My friend Terra and her awesome photos!

Magnifique Photography is one of my favorite photographers. I really like Terra Cooper's work. Check out her web site. www.magnifique photography.com

DO-IT-YOURSELF CATERING

Choosing your catering food to do yourself can seem scary. No fear, there are many ways to cater your wedding. Make it simple, create a look of expense and have fun. Kathy the mother of the bride cooked all of this food herself and we presented it. We created an atmosphere of Tuscan food. Kathy and her husband had recently come back from Italy so it made sense to have a Tuscan wedding for her daughter.
She bought an Italian cook book, choose simple desserts and this is the look she had me create. Simple, easy and inexpensive. Take time to think things through when it comes to one of the most expensive items on your budget. Plan wisely and always be creative in what you are trying to create.
The biggest thing that impressed the guests is Kathy baked biscotti bread the church smelled like an Italian restaurant. What a cool event it was.
copyright 2009 WEDDING DESIGNS MAGAZINE

Looking for a great photographer

If there is any advice that I can give it is this....don't scrimp on a good photographer. I have decorated many weddings during my professional career. I have seen so many things but the one thing that I have come across time and time again is poor photography. Now I know that some budgets don't have a huge portion for photography but using Joe blow from work or a friend of a friend just isn't going to cut it.
A great photographer can capture the essence of a wedding. Some of the best pictures I have seen by photographers are of weddings that don't have allot of "decorations" they have style. A great photographer captures that feeling on film. If you possibly can budget for photography, don't leave your most important day to someone who does an o.k. job. I promise if you shop around there are great photographers who are affordable as well as give you your moneys worth.
Cut back on some of the things that don't really matter like extra decorations or catering, you can do it just budget and keep looking.
copyright 2008 Wedding Designs Magazine

Love, Romance in winter

Winter is quickly approaching a really exciting time for weddings. Engagement photos in the winter time are so romantic. Unusual views make for great photography. Use mother nature as your background, you will be surprised at what you will see when you review your photo session.

Happy Holidays!!!!

Capture the moment

This picture captures the very essence of a wedding. What pulls at your heart strings than a father embracing his daughter. I am sure he is seeing her growing up all over again as he dances with her for the last time as his little girl. Picking the right photographer is what I consider #2 on my budget list. Skimping on a photographer is like throwing away memories that are so precious. Hire someone who really knows their stuff.
relatives are fine to take candid shots of family, friends and guests that only your parents know.
Budget in a good amount for the photographer, you won't regret it.
copyright 2009 WEDDING DESIGNS MAGAZINE

Invitations

Computers are such a wonderful tool . We now have the capability to create the most beautiful invitations for our wedding. Terra Park my photographer from Magnifique Photography designed this invitation. It is simple yet I find it elegant, romantic with a touch of spunk. There are many programs you can buy at many stores (big chain stores), If you are not computer savvy, most printing companies, photographers as well as graphic artists can create a look all your own. Gone are the days of boring invites. Get creative, use your ideas for your wedding to incorporate into your invitations.
copyright 2008 Wedding Designs Magazine

Bridal Photo Sessions

Choosing a photographer in my opinion is one of the most important people you can hire. They capture the the very mood of your event. When you leave the responsibility of pictures to just anybody that's just what you will get (anything) random shots of whatever looks good at the time. Now I am not saying that you can 't have someone you know do pictures for you. Make sure that they know something about photography, you just might find yourself looking at pictures that are really, really, bad. I have reviewed so many pictures by "friends & family" who volunteered to take pictures and to be frank they were awful.

Plan in your budget a good portion for a photographer. It will be well worth the money. You will probably need to cut back on other things like decorations, catering as well as invitations. It will be worth the money.


copyright 2008 Wedding Designs Magazine