Wedding Planning Guide   page:  1  2  3

Choosing a Photographer
Most people have not had any experience in selecting a photographer when they are first faced with the task. Brides are often surprised and distressed when they find the photographer of their choice is booked months in advance and must settle for an alternate choice. Here are some tips to choosing the right photographer to capture your day.

Most photographers are booked a year in advance. Planning early is very important.

Select a photographer who is a specialist in weddings. They will be familiar with procedures and timing.

Review as much work as possible. Is the individual style attractive and meet your needs?

Special Effects in photographs are popular today. These techniques include softening using special lenses and filters. Do you like these effects?

Good communication is the key. The photographer will be spending your wedding day working closely with you and mingling with your family and friends.

Finally, when choosing a photographer, ask yourself these basic questions. Does the bridal party looked relaxed in the sample pictures? Do the candid shots look like candid shots? Are the photographs good quality? Will you enjoy Working with this person in the excitement of your wedding?

Videotaping Your Wedding
Your wedding day is a very special day you will cherish and remember for the rest of your life. However, time has a way of fading the memories of even our most special events. Photography recaptures those events, but in a limited fashion.

Videotaping recalls the sights, sounds, music, laughter and all the other wonderful events as they actually occur.

A professional videographer is experienced with the day's sequence of events, the lighting requirements, sound qualities, dubbing, editing and copying capabilities, along with special effects to enhance the finished product you will enjoy for a life time.

As with a photographer, videographers are often booked up to a year in advance. You should view a demo, check out the equipment and review what is included in packages.

When your wedding day finally arrives, you will be able to relax and let the day's events naturally occur and never worry about missing an instant. This special day is just a television set away.

A Little Mood Music
More than anything else, finding the right musical accompaniment enhances the mood and sets the tone celebrating your wedding day. To make this day truly your own, you and your fiance' must decide together on the type of music you want both for the service and the reception.

The Service choices for music are not as broad as the party afterward. A formal, religious ritual lends itself to classical selections emphasizing the profound commitment being made. Arrange to hear them before committing to their use.

The Reception music can be just as challenging as the Service. Some questions you might ask yourself are: What type of atmosphere would you like to achieve? Low key, or more of a party atmosphere? Will your guests include older relatives, friends and teens? How many musicians can make up the band? How long do you want them to perform?

One of the best approaches is to set a budget and try to stick close to it. Discuss fees with musicians and agencies ahead of time. Costs are usually a direct relation to the experience involved.

If you have not heard the group, ask to see where you can see them perform. See how they interact with the crowd and see if it fits into your wedding.

The choice of entertainment can make or break the success of your reception, so select the entertainment as soon as you've decided on a location. Be prepared to pay for quality, reliability, and versatility.