Chicago Wedding Photography

Did you know that save the dates are different from traditional wedding invitations? Have you ever wondered who came up with having something old, something borrowed, and something new? Weddings have been a human tradition for thousands of years, and over the years wedding ceremonies have gone through a lot of changes. There are hundreds of wedding traditions you can practice, and some of the more unknown traditions and facts could surprise you.Invitation PhraseWhen people "request your presence" at a wedding they aren't simply using fancy words to describe an event. In the United States the wording of a wedding invitation can tell you a lot about the ceremony you're about to attend. When a wedding invitation uses the phrase "request your presence" that means that the ceremony is being held in a religious house of worship. When an invite uses the phrase "pleasure of your company" that means that the ceremony is being held in a non-religious location.Good LuckIt seems like every culture has their own way to ensure that the bride and groom will have a happy marriage. In Greek culture brides tuck a sugar cube into their gloves to sweeten their marriages, and Muslim brides paint henna on their hands and feet to protect themselves from the evil eyes of jealous guests. Alanis Morissette recognized the cruel irony of having it rain on your wedding day, but Hindu brides and grooms welcome the rain on their wedding day because having rain on your wedding day is considered good luck.CostsWeddings have been expensive since the institution of marriage began, and the Association of Bridal Consultants did some research in 2012 about what the average American wedding costs. Overall people can expect to spend an average of $28,082 on their wedding. Some people may think the majority of that amount goes towards dresses and d矇cor, but d矇cor and dresses are actually a very small piece of the wedding pie. Paying for venues and catering is the most expensive part of the wedding, modern couples can expect to spend $10,500 reserving everything for their big day. Ironically the marriage license itself is the least expensive wedding costs; most states only charge $70 for one.RingsNobody knows for sure when the tradition of wedding rings began (or when save the dates became mandatory), but most people believe that either the ancient Egyptians or the Greeks first started using them. Around the world most engagement and wedding rings can be adorned with a variety of gem stones, but in the west most rings have diamonds. The first documented use of a diamond ring being used to propose to a woman was in Vienna during the 15th century. In 1477 the Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented his betrothed Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring, and his fancy ring officially made diamond engagement rings a must for the upper class. It actually took Americans a long time to join the diamond ring craze, and the wedding ring craze all together. Engagement rings weren't even common in the west until the end of the 19th century, and diamond engagement rings didn't get popular until the 1930s.

Gone are the days of stiff, uncomfortable wedding photographs.
More and more bridal couples are demanding that their wedding album be
more about them and their ideas. They don't want their pictures
to look just like everyone else's. The freethinking Illinois wedding
photographer will adapt to the change and have some extra special
posing ideas in mind to happily accommodate his or her clients.
In addition to having ideas of your own, it is important to listen to
what the couple has to say. They may already have certain images
in their minds that you haven't thought of.

Even in difficult financial times when a couple decide to get married and have a traditional wedding with the usual marriage ceremony and reception they seem to want all the various trimmings. This is understandable as this is generally a once in a lifetime event which is going to be a memorable event for the happy couple and all their family and friends.The happy couple want all their family and friends to witness their commitment to each other and then celebrate with them at the following reception. Receptions vary massively from small receptions held at a local pub to vast receptions held at country houses. Either the local publican has sufficient room to offer seating to all guests with food from a buffet or hot food served by staff or the country house venue organises the event within the house or outside marquee. A growing trend is that the couple decide to hire a wedding coordinator to arrange the event.Whatever type of wedding reception the couple have they always want the reception to be decorated with 'wedding decorations'. The wedding ceremony is generally limited to the traditional flowers and bows. The evening dance is generally covered by the disco or live band. The reception is where there is a vast industry producing everything for the reception tables where guests will be seated for their meal. Unlike going out for a meal at a restaurant you know you are at a wedding reception simply by the decoration of the tables.Before you enter the room there is normally a plan layout of the table seating which shows where each guest will be seated. Then on each table will be a card at each place setting with each guests name on it. I have never been to a wedding reception without the tables being covered in a white table cloth. Chairs covered in bright materials with bows on are a nice touch.The wedding cake is the first wedding decoration that guests notice where the photographer always takes a photo of the couple cutting the cake. Favours for guests used to be a few sweet almonds rapped in a material mesh and tied with a bow. Now there are thousands of different favours you can buy which can come in lovely little boxes which also come in various colours, shapes and sizes. Sometimes the tables are scattered with brightly coloured 'words' normally saying 'Wedding' 'Congratulations' Best Wishes' etc.The table centrepiece can be a simple rose in a vase to larger flower arrangements. I have been to a reception where a fish bowl has been the centrepiece of each wedding table. Fruit is often used as a centrepiece and now there are companies providing fresh fruit bouquets as centrepieces for wedding table decorations.

Most people think wedding photojournalism is yet another fashion trend, and like most trends fade away, people will get over this trend as well. However, there are several other aspects to wedding photojournalism that people do not know much about; and perhaps these are the very aspects that have not allowed wedding photojournalism to die.Wedding photojournalism is not only about taking pictures of celebrity weddings and have the pictures published all over the celebrity gossip sections in the newspapers. It is much more!When you Look at the career of any wedding photojournalists through the materialistically or through the "money" point of view, it is only then you understand the kind of money that is involved in wedding photojournalism. Right from the amount of publicity a celebrity gets to have wedding pictures captured, and then sell the rights of these to a magazine to the having the pictured published online, there is a whole lot of money involved in the profession.The Responsibility Wedding Photographers must bearOther than the money factor, another factor that has been very important in the progress of wedding photojournalism is the emotional aspects of every person. It is true that all of us want to capture memorable moments of our lives so that we can cherish them for ever. Wedding photojournalists allow the bride and the groom to enjoy each moment of their wedding long after the wedding ceremony is over.Thus, every wedding photojournalist should be sensitive towards the complete job. In fact it has been observed that the best wedding photographs have been captured by wedding photojournalists who had a friendly relationship with the bride and the groom rather than an extremely professional one. In fact, the responsibility that a wedding photojournalist has to fulfil are immense; especially because of the fact that today, wedding pictures are more about the bride and groom in the moment, than the moment itself. For instance, its not about capturing the cutting of the wedding cake, but capturing the smile on the brides face when she is cutting the cake.Although, the difference hardly seems to be anything, in reality it is this sensibility of a wedding photographer that makes the wedding photographs look unique. This is very important, as whether photographers are wedding photographers in Seattle or in Chicago, they are always expected to captures images that are truly versatile. In fact, if as a wedding photographer, your work is no different from the pictures that Uncle Joe clicked for his niece's wedding, then there is not reason enough for anybody to hire you.Wedding photojournalism can be of great help to wedding fashion designers as well. Making a beautiful dress look like a spectacular piece of art on an elegant model is only possible if you have the sensitivity for such a job.Thus, wedding photojournalism is much more than just a trend, after all who would not want to capture spectacular moments from their wedding day even if these were extremely whacky moments.

The long weekend and mild temperatures make Labor Day a popular time to get married. These tips will help you pull off your Labor Day weekend party.Labor Day Weekend Weddings - Things to Consider:Plan Early - Labor Day weekend is a popular time to get married, so ceremony site and reception venues book up quickly. Be sure to secure your settings as early as possible.Mind Your Guests - The three-day weekend may allow long distance guests to attend without taking time off, but remember that most people make Labor Day plans well in advance. Combine that with more expensive flights and accommodations and crowded roads and airports, and you've got a potentially nightmarish situation for your guests. Be sure to notify guests of your Labor Day event well in advance, and help them out by securing the room block at an affordable hotel. Consider doing some leg work to find cheaper airfare and alert your guests of potential deals.All in the Details - Labor Day Wedding IdeasInvitations & Stationery
Add a picnic motif - such as flip flops, picnic basket, or insects (cute ones - like ladybugs, dragonflies or bumblebees) to your stationery suite
Add an understated patriotic motif - add a small embossed flag or silver star.

"Give me some sunshine, give me some rain,
Give me another chance, I want to grow up once again."Bar Mitzvah is a memorable occasion in every Jewish girl and boy's life, the moment when she or he is considered to step out from the immaturity of childhood to a position of responsibility. Before this, it was the parents' responsibility to see that the child observed Jewish law and tradition. After Bar Mitzvah, children bear their own responsibility for Jewish ritual law, tradition and etjics and can participate in all areas of Jewish community life.However, Bar Mitzvah is important not only for the child stepping into responsibility, but his/her family, relatives and friends as well. Therefore, for the celebrations to remain memorable for many a year, there has to be something unique about them. Of course, there's no denying the importance of delicious food, vibrant decorations, entertaining music and enthusiastic guests. But to have a really memorable Bar Mitzvah, the should be something that sets it apart from the ordinary.Having a mobile flipbooks studio as part of the Bar Mitzvah entertainment can ensure just that uniqueness. For those unfamiliar with flipbooks, it's a simple but effective tool for capturing memories on paper. In simplest terms, a flipbook is a book with its pages filled with slightly changing pictures, so that when the pages are turned rapidly, they create an illusion of moving images.While they were actually developed to simulate cinema before cinema came into being, nowadays videos can be converted into flipbooks for the sake of novelty. Flipbooks are also finding increasing popularity as a promotional tool. At intra-company and inter-company events, flipbooks are often used to spread and reinforce the company brand.Photo booths at events like Bar Mitzvahs have always proved to be popular. People love taking home remembrances of any event they attend and photo booths meet this important want. A mobile flipbooks studio just carries this concept a bit further by not only allowing people to capture memories, but also to capture them in an innovative and fun manner.All that is required is space to set up such a studio. With the latest technologies on offer, a 10' X 10' space will suffice. Once the setup is complete, the guests can pose for the video shoot in whatever manner they choose. From formal poses to clowning around, all memories will be captured by the camera. Now,using specialized software, the video is converted into multiple images that differ from the next one by only a small amount. These images are then printed on to the pages of a book at the studio itself. That's it - your flipbook is done! On average, it takes less than a minute for each flipbook to be created.

I have noticed recently that many of my friends have gotten married. I seem to be attending at least four weddings every year, although I have attended very few weddings about five years ago. I now have a pretty good idea of what is popular when it comes to marriages because I have been part of so many ceremonies in the last few years. I hope that this knowledge would be able to help me plan my own nuptial in the near future. Elegant wedding guest books are one of the things that I've seen at each reception.Have you ever seen a guest book for a wedding before? Wedding guest books are basically big scrapbook-style keepsakes. They are usually signed by those who attend the ceremony such as the newlyweds' friends, relatives, and acquaintances. Guest books for weddings come in different styles, sizes, and designs.Some wedding guest books have spiral bindings like notebooks, while others have a stitched binding. I have also seen huge, oversized albums and smaller, more manageable guest books. Some couples decide to have fancy guest books that have ornate covers, while other choose to go with the simpler designs. You can surely find fabulous wedding guest books that will suit your tastes.One thing that I have also observed is that many couples have different ideas about personalizing their wedding guest books. A lot of couples are content just to have their guests sign their names somewhere on the pages, while others prefer something a bit more personal. You can have a more personalized guest book by asking your friends and relatives to write a short message or poem in your guest book. You can also add photos from your wedding and place them next to the signatures and messages.Don't forget to tell everyone exactly how you want your wedding guest books to be handled. The guest book for your wedding is a treasure that you want to keep for a long, long time to come, so it should have lovely, moving messages from your guests. The last thing that you want is a guest book that has raunchy jokes on the pages.You can purchase wedding guest books from the same stationery store that you ordered your invitations from. You will have one less trip to the store to make if you go by this route. You can ask the stationer to match the guest book's cover to the color or theme of the invitations. You can also purchase the guest book for your wedding from an online retailer that specializes in these products.

Welcome to wedding season! In the United States, June is the busiest month for scheduled nuptials and related events. Even if your big day is coming up in just a few weeks, you still have plenty of time to create a showstopping (yet tasteful) wedding photo montage. These practical tips will help ensure that you have an elegant and classy montage of memories at your wedding.Keep It ShortThis is the most common rookie mistake in the creation of photo slide shows. And why shouldn't it be? It can often be difficult to edit down the lives of two extraordinary people into just a few minutes' worth of images. However, if it's a truly tasteful slide show you're after, the shorter, the better. Ideally, you'll want to keep your slide show to an absolute maximum of ten minutes (although seven minutes is truly perfect). Any longer, and your family will merely feign interest while your friends wonder why they aren't included in more of the photos (after all, there's a snapshot featuring every pet you've owned since the third grade). Keep it short and sweet.Stick to the TopicYes, we know how much you love the maid of honor, how she's stood by you through think and thin, and how much you appreciate and value her friendship. But she's not the one you're marrying! Keep your photos relevant, which means the majority of the photos should be of the bride and groom, with a sprinkling of photos including parents, grandparents (if you're close to them), milestone events, and a smattering of siblings and very close friends. Remember, the more people you include, the more likely you are to leave someone out and have to deal with hurt feelings.Skip the Embarrassing StuffThe easiest way to make your video montage tasteful is to choose appropriate photos. That means no drunken binges, no pictures of you-know-who with what's-his-face, no ex's, and no childhood photos of the bride or groom in the bathtub. Anything incriminating should be omitted. When in doubt, leave it out.Choose Classic MusicThis is not the optimal time to showcase the Billboard top five, or your favorite hip hop ditty. Your wedding slide show should be classic, so choose a classic love song or two, the song you will dance to at your wedding (for your first dance together as husband and wife), or "your" song that's stuck with you since you first began dating. After all, you don't want to look back years from now while watching your slide show and say, "What on earth were we thinking?"

We are often asked, on our training courses, about providing a list of 'key shots' for a wedding photographer, so that nothing is missed. So here is the list for a traditional English Church Wedding:First some important notes about the type of images to take and whyWhen wedding photographers shoot a wedding day it is always important to have a final goal in mind, not just to follow a tick list of items. In our case, the majority of our brides choose a storybook wedding album as the best way to show off their wedding photographs. Therefore the wedding photography should reflect the fact that the final product is going to be a storybook album layout. Make sure that you get a large number of 'background' shots which can be used behind the main images on a page. Wedding photographs of shoes and panoramic views from inside the church are great for this.In addition try to remember that each double page spread represents a snapshot of a particular part of the day. Make sure that you take enough images at each point in the day to fill out two pages and try to get a variety of image formats. It is important to have a wide selection of portrait and landscape wedding images to make the layout simpler.
Here are the 'must have' list of wedding photography images.At The House
· Shoes
· Gown
· Flowers
· Bride make-up
· Bride in mirror
· Bride adjusting dress
· Mother adjusting veil
· Brides parents
· Each bridesmaid
· Brides & bridesmaids
· Brothers & sisters
· Bride & dad
· Bride leaving house
· Car shot with dad

Almost every wedding reception will involve a wedding caterer and since so much will revolve around their service, it's important to ensure you do your homework before choosing which wedding reception caterer to go with. Many times, the reception caterer will be one of the most expensive costs you will incur with your wedding. That only makes sense since it should cover everything from food and drink, decorating your reception area, kitchen and any wait staff, and pretty much everything to do with your wedding reception. So how do you know which wedding reception caterer that you should go with? There are many things you should consider; far too many completely cover in this short article. However, here are some important tips to remember.Try to get your wedding reception caterer booked at least six months in advance. Obviously you need to find one within your budget. You should find out about their payment arrangements, such as any deposits required, if they offer a payment plan, if there's a gratuity charge, and when any final payment will be due.Do you want to serve alcoholic beverages at your wedding reception? If so, you need to find out if they have a liquor license to buy the required amount of alcohol. They may be willing to serve alcohol if you provide it, as well, so you could even save some money if they're willing to do that. Most people enjoy having at least champagne at their reception. Will your caterer provide that or is it an extra fee?The price you're quoted for a catering service won't always include everything that will be needed, such as tables, chairs, silverware, etc... so ask them specifically if there are any rental charges that you should expect to see or if they include that in the cost.Look at the different menu's that they offer and see if they offer any initial taste testing. Some caterers specialize in certain cuisines or serving styles.As with many services, you should also find out if they're insured and have health permits. Also, ask for references from their previous clients and ensure you understand their cancellation or refund policy.