Save Money on Your Wedding Photography
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Finding a photographer for our wedding was perhaps the most difficult part of my wedding planning. I went and interviewed with countless photographers, and I just couldn’t find one that felt right.
Some charged by the hour, some charged by the hour and received costs for wedding packages, and some just charged for packages, and I really had no idea which way to turn. Also, it appeared that my wedding photography would be the most costly part of the wedding, more than serving a dinner for 175+ people. I just couldn’t accept that, and tried to find any alternative I could.
As you know by now, I don’t agree with vendors charging more than they normally would simply because they are supplying for a wedding instead of a family. So, if you are looking for some way to cut your photography budget without losing quality photographs, here are some great things I found out to help you save money and still get great quality photographs.
1. Check your Local Colleges
Most colleges have a photography department full of competent, talented photographers. Not only that, but these students have a creativity and eagerness that you find lacking in some photographers who have been in the business a long time. Call the photography department and speak to one of the professors, and ask for a meeting with one or several of their top students. They’ll know who will do the best job. Ask the student to name you a price and let you know what is available with the equipment they have. Our wedding photographer had an advanced digital camera, and was able to burn all images to a CD for us to keep and make our own prints at home, as well as doing some larger prints and mattes, and albums. Not only that, but she had a website where all her pictures were posted, so family and friends could visit and purchase pictures from her website as well.
2.Talk to your Family and Friends
You’d be surprised who your family and friends really know. A friend of theirs who does photography on the side, or out of their home for the pure enjoyment of it? No doubt there is someone they work with who isn’t listed in the phone book, doesn’t have a professional studio, but who can still produce quality wedding photographs at a fraction of the cost of a studio.
3. Don’t be Afraid to Negotiate the Deal
I don’t know why, but most people today are afraid to negotiate costs. If your photographer only charges by the packages they provide, and not the hours, then don’t be afraid to ask for different packages if none of them attract your attention. If you don’t see yourself needing six 8×10 photographs, then ask instead for the number you need, and ask what difference that would have on your package cost. Also, see if you can get a discount on your engagement or bridal portraits if you hire them to do your wedding photography. Remember, it never hurts to ask, and all they can do is say no.
For me, my wedding photography was the most important part of the day. I wanted to be able to remember the day for years to come with quality pictures. I ended up hiring someone who had majored in photography, but worked another job, and did photography for families and couples on the weekends for extra money. I was extremely pleased with the way the pictures turned out. Remember that just because you are hiring a photographer for a wedding does not mean you need to pay out the nose for it.
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5 Unique Gift Ideas For Your Friends
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Are you never quite sure what to get for your friends in your life? Better yet, maybe you’re the one who got a birthday or special occasion coming up and would really enjoy a little gift yourself. Here are some awesome gift ideas to give or get for yourself or someone special.
Key Chains
Speaking as someone who loves and collects key chains (I have hundreds of key chains from all over the world, including Japan and Australia), I can say these are wonderful gifts which can range in price from just a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. They can be personalized, engraved or etched. They can include birthstones, charms, or even a favorite quote. They come in all sizes and materials from silver to gold, plastic to vinyl and everything in between. They’re also fun to collect, easy to buy and light to carry, especially during travel.
Gift Cards
Who doesn’t love a gift card or gift certificate from their favorite auto supply store? They come in almost all denominations and can be used to purchase anything in the store, from wash and wax kits to engine parts and everything in between. A gift card from a favorite full service car wash is another great idea, especially for someone who likes to keep their car looking clean and sharp. Fuel cards are another good idea. Who would not love a $25.00 or $50.00 gift card from a local gas station - especially these days?
Model Kits & Jigsaw Puzzles
Believe it or not, there are still people who love to work with model cars and trucks or who enjoy spending a leisurely weekend twisting a jigsaw puzzle together - especially if it’s one which includes their favorite mode of transportation. Jigsaw puzzles come in all sizes and can now be glued, framed and hung on the wall, so don’t forget the puzzle glue!
Personalized Gifts
These days, almost anything can be personalized, from mouse pads to t-shirts to calendars. You can do have a lot of fun crafting a gift yourself by visiting your local hobby store to buy supplies or take a favorite photo to a local print shop, where it can be transferred on to a yearly calendar, book bag or poster. You can also visit websites online where you can upload images from your computer and craft just about anything, including coffee mugs, magnets and more!
Here is a unique gift idea - custom hand made figurine. You can click on Unique Gift Idea and visit the website. Find suitable pre-made figurines and provide them some photos. They will use the photos as references and create a truly one of a kind!
Even if you can’t find any pre-made figurines that you prefer, you always can request for fully custom made figurine. It will totally be made based on the photos of their clothes and or activities that they like to do. It will be awesome! The one who received the gift will definitely surprise and treasure it forever as they’ll always be reminded of the friendship.
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A Unique Personalized Anniversary Gift That Will Be Remembered
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Anniversaries are special occasions that require special gifting thoughts. Your usual gift just won’t work because the recipient is expecting something special to make the occasion memorable. And if you can make it momentous, the recipient will never forget the anniversary throughout his or her life. Why not think out of the box, something unique and personalized?
Instead of getting them a “normal” gift, try to find something unique that will surprise and cherish them. A unique or personalized anniversary gift should be something memorable from the heart. That’s why custom made figurine so popular among people who want to get something unique and personalized for their love one.
This anniversary gifts are not just unique, but their impact is maximum on the mind of the recipient. Whether it’s a birth anniversary, wedding anniversary, or even a pet birth anniversary, you can always rely on customized figurines to do the job for you. Gone are the days, when custom made figurines used to be the exclusive domain of celebrities. These innovative little toy-like things are now available at reduced prices so that even masses can make a gifting impact on the anniversaries of their loved ones.
The best part of anniversary custom made figurines is the ease with which they can be customized and personalized to give a unique feeling. The figurine face can be personalized into a look-alike of the recipient with the help of just a latest photograph of the recipient. The figurine costumes can be customized according to the anniversary. For instance, an anniversary custom made figurine can be transformed into a groom and a bride. Additionally, theme-based anniversary custom made figurines are a great way of adding another hue to your gift.
Similarly, birth anniversaries can be made memorable by gifting theme-based personalized and customized figurine. They may look miniature from the gifting point of view, but customized and personalized figurines can be termed as pocket-sized dynamos that have maximum effect on the recipient’s mind. Of all the gifts that he or she might have received on the anniversary, your personalized gift will definitely shine through.
In fact, custom made figurine make a great present for any special occasion. The company team of expert artists can replicate the young hockey player in your family, the university graduate in your household and even a beloved pet.
Wedding Gift Idea features a large variety of unique gift giving ideas for baby, wedding, men and women, office or home! I will definitely recommend this site to anyone who is looking for a unique personalized anniversary gift that will be remember.
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Princess Cut Engagement Ring
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Lots of guys out there who are fixing to pop the question, and you know what question I mean, are faced with multiple decisions and questions. How should I do it? Should I have the ring first, or should we pick it out together later? What kind of engagement ring should I get? And of course, the nagging question on some men’s mind, Will she say yes? I know that my husband went through the same questions and thoughts while he was planning on proposing. One of the questions he worked through really well though, was which kind of engagement ring to get, and that was a princess cut engagement ring. I loved my engagement ring, it was what I had always dreamed of, and impressively enough, he found out the answer himself. So, here is how my husband found out that a princess cut engagement ring was right for me, and maybe his methods will work for other guys out there looking to pop the question.
Look at Her Current Jewelry
What really helped my husband choose a princess cut engagement ring for me, was just his observation of some of the rings and jewelry that I already had before we got engaged. I already had a nice princess cut stone ring, in a light aqua color that my parents had bought me at graduation, and while we were dating, my husband would look at the ring and ask questions about it. From that, he knew that I preferred princess cut stones with white gold bands, and would love a princess cut engagement ring. While he was looking for the perfect princess cut engagement ring, he took one of my other rings from my jewelry box and had it sized to find out what size ring I was. So, that worked out really well too.
Talk to Her Friends and Family
First of all, before talking to her friends and family, be sure that you talk to someone you can really trust to keep your secret, so that it will stay a surprise. Once you find someone that you trust, then ask them what kind of rings you think that your girlfriend would prefer, and take their opinions seriously. Be sure to ask about what cut of diamond you think she prefers, as well if she wants a yellow or white gold band. After all, not every girl out there wants a princess cut engagement ring.
The princess cut engagement ring is a pretty new cut of diamond that has taken hold and gotten popular in the last decade or so. But remember that a princess cut engagement ring may not be right for every girl out there, some prefer older fashioned rings, or even engagement rings with other stones besides diamonds, or a yellow gold band. My identical twin sister preferred a round cut diamond instead of a princess cut engagement ring, so don’t make any assumptions when it comes to the ring. So, like I said, the princess cut engagement ring that my husband picked out was perfect, and the ring that you pick out for your girlfriend should be something that you know she will love and cherish for the years to come. Happy hunting!
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Be a Knight in Shining Armour on Your Wedding Day!
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Are you the groom and thought about being a knight in shining armour?
Or if you are the lady maybe you’d like to be the princess being swept off her feet?
It’s such a romantic ideal that many of us have had since we were youngsters and some of us would like to bring a bit of that dream into reality.
It’s such a boring thing having wedding cake toppers that don’t do anything to enhance your medieval ideal. You might have already picked a theme that would do you proud .
What does medieval wedding cake toppers represent? Romanticism, old fashioned chivalry, bravery, heroism and adventure. What a great message to send everyone at your wedding. It’s also a great way to show your partner how much you love them with this very subtle message.
Who wouldn’t want to be that brave knight sweeping the damsel in distress completely off her feet? Maybe there is a dragon around here that you could slay as well. Even though it was centuries ago when all this first came about, it’s never too late to bring those times back with your own medieval wedding cake toppers.
As difficult as it may be these days to find a stock standard topper with this kind of theme, it is possible to get your own custom made. What’s even better is you can get this done with your photos and images of your choosing. As crazy as it may sound, having a medieval wedding cake topper is closer than you think!
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Design Your Own Engagement Ring
Wedding Gift Idea - Get Your Personalized Wedding Gift and Unique Wedding Gift Ideas
Guys, perhaps you are thinking about popping the question, or maybe you’ve already popped the question, and now you and your fiance are shopping for engagement rings.
If you are having problems finding an engagement ring that you love, one option open to you that many couples are choosing to do today is to design your own engagement ring. Being able to design your own engagement ring helps to create an engagement ring that is truly unique, just like your true love is totally unique. Perhaps her tastes in rings don’t match up with the engagement rings you see in jewelry stores today, or the thought of being able to design your own engagement ring just seems more romantic.
Whatever the case, you can’t go wrong when you design your own engagement ring. There are several methods you can use to design your own engagement ring, and you’ll have to investigate each one to find the method right for you.
Design Your Own Engagement Ring on the Internet
With the technology available today it is surprisingly easy to design your own engagement ring. There are several websites which sell engagement rings that have a section which will enable you to design your own engagement ring. Simply click on the section, and following the simple directions and steps given to create the engagement ring of your dreams. Many of the websites have an excellent interactive tool to help you choose the shape and size of the diamond, and create the perfect ring setting. Any site that is worth anything will tell you the tips in How to Choose a Great Diamond.
Design Your Own Engagement Ring Through a Diamond Broker
This is how my husband was able to design my engagement ring. He worked through a friend who knew an upstanding, trustworthy, and most importantly, certified diamond broker. (A side note here, diamond brokers sell diamonds at a much lower cost because of less overhead so you can get a bigger and better diamond for the cost you’d buy an OK smaller diamond for in a retail store) He worked with this diamond broker and purchased a loose stone, and then chose a setting for the diamond to go into. It worked out really well for us, and if you are wanting to design your own engagement ring, I would recommend this route to anyone.
Design Your Own Engagement Ring Through a Jeweler
This one could be a bit more difficult as most jewelers do not allow each customer to be able to design their own engagement rings. If you can find one though, it is always advisable to purchase the diamond separately and then look at settings.
Engagement ring designs are easily the most sought after type of jewelry, and the choice is yours to design your own engagement ring. Taking the time to design your own engagement ring shows how much you love her, and with all of the different options available to you in being able to design your own engagement ring, you’re sure to design an engagement ring that is truly unique.
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Unique Wedding Cake Toppers for Wedding Couples
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Unique wedding cake toppers will probably be the best choice for you if you are not the “standard” Caucasian couple that is getting married (but even if you are in a Caucasian relationship, read on because it will apply to you as well). The reason why I say that is because I’ve noticed that just about all the wedding cake toppers out there only cater to Caucasian couples that are in a bridal gown and tuxedo.
Why is that?
Getting Married With Cultural Differences
Are you in an inter-racial or mixed heritage relationship? I am and it’s a little sad that so many manufacturers of wedding cake toppers choose to only make these types of plastic decorations. For a day that is supposed to be the most special day of your life, it sure is a little unfair to have something like that imposed on you and not have the choice of what type of decorations there are out there.
If you are an African American, Hispanic, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese descendant then you probably are like the other 2/3rds of the world’s population that isn’t being catered for. What makes it a little more difficult for you is if you are in a mixed heritage relationship. In the past, couples in these kinds of relationships had a very hard time finding a suitable wedding cake topper or did without. Even more so if you were in a gay or lesbian relationship.
Unique Wedding Cake Toppers - The New Option!
There is light at the other end of the tunnel. What you need for your wedding cake are unique wedding cake toppers!
In the past to make a custom wedding cake topper it would set you back $1500 or more! For the extremely wealthy this wasn’t a big deal. Reason being is that the wedding day is so special and seen as a one off event so wealthy couples wouldn’t even bat an eyelid to that price.
Well for those that would like to have the option of unique wedding cake toppers that cater just for the couple there is another option. Those are the new breed of custom made figurines. You can get pre-designed bodies and get you and your partners faces sculpted for as little as $100 per figurine. Now isn’t that a bargain!
Prices have come down so much that you can even get your own full custom made figurines for as little as $180 per figurine. That includes the body, clothes, mounting, everything! Isn’t that a kick in the pants to get your own unique wedding cake topper?
If you are sick and tired of the same plastic and lifeless figurines, go for unique wedding cake toppers that look just like you. Not only are you personalizing your cake, but you’ll also impress all your guests as well! (not to mention that they make great keepsakes for years to come).
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White Wedding Shoes
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It is very important to find the right pair of wedding shoes can be for a bride but I feel that there really isn’t a lot of information out there about wedding shoes.
I remember when I was getting married, I wanted a pair of white wedding shoes that were most importantly, comfortable.
First of all, my feel are shaped kind of funny, and so it takes me a while to break in a new pair of shoes. Also, I’m not real comfortable with wearing heels when I know that I’m going to be on my feet all day. That really goes for a pair of white wedding shoes that I haven’t been able to break in yet. So I knew that I wanted my white wedding shoes to be a comfortable pair of shoes that I could wear all day without my feet hurting. So when I was shopping for the perfect pair of white wedding shoes, I had some idea of what I was looking for, but didn’t really know where to start looking. So, if you are looking for the perfect pair of white wedding shoes to complete your wedding day look, then here are some great places to start.
White Wedding Shoes from a Bridal Boutique
Perhaps the best place to find a great pair of white wedding shoes is at your local bridal boutique. They typically have some very elegant pairs of white wedding shoes to wear with your dress in a variety of styles to choose from. Be careful with buying your wedding shoes from one of those boutiques though, they are not really known for having excellent prices. But, if you fall in love with a particular pair they have, then wait for a sale to be able to save some money later.
White Wedding Shoes from a Shoe Store
You can find a cheaper pair of white wedding shoes if you go and look in a discount shoe store. The only problem with this is that it can be really hard to find a pair of all white wedding shoes that you will be able to use for your wedding. I found my wedding shoes from a shoe store (Payless to be exact), and was lucky that it was spring time so that there were a few pairs of all white shoes that I could use for my white wedding shoes. Another idea that you can use to find some white wedding shoes are to use a pair of all white tennis shoes, which I talk more about in a previous article, Wedding Tennis Shoes
White Wedding Shoes from the Internet
Another idea for finding a pair of white wedding shoes is to look on the Internet. If you have pretty normal feet (unlike me, my feet are so narrow!), then this will probably work for you. You can find lots of white wedding shoes from different sites off of the Internet, such as wedding ballet slippers, or other wedding shoes that you can’t find near you. Whatever you do though, find a great deal on a pair of white wedding shoes.
It’s really not too difficult to find a great pair of white wedding shoes that you can wear with your wedding dress. Determine what kinds of shoes you feel most comfortable wearing, and then find a great pair of shoes that you can wear that will fit the bill.
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