Wedding Planning Overload

Wedding Planning Overload

Wedding planning can be stressful.  But let me help you out a little bit.  Take a look at what your photographer is probably thinking when it comes to your wedding day timeline in order to capture the perfect shots.

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Have Flower Children Instead!

After talking about wedding planning with one of my 2017 brides, I was inspired to start sharing some tips and ideas with all you brides, mother-of-the-brides or soon-to-be brides from my own wedding!  I will stick with one idea per post, and today's idea is flower children!

My husband and I planned a DIY backyard wedding at my in-law's home in 2012.  (This was before Pinterest was really a big deal you guys...  Or at least before I jumped on the Pinterest wagon.)   I wanted the children in my life to be involved but I wanted them to have genuine involvement.  I didn't want just one little boy to carry an empty pillow or one little girl to drop flower petals.  I had a lot of little ones to involve - including siblings, a nephew, children I cared for and truly wanted to be a part of the day.  Therefore a ring bearer and flower girl was not going to cut it.   

Instead I had Flower Children!  We picked several handfuls of wildflowers from my in-laws gorgeous prairie and had each child carry a bundle down our "aisle" and give them out.  So they gave out wild flowers to our guests and made people smile and feel involved. (Other plus side here: wildflowers = free) 

So, if you have a lot of little ones to involve, this just might be your answer! Let them hand something out to your guests that will inspire genuine and candid moments that your guests will remember.     

FlowerChildrenWeddingIdea

All of these images were captured by my FAB wedding photographer: Stephanie Karen of Stephanie Karen Photography.  

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Read other posts from Melanie below:

To My Brides That Changed Everything...

It wasn't too long ago when I was saying, "No way am I shooting weddings anymore".  I had written them off after one bad experience.  Little did I know that a bride, or three, were going to come along and change my entire perspective. 

Long story short, 6 or 7 years ago I provided a full day of wedding coverage and printed the couples pictures out of my own pocket and placed them into a beautiful album....

And then I was never paid.  It was a shocking and defeating experience.  I was still the naive girl who took a person's word over good business sense and contracts.   Well, the lesson was well-learned and now I realize it was worth every last penny it cost me to print those images.  I still have that album of images to this day and it is a reminder of how far I have come as a photographer and business owner.  

So for a very long time I did my best to shy away from wedding photography because I didn't see how different it could all be.  I would only photograph a wedding for a close friend or family member and even then I was still convinced this wasn't my game.  

Then along came my down-to-earth and fabulous bride Toni. Girl, I owe you my deepest gratitude for changing everything.  Then I met Tina, and after that, Katie.  Tina and Katie, I could tell from day one how much you both valued not only me as a person but also my services. The three of you have forever changed me and my business.  I could not have asked for three better brides to completely turn me around and flip me upside down.  After just one wedding season, these ladies had me singing a different tune.  I am now happy to say that I am indeed a wedding photographer AND I love and enjoy, that's right I said it - I LOVE photographing weddings. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all my lovely brides!