-to-be's soon learn, picking your photographer is almost as important as picking your date and venue. Certainly there will always be a wedding photographer available at the last minute, if somehow you forget this important task. Afterall, it seems like wedding photographers grow on trees at times with the numerous options available. However it does not take an expert to realise the difference between a skilled wedding photographer, and someone who takes okay pics.

Budget is of course one of the important factors to consider before searching for a wedding photographer. Right at the start when you do up your rough budget, decide with your partner how much you are willing to spend on photography, remembering you may also wish to hire a videographer too. It is also important to know what type of style you like. Some prefer the traditional portrait style, however these days candid photos are much more popular and capture the true vibe of the day. The best way to do this is online or by flicking through bridal magazines. Once you have made these decisions, then you can begin searching for quotes.

One of the best parts of wedding planning these days is how easy it has become with the internet. This is where most of your wedding research will take place. Start by searching for wedding photographers from bridal websites or magazines. Once you find a handful that you like, request a quote via phone or email. Make sure you find out exactly what is included. Through this process you will be able to shortlist a couple of photographers whose work you like, who is available on your wedding day and who fit with your budget. Try to keep this number between 2-5 to avoid the decision being too hard.
Meet with your short list of photographers. While they may create stunning photos, you need to feel comfortable on the day So make sure you find a photographer who both your partner and yourself like and feel relaxed with. It will show in your photos.

Most photographers offer different prices packages so know what is most important to you. Do you want full coverage of the entire day or just the ceremony? Do you want an album or are you happy with a disc of images? Do you get high res images with your package or does this cost extra? All of these are important in making your final decision.

Wedding Wednesday - You're Engaged... Now What?

He popped the question. You've told everyone you know and now you keep getting asked 'When is the big day?'. So what happens now?

There is so much to organise for a wedding that people often underestimate the effort that goes into planning the perfect day. Unless you've already been planning this day from the moment you could walk, its likely you will have a lot to decide before you can even start. The most important place to start is by having a detailed discussion with your partner. Focus on the following:

•  Type of wedding you both want
•  Approximate number of guests
• Sit down, cocktail, lunch, dinner, etc
• Your budget
• When you want to get married - spring, summer, etc
•  Where you want to get married - garden, beach, etc 
• How you want to get married - priest, celebrant, etc
•  And any other important aspects either of you wish to include

It is also vital to talk to your families and anyone else who may be contributing to costs, to assist you in working out your budget.

 

From there you need to start your research on venues and begin short-listing a few that you like through internet searches and bridal magazines. Its essential that your venue has the type of meal options you want, enough room to accommodate your guests and any other considerations you need to make. Also if you are set on a particular date, this plays an important role in picking your venue.

Once you have your short list, make appointments and go check out some potential wedding reception locations. Once this is locked in, not only will you have the where, but also the when and the rest of your wedding plans will flow much easier from this point on!