Rustic- Usually has natural landscapes. This theme makes use of wood in multiple ways, incorporating pieces that could exist in your home or garden.
Classic Romance- This theme is timeless. Bride wears dramatic dress, and a hint of crystal detailing with lots of flowers, mostly white, ceremonial arch also with lots of flowers, warm lighting, white furniture and large ornate mirrors.
Ethnic/ Traditional- This theme is mostly based on culture. Embraces different cultures, celebrates family traditions. Colours are rich. Lighting is key. Creative centre pieces and tents may be used. Entertainment is filled with dance, musicians, songs which are a part of heritage. For African themed weddings, these are mainly characterised by traditional dishes, African themed dresses.
Seaside celebrations-Most cases, destination weddings. Main focal point is the aisle leading to a water body or shore. The background/backdrop is usually the water body, so décor is usually minimal. The best colours are white, nude and most pale colours, soft and serene.
Follow these guidelines to locate the perfect shutterbug to document your day.
Unlike the work of your other wedding vendors(music, flower arrangements, cake), photographs aren’t things you can hear, smell, taste or even see at first, you don’t really know what you’re getting until after the fact. That means careful research and selectiveness regarding professional skills, artistic style and personal demeanor are extra important when choosing your photographer.
Step 1: Settle on a Style
Before you begin researching photographers, you’ll need to first decide what type of photography style you prefer, as that will help determine which kind of photographer you’ll want shooting your wedding. Do any of the following appeal to you?
Documentary: Instead of a series of posed photos, these are candid or spontaneous pictures of people, décor and the action. Typical shots might include the lavish raw bar before guests start digging in, your lit crew of cousins dancing, or you and your bridesmaids laughing, champagne in hand. With a purely photojournalistic photographer, you’ll very rarely see people staring at the camera, the photos capture the moments exactly as they happened, and together they tell a story.
Portraiture: If you prefer classic portraits (think: your parents’ wedding album), go with a traditional photographer who specializes in portraiture. These are posed shots of the two of you, your friends and family in front of various backdrops. That’s not to say there isn’t room for creativity in this category. While some photographers will pose subjects in more traditional spots (like at the ceremony altar or out on the lawn of the country club) and in more formal poses (standing as a group together), others take portraiture further into the creative realm with a more dramatic composition (the couple sitting on a lounge chair at their hip hotel reception venue, or holding hands in the middle of a nearby dirt road with the mountains in the background).
Fine Art: Though it’s similar to documentary photography, this style gives the shooter greater artistic license to infuse their particular point of view and style into your photographs. So while the shots reflect reality, it’s the photographer’s reality. The photos are dramatic and gorgeous, but are, or look as though they were shot on film with a grainier, dreamier, more muted appearance. Usually the object (or couple) is in focus and the background appears to blur. Motion also looks very natural in this style of photography. The few wedding photographers who shoot only on film tend to fall into this category, and typically they shoot in black and white, though some will do a mix of both. That said, a photographer using a digital camera can still capture this style with the right gear and camera lens. And some photographers will alternate between digital and film. Not all photographers who take a fine-art approach shoot portraits, so if it’s really important to your mom to have posed family shots, look for someone who does both, or consider hiring a second shooter for the portrait sessions.
Edgy and Bold: This style of photography, an offshoot of fine art, is marked by outside-the-box, tilted angles and unconventional framing. So instead of a straight-on shot of the couple exchanging vows at the altar, the photo might look tilted, with an object like an altar arrangement or a candle in the foreground. Or the photo of the bride having her makeup done might be shot from above, with an emphasis on the eye shadow brush rather than on her face. Even a single portrait of a bridesmaid might be shot so her face takes over only the bottom right of the photo and the rest of the space is filled with the wall or whatever’s behind her.
Many wedding photographers can do a blend of portraiture and documentary-style shots, and will do a mix of black-and-white and color images, but if there’s a special style you love, make sure to focus on photographers who specialize in it.
Step 2: Do Your Homework
Start your search by reading reviews from recent newlyweds and browsing hundreds of local listings. Carefully review potential photographers’ websites and blogs to check out photos of other weddings they’ve shot, which will give you an idea of their style. The design of the website may also have clues about the photographer’s personality and sensibility. Check out their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages too, if possible. Is the feedback from clients positive? How does the photographer respond?
Step 3: Set Up Interviews
This is not a decision that can be made on looks alone you must meet your potential photographers in person. If you like what you see on their site and their fees are in your ballpark range call to see if they’re available for your wedding date. If the photographer is already booked on your date, you may want to see if they have an associate or can recommend another shooter with a similar style. Set up in-person meetings with three to five potential photographers who are available on your wedding date to look at more of their work and assess whether your personalities mesh. Be prepared to talk about your venue, wedding style and what you envision for your photos.
Step 4: See a Few Full Wedding Albums
Don’t base your decision solely on what you see in a photographer’s highlights gallery or album. For good reason, photographers show prospective clients a portfolio of their best pictures, all from different weddings, so you’re seeing the best of the best. The problem with that is you won’t get a well-rounded idea of their work. Ask to see two or three full galleries from real weddings they’ve shot (not someone else at their company) so you can get a better idea of what your complete collection of photos might look like after the wedding. If you see that the full gallery photos are just about as good as the ones chosen in the highlight gallery (that is, they’re all so good it’s impossible to choose!), you’re on the right track. And ask to see at least one or two complete albums of weddings that are in similar settings to yours. For example, if you’re planning an indoor affair with dark lighting, don’t just look at weddings shot outdoors in natural sunlight. And if you’re planning to say “I do” on a beach at sunset, you’ll want to see examples of that.
Step 5: Review Albums With a Critical Eye
When reviewing a photographer’s album, look for the key moments you want captured: Did they get photos of both the bride and the groom when they locked eyes for the first time? Also look for crispness of images, thoughtful compositions (does a shot look good the way it was framed, or is there too much clutter in the frame?) and good lighting (beware of washed-out pictures where small details are blurred unless that’s the style you’re after). It’s also very important that you detect sensitivity in capturing people’s emotions; make sure the photographer’s subjects look relaxed, not like deer caught in headlights. While you two are, of course, important, you want to see smiling shots of your friends too
Step 6: Make Sure Your Personalities Mesh
Don’t underestimate the importance of liking and bonding with your photographer. Is the photographer excited by your vision when you describe it? When they make suggestions, do they present them in a clear and respectful way, or are they timid? Are their mannerisms off-putting? In order to get the best photos, go with a pro who has a firm grasp of social graces but is bold enough to go out hunting for great images and who, above all, puts you at ease and doesn’t irritate you in any way. Remember: They’ll be shadowing your every move, and the more comfortable both of you are with the photographer, the better the photos will turn out. Likewise, you don’t want the photographer to offend or annoy any guests, but to shoot them in their best light in an unobtrusive way. To get the best photos, your photographer needs to be assertive enough to seek out great moments, cajoling enough to coax relaxed smiles and natural stances from guests, and calm enough to be a positive force. They should ask lots of questions and be a good listener.
Step 7: Confirm Your Photographer(s)
Many larger photo studios have more than one photographer on staff, and unless you specify it in your contract, the lead photographer may not be the one shooting your day. Since every professional has a different style, technique and personality, you need to make sure the one you interview and “click” with will be the same one who works your wedding. Also, include specific stipulations in the contract about who will cover for the photographer should something happen on the actual day. Check whether the photographer will bring any assistants to your wedding, and if so, how many. If you have room in your budget, consider hiring a second shooter. Many top-notch photographers include a second shooter in the contract, but if this isn’t a part of the deal, you may want to ask about the possibility. The main benefit to having two shooters is, of course, you get twice as much coverage. For example, during your formal photo session, one photographer can capture the formal photos, while the second one can get behind-the-scenes, photojournalistic photos, like your guests mingling. If you’re having a larger wedding (250 guests or more), you might even want to ask about having three shooters so your photography team can be sure to capture the event from all angles.
Step 8: Compare Packages
You won’t be able to nail down an exact dollar amount until you’re sure of what you want, how many albums you need and where your photographer is based, and packages range from $500 all the way up to $2000 plus on the higher end of the spectrum. When interviewing candidates, ask for a general range based on the photographer’s standard “shooting fee” and package, plus their standard rates for the type of album you think you’ll want and the amount of coverage you’re hoping to book them for (day of, full weekend). It’s important to find out what’s included in the standard package, plus the basic range for any extras you may want, like an engagement shoot, special effects or additional coverage, so you can compare rates. In particular, find out exactly how many hours of coverage are included. Ideally, you want your photographer to be there for your full wedding day, from when you start getting ready until after you make your grand exit from the reception. While packages vary, most include about 6 to 12 hours to cover everything from preceremony events (getting ready with your bridesmaids or first-look photos) to the end of the reception. It’s usually better to pay for more coverage if there’s a chance you’ll run over and you definitely want your photographer there until the end. Also consider whether you’ll want to do an engagement shoot (roora) or have your photographer shoot other events during your wedding weekend (the guys’ golf outing, the bridesmaid lunch).
Step 9: Ask About Your Rights
Most contracts stipulate that the photographer owns the rights to all photos taken at the wedding, even the ones of you. In other words, the photographer can use them promotionally (on their website or blog, submit them for publication and even place them in ads). That also means you can’t just post the digital proofs they send you most photographers have a policy that you can only share watermarked images or images with their credit on them. Also, unless you negotiate otherwise, if you want to print the images yourselves or order an album from another source, you’ll have to buy the rights to the images.
Step 10: Get the Postproduction Details
It usually takes at least a month to get all those photo proofs back from your photographer. Why? Your photographer is shooting enormous raw files far bigger than your typical JPG. Shooting raw files gives your photographer greater ability to correct the photo, but it also takes a longer time to upload, process and edit all those files (in order to correct color levels and so on). It varies, but many photographers say they spend an additional 40 hours editing images from a single wedding, so it can take up to six to eight weeks (or longer, depending on the photographer and how busy they are) to get proofs back. Here’s what to ask: How many images should I expect? Will they be high resolution or low resolution? Will I be able to get prints made myself, or does the photographer retain the rights to the images? Will the proofs I see be the retouched versions, or does that happen after I select the photos I want? Speaking of retouching, ask about retouching options and special effects (which can range from simple white balancing to beauty retouching and stylized art effects like super-saturated colors) and the additional cost for both.
Special thanks to Digital Genius Pro (+44 7770 712 742), Digsol Media (+263 772 325 540),
Begin shopping six to nine months before your wedding. It takes about four months for a manufacturer to make a dress and another two months to complete the alterations.
Don’t schedule late in the day, the early bird gets the worm. You will have more dress options.
One easy way to limit your options is to choose a silhouette that will highlight your best-loved assets and conceal your less-favorable traits.
Remember that the top of your wedding dress is what people will notice most and what will show up in most wedding pictures. The majority of wedding photos that guests take of you are from the waist up. A long, gorgeous wedding dress with a fancy hem is to die for.
Take pictures of your dress possibilities instead of putting all your trust in the mirror. “Mirrors are used to sell dresses—cameras don’t lie,” says Richard O’Malley. “Because you’ll be looking at the photos of this dress for years to come, know how it photographs from all angles.
Almost any dress can look gorgeous on a hanger. Resist snap judgment. Once a dress is on a woman’s body, it takes on a different shape and look. This means that a bride will try on many dresses, and she should. Just as it takes time to find a husband or wife, it takes time to find the perfect gown.
Don’t try too many dresses. You shouldn’t feel forced to try on more or fewer gowns than you want. You can suffer from wedding dress overload. Too many choices and too many places can add stress and confusion. Go with your gut.
Don’t bring too many people, too many opinions, thoughts and coordination. It’s perfectly normal to go alone—not to mention stress-free.
Wear a well-fitting bra when you go dress shopping. Many women don’t realize the power of having well-fitted undergarments.
Try not to get stuck up in trends, they don’t necessarily stand the test of time but instead look at your personal style. A gown should be timeless.
Knowing the place and time of your wedding will help focus your search. Will you be having a daytime or nighttime wedding? Most fabrics are suitable year-round, but some, like linen and organdy, are more appropriate for warm weather, while velvet and brocade are best left for winter.
Figure out how much you want to spend, and tell the salesperson before she starts bringing out gowns. That way you won’t lose your heart to a dress you can’t afford.
It’s not every day you see terms such as Basque waist or Watteau train or try to differentiate between three shades of white. Do your research on the internet, books, magazines etc. Start a folder with pictures of dresses and take it with you. Also take anything you know you want to wear, such as a special necklace or your grandmother’s veil.
Pick a figure-flattering dress. There are two myths you must know when it comes to our bodies: One, there’s no perfect size, and two, there’s no perfect body,” says Dr. Carol Parker Walsh of Vancouver, Washington. The key is to overcome this is to first learn to love and accept your body as-is and to learn how to dress your body appropriately for fit.
You should stay serious in your search for your wedding dress and accessories. You should ask questions. You should always ask yourself a few questions to make sure the dress you love not only makes you feel spectacular but also works for the activities of the day. Make sure you have the answers to these: Do I feel beautiful, confident and comfortable? Can I dance in it? Can I sit down? Am I self-conscious about any part of my body in my dress? Although a gown may be gorgeous, if you can’t move in it all night and feel trapped, mummy-style, it’s not the right one for you.
Getting married and it feels exciting! This also means making all these choices to create this fairytale dream wedding you always wanted. You have picked your girls and now you want to choose the dresses they will wear. It can be a nightmare dealing with more than three drama queens. To minimise the drama its better sometimes when the bride knows what she wants or gives guidelines rather than an open slate. Here are some tips on what to consider when choosing bridesmaids dresses and colors
Browse through
Start off by researching. Download some pictures off the internet, bookmark your favourites and share them with your friends. If you’re looking at magazines, tear out pages to help zero in on the colours and styles you like best.
Consider Costs
When it comes to price, try to be considerate of your friends’ lifestyles. Select a colour you like and let them pick their own style to involve all parties. Consider renting your bridesmaid dresses to cut on costs.
Involvement
If you tend to have a strong opinion, it’s probably better to shop alone or with just one friend. If you’re more democratic, take the whole gang and give them guidelines, like colour or fabric. Pick out your dress first to ensure the bridesmaid’s dresses match your style.
Find the Perfect Fit
A bridesmaid dress is usually ordered using a person’s biggest measurements, so your friends will likely buy dresses at least a size larger than they normally wear. If a friend wants to buy a size smaller, let her know it’s much easier to alter a bigger dress.
Select a Shade
One of the easiest methods is to use the colour schemes of the venue and the season. Rich colours work well in the winter months, while lighter shades—mint and lavender—are perfect for summer. If you’re still at a loss for exactly which hue to choose, go for a general colour, like purple, and let your bridesmaids pick their favourite shades. Want to push the envelope even further? Consider prints—African-print bridesmaid dresses are hot right now. Just remember: Patterns look best in smaller parties and should be paired with simple accessories. Also, think about choosing a shade that goes well with your bridesmaid’s skin tones. If you’re opting for a print, make sure the dominant colours work with your entire bridal party. Fully embellished dresses are another fashion-forward option for a more glamorous affair. Perhaps the idea of mismatched dresses—that way your girls can choose a shade that suits them.
Consider Lingerie Logistics
Remind your girls to get the right undergarments. Depending on the style of dress, your bridesmaids may need some special support. Even the most amazing dress can look unflattering with the wrong bra. In addition to a new bra, each bridesmaid might also need a specific panty or body shaper.
Don’t Ask the Wrong Questions.
Instead of trying to figure out what dress style everyone will love, ask if anyone has something they are not comfortable in. Maybe your small-chested sister won’t wear a boobtube dress, and your cousin doesn’t mind dresses, but would prefer to wear something less fitted. It’s easier to narrow down from a list of don’ts than from a list of must haves.
Giving too many options
More options aren’t always better in the world of bridesmaid dresses. “Pick anything you want” can actually be more stressful than just giving some parameters.
Forgetting to jump up and get down
You may find a dress you like, try it on, and it looks great, so you buy want to buy it. Make sure when the wedding rolls around you don’t accidentally flash your best friend’s uncle and now you have to spend the rest of the night dancing with one hand hiking up your gown. A multitude of problems can be avoided by simply choosing dresses with straps that you can wear with a normal bra for a bridesmaid dress when you have