Creative ways of using your engagement photos

Your engagement photos certainly don't need to be in your photo album, they can be used in so many different ways.... there are endless options....

1) personalized guest book

from Tuscany albums

2) save the date or invitation

Photo credit: Jun Shien (He's another amazing photographer my assistant found... you must check out his blog!! I love photographers blogs because they seriously tell a story with their photos and I get the latest inspirations & ideas from their sites)

3) table numbers

such a cute idea, huh? Ms. Tiramisu over at weddingbee chose 20 of their favorite engagement photos as their table numbers

4) even on your cake- this one was the groom's ice cream cake!

photo credit: Jessica Claire

Sarah sent me a picture of her wedding cake designed by Kayla from Kayla's Kakes. She graduated USC with piano major and I believe the groom is in film industry. What a cute way to express what they both love and treasure in a cake design? She also incorporated her engagement photos as well!

Your relationship with the wedding coordinator

Not only do I enjoy the process of planning a wedding together with the couple, but I also really appreciate and love getting to know them throughout the process. If I were to narrow down two types of brides, they would be: an opinionated bride, who knows what she wants and is very specific with her needs; and a clueless bride who is totally lost in the planning and is indecisive in decision making. (Well, there are some who are clueless at first, but get pretty demanding later on in the process, and there are others who are opinionated at first but later end up not caring as the day approaches.) Anyways, it's always fun to get to know them, and some of them literally end up being my close friends even after the wedding.

So, which type do I prefer to work with? ha ha...well.. sort of in between the two.. but more than their personality, there needs to be a definite connection with the coordinator and the bride. And most importantly, they both need to be on the same page in terms of their expectations. If you hire a DOC(day of coordinator), then the bride can't expect a full service package and the coordinator cannot be solely responsible for the unexpected things from the vendors. 'You get what you paid for'. This applies to all the vendors, even the coordinator. As for the coordinator, you NEVER want to promise too much as if you're THE person who can make their weddings happen. You can never take all the credit after the wedding is over. It's teamwork between the couple, vendors, family & friends and the coordinator.

There also needs to be a complete trust between the coordinator and the bride, to be sure that the coordinator will take care of any sticky issue that may arise during the planning process. This will also mean that she will have to be quick, discerning, frank, and somewhat courageous to step up, even when her reputation is on the line. However, she also needs to be wise as to what to say and how to say when they hear all sorts of complaints about their in-laws, future husband to-be, parents, friends, MOH, and not to mention, some of their vendors. For this reason, you want to find someone not only resourceful but someone who knows how to deal with real life issues. As you can see, being a coordinator is more than making things pretty or being organized; she needs to handle real life crisis with poise and professionalism.
Bottom line is, whoever you choose as your coordinator, ask yourself, "Does she know my taste? Is she on the same page or ahead of me to guide me through the process?"

The Art of Same Day Edit

Same Day Edit- It's a huge hit nowadays showing highlights during dinner reception of pre-ceremony and ceremony footage edited with your favorite song. I can't imagine all the stress that the videographers need to go through, but it will definitely make an impact. People are used to seeing a photo montage when they enter the wedding reception, but a same day edit- not only it will WOW your guests but will leave the room with memories to remember. Mark Von Lanken from Picture This Productions says,"The client actually pays you to show your work to hundreds of their closest family and friends. Remember, most people didn't get to see close shots of the bride and groom as they saw each other, the emotion in their faces as they exchanged their vows, the ring slipping on the finger,but a wedding-day edit—that's truly breathtaking."

here's sample SDE video from Truvision Media
Elysium Productions is one of the top-notch videographers and is known for SDE. You gotta check out their blog if you haven't already.

Hot Tips & Sound ideas from the experts

from "Ceremony" magazine, Orange County 2007 issue
Fabulous Trends
• Small bridal parties! It makes for a more intimate experience for you and your chosen attendants. ~ Mary Dann
• Color, living décor, creative dance floors and personalized menus! ~Ava Carroll-Brown
• Midnight snacks! It is great to serve your guests a midnight snack
such as warm cookies and shots of cold milk. ~ Kimberly Bradford
• Lounges! Many rental companies and event design studios now provide lounge furniture in all shapes, sizes, textures, and colors. Have fun with it! ~ Carolyn Chen
• Add color to the tables with specialty linens.Whether they are dark chocolate brown or bright orange or pink linens, it really gives the event some extra flair. ~ Erin Bacon
Toss The Trend
• When couples decide to see one another before the ceremony! The expression on the groom’s face is priceless as his beautiful bride makes her way down the aisle. If couples must see one another beforehand, I always suggest a “private moment” for them to see one another privately for the first time. It is not only romantic and a great photo opportunity, but a moment you will treasure forever.
~ Kimberly Bradford
• A trend of the past that still lingers - table cameras! Many brides spend a lot of money developing the film only to find that they have fifty pictures of the same couple, pictures of the ceiling and floor, photos that are too dark & only a few that end up being usable. ~ Erin Bacon
• Too many sweets at the end of the night…dessert, cake, chocolate fountain, candy bar, etc. Rather than over-loading your guests with sugar, choose one or two sweet options and introduce a late night array of mini comfort foods. ~ Mary Dann
In Planning A Budget, Never Skimp On….
• Most coordinators agreed - never skimp on photography! Other popular answers included wedding coordinator, entertainment, catering and videography.
Grand Reception Ideas
• Photo booth guest books! Rent a photo booth where guests take their picture inside and the strip gets glued into a custom book where each guest signs a personal message to the couple. ~MaryDann
• Custom invitations! They set the tone for your wedding. ~ Nicole
Hirsty
• Hire a videographer who can provide same-day editing services and show highlights during the dinner reception of pre-ceremony& ceremony footage edited to your favorite song. ~ Carolyn Chen
• A themed event that reflects your passions and interests! For example, a 40’s or 50’s themed wedding set in a location that fits that era, incorporating the theme all the way from the stationery to an Elvis performer. ~ Erin Bacon
• Graduate from one space to another using elements of surprise
and décor. ~ Ava Carroll-Brown
• Incorporate family traditions, your spirituality, your culture and all the things that are important to you. You should be wined and dined with your favorite cuisine, surrounded in a garden of your favorite floral, and serenaded by your favorite musical entertainment.
~ Kimberly Bradford
Overlooked Details
• In today’s world, the importance of the actual wedding ceremony gets overlooked. Everyone is so involved in ‘getting to the party’ that they forget what the wedding day is all about. ~ Ava Carroll-Brown
• Sweetheart table! You will be photographed quite a bit here, be sure to have it decorated beautifully. ~ Nicole Hirsty
• The comfort of your guests should be a priority. Be sure to provide market umbrellas, tents, parasols or fans and water or punch on a warm day. For cooler outdoor weddings, make sure heaters provided. ~ Carolyn Chen
• Providing welcome gift bags for out of town guests…a weekend itinerary, local maps, area attraction and restaurant guides, bottled water, snacks and a scented candle. ~ Mary Dann
• Lighting! It can really change the whole look of your wedding. ~Nicole Hirsty
Additional Advice
• Don’t ask everyone’s opinion. It will only make the decisions harder to make since you don’t want to offend anyone. If you ask, just let them know you think it’s a great idea and you will take it into consideration. ~ Nicole Hirsty
• Don’t forget about the groom, it’s his day too! Get the groom involved and allow him to make decisions and have some say in the planning of this day that is for both of you. ~ Kimberly Bradford
• Have you and your groom write each other a quick note on the event day and have your coordinator exchange the two…it’s a great way to calm your nerves and remember what the day is really all about. ~ Mary Dann
• Establish a ‘reasonable’ budget. ~ Ava Carroll-Brown
• Take your time in choosing your vendors. See at least three vendors in each category, starting with your highest priority, so that you can make the best selection for your style and budget.
~ Erin Bacon.

Real Wedding- Sarah & Nick

I saw Sarah's wedding photos from The Brides Cafe and I immediately asked her to send me couple images from her wedding to share with our readers. Sarah is the owner of Truly Smitten, a couture wedding paper company and her wedding was truly beautiful and full of little details. Do check out Sarah's blog!

Another excellent example of using yellow, white & black! Well done Sarah!

What's inside of Esther's Emergency Kit??

As I'm swamped preparing for this weekend's & next week's weddings, I purchased a new emergency kit and I have no reservations in sharing what's in my box of tricks. If you're a bride, you probably won't need all of these items, so I listed them out separately. There's a difference between Bride's EK with wedding planner's EK and I promise you these items will come very handy.
Bridal EK essentials
Sewing Kit, including safety pins and small scissors
Clear nail polish (helpful for stocking runs)
Nail file
Blotting paper (Clean & Clear- blue one works best)
Hairspray
Brush and comb
Bobbypins and hair elastics
Hand lotion
Tissues
Earring backs
Baby powder (also useful for getting out last-minute spills on a white dress)
Eye-drops (look for redness reducing)
Acid relief,Antacid, Mints,
Tampons and pads
Headache medicine
Band-Aids
deodorant
Cotton swabs and etc...
Esther's EK essentials Just in case if you're curious :D
including all those items listed above... I also carry
2 pair of scissors
2 lighters (absolutely needed for lighting candles)
Packaging tape, duck tape, double sided tape ( you name it, I need them all)
Glue gun , super glue, rubber cement
Wire clips, wire(different sizes), fishing wire ( to hang paper lanterns)
Push pins, staples, sharpies (different colors)
Straws (for drinking without messing up lipstick)
Tape measure
Extra cell phone charger( Yes!!)
Thank you cards for vendors' & extra envelopes for tips
Extra lables ( just in case if we need to change escort cards)
Lint Remover


By the way,I purchased mine at Target! :) Oh, how I love Target...
Have a wonderful weekend and stay tuned for a beautiful wedding in Napa this Sunday~