Wedding Slideshow

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

My Wedding Workbook - Check it out!

Our friend Jeff Kear over at My Wedding Workbook sent us some helpful info to pass on to our brides. While I haven't had a chance to check out their software, I can say that they are serious about what they do and the software is designed by people who went through the wedding experience first hand and wanted to do it easier and better. Check it out!

Here's the latest press release for My Wedding Workbook:

Brides seek value, personal chemistry from wedding planners

Today's brides are more inclined to hire wedding planners who are value-driven, more willing to collaborate and who provide day-of-wedding packages, according to a survey conducted by My Wedding Workbook Pro - http://www.myweddingworkbookpro.com/ - the wedding planning software for bridal consultants.
When brides were asked about the top factors they would consider when hiring a wedding planner, 71.9% named cost as the leading factor. In addition, of the respondents who did not hire a consultant, 74.7% stated that they decided against hiring a planner because it was simply "too expensive."
"Most newly engaged brides assume that hiring a wedding planner will dramatically drive up the price of their wedding," said Jeff Kear, co-owner of My Wedding Workbook Pro and My Wedding Workbook - http://www.myweddingworkbook.com/ - the online wedding planner software for brides. "But consultants can actually reduce vendor costs in lots of ways and make sure couples get what they pay for. So consultants who can demonstrate the value they deliver - especially during a recession - can really put themselves at an advantage."
The current recession also has influenced what types of services brides want from consultants, with more than 90% of brides responding that they would only consider hiring a planner for day-of-wedding services. Another big expectation that brides have of planners is the ability to negotiate very favorable rates with vendors, with 55.6% of respondents listing this as a critical attribute.
Once you get beyond concerns of cost, what brides really want from their wedding planner is great personal chemistry and a collaborative relationship. Indeed, 56.9% of brides listed this as a top factor in choosing a consultant, and another 32.3% want a partner who can help relieve the stress of managing every detail.
"What we discovered is that a bride doesn't necessarily want someone who just comes in and takes over," said Kear. "She wants a partner who will listen to her, work with her and share her vision. She wants someone who will give her great advice and who will assume the responsibilities that she doesn't have the time or desire to shoulder. Any consultant who brings this kind of flexibility and sensitivity to the table is positioned for success."
However, there are still many brides who, regardless of the cost of hiring a planner, would prefer planning their wedding themselves. Of the brides surveyed, 44% listed themselves as being a "do-it-yourself type person," 33.1% did not anticipate needing much help and 25.2% said they were not comfortable handing over wedding planning responsibilities.
"When you get right down to it, hiring a wedding consultant is a very personal decision. Some brides have looked forward to planning their wedding for so long that for them it would be unconscionable to ask someone else to do it," said Kear. "Others place their main priority on getting married but would rather leave all the details up to someone else. And then there's a ton of brides who are somewhere in between. The wedding consultants who can serve all those in-betweeners are the ones who will have very busy practices."
For additional interesting data on brides’ attitudes and opinions, visit our blog at http://www.myweddingworkbookpro.com/blog/index.cfm.

About My Wedding Workbook
http://www.myweddingworkbook.com/
My Wedding Workbook is comprehensive wedding software for do-it-yourself brides who want to stay organized throughout the entire wedding planning process. My Wedding Workbook’s user-friendly design is straightforward, simple to navigate and allows you to easily print information from any page. Its plethora of integrated tools allows for easy planning of every event from the engagement party to they honeymoon. A great alternative to the messy paper planner, My Wedding Workbook is web-based, secure and accessible from anywhere there’s an Internet connection.
About My Wedding Workbook Pro
http://www.myweddingworkbookpro.com/
My Wedding Workbook Pro is the premier professional wedding planner software for consultants. It’s the “smart” way to manage your business with integrated tools to organize each client’s event details and the ability to collaborate with clients by providing them with access to designated areas of the software. My Wedding Workbook Pro is built to expand and change with your business and, best of all, its comprehensive Web-based software enables professionals to easily manage your business from anywhere you can access the Internet.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Twin Liquors: Inexpensive, Local, Friendly!

So my favorite thing to look for when I enter a Twin Liquors is "Twin Deals" (http://www.twinliquors.com/specials). Basically, when you buy one kind of liquor, then you get a discounted 2nd bottle of the same liquor.
For example, this week at Twin Liquor's you can get a great deal on Dripping Springs Vodka - just $25/bottle when you purchase two. That may not seem like a huge savings, but when you're purchasing spirits for a big event like a wedding, the savings can really add up. Plus you are supporting a local Austin business!

Did you know.... that the Jabour Family started a mercantile store in Austin in the 1800s, which later gave birth to the now famous Twin Liquor chain?! The Jabour Family credits their stores with promoting some of the 1st live music in Downtown Austin (one of the locations of the original stores), which is pretty neat when you think how important live music has become to Austin.

Source: http://www.twinliquors.com/about

Visit a Twin Liquor today and experience the difference that local expertise makes! They can help you plan just about any event. If you visit the Twin Liquor store at 500 Canyon Ridge (HEB shopping center) near Parmer/IH-35, ask for Theron - he is more than helpful and very knowledgeable.

Tan It All!


Something many people don't consider prior to their wedding is tanning. If you would like to be a little darker for your wedding then it's the way to go, especially if it's February in most parts of North America and tanning outdoors is not an option. Recently, my wife and I decided to give the tanning option a try and we're really happy with the pricing and results. Tan It All currently has specials running on their website (http://www.tanitall.com/specialoffer.html) 1 month FREE or $50 in your account. After pricing the competitors we found this to be the best deal. Staff are friendly and we're already much darker after just a few days. We'll be ready for the trip to Costa Rica in no time with no concern of getting burned - either physically or fiscally!

Things you may need:
-Tanning Lotion (for indoor tanning)
-Sun Block (for tattoos)
-Goggles (to block UV)
-Towel

Friday, February 19, 2010

Villa Antonia Wedding

I just wanted to take a moment to share some wonderful photos from a recent Villa Antonia wedding we photographed. Villa Antonia is a beautiful, Italian-style villa which is a great venue for weddings. It's located in north west Austin (Jonestown), in the Texas Hill Country. I'm told that it is named for one of it's owners, Antonia. There are many wonderful photo opportunities at a place like this. Just make sure you drive up to visit first; the google map I printed got me lost. Enjoy!






Monday, February 15, 2010

What Does A Wedding Photographer Do To Prepare For A Wedding?

Answer: Honestly, we all do it differently, but I'll share what I do and what I think works.

Years ago I had the opportunity to work with and study a local Austin photographer who was well established and successful in the wedding photography business. One of the things that sticks in my mind that he told me was this directive: an hour or two prior to your event go out and buy a greasy hamburger meal from your local burger chain, eat it and wash it all down with a big, sugary, caffeinated cola. The logic: we work better when our stomachs are full and caffeine is running through our veins.

While I don't follow this suggestion (for heath reasons), I've developed my own routine that I think meets the guidelines set forth by my wiser and more experienced teacher. Here's how my schedule starts out, right up until I drive to the wedding:

Days Prior to Wedding - Send final invoice, confirm wedding day photo schedule, answer any last minute questions from bride/groom/family, visit wedding location if necessary.
Day Before Wedding - Gas up car, start charging batteries, clear memory cards, print wedding photo schedule, review special requests of bride/groom, send reminder emails to necessary participants/assistants/2nd shooters.
Morning of Wedding - Charge batteries, pack all equipment, pack extra clothing, food & water. Eat a meal, brew some fresh green tea for the drive to the wedding, shave, shower, etc.

I have a wedding checklist posted next to my office door which I double check before I depart for the wedding. My friends have made fun of me for this, but I'd feel much more embarrassed if I forgot something vital for the wedding.

My favorite part of all the getting ready on wedding day is enjoying my warm cup of green tea on the way to the wedding while listening to my favorite CD. I find it helpful to listen to calming music beforehand as well. The odd thing that people expect from a wedding photographer is calm (and I should mention control) - 2 things that when balanced work great together. Your wedding photo subjects at a wedding expect you to be the "eye of the storm", so to speak - calm, in control and working smoothly toward your goal: getting great photos quickly and in an organized fashion. My experience has been that when people know you are doing a great job they feel more at ease and calm.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Who Pays For What At Our Wedding?

In the American or western tradition of marriage there are some assumptions about who pays for what that you can keep in mind. Obviously these are not firm rules but simply a guideline based on social convention of the past. As you can imagine, how things at a wedding get paid for can vary from wedding to wedding and from culture to culture. Here's some basics I discovered from perusing the PASH Free Wedding Planner (something I started blogging about recently).

Bride:
Groom's wedding ring/gift
Gift for bridal attendants
Bridal attire/accessories
Wedding Consultant
Bridal Luncheon

Groom:
Bride's ring(s)
Bride's wedding gift
Groomsmen's gifts
Marriage License
Officiant's Fee
Grooms Attire
Boutonnieres for Groom's Attendants
Honeymoon Expenses

Bride's Family:
Wedding Invitations/Announcements
Transportation
Wedding Reception
Most Florals
Photography/Videography
Musical Entertainment/DJ


Groom's Family:
Rehearsal Dinner
Boutonnieres and corsages for immediate family members


Attendants:
Rental/purchase of wedding attire
Travel expense to/from wedding city
Wedding Gift for Couple
Bridal Shower
Bachelor/ette Party

As I said before, this list is based on tradition of some families and should be considered only a guide, not the "gospel". Many couples these days struggle to pay for the entire wedding themselves because times have changed and families don't feel as obligated as they once did to provide financial support.

Friday, February 12, 2010

10 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

10 Gift ideas that will keep you out of trouble.

Every year I don’t take Valentine’s Day very seriously. And every year I manage to get myself into hot water with my wife. I usually tell myself, hey, it’s just a holiday created by corporations to make money – which, of course it is! It’s not fair, with the constant bombardment of TV, radio and other ads telling us all to go out and buy, buy, buy! But that most definitely doesn’t preclude me from participating, especially if I know what’s good for me! J

Don’t know what to get your significant other? Here are some ideas…

  1. Dinner Out. Take your significant other out for a romantic dinner at a nice restaurant.
  2. Flowers/Gift Basket. Have a special bouquet or gift personally delivered to his/her work or at home.
  3. Perfume/Cologne. Pick out his/her favorite scent and wrap it up as a special present you’ll both enjoy.
  4. Night On The Town. Take your significant other out for a night on the town with some drinking, dancing and fun.
  5. A Homemade Card. Spend some time creating a very special card that is just from you and the kids to your spouse.
  6. Jewelry. Surprise your significant other with a hand-picked bracelet, ring or necklace.
  7. Dinner In. Make him or her a special candle-lit, romantic dinner or make it a surprise with breakfast in bed!
  8. Spa Treatment. Give the gift of therapeutic massage, facials, manicure, pedicure, etc.
  9. Romantic Getaway. Book a mini vacation for 2 somewhere special or just hit the road for a weekend getaway at your favorite bed & breakfast.
  10. Personalized Gift. Get even more creative by making something for your significant other like “TLC coupons” or sultry photographs.

I always remind myself on V-day that there’s no better time to cultivate the friendship and love that you have for your partner, so why not give them something special. You’ll feel good about it and they will be thrilled that you thought of them…

Martin Whitton is a professional wedding photojournalist who lives and works in Austin, Texas. Email: martin@mwwphoto.com