Welcome to The Wedding Vendor Guide

Yesterday, while coming up the stairs from the basement I spotted a white container labeled “Our Wedding.” I pulled it out from the shelf and opened it to reveal 2 DVDs. Curiosity pulled me to pop them into the player and I sat for about an hour and a half reliving a wedding I had attended.

It struck me at how much of a difference the quality of your video can affect how you look back on the day. My parent’s video that I had dug up a couple of years ago had been shot by my uncle with one hand held camera and lots of, “Is this on?”s. The shots on the screen in front of me were of a professional. They had different angles, mics set up and really captured the mood of both the quiet and laughing moments.

Similarly, I discovered the beauty in the wedding photographs. They were bound in a magnificent album, with different sized photos and a great mix of candids, still-life’s and posed ones. The colours seemed to leap off of the album and you could tell that the shots were both artistic and taken by a pro.

And then, an epiphany came to me as suddenly as the lightning flashes the stormy sky; your videographer and photographer are just as important as you are at your wedding. Weird thing to say considering you are the one about to be wed, but let me take a moment to explain.

You have the ability to re-live your wedding over and over again. You can achieve this goal with a quality photographer and videographer. They capture the moments that you might not necessarily see on the day of. They are the ones that get tangible proof of things that you forget had happened.

With the perfect photographer, you can refresh yourself on how chocolate-y your cake really was. You can actually see the swish of your dress as you dance.

With the impeccable videographer, your ceremony and reception can happen all over again in your living room. The hilarious speech that left you rolling on the ground can bring you tears a second time. And a third time. And a fourth.

But how to achieve this? It’s certainly been stressed that this is of utmost importance and you probably don’t want to screw it up. Here’s some things you can do to help guarantee some outstanding memory keepers:

For the photographer:

Look online to find some examples - Not only will you might be able to find people online that are perfect for you but if you don’t, you’ll at least be able to find examples that come close to what you want. Bring these samples to your interviews/appointments with the photographer.

• When you have an interview with them, consider having them show you how they would take their pictures. Don’t just look at their portfolio, it might not be proof enough of their talent. Ask them to take 2 minutes to help act with you how they would take pictures. Maybe even just talk to your partner and have them take pictures of you and see what moments they capture and how they do it.

Make sure that everything you discuss is written down on paper and that you and the photographer both take a copy. Then, you eliminate the risk of telling them that you had agreed to one free DVD and they deny it because there is no proof.

Pick out what kind of lenses you want them to use. Different lenses will give you different quality photos and you want to make sure that the colours you have chosen stand out. There’s nothing worse than faded colours on a picture when they were stunningly vibrant the day of.

Always ask them to make double the amount of pictures that you want. You’ll get variety and be able to choose from 5 different shots of the same thing depending on the lighting and angle. Even the slightest change can make the biggest difference in photography remember.

Make sure that there is always a photographer taking shots. They can eat at different times so not one moment is missed. There is never an insignificant moment, you will want to remember and capture everything.

For the videographer:

Before the wedding, make sure you tell the videographer what things you really want them to get. Everything else will be like icing on the cake. Make sure that they understand that for example, you cutting the cake is important. Some videographers may have worked with other customers that did not put stress on that particular moment, but everybody’s different.

Make sure that there is more than one camera. You’ll want different angles to make things like the ceremony not one, long, continuous shot.

Get a mix of people looking at the camera and not. Have the videographer ask a few people if they would like to say anything but make sure that the majority of the film they are just in the background filming.

Tell them to not be afraid to go up and get some footage. You don’t want the filming to be done from in the corner or it’ll look like something done by a cowering person in the corner.

Tell them that the footage should include everybody. BUT, and I mean this in the least-selfish way possible, it is your wedding and you should be in the main view of the camera. You want them to capture the hysterical toasts but you also want your reaction to the things that they said. There’s no real rule to what the ratio should be, but a good videographer will know to edit the film to your reaction when something funny has just been said instead of keeping the view on the toast-giver grinning sheepishly.

Preserving the memories of your wedding will pay off. After watching the video, the couple I was with seemed to become nostalgic and were happier remembering the fun that had happened that day. Your photographer and videographer are your memory keepers. And trust me, this is one memory you really don’t want to fade.

Before you go on to read this wonderful piece of work I have put together you should know that this entry is catered to people who are attending the wedding rather than hosting it. Just in case you didn’t figure that out, but I’m sure you did.

Writing a toast for a wedding can prove to be a difficult thing. You want to say something meaningful but words just don’t seem to fit. You want to congratulate them, not in a mocking way, but sincerely. However at the same time don’t want it to be the boring-run-of-the-mill “I wish you eternal happiness” speech. There is a way to achieve this perfect toast and there are a few key factors to keep in mind that will help you on your way to creating it for the happy couple:

1) Avoid inside jokes - You might think it’s hilarious but unless this happened at that wedding in clear view of all the guests and it’s sure that everybody will completely understand what you are getting at, don’t go there. It’s extremely awkward for the people not in the loop and they will lose interest in your speech when you and the only other person who gets it are rolling on the floor with laughter.

2) Avoid any attacks at people other than the bride or groom. Although they may be just for fun and laughter, you probably don’t want to make a comment about the bride’s mother. If you’re going to poke fun at somebody, make it the person who’s getting married that you know best; they’ll know that you mean well. And if you do choose to give them a little roast instead of a toast, make sure to laugh when you do it. Not, of course, in a Joker/Heath Ledger-I’m-insane-and-take-pleasure-in-your-pain kind of laugh, but a light chuckle to let them know that you’re joking and that you truly love them.

3) Try opting for a poem or something interesting that makes people want to listen. From personal experience, a poem is a great way to make a speech fun while saying the things you want to express. And try making the poem rhyme, it might take a little longer but it sounds very clever and entertaining when it comes time to present it.

4) Remember that this speech is about them (The newlyweds) and not you. Although you could ramble on about how happy you are for them (Which is lovely don’t get me wrong), remember to talk about how happy they are going to make each other. You yourself will know how joyous you are but the more you express it, the more insincere it sounds. It’s a shame that it happens, but it’s a harsh reality the toast-givers of the world have to live with. So don’t forget to relate everything back to them rather than how you are feeling. People (Especially those who don’t know you) will want to hear about the bride or groom that invited them, not about you.

5) Cater the speech to the couple. The last thing you want is for it to sound like a generic one you came up with that could apply to any wedding you attend. Add in little details that you know the couple will enjoy and remember. You want your toast to actually be words of celebration, not just an obligatory thing that must be done. Commemorate with and for them.

6) Pull inspiration from other toasts. When you go to a wedding you are not speaking at, pay specific attention to the things that make a great speech. The audience will shift according to how they are enjoying the speech. Look up toasts or think of ones that really meant something to you at your wedding. I’m not saying plagiarize (I’m sure my high school teacher’s would hunt me down and throttle me if I did encourage that) but figure out what makes a great speech and draw from that. Sometimes it’s easy to have a base to start on rather than just a blank piece of paper.

Toasts and speeches can really communicate how happy you are for the bride and groom. Bear my tips in mind and you’ll hopefully have an easier time with the writing of yours. But worst comes to worst, we all know that a picture is worth a thousand words so if need be, all you got to do is smile. Good luck and happy writing!

You’re drunk. Things seem to be swirling slightly and the flashing lights that were once distasteful and annoying seem to give you a sense of glamor and adventure. Here, anything seems possible.

Result? Marriage.

The appeal of the Las Vegas wedding has hit millions. The spontaneity of making life decisions can give you a thrill. The idea of doing something crazy with the person you love is charming. But the extremity of this feeling is probably going to fade faster than your hangover will the next morning. So before the cheering and the tossing of the bouquet begins, think about what the after affects are.

This article is in no means an outlet to lecture those about to be wed in Vegas but rather a place where those who went the traditional route can relax that at least one person agrees with their decision.

The appeal of planning beforehand may not be totally palpable at first, but the execution of the planning is worth the wait. Brides who struggle through decision after decision, from florals to live music or a DJ, see the choices they make come to life on their special day.

It may seem tedious to discuss the benefits of planning but then again, who actually stops themselves from talking about topics they enjoy even though they’re being repetitive? The answer is no one so why shouldn’t we?

With an impromptu wedding, the bride won’t be able to look back and say with ringing truth that it was magical. The sparkle at a wedding comes from the people being relaxed, their laughter as a sign that everything is going exactly the way they imagined it. Las Vegas’s wedding tend to be trimmed with an explosion of emotion that might seem crude and over-the-top later on. The photographs from a planned wedding will be filled with dancing, decor and delight whereas the pictures from your night in Vegas may include dancing, but we’re guessing the effect looking through the pictures won’t be the same.

When others look through your photos they might wonder where they are. A favorite pastime of some is riffling through wedding pictures to remember the joyous night and stir the memories that came from it. With an unplanned wedding, those who have gave so much to you and your life, have the opportunity to experience it with you ripped from their hands. With a planned wedding, they will not only be able to reflect back with you and remind you of the intricate details that slip your mind but they also will have seen and experienced the (theoretically) one wedding you will ever have.

And what will you have gotten married in? Your jeans and a tank top? Statistics say, and we assume that nobody keeps a spare wedding gown on them during all trips. Part of a wedding is finding that one perfect dress. Without planning, your opportunity to go and harass salespeople who will oblige to your needs, your chance to try on every dress you want without somebody wanting to go to another store is gone. Poof! Vanished.

The bottom line here (Figuratively of course, not literally) is that planning pays off. Spontaneous weddings can happen anywhere and we don’t want to pick on Vegas. But taking the time and effort to think through your wedding and what you want for and from it is worth the while. The night you design is completely yours for the taking, as opposed to the next "adventurous" couple who’s about to do the exact same thing at the wedding Chapel on The Strip in Vegas.

According to a news story on Yahoo! News, approximately three in 10 engaged couples, will participate in any form of premarital education, according to Ted Beasley, founder of YourPreMaritalCounseling.com.  A review of 23 studies reports that premarital counseling reduces the risk of divorce by 31 percent.  “Engagement is actually the perfect time to talk about all of the hard subjects. You’re already committed to the marriage. There are obviously no deal-breakers, so why not be honest about some of your areas of disagreement?” commented Beasley.

Read the full article here.