Oh The Weather Outside

"April showers bring May flowers" is how the saying goes, but sometimes the month of April gets a little extra support from months January, February and March. Rain comes down in varying speeds, from a light misty rain to rain that isn't letting up anytime soon. As I enter my thirteen year in the wedding business, I think about the many times the rain showed up as an uninvited guest.

When you are looking at different venues, consider several things. One is what time of year are you getting married and two, does the venue have a "plan B" you can utilize. It is amazing how unpredictable the weather can be in the Puget Sound. The last few days is a prime example -- upper 70s one day with the next day being fourteen degrees colder! The connection? Even in the summer months, you never know how extreme our weather can be.

Wedding Expos....... What Are They All About?

It seems like the wedding industry doesn't limit itself to the traditional month of June or to summertime. Wedding expos are being held in the fall and the spring. Often, I am asked if I attend these shows either as a vendor or to check out my competition. The short answer is no & no.

As I enter my 9th year in my field, I have been featured at an open house and as a guest vendor at the Tulalip Resort hosted bridal expo. At my mother's urging many years ago, I attended as a visitor with her. (She had gotten free tickets and I buckled under pressure.) Most often they are held on the weekend. As you can imagine, this is a conflict in scheduling if you offer services to a client base who more often than not get married on the weekend.

Although it can be seen as a great way to be exposed to brides & grooms to be, it also can seem like a day at the market. Generally, there are booths lined up elbow to elbow with each other while mesmerized guests, willing or unwilling, walk to and fro while vendors offer their pamphlets and samples. The cost to these events is also an expense, for all who are attending. Did you know that it is not uncommon for a wedding vendor to have to pay upwards of $400-$1000 a day at a booth? Yes! The venues which host these events are literally making money hand over fist. That kind of advertising is a bit rich for my taste.

With the exposure and power of the internet, it makes wedding expos almost seem like a thing of the past. The number of customers I can reach at the touch of a few key words can help me drum up business quicker than I could toss my business cards out. I like to work smarter, not harder. Don't mistake this for me being lazy -- there's only so many hours in one day. I am all about maximizing my time and my resources. I just find investing my money into advertising throughout the year to be a bit more effective than a weekend shot.

For the first time brides, eager mothers of the brides or grooms, and for those who want to "check out the competition" wedding expos can serve their purpose. Afterall, you can't hear the music from the different DJ booths live or taste cake samples when you are online!!

Wedding Photography -- Don't Try This At Home, Folks!!

** photo courtesy of Melissa Miksch Photography  www.melissamiksch.com **

Budget, budget, budget...... MUST. STAY. ON. BUDGET.

Sound familiar?

This is often the first thing I hear when I meet with couples. The infamous budget. We all have one, or do we? Some are more detail oriented or are much more disciplined to follow one. Others find themselves overspending and left scrambling to find the means and resources to pay for expenses that come alongside a wedding. Where can corners be cut? Is it the guest list or will it be on a service? Often times it is one of the services being paid for and too often I see it in the areas of photography, planning, or music. Right now, I want to turn your attention to the subject matter of wedding photos. (More on the latter, later.)

There is a saying about good intentions. Often times, couples may be approached by a well-meaning family member or friend who offers to be the wedding photographer to help save the bridal couple money. Who doesn't think free or "just a few hundred bucks" sounds better than $1500 - $5000? I myself am a lover of a good deal but you must be careful because you always will get what you pay for.

I remember a story told to me by a bride I served several years ago. Her friend hired a "photographer" from Craiglist for "cheap". (In my modest opinion, cheap and wedding should NEVER be used in the same sentence.....) Upon arrival, the "photographer" had in hand his "equipment", which was a camera phone. This was at the height of the magical, mystical invention of the camera phone for the common folk. In absolute horror, the bride and her family were scrambling to locate someone with a camera just hours before the festivities were to begin. They were left out of pocket "a few hundred bucks" and had resorted to purchasing disposable cameras that they handed out to their guests to use.

Definately far from picture perfect memories.

During my eight year career as a wedding officiant, I have worked with many a photographer. Just like anything wedding related, there are many choices. Creativity and skill are important factors just as much as price. Remember, you are paying for the service and the person's time, equipment, second shooter (or assistant), too. What is the personality of the photographer? How is his or her customer service? What is their turn around time on average to get the final product back? Is there the option of owning the rights to your photos? Can the photographer use your wedding photos in their advertising, their portfolio, or enter your smiling faces into competitions? These are a few questions to keep in mind after you ask if they are available to shoot your nuptuals.

Often times, the photographer(s) will be the ones to work with the couple from the start to the end of the wedding day. After the ceremony is done, after your hair and makeup is on, and after the paperwork is signed, you can imagine there are still images you would like to have documented afterwards. How about that father/daughter dance? The cutting of the cake? How about a random shot of your bridesmaid dancing with her future husband? These are often highlights of the reception afterwards. Do you really want a stuffy, arrogant, or aloof person behind the camera?

Word of mouth is just as important as online reviews. Did a co-worker recently get married? Or do you have a friend who uses the same photographer to take her family photos as she did when she got her senior portraits done? Don't be afraid to ask around. Ask for referrals to photographers from your wedding venue, the catering company, or your wedding officiant. Regardless of how you find your photographer, remind yourself that this day with the person you marry will only come once. Your photographer will help you remember events of your special day that you may need a picture or two to jog your memory.

Marry Me At The Marysville Opera House!

 

                   Pictured above: Tiffani the wedding officiant with newlyweds Audrey & Adam

More Than Just Wedding Officiants

Isn't it nice when you can stretch your dollar?

I know I always appreciate more "bang for my buck" and when I'm looking for someone who is offering a services it's no different. I want someone who has experience, is a great resource, and who goes beyond what is expected to get the job done. We all like to walk away from a situation with a smile on our face and a feeling of fulfillment. So how does this apply to your wedding?

A wedding, no matter how big or small, comes with expenses. There's the much needed wedding paperwork (starting rate at $58 depending on county). The wedding rings, which can run a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. What will you wear? Another expense. Do you have to take time off from work? Another expense. The list goes on and on and on. Who's going to do your wedding? Good question because otherwise it is just a big gathering of family and friends.

With over 12 years of combined experience, Debi and I offer our skills set to help alleviate your stress and free up your time. We can offer wedding coordinating and planning services in addition to our wedding officiant services. We know what needs to be done before the ceremony, before the reception, during and after. We have gained this experience hands on after serving over 500 couples.

Wedding planning can help you through the details. Wedding coordinating services can help you through along the way by meeting vendors to handling all of the events the day of. What best suits your needs?

Call Tiffani at 425-508-8090 to learn more! Rates start at $300 for planning services & $600 for wedding coordinating services.