Wedding Wednesday: Photography

Thank you for being as excited as I was about our Style Me Pretty feature! Now, back to the Wedding Wednesday programming. Today we are talking all things wedding photography. If you have any wedding photography related questions let me know in the comments!

When looking for a photographer I didn't really have much background information to go on. So I do what most adults do… I took to the internets! A quick Google search for "Nashville Wedding Photographers" brought up local photogs with prices that ranged from $1,500 to $10,000 to "investment". I knew that our wedding budget couldn't handle those who were asking for an "investment", & if I had told Tyler that a photographer could charge $10,000 he would have cried. So I called/emailed the mid-range vendors ($2,000 - $5,000) to get the scoop.

I email interviewed a few & quickly crossed most off the list of potentials - too many exceptions, too much money, already booked on our date, etc.

We ended up sitting down in person with 2 photographers, & just felt a click with Jessica of Jessica Ranae Photography. Her prices were right, she offered all the amenities we were looking for with out any extras we didn't want to pay for, & she was just a joyful human that we knew we would enjoy working with throughout the whole process.

Jessica ended up doing our engagement photos (2 different shoots, over 2 different days in 2 locations, one with both pugs!), & was with us the ENTIRE day of our wedding (9a - 11p). Before the wedding she sent us a lovely package with a personalized hanger (as seen in our photos) & the 5 Love Languages book. After the wedding she sent us a gorgeous package with special prints, thumb drives with all the prints & a copy of our full rights for photos (to take to photo printing places if needed, which has already come in handy). During it all, Jessica was easy to get ahold of, extremely up front/straight forward. 

As I didn't have a wedding planner (just a day of coordinator), Jessica was also indispensable in figuring out much of our wedding schedule leading up to the big day (so much stress eliminated thanks to her calm & reassuring presence!) She was flat out amazing!

Looking for your own wedding photographer? 
Things to consider:
- Cost (Remember to think about the base price + photo prices + day of tips + any extras)
- What your package includes (engagement photos? number of locations? hour limit?)
- What you actually want. Don't want bridal portraits, don't pay for a package that includes them. Looking for 2 shooters, make sure your photographer offers it!

Look for:
- Full rights over pictures (so you can print them how you want, when you want)
- Unlimited time on the day of (some photographers I looked at had a 4 hour limit, can you imagine hitting your time limit & your photographer missing your epic exit? Or having to decide to dish out major bucks just for them to capture your get-away-car moment? No thank you!)
- Someone you enjoy working with. You are going to spend MANY hours together, as magical as you imagine the big day, taking photos gets tiring, you need a positive person who you truly like.)

Jessica is no longer a Nashville photographer, but you lucky brides-to-be in The Twin Cities of Saint Paul, MN & surrounding areas be sure to look her up!

All photos by Jessica Ranae Photography.

weekend reading: 07.12.14

1 // 2 // 3

This weekend why don't you :: bust out the feminine prints!

{what you might have missed on Here&Now}

{1.}  Great Giveaways: $100 Target gift card, $300 cash + 3 gold foil prints, $500 Visa gift card (ends soon!)

{2.} #teacherstyle - power pants.

{3.} The hunt for Summer shorts.

{4.} Wedding Wednesday: honeymoon packing tips.

{5.}  Dressing for Summer, but thinking of Fall.

{6.} Get to know me a little more - Interview by Grown Up Truth. 

{posts I'm loving around the internets}

{1.} Is another social media channel the last thing you need? Well, here is one argument for why Google+ should be on your radar.

{2.} I love getting a peek into another blogger's budgeting tips… especially one that is so well traveled! 

{3.} Shooting in RAW… on my to do list, but I haven't tackled it yet. Do you do RAW?

{4.} A topic close to my heart - how to take your own outfit photos. 

{5.} 7 friends everyone woman needs… which one are you?

Wedding Wednesday: For the Guys

I of course have tons more to over share in regards to our wedding, way more than would fit into "Wedding Week", so from now until I get it all out, I hereby decree Wedding Wednesday.

This week is all about the guys. I have to hand it to Tyler, I mostly let the guys just do their thing, plan their outfits, & show up on the day… & they totally rocked it! It certainly doesn't hurt that Ty has the most amazing group of guy friends, wonderful people that kept me laughing all day long, kind souls that helped my parents clean up at the end of the night, & ran tons of errands for us the next day while we were jet setting to the beach.

When I started out the planning process about a year ago, I was surprised that this collage I made of my "boho groomsmen" vision got pinned so many times on Pinterest! I guess other people are just as clueless as I was about what the menfolk should be wearing!

It was actually Tyler's idea to have the guys wear mix-matched but similar pants. I was trying to explain what the ladies were doing (see their fabulousness here), & Tyler thought that the guys were getting to pick out their outfits too… after I heard the record screech to a halt noise in my head, I had to agree, it wasn't a bad idea (he does in fact have a few of those from time to time)…. off topic, but why is attempting to explain Pinterest to a man harder than communicating with a giraffe? 

The groomsmen outfit directive was: bring your own pair of charcoal grey pants, a white button down, & navy suspenders. Tyler supplied the matching ties & navy Converse sneakers. Seriously, most of the guys already owned the pants + shirts and only ended up purchasing a $5 set of suspenders from Amazon. Budget friendly indeed! And they went home with a classic pair of Converse and versatile tie from J.Crew… happy friends!

The other men's attire decision we had to make was vests, jackets, vests & jackets, jackets no vests, or none of the above. We went with no vests + no jackets for the groomsmen, and Tyler went with no vest + jacket for the ceremony, but then removed the jacket for the reception (you did see his sweet dance moves in the wedding video, riiiiight… he of course can't be encumbered by a jacket when he is busting out the stanky leg on the dance floor!)

Did you have any groom/groomsmen attire dilemmas?

Anyone else go jacket-less?

Let's here it for the guys!

all photos by Jessica Ranae Photography

If you are looking to recreate a similar look for your groomsmen, here are my top accessory picks:

Wedding Week: Etsy Finds

Last day of wedding week! I know that Pinterest is now a huge resource for brides planning their big day, but another great place I found inspiration was Etsy. We definitely wanted our ceremony & reception to have a bit of a made-with-love personal touch, so finding unique, handmade items on Etsy was a huge procrastination tool at work fount of goodies!

These are the things that came to me in cute boxes from talented people all over the US via Etsy:
1. Flower crowns 

baby flower crowns 

2. Pug bow ties

3. Tassel garlands - use these on 2 tables and some large balloons too! 

4. sequin hangers

5 . bridesmaid knot rings - I forgot in yesterday's Bridesmaids box, but this is a peek into what I sent when I asked to be a part of our wedding. A note, my request, and a knot ring, with the tag "thanks for helping me tie the knot"…. a tee hee!

6. embroidered parent hankies 

We also got our chalkboard stickers on Etsy! You can check out all my favorites on Etsy here. Some things that were made/gifted to me, but I've also seen great versions of them on Etsy.

return address stamp - saves your hand so much!

What have you found on Etsy lately?

I hoped you liked Wedding Week. If you missed a post, catch up:

Our Wedding Video trailer, saying yes to The Dress, where we saved vs. splurged, and bridesmaids.

And a wedding related giveaway! If you want to win tickets to the Nashville Not Wedding, enter here.

Wedding Week: Bridesmaids

I owe a big shootout to my lovely bridesmaids. They hosted showers, traveled many miles, partied down at my bachelorette party, purchased gifts, gave heartfelt toasts, saved the day by convincing the venue coordinator to let us use the sky lanterns last minute, and were just the best friends any gal could have. 

Oh and they did a super swell job of taking my annoyingly vague dress shopping directions of "blush chiffon", to create the best mixed bridesmaid dress roundup I've ever seen!

Tips for making your best friends happy during your engagement, wedding planning & big day?

1. Be upfront about your expectations. When you ask your ladies to be a part of your day, include the activities/costs that you expect as their duties. Having a destination wedding, with a destination bachelorette party and dreams of your bridesmaids footing the bill for their Vera Wang dresses… it's only nice that you tell them that!

2. And then stick to what you said. If you say, "I don't need you at my shower" & then get super hurt that they don't show up, that is poor communication. You still want to be friends after the wedding day!

3. Give them clear directions & then let them actually do their assigned jobs without you micromanaging. They are not only your closest friends that know you better than anyone else, they are also totally capable adults. Don't lose sight of this during the wedding planning craze.

4. Treat them right - say thank you, get them a token of your appreciation (I went with pretty robes to get ready in on the Big Day), remember to ask about their lives, go out for lady dates, don't forget to be a good friend back.

Any Bridesmaids horror stories or tips you have learned as either the bride or bridesmaid?

I'd love to hear them!

Wedding Week: Save vs. Splurge

Let's just get something out of the way - most weddings aren't cheap. Tyler & I wanted to have an amazing day, but we didn't want to start our lives together with wedding debt. So we pinpointed some of the areas we were willing to spend more on & then did our best to save, save, save on the other parts. For us, we wanted good food, plenty of booze, music, & a space big enough for all of our family and friends without whittling away the guest list. Working with the family members that helped fund our nuptials, we set a budget & it ruled all planning decisions we made. If not, things can get out of hand & quickly!

So where did we save the most?

1. DIY flowers - after getting a quote from a local florist for $4,000+ I had to reassess my flower design dreams. My stepmom mentioned using silk flowers & I immediately turned up my bratty nose. I associated silk flowers with icky 80s arrangements & funerals… not what I was going for. But then I found Afloral.com & had to eat my words (typical… you think I would learn!)

Turns out I could have all my flower dreams, for 1/5th the price & without having to worry about wilting! For about $750 I purchased all the flowers for the wedding (centerpieces, bouquets, boutonnieres, etc.) & was able to assemble them months ahead of time to cut down on last minute stress. Amount saved? $3,250.

In the market for silk flowers? I thought the peonies & anemones looked very realistic. Shop these: here, here, here, here & here. (our photographer didn't even believe me they were silk & they stayed fresh looking all day!)

2. Crafty family & friends - my sister made my veil & wrote on the chalkboards, my stepmom made my garter, my mom made the flower girl dresses, my aunt and cousin made our entry way picture (out of a vintage window, so cool!), my grandparents designed & made our Mr. & Mrs. chair signs, a friend made our cut cake, & two of my friends played the ceremony music. Amount saved? Family touches are priceless!

3. Affordable Wedding Party Attire - Asking your wedding party to pony up for bachelor/bachelorette parties, showers, engagement parties, gifts, flights to your wedding AND an outfit… that's not nice. We wanted to make sure that our friends enjoyed being a part of our party & still had money left in their pockets. The ladies got to pick out their own blush chiffon dresses & wore shoes/accessories they already owned. The gents wore charcoal pants and white button downs they already had & Ty gifted them their shoes and ties. All they had to pick up were $5 suspenders. Amount saved? Friendships.

4. Booze - we splurged on our venue, but they let us pick our own vendors, allowing us to save or spend as much as we wanted on these services. Some venues lock you into using their vendors, including wine packages that can start at $15 a bottle (& that's for the cheap stuff!) By sticking with only wine and beer & getting to buy it in bulk from our bargain liquor store, we saved big & everyone's cups stayed full all night long. Amount saved? $3,000+

5. Guest Favors & Sky Lanterns - the key here is to buy early & in bulk quantities if possible. We knew that we wanted mason jar guest favors & a Chinese lantern grand exit, so we bought these on the wedding off season & in bulk all at one time. You could also look for Groupons or re-sale items on wedding message boards. Total spent = $300. Amount saved? $1,000.

As I mentioned, we splurged on our venue, photography/videography & professionals to do our lights, DJ & photo booth services. The biggest thing is to sketch out what your perfect day looks like & then focus the most funds on the non-negotiables for making that vision happen. Some things are cornerstones of your dream day, while others (ahem, $2000 draping… true story) are going to only be noticed by you. 

Firsthand tip: When it comes to DIYs, DIY early, or do NOT DIY at all. For the sake of your sanity, do not plan on doing major DIY crafting the month before. Your friends, family & future husband will thank you!

Married people, what were your saves vs. splurges? 

all photographs, Jessica Ranae Photography.

Wedding Week: Saying Yes to the Dress

I couldn't help but show a sneak peek of our big day on Friday, but now wedding week is officially underway! 

As much as I love fashion/clothes/shopping & all that, The Dress was not the top of my wedding day MUSTS. Sure I needed a dress to wear, but it wasn't one of the details that I OBSESSED over. That is until I won a 20% off coupon to a boutique wedding dress shop in Brooklyn, New York. Thus the idea was sparked that my sister & I just had to take a trip to NYC for wedding dress shopping. My sister & I hadn't ever taken a solo trip together, so it was a great way to celebrate sisterhood and my entry to the world of married people. You might remember that weekend whirlwind recap, but if not, check it out here.

Obviously, the first time I tried on wedding dresses, I hadn't ever done it before, and learned as I went. So I thought that sharing my experiences might be helpful to others out there too!

Some factors to consider BEFORE you shop, selecting a store:
1. What is the range of prices carried? If your max budget is $1,000 & the dresses at that shop START at $1,000 you might want to pass. Sure they might have ONE $1,000 dress, but you are going to fall in love with the $3,000 one every time Budgeting is much easier when you aren't temped by gorgeous white gowns… they blind you I tell ya!

2. Do they allow you to take pictures? If you aren't sure you want to lay down the big bucks and take the dress home that same day, pictures to remember the dresses by are key, but not all places let you snap away. 

3. Is there a sample sale coming up? Again, if you can wait for a sale, it might be worth it to your precious budget. Call around, these are mostly openly advertised.

4. Champagne? I mean, you want to make it an experience, right!? Call ahead & have that bubbly ready for you on ice!

On the big day, don't forget:
1. Your shoes, undergarments, accessories. Sure you might not have the exact pieces yet, but start to get an idea. Do you want a sash? Should you bring the flower crown that you purchased the day after you got engaged, even if it means wearing it on the plane so it doesn't get crushed in your carry-on… probably.

Also, most bridal salons put the dress on you, so whatever you are wearing under your clothes they will see it. TIP - at least bring a nude no-show panty and nude strapless bra for starters.

2. Do your hair & makeup. You are going to be done up the day you actually wear the dress, so take extra time to gussy yourself up for the try-ons. You will feel more bridal.

3. Patience! Yes, this is YOUR time, but you also might be 1 of 10 brides in the shop that day… patience my dear!

4. Not everyone cries when they find The One. TV shows might have ruined us on this one. When you put on the dress you end up buying, you might not get all emotional, everyone is different. 

Biggest advice (applies to all aspects of wedding planning) - when you make a decision, stick with it and move forward. Once you walk out of the store gown in hand, that is your gown (again, your budget will thank you).

So now, where I tried on dresses.

Dress Shop 1: Olia Zavozina, Nashville TN

I already had the NYC trip booked, but my Maid Of Honor was in town, so we popped into this local designer's Nashville dress shop. It was hands down the sweetest, least stressful dress shopping experience I had - bestie, bubbly, beautiful dresses. This designer's line is also now carried at Nordstrom for anyone interested.

Dress Shop 2: J.Crew 5th Avenue Wedding Salon, NYC

Wow, what a let down! I always imagined myself in a J.Crew gown, but this dress shopping experience ruined it for me. Unfortunately my sister's plane was delayed, so I had to go to this appointment alone. They put you in a dressing room with the dress options they have on hand (usually 3 - 6), then walk away and leave you. Lots of selfies and "do I look pregnant" in this thoughts later… I was out of there! 

The upside - in the grand scheme of things, these gowns were pretty affordable. I liked the one in the middle the most for $600.

 Dress Shop 3: Macy's Herald Square Bridal Department, NYC

Definitely the most options here! But no bubbly & no pictures allowed (we broke the rules… shhhh) Overall we left feeling overwhelmed. The prices were decent for a major department store (start at $1,000), & if you have a clear idea of what you want going in, Macy's most likely has it. I was waiting for the right dress to find me, so that many available options was not helping me narrow down what exactly that was.

Dress Shop 4: The White Gown, Brooklyn NY

This is the shop I had won the discount to, & the final stop on our wedding dress shop tour. I immediately LOVED the vibe of this shop. Boutique like, every dress was absolutely stunning, and superb bride treatment! I ultimately fell in love with 2 dresses, & knew that one of them would be MY DRESS… I probably put them each on 5 times, going back and forth. Again, I made my decision and then stuck with it, but even now, I know I made the right choice for me!

Dress 1 was covered in lace, with an open back and fitted through the hips.

Dress 2 was fitted to the waist and then flowy, with a totally open back and dotted Swiss tulle.

Once I put it on with the veil I had this "OMG I'm getting married" freak out… in a totally good way!

So that is my wedding dress shopping story. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments!

P.S. Nashville bride-to-be ladies, don't forget to enter to win tickets to The Not Wedding!

Wedding Week: Tyler + Jessica

Well, this has been a long & crazy week, so I decided to start the wedding reveal festivities early!

Hiring a videographer was a decision we waffled over for months! It was on the expensive side, we already had an amazing photographer lined up, did we really need a wedding video? I started casually looking around the internets for local videographers & stumbled upon John Hillin's beautiful work. After watching perfect strangers' wedding videos with tears streaming down my face, I knew we had to work with John. (Funny story, Tyler walked into the room when I was watching wedding videos on my laptop & thought that something was horribly wrong… what can I say, I'm an ugly crier!)

Fast forward to the big day, & John was a total rockstar. We had a ball hanging out, and I am blown away by the footage he captured. I literally don't know when he captured some of the little details… sneaky sneaky! I thought the wedding video trailer would be a good place to start with the "wedding week" coverage, so you can see the big picture of our wedding, and then next week I will focus on some more of the details. (If you have any wedding planning questions, let me know & I will try to cover them!)

So without further adieu, our video. You can click and watch below, or check it out on John's website (spoiler: if you head over there you will get sucked in watching touching videos of other people get married, and will probably cry... you've been warned)

Jessica + Tyler // Wedding Trailer from John Hillin Videography on Vimeo.

*for clarification, Tyler & I did a "first look" before the actual ceremony and read our personal vows to each other then. This was a very sweet & emotional time, and I'm so thankful that we got this time to just the two of us (+ 2 photographers & 1 videographer…but just the 5 of us doesn't sound as catchy!)

And, because it's Friday & we all could use a little extra reason to celebrate, I have a wedding related giveaway!

Last year I got to not only participate in a bachelorette themed shoot for The Not Wedding, I also attended their big fat fake wedding when the awesomeness rolled into Nashville. This is not your mother's wedding vendor fair. The Not Wedding is local vendors throwing a "wedding", the only exception, no one is actually getting married. 

But you can see the vendors in action, soak up inspiration & enjoy champagne + wedding cake! I definitely LOVED the rustic/industrial look their used in the Nashville Not Wedding last year & directly incorporated it into our big day.

If you are a local bride-to-be, or have a friend who is, The Not Wedding is giving away 2 pairs of tickets to the 2nd Nashville Not Wedding, July 18th. I will be there & would love to hang out with you too!

Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Two winners will be chosen at random to receive 2 tickets each. The Not Wedding will be contacting the winners directly.

a Rafflecopter giveaway