Q: I’m starting to look into photography and have reviewed a few packages so far. I see that some packages say “main photographer and assistant” and some have “two photographers”. Do they mean the same thing? If not, do I absolutely need two photographers?

A: This is a great question that you’ve asked. It is so important to understand exactly what you’re getting with your photography package {or any package for the matter}. Unfortunately, there could be several ways to answer this question because every photography company is different. The best advice is to meet with with companies that interest you to see exactly what they’re offering.

The term “assistant” is tricky because an assistant could possibly be a second shooter, or they could be a person who helps with equipment and making sure the photographer has taken key shots. Whether you need two photographers is soley up to you. It generally costs a little extra to have a second shooter but the benefit is that you have more shots from more angles that may potentially be missed if there was only one photographer. Think about whether you want a photographer to take pictures of your fiance and his groomsmen getting dressed as well. Some people love the aspect of one camera focusing on the main action {i.e. bride and groom}, while the other camera focuses on reactions from guests and other moments.

If these are things that are important to you, then you may want to look into having a second photographer, even if they are only there for part of your event.

Image Credit: Beautiful Orchids

Leonidas Roses:

Image Credit: Growquest

Sahara Roses:

Cattleya Orchid:

Image Credit: J&P Orchids

Green Cymbidium Orchid:

Image Credit: Everything Orchids

Lavendar Phalaenopsis Orchid:

Image Credit: O’Shea’s Flowers

Q: I have never been a bridesmaid. The only role I’ve ever been at a wedding was a guest. Now that I am engaged, I have no idea what my bridesmaids are supposed to pay for and what I am supposed to provide.

A: Being a bridesmaid can be very rewarding for your loved ones, but it definitely doesn’t come without a price. Here is a list of the things that they will need and suggestions of who pays for what.

• Dress: This is an expense that each bridesmaid covers.
• Shoes: Usually bridesmaids cover this expense. Sometimes brides will make the purchase for them as a gift depending on their funds.
• Jewelry/Purse: This is also something that brides may purchase as a gift to their bridal party if it’s in their budget.
• Hair: This is an area that each bridesmaid covers whether they do their hair themselves or get it done professionally.
• Makeup: You can decide if you want to pay for each bridesmaid to have professional makeup applied. If it’s not in your budget but you plan to have your makeup done professionally, inquire with the artist to see how much they charge for the bridal party members. Whether you want to make it a requirement for your girls to wear makeup is up to you, but be aware that not everyone may have the funds to have it done professionally.
• Bouquet: This is apart of your floral budget. Keep in mind that the more bridesmaids you have, the higher your floral budget will be.
• Limousines: If you are having limos, you are responsible for getting your bridal party to the ceremony/reception venues. However, they are responsible for their transportation at the end of the event.

• Take a cruise to nowhere. These types of cruises don’t involve ports of calls and they are generally short, lasting no more than 4 days. They are fairly inexpensive and allow for fun activities such as fine dining, gambling, dancing, and quality time with the girls.
• Indulge in a day of pampering at a spa. Many spas offer bachelorette specials and sometimes discounted rates for large parties. Inquire at a few local spas to see what they have to offer. I’m sure your friend could benefit from the pre-wedding pampering!
• Wine always soothes the palate! Wine tasting has become really popular. In this day and age when entertaining is at an all time high, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon of becoming a connoisseur of some sorts. There is much to learn when it comes to wine and this type of bachelorette outing can be fun and informative. Many places even suggests which wines goes best with certain foods, which leads me to:
• Cooking classes. This could be a fun group activity. What’s even better is that everyone learns a recipe that can be used over and over again.
• Perfume making. This requires a little research because you have to see if there is a place in your town that offers this. This activity is fun because it allows you to mix scents that are pleasurable to you and make an authentic concoction that is all yours. Some places even let you keep a record of your ingredients so that you can come back for more. Your friend will enjoy it because she can wear a scent that is uniquely her own on her wedding day.
• Pole dancing classes. You said “no stripper” policy, but you never said that your friend can’t tap into the inner dancer inside her! If your friend is on the more daring side, this activity can be fun filled! Not only will everyone learn a few sultry moves, they will also get an incredible workout. Many dance studios and gyms offer it. If you don’t think people will be comfortable going to a class, their are many companies that come directly to you..read on!
• Pajammy Jam! Rent a hotel room and have an old fashion girl slumber party {or a modern slumber party}! You can play some games and perhaps arrange to have certain companies come out to you.
• Vogue! If you’ve got a group of divas, places like The Makeup Bar Lounge in Atlanta allow you to get all diva-fied and then embark on a photoshoot. The photos are a great souvenir to look back on all the fun you had.
• Shoe Parties. We did a post about this here. Shoes and partying…need I say more!

Good luck and happy planning!

“When I first started planning my wedding a year ago everything was going well and we thought that we would have a lot of guests. Unfortunately, I’ve started receiveing a lot of declines in my R.S.V.P’s. I’m very nervous that we’re not going to make our guarantee minimum with our reception hall and it’s stressing me out to think that all the money will be wasted on empty plates. Is there anything I can do?”

Sorry that you’re going through this. It must feel really discouraging to see declines coming in the mail. Even though it’s to be expected that some guests won’t be able to attend, it does get nerve-racking once they start adding up- especially when it’s from people who you really wanted to be apart of your big day. Although there’s nothing we can do to take away from the hurt feelings of those special people being unable to attend, hopefully these suggestions can help make the situation with your minimum better.

• The first thing you may want to do is visit the “B-list” part of your guest list. Now is the time to send out invitations to the people who you didn’t think you would be able to accomodate in the beginning of your planning {colleagues, old friends you may have lost touch with, extended family members, etc.}. This works for all four areas of the guest list if applicable {bride, groom, bride’s parents, groom’s parents}.
• If the catering is onsite and being provided by your reception hall, the next best thing to do is meet with them to discuss the minimum. Although you may still get charged for the plates, they may work with you to upgrade your menu. Some reception halls will sometimes give more food for cocktail hour or add in fabulous desserts to even out the cost.
• If you are bringing in off site catering, contact them immediately. Sometimes if they know far enough in advance before the food is ordered, they may be able to adjust the cost.
• In the event that none of the above options work, ask to have the plates boxed. You could decide to either keep them for a day after brunch or donate them.

Q: I was so excited to book our church and cross off a huge item off our list until I realized all of the constrictions it came it with. We’re not allowed to have an aisle runner, throw petals, rice, or confetti, nor can we blow bubbles. I don’t want to sound selfish, but those were some of the things I was most looking forward to having. Any advice on what can be done?

A: First off, we want to say sorry for having to part with those ceremony items that meant a lot to you. Unfortunately, many houses of worship have their own rules for what is allowed and banned, and there is no way of getting around that. However, you can still incorporate some others fabulous ideas by thinking outside of the box. Here’s a few suggestions:

• If the church is concerned about petals staining carpet, considering using silk petals. The best thing is that they can be reused.
• If it’s a deeper concern, such as someone potentially slipping and they don’t allow any petals of any kind perhaps your flower girls can carry pomanders instead of flower baskets. Another idea is for the flower girl to start off with a bunch of stemmed flowers in her hand and then hand them off to people on the ends of the aisle as she walks down.
• If you were dreaming of the much anticipated personalized aisle runner that many brides want, consider having someone walk down the aisle with a “here comes the bride” banner. It can be customized with your colors and logo if you’d like.
• For the picture perfect moment where people throw things like roses and confetti at the Bride and Groom, consider doing bells and ribbon wands. We especially like the ribbon wands because they photograph well.

Hope these suggestions help! Good luck and congratulations on booking a major item!

*Thank you for sending in your questions to ellyB. We are making it a priority to answer them all! If you have a question you would like to ask, be sure to email us at: info@byyoursideevents.com

Q: My fiance and I are pretty much the last of our friends to get married. I really don’t want to do a garter/bouquet toss because our guest list consists of mostly couples. What is an innovative alternative?

A: You are not alone. Many couples opt against the traditional garter/bouquet toss. Fortunately, there are many alternatives to consider.

• Some brides decide to present the bouquet to their mother during a heart felt thank you speech.
• If there is an engaged couple in attendance, some brides decide to pass on the bouquet to the bride-to-be.
• Do an anniversary dance. This is when the DJ or band plays a song and all couples dance. The emcee calls out years and couples leave the dance floor according to the number of years they’ve been together. The couple standing at the end who have been together the longest is the one you can present your bouquet to. {maybe even include a bottle of wine!}

You can still wear a garter under your dress if you’d like, but save the removal for your wedding night and to have as a keepsake!

There are so many unwritten rules when it comes to wedding planning. We get a lot of questions from brides, grooms, moms, and bridesmaids about etiquette, tradition origins, and personal concerns. This inspired us to come up with an “Ask A Planner” section of our blog which we will feature every Monday.

Q: My fiance and I have started to work on our guest list. I’ve heard that I should make an A-list and B-list, what’s the point? Does it make me cruel to label people as “B-Lister’s”?

A: In a perfect world, people would be able to invite everyone they know to their weddings. But unfortunately with venue space capacity and budgets to think about, accommodating everyone is not always easy or realistic. An “A-list” part of the guest list includes people that you absolutely will/must invite.

It may be hard to determine early in the planning process whether you will be able to send out invites when it comes to certain people {co-workers, friends you’ve lost touch with, a 3rd cousins twice removed}. In that case, you may want to play it by ear and see whether your budget or final head count will accommodate those individuals.

What’s even more important to realize is that “A list” and “B list” are just words and doesn’t define the relationship you may have with someone. It does not make you a cruel person, just think of it as a main list and waiting list.

To get a question you have answered, email us at info@byyoursideevents.com