Wedding madness has hit again. My friends are getting married by
the dozen. I thought I'd compile my annual list of wedding tips so
that others can benefit from my mistakes/experience.
The biggest tip to those organizing the wedding: remember it is
only one day! Don't put too much effort or stress on one day. It only
lasts 8 hours on the average. Don't let little details ruin a special
day. Don't waste too much money on one day. What matters is the union
of two beings and not the wedding day and party.
How to shop for
services
- Always interview at least 3 sources to make sure you're
"shopping around enough."
- Insert this question in your interviews: "Can you be creative
with a limited budget?" So later, when they quote you the
ridiculous price of $150 for a bouquet you can say, "You said you
could be creative. What can you do for $100?"
- Pit two companies against each other. "I would really like to
use your company but the other company offered X and my mother
said I couldn't go with you unless you could do the same."
Bay Area specific tips
- The best books I thought s 50 cents per
reprint w/ $25 overall set up charge. Just get a negative and call
your friendly photo lab to do the reprints and printing of text.
You can have a friend take a picture of you two leaving room on
the side for the writing to be put in. Go to the Japanese gardens
or Golden Gate park or anywhere pretty. Don't use a professional
photographer unless you are willing to spend a lot of money.
- Take photos with your city's landmarks immediately before, the
day of or after your wedding in your wedding outfits. For example,
in San Francisco photos with the Palace of Fine Arts, Golden
Gate Bridge, Conservatory of Flowers, the "Painted ladies,"
Lombard street, etc. will be quite memorable.
- Decide if you want a photographer that poses you or a
journalistic approach that captures you wedding in pictures. I
prefer posed because I don't like the awkward photos but a
journalistic approach might be better for wedding moments such as
the ceremony, bouquet toss, etc.
- Consider Chinese Wedding Glamour photos. They have wedding
boutiques in Chinatown areas that will do your hair and make up
and let you choose ballgowns as well as wedding gowns to wear for
photos. They make everyone as pretty as a model. The Los Angeles
area has a strip of such boutiques and there is one on Clement St.
in SF and in Chinatown in SF.
If you have any questions or tips to add, please contact me at
syen@geocities.com.