When we first started wedding planning, we set up a budget according to our priorities. The first priority, of course, was food. We set aside a little for flowers, a little for music, and a little for more food, err, cake. After my cousin's wedding, I fell in love with her videographer's highlights reel and decided to add another priority: documentation. Fortunately, our good friend is a very talented photographer, so we were able to use our "friend discount" to hire him at an affordable rate. Then, we shifted some things around in our lower priorities to make room for videography.
Our videographers, Three Ring Media, became some of our favorite vendors instantly. They not only saw my vision for a vintage and whimsical wedding, they took it to the next level, adding their own touches of creativity. We had a ball when we filmed our pre-wedding interviews with them, and we were eager to work with them on the big day.
They did not disappoint. They showed up on our wedding day with props and a bunch of ideas inspired by Disney/Pixar's "Up," thanks to our hot air balloon proposal story...and probably my slight obsession with Disney in general.
We're still waiting on the finished product, but they sent over something to hold us off in the meantime: a cinematic trailer to our "love story!" Enjoy!
{Mr. Lion & Mrs. Lioness' Cinematic Trailer by Three Ring Media / via Vimeo}
Showing posts with label vendors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vendors. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Our Moment in the Spotlight
Sometimes, you find a vendor that you just click with. They get you, they get what you're about as a couple, and they get what your wedding is about. I've felt that way about my florist for a while now, and I decided recently that I also feel this way about my videographer.
Our videographer creates "love stories" out of their wedding videos. They try to learn as much as they can about the couple so that their wedding video really captures their personalities. They accomplish this by interviewing couples a couple of months before their wedding. This provides footage of the couple talking about their relationship and their future, but it also gives the videographers the opportunity to get to know their clients' style.
Our videographers recently contacted us to schedule such an interview. They told us to choose a location that represented us well. The baseball fans that we are, we immediately thought of Turner Field.
Our videographer creates "love stories" out of their wedding videos. They try to learn as much as they can about the couple so that their wedding video really captures their personalities. They accomplish this by interviewing couples a couple of months before their wedding. This provides footage of the couple talking about their relationship and their future, but it also gives the videographers the opportunity to get to know their clients' style.
Our videographers recently contacted us to schedule such an interview. They told us to choose a location that represented us well. The baseball fans that we are, we immediately thought of Turner Field.
With Sister Lioness at the ballpark...and we're all wearing Polo...weird.
It apparently costs $200 to use Turner Field for something like this. That wasn't in the budget, so we nixed that idea. Next, we thought it'd be fun to use Piedmont Park. It's one of our favorite places in Atlanta, and we take Lion Corgi there often.
Unfortunately, the forecast for the day of our shoot didn't look as pretty as the weather in that photo. It was supposed to rain. In biblical proportions. This forced us to think outside the box a bit. Maybe instead of having a fun setting, we could be doing something fun! Hmm, what do Mr. Lion and I like to do together? Lots of things, really, but one favorite activity stood out in my mind...
We like to cook. And eat. Papa Lioness was able to pull some strings for us, and he got us a suite at the Residence Inn Dunwoody for a couple of hours. We packed up some of our favorite kitchen toys, some ingredients, and the recipe for Martha Stewart's Blueberry-Lemon Bundt Cake and headed to the hotel.
The decor of the hotel room made for a much better set than the decor of our apartment. Our apartment has lots of muted, natural colors, which I like. The kitchen is tiny and has horrible fluorescent lighting, which I do not like. The hotel room had stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, simple modern decor, and bright colors throughout.
The crew showed up and set up shop with fancy cameras, lighting stuff, and sound stuff (clearly, I know all of the technical terms). I was a little nervous about answering the questions awkwardly, but they really put us at ease. We both felt pretty comfortable around them; it just felt like we were having a conversation. They interviewed us together first, and asked questions like "How did you meet?" and "Does your wedding venue have any significance to you?"
Sorry about the iPhone quality!
They wanted to interview us individually too, but first they had to rearrange our "set." In the meantime, Mr. Lion and I got to baking while one of the crew members shot us being cute in the kitchen. I wish I had pictures of this, because I promise we were adorable :)
We stuck our cake in the oven, and I sat down for my individual interview. They asked me about my "somethings," how I found my dress, and I told the story of our proposal. Mr. Lion sat down for his interview next. He talked about how he asked my dad for permission, how he thought he'd react when he first saw me walking down the aisle, and he told his proposal story too. The interesting thing is that our proposal stories were totally different! I focused more on the surprise, and Mr. Lion focused more on how nervous he was that it was going to rain.
The timer for the cake dinged immediately after Mr. Lion finished his interview. They turned the lights off and put the equipment away as we waited for the cake to cool. Then, we gave each of the videographers a slice and took the rest to the front office to thank them for their generosity. Needless to say, they were pretty psyched!
We had so much fun. Not only did we get to ham it up in front of a camera, we got to reminisce about our history and gush about our future. I just think it's so cool that our videographers do this to get to know us a little bit. It's kind of like taking e-pics with your photographer before the wedding; it gives you a chance to get used to each other, which I think is a great bonus!
Do any of your vendors have some kind of unique twist that you were excited about?
The timer for the cake dinged immediately after Mr. Lion finished his interview. They turned the lights off and put the equipment away as we waited for the cake to cool. Then, we gave each of the videographers a slice and took the rest to the front office to thank them for their generosity. Needless to say, they were pretty psyched!
We had so much fun. Not only did we get to ham it up in front of a camera, we got to reminisce about our history and gush about our future. I just think it's so cool that our videographers do this to get to know us a little bit. It's kind of like taking e-pics with your photographer before the wedding; it gives you a chance to get used to each other, which I think is a great bonus!
Do any of your vendors have some kind of unique twist that you were excited about?
Monday, January 17, 2011
Rawr
Maybe I've just been lucky so far. I'm 17 months into wedding planning and it's been nothing but smooth sailing with my vendors. I've LOVED everyone I've worked with, and I've certainly never had a problem with any of them. Well, never say never.
I went for my first dress fitting the other day, and I was really REALLY not happy with my seamstress. I went to the boutique where I bought my dress and used their alterations department. The sales ladies had been nothing but fabulous, so I expected the same from their seamstress. That was probably a little naive.
The waist of my dress fit fine, so she didn't need to take it in.
The length was pretty good, so she didn't need to shorten it.
I was even pretty psyched about the bustle that she came up with.
The problem was the top of my dress. I've lost a tiny bit of weight since I ordered the dress. Not much; I've mostly just toned up a little. I went from sitting around studying physical therapy to actually practicing physical therapy, which is a pretty physically demanding job! Naturally, the first place we ladies tend to lose weight is in the bust area...which is so not fair. I had a little bit of extra room, so I asked the seamstress to take the straps up a little...
...but as you can see, she had already whipped out her date book to schedule me for my next fitting. No wait, seamstress lady! I'm not done yet! Look how big my dress is up top! Don't you think I need a little more support...you know, up there?
Her response? "Well, it's not like you'll be moving around much anyway."
Clearly she'd never been to one of MY weddings! I'm a dancer and I plan to do just that during our four-hour reception! The girls needed enough lift to handle that. So, I begged her to take a look.
She took it up about one-fourth of an inch, but then insisted that any more would be too tight, and uncomfortable. I explained (again) that I'd prefer that the top of the dress be too tight rather than the opposite extreme. Her response? "Well, do you plan to lose a lot of weight? Because otherwise I don't think you need it any smaller."
Maybe she assumed I'd lose more weight since most brides do so right before their wedding. Not this bride! Remember the whole physically demanding job thing? Baby needs her protein! I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt with this one.
We bickered back and forth about this for several minutes, and I could tell that I was really starting to get on her nerves. I understand that she was frustrated with me, given my stubbornness. Sorry, but I'm not sorry. I paid good money for this dress, I'm paying her good money for alterations, and I want it my way. I had three bridesmaids with me, one who lives in Atlanta and two who were in town for the weekend, as my shower was later that day. The girls had my back, but I was definitely the one instigating. I really don't think we were out of line at any point. I was polite, just persistent.
We finally compromised and she agreed to take up another one-fourth inch, but no more. She said she'd have it ready in two weeks. "Good," I thought to myself. "Then that will give me enough time to take it elsewhere if it needs to be taken up any further!" I thanked her for her time, and for her patience.
Her response? "Next time, this will take five minutes okay? Try it on, I pin a little, then that's it. No discussion. Also, only bring ONE bridesmaid."
I honestly didn't know what to say. I just thanked her for her time (again) and left, happy to have been the bigger person. This picture basically summed up the whole experience:
Have any of you butted heads with a vendor? How did you settle your differences?
I went for my first dress fitting the other day, and I was really REALLY not happy with my seamstress. I went to the boutique where I bought my dress and used their alterations department. The sales ladies had been nothing but fabulous, so I expected the same from their seamstress. That was probably a little naive.
The waist of my dress fit fine, so she didn't need to take it in.
The length was pretty good, so she didn't need to shorten it.
I was even pretty psyched about the bustle that she came up with.
The problem was the top of my dress. I've lost a tiny bit of weight since I ordered the dress. Not much; I've mostly just toned up a little. I went from sitting around studying physical therapy to actually practicing physical therapy, which is a pretty physically demanding job! Naturally, the first place we ladies tend to lose weight is in the bust area...which is so not fair. I had a little bit of extra room, so I asked the seamstress to take the straps up a little...
...but as you can see, she had already whipped out her date book to schedule me for my next fitting. No wait, seamstress lady! I'm not done yet! Look how big my dress is up top! Don't you think I need a little more support...you know, up there?
Her response? "Well, it's not like you'll be moving around much anyway."
Clearly she'd never been to one of MY weddings! I'm a dancer and I plan to do just that during our four-hour reception! The girls needed enough lift to handle that. So, I begged her to take a look.
She took it up about one-fourth of an inch, but then insisted that any more would be too tight, and uncomfortable. I explained (again) that I'd prefer that the top of the dress be too tight rather than the opposite extreme. Her response? "Well, do you plan to lose a lot of weight? Because otherwise I don't think you need it any smaller."
Maybe she assumed I'd lose more weight since most brides do so right before their wedding. Not this bride! Remember the whole physically demanding job thing? Baby needs her protein! I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt with this one.
We bickered back and forth about this for several minutes, and I could tell that I was really starting to get on her nerves. I understand that she was frustrated with me, given my stubbornness. Sorry, but I'm not sorry. I paid good money for this dress, I'm paying her good money for alterations, and I want it my way. I had three bridesmaids with me, one who lives in Atlanta and two who were in town for the weekend, as my shower was later that day. The girls had my back, but I was definitely the one instigating. I really don't think we were out of line at any point. I was polite, just persistent.
We finally compromised and she agreed to take up another one-fourth inch, but no more. She said she'd have it ready in two weeks. "Good," I thought to myself. "Then that will give me enough time to take it elsewhere if it needs to be taken up any further!" I thanked her for her time, and for her patience.
Her response? "Next time, this will take five minutes okay? Try it on, I pin a little, then that's it. No discussion. Also, only bring ONE bridesmaid."
I honestly didn't know what to say. I just thanked her for her time (again) and left, happy to have been the bigger person. This picture basically summed up the whole experience:
Me: still fiddling with my top. Lioness Bmaid Jessica: rolling her eyes. It's amazing how revealing candid photos can be!
Have any of you butted heads with a vendor? How did you settle your differences?
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
A Unique Opportunity
One of my PT school BFFs got married back in August. I had the privilege of being a bridesmaid, but more importantly, my other PT school BFFs were bridesmaids too. It was the first time that the five of us (well, the ten of us if you count our SOs) were reunited since graduation in May, so we had a lot of fun to catch up on!
One of the most important people present was PT school BFF Christina's husband, Evan, who was the wedding photographer that weekend. As I've mentioned before, he's also our wedding photographer...and I have to say, seeing Evan in action was a really interesting experience. Evan has been our friend for a couple of years now. He argues with us about whether or not the finale to "Lost" was good enough, he's always introducing us to great new music, and he has a serious problem with saying "that's what she said" far too often. But that weekend, I got to see a different side of him.
Granted, we had already hired Evan, but that weekend was almost like an audition. We got to see him when he was at his professional best. His confidence put everyone at ease, which was strange because he's probably the second most awkward one in our group (second to me, of course). He was clear and direct with instructions, but never overbearing. He led well, but was also open to all kinds of ideas. I was wicked psyched when he finished editing and sent over the finals. It was so wonderful to see the finished product!
There were the more traditional shots, like putting on the dress...
...and admiring the final bridal look.
But there were also the less traditional photos. One unique Evan-ism is what I like to call the "playing with layers" shot:
Another thing I liked about Evan's work was that even though both the ceremony and the reception were indoors, he wasn't afraid to deviate from the plan and take advantage of a gorgeous day.
One thing I admire about Evan's photography skills is that he somehow has the ability to see things that most people don't notice. For example, I had no idea that the sun was making this shot possible:
Seeing our photographer in action reaffirmed our decision to use him, not just because he's our friend but because he just plain rocks. I've also heard of brides who found their wedding bands at another friend's wedding. Have you had the opportunity to see one of your vendors in action?
One of the most important people present was PT school BFF Christina's husband, Evan, who was the wedding photographer that weekend. As I've mentioned before, he's also our wedding photographer...and I have to say, seeing Evan in action was a really interesting experience. Evan has been our friend for a couple of years now. He argues with us about whether or not the finale to "Lost" was good enough, he's always introducing us to great new music, and he has a serious problem with saying "that's what she said" far too often. But that weekend, I got to see a different side of him.
{personal photo}
Granted, we had already hired Evan, but that weekend was almost like an audition. We got to see him when he was at his professional best. His confidence put everyone at ease, which was strange because he's probably the second most awkward one in our group (second to me, of course). He was clear and direct with instructions, but never overbearing. He led well, but was also open to all kinds of ideas. I was wicked psyched when he finished editing and sent over the finals. It was so wonderful to see the finished product!
There were the more traditional shots, like putting on the dress...
...and admiring the final bridal look.
But there were also the less traditional photos. One unique Evan-ism is what I like to call the "playing with layers" shot:
Another thing I liked about Evan's work was that even though both the ceremony and the reception were indoors, he wasn't afraid to deviate from the plan and take advantage of a gorgeous day.
One thing I admire about Evan's photography skills is that he somehow has the ability to see things that most people don't notice. For example, I had no idea that the sun was making this shot possible:
{all photos by Weddings by Evan Hampton unless otherwise noted}
Seeing our photographer in action reaffirmed our decision to use him, not just because he's our friend but because he just plain rocks. I've also heard of brides who found their wedding bands at another friend's wedding. Have you had the opportunity to see one of your vendors in action?
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Sweet Customer Service
One thing I've noticed about choosing vendors is that I'm very consistent with my priorities. Obviously quality is important. I'm also really big on value for our dollar, since these newly-employed Lions have lots of student loans to pay off. But customer service trumps all. I would give up the highest quality if it meant I could deal with a competent and empathic human being. I would even sacrifice other parts of the budget to pay a little more for good service.
I can't help it...it's just the way I grew up. You see, Papa Lioness works for a large hotel chain and "teaches customer service for a living." Just imagine the horror on a 14-year-old Lioness' face as Papa Lioness scolded the Abercrombie employee, "When you say 'have a nice day,' you should at least TRY to sound like you mean it!" It has been ingrained in my mind to avoid poor customer service as much as possible, no matter how enticing the quality or value may be. In the long run, what's a little sacrifice for a little less stress? So far, we've chosen all of our vendors based on this motto. Everyone has been easy to communicate with and easy to get along with. Our cake tasting was no different.
In true Southern tradition, we decided on a groom's cake. Mr. Lion knew early on that he wanted some kind of chocolatey raspberry goodness in the shape of Knightro, UCF's mascot. But what to do about the actual wedding cake? As you may recall from our engagement party, I love cupcakes. The more I thought about it, the more appropriate they seemed for our wedding. The portions were perfect for daytime, and the cuteness factor helped them to fit in perfectly with our whimsical theme.
Before I could even start researching local bakers, Mr. Lion came home from work one day with half a dozen cupcakes. Oh it's just this little bakery right next to his law firm and he just happened to walk by and it looked like the kind of thing I would like. (Seriously, be more awesome.) They were beautiful, and absolutely delicious. I then sent Mr. Lion on his next mission: to make an appointment for a tasting.
We walked into the cupcakery on a Thursday afternoon. We were greeted by Jack Johnson on the baker's iPod speakers, as well as a Cinderella snowglobe on the front counter. Sure, it's nothing but coincidence, but I had a good feeling about this place. Long tables stood to my left, each with a different tablecloth and vintage milkglass vases. Colorful bunting lined the walls. It looked like something out of...well...a wedding inspiration board!
One table was set with mismatched china and silverware, as well as a fresh French press of coffee.
That same table had a beautiful cake stand topped with several flawless-looking cupcakes. Hmmm perhaps this table was set for us?
Mr. Lion could hardly contain his excitement.
We sat down with a lovely consultant who shared a cup of coffee with us and told us about their baking process and what goes into all of these delicious flavors. She told us about each type of cupcake, from the margarita cupcake filled with lime zest to the Coca Cola cupcake (be still, my Atlantan heart). It was very laid back; it just felt like having a snack with a friend. I really appreciated the fact that there was no pressure to sign anything or to pay anything. And you know what? Because of that, I couldn't reach for the contract fast enough!
A week or so later, Mr. Lion came home with (you guessed it) more cupcakes. Apparently, they had some other flavors that day and they wanted us to be able to try a few more. So they just dropped them off at his firm! The whole thing just seemed so kind and neighborly. Those little extras make all the difference.
We haven't decided on exact flavors yet, but we're thinking of including three different light and fruity flavors, since Mr. Lion's cake will be so rich. If I may offer some advice to brides out there with upcoming tastings, watch your sugar intake that day! We seriously ate all of them. I was immediately five years old, bouncing off of the walls for a few hours, and then I crashed. Sugar hangovers are no fun! And if I may offer some advice to anyone out there in the wedding biz, your brides notice details! Remember that the little things can make all the difference.
How has customer service shaped your wedding vendor decisions?
I can't help it...it's just the way I grew up. You see, Papa Lioness works for a large hotel chain and "teaches customer service for a living." Just imagine the horror on a 14-year-old Lioness' face as Papa Lioness scolded the Abercrombie employee, "When you say 'have a nice day,' you should at least TRY to sound like you mean it!" It has been ingrained in my mind to avoid poor customer service as much as possible, no matter how enticing the quality or value may be. In the long run, what's a little sacrifice for a little less stress? So far, we've chosen all of our vendors based on this motto. Everyone has been easy to communicate with and easy to get along with. Our cake tasting was no different.
In true Southern tradition, we decided on a groom's cake. Mr. Lion knew early on that he wanted some kind of chocolatey raspberry goodness in the shape of Knightro, UCF's mascot. But what to do about the actual wedding cake? As you may recall from our engagement party, I love cupcakes. The more I thought about it, the more appropriate they seemed for our wedding. The portions were perfect for daytime, and the cuteness factor helped them to fit in perfectly with our whimsical theme.
Before I could even start researching local bakers, Mr. Lion came home from work one day with half a dozen cupcakes. Oh it's just this little bakery right next to his law firm and he just happened to walk by and it looked like the kind of thing I would like. (Seriously, be more awesome.) They were beautiful, and absolutely delicious. I then sent Mr. Lion on his next mission: to make an appointment for a tasting.
We walked into the cupcakery on a Thursday afternoon. We were greeted by Jack Johnson on the baker's iPod speakers, as well as a Cinderella snowglobe on the front counter. Sure, it's nothing but coincidence, but I had a good feeling about this place. Long tables stood to my left, each with a different tablecloth and vintage milkglass vases. Colorful bunting lined the walls. It looked like something out of...well...a wedding inspiration board!
One table was set with mismatched china and silverware, as well as a fresh French press of coffee.
That same table had a beautiful cake stand topped with several flawless-looking cupcakes. Hmmm perhaps this table was set for us?
Mr. Lion could hardly contain his excitement.
We sat down with a lovely consultant who shared a cup of coffee with us and told us about their baking process and what goes into all of these delicious flavors. She told us about each type of cupcake, from the margarita cupcake filled with lime zest to the Coca Cola cupcake (be still, my Atlantan heart). It was very laid back; it just felt like having a snack with a friend. I really appreciated the fact that there was no pressure to sign anything or to pay anything. And you know what? Because of that, I couldn't reach for the contract fast enough!
A week or so later, Mr. Lion came home with (you guessed it) more cupcakes. Apparently, they had some other flavors that day and they wanted us to be able to try a few more. So they just dropped them off at his firm! The whole thing just seemed so kind and neighborly. Those little extras make all the difference.
our surprise to-go box
{all personal photos}
We haven't decided on exact flavors yet, but we're thinking of including three different light and fruity flavors, since Mr. Lion's cake will be so rich. If I may offer some advice to brides out there with upcoming tastings, watch your sugar intake that day! We seriously ate all of them. I was immediately five years old, bouncing off of the walls for a few hours, and then I crashed. Sugar hangovers are no fun! And if I may offer some advice to anyone out there in the wedding biz, your brides notice details! Remember that the little things can make all the difference.
How has customer service shaped your wedding vendor decisions?
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
With a Little Help from my Friends
One of the easiest ways this budget bride has saved money is by recruiting help wherever possible. Fortunately, I happen to have some pretty talented friends! I love the concept of a "friendor" because I feel that it makes a wedding more personal and intimate. On our wedding day, I'm most looking forward to being surrounded by the people we love. Why not have that feeling extend to our vendors, too?
The first friend I hired was Sister Lioness. Though Sister Lioness is currently studying Teaching ASL as a Foreign Language at Columbia (bee tee dubs, their mascot is a lion...woot!), she does some pretty sweet graphic design on the side. It's more of a hobby for her, but she kind of rocks at it. I don't know much about graphic design, but I do know that I'm a sucker for fonts. Choosing fonts happens to be Sister Lioness' favorite part of graphic design, so it's been great to have her artistic eye around! She's designed our invitation suite, and I plan to collaborate with her for other paper projects like programs and menus. Here's a sample of her work, a little diddy she came up with to give to family and friends when she moved from Gainesville to NYC:
My friend Kealoha used to be a make up artist. Though she has now chosen a different career path, she still does a few gigs on the side. A recent gig was our mutual friend's wedding. She did the make up for the bride, as well as all of the bridesmaids and the mothers. Best of all, she gifted this to the bride as her wedding present. Naturally, I asked her nicely to grant me the same favor and I was psyched when she gladly obliged...though not nearly as psyched as Mama Lioness was. What can I say?! The woman likes the be pampered!
Next, we have my cousin Chris. Chris is my age, and he and Mr. Lion became good buddies one day at Disney World. It was only their first time meeting face-to-face, but by the end of the day they were yelling wookie noises back and forth to each other on Star Tours (male bonding is so strange, is it not?). Chris happens to be an ordained minister in the state of California. When two nonreligious lions started to put a ceremony together, there was only one name that came to mind. Of course, Chris was happy to look into the requirements to transfer his ordainment to Georgia and we're all really looking forward to having him in such an important role on the big day.
Lastly, we have our friend Evan. Evan is engaged to my PT school friend Christina, and together they form some of the greatest couple friends these Lions could ask for! Evan also happens to be a wedding photographer...a good one too! They recently moved to Jacksonville, but Evan still happily agreed to shoot our wedding. And our engagement pictures. And some random pictures for our OOT bags. Here's a sample of his work, from a photoshoot he did for our graduation:
The first friend I hired was Sister Lioness. Though Sister Lioness is currently studying Teaching ASL as a Foreign Language at Columbia (bee tee dubs, their mascot is a lion...woot!), she does some pretty sweet graphic design on the side. It's more of a hobby for her, but she kind of rocks at it. I don't know much about graphic design, but I do know that I'm a sucker for fonts. Choosing fonts happens to be Sister Lioness' favorite part of graphic design, so it's been great to have her artistic eye around! She's designed our invitation suite, and I plan to collaborate with her for other paper projects like programs and menus. Here's a sample of her work, a little diddy she came up with to give to family and friends when she moved from Gainesville to NYC:
Ugh. So sorry I had to censor that!
My friend Kealoha used to be a make up artist. Though she has now chosen a different career path, she still does a few gigs on the side. A recent gig was our mutual friend's wedding. She did the make up for the bride, as well as all of the bridesmaids and the mothers. Best of all, she gifted this to the bride as her wedding present. Naturally, I asked her nicely to grant me the same favor and I was psyched when she gladly obliged...though not nearly as psyched as Mama Lioness was. What can I say?! The woman likes the be pampered!
Personal photo: The artist on the right, with her lovely work to her left and further left...aaand the groom and I just chillin.
Next, we have my cousin Chris. Chris is my age, and he and Mr. Lion became good buddies one day at Disney World. It was only their first time meeting face-to-face, but by the end of the day they were yelling wookie noises back and forth to each other on Star Tours (male bonding is so strange, is it not?). Chris happens to be an ordained minister in the state of California. When two nonreligious lions started to put a ceremony together, there was only one name that came to mind. Of course, Chris was happy to look into the requirements to transfer his ordainment to Georgia and we're all really looking forward to having him in such an important role on the big day.
Personal photo: Chris on HIS big day
Lastly, we have our friend Evan. Evan is engaged to my PT school friend Christina, and together they form some of the greatest couple friends these Lions could ask for! Evan also happens to be a wedding photographer...a good one too! They recently moved to Jacksonville, but Evan still happily agreed to shoot our wedding. And our engagement pictures. And some random pictures for our OOT bags. Here's a sample of his work, from a photoshoot he did for our graduation:
Source: Weddings by Evan Hampton
Have you recruited any friendors?
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Our First Budget Readjustment
You know? You plan and you plan and you think you cover everything. But then something comes up and requires a budget makeover. You see, I was convinced that we didn't need a videographer. I'm more into still photos, and we had hired an amazing photographer (more on that later). I changed my mind when I saw this:
That's my cousin and her husband, and that's their wedding video montage. I watched it, I cried a little, and I fell in love with the idea of having one of our very own. Short, but sweet. Intimate, but accessible. It was perfect. So really, it wasn't that I wanted a wedding video, just a video montage. Unfortunately, you need to have a wedding video first in order to create a highlights reel from it.
I moved some things around (mostly our floral budget...that category keeps taking hit after hit! Just not a priority to us, I suppose) to accommodate $2000 for videography. If that sounds steep to you, you're in for a big surprise. That's the low end of videography. Videography is wicked expensive.
I researched potential vendors (via The Knot and Wedding Wire) and narrowed it down to two. The biggest factor in narrowing it down was price. The second, if we're being honest here, was the quality of their website. So many videographers' sites didn't actually have video! Some did, but either the video quality was mediocre, and/or the rest of the site wasn't really up to par. Maybe I was being superficial, but the way I saw it, these vendors are artists. The little bit of extra effort it took to construct their site in a way that complimented their work made such a difference. Flash was a bonus.
I requested demos from the two vendors that made the cut. When they arrived, I was a little disappointed with the first one. When I watched the second one, I realized that I was tearing up at the love stories of complete strangers. This videographer managed to capture every wonderful, unique aspect of the couple they documented. It wasn't just about that day, it was about the couple's lives together. Hive, allow me to introduce you to Three Ring Weddings.
Three Ring Weddings markets themselves as producers of "love stories." They even interview the couple a few months before the wedding to get to know them. This helps them come up with a story line so that the wedding video takes on a true storyline. I ate this up. Best of all, they actually listed their prices directly on their site. I know! Unheard of in the wedding world! They offer a new "economy package" that was just under budget. We immediately put down a deposit, friended them on Facebook, and bragged about how they made the Little Black Book on Style Me Pretty.
All in all, I was thrilled with our budget readjustment. I can't wait to see the results! Did a new wedding wish force some flexibility into your planning process?
Source: Disney Weddings
That's my cousin and her husband, and that's their wedding video montage. I watched it, I cried a little, and I fell in love with the idea of having one of our very own. Short, but sweet. Intimate, but accessible. It was perfect. So really, it wasn't that I wanted a wedding video, just a video montage. Unfortunately, you need to have a wedding video first in order to create a highlights reel from it.
I moved some things around (mostly our floral budget...that category keeps taking hit after hit! Just not a priority to us, I suppose) to accommodate $2000 for videography. If that sounds steep to you, you're in for a big surprise. That's the low end of videography. Videography is wicked expensive.
I researched potential vendors (via The Knot and Wedding Wire) and narrowed it down to two. The biggest factor in narrowing it down was price. The second, if we're being honest here, was the quality of their website. So many videographers' sites didn't actually have video! Some did, but either the video quality was mediocre, and/or the rest of the site wasn't really up to par. Maybe I was being superficial, but the way I saw it, these vendors are artists. The little bit of extra effort it took to construct their site in a way that complimented their work made such a difference. Flash was a bonus.
I requested demos from the two vendors that made the cut. When they arrived, I was a little disappointed with the first one. When I watched the second one, I realized that I was tearing up at the love stories of complete strangers. This videographer managed to capture every wonderful, unique aspect of the couple they documented. It wasn't just about that day, it was about the couple's lives together. Hive, allow me to introduce you to Three Ring Weddings.
Three Ring Weddings markets themselves as producers of "love stories." They even interview the couple a few months before the wedding to get to know them. This helps them come up with a story line so that the wedding video takes on a true storyline. I ate this up. Best of all, they actually listed their prices directly on their site. I know! Unheard of in the wedding world! They offer a new "economy package" that was just under budget. We immediately put down a deposit, friended them on Facebook, and bragged about how they made the Little Black Book on Style Me Pretty.
All in all, I was thrilled with our budget readjustment. I can't wait to see the results! Did a new wedding wish force some flexibility into your planning process?
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Location, Location, Location
So we finally got back to Atlanta after living in Boston for three months and traveling to Florida for a couple of weeks. Time to start planning right? Wrong. I went to Guatemala for ten days. Hey, I'm a graduate student. Clearly, I'm trying to save the world.
But then I got back to Atlanta and decided it was time for us to book a venue. Yes, we still had 15 months until our chosen date, but I'm picky. I'm sure laid back brides who are much more flexible than I am do not need to start planning that early. I am incredibly opinionated and I knew that if I wanted my pick of the litter, I needed to get there before everyone else did. I did a lot of research and selected 15 places to further examine. I used these criteria to narrow down the list from there:
Two of my favorite things in the world are the skylines and the color green. Piedmont Room has plenty of both. Piedmont Room is the special events facility at Park Tavern, one of my favorite bars in Atlanta. It overlooks Piedmont Park and the midtown skyline. Unfortunately, this one was vetoed because of the charm factor. It's BEAUTIFUL, but we needed something a little more funky.
Now we're talking charm factor! Rhodes Hall, locally known as The Castle on Peachtree, was built in 1904. It's currently used as the headquarters for the Georgia Trust, who operate Rhodes Hall in addition to other historic sites throughout the state. Rhodes Hall was more than able to accommodate our guests...outside only. Their indoor facilities, though lovely, were a little small for us. Basically, if it rained, we'd have to send some people home. I was a little disappointed, but I moved on.
I love this place. Flint Hill is an antebellum home, turned events facility. It was perfect for a garden wedding and an indoor reception. The price was right, and the woman I spoke to on the phone was fabulous! They are an all-inclusive facility, though incredibly flexible compared to their competition. Something still didn't feel right though...
Funny story about Anthony's: I'm an alumna of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and the Kappa Atlanta Alumnae Association held a luncheon at Anthony's a few years ago. Gringa Bridesmaid Emily (who is also a Kappa) decided to go and we absolutely fell in love with the place. This was long before I got engaged, but Emily still insisted on planning my wedding there. She went and found the head chef, got him to give us a tour, and we talked prices. We were just being silly but to be honest, it's been in the back of my mind ever since. Anthony's is an antebellum home, built in 1797, and it's now a restaurant in the middle of Buckhead. The garden is perfect for the ceremony, the Ladybug Room is perfect for the reception, the wine celler is a really cool place to get ready...I loved everything about it. It met all of the criteria, so we decided to go take a peek.
We made an appointment for a tour and ended up staying there for a few hours, just chatting with Mary and Amy, Anthony's wonderful coordinators. We told them we'd go look around and let them know what we decided. We decided on the five-minute drive home.
I was a little disappointed that I didn't go check out the other venues, but I don't like giving myself the opportunity to second-guess myself. I never check over my exams before turning them into my professor and I wasn't about to second guess this gut feeling. I was especially curious about what Flint Hill looked like in person, but fortunatley one of my best friends is getting married there in October! I suppose we'll see it then!
But then I got back to Atlanta and decided it was time for us to book a venue. Yes, we still had 15 months until our chosen date, but I'm picky. I'm sure laid back brides who are much more flexible than I am do not need to start planning that early. I am incredibly opinionated and I knew that if I wanted my pick of the litter, I needed to get there before everyone else did. I did a lot of research and selected 15 places to further examine. I used these criteria to narrow down the list from there:
- Indoor/Outdoor: We really wanted a garden wedding, but I'm also a control freak so I wanted to make sure that we had a back-up plan in case the weather got the better of us.
- Ceremony & Reception: We're faithful and spiritual people, but we are not religious. We didn't need a church/synagogue/straw hut, and we felt that we could save money on guest transportation by having the ceremony and the reception in the same location.
- Affordable: We budgeted $12K for the venue if it included catering, $6K if it did not. We couldn't go a dime over.
- Nearby: Trying to find a place within 30 minutes of Atlanta made the affordable thing trickier, but I felt like convenience was more of a priority.
- Charming: I'm pretty quirky (as you may have noticed?) and I wanted a place with a story.
- Big Enough: We were anticipating 125-150 guests, which is in no way a large wedding. But given the charm factor that we were looking for, many venues on our list were more quaint than charming, and couldn't even hold that many.
- Flexible: We had a lot of time to plan, and a very small amount of money to spend. I planned to take advantage of that by shopping around for different vendors and by doing a lot on my own. Many venues are all-inclusive, which is super convenient for some people...but when you had as much time as we did, it was an unnecessary convenience.
Barristers Ball, 2010
Two of my favorite things in the world are the skylines and the color green. Piedmont Room has plenty of both. Piedmont Room is the special events facility at Park Tavern, one of my favorite bars in Atlanta. It overlooks Piedmont Park and the midtown skyline. Unfortunately, this one was vetoed because of the charm factor. It's BEAUTIFUL, but we needed something a little more funky.
Now we're talking charm factor! Rhodes Hall, locally known as The Castle on Peachtree, was built in 1904. It's currently used as the headquarters for the Georgia Trust, who operate Rhodes Hall in addition to other historic sites throughout the state. Rhodes Hall was more than able to accommodate our guests...outside only. Their indoor facilities, though lovely, were a little small for us. Basically, if it rained, we'd have to send some people home. I was a little disappointed, but I moved on.
I love this place. Flint Hill is an antebellum home, turned events facility. It was perfect for a garden wedding and an indoor reception. The price was right, and the woman I spoke to on the phone was fabulous! They are an all-inclusive facility, though incredibly flexible compared to their competition. Something still didn't feel right though...
Funny story about Anthony's: I'm an alumna of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and the Kappa Atlanta Alumnae Association held a luncheon at Anthony's a few years ago. Gringa Bridesmaid Emily (who is also a Kappa) decided to go and we absolutely fell in love with the place. This was long before I got engaged, but Emily still insisted on planning my wedding there. She went and found the head chef, got him to give us a tour, and we talked prices. We were just being silly but to be honest, it's been in the back of my mind ever since. Anthony's is an antebellum home, built in 1797, and it's now a restaurant in the middle of Buckhead. The garden is perfect for the ceremony, the Ladybug Room is perfect for the reception, the wine celler is a really cool place to get ready...I loved everything about it. It met all of the criteria, so we decided to go take a peek.
We made an appointment for a tour and ended up staying there for a few hours, just chatting with Mary and Amy, Anthony's wonderful coordinators. We told them we'd go look around and let them know what we decided. We decided on the five-minute drive home.
I was a little disappointed that I didn't go check out the other venues, but I don't like giving myself the opportunity to second-guess myself. I never check over my exams before turning them into my professor and I wasn't about to second guess this gut feeling. I was especially curious about what Flint Hill looked like in person, but fortunatley one of my best friends is getting married there in October! I suppose we'll see it then!
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