Remember Your Wedding Day the Way You Want to!

5 tips to finding the perfect wedding photographer

The importance of a great wedding photographer is sometimes overlooked due to the high fees associated with some photographers. It is important to remember that these pictures will be how you remember your day.

Selecting the perfect wedding photographer:

1. Coverage: Select a photographer that offers adequate coverage time. The minimum that you will most likely need is 8 hours. This would cover some getting ready time through the beginning of your reception. Before booking ask how many people they will be bringing with them.  Also ask about fees that could come from having their assistants with them.
2. Free Engagement Session: Most wedding photographers offer engagement sessions as part of your wedding package. This is great because it gives you a chance to get to know the photographer and can be cheaper.
3. Style: When deciding between photographers consider their photography style. Do they use natural lighting well? This is very important if your wedding is outdoors or if you want to have outdoor pictures. You want to look at their previous work and see how much editing they do to their pictures after the day. You want to make sure and find someone that does the amount of editing you want. If you just want to look like yourself, make sure they will not edit your pictures too much.
4. Personality: You want to make sure you like the personality of photographer and feel comfortable with them.  The more comfortable you are with your photographer the more natural you will act and the more natural your pictures will look.  
5. Fees: It is very important to read through all of the information they give you about fees you will be paying. These fees can be for their time spent at your wedding, their travel mileage, food for the day, and many other things you may not consider. Some fees include prints. You could consider getting your pictures printed on your own through a professional place if you want to spend less. Before booking you will need to know your photographer’s willingness to travel and fees associated to traveling.

One of Our Engagement Pictures

My Story:

My fiancé and I wanted to make sure we had pictures that were going to portray ourselves and the day accurately. We chose to use Stephanie Marie Photography. She does a great job of capturing the moments and editing her pictures naturally. Her smallest package included 8 hours of wedding day coverage and a free engagement session. Having this engagement session with her really gave us the chance to get to know her and her to get to know us as a couple.

Wedding Shower Host Gift Ideas – at Target for under $10

Do you really have to spend money on a gift for someone hosting a shower for you? No, you don’t have to but it is a very nice gesture. They are spending a lot of time and money on hosting the shower and giving a gift shows them how much the shower actually means to you.

• Mug                                                                                                     http://www.target.com/p/aladdin-16oz-transform-mug-earl-grey/-/A-16203220#prodSlot=medium_1_53&term=mug
• Kitchen Utensils                                                                                     http://www.target.com/p/room-essentials-tool-caddy-set-5pc/-/A-17006367#prodSlot=_1_8
• Candle                                                                                                           http://www.target.com/p/be-peaceful-candle-tin/-/A-14263172#prodSlot=_2_45
• Serving Dish with Towel                                                                     http://www.target.com/p/threshold-solid-melamine-bowl-cream-7-5/-/A-15368510                    http://www.target.com/p/room-essentials-grid-kitchen-towel-2-pack-gray/-/A-15092320#prodSlot=medium_1_10&term=kitchen+towel
• Thank You Cards Pack                                                                               http://www.target.com/p/thank-you-cards-with-floral-and-gold-dots-15-count/-/A-14291124#prodSlot=medium_1_18&term=thank+you+cards

My Story:

For one of my showers I got a baking/serving dish and towel from TJ Maxx for about $11. This shower was unique in that it was hosted by more than one couple so it took extra work to find something similar for all three couples. I wanted to get a gift that each husband and wife would benefit from. This is why I ended up choosing a dish and towel rather than one mug that they would have to share.