Details, Details, Details...

Getting married is something that we all hope only happens once for us. Because of that, it is a very special day. It is a celebratory time of our lives when we commit to our fiancé for better or for worse till death do us part. It is witnessed by our closest friends and family and is a day remembered by all.

For some the ceremony is the most significant part, but for many the reception is the part of the wedding day that is the most remembered. Either way, wedding decorations will add a special touch to this memorable day.

Decorations tell the guest much about the personalities of the bride and groom as well as their backgrounds and the future they hope to share together.

The little details of wedding planning can be the most stressful. I remember thinking that things were under control. We had picked the wedding party, the church, the location for the reception, the colors, the dress… but then all of the little details crept up on me. What am I going to do for a garter? Do I have something old, new, borrowed and blue? What glasses are we going to use for toasting at the reception? What color pillow do I want our ring bearer to carry? Will I be able to find a flower girl basket to match? I figured out what kind of cake I want, but I don't have a topper!

Luckily I found websites that were very helpful in securing all of the little details for the wedding decorations and accessories. I even found a wedding planning guide to help me think about the details that I might have missed.

Take if from a girl who has been there, done that: Do your research and don't leave out the details. Start planning now so that when the day really comes you'll be able to simply ENJOY!

M L H

Choosing your guests

Believe it or not, choosing wedding guests is a big dilemma for most engaged couples. Between family, friends, colleagues, and even business acquaintances, your list can fill up fast. So how do you decide who should be invited and who does not make the cut.

Here are several rules of thumb that you can use to determine you list. First off, you need to determine whether or not you want to have large, medium, or a small wedding. This is relative to what you consider large and small, but my view is anything above 400 guests is large, and anything below 100 guests is small. A medium wedding is often the most popular. In a medium size wedding your budget for wedding decorations, wedding accessories, and personalized wedding favors is often very affordable. After you have a set goal in mind, start to compile your list by writing it down and putting people into two different categories:

1. Must
2. Maybe

Easy enough. You know that pretty much all (close) family members are in the "must" category. You also will probably want to put all close friends in the must category. But if there are any hesitations at all in the "must" category then move them on down to the "maybe" pile.

After listing as many people as you can think of grab a highlighter and a pen. Examine the names in the "maybe" category and ask these few questions about each one. If the majority of the answers point towards not inviting them, then, without hesitation- cross them out. But, if not, then highlight them and add them to the invitation list.

1. Will you see this person again soon?
2. Will this person be extremely offended for not getting invited?
3. Do you have enough room for this person?
4. If you invite this person, will several other people expect to be invited as well?
5. Will YOU regret not inviting this person?

Your invitation list is not the beginning or end of the world as we know it, but since it involves people who are care about you, it is definitely something to give a lot of thought. In fact, your whole wedding planning is not something to take lightly. From your wedding decorations to your honeymoon, your wedding is one of the greatest times of your life.

Don't settle. Plan. Enjoy.

-G R H

9 out of 10 People Claim to be a Wedding Photographer

Does it drive you crazy as much as it drives me bonkers? I cannot stand it when everyone and their brother says that they can shoot your wedding for you.

You Tell your friend, Joe, "We're looking for a wedding photographer, do you know anyone?" Joe replies, "yeah, my brother's roomate's friend from highschool takes excellent pictures of cool nature stuff.... and to be honest, I'm not to bad myself. It would certainly save you a lot of money." You agree to Joe's suggestion, end of saving 100's of dollars, but when the pictures come back from the wedding.... oops!

Photography, especially at weddings, takes skill, leadership, a good eye, and focus (not to mention a little experience, but I gues you gotta start somewhere). I was talking to a friend of mine about this yesterday. He is wanting to start his own photography business, but he knows that he has the skill and know-how to be a professional. I agree with him. I've seen some of his stuff and he definitely has "the eye" for it- something I, however, was not gifted with. Buying a new expensive Nikon or Olympus camera does not automatically give you an eye for taking good pictures. Trust me, I know.

My friend and I agreed that the photography market is becoming more saturated with mediocre photographers because people are trying to save a few pennies. Now, I'm all about saving a few pennies here and there in life, but when it comes to a wedding- that's one thing in life you want to do a little splurging on. I mean, it only comes around once a life time (God willing).

People complain about professional photography being way too expensive for only a half day of work. Well, let me put this into perspective for you. You've already spent good money on your, wedding decorations, personalized wedding favors for you wedding party, and other wedding accessories, why leave out one of the most important elements? The wedding photographer. After all, you wedding decorations and wedding accessories make your wedding special and personalized, but your wedding photos will help remind you of that perfect day for many years to come.

And not only is it a good investment for the future, but a professional photographer will spend many hours editing and screening his pictures before he show them to you. Average Joe with the new expensive camera will copy and paste them to a cd and give them for you to pick through.

Dont settle for mediocre photography. Find a professional who can bring the leadership needed in order to keep the family pictures moving smoothly, who has the skill to get unique quality pictures, and who takes the time to bring you the pictures that will last a lifetime.

-Griff Hanning