A friend recently sent me this CNN article about wedding budgets. Yes, we all know that a wedding budget can slowly add up or quickly get out of control. We have all heard the rants on how the wedding industry is getting crazier. But honestly, between you and me, this does not have to be the case and beautiful weddings can be done without going overboard.
The CNN article really brings up many good points. And if you have a friend who is a blooming Martha Stewart to be, then you are in luck! DIY items adds both charm and individuality to a wedding. I have seen some beautifully done DIY items from wish threes to candy buffets.
One statement from the CNN article under the “Target where to save, where to splurge” headline rings true for me:
“ Michelle and Jason knew exactly where they would loosen the purse strings: photography. “That was one area we didn’t want to scrimp on,” says Michelle.“
I have met way too many women who have said they wished they splurged more on photography or that they knew about us when they got married. I am not just saying this because I am a wedding photographer but a good wedding photographer will make your wedding look gorgeous and make a bride look and FEEL fabulous. A good wedding photographer knows how to pick angles that flatter you. We know how to get the shots that portray your personality. We also know how to get the shots that express your love, intimacy and devotion. We work hard to accentuate the beauty of your wedding. We look at the light, the architecture, squeal at the marvelous colors, get excited over table settings and we delight in every little detail, every litle bow, and every flower petal. We can make you look and most importantly, feel, glamorous, chic and beautiful. Simply put, a good wedding photographer is not just a photographer, we are artists and that is what I believe in. Our work is not simply photographs but works of art, emotion and memories. Wedding photographs are an artform.
There are wedding photographers for every budget range. But what you are paying for is not just technical skill but artistic skill. And skill and talent are two very hard things to put tangible money figures on. Then comes experience, and that creative eye that is priceless.
We are completely different from your normal wedding vendor, we believe in personal attention and service. We start working even before the wedding. During our consultations, we are figuring out what the perfect couture wedding collection would be for you. We are taking our time to get to know you and get on a personal level. We have had 3 hour consults because we devote that much personal attention. We spend the day with you during your engagement session. We laugh, we share, we smile together and have fun. Many of our couples end up extending their engagement sessions as well.
Then comes the big day. We are the vendors that are there from start to finish. We usually start when the bride is getting ready in the morning or mid afternoon. By this time, I always feel like we are friends sharing the special day. I am there holding her hand, jumping up and down with her in excitement. I am enjoying the bridesmaids’ excited chatter and inside jokes. Before the ceremony, I am there reminding her to breathe and that she is gorgeous. I smile during the ceremony as they kiss for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. , and I tear up during the father daughter dance. I laugh and have fun with my bride and groom during the photo session and get in the middle of the action on the dancefloor. And frequently, you can find me feeling so honored when one of the mom’s tell me how much they loved their kids’ e-session. In short, we make sure we wear comfortable shoes.
After the party, we laugh and exchange stories on the way home. We head home pumped, ready to sit down and edit the wedding photographs for weeks to come. We can’t wait for the day that we get to see you again to go over your photograps, prints and albums. We usually end up meeting again on your anniversary, for your maternity session and our favorite, for your newborn photos. We believe we remain friends with our clients because of our work, our connection and our personal service. But mostly because we love our clients, and we love what we do and that shows in our work. And all that is hard to put a price tag on.
