C+L=where?

Lynn working...



Chris shopping...



More from one of our absolute most fav places in the world soon :)

Destination Wedding Photography

One of the most important decisions you’ll face is photography. We’ve already covered this in previous posts, but want to revisit the topic.

First, we found a YouTube video (below) by destination wedding photographer Neil Cowley of Rochester, New York that should be mandatory viewing before you hire a destination wedding photographer.

Assuming you can’t find the talent you want locally (a pretty good bet), you’ll be bringing your own photographer. Let’s face it, it’s your wedding and you only get one shot at the photography. You’ll probably hire someone you feel comfortable with and bring them with you.

Neil Cowley’s video is from one destination wedding photography talking to another. But as a couple, there’s quite a bit for you to learn here.

There are really two kinds of destination wedding photographers:

• Someone who is a wedding photographer, but loves to do destination weddings because it’s a mini-vacation for them (at your expense) and they tack on time before or after for their vacation.
• Someone who is a seriously destination wedding photographer and it’s all about the business.
  

We prefer the former, but understand the need for the latter.

Regardless of which one, this is a business for them. Some photographers prefer to make their own travel arrangements and will charge you a mark-up (Neil Cowley charges 30%). That adds up fast. But…it is a business for them some kind of mark-up is reasonable. Unfortunately, some photographers use the mark-up principle to pad their profits.

We would recommend to couples that they work with the photographer to find a good travel schedule, but then the couple books it and pays for it directly. We’re not opposed to wedding photographers making a decent living…but there is too great an opportunity for some wedding photographers to abuse the mark-up principle as a way of screwing couples.

The other major issue in Neil Cowley’s YouTube video is the issue of documentation. He prefers to go undocumented. However, we had a friend who had a problem with this and couldn’t get her photographer into the country. The work permits aren’t all that expensive (certainly less than the mark-up on the travel) and your local wedding coordinator can often handle it for you. It is customary for the couple to pay for the work permit for the photographer. So, why risk your photographer being locked out of the country and you have to scramble for a “plan b” locally? Just get the permit.

Here’s Neil Cowley’s YouTube video:



Note: There’s also a video Part II, but it’s just him showing his cameras and you don’t really learn anything.

Suggested readings:
Covering the basics – Photographer

Blogging from T-Dock

Danielle and I are having a busy wedding planning day down here! This morning we dropped off the Smith wedding welcome bags on Sanibel Island and then headed out here to South Seas on Captiva to meet up with Super Sarah. It's finally her wedding week! We made some adjustments to a few of her welcome bags (which are unbelievably amazing- photos to come) and dropped them at front desk. Then we headed over to RC Otters in Captiva Village for a crunchy Grouper sandwich. Can I just say how good that sandwich is? When you come, you'll have to try it. Okay, so while we were waiting for our sandwiches, we watched Sarah & Ben roll by in their golf cart and we played a couple rounds of the hook game. Looks stupid- but incredibly addictive. Again, you'll have to come try it out. Now we're sitting out on the dock, watching the manatees, blogging (Danielle is studying for her accounting quiz), soaking in the sun. I am totally cracking up right now by the way. This sure beats working from the office. It's absolutely gorgeous weather- about 80, Gulf breeze, perfect amount of sun, not a cloud in the sky. Love it! We have Glenn & James' tasting at 2:00 about 20 steps away. Oh life is good.
ok, so I know I always post photos- but for some reason I can't get them to upload. I'll try again when we go inside. Ciao for now!

Style Your Dream Wedding Ya gotta get this book

Hands down, I think this is the best wedding book I've opened in years. Those of you who have been reading this blog for the last nearly 2 years know that I am a wedding book phiene. Love love love the wedding books. Well Susie Coelho must have a direct link to the zone in my brain that constantly seeks wedding inspiration. Page after page it has the best wedding photos. And I have to say, some really good advice as well. The book has a myriad of features besides the 600 amazing photos: Quiz booklet, Color palette booklet, Dress silhouette accordion pullout, Six 8-page gatefolds, CD of wedding music, even Postcards. It's insane there's so much stuffed into this book. Truly, it's worth every penny and then some. My personal favorite pages are pages 1 thru the LAST FREAKIN PAGE.
Click below to buy from my favorite online book store (for way less than what I paid for it!):

Forgetful Wedding Party Syndrome

All these months you have planned an amazing weekend for your friends & family to celebrate your nuptials. And now it is time to actually celebrate! You're excited. They're excited. Wow, it is going to be great!

So here's the truth. You can't control everything. Nobody can. Besides weather you will have what I call the Forgetful Wedding Party Syndrome. You will probably have at least half of them swear they, "had no idea that they were supposed to be there then".
They will also inevitably ask, "Where am I supposed to go?" and, "Am I supposed to go to this?" and, "Can my date come?" And you of course, will probably want to strangle a few of them after you've been asked 43.7 times.

Well, you know you told them, and I know you told them, and I told them again at rehearsal, and its on their wedding weekend celebration program too. Yet still- they will swear, that they had no idea and nobody told them. So, the best thing you can do, is get started early. Every reminder helps.

10 days to 1 week before the wedding, mail everyone a last newsletter. Five days before the wedding, email everyone. Include the times, locations, and how they should get there (walking, personal car, trolley, private coach, etc.) and why they are there. By everyone, I mean any and all people who are scheduled for anything! This means, parents, siblings, bridesmaids, groomsmen, grandparents, and photo must people. It also helps to mention who does not need to attend certain things. In other words, make it perfectly clear. For example:

7:30pm
Just after the ceremony, we'll need just these people to stay on the beach for family photos:
John Smith
Jill & Jack
Jack & Lynn
All parents, our siblings, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flowergirls (and a parent)
It will take about 15 minutes and then a trolley will take you to the cocktail party where you can meet your spouses and the rest of our guests.

Yes, its a boring tedious task. But it will make your weekend that much easier for you so that you can focus on the real reason you are there; to get married!

Melissa & Chad: Another great directors cut

I have a good 4 weddings to catch up & post about- its been a great spring season! But we've got 3 more still to come before we wrap it up and have a few hours to get all the great photos posted. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at Cool Calm Cheerful Brides GORGEOUS Scottish wedding at South Seas. It was one of the largest destination weddings we've done this season(just under 200). I'll be posting more about this incredible wedding really soon.
I can't say enough about Rob and the crew over at AMC Video. These directors cuts are just amazing. How they manage to get 8 hours of fantastic wedding into this 3 minutes is beyond me.
Here's the link to the video

Bustles, Ties, Hooks & Eyes

Wedding Dress Alterations. Oh the drama, butts, and boobs I have seen. Alterations are typically the last thing you consider when purchasing your wedding gown. Let me tell you something though- it should be the most important thing once you choose your gown.

First things first. Go to a seasoned professional alterations person. Get referrals! I can't stress this enough.

Listen to the professionals at the salon. If they say size 8 is the size you need, order size 8...not size 6.

Plan on at least 3 fittings. One right away, one about 2-3 weeks before the wedding, and another the day you plan to leave the bridal salon with your dress (wedding week).

Ask the seamstress to double re-inforce all the elements. Do not back down on this. In other words, if she's planning on 1 hook & eye, ask for 2.

Snug is good, can't breathe is bad. Do not try to shove yourself into your dress. You will be uncomfortable, the attachments could give and break, bend or rip off. Trust me when I say its not worth it.

Fashion Tape, Safety Pins, and mini sewing kits can only do so much, especially if you have many layers, heavy fabrics, or a very long train.

The bustle that seems to work the best is the underbustle because it ties. Knots seem to stay put much better than sewn on hooks, loops, etc.

Ask the seamstress to number the ties so that whomever your designated bustle pro is, she can tie you up quickly and easily. Even if you have 27 bustle ties!

Ask for a ER plan- the wrist loop. Nobody wants to use it- but let me tell you something, if your bustle does fail, when the DJ plays "Shake your Tailfeather" and you are ready to boogie, if you don't have something to get the train off the ground you won't be shaking anything except your head!