lolkitteh

I received my first "official" RSVP in the mail this week! Woot!

I tinker a bit in photography myself, so I am giving FI a completely DIY book I did myself, and one done by a pro. Here is the cover from my DIY book:

I, too, have back issues. When I am in a phase of working out hard a lot (like we all are trying to get in shape for our weddings!) I do tend to risk injury to both my back and knees. I've been working out for many years, so the stress on back and knee has been cumulative. The only thing I can say is that you really do need to give yourself a LOT of time to let your back completely heal before you workout hard again. I threw out my back about three weeks ago, and it took a few days before I could even move, and about 2.5 until I felt I could go back to regular workouts. In the meantime, I got in my exercise by just walking, increasing both the duration and intensityas my back started to feel better. To burn the same number of calories, you do have to walk for a much longer time than more intense workouts (I was walking for at least an hour per session), but for me, it's a nice, gentle exercise that will let me stay active while I recovered. I'd say - just take it easy and let your back fully heal before getting back into it! Don't do any intense exercise until you truly feel no discomfort when moving around - stick to walking and gentle stretching. Otherwise you will just stay in this cycle of a hurt back that never heals. Another trick I use is to take ibuprofen (which calms inflammation) *before* working out as well as when the pain flared up. Athletes use this trick as a preventative measure, and it's also helped me.

Thanks! I do have to make a plug for Mpix.com - they are FAST! From order to receipt, it took less than a week!!! Very nice quality, and definitely the fastest service I've ever received for a photobook.

Great thread! Things I've done with VistaPrint: 1. STD cards 2. Instruction cards for whiteboard "Guest Book" (Free postcards) 3. Photosharing cards (Free biz cards) 4. Label covers for Hershey nugget favors (Address labels) 5. Ceremony programs (Rack cards) I think we might be using them for photo Thank You cards, but may go with a place that has really nice, high-quality ones for just a little more than the VP price...

Just a little update here - I made a little DIY book (FI is getting two - a DIY BD book and one from a Pro) with Mpix.com, and it included a couple of shots where I am clearly unclothed (but tasteful). No problems with the printing. Based on this, I am guessing that 99.9% of BD photography is not going to be an issue with DIY books with online vendors.

Aspirin mask! - buy a cheap bottle of aspirin at the dollar store. Disolve it in a little water to make a scrub/mask. Apply to face, leave it on for a few minutes, and then gently exfoliate the skin. Aspirin is salicylic acid (BHA), which is a skin soother and exfoliant. Leaves the skin baby-smooth!

Names that come up on TheKnot Vegas board a lot with raves: Chelsea Nicole Joey Allen Todd Wilson (Bentley and Wilson) You might want to check TheKnot for more specifics on them. ProjectWedding.com also has vendor reviews.

Careful with MAC STudio Fix Fluid - try it out with flash photography to see what it looks like. One thing to consider is whether a foundation has sunscreen in it or not. Makeup artists will tend to avoid foundations with sunscreen for events where you will be photoigraphed (such as weddings!) because they tend to contain titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide may give your face a white-ish cast with flash photography. AFAIK, MAC Studio Fix Fluid contains sunscreen (has SPF 15) so you might want to test out how it looks on you in flash photography before you commit to using it your wedding. (BTW, I use MAC Studio Fix Fluid myself and love it, but will not be using it for my wedding) For MAC foundations, the Studio Stick (or the airbrush makeup) is considered the best for flash photography. I don't know about the new Studio Sculpt. Right now I am trying out Makeup Forever (MUFE) HD Foundation and am really liking it. I'm going to get airbrush makeup by a pro for my actual wedding, but will probably use the MUFE foundation for other situations where my pictures are being taken. It's quite long-wearing and natural-looking. If you have a Sephora around you, you could make an appointment with someone there to try it out. I've also used Clinique Superfit, which also photographs well, but IME, doesn't come in as many shades as either MAC or MUFE. I have oily skin, and have found that MAC Studio Fix, MUFE HD, and Clinique all wear well on my skin. Others tend to just slide off my face at the end of the day.

Quote: Originally Posted by O'Driscoll Photography I always arrive at least a few days early, which allows plenty of time to observe the light as well as the best locations for portraits, etc. So, I really don't think that this would be a reason to not consider hiring somebody from outside of the area. Best, Tod and hence, my point about it not being worth bringing someone who wasn't a good photographer and *also* professional. Obviously, you bring professionalism to the table and are willing to expend your time on the ground to make sure the "good" shots are taken. But if you can someone good and also professional who already knows the locations and doesn't cost you anything in terms of travel expenses, why not consider going local first?

Quote: Originally Posted by Nic Dragomire thanks for that.... but you really need to get out of my head. My brain is not big enough for the two of us... As someone who knows that business travel is NOT glamourous and fun at all, you're welcome! You may not like my comments above though. (Argument for hiring a local rather than bringing one with you)

Quote: Originally Posted by jax_the_beach_bride All i know is that SunBride does bring up some valid points and i also think that it really depends on the relationship with the photographer... realistically.. the photographer is not going to be treated like a picture slave and if working for 1 1/2 days taking pictures in an exotic locale and having the other 51/2 days to themselves... i would think those 5 1/2 days consist of a vacation in some respects.... I am not downplaying the work and artistry of photographers but for people from Canada who bring local photographers, i would hope they would view it as a great plus rather then a hardship when doing a DW. If your photographer actually sees this as an opportunity for a "free vacation", I'd be wary. IMO, if a photographer views the "free travel" as a perk, then they aren't really being all that professional about it, or don't value their time appropriately, or are inexperienced. Or all three. I personally wouldn't hire such a person for my wedding photos. I'm actually pretty surprised at how many brides want to bring their own photographer and don't realize the risk involved, unless the photographer is really good *and* experienced (something for which you will pay for). Those photographers that travel for travel expeneses only are doing so for a reason that isn't beneficial to the bride - what the photographer is really doing is learning and gaining experience on the bride's dime - this is probably more of a motivator than getting a "free vacation". Me, I'd rather have someone who learned on someone else. Another thing to consider is that although local photographers can't be interviewed as extensively as someone you hire at home, they know the shoot locations, the lighting situations, and where the big "money shots" are going to come from. Someone you bring from home won't necessarily know the locations well enough, or have time to scout them out to get the same results. The local ones will know the settings the best, have shot hundreds of weddings in the same location, and know where to good shots are going to be. I think that is a huge factor to consider. Unless the DW photographer you bring from home is really good *and* professional, I personally would be hard pressed to find a good reason to bring one from home instead of hire a good one locally.

Quote: Originally Posted by SunBride Bottom line I think is that the fact that the couple are paying the photographer's trip definitely has to count for something, although it's not the same as if they were giving that amount to the photographer in cash. It may not be a full "vacation" but it's probably still better than being at home! That's why there are so many photographers out there dying to do DWs. Not saying all this to attack you personally Nic. I've just read so many times photographers saying that shooting a DW isn't a vacation at all, and I guess I just find it hard to believe they don't find a little time outside the wedding day to enjoy themselves. OK, I'm not a DW photographer, but I do have to come to the defense of the photographer on this issue. I did spend many years on the road as a consultant, and currently still have a job that involves high travel. I have enough FF miles and hotel points banked for multiple in first class for FI and myself for many years to come. I used to travel about 90% of the time, now it's more like 20-30%. I've been to many exotic places as a result of my job, and for that I'm grateful. But don't get me wrong. It is WORK with a capital W. It was maybe fun for the first couple of trips, but having someone pay for my travel is NOT a perk, it's a necessary expense on the part of my client who wants to engage my skills and services. Sure, it's nice to get out of the house now and then, but I certainly don't look at my business trips as a chance for a fun vacation. High-travel jobs like mine don't retain people for a long time, and when they do, they have to pay a premium, because at the end of the day, travel for work just isn't fun, and people don't like to do it very often. I think it is rather unreasonable to think that just because you don't see your photographer "working" all the time that they are just sitting around sipping margaritas on your dime. I'm not a pro (but I tinker), so I would guess that at least 80% of the real work is involved in reviewing, story-boarding, and post-processing the images into something that will work for you. Not to mention organizing and backing up the images against loss. Then there is album creation, (if you have one in your package) that also involves design work. If your photographer was there for four days and you saw her for only the equivalent of one day "working", I can assure you that she spent at least four more days actually getting the images print-ready for you. She probably also spent at least 1-2 days scouting out the shoot locations for lighting and set-up. This is all work that has to take place, whether you see it or not. I would also mention that photographers take on a huge risk when going to a DW - here they are traveling to a location where they don't know what the lighting conditions are going to be, what the shoot locations are, and what unexpected, uncontrolled events might take place. All of these things could easily result in an unsatisfied client. Frankly, if I were a wedding photographer, there would be no way I'd do a DW in an unfamiliar location. If I were a pro, I'd probably only shoot as a favor to a friend, and not take on any contractual risk. And if I did agree for some reason to shoot a DW, I'd probably be more inclined to charge more, not less.

Quote: Originally Posted by big3n09 If we have it at a venue do we provide everything, can you do a cash bar? In terms of etiquette, a properly hosted party should never put a guest in a situation where they may have to reach for their wallets - this is in essence getting your guests to partially pay for a party you claim to be inviting them to and hosting. WRT Cash bars, I know that most people will say that guests won't mind, or that it's common in their area, etc., and that's fine. Just know that you would be compromising etiquette if you have a cash bar, and that whenever you do that, you risk offending someone. By its nature, a cash bar (or any situation where a guest is asked to fund any part of the hosting) goes against the very grain of basic hospitality.

I created an account without a studio name - I just typed in "none" - no problems creating an account. I've seen some pics of both the album and the press-printed books and they are just stunning - I think BRI will win out for all my future casual "Blurb-like"books now, too.

I looked at Mpix also, as I have used them for other things. I do tinker in photography a bit, and they are better than most consumer places like Shutterfly. However, their "assembled album" is not quite like a flushmount album - the idea is the same, but it's not exactly flush mount. I think I'm going to go with Black River Imaging, based on reviews I've seen.

I do want something better than a MyPublisher or Blurb book for my actual wedding album, but I don't want to pay $2000 for it! I've found a couple of sites that will work directly with brides (most places will only work with pro photographers) to make a flush mount album, and wonder if anyone out there has done a DIY album with Black River Imaging/Somerset Albums? (supposedly the same company) Or any other company that you can recommend?

These days, I don't think it's generally considered rude to specify an adults only reception. However, that doesn't mean that some guests won't think that it is, so there's at least some risk that it may not go over well. If you do specifiy an adult reception, just remember that you really shouldn't have any other children at all there, no exceptions. On the invite, just put the word "adult" in front of reception. Example: "Adult Reception following the ceremony at xxxx location..." You would also obviously not address the invitation to "and family" when inviting your aunt and uncle. That by itself should clue them in that your cousins are not invited without having to specify "adult reception", but not everyone pays attention to this addressing rule - if you think your aunt will follow the ettiquette implied by leaving off her kids off the invitation, maybe this is all you need to do, rather than put "adult reception" directly on the invite. We did not specify an adult reception, but let it be known that this is preferred by word-of-mouth. We also left off "and family" in addressing to be clear that we are only inviting the adult heads of family.

Quote: Originally Posted by Amarillis As an alternative to the originals, you have chosen great invites - I think your guests will love them. You'll have to post pics of both sets... when they are in - and you have a minute to breathe... re addressing all of those invites is a chore! (a similar situation happened to me). Thanks - taking pictures of both is a good idea - it'll be a funny picture to put in the album to have both side by side. Heheh. Today I checked the WPD website, and the order status was "Shipped"!!!! Whoah. Only 4 days from order to ship! Even more impressed with this co., if that's possible.

To be honest, I still don't think this budget will work serving any type of alcohol. (I'm going through my own budget planning and food lists now, which is why I've done all this research) As a guideline for planning parties, for cocktails, you should have enough to provide 2 drinks per hour per guest for the first 2 hours, and 1 drink per hour thereafter. For a 4 hour party, that's 6 drinks per person, or 1200 drinks. If you use keg beer as the lowest possible alcoholic benchmark at .50 cents a drink (really, really cheap), that's already $600, leaving only $200 for food and other party necessities. Also as a benchmark, at the minimum you should plan on having at least 1 lb of food per guest if it's appetizers only, or 1.5 lbs if it's intended to be a meal. This is considered the bare minimum. Keep in mind that there will be some waste. People getting a drink and forgetting it somewhere, etc. So you need to provide some percentage more for inevitable waste, not just enough to cover one per person. (IE, I think you will need to buy more than one box of 200 forks) One guideline for cups, for example, is at least double the amount of guests - because most people invetiably will get a new cup at least once during the party. If you can pull this off on 1k, I would totally be interested in how it turns out! I think it will help us all to find ways to cut costs. Keep us posted and good luck with the planning! :-)

Yay! What a relief it is to hear that everyone thought the quality of the invites was good. I was a bit dubious on this, since the replacements from WPD ended up being so much cheaper (even with expedited processing and shipping) than my originals. (OTOH, the originals had thermography printing, so it's not really fair to compare) Quote: Originally Posted by frazali I love the final products for both the STD and invite. The quality and weight of the paper is top notch. And I've gotten a lot of compliments on them! You should be really happy with them. Which ones did you order? We ended up with Contemporary Swirls Signature White Wedding Invitations in merlot. Our colors are Red Burgundy and sky blue. WPD didn't have anything that quite matched those colors, so we went with the merlot invite and I'll be wrapping the invite and enclosures in blue satin ribbon to get our color scheme in. I thought the thank you cards looked nice and reasonably priced, so I was tempted by those, too, but we want to go with a photocard from our wedding for our TY cards.

Frazali - I looked at the exact same invitation you got for myself! Great minds think alike! But they didn't have it in anything close to our colors, so I got something else. Were you pleased with the final product? I'll be getting mine no later than Thursday of next week. So impressed by this company.

Quote: Originally Posted by frazali I think it's great - the only question I have is is the wine a favor as well, or does each table open it during the reception? Thanks,everyone, for the opinions. I was going to start my "planning thread" this weekend and get pics together. I'll update this thread when I do. Hi Frazaili - The wine will be favors as well.

Well, I contacted Mpix, MyPublisher and Picaboo, and they all have similar policies. All 3 will print "Boudoir" -type photos if they are tastefully done. MPix also emailed me with their specific policy - my feeling is that all of these online places will have similar policies, that is, Boudoir photography that is tastefully done (not suggestive or explicit) should print just fine. MPix Adult Content Policy: "Unfortunately, what is objectionable to some is simply artistic expression to others - the distinction is not always clear. Mpix.com is a family run business and most of our work consists of weddings, portraits, and events. However, we receive significant numbers of tastefully done nudes and boudoir orders for printing and certainly have no objection to printing and delivering these. "

I am going to be getting my BD pics on a DVD instead of in a book (FH is a computer geek and would want to keep these on his iPhone), and I'll own the copyright to it. I was also planning to make my own photobook with one of the better online publishers such as Mpix, Picaboo, MyPublisher, or Blurb, etc. However, I do plan on having a few, urr...topless photos of myself (FH loves that part of my body). They will be tasteful and "arty" pics, not trashy ones, ala Juggs or anything, LOL. I don't mind if the people who work at the publishers see them, but I do wonder if there are any restrictions on what kind of pictures they will publish. IE, whether they might refuse to publish BD or topless photos. None of them have any info on their websites that I could find. Anyone out there have any experience with this?