Vendor Inspiration

Since starting my internship at Weddingbee, I have become pretty obsessed with WeddingbeePRO. I knew it existed pre-internship, but I never actually took the time to check it out. It is pretty awesome.

My favorite blogs tend to be real life brides speaking about real life issues and showing how their weddings have come together. I do visit a few vendor blogs, but not daily as I do with others. Then came WeddingbeePRO. I started by helping with uploads, and that is where the addiciton began. The site has some of the top people in the wedding industry, people I never would have known if it weren't for PRO! I am so happy they have entered my life!

Every day you have top posts from top proffesionals organized into one blog, showcasing the best of the best! Right now I am obsessing over engagement pictures, I only knew of RI blogs and a few others, but now I am constantly checking PRO for more inspiration.

Charmaine and Saul, by Jerry Yonn is one of the best engagement shoots I have ever seen! The bride and groom look so happy and relaxed. Every picture is adorable. I actually printed off some of these to show my groom. I handed them to him and said "This is what I am going for", I don't want pictures of us staring at the camera, I want our real lovable selves to come across. I think Jerry Yonn does an amazing job of getting his couples to relax and show off their personalities.

Here are all of Jerry Yonn's posts at WeddingbeePRO: http://www.weddingbeepro.com/author/jerryyoon

Jerry Yoon has quickly become a favorite. Check out all their bloggers! They are all quite amazing! :)

Where do you go for inspiration? I love seeing new photographer blogs or any other blogs for inpsiration!

Cost of a Wedding

When we first got engaged, I hit the internet to research the average costs of weddings.

This is the site I came across: http://www.costofwedding.com/

"Wedding Cost for (Newport, RI): On average, couples that live in (Newport, RI) spend between $21,855 and $36,425 for their wedding. This does not include cost for a honeymoon or engagement ring. "

When I saw this, I thought, ok that is do-able, but then I started talking to wedding planners and vendors in the area, with my guest list, they were saying a minimum of $60,000.00 in Newport! Not do-able!

This is a direct quote from an area wedding planner, to remain nameless:
"your budget for your vision is not very realistic, for the amount of people you wish to invite.
I’d be happy to discuss your personal style and vision with you; however I just wanted to let you know that before we moved forward with a complimentary consultation, that you should be allocating appx
$150 per person for your food and beverage alone.

Let me know your thoughts?"

That is when I took matters into my own hands and decided against a wedding planner. I am actually a huge fan of wedding planners, my sister has an amazing one. I just wasn't getting the support I needed. I thought the point of a wedding planner is to help you stick within your budget? I figured in Newport, with sky-high prices, I could use someone to help me with the connections and discounts I'll need.

To be honest, I knew I had low-balled the event planner a little bit, not much! I had done so because I know myself and knew I would end up over budget, so I wanted to leave a cushion.

Things may not be as easy as if I had a planner, but to be honest, I am enjoying every minute of it (well, almost!).

Has anyone else been told something was impossible, which made you take matters into your own hands? What do you think of the area average costs at the Cost of Wedding website? Sound about right, low or too high for your area?

The Engagement Shoot

Enough worrying about the guest list for now, we just booked our engagement shoot with our photographer! I can't wait. It is scheduled for May. We are taking some pictures at our alma mater, so we decided to do it after commencement, but before tourist season. That left us with few date options.

For some reason I thought our shoot had unlimited time, but it is actually only an hour. I should have known better! So, now I need to narrow down the locations for the shoot. We are planning on using the pictures for our Save the Dates and our wedding website. We want variety in locations, poses and outfits. {I know I sound like a bridezilla!}

The Hotel area/Starting point- Hopefully the weather will be nicer (as I knock on wood), we already checked into the weather policy for the shoot!

So far here is my plan:

Meet photographer on the wharf, where our hotel room is located. Take a few shots on the pier, head to Thames/downtown area, move to Salve (our alma mater)/The Cliffwalk, move to Third Beach and then depending on how we are feeling....Ocean Drive

Must have location shots:
* Take a picture on the balcony
* Take a picture on the pier
* Coffe shop shot
* Newport Wave
* Anywhere on Thames Street
* Ochre Court/Salve arches
* Hunt Hall (our freshman dorm, where we met)
* The Cliffwalk, Love is Life tunnel
* The Cliffwalk, Forty Steps
* Third Beach, various shots

Then for must have shots, not related to location:
* Holding Hands
* "The gaze", (When you stare into each others eyes), it is my dad's favorite, he always does it!
* Swinging around, Mr. Newport did this right after he proposed on the beach, so we will recreate that moment
* Save the Date, written in the sand
* Laughing picture, I don't want a fake laugh, but I love when photographers capture a really happy real laugh- since I'm hoping for it, I'll probably realize I'm laughing and ruin it!

Not sure what else, does anyone else have any favorite shots you either used or have seen? Does anyone have a post of their own engagment pictures or a link to great ones you have seen? I love seeing others for inspiration!

I have been going to the blogs of Snap! photography and Kate Rose photography . They are both amazing and I highly recommend them! They are my dream photographers,. Even though we aren't using them, I still love going to their blogs for inspiration!

The Guest List - Part Two

I made my list of cutting "rules", in my last post. Here are some of the issues with having rules:

The hard part is the friends in-between. If I only see them 2 or 3 times a year, in a social setting, should they be invited? There are a few girls from college I hang out with, but we never hang out alone. We don't call each other. I like them, but when it comes to cutting time, should I keep them over someone else that I am closer too, but don't see as often?
Salve grads at a friend's wedding, this past summer
Dates are hard, too. I was once interrogated by a bride on my love for Jim. We had been dating for about two years and we were planning on living together before the Bride's wedding. She pulled me aside at a party and was asking wherther or not I loved him (at this point he had given me a promise ring and basically announced, he would eventually propose). I thought it was clear we were in love and I didn't understand why she was so interested in our relationship. Then someone pulled me aside and explained the wedding guest list was being put together.
Jim and I at a cousin's wedding, this past summer
I don't want to have to judge people's relationships. It makes me uncomfortable. Who am I to say how in love you are at any point in your relationship? Some people fall hard and fast, while others take time. Everyone is different and I don't want to assume or ask anything.

I find this very frustrating. I am thinking we will put a length of time on dates. If you have been dating for X amount of months/years, you get a guest. What are your thoughts on this one? Is there any good way to cut down the list, without hurting or offending people?