Wedding Transportation: Maine Wedding Photographer
The way a wedding day flows can be very important not only for the photographer but also for the wedding guests. I have found that when the bride and the groom think of the logistics and they plan the transportation accordingly things go much smoother and everyone is stress free and happy. Let me give you some scenarios…
Lets say the wedding is at a resort/bed & breakfast/hotel but the ceremony is on a beach or at a church about 15 minutes away. It is very nice since people are staying where the reception is for them to be able to leave their vehicles. It reduces people getting lost, people being late, parking, etc. If you rented a trolly or a bus for the guests to be taken to and from the ceremony that would make them all very happy. The wedding party should have transportation provided especially if you are going to go off site and take photos. Shuffling people and cars eats up valuable photo time–not to mention again they don’t have to worry about directions, parking, or getting lost. It is always a hit with both the men and the women if they get to ride in a limo.
Lets talk about the bride and the groom. The bride and the groom often ride with their bridal party. I would like to suggest it is even nicer if they get their own transportation. It provides time for them to enjoy their day together without anyone watching. It also serves as a wonderful opportunity for elegant photos. Choose a Bentley, classic car, horse and buggy….whatever fits the two of you.
Another scenario is one where people are not staying on site…so if you got married 20 minutes away and had a reception in a spot that doesn’t allow for walking to the hotel. It is a great gesture to have a shuttle going from one place to the recommended hotel site. This way people aren’t driving after they have been drinking and again they can really enjoy themselves on your wedding weekend. In this situation in case people are driving to the ceremony site I would include directions, and allow for extra travel time before you begin your wedding.
Custom Wedding Centerpieces: Maine Wedding Photographer
Classy Iron is hand making 22 of these incredible centerpieces for a wedding. I wanted to share this notion with all of my readers. These are very tall, but would be possible to design custom in any size. Custom iron candle holders would also make amazing bridesmaid and or groomsman gifts. They can be made in any style and designed to fit the size or need you have. Also custom hooks for wedding flowers, tents, and finally amazing custom easels to display your beautiful wedding image on after.
Here are some other neat centerpiece ideas:
*birdhouses
really neat because each one is different, you can add any decorations to them you want too
*lemons, limes, apples, oranges (sometimes you see them in baskets, sometimes in water in a vase)
great because they are inexpensive and add color especially cute if the two of you are opposites you can make your whole theme around it
*record players, typer writers, sports memorabilia
fantastic if you have a theme, really neat if you are into music, sports, or are a writer
*antique glass vases
you can discplay all shapes, sizes and colors in clusters or along the length of the table
*books
finding thrift store books is awesome, you can stack them and they make a great conversation piece
*jars of candy
instead of a candy table–let your guests visit with each other and munch different types of candy along the way–they offer lots of bright colors and look really neat if you use all shapes and types of glass jars
*christmas ornaments in a glass centerpiece
you can often find the balls in any color so it doesn’t have to be a winter wedding for this to work
*garden gnomes
here is one for people to take home :)
*seashells
if you are having a ocean theme or getting married near the coast this is a great one. You can clump them, use all shapes, sizes, colors and even add a starfish or two
*wine bottles and framed pictures
if you are going to put wine on the tables, have those bottles full of the good stuff–and use pictures that include friends and relatives if you can, its really fun to search around the wedding and see if you are in any of the centerpiece shots
Hilton Garden Inn Wedding Freeport: Maine Wedding Photographer
Allie and Josh are married!! This is one of those couples you feel were made for each other, and they are both such amazing people! They were married at St. Mary’s in Bath, and had their reception at the Hilton Garden Inn in freeport Maine. She wrapped her own flowers, and the DJ was Larry from Rockwell Productions. The cake was from European Bakery and Allie said that was by far Josh’s favorite part of wedding planning (cake tasting) :)
Importance of a First Look: Maine Wedding Photographer
Wedding Photographers are really pushing the importance of the first look. Let me show you why, and explain what makes the first look amazing.
This is a first look shot in a church:
As you can see he is trying very hard not to cry…and I had to postion myself around and in front of people in the crowd at the church to attempt to have a shot at his reaction to her walking down the isle.
Meanwhile my other photographer was photographing her walking down the isle….imagine all the peoples heads stretching and the cameras out in the isle to try and see the bride–now think to yourself how hard it will be to see her this way.
This is a first look that was staged:
When a photographer can set up the location, not only can they allow for the best light but also the best angle. Finally I would like to note that men especially aren’t comfortable letting their true emotions show in front of people. The first look is only the two of you (and me the photographer) who is standing away using a long lens to capture the moment. Men can react the way they truly would want to without worrying about anyone watching. Couples who do the first look generally feel more relaxed and have a much more intimate reveal moment.
On top of the benefits of the emotion, quality of photo, and expression it allows for the formal photos to be taken both of the family and the bridal party. The photographer isn’t as pressed for time so there is more room for creativity and optimal lighting. Finally you get to visit with all of your guests after the wedding thus allowing you to sit through dinner largely uninterrupted. Not to mention you can have a drink together after the first look, and have a bite to eat at cocktail hour instead of being out taking images and starving while your bridal party is eager to get to the party.
Ten Ways to have a great wedding day cocktail hour: Maine Wedding Photographer
1. Have the cocktail hour right after the wedding.
2. Attend cocktail hour…(this means you need to do your photos before the ceremony)
3. Passed hors d’oeuvres because this way they don’t sit in the sun, or get flies on them outside.
4. Stick to one hour, if it is too long everyone gets restless, eats, and drinks to much
5. Have it be open bar, but choose some wine, beer, and have a signature cocktail for people to drink (Plus Coffee) :)
6. If you have a sign in book, photobooth, or lawn games this is a great time for people to be doing them
7. Have some music playing
8. Be sure to have places for people to sit and relax (get creative, give it character and your own flare)
9. Make sure you have an indoor/outdoor location or tent
10. Try to incorporate your theme or colors, get the mood and atmosphere set for the rest of the night
