Rain Rain Go Away

The Rain Doesn’t Have to Ruin Your Day

Most brides wish for sunshine on their special day and a forecast of rain can dampen a bride’s spirits. But it shouldn’t worry you!

Rule #1

Have a backup plan and love it! Of course, photos taken outside are the best, with all the scenery, but a good photographer will be able to take fantastic pictures inside your venue.

If you love your backup plan you’re be more likely to stay cheerful during the downpour. It’s important to stay positive and your guests will pick up on your happy vibe!

Rule #2

It very rarely rains for the entire day and you will be able to catch up with outside shots later on. If you find you’re faced with rain, be patient and it’ll soon dry up again.

Rule #3

Make your wishes known. Have a good relationship with your venue coordinator and your photographer, these are the people who will be organising your day and keeping their eye on the weather. Make sure they know what you want with regards to the weather.

Rule #4

If you have your heart set on an outside wedding but the rain dampens events, bring the outdoors inside. Incorporate ferns and small potted topiary to give your inside venue an outdoorsy feel. Use evergreen foliage in your table centres to bring that evergreen smell into your venue. Use pine cones for place settings.

Rule #5

Banish the bridezilla. Accept that in the rain, there are certain things that can’t be done, such as lawn games and fire lanterns. Other entertainment can be moved inside, be prepared to talk to your venue early about accommodating outside activities inside. 

Rule #6

A good photographer will have already scouted out good inside shots but be prepared to spot some elegant backdrops for photographs. You could even splurge on a post-wedding photo shoot later when the weather is better.

Rule #7

Invest in umbrellas! A prepared bride is a stunning bride! Your expensive dress, hair and makeup need to be preserved and the best umbrellas for saving your look are the giant golf umbrellas. White ones match your dress, or you could get some that match your wedding colour scheme.

Rule #8

Wedding insurance! In the worst case scenario, such as a snow storm or a flood, insurance can help with alternate travel costs or rescheduling costs. I’ve blogged before about wedding insurance, and there are a lot of different policies available. I would definitely recommend using an insurer that is well known and respected to ensure you have the most comprehensive cover.

Rule #9

Put it into perspective. You are marrying the man you love. The weather and the little problems don’t really matter because you are being joined either legally or in holy matrimony to the man you love, and that’s all that matters. (I have to keep telling myself that because I am praying for good weather!) The rain shouldn’t ruin your happiness and everyone will be showering you with all their best wishes, you probably won’t even notice!

Benefits of the Rain

• Clouds make wedding pictures look much more dramatic!
  I have even seen photographers Photoshopping clouds into photos! A clear blue sky isn’t as good a picture as one with sunshine breaking through the clouds, or one with fair weather clouds hovering in the background.
• Snow looks romantic in photos. It might be freezing and causing all sorts of problems, but it will make your wedding photos look really special.
• Umbrellas are quirky and fun in photos, wellies and rain dripped windows make photos look unique and interesting!

I’m a bride, and I’m hoping for sunshine, however it’s clear that even with the rain (lets face it, we live in the UK) a wedding can be special and spectacular!

Which Magazine to Feature In

Real Weddings

You’ve bought all the wedding magazines, you’ve read all the Real Wedding articles, and maybe you feel as if you’d like brides to read about your wedding!

The photos are spectacular, everyone looks so happy, the poses are well chosen, would your wedding fit in a magazine?

I would like my wedding to feature in a magazine, but which one?

Copyright

Before you even consider putting your wedding into a magazine, you will need to find out who owns the copyright to your wedding photographs.

Sometimes, photographers will let you have the copyright to your wedding photos. I met a photographer who would give us the copyright to our photos for £300, but some photographers retain the copyright.

All this means is that the photographers retain the right to publish your wedding photos in magazines themselves or in promotional materials.

This discussion is best had with your photographer as they will be able to explain exactly what it means for them.

And remember, Facebook retains the copyright to any photographs and videos uploaded to your Facebook albums.

The Magazines

The wedding magazines will only publish photos that either your photographer gives permission for, or photos which you own the copyright.

Perfect Wedding

A fantastic magazine filled with lots of interesting articles. However, the real wedding section of the magazine is actually quite small, compared to other magazines.

The each real wedding featured goes across two or three pages in the magazine and then they explain how other brides can achieve your style.

I really like that part of the real weddings, I think it’d be lovely if a bride sees something they like at your wedding and be able to copy it!

You and Your Wedding

This is one of the other magazines I like to get.

The real weddings part of Your and Your Wedding used your wedding with a lot of text.

Each real wedding starts with a stunning introduction page with a beautiful photo, and two pages all about the wedding.

It’s a very graceful way to display your wedding, each wedding is presented beautifully.

 Brides

Brides boasts being the UK’s best selling bridal magazine, and subsequently, the real wedding spread is a lavish, full size (I couldn’t find a handbag version when I went to WHSmiths) beautifully presented tribute to your wedding.

They write about how the ‘look’ was achieved in the ‘I Do’ Details. The photos look amazing and the details of the day are captured really well.

Wedding Ideas Magazine

As frequent blog visitors will know, Wedding Ideas is my favourite magazine. It’s a bright and cheerful magazine filled with lots of photo ideas.

The real weddings section is the most extensive of all the other wedding magazines stretching an amazing 75 pages! In the July edition, there were six different weddings featured, stretching across four or six pages.

They include top tips from brides and grooms, budget busting advice and details about how the couple met.

Would I Publish My Wedding?

I’m not sure. I think it would be a lovely memento to keep of your wedding in a magazine!

It would be nice to share my wedding with the public and share my money saving ideas, such as making a bunch of my own stationary and it would be nice to show other brides in the West Midlands my fantastic wedding venue.

Whatever you decide, look closely at the magazines and think about which one would present your wedding the day you’d like it to be remembered.

More Wedding Photos

More Must Have Shots!

In a previous post, I said that some of your must have shots are the following:

• Establishing shot, setting the scene and mood of the album
• The details of your wedding, which are usually things you’ve slaved over with a glue gun!
• The getting ready shots, wonderfully animated and full of excitement
• The lads! Remember, h2b is there too!
• Your family, a photo with your dad or whomever is giving you away

Well, here are some more shots that shouldn’t be forgotten!

The Grand Entrance

One of the moments the guests will be waiting for at a wedding is in the church or civil ceremony venue when the music begins to play, they all turn around and the bride walks down the aisle, arm in arm with her giver away-er, or even walking on her own. 

The excitement on your face, the bouquet, the dress! Everyone will want to remember this moment as you walk down the aisle to your h2b!

Hopefully your photographer will snap this picture without you even noticing! This shot should be natural and relaxed and full of all the emotions you’re feeling at that moment!

The Groom’s First Look

My personal favourite shot is of the groom turning around to look at his bride for the first time as she walks down the aisle.

I think the groom’s first look is the most romantic, touching photo. It’s a photograph filled with love and anticipation. If your photographer can quickly snap this photo while your groom isn’t look so that it looks natural and as relaxed as a man can while his bride is approaching, it’ll make a fantastic addition to your wedding album!

The Reception Room

Once everyone has settled in the room and moved things, the reception room will never look the same again. To get the best image of the reception room, ask your photographer to nip inside and snap a few untouched shots.

I like these shots as they show all the effort that went into dressing the reception room. Even if you have minimal decoration, the elegance and style of the room will be something you will want to remember in years to come. A fantastic addition to any wedding album.

The Cake!

With wedding cakes costing in excess of £400, asking your photographer to take a few snaps of the cake is essential!

Edible items of your wedding will either be eaten or perish, so having a few photos of these items to remember them are crucial wedding album shots.

Try to capture the details on the cake, the ribbon and the little details. If you have a cake topper, it would be nice to snap a few shots. You could try standing behind the cake toppers to show how they look like you!

 

The First Dance

The first dance is often the last photo in an album. It’s actually quite difficult to take a good photo of a first dance as you’re both looking in different directions and the lighting is low. However, it’s a very romantic shot and ideal for any wedding album.

The DJ’s choice of lighting can often add an interesting atmosphere to any first dance and if your photographer can capture the lighting it will look fantastic in your wedding album.

But the best first dance pictures are when the couple are relaxed and happy.

Top Tips

One of my top tips for wedding photos is to make a list of all the shots you want taken on the day. If you have some special friends or family members who you really want to have photos with, make sure you make a list to give your photographer so that no one is missed.

More photo blog posts coming soon!

Questions for Your Makeup Artist

Essential Ideas

Choosing your makeup artist is difficult! You’ve spent your life doing your own makeup, or even not wearing any makeup at all, having someone different do your makeup for you is a big step.

Wedding fayres are good places to find your makeup artist and hair stylist. They will have their portfolios for you to look through.

And when you speak to them, here are some essential questions:

1. Do you have a portfolio of pictures I can see of weddings you’ve done before?
   It is crucial to see previous work, that way you can judge if the artist’s style matches your style.
   
2. What sort of experience do you have?
   An experienced artist will have a variety of ideas for you and your bridal party, however a less experienced artist will be cheaper!
   
3. Do you do a trial before the big day?
   A trial will allow the artist to be more familiar with your skin type. If you have very pale skin, dry skin, very dark skin or oily skin, the makeup artist will be able to adjust their style to suit your colouring and skin type.
   
4. Do you use waterproof mascara, and if not, could you!
   It is going to be an emotional day, you will want to know that your makeup won’t run regardless of how emotional you feel.
   
5. How will my bridal makeup differ from my normal make up?
   This will really depend on your preference, however if your makeup artist has their own ideas it’s important that you know their style will fit your image.
   
6. How will you prime my face before you do my makeup?
   With guests and professionals snapping pictures of you all day, you will want to make sure your makeup lasts the distance! A good primer will ensure that your makeup lasts the whole day.
   
7. What should I do to carry my natural look through the day?
   Top tips from a professional will ensure that your look is flawless for the entire day, although my makeup isn’t really something I want to think about on my wedding day, which is why I wanted a professional.
   
8. Do you apply fake eye lashes?
   I’m not a huge fan of fake eye lashes, however they do add a bit of pow to your wedding look. Having them applied professionally by your makeup artist will ensure that they last the day.

I Just Saw My Dress!

It was in an Advert!

I was casually flicking through one of the supplements that comes with Brides magazine and I saw my wedding dress!

One of the bridal shops, The Bridal Boutique by Dream Capture in Blackpool, used the photo as advertising for their bridal shop!

I don’t know why this is exciting but it’s not every day you flick through a magazine and see your wedding dress! And as I can’t tell h2b, or anyone else, I thought I’d tell you.

Eeeek! It’s exciting!!

I Don’t Like My Bridesmaid Dress

Solutions?

I’ve been inspired to blog again by a google search titled, ‘I don’t like my bridesmaid dress.’

Being asked to be a bridesmaid makes me go a little giddy. I love weddings anyway, but to be chosen to feature in my friend’s most important day is a fantastic privileged and honour!

However, what if the dress is hideous?

Hopefully, you and your friend have a similar taste in clothes, that’s why you’re friends, but what if you’re asked to be bridesmaid by a cousin or sister?

You all make the appointment to go to the dress shop. Maybe you meet in town and walk in together, looking forward to trying on your new dresses. And you’re faced with this pink monstrosity?

Unfortunately, and I hate to say this, you’re going to have to put up with it. There is no polite or sensitive way to say to a bride, who has searched and searched for the perfect bridesmaid dresses, that the dress is hideous and you don’t want to wear it.

You could hint that you’re not sure the dress suits you, but unfortunately, that’s as far as you can go.

As a bride who has hunted far and wide for bridesmaid dresses, it is difficult to find a dress that fits in with your theme and your taste, and one that you think will suit all your bridesmaids. While I hope that none of my bridesmaids think the dresses I’ve narrowed it down to are hideous, I don’t think I’d respond well if they told me they hated the dress!

So my advice, and you won’t like it, is to put up with the hideous dress. It’s just for one day and you can always have a laugh about it later.