Category Archives: Inside Scoop

Finding the Perfect Photographer

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Alison in From the Expert, Inside Scoop, Planning

Happy New Year! We want to extend the warmest welcome to brides and grooms who got engaged over the holiday season. Planning your wedding should be fun, and while we know it’s overwhelming to think about everything from vendors and venues to guest lists and food, the Yentas want to help.

As you may already know, Yenta Nicky is also a wedding photographer and has been shooting weddings for six years. Nicky has a few tips to help you find the perfect photographer for your wedding day. No matter what your budget is, skimping on your photographer is a mistake. Nicky has heard from far too many brides who have ended up with terrible photos of their wedding day, and it’s a heartbreaking scenario that can’t be corrected. After all, your photos are the one lasting memory you have, and they’ll be passed down to your kids and grandkids. If it’s money you’re worrying about, you can find a great photographer even with a smaller budget. You don’t have to sacrifice great photos; you just have to know what you are looking for.

Professional wedding photographers should have an extensive portfolio filled with lots of brides and grooms. If you see the same couple over and over in a portfolio, that is a huge tell-tale sign that you might be looking at a new photographer. A photographer’s portfolio should be rich and diverse. They should have a well branded website, living blog, and contact information readily available.

Your photographer should have albums to show you. You want to be able to get an idea of what an entire wedding looks like by the photographer. This is the best way to get to know the photographer’s style. A professional photographer should have at least two sample albums to show you if not more.

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Make sure your photographer has insurance, a contract, and a back-up plan. You want to make absolutely sure you will be covered in the event your photographer gets ill or has an emergency. If you meet a photographer without a contract — run! A well-written contract is incredibly important, make sure you read through the contract before signing with any vendor. Ask about insurance, how long they have been in business, and ask for referrals. A good, experienced photographer should have no problem giving you the email address or phone number of a few previous clients so you can speak with them.

Do you mesh with your photographer? Make sure you do! Your photographer is the one vendor who is with you all day, from the time you’re getting ready with your girls to the cake cutting and last dance. You want to like and trust your photographer enough that you would be happy having him around through all the moments of your wedding day. Before your book, meet your photographer. Visit her studio. Speak to her on the phone. Take the time to interview enough photographers and don’t just go with the one who has the cheapest price. Select the one you like best and whose work you absolutely love.

There are websites out there that can really help you narrow your search: Check out WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Martha Stewart Weddings and the Knot. These sites list photographers by their price points so your search is a little easier. Spend time looking at websites of photographers whose price lists fit within your budget. If you like what you see, email them, get a feel for them, and make appointments to meet a few of them. Best of all, most of these will have reviews from real brides. Feedback from brides who have used vendors you’re considering is so important, and can really help you decide which vendors you want to take the time to actually meet.

Yenta Nicky is happy to answer any other photography related questions you might have! Feel free to email her at nicky@theweddingyentas.com

The photos below were used in an article written for Junebug Weddings and they so perfectly show the differences between a professional and amateur photographer, taken from the same wedding during very special moments.

Walking in a Winter Weddingland

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Planning

Tis the season for proposals! Maybe it’s all the celebratory time with family, the fabulous New Year’s kiss accompanied by champagne, or that romantic, hand-held skate around the ice that makes this time of year that couples get engaged. Either way, jewelry stores are busy and the men are bending down on one knee. So if you’re a new bride-to-be, welcome! And if you are planning on a year-long engagement, well you’re looking at a winter 2011 wedding and we have some ideas to make your wedding dreams become a true winter wonderland.

Winter weddings are beautiful and unique. Because weather dictates your venue location and dress, you can really milk some wintry details to accomplish a frosty fairytale. Some brides feel that the trends in summer and spring weddings are becoming cliche, so this is a perfect excuse to do something different and try to tailor wedding elements to complement the season. For example, many brides who choose to have a candy buffet might pick bright colors and fruity flavors for their confection spread, but winter brides can be dramatic with dark chocolates that won’t melt and peppermint patties that are perfect for cool kisses.

Typically, pricing can be a little more flexible for winter weddings, especially at the end of the year, when vendors want to make their quota. Keep in mind that just because you shoot for winter doesn’t mean a photographer will shoot for free. You have to be reasonable! But it’s likely you’ll get vendors you want because their dates will be open due to a slower season for weddings. Also keep in mind, though, that since vendors know it’s a slow time, it’s also an opportunity for them to take their vacations! If you know you have to have a particular vendor, you should contact them immediately so that you can make sure they get booked for your wedding instead of being booked for a vacation to Tahiti.

Your color choices are not stifled by the season! You have a wonderful, traditional palette to choose from! Think about mixing bold colors with whites, creams, and beiges. Dark, romantic winter colors include cranberry, navy blue, eggplant, rust, hunter green, gold, copper, emerald, plum, and black. For lighter touches that soften the theme, you can also use magical colors like periwinkle and lavender. Fortunately, you have many available options for floral design and hanging crystals look great in these colors. Despite the weather outside that’s frightful, these colors are so warm and delightful!

And don’t forget candles! Nothing says sexy winter romance like the flickering glow of giant candles! Leave candles on mantles, pianos, bar counters, and even in the restroom. Your tables would look beautiful with different sizes of candles illuminating their surrounding arrangements. While sprinkling a venue with candles is appropriate for any season, winter weddings will benefit from their visual and physical warmth.

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You can even tie in the winter theme in your favors! If you choose to offer wedding favors for your guests, consider a classic, vintage snow globe! They can even double up as each guest’s escort card for the seating assignment. Winter time also makes us think of family and food, which makes us think of baking cookies (this is perfectly natural, isn’t it?). Another thoughtful wedding favor idea is to give each guest a cookie cutter with your favorite recipe tied to it. This is visually appealing, but also a unique idea that any one would love, foodie or not.

Your menu doesn’t need to change much for a winter wedding. However, you may want to incorporate a soup. It can either substitute for the salad or you can add an additional course. But soup is the ultimate winter comfort food, and there are many delicious flavors your caterer may be able to create. You may want to have a cappuccino bar available toward the middle of the reception. Let guests heat up with a frothy beverage before heading out into the cold after a wonderful night filled with warmth and love.

Now, the fun part! What to wear! Indulging in heavy fabrics is a wedding gown dream! Gorgeous silk satin ball gowns or full skirts are more than appropriate for winter weddings. If you love lace, you can wrap yourself up in crowded versions like Battenberg lace (as opposed to Chantilly lace). Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t wear a lighter, more sheath-like gown. When you’re indoors and shaking your groove thang (omg we just said “thang”) on the dance floor, you may not want a big Cinderella gown if that’s not your style. That’s okay. But to capture your winter wedding scape, go big or go home; purchase that (faux) fur stole or cashmere wrap and relish in its timelessness. It is such a gorgeous classic look, and you will be a total Betty in such a dashing accessory. When it comes to the dress details, make like a snowflake and sparkle with a piece adorned by crystals, pearls, and beads. This is your opportunity to glam it up to the extreme because when during winter, when it rains, it snows!

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And when it’s all over, do the exact opposite. Toss your bathing suit into your suitcase and enjoy a tropical honeymoon on the beaches of your favorite island or coast! That’s the beauty of the season: you can go from winter weddingland to honeymoon paradise like that.

From the Expert: Wedding Day Makeup

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Alison in From the Expert, Inside Scoop, Planning

Today we are beaming with pride to welcome Susie Chhuor of Susie Chhuor Professional Hair & Makeup Team! Thanks to Susie’s expertise in the beauty industry and her business savvy, she has developed an agency of artists who are at the ready for all your wedding and special events needs. Remember the bolero look book photo shoot that the Yentas produced in May? Susie was the lead makeup artist on the shoot and we know it was thanks to her hard work that the shoot looked professional, beautiful, and complete! Susie and her gals know their stuff, and we are excited to have gems of makeup wisdom coming from the queen of beauty herself!

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Let’s face it, we all know you’re already burning a hole in your wallet as you go down your wedding checklist and if you’re not, you must be spending a lot of time DIY-ing/stressing about everything. So that leads you to ask yourself the question, “Do I even need to hire a hair stylist and makeup artist for the wedding day?” You can just do your makeup yourself right? And curling hair, well that’s not all that hard. You can just watch how-to videos online and that’ll get the bridal look down, right? (so that’s what you think).

Well, that’s until you actually try it yourself and realize that 1. Wedding day beauty is a lot harder than it looks, and 2. It’s rather stressful having to practice so many times before the wedding and make sure that hair and face look flawless on the big day. No pressure, of course.

To be honest, there are some things that you can DIY and there are other things that would just be easier with a professional on board. Obviously, you wouldn’t just hand your dad the camera and ask him to be your photographer. It might save you thousands of dollars, but would the quality be the same as a professional wedding photographer’s? And in the same aspect, you wouldn’t just want to do your makeup or hair, especially if you’re not a regular in front of the mirror. So I’m here to help you decide why you should hire a professional makeup and hair stylist for your time to shine as a bride.

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1. Makeup stores are saturated with products and brands. What to buy and where to begin is rather overwhelming. No one person has the same face shape, skin type, and skin tone. This means that no one look will translate the same as it would on another person. Not only that, but buying new products itself will be just as expensive as hiring a makeup artist. A professional makeup artist will be able to help you with the right products, customizing your face with a picture perfect look!

2. Well, what if you already have all the right products? They can only get you so far. You may have the best products, but not the right hand for application. This translates to disaster! (and a waste of makeup — cha ching!). You simply cannot expect to look your best, just by having the best makeup, which is why application is also very important. A professional makeup artist is trained and experienced in makeup application, owning a steady hand and top-notch judgment. Professionals study and know what looks best with your features and they can see you from all angles beyond a mirror.

3. Okay, okay, let’s say you insist on doing your own makeup, but do you really want to be the one doing it on your wedding day? Do you want to stress out about the makeup? Even the calmest and coolest bride gets jittery on her wedding day. It’s a 24-hour adrenaline rush full of excitement and heart flutters. Doing your own makeup won’t help relieve the stress, and instead will just add to it. This is something that brides should really think about. It’s always easier on a day-to-day basis, but your wedding day is not just any other day. Let someone else go to you and provide you the pampering and comfort that you deserve on your wedding day.

4. Consider having a makeup artist help you because they are not afraid. Fearless, determined, and skilled, makeup artists will do whatever they can to make you look your best. When you’re doing makeup yourself, you are more likely to create your usual look, staying within your comfort zone. A makeup artist will not be afraid to go outside the box and do what looks good. Don’t misunderstand this statement by thinking that they will make it look over-the-top dramatic. It just means that they will be willing to add a little more or something different here and there — places you never thought you could apply makeup. Plus, it’s hard for you to know the perfect amount of makeup for the camera. This is another reason why it’s best to hire an expert who comes in and helps create a natural beauty without making it look visibly noticeable and obvious.

5. Lastly, having a makeup artist is possibly one of the best investments that a bride can make for herself. Hiring trusted vendors as your photographer, selecting a venue, and committing to a dress, you should feel just as confident in your hair and makeup artist. After all, what will be sitting on your bedside table? Images of your bouquet or you? What about when you send photos to your friends and family? Do you send pictures of the table settings or pictures of you and your new husband? You will be the focus of your photos, so make sure you are the best version of yourself. Keep in mind that you’ll be saving your wedding photos and sharing them for generations on end and what matters most is you and your new groom.

Don’t make your wedding planning experience tough on your mind and body. Consider having a makeup artist so you can look your best in photos, feel luxurious and relaxed on your wedding day, and still be your wonderful self!

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Susie Chhuor Professional Hair and Makeup Studio was established with the goal to provide the gift of beauty without changing a person. Instead, we use our artistic talents to simply enhance our clients’ natural beauty and encourage our clients that true beauty is within. We understand that each person has their own set of individual characteristics and preferences. No one person is the same. For this reason we recognize the need for diversity and uniqueness. Our team consists of highly skilled girls from all backgrounds and cultures. Susie Chhuor Professional Hair and Makeup Team is not just a team, but a family of women that share similar interests while absorbing new experiences and knowledge to become well rounded and personable artists.

Hanging Up The Details

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Planning

Hangers. Airplanes live in them.

Hangers. People who apply wallpaper.

Hangers. A unique and often forgotten wedding detail that has the potential to add a new level of chic to your photos.

One of these things is not like the other… so unless you’re getting married inside a plane or you’re inviting your wallpaper hanger to your wedding, the top two types of hangers have no purpose in your bridal plans. But hangers, the kind that hold up your clothes, have business in your wedding?

Yes!

Unless you’re gettin’ hitched in your birthday suit, you’re going to need to change into your wedding gown and this “getting ready” time is key for capturing great photos. Many of our favorite wedding day pics are the ones where the bride transforms from single lady to runway ready. But before you slip your dress on, your photographer may have plans for beautiful, artistic shots of your wedding dress, hanging up in all its glory.

We’ve seen gowns hanging from ornate doorways, open windows, and the tops of four-poster beds. So with such clever and thoughtful shots, why allow your dress to drape from a leftover, plastic Old Navy hanger that you asked to take home at check-out? Your wedding dress is the most important piece of clothing that you’ll ever wear and it deserves an original and special hanger to rest on before it turns you into the quintessential bride.

A cream or white padded hanger complements your gown’s femininity. They are inexpensive and you can buy them for you (and even your bridesmaids!) from HangerCity.com. These soft hangers will also protect your gown and won’t leave any rust or grease marks since they’re covered with fabric.

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Kick it up a notch with some sparkle! If you’re a girly-girl with a twinkle in her eye, a bedazzled hanger is definitely for you and your gown! EverythingHangers.com has a variety of Glam Hangers which are beaded on chic, French body designs. Match your wedding colors or choose a neutral, bridal-ish color to showcase your gown. With options in amber, pink, turquoise, and more, you’ll be able to meet the needs of your personal style.

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Okay, and now we introduce the ultimate in cuteness for your hangers! Did you know you can get personalized hangers to commemorate your wedding day? Yes! These high-quality wire hangers (not like the ones your neighborhood dry cleaner gives you) are sturdy enough to hold your gown’s weight of ribbons, beads, lace, and any other materials it boasts. We also think that a personalized hanger makes a great gift for your bridesmaids! How cute would it be to stage a photo of all the bridesmaids’ dresses hanging on their own hangers with yours right in the middle?! We have the vision — now you go make it happen! The Painted House and More is a thorough Etsy.com shop that offers beautiful work for your custom orders! The store offers plain, wooden hangers with cursive wire writing or intricately painted hangers with cursive wire writing — the creativity is endless! Also, LilaFrances, the original creator of the personalized wire hanger customizes pieces made 100% out of wire. Take a look around the online store and find your unique style that can be personalized with your name, or “Bride,” or “Mrs. ____” LilaFrances also has a Facebook page that frequently posts updates, so we suggest you follow on The ‘Book. Wire hangers are such a lovely keepsake that displays your dress in the beautiful way it deserves!

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Bet ya thought about hangers more than you ever anticipated! This just goes to show that there are so many ways to personalize your wedding and add unique elements in even the seemingly smallest of details. After all, you’re getting married and you’ll want to hang on to these memories of a lifetime.

Dressing Up Your Table

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Planning

As a bride, you make many decisions. Most of them thinking about details for the wedding day. But registry items are for after the wedding! And during this Thanksgiving week, it’s a given that food, food, and more food will be on the brain. So why not think about how you’re going to serve your food? We want to share some pieces with you that will dress up your table for future Thanksgivings, leaving you thankful you have them in your collection.

Side dishes never looked lovelier in the Inside Out Bowls from Anthropologie. The Atom Art Bowls are perfect for dessert. We’re thinkin’ ice cream. Mmmm.

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Also from Anthropologie, pieces from the Verdant Acres collection allows you to add a splash of color to your table! The watercolor-like colors and floral designs add a vintage and delicate feel to your table’s feast. Not too casual, not too formal. Juuuuust right.

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In the mood for less color, more simple? You can still serve in style. Anthropologie carries the Fleur de Lys Dinnerware collection and it is delicious even without food on top! The pieces have a certain femininity without being too girly, and the unique shapes and details add personality to your run-of-the-mill white china. This variation on that theme is welcome and purty!

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It’s common knowledge that Bloomingdale’s is known for classy sophistication, so if you are going for a more traditional look on your table, we think Villeroy & Boch’s White Lace series fits the bill precisely! With a black and white color scheme, a simple pattern, and classic figures, this dinnerware will allow the feast you serve to really shine in the spotlight.

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But your loot from Bloomies can still have modern lines and colors! While the folks behind the Big Brown Bag know how to keep timeless traditions alive, they also sell funky tableware with a grown-up twist. Drinking wine? Add some bold colors and drink it in glass bulbs. The William Yeoward Country Fanny Goblets add the right amount of shades to your spread. Mix and match or go with a theme. Either way, your guests will ask you to keep pouring!

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Macy’s won’t let you serve food with your bare hands, so they have these whimsical serving pieces! Simply Designz Serveware features 2 glass-beaded servers and we think they’re so unique! Light colors adorn the pieces and you have options to match your whole table. Here, we spotlight clear and amethyst. And if you accidentally drop some salad from the bowl to your plate, at least you did it in style.

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Any way you slice it, you’re sure to have a lovely Thanksgiving holiday this year and for years to come. All you need is love… and food, and family, and friends! Enjoy your feast and the way you serve it. And after you digest and you find yourself hungry again, think about what you’d like to add to your registry so that you have items you and your partner can love as you grow old together. Who knows? You could be serving your grandchildren on these very dishes!