In today’s hive:
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K: a lot depends on what format your photographer used. I’m under the impression that anyone who shoots Raw rather than Jpeg will take more time to process your photos, as more is required to get each image just right. Might this be a possibility?
Andrea - our groomsmen are pretty tech and tool savvy - we got them Leathermen juice tools with their names on them. But you can also - if the men like pocket knives and you are open to it (they are a little pricey) get custom made, engraved buck knives. I got my dad the custom hunter for Christmas one time and he loves it… We also got everyone (the 7 bridesmaids and 3 groomsmen) iPod shuffles and pre-loaded them with music -granted the music gets erased as soon as they plug them in but hey - it’s fun n the place!
K: It was about one month before I saw the proofs (all of the unedited images) and now, two months later, I have not yet received the full edited pictures.
I would give your photographer a call and ask what his time frame is. I’ve heard that the hardest part for a photographer is picking out the photos to edit. Plus, it’s wedding season, so he’s probably very busy!
Andrea - we are getting our groomsemen bobbleheads of themselves…i even want one for myself!
Andrea - we are probably getting our groomsmen team shirts from their favorite baseball teams, possibly customized with their names.
Things I have also seen - poker sets, grilling sets.
K, I would look at your contract and see what time frame they committed to before you get worried or call them. This is busy wedding season and editing photographs can be really time intensive. If they are past the deadlines they promised you I would call them and ask what is up and when you can expect to see your proofs.
We’re getting our groomsmen beautiful Costa Rican hardwood valet boxes - just big enough to hold their wallet, some keys, some cufflinks to sit on their chest of drawers. We’ve had them engraved with their initials on the front.
My fiance’s also thinking of putting in a gift certificate to a store that makes sense for each groomsman (liquor store, home depot, best buy, etc)
K-No worries, your photog is probably just very busy right now. Did they give you a time frame before the wedding? Hopefully they are still within that range if so. If not, feel free to send them a friendly email asking for a status update. I would just assume they’re running a little behind because it’s busy season. 
Andrea: What about monogrammed pocket watches? I always thought that would be a neat gift. Or a monogrammed flask, but that might be too frat-ish.
Question: My FI’s mom passed away last summer and I’m not sure what to do about the mother-son dance. Should he dance with his step-mom? What about dancing with his mom’s sisters as a tribute to his mom? Should we skip it? The father-daughter dance is going to great–my dad is a ballroom dancer–so I don’t want to skip both dances.
we got our bridal party sunglasses
Question for the hive: Anyone have any good recommendations for books for almost-weds or newlyweds that are geared towards easing into the first year of marriage/how to start a healthy marriage? We’re getting married in a month and I want us to be as prepared as possible….I’ve heard the first year of marriage can be super challenging. Thanks!
Andrea: we are giving our groomsmen silver pocket watches!
Question: I am preparing to start making decisions about photographers, and I’m making a “must ask” checklist. Any suggestions? Is there anything that you are particularly glad that you discussed? Anything that you wish you had?
andrea, we got our groomsmen portable dvd players!
im on the hunt for shoes for the wedding, and am at a loss! I want something open toe, not too high, no higher than 3 inches…
here’s my dress: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/jamayor33/wedding/knpblaf063702l.jpg
any suggestions? 
Question: Anyone else print on Stardream paper and have issues with smudging? If you did print, how did you print? Any tricks or suggestions how to print) are greatly appreciated!
[...] Michelle’s FI’s mom passed away last summer and she’s not sure what to do about the mother-son dance. Should he dance with his step-mom? What about dancing with his mom’s sisters as a tribute to his mom? Should they skip it? Her dad is a ballroom dancer so she definitely doesn’t want to skip both dances. [...]
Emphemerella: For my photographer, I was insistent on owning my proofs and having all images on a CD for me to copy. I was so glad I asked when I was receiving the CD and rights to print my photos–many photographers wouldn’t release until 1 year after they were done editing them!!
Also, I was glad I insisted on viewing every single picture of a recent wedding they shot. Sure, their proof book they show you can be amazing, but remember that’s the best of the best shot over many weddings and many years. Compare entire recent weddings and not their proof books. Hope that helps
Emphemerella - As a wedding photographer, it’s important to me to really get to know the couple I’m working with. As a bride, I want to get to know my photographer(s)! The questions I love are “getting to know you” questions - outside the “What photo education do you have” or “Digital or film” questions. Like, does your photographer have a favorite location to photograph, memory of a wedding, or part of the wedding day (and why!)? What makes her/him love weddings?
Also, make SURE if you get a disk of images from your photographer, you also get written release or permission to use the photos. I include it in my contracts. Also make sure that you won’t have the studio’s name imprinted on the files.
LS - try “Lies at the Altar - the Truth About Great Marriages” by Robin Smith. We got it as a gift when we got engaged so I read it and I actually learned a lot about communication and the sort of things you should discuss before getting married so you both understand each other.
Gary Smalley’s book the DNA of relationships is wonderful!!
Beehive
Feature Launched: Aug 31, 2006
About: A forum for readers to post questions and get feedback from the hive, aka the weddingbee community.
K - on our photographer’s site, when you click “view my images,” you go to a page listing all the recent uploads, in order of the date of the event or sitting. If your photographer’s site has anything comparable, you can at least see if the events around the same time as yours have been posted yet. If there’s a wedding from last weekend that’s already up, you then have a good reason to ask him or her what gives.