• What type of equipment do you use? Is it professional-grade?  It’s not important to get into too many specifics here, but the thing you want to know about is resolution and print size.  If a photographer is using a camera from Best Buy, the resolution may not be high enough to create the wall-size portrait that you want.
• What is your backup procedure?  Most pros will “dump” their media cards (usually similar to what is in your point-and-shoot digital camera) as soon as the wedding is over and back everything up to CD or DVD.  But what happens from there?  Is there an external hard drive backup?  Does a copy get stored off-site in case of fire, theft or other damage at the studio?
• Also regarding backups, how long are your images stored?  I was recently at an industry event where Master Photographer Susan Michal was addressing this issue – she has backups for every wedding she has ever shot.  This might seem extreme now, but what happens if your house burns down in five years?  Wouldn’t it be great to know you can turn to your photographer to still have your wedding images?
• How many images are edited?  If your photographer gives you a CD or DVD as part of your package, find out if these images are edited for color correction, etc.
• Can I see images from an entire wedding?  Often a photographer might show you an album with one or two of the best images from several weddings – ask to log in to their online proofing website to see a full wedding.
• What are your emergency procedures?  Do you have backup equipment?  Do you bring it with you?  What if something happens to you on the wedding day, can you send another photographer?

Having both ceremony and reception at San Marco Preservation Hall meant that we needed to bring in everything we needed for the reception – tent, tables, chairs, linens, service staff, and everything in between.

We called Kirby Rental to handle most everything we needed, and booked service staff from Hospitality Staff.  Since February weather is so unpredictable (especially this year!), we rented outdoor heaters from Rollin’ Ritas, and we certainly were glad we did when the wedding day high was 52 degrees!

Christina wanted an upscale-barbecue feel for the reception, so we chose brown pin-tuck linens with celedon green napkins.  Her centerpieces were adorable – Mason jars filled with succulents created by the bride, and fresh, loosely arranged flowers by Anything With Plants.

Christina and Brandon didn’t want the traditional DJ and dancing that we see at most receptions, so they opted to have their favorite trivia host provide entertainment.

The cake fit their lemon theme perfectly – Classic Cakes created a lemon cake with fresh raspberry filling that was to die for!

Photographer Kristen Barger captured all the wonderful images – we can’t wait to share more.  Congrats to Christina and Brandon…

Saturday’s forecast called for a high in the low to mid 50’s… a 20-degree drop from our average this time of year!  Luckily, we had planned well in advance to not only have a tent but also heaters.  About a month before the wedding, we even added the side walls for the tent to keep the heat inside the tent better.

On Saturday morning, I arrived at the site, and not only was it in the high 40s, but it was raining.  No worries though! Our tent was warm and dry and looking beautiful.  And by the time the ceremony was over, the sun was even making a guest appearance.

Here are some things to think about if you have a non-traditional venue:

• Do you have adequate restroom facilities?
• What will happen if there is inclement weather? Don’t just think about temperature or rain – what about high winds?
• What is the cancellation policy if you don’t need the tent/heater/etc.?
• What is the ground like – is it even? If it rains, will it be soggy?
• Where will your vendors load in?
• Is there enough parking for your guests?

If you are thinking of hiring a planner/coordinator, be sure they have worked with this type of venue before! There are lots of little things to think about, and you don’t want to realize you need to think about them when it’s too late.

Well, not always.

Let’s say you decide to hire a “wedding in a box” company.  There are two options: 1) they really are doing everything themselves,  or 2) they are outsourcing everything.  If they do everything themselves, ask yourself, do you want to work with someone who does one thing well or five things just adequately?

If they are outsourcing, then chances are they are not only collecting a fee from you for their services, but they are also adding on a percentage to the other vendors’ fees.  Some companies even charge their vendors a percentage of their fee, meaning the same DJ could quote you $1,000 but you end up paying $1,100 because they tack on a fee that they have to pay the “planner.”

You may decide that it is worth paying a little extra to have someone handle every detail for you – great, not a problem.  However, what happens if your “planner” isn’t getting your vision, or you have a disagreement that makes you uncomfortable?  Now you have a problem. If you fire your “planner,” you lose everything – your venue, your rentals, your flowers, your catering, your cake.

Or worse, what if the company you hire suddenly disappears?  Unfortunately, it has happened here in Jacksonville too often.  The “planner” says he or she will take care of everything, the client writes a check, and then as the wedding day approaches the “planner” will not return  phone calls.  And since you met them at a Starbucks, you have no idea what their physical address is.

This post isn’t meant to scare you, and all companies offering multiple services aren’t bad.  Just remember, as with any vendor, ask for references, check Better Business Bureau reports, and get referrals from others you trust.  As my grandmother used to say, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!”

I’m guilty myself. Especially at the home and garden shows.  I come home with all these great brochures and then they sit there, still in the bag, for a couple months until I throw the whole thing out without even looking at it again.

Let’s start by sorting.  Hopefully sometime this week, while everything is fresh in your mind!  Pull out the brochures and postcards and flyers for the companies that really stood out in your mind.  That stack is priority number one.  Check out these companies’ websites, or call to set up a meeting.

The next stack is for services you still need.  If you’ve already booked your photographer, throw out all of those brochures.  Even if you don’t think you’ll need a particular service, keep that brochure in the stack. You never know!

Now sub-divide pile #2 into the services you are currently looking for and those that you might need or ones you will focus on later.  For example, you need a cake but haven’t booked your venue yet; put the cake brochures in a “later” pile.

Anything that is left and doesn’t fit into any of these categories, throw away!  Eliminate as much clutter as possible in your wedding binder or file.  The exception: see if there are any photos you can use for inspiration, and clip them out.

Hopefully these tips will help you sort through the post-bridal-show chaos!

Pantone is THE source for everything related to color.  Twice a year, they publish their color reports for the next season.  Here’s a peak at the colors that will be in all the stores this fall:

Your wedding invitation is the first impression your guests will receive and sets the tone for your wedding!  After you’ve spent hours choosing just the right design and wording, don’t spoil it buy having less-than-impressive envelopes!

• Consult an etiquette book for proper addressing structure.
• Invitations should always be hand-addressed.
• Consider numbering your guest list and put the same number on the back of the response card; this way, if someone doesn’t write their name on the card you will know whose it is!
• Invitations should be mailed out six to eight weeks before the wedding.

Don’t underestimate the value of calligraphy!  If you choose to hire a calligrapher, consider these tips:

• Be sure to book your calligrapher as soon as possible, as many of the best book up far in advance.
• Include extra envelopes, just in case of a mistake, ink blot, etc.
• Give your calligrapher a typed list to ensure all names are spelled correctly.  Include the formal names for the outer envelope, and the less formal names for the inner envelopes.
• Also ask your calligrapher about creating escort cards, seating charts, and other wedding accessories.

For more calligraphy and addressing advice, check out our friend Cami Franklin’s website! She is one of the top calligraphers in North Florida and is extremely knowledgeable.

Photo from the The Personal Touch, Calligraphy By Cami blog

Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher were married in 1924.  According to Mashable.com, “The couple, who enjoy hanging on their front porch, watching trains pass by, counting cars and talking to their neighbors, are apparently the model of wedded bliss. They each have their own bedroom — so Herbert can stay up late watching baseball. Well, I guess distance does makes the heart grow fonder.”

To read more about Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, check out this article on the AARP website recognizing their Guinness World Record.

• Don’t dance to the whole song; ask your band or DJ to play only 2 minutes of the song.
• Schedule at least one professional dance lesson so that you are comfortable dancing together.  Learn how to lead and follow, which foot to step with first, and other basics.
• Start practicing a few months before the wedding (not the week of the wedding!).
• Make sure your band or DJ has the same version of the song that you have been practicing with.  If  there is any doubt, give them a copy of the CD.
• If you plan to choreograph your dance, be sure to keep your wedding dress in mind.  There may be a lot of added weight and fabric for your new husband to dance around!