Wedding etiquette 101

The world is drastically different than it was in the days of Emily Post and the rules of wedding etiquette have gradually become modified to suit the modern day couple.

Highlights of wedding etiquette:

• Tradition holds that the mother of the bride chooses a dress first, followed by the mother of the groom. Their dresses should complement each other, as well as those of the bridal party.
• ‘Save the Date’ cards can be mailed more than one year in advance of the wedding and should mention that an invitation will follow. Make sure that your guest list does not need any thinning as every guest who receives a ‘Save the Date’ should receive an invitation and vice versa.
• The bride can wear any color and any style that suits her age and figure.
• The wedding party may include multiple attendants.
• When it comes to seating arrangements
  please read: Your seating arrangement
• Attire is very important because it helps to define the style of the wedding.
  The following article outlines the different types of attire options for a wedding. Attire 
• Speeches and toasts can be intimidating to some guests.
  The following article outlines some basic rules for speeches and toast. All about the perfect speech
• The following article answers etiquette questions ranging from wearing white on a second marriage to dealing with children at a wedding. Do’s and Don’ts for the wedding
• The No 1 rule for all couples is to plan together.

Featuring…. life in a flash PHOTOGRAPHY

Q: What’s your primary style? Posed and formal, relaxed, photojournalistic, creative, artistic, candid, traditional?
A: I like shooting photojournalistic and it gives me a chance to be creative and shoot things from a different point of view.

Q: Do you shoot in color or black and white? Or both?
A: I shoot digital… so afterwards… it gives me the flexiblility to do anything to it and change it around with different tones and colour or simply remove the colour from the image.

Q: What kind of input can we have on the direction of the shots?
A: Can we give you a shot list to work from? I only like shot lists for family shots and my assistant will use that list. If you want certain shots… you can create a shot list, as long as it’s shots that they don’t think I will capture or special shots they have seen and want to duplicate. I don’t need a 14 page list with things like: me coming down the isle, ring exchange, kiss, etc. (I’m shooting those if you didn’t tell me LOL)

Q: Are you the wedding photographer who will actually take our pictures?
A: If not, can we meet the person who will be? I’m the only photographer. I use assistants. If you book www.lifeinaflash.ca, then you are getting me and my name is on the contract.

Q: Can we meet any assistants who will also be our taking pictures?
A: Sure you can. I’m also working on video interviews that will be online.

Q: How many times have you worked specifically as a wedding photographer? How many were similar to the size and formality of our wedding?
A: I’ve shoot close to 200 weddings. As small as 12 people and up to 600 people. The average size is 150 people. I’ve shot indoors and outdoors and in the rain.

Q: How many other events will you also photograph that weekend?
A: I only shoot 1 wedding per day. Some weekends, I will shoot a small wedding on a Friday night… then a full day wedding on Sat.

Q: What kind of equipment will you bring with you? How intrusive will lighting, tripods, other equipment or assistants be?
A: I bring my main camera and a back-up and back-up flashes and a couple of lenses I like to use. I only bring lighting if we will need it. My assistant takes care of it.

Q: Do you develop your own film?
A: I send everything to a professional lab in Toronto for all my printing.

Q: Can we buy the negatives from you?
A: Right now, all my packages come with all the digital files that are high res and unmarked so the couple can print their own if they like.
Cheers!

http://www.lifeinaflash.ca/ 
Photographer: Dan

Featuring… The Touch of Dimple

Dimple Shan provides personalized services to brides who want the best in bridal mehendi,henna, tattoo, hair, make-up & beauty services.  Her professional make-up services include fashion, editorial, runway, special effects, theatre, TV, film, body painting, camouflage, make-up lessons, teen make-over parties, special events, advertising, music videos, corporate functions, and custom art designs. 

Dimple is known for her making modern creations out of classic beauty, and can always be relied on creating the trend others will follow with an emphasis on quality. 
She only uses professional, hypoallergenic, long lasting make-up products including MAC, Cinema Secrets, Ben-Nye, Kryolan, as every brand out there carries something wonderful. 

For more information about The Touch of Dimple of services; you can contact us @ shaadiguru@gmail.com

Choosing Your Flowers

It is best to book your florist approximately 6 months prior to your wedding. Especially if your wedding is to take place during a popular month (like May to August). Prior to picking out your flowers, it is wise to have your ceremony and reception locations determined. These will influence your decisions. Outdoor weddings don’t usually require as many flowers to set the mood. Church ceremonies may call for a decorated alter or pews but some churches have restrictions on decorations.Budget can also play a role in your selections. Consult with your florist as to the types of flowers that will be in season for your wedding. Many flowers have very specific growing periods and can become quite costly outside of this range. Certain seasons may present different challenges such as a winter wedding. Berries and greenery can be a great alternative at this time of year. Think outside the box. Floral arrangements can be quite striking when combined with fruits such as limes or lemons. Try adding seed pods or grasses as an alternative. Nowadays, eclectic mixes can be quite stunning. Pick one color as your floral theme but mix and match your vases and containers to add personality to your tables and centerpieces. The possibilities are endless.

Writing Your Own Vows

Many couples choose to write their own vows. This enables them to express their own sentiments and emotions more personally. Couples are still required to fulfill the legal requirements of their state or province but adding a few personal notes will make your ceremony memorable. Some couples like to work together on their vows while others prefer to keep it a surprise. Just remember, if you choose this route, you may want to make sure that your voiced words are not too personal and will not make your partner feel uncomfortable. Meet with your officiant well in advance of the wedding to discuss your vows and to ensure that they meet all religious and legal requirements. Prepare your vows in writing on a decorative note card. Have it available just in case the emotion of the day causes an untimely memory lapse.