Weddingbee Blog

Sorry that I haven’t updated in a while - 4 whole days!! I had been meaning to put off my photographer blog until I met with all of them, but that’s a few weeks away. So here I go in bits and pieces.

Photographer 1 - Zia Photography

I basically really loved her work. Mrs. Bee wrote about this person awhile ago, when she was helping me do research.

Basic Package:

Unlimited film (b&w and color) - no digital
8 hours of shooting time
Assistant
Print of every image on 4×6 in a box

Cost:

$4500 (tax included)
$600 additional to buy negatives
$1000 additional for album (30 4×6 images in leather bound book)

Final Rating:
A-

I really loved her work, but she only shoots in film. Her price was also a little high for me. However, I would highly recommend her - she was very professional, has a lot of pictures to show you, her work is really great, and she was so friendly. I don’t think I will book her - only because I want some digital images on CD and I dont want to pay for negatives. Also, I didnt really like the fact that her album only contained 30 images in a traditional format. I’m looking for more of a coffee table format.

Photographer 2 - Alex Z Photography

Basic Package:

Unlimited film and digital (b&w, color and medium format)
Full set of 4×6 prints - unmarked
CD wtih all images - high resolution for digital
Assistant
Negatives

Cost:

Cost varies per hour - $3400 for 8 hours
$40 travel fee within Manhattan - more for outside Manhattan
$350 for engagement photos
$1000 for coffee table style album with about 100 images ($900 for each album after)
$200 for small album with 30 5×7 images
Other ranges of albums available
Sales tax additional

Final Rating:
A-

Her work is very good - but not as good as Zia. However, she was absolutely friendly and so much fun. Her prices are very reasonable and she’s willing to work with you to find the right package for you. Plus, you get to keep all the negatives!!!

I’m meeting with 2 more photographers in the next two weeks. Hopefully, by then, I will have booked my photographer. Then on to videographers and florists!!

By the way, I ordered the Save the Date magnets - #2 like everyone said. I could have spent more time making it better, but then again, it was mostly the picture that I didn’t like, not the magnet.

I also finalized a personal trainer. Because my friend wanted to train with me, we decided not to do NYSC’s Wedding Ready. Why? Well, we wanted to train together with 1 trainer, and we were willing to pay extra for having them train 2 people instead of 1. However, NYSC said that they would charge us for 2 people for 1 trainer, even though the trainer’s time would be split between the two of us. That seemed like a waste of money, so we are going with Buff Brides!

I can’t believe it has come to this! I’m looking for personalized cocktail napkins and guest towels (for the bathrooms). There are tons of companies out there that make napkins - just google “personalized napkins.” Ebay has some great prices; theknot sells 100 for around $20.

Because I am… um, “particular” (crazy? insane? have nothing better to do with my time or money?), I’m looking for napkins that will match with the rest of the wedding “paper” (menu cards, programs, etc.).

(Photo: theknot)

I know I promised a glimpse of the invites, but I think I might wait for the finished product rather than posting a cut and paste of the pdf’s. But my colors will be papaya and chartreuse:

ForYourParty makes napkins, coasters, match boxes, gift bags and other party basics in lots of colors with great ink and font choices. Best of all, you can play around and preview all designs on the website. Cocktail napkins are $27 for 100.

Peach Sorbet… Tangerine… Kiwi… Celadon

The colors aren’t quite right; I may do white napkins with colored ink (tangerine and kiwi are available as ink colors) so the mismatch won’t be as obvious! Or perhaps white napkins with kiwi print and peach napkins with white print? Or I might just go on ebay and get white napkins with silver lettering (since no one but I will notice) for half the price!

Let me know if you’ve found a good company for napkins…

I don’t really like chocolate (yes I’m a freak) but this is making me drool. Belgian chocolate pots filled with chocolate cake and topped with a truffle, chocolate curl, and a chocolate sail. Oh my goodness. Too bad it’s from Dragons and Daffodils - a bakery in Europe.

Cris Notti carries a line of tote bags, make-up bags, accessories cases, sleep masks and travel cases in these super fun fabrics.

I absolutely adore these silk sleep masks! You’ll be travelling to your honeymoon in style with these babies. Or you could throw a pair into a matching makeup bag and it’d make a great bridesmaids gift too.

I guess Hollywood has known about these gems for awhile.

Dog Weddings Part I

Want to have your cuddly canines marry each other?

This article has great information about how to plan your perfect “wedding ruffception.”

You can even buy a marriage certificate!

And this is just scary - you can marry your pet.

• Average cost of weddings has increased 100% in the past 15 years.
• Layered wedding dresses that can be worn AFTER the wedding.
• Is the perfect dress harder to find than the perfect man?
• Lane Bryant launches a line of plus sized wedding dresses.
• The Wedding Album - a new FOX show that follows a wedding photographer and his assistant as they attempt to find love while photographing the marriages of New York’s elite.
• David and Victoria Beckham plan on renewing their wedding vows on this tenth year of being together and 7th year of being married.
• Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban sending out wedding invitations?

Last night I went to the Magician Bar in the LES with Mr. Bee because I heard that there would be free cupcakes and discounted drinks. Haha actually I stopped by to say hello to Doug Gordon author of the wedding blog planetgordon and a new book entitled The Engaged Groom.

We didn’t know what Doug looked like but saw a copy of his book on a table. Luckily there was a small photo of him on the back and I was able to pick him out of the room. (A miracle considering how horrible I am with faces).

Doug came up to me and introduced himself first because I was the only person in the room he didn’t recognize (I had told him I’d stop by). He seemed like a nice guy and I always like supporting my fellow bloggers so check out his new book.

Oh yah and there really were cupcakes.

I just found this cute wedding stationery site called Paper Bride. They offer whimsical noninvitation card sets for all your wedding needs including:

Friends & Family

Bridesmaids

Wedding Party

Vendor Thank You

Thank you

The Deluxe Bridal Thank You Box pictured below features each of the aforementioned card sets (50 cards) for $75.

A great shower gift idea!

A wedding is no longer just one party; it’s now a whole series of events to plan - engagement parties, showers, rehearsal dinners, day after brunches…

Thankfully Jewish couples don’t have rehearsals before the wedding. No rehearsal = no mandatory rehearsal dinner (!) which means I can focus on tying bows, wrapping favors, doing sit-ups and other “important” pre-wedding tasks.

I’m not totally off the hook though since we are hosting a brunch for family and out-of-town guests the morning after the wedding. I’ve been on the hunt for a reasonably priced restaurant for an early (10:00am?) Sunday brunch. We are expecting to have 40 -50 people, so we don’t want to spend much over $20 per person.

The guests will be staying in a hotel in the financial district, so I’m looking for a restaurant within walking distance. I checked with the hotel and they would charge around $60 bucks per person - how many eggs do they expect people to eat??? One current contender is Smorgas Chef on Stone Street. Let me know if you have any other suggestions.

I don’t think any of these restaurants fit the bill for me, but here is a list of restaurants with good private dining options from Manhattan User’s Guide.

I really love Karen Bussen’s clean, monochromatic and elegant work.

She really utilizes color to make a statement but always keeps things simple and beautiful.

New York Magazine is hosting their annual Wedding Showcase!

Wednesday March 29th, Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues
5:00-9:00pm
Tickets: $35

Featuring seminars from top wedding experts:
Avi Adler - Owner Avidov Adler Studio
Marcy Blum - Author of Weddings for Dummies
Steve Paster - President and CEO of Alpine Creative Group
Sylvia Weinstock - President and owner of Sylvia Weinstock Cakes

For more information on participating vendors and to purchase tickets, please visit their website.

What are your favorite wedding movies?

The Wedding Banquet (1993)

My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)

The Wedding Singer (1998)

Runaway Bride (1999)

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

Father of the Bride (1991)

The Wedding Planner (2001)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

The Corpse Bride (2005)

Out of these wedding themed movies, my favorite is probably The Wedding Banquet. It’s an Ang Lee flick about a gay Chinese man who has a wonderful relationship with his live-in lover. The only problem is… his elderly parents have no idea and are pushing him to get married and have kids! Hilarity ensues when he keeps up the charade by marrying a female neighbor who needs a green card to stay in America.

You may not have heard of the movie because it’s actually a foreign flick, but it’s so hilarious and definitely worth watching!

Many people see their dogs as members of the family so it’s only natural to want to include our furry four-legged pals in our weddings. Los Angeles celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss says, “I find that about 30 percent of my weddings involve pets… I think it would be more, but a lot of venues do not allow animals.”

(image wendellphillips)

After all this is the year of the dog so why not? Here are some tips on how to include Fido in your big day. (source Palm Springs Life)

Phone first. Find out if the site of the wedding or reception allows pets. If you’re getting married out of town, book reservations at pet-welcoming hotels and resorts

Consult the guest list. Key members of the wedding party - including the officiant, bridesmaids, and groomsmen - should be comfortable around pets.

Resist puppy love. Unless you can have someone serve as a reliable canine chaperone, puppies younger than 6 months old can be wiggly and unpredictable.

Test the temperament. Make sure your pet is comfortable around strangers and new surroundings. No one wants a canine ring bearer growling at the best man or barking over the wedding vows.

Heed canine commands. Canine members of the wedding should be trained to follow basic instructions: “Come,” “Sit,” “Stay,” “Down,” “Wait,” and “Quiet.”

Include pets during rehearsals. This helps them get used to the surroundings and what will happen during the ceremony.

Pick pet-friendly fashion. Test bows, flower-laced collars, or other accessories before the event to ensure your pet will tolerate them. Avoid floral arrangements that contain wires for bouquets or corsages or toxic plants, such as lilies, daffodils, and hydrangeas.

Avoid chowhounds. Dogs can get sick if they accidentally sip from your aunt’s champagne flute or sniff out a piece of chocolate wedding cake.

Get them ready. Dogs should be walked and well exercised before the wedding and be taken for bathroom breaks.

Employ canine bribery. Provide treats that the photographer can dole out to your dog when posing with the wedding party.

I love the look of sparklers at a wedding. I’m checking if it’s legal in NYC… although I’ll have lots of young kids at the wedding, so it may be too dangerous in any event.

Photo: Favors By Lisa