Wedding Blog
Photography has always been a big part of my life. I collect landscape photography, photography books and my dream job would be a photographer for National Geographic. I have not been without a camera in my purse since Jr. High and I document everything wherever I go. It drives my fiance nuts. I can hear his voice in my head right now saying, “Do you really need a picture of the food? Can I eat yet?”
I check about 10 different photographer’s blogs religiously, and about a dozen more when time permits. Needless to say, wedding photography was my priority and my splurge. I really had to do some convincing to get Mr. Hibiscus to accept the price tags that went along with my favorite photographers. Eventually, he caved but he’s pretty bipolar about the whole thing. One day he’s like, “I want you to have everything you want. You deserve the best. I’m glad you’re happy.” Then the next day he’s, “Why don’t we just get a Historian to document the day?” (sarcasm*sarcasm)
Now Mr. Hibiscus’s wedding priority was the DJ and an open bar. He wanted a good emcee that could keep the party moving and the alcohol free-flowing so guests are more likely to dance. Most people skimp on their DJ, which makes little sense since it’s the man (or woman) whom you are entrusting to keep your wedding going for 4+ hours. Most guests remember the DJ and how bad or good they were and not so much the color of your napkins. So, again, we splurged on the DJ.
If only we could win the lottery or get our stocks out of the gutter. What is your wedding splurge?
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1 - the venue. It’s a gorgeous ranch in the Texas Hill Country that provides top-notch lodging for our wedding party and families the entire weekend, right on the lake. They even take everyone on a hayride to the river after the rehearsal to do toasts on the beach. The venue is a HUGE part of what is going to make our wedding unique and memorable!
2 - the band. Same reasons your dj was a priority, and this particular band is personal to us. nothing else was acceptable to my fiance!
3 - photography - same reasons as you. once it’s all over, all you’ve got are the pictures!
5 - open bar. same reasons as you, but luckily our venue is BYOB so it’s really not so much of a ’splurge’ as a ‘bonus!’
like you, i check like a dozen photography blogs religiously. consequently, we’re dropping about 10k (not including album!) for our photographer(s). that’s my splurge.
fi’s splurge is paying for our families’ hotel rooms and plane tickets for our tropical destination wedding. he’s a lot less selfless than i am ha 
Our photographer adn the photobooth…in fact, we’re over budget and that was a fun convo to have with my parents. But, the wedding will be great and we’ll have two fun records of the day from both our splurges. 
hmmm… my splurge was my dress– THE dress. granted i wasn’t looking to spend that much on something i’d wear for 5 or so hours of my entire life but when i tried it on i didn’t want to take it off! so i just had to get it.
his splurge… my wedding ring(s), he opted for 2 diamond bands to flank both sides of my e-ring instead of the traditional one wedding ring. in his words “you’re gonna spend that much on a dress that you’ll wear for 5 hrs your wedding ring(s) better damn well be worth more since you’ll be wearing it for the rest of your life!”
i love my fiancee! he spoils me so!
As of right now its the flowers. I orginally didnt want a lot of flowers but I am too uncreative to think of something else so we are getting flowers.
My splurge has also got to be on photography. I had to do alot of convincing to the fiance about the extras i wanted (ex. 2nd photographer especially) but in the end he gave in!
I’m with you. Our splurge was the photographer. My father, within his half of the budget, splurged on a live band.
Oh yes….how can I forget our photobooth….and videographer. sigh……anyone want to help pay for my wedding? hehe
Flying our photographer and make-up artist to Mexico. Oh, and Fireworks!!!
definitely photography!
Yup… photography all the way!
Our photobooth was our splurge but if I had an extra few bucks I would have hired a full mariachi band to play after we were announced hubby and wife through cocktail hour. LOL! I tried so hard too!
Hmm… let’s see… cheese’nrice… We’ve splurged on everything: 10k photographer, expensive caterers, clear-top tent, nice chairs, dishes, linens, Montique Lullier dress, Tiffany rings, paying for ALL of our guests accomodations (booking out an entire hotel two days). The only thing that we haven’t splurged on is flowers (the wedding is on a country farm with plenty of flowers for the pickin’ (we’re making our own center pieces and bouquets) and the dj - we are going with an ipod playlist and rented speakers.
I have a serious headache.
Hrmm, I don’t know if I have any splurges per se, we’re spending pretty much what I expected to pay for everything. Nothing sticks out as a crazy splurge. I guess our reception, which is eating over 50% of our budget… and my engagement ring. Does that count? My ring is more than twice as extravagant than I expected!!
Our photog is 1/4 of our budget, although pretty much a bargain compared to most that I’ve seen on here.
Miss Hibiscus,
What are the photog blogs that you check up on?
Katy! Off the top of my head here are a handful. These aren’t the links to their blogs just their websites (which should have links to their blogs) haha Do you check any blogs?
http://www.jcsphoto.com
http://www.boutwellstudio.com
http://www.thebecker.com
http://www.theimageisfound.com
http://www.tristalerit.com
http://www.amysquires.com
http://www.skyebluphotography.com
PICTURES! I want my day to be well documented
my venue and photographer/videographer was mucho dinero~
i have yet to see the finished album and wedding dvd but I know it will be great.
Thanks Miss Hibiscus,
ooo, goodie. More blogs to distract myself with while I should really be working.
I also check out becker (his site is down till tomorow because too many people check it out and his website can’t maintain the bandwidth), and the image is found. also julesbianchi.com.
My splurge was definitely the photographers followed by the DJ, but apparently my DJ’s also have photography capabilities so had I known earlier, I would have used them for everything since their work is definitely comparable to the people I hired (at a very high price)…sigh…and so I thought I did all my research…oh well..
If anyone’s in the NYC area, definitely check them out…
http://www.dynastyweddings.com and speak with Chris Chen…he is phenomenal!
Mary, you’re having fireworks?? I’m so jealous!! I actually looked into it too but the prices I found just confirmed that it was waaaaaaaay out of my budget =( What a great way to end the night though…
The photographers are def. one of our splurges– I also check the Becker’s blog religiously. =)
Other splurges include THE Dress, invitations, reception venue (costing mucho $$) and I’d say the flowers/lighting.
the only things I feel like we aren’t really ’splurging’ on may be the band (pretty reasonable for bands), videographer (decently priced) and favors (also reasonable range $2.50-$3).
Fireworks would have been at the top of my list if I wasn’t in a city owned facility (especially since the wedding is three days after the Fourth of July)…they don’t allow it. 
I think we’ll be having a 4th of July party and will have a rehearsal dinner with fireworks at my parents’ house, on the 6th!
photography - same reason as you
attire - when am i ever gonna have a reason or a chance to wear a vera wang?
Definitely photography! But I love photography and am a huge photo buff, so I really wanted to hire a good photog. I wanted everything well documented and beautifully documented.
Another splurge would be the venue/food.
I soooo want a photobooth! I need to push some $$ around somewhere, so I can justify the expense with FI, though. 
I splurged on my dress by Alvina Valenta! Completely went way over my budget but I decided that I wanted to look absolutely fabulous on my day and that’s how the dress made me feel!
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Mrs. Hibiscus, Orange County
Age and Occupation in 06: 25, Eyebal Doc
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Commerical Underwriter
Engagement Date: September 26, 2004
Wedding Date: July 7, 2007
Venue: Laguna Beach on the beach, reception on a yacht in Newport Beach
About Me: I'm an eyeball doc. Normal is boring. I'm a hat person and a cat person. I'm in love (so very very in love). I'm a dreamer. I want to change the world. Superheroes are my friends. Kindness is contagious. Music is in my heart. Carpe diem.
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