Are You Prepared To Dance On Wedding Day?

This may not be a topic you've given a lot of thought to, but are you ready to dance? For some people this can be a nerve racking moment where you are forced to perform in front of dozens, if not hundreds, of family and friends. As a photographer and a person who recently went through this experience I can tell you that you will definitely feel more comfortable in front of all those people at the reception if you've had a few dance lessons. My wife and I got dance lessons here in Austin at a place called Uptown Dance. I get their weekly newsletter and now they are promoting an event designed especially for couples where you learn all the important dance steps to all the important wedding dances. Their couples class offers just that.

In addition, Uptown Dance frequently offers free classes and has great packages for just about every situation. My wife and I were very happy with the help we got and felt welcomed by their friendly staff. In fact, like most of my blogs, I'm writing about this experience in a purely genuine, altruistic way. I have nothing to gain or lose from sharing about Uptown (other than flexing my wedding knowledge ;~)).


So don't be shy! Go check them out. They are located of US 183 near Burnet Road, just a few blocks east of Sherlock's Pub on the eastbound access road of 183!

Bad Weather But Good Times At Kindred Oaks

This past week I was invited to attend Kindred Oaks Estates monthly open house. If you are unfamiliar with Kindred Oaks Estates then let me tell you about it. Kindred Oaks is an event venue neatly nested in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, north of Austin, east of Leander and west of Georgetown - off of Highway 1431. The venue can accommodate medium sized parties for weddings or other events and has the ability to host both indoor and outdoor ceremonies. Kindred Oaks is known for it’s friendly staff and it’s beautiful view overlooking a small lake.

Once per month (each 2^nd Monday) Kindred Oaks sponsors a “meet & greet” between brides and preferred vendors like photographers, florists, officiants, etc. It gives brides the opportunity to meet face to face with vendors, most of which have worked at Kindred Oaks. It’s also an opportunity to see Kindred Oaks and meet the staff at ZuZu’s Petals, the sister floral provider to Kindred Oaks.

Although the weather went from bad to worse on the night that I visited, we all made the best of things and a number of brides still turned out for the monthly meet and greet. Not only did I meet some nice brides-to-be, but I also got to meet Travis, from “Say Cheese” Photobooth Rental, Wedding Officiant Connie Holmes Larson and Andy Peterson from Studio 563 - all of whom I enjoyed talking with and would book in a heartbeat if I were having a wedding. They’re contact information is below.

At any rate, if you missed all that the Kindred Oaks Open House night has to offer, the next one is scheduled for April 12^th (double check the website). Don’t miss it!

 If you’d like more information on Kindred Oaks, contact Elaine at (512) 260-9690 or visit their website, www.kindredoaks.com

“Say Cheese” Photobooth Rental – www.saycheeseforfun.com

Connie Holmes Larson – Wedding Officiant – www.theweddingofficiant.com

Studio 563 - Andy Peterson – www.studio563.com

Engagement Photography Tips: What Do I Do?

I want to share some great suggestions for portrait and engagement sessions that Philadelphia Photographer Lorraine Daley wrote about in her blog (combined with some of my experiences). If you have an engagement session coming up (or a portrait session) these are some guidelines you’ll want to consider.

R&R. Make sure you get plenty of rest the night before (i.e., no late night partying!). If you are hung-over and tired the day of your shoot then it will show in the photos and you won’t smile and look happy as much.

Patterns & Logos. Clothing patterns usually are not advised, especially loud ones or those that clash with your partners. Also, get rid of the clothing that has big logos. The shirt that has the “Tommy” logo on it may look trendy now, but just wait 5 years and you’ll wish you never wore it.

Colors. Try not to wear identical colors with your partner. If you do, you may be at risk of being mistaken for a Sears Christmas Card.

Casual or Dressy? Casual clothing looks great and is popular, such as jeans. But you can’t go wrong with dressing up either. Just keep in mind that you may be doing a little hiking for the photo session, so avoid heels and uncomfortable/restrictive clothing.

 Styles. Make sure your style matches that of your partners. If one person is dressed up then make sure the other person follows suit and doesn’t dress casually.

Makeup & Hair. Try to stick to the normal hair and makeup routine. You definitely don’t want to come off like you’re doing a Glamour Shots commercial with over done hair and makeup. Also, bring lipstick and lip balm for you and your sweetie.

Accessories. Minimize the accessories and the bag or purse you bring. Remember, you’ll be doing some walking so you don’t want to be dragging around a sack with the kitchen sink in it.

Scheduling. Be sure to schedule your engagement session at least 2-3 weeks prior to wedding day in order to allow editing/processing time on the part of your photographer. You’ll also need time to get the prints completed and find a frame for your beautiful photo.

Locations. Don’t be afraid of trying a new location. I have a list of about 15 popular outdoor locations here in the Austin area that I share with my clients. If you need some ideas just ask! J

Fun. Have fun on during your engagement session! It’s your time to spend with your partner – so just sit back, relax and let the romantic juices flow as I work extra hard behind the camera to make you and your sweetie look great!

 I would like to say a special thanks to Lorraine for providing such great inspiration in her blog on the subject. Don’t forget to visit Lorraine’s blog: http://sweetenlo.blogspot.com and if you are in the Philadelphia area and you’re searching for a photographer be sure to contact her!

Martin Whitton is a wedding photojournalist who makes Austin, Texas his home.

If you’d like to see some of Martin’s engagement session work, visit his website at www.mwwphoto.com. Just click on “Weddings”. 

Kindred Oaks Wedding

I recently photographed this wedding at Kindred Oaks, which is located in the edge of Round Rock. It's a beautiful place out in the countryside, with country charm and an air of sophistication.

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.

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