Why book a Wedding Videographer by Matt Philipenko- Life’s Legacy Productions

Matt Philipenko of Life’s Legacy Productions offers some advice on why you want to have a professional videographer at your wedding -

 Why book a Wedding Videographer

Sure you’ve got your wedding photographer, but video is becoming an increasingly more important means to capture your wedding memories. Here are some of the reasons to consider having your wedding captured by a professional wedding videographer. 1. Save the Date. By the time your wedding day arrives, you will have spent countless hours planning, anticipating, and dreaming of one of the most important days of your life. Then the day finally arrives, and it’s over before you even know it. Ask any bride and you’ll hear familiar phrases: “It all went by so fast”, “Everything was a blur”, “I don’t remember that!” With video, you’ll see all the details you missed, and you can relive your special day again and again. 2. The Sights. Your photographer will capture the highlights of your wedding and provide you with beautiful images, but they won’t be able to capture all the sights that video can. Video captures 30 frames per second. We use high-definition cameras that capture stunning images. You’ve planned and prepared so everything will look just right – and you’ve never looked better! You may never wear that beautiful dress again – remember it! 3. The Sounds. Video captures not only the sights and motion of your wedding, but the sounds as well. Wireless microphones can capture the sounds that even your guests won’t hear. Hear your vows with crystal clear clarity. Hear the toasts and speeches exactly as they happened. Hear the music, the cheers, and the laughter of all your closest friends and relatives.
4.Posterity. Imagine having a professionally produced video of your parents or grandparents wedding. Imagine what a treasure this would be to share with them and pass from generation to generation. Now imagine watching your own wedding video with your children or grandchildren. Being able to share these priceless memories with your loved ones is something you can cherish for years to come. 5. No Regrets. A study done by the Wedding and Event Videographers Association (WEVA) surveyed recent newlyweds and found that 98% of newlyweds recommended that brides have their wedding videotaped. Of the 38% of brides that did not have their wedding videotaped, 63% now recommended that future brides hire a professional videographer. They also found that “Brides said video does a better job of capturing the emotions of the day, records the history of the day better, and they strongly feel that future children will enjoy their wedding video more than their wedding photographs. 6. Uncle Frank Can’t do it. Sure you’ve got family or friends with a video camera who are willing to tape your wedding. But as well intentioned as they may be, they just cannot capture your unique celebration the way a trained and experienced professional can. Professional videographers invest thousands of dollars in cameras, microphones, and editing equipment to capture the best images and sound. We use 2-3 videographers to capture all the action from multiple angles. All things you can’t expect from a family member or friend who should be enjoying themselves at your wedding. Professional videographers then use their experience, training, and creativity to produce a final product that is truly worthy of your investment.  Still not sure you need to have your wedding professionally videotaped? Why not be on the safe side and just do it. Your wedding is one of the biggest days of your life. You won’t have another chance to have this day preserved forever! An email from one of their customers: When you think about your wedding day you want everything to go perfect, and remember every aspect of that special day. We had made the decision to hire Matt as our videographer to hopefully capture the important moments and moments we did not even get a chance to see the day of our wedding. When we received our video back of our day Matt captured more than those little moments, he captured the moments we would have never even thought of capturing along with the most important aspects of that day. The organizational skills that Matt has is amazing in every way possible and even our guests could tell he takes pride in what he can accomplish for a bride and groom. The finished product that we received from Matt brought tears, laughter, and memories we will never forget of that special day. The tears were joyful tears of being able to relive those moments, and the laughter was because we were able to see some things that happened behind the scenes that added detail to that day. We hired Matt and chose the highest package because we wanted to make sure everything was captured on film and we also received the love story with slideshow. That is something we have forever and will always be able to look back on. We could not be happier with what Matt has provided us and done for our special day. We would recommend his services to anyone and let them know they will never be disappointed. Thank you for all that you have done to capture those special memories on camera Matt. We will be able to have this for a lifetime and our children and their children be able to see what our special day was like. Thanks again! The Tebergs You can contact Life’s Legacy Productions by visiting their website www.lifesproductions.com Follow them on Facebook

Tips for ordering your perfect wedding cake by Darla Julin – Fantasies in Frosting

Darla Julin CD,  is an award winning cake artist and baker- and owner of Fantasies in Frosting. She will help you design the cake of your dreams! She has been making delicious wedding cakes (among other decedent desserts) for over 27 years. In this post, she offers some helpful advice for couples who are planning their wedding.

 

Many websites and wedding “planners” suggest that the bride and groom order their wedding cake 2-3 months in advance.  For our business, that would be too late. We suggest you book your cake 6-12 months in advance. Wedding season starts in April and goes through October. We are usually making cakes for every weekend.  If a bride is interested in having us make their cake, they can put down a deposit and that will hold and book their date. Then they can come back to us 2-3 months before the wedding and can finalize the details.

Before you consider a cake shop or bakery for your wedding cake, talk to them to see if you need to make an appointment for a consultation or if you can just drop in to see them.  All of our consultations are by appointment only.  This way we can give the one on one attention each bride deserves.

Bring a few people with you, (1-3) but not anymore than that.  Everyone will have an opinion on what cake flavor and style you should have. The more people you bring along, the harder it is for the bride to make a decision.  Usually the bride and groom come to the appointment along with the bride’s mother and maybe the groom’s mother also.                                                                                                                                                                Have a budget in mind.  If you are not really sure- it is difficult for the baker or cake designer to help you pick out a design. The cake is just as important as the rest of the food that is going to be served at your reception.  You want a cake that tastes great on the inside and has beautiful decorations on the outside.

Get referrals from other brides and your friends. This is our best form of advertising. If brides are giving you good referrals for wedding vendors, use them. It will save you time and money so you don’t have to run all over town checking out other vendors.

Some things to discuss in your consultation:

Approximately how many guests will you have?  What are your wedding colors? Are you having a topper on your tiered cake?  Will you be keeping the top tier of your cake for your 1st anniversary? Do you have any designs in mind?  Are you having a “theme” for your wedding? All of these factors into what your wedding cake will look like.

Have a prominent place to set your cake at the reception site. It should be placed on a table located where all of your guests will be able to view it. Cakes are works of art and should be placed appropriately. Have your photographer take pictures of the cake alone and then with the bride and groom cutting the first piece and feeding each other.  Leftover pieces are sometimes served towards the end of the dance or at the gift opening on the next day.  Either way, you won’t have any cake left over!

Wedding Wishes for a Sweet Life Together, Darla Julin, CD, Fantasies in Frosting

Contact Fantasies in Frosting for your perfect wedding cake or treats.

All consultations are by appointment only.

(218) 236-1176  or cakelady@gomoorhead.com

You can also follow them on Facebook

Fantasies in Frosting
207 17th St. S.
Moorhead, MN 56560

It Don’t Mean a Thing if You ain’t Got that Swing- by Dave Harmon

Dave Harmon from Harmon Danceworks and DJ service offers some tips for music during the entire wedding reception.

When thinking about a photo slide show:

A slide show of about 10 minutes or 3 songs is about the perfect amount of time. You want to keep your guests attention; something longer may be too long. We have seen slide shows lasting a half hour- guests got antsy and seemed bored. Remember, they are at your celebration to have fun!

To keep your guests engaged and entertained:

Listen to your DJ’s ideas for the evening.  Hopefully, they will have enough experience and will tell you what does and doesn’t work.  We like to do “events” throughout the dance.  They break the night up, keep people engaged, and in anticipation of what’s to come.  The anniversary dance, dollar dance, garter auction, and bouquet toss are classics that everyone enjoys.

An array of different sounds:

Listen to your DJ’s advice when it comes to music for your dance. Our goal is to make sure you and your guests enjoy the music that is being played. Having a variety of music to include oldies, country, hip-hop, and top 40 music will give everyone a little of what they like. At one wedding we did, the bride and groom loved metal music. We incorporated the metal music into dinner and did a couple during the dance. This way the bride and groom got to enjoy their tastes, and the guests were able to have a sampling of other music as well. It was a great party and fun was had by all who attended.

Get the dance floor packed:

The goal of your wedding dance is to pack the dance floor. You want everyone to have a fun time. There might be some songs you don’t like. For example, the Electric Slide has a love-hate relationship by many. Even though this might not be your first pick, it packs the dance floor every time. Have an open mind and trust your DJ to keep the party going.

Learn how to dance:

Take a dance lesson before your wedding. Even if you can only do a few turns and maybe a dip, it’s better than just rocking back and forth for your entire first dance. Plus, a dance lesson is a fun date for you and your fiance.

Dave Harmon, Harmon DanceWorks and DJ

Contact Harmon DanceWorks and DJ Service for your wedding music or to schedule dance lessons:

Call Dave Harmon at 701-730-0054

or by email:   daveharmon1@gmail.com
For more information on upcoming dance classes:  See Schedule Here

Get your sexy on…for the groom!

Get your sexy on…for the groom!
You may have heard the latest trend in gift-giving for the groom is boudoir photography. What is a boudoir photo and why the popularity? Whether flirty or demure, there is a look for every woman to showcase her inner and outer beauty in photos for her husband-to-be.

By: Yvonne Denault / Yvonne Denault Photography

What is boudoir photography?
As women, we dare to dream about looking and feeling unbelievably sexy in pretty, lacy lingerie and become the supermodel we see in the pages of fashion magazines and catalogues. A boudoir photo session allows you to fulfill that dream for a day, and to gift the resulting photos to that special man in your life! Boudoir photography should be tasteful and can range from wearing elegant lingerie for a sizzling look — to classic pin-up inspired couture with a flirty approach to the photos. Boudoir photography is for all women, of all shapes, sizes and ages.

What to expect? Who to hire?
Expect to be amazed! Also, expect to be a little bit nervous. Modeling in lingerie can be daunting for any woman since we spend a good portion of our lifetime analyzing our appearance. Boudoir photography is a great gift for the groom, but it has the added benefit of helping women gain a sense of confidence about their appearance. All of the things you thought were true of your appearance become small and insignificant. With the right photographer, your inner soul shines through the exterior of self-doubt and a woman begins to see how incredibly sexy her confidence really looks through the lens of a camera.

Boudoir sessions should start with a brief consult that address concerns and discuss outfit options and ideas for the shoot. Most women will book a hair and makeup stylist providing the full supermodel finish prior to their shoot. This is usually done in the photography studio where the photoshoot will follow. Music, laughter and conversation should all be part of a boudoir photo session. It is the photographer’s job to coach you through poses, expressions and allow you to be comfortable in your own skin – being comfortable and having fun are all an important part of having a successful shoot.

Do your research and book a photographer who has experience shooting in the boudoir style of photography and who can share a portfolio that showcases tasteful and sophisticated work that respects women. Once you find the right person, expect to be yourself. Nerves will subside ten minutes into the shoot, and you will have the time of your life.

What do I wear?
Wear what makes you feel irresistible. It could be a simple bra/panty set paired with a men’s shirt. Corsets provide curvaceous lines and baby doll sets up the shoot for very soft and feminine photos. You may choose multiple outfits or just one. Accessorize with jewelry, stellar shoes, stockings and of course…your engagement ring! Other ideas include a retro pinup dress or swimsuit, sports jersey, off-the shoulder sweater, fur coat or tight fitting slip. Consult with the photographer you choose to work with and see what ideas he/she has regarding outfit options.

Time and Money
Basic boudoir photo sessions can start at $200 and scale to $1500 depending on the expertise of your photographer and the size of your package choice. You will have the additional cost of hair and makeup, and the outfit(s) you plan to wear. Most photographers that specialize in boudoir will have packages that include photos on a disc and/or product offerings, as well as multiple outfit changes. Plan at least 3-4 weeks to receive final products from your shoot. And book your shoot at least a couple of months ahead as most photographers are already booking weddings, family and senior photos during the busy summer photography season. And as the saying goes, remember you get what you pay for so do your research and treat this as investment–not only as a gift for your future husband, but as a lifetime empowering opportunity to see how beautiful you really are!

Yvonne Denault Photography serves the Fargo-Moorhead and surrounding communities. Call 701.373.5770 or email photos@yvonnedenault.com for more information. Visit their facebook page

Perfectly Paired by Terry Borchardt

The Big Wedding Day is a celebration of a couple starting a new life, together. Overtime, this all important day has become more and more about the bride. The congregation does not stand for the groom when he walks in… The photographer doesn’t take multiple photos of him walking down the aisle.

As the man who will be spending the rest of my life with this beautiful woman, I am alight with this.

Just as the wedding day is primarily about the bride, the night before has become the grooms. The groom’s supper or rehearsal dinner is a very important event. The venue and menu are of utmost importance.

Some tips to consider when picking the location and the menu for the Rehearsal Dinner include:

A)    Will the space be yours for the evening or will you have to share it with others?

B)    Is the ambiance special – just like this special weekend is?

C)    Do you have to pick from a set menu or will the business work with you on making your meal memorable?

D)    Do you get the feeling that you and your group are special, or just another number coming through the door?

Bottom line- make sure your rehearsal meal venue realizes this night is special. They should accommodate you and yours to ensure the best possible experience. This is the start of your wedding celebration, the most important day of your adult life.

Terry Borchardt, Owner

The Winery

Terry Borchardt of The Winery has been the local go to person for food and wine parings for a number of years. He and the expert staff at The Winery will ensure a one of a kind experience for your special night. With unbeatable service, one of a kind food creations, and an ambiance to make the night everything it should be. Check out their website, follow them on Facebook, or just call Terry to discuss the details of planning your perfect rehearsal dinner.

 

Stay Tuned

We could talk about your fabulous wedding attire all day and night; however, there are other parts to planning your perfect wedding!

Over the next couple weeks we will be posting a multi-part series covering different aspects of your wedding planning process. We have picked the brains of some of the area’s best local vendors and they have offered their tips and some advice in their areas of expertise.

Stay Tuned to our Blog- you don’t want to miss this!

Who pays?

After your engagement, before the planning, comes the all needed discussion: Who pays? There are many different ways couples pay for their weddings.  Sit down and have a conversation with your fiancé, your families, and find out which way is the best for your wedding.

The traditional: Bride’s parents pay. This approach still works in many situations. Although, we can’t forget that the person who pays will usually ultimately get what he or she wants. At first, Bride and Groom say; “no big deal, we can bend a little” according to what mom and dad want. But later in the planning process this can create unneeded drama and add to the stress of planning a wedding. For example, when bride wants a sleek and body hugging and mom wants puffy and princess- if Mom’s footing the bill, who wins? If the bride’s parents pay, the couple will have the road to financial success paved. They are able to start out their new life together, without the woes of paying wedding bills.

A new approach: Everyone helps out. Another way to go about paying for a wedding is when everyone chips in. With today’s economy more and more weddings are being planned this way. When all sets of parents, other family members, and even the bride and groom help pay for a wedding it can create a “group effort” feel in the planning. When the actual event happens everyone has an emotional attachment because they feel part ownership in what is going on. One way to ensure smooth sailing with this way: designate different parts of the wedding to those who are helping with the bill. This way, everyone has their own special part and no one feels left out. Another good thing about this way: no one family or person is left to cover all the expenses.

Going it alone: The bride and groom foot the bill. According to costofwedding.com a couple living in Fargo, ND will spend $18,364 and $30,606 on their wedding celebration. This is a large amount of money for a new couple. If the bride and groom choose to pay; they run the risk of depleting their savings or worse, racking up thousands in debt. If a realistic budget is created, and time is given to save; this may be the way to go. If you are the one paying, you have all the freedom to choose what you want without offending family members.

Before planning, sit down and have the all important discussion: Who pays? There are many different ways to cover the costs of a wedding, it’s just finding out what is best for you and your wedding.

Hannah J.