Recently I photographed a wedding in which the bride and groom had a piece of carpet (the size of a welcome mat) placed on the spot where they were to exchange their vows. I asked my bride about the carpet and she explained, "We are going to take it with us when we leave and put it in our home. If we move, we will take it with us. When someone asks where we got married, I am going to point to that mat and say 'Right there'!"
They were full of fun ideas! They also were the first couple I have seen to use their engagement portrait for custom key cards. Most hotels and resorts use a generic key card for their room keys and program them with their own codes. This couple provided a box of these blank cards (printed with their portrait) for the hotel to use for the wedding guests staying at the hotel!
One more idea from the same wedding: the bride had a rolling pin (unfinished wood) in the bridal suite. She had an ink pen and made all of the mothers, aunts, bridesmaids, and grandmothers that visited her before the wedding sign the rolling pin. After the wedding she had it varnished and sealed – a unique and meaningful keepsake from her family.
Photo Booths are IN. Although I have been hearing whispers and mentions for the past few months, last night was the first time I personally attended a wedding with a photobooth...it was a HUGE hit! WOWPhotobooths provided the booth along with boas, hats, goofy wigs, and plenty of fun props. The guests absolutely had a ball with it. Our bride and groom get a copy of all the files at the end of the night to use for their guest book! If you are planning a non-traditional reception with an emphasis on fun...
Sunlight makes for better photographs. If you are serious about getting the best photographs possible, try to allow for some time on your wedding day that we can spend making beautiful portraits during daylight hours.
If you can't have sunlight, or will have all events at night, plan on bringing in some lighting for your event space. For photos, lighting will make the images more visually interesting, will give the photographer and videographer more options, and can add an amazing look to your space that compliments your event design and decor.
In 2006 I received a call from a bride and groom requesting my services for a small wedding at their home. When I arrived, I quickly realized there were only four people attending the wedding: the bride, the groom, the minister, and me! We had a great time with pictures and I proceeded to watch them exchange vows in a very personal setting. After the ceremony there was to be a reception at the Four Seasons. I hurried to the hotel to make sure I arrived there first – to get guests' reactions and the couple's 'grand entrance'. Imagine my surprise when I walked into the ballroom…the empty ballroom... to find a table set for two under a beautiful chandelier!! No guests! It was by far the most romantic and intimate wedding I have ever photographed – talk about keeping the guest list small!!!
One of my favorite clients bought a cute gift for her bridesmaids: a little terry cloth 'tube-top' dress to wear in the bridal suite while make-up and hair were being done. When each young lady opened her gift, she realized her own monogram had been thoughtfully embroidered on her dress.
Scissors and a quick sewing kit are a must for all bridal suites. Someone at some point will certainly pull off a button, rip a strap, break an earring, or snag a something. At PWP Studio, we just bring a stylist :)
At our wedding, I gave each of my groomsmen and ushers a bottle of custom labeled wine as their gift. I purchased a case of my favorite wine and had the label replaced with a custom label created for our event. They loved it, and it has been fun sharing these bottles with each of my groomsmen since!
Before the wedding prepare a beautiful "Thank You" sign to hold during a formal or fun portrait of the two of you on your big day. Use the photo to make personalized thank you cards to send to friends and family after the wedding.
Make sure to have beverages and food available to the bridal party before the wedding. Usually they have to arrive early and stick around before the ceremony for ushering, support and photographs. Red wine, dark juices, or bloody marys in the bridal suite can be a bad idea for the dress. Apple juice, white wine, champagne, and water are better options. Pizza and foods that 'drip' are a baaaaad idea.
Don't be afraid to integrate your culture and attitude about life into your big day. I had the pleasure of photographing a rehearsal dinner a few weeks back that included a traditional chinese tea ceremony. Just this weekend I marched across Piedmont Park with a full marching band leading the entire wedding! The first dances I have seen include a tango, a waltz, a hip-hop throw down, a choreographed compilation of traditional instrumentals, and a country boot-scootin boogey. When Angel and I danced our first jig as husband and wife, it was a West Coast swing to Brian Setzer's "Jump, Jive, and Wail"!