Videographer Vision

If you could look at your grandmother's wedding pictures or watch her wedding video, which would you choose?
Picture this: you are standing next to your soon-to-be husband delivering your wedding vows to each other. You have waited years for this single moment and it is finally here. This is a memory you want to cherish for the rest of your life. Your photographer is catching the heart-felt smiles of you and your new husband as you gaze on lovingly. When you look back at these pictures, you will always have the memory of this amazing moment, but what if you could play it all back?


Thanks to videographer Mary Beth Longo, of Video Network, Inc., this is exactly what you can look forward to. Having a videographer at your wedding is essential, and is definitely something to allot for in your budget. Seeing, hearing and feeling those special moments that you will never get back can now last a lifetime with video.

Live Band or DJ. . . or both?

Is your personalized playlist better than a live band?  With so many different tastes in music these days, it can be hard to choose a sound that will be engaging for all of your guests.

Be sure to pick whatever musical style you think will ensure your guests have a great time!

Photo by Lisa Walsh Photography

Creating the perfect atmosphere for your big day is highly dependent on your choice in music. Will it be with Soft strings or a toe tapping big swing band?  Would your guests enjoy an evening of elegance or a "can't stay in your seat" dance party?  Here are some questions to consider before making the choice:

Budget: It is a common misconception that bands are ridiculously more expensive than a DJ - do not assume!  A respected DJ in the upstate New York area can range from $1500 - $2500 and live bands can range between $2000-$3000.  Making sure the price difference is enough to deter your decision is a personal preference.  Before you make a decision, find out how much each costs.

Interaction & Guest Enjoyment:  A live band is able to engage and entice the crowd to participate in songs, bring them on stage or wander out on the dance floor among guests.  DJs can interact via the microphone and dance out in the crowd but can have less involvement in the actual songs unless you have karaoke at your event.

Who will show up?: Regardless of live band or DJ be sure you know the entertainers who will be there the day of your wedding.  Some 'cost-saving' DJs hire out their talent so you don't know exactly who will show up at your wedding.  Always, ALWAYS preview the entertainer's work before you book them and be sure it is written in the contract who is going to show up.  If you go to a wedding and Tom is the DJ, and the day of your wedding Bob shows up, the experience could be quite different.  Ormond Entertainment is a DJ Entertainment Company who has two individual DJs who are the personalities you hire when you hire the company, no surprises.

Also always make sure the contract has a section pertaining to smoking and drinking at the event.  This may seem logical, but is not a given.  I personally do not like to see the entertainment smoking outside or consuming alcoholic drinks during the event (you might not mind, but be sure to think about it). Ask the venue for a green room where the band can put their food and beverages out of the way of guests. Do provide water to the entertainers, particularly for musicians.

Song Selection:  Some bands will only play the set list they are accustomed to.  They will say when you hire "The Band" you hire "The Experience" of the band.  Great bands like DeSantis Band and Orchestra will work with you and plan a customized playlist, including and adding to their repertoire. DJs make it easier to pick modern, trendy exact songs you want to hear.

Highlighting a DJ on stage, like at the Clayton Opera House, is a great way to add "WOW" to your Wedding.

Photo by Bert Pohl

Remember - it is the entertainer's profession to understand the guests, so though you may select songs you want to hear, if the DJ or band is not getting a solid response from the crowd, they will take the liberty of trying different music until they engage the guests.

The choice doesn't have to be so difficult, maybe you'll have both live and a DJ.  The industry is seeing a new trend of live bands for dinner and beginning of dancing, then switching to a DJ throughout the night.

No matter what you choose, picking the music for your special day should always be fun!

You Did It!

We would like to wish a sincere congratulations to the newlyweds of this past weekend who used Kathy Knittel's services at The Floral Gardens!

 

Cathleen Smith and Andrew Mangano

  

Kristen Sanderson and Wayne Green

 "For you see, each day I love you more.
Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.
~Rosemonde Gerard"

Inspiration: Fabric

The linen you choose for your wedding can serve as an inspiration for many other elements. Your invitations, place settings, and floral arrangements can all stem from your fabric choice. Also included in these elements is one of the main focal points of your wedding day: the cake! Using fabric swatches,I researched cakes that could be correlated with them. As you can see, the cake doesn't have to be an exact replica of your linen choice, but it is apparent where the design originated from. The blog Atypical Type A featured a similar post where the cakes were directly related with a mod fabric choice.  
By choosing to be inspired by a linen, your wedding cake can become an eye-catching work of art that is quite out of the ordinary. Although these types of cakes aren't for everyone, they can definitely serve as a source of inspiration for many brides. Stuck on where to find these types of linens? Contact The Events Company for assistance 

Wedding Party Introductions: Classy, Sassy or Wow!

Whether you're having an intimate wedding with your closest family and friends, or a grand affair with several hundred guests, your entrance, be it traditional or trendy, can have your guests exclaiming, "This is the best wedding reception...ever!"  The DJ experts from Ormond Entertainment can walk you through the creative process and help you design wedding party introductions that your guests will be talking about long after the wedding.

About Ormond Entertainment

Cindy & Roger practice "DJ Excellence by Design", creating joyful experiences for your wedding rehearsal, ceremony and reception customized to fit your style and personalities. Reach them at 315.423.8347.

Summer Sings

The DeSantis Orchestra had a jam-packed schedule this past weekend with three very different events! On Thursday, Maria, Keith and Isreal's vocals, along with the  band, were featured on the stage at Paper Mill Island in Baldwinsville. This gem of a venue is a great place for concerts of any variety.

On Saturday, you could've caught the band performing at the annual Cazenovia's Firefighter's Ball. This event is intended to thank the area firefighters for their dedication to their community.

Their most recent performance was on Sunday at the Salt City Sunday Music Festival. Braving the heat, the band performed for a crowd of hundreds that were in Liverpool to browse local artisans and craft vendors on display. 

Don't Forget the Limo

There are so many details that go into your wedding day, from linens and flowers, to photographers and DJs. One crucial part of your wedding logistics, that can sometimes be overlooked, is a limo service. If your ceremony and reception are in two separate locations, it becomes very important to figure out how your guests will be transported from one to the other.

Using a limo from Clarence Henry Coach will provide you with several benefits. Your ride will be smooth and comfortable with the help of a kind and knowledgable driver, who will make sure you get to where you need to be on time and in style. You can also guarantee that the members of your bridal party will all arrive together. An added benefit would be for those interested in the "green" movement. By all traveling together, you can save on gas emissions. 

Congratulations!

A sincere congratulations to the new brides of this past weekend who utilized the wonderful services of Kathy Knittel and her team at The Floral Gardens!

-Christine Sugrue


-Kassie Bruchle


-Stacy Vagon


-Corrine Crain


-Stephanie Townsend


"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

MTP: Emily & Tim Married @ The Lodge

We are lucky if in this lifetime, we spend it with our best friend. Emily and Tim's journey together started back in 1999 and are continuing on this path after their beautiful wedding day in Central New York. These lovebirds live in Boston, MA where Tim proposed along the Charles River, over sunshine, people-watching, and dessert! Filled with details, personal and sentimental throughout the day, Emily tied her father's high school ring to her bouquet to have him near her today and Emily's necklace held her mom's engagement diamond. The brides dress was full of personality and class with crazy ruffles everywhere complimented by fabulous purple heals. After an intimate ceremony, the bride and groom exited into a sea of rice thrown (not tossed) at them! It was quite the moment and fun trying to pick out rice from the brides hair afterwards. They took it in stride which is my kind of couple! As if the day couldn't get any better, we stopped at Gannon's where the entire bridal party were treated by the bride and groom to ice cream before reaching The Lodge (I must admit it was refreshing! Thanks again!!).

Check out my blog for many more great moments and details from this fantastic wedding!

forever & for always

xoxo, Meg

Eenie Meenie Miney Moe?

Choosing your wedding photographer shouldn't be a game of chance! Here are our tips on how to pick the best photographer for your big day.

1. Check out their credentials and personal referrals. See how their other clientele felt with the results of their wedding pictures. Stay away from the photographer's website for feedback, as you will only see the positive comments.

2. Visit their website. A photographer uses their website to showcase the best of their work, so take advantage of this before scheduling an appointment.

3. Figure out what style of pictures you're looking for, and match your prospective photographer to this style. There are many varying types of photographers, and it's important that your tastes coincide, to get the most out of your wedding pictures.

4. Ask lots of questions. Don't be afraid to ask every thought that runs through your mind. You don't want to be worrying about specific details regarding your pictures, after your photographer is hired.

5. Ask to view an entire wedding album from start to finish in a similar venue to yours. This way you will be able to easily imagine how your pictures will turn out. 

The photographer partner at the Wedding Studio at 224 Harrison is Meghan Thomas Photography. Check out her website and follow our tips to see if she is the right fit for your wedding, as we highly recommend her!

MTP: Nikki & Matt Married @ Embassy Suites

Nikki and Matt are the 'live in the moment' kind of couple. Their energy was fun and I loved the relationship we established, after a previous awesome engagement session that totally helped set the tone for their wedding day! Props must be given to the bride and groom for planning a great celebration; the flow of the day was awesome and really makes my job a blast. Kudos!!!

Check out my blog for many more great photos from Nikki & Matt's Wedding!

forever & for always

xoxo, Meg

How do you Choose?

Choosing the right vendors for your wedding can be difficult. With varying availability, price, and styles, it can seem overwhelming to make the right decision for your big day. When choosing a videographer, you can follow a lot of the same tricks of the trade used in selecting your other vendors, however there are some that are solely related to this particular field.


1. Prioritize what is most important to you. Is it creativity, uniqueness, or price? These factors will help determine which videographer you choose.
2. See two or three examples of their work, preferably at a similar venue as yours. This will allow you to really picture what your video will look like.
3. Research their reputation. You will be able to find lots of opinions and referrals about your potential videographer online, as well as from friends or family.

Remember, you are hiring someone to capture one of the best days of your life, so it's important to put the time and effort into choosing your videographer. MaryBeth from Video Network, Inc. is one of the best videographers in Central New York, and is highly recommended by her clients, so put her on your list!     

MTP: Erin & Chris Married @ The Lodge

The celebration of Erin and Chris's love this weekend in Skaneateles, NY was elegant, classic and timeless! There was such a sense of history, quality and detail with this entire day, literally and figuratively. High school sweethearts, these two had a depth to their relationship that was evident before they both saw each other at the end of the isle. I have been so excited for this wedding since their engagement session with me last summer on one of their trips to camp on Owasco Lake. I just knew they were going to be a favorite couple of my 2011 season. I was not disappointed!

Check out my blog for many more photos from this great day in Skaneateles, NY!

forever & for always

xoxo, Meg

Make a Wish!

On your wedding day, your guests want to wish you the best of luck for your new life ahead of you. Inspire your friends and family to give their best wishes with something slightly different than the traditional guest book.

Featured in the June issue of Brides Magazine, these screen-printed wish tags from Etsy.com are sure to urge your guests to send you a thoughtful and creative message. Written similarly to a Mad Lib, these tags bring a witty twist to an old tradition.

After these wish tags are completed by each guest, they can be affixed to a wish tree that is decorated to fit your wedding decor. They can be as simple or ornate as you'd like, and are guaranteed to quickly become an eye-catching focal point.

The wedding wish tree was inspired by Yoko Ono's wish trees which were created around 1981. With the intentions of encapsulating the millions of wishes collected around the world in the Imagine Peace Tower, this global project has not only inspired peace, but also just as insightful wedding wishes for new couples.   

Another alternative to the traditional guest book is the "Make-a-Wish, Take-a-Wish" bowls created by Erin of Bride Design. This idea features two bowls or vases, one filled with wishes from the bride and groom for their guests, and the other to be filled with wishes for the newlyweds from their friends and family. This interactive keepsake can be customized to fit your wedding decor, and is a great way to cherish the special wishes and pieces of advice from your big day. 
 

Although the traditional guest book is a classic piece to any wedding, be sure to scope out all of your other options that are sure to further enhance your wedding decor. Looking for other non-traditional pieces for your wedding? Visit  The Events Company for more creative ideas.  

MTP: Mandy & Adam Engaged

She is vibrant and beaming with personality; he is charming and completely in love with her. They are so much fun that they have a hard time being serious!! Mandy and Adam rock - seriously, just awesome! I had a blast photographing them during their engagement session at Thorndon Park near Syracuse University. The lens definitely embraced their personalities and will make for a great guest book at their wedding. Their August 2011 wedding at DeWitt Community Church and reception at Traditions at the Links can't come soon enough. Even my 2nd shooter is excited to meet and photograph this fun-loving pair after seeing this session! Check out my blog for more great photos from their session!

forever & for always

xoxo, Meg

A First Class Bash

Music at your wedding is a key facet of your event. It adds a whole other dimension to your ceremony and reception. For an elegant touch, you should consider an orchestra or band. They can provide the traditional sounds of instruments such as a piano, flute, or violin. You can specifically choose songs that have a personal meaning, and when sung by a talented singer like Maria DeSantis of Maria DeSantis Music, the song will begin to take on a whole new form.

MTP: The Studio Featured

Good morning! I hope everyone had a happy, safe and healthy holiday weekend with friends and family! I had a great wedding on Sunday at the Genesee Grande Hotel and spent some QT with family on the 4th. Good times. I just wanted to share that I featured The Wedding Studio on my blog today. Love being a part of this awesome group of professionals. Hope you have a great short week ahead!

forever & for always

xoxo, Meg

Name that Tune

The music at your wedding is such a crucial part of your big day. It's important to put a good deal of thought into what music will be played, and more specifically which songs you choose for the traditional dances: father and daughter, mother and son, and of course, your first dance as a couple. Although these dances are not mandatory, they are quite common and it's a good idea to put some time and effort into making just the right musical selection. Here are some tips to get started.

1. Choose a song that has a special meaning for the two of you. Is there a song that always makes you think of the other person? Is there a song that you both really like? You these questions as grounds for possible song choices.

2. Choose a popular song with a good dance tempo. Some professionals suggest staying away from the more emotional songs that will only leave the two of you with tears in your eyes. If this sounds like you, then a song with an upbeat rhythm will let you enjoy each other's company without getting too sad.

3. Do some research. If no particular songs come to mind, then ask around. Your family and friends, or even Google can help you think of a perfect choice. Another great option is consulting your DJ for suggestions. Our friends at Ormond Entertainment will be happy to help you come up with a solution!  

MTP: Engagement Sessions Are Key To Your Wedding Day

One of the many things I love is having the opportunity to photograph my brides and grooms before their wedding day. Engagement sessions are an awesome way to get to know one another more, experience the pace of my photography style, practice some posing, get comfortable and just relax. These sessions also build trust; after seeing their e-session photos, couples are even more excited for their wedding pictures and have direct, hands-on confidence that I will help make them look and feel great. Couples can share what they like and don't like in regards of posing which I make note of and incorporate into their wedding day. There are tons of great locations through out the Central New York region and I'm happy suggest places or you are welcome to share a place that has sentimental value to you. You can have fun, be creative, reflect your style as a couple, and bring props if your heart desires! Either way, consider having an engagement session done with your photographer before your big day!

Nicole & Josh opted for a late afternoon session in Skaneateles, NY.

Stacey & Matt chose their session at Upper Onondaga Park in Syracuse, NY.

Be sure to check out my brand new blog for more images from these beautiful engagement sessions!

forever & for always

xoxo, Meg