Many couples like to store their wedding photos in an album. It must be emphasized that not all photographers offer albums to their clients, so if you want one, you should make sure they offer it in advance. There are a number of different photo albums you can purchase. They will differ in their sizes, materials, and prices. The couple should decide together what type of album they’re interested in having. No matter which one you choose, it should be one that you will be proud to show to your family. Two companies which are known for producing high quality photo albums include Renaissance and Art Leather.

Before you decide which photo album you want to purchase, you will first need to look at the differences between the selection. It is also important for couples to select the process that will be used to finish their photos. The photographer of your choice should be able to show you the different finishes they use. Some of the most popular finishes are pebble, luster, glossy, and oil. There are also a number of things you will want to pay attention to when you hire a photographer. First, they should be someone who specializes in weddings. Wedding photography is different from other forms of photography, and it is much more exclusive.

You don’t want to hire a photographer who doesn’t specialize in weddings, because they may not produce a level of quality that is sufficient for the event. A photographer who specializes in weddings will be familiar with the ceremony, and they will know when to take your photos. It is also important for you to get to know the photographer before the event. Even if they are professionals, if you don’t get along with them, you shouldn’t hire them for your wedding. The rapport that you have with your photographer will be reflected in the photos they take.

It should almost be common sense to check the portfolio of the photographer before hiring them. Even if the photographer is a professional with a great deal of experience, you may not like their style. Before you hire the photographer to do work, it is very important for you to explain to them exactly what you want. Giving them vague descriptions won’t allow them to give you their absolute best. This is your wedding, and you must work hard to make sure you describe exactly what you are looking for.

When I got married, I really didn’t look at how much people spent, but I did notice whether or not they got me something that was on my registry.  Heck, even more so than that, I looked at whether they got me something useful.  My husband and I got a good laugh when we opened up a present from an uncle and it was 1 towel for a local linen company.  Who the heck gives just one towel that doesn’t even match the rest of my house wares?  - needless to say.. That uncle was from my husband’s side of the family.

So what’s the best way to make sure that you’re spending enough?
Over at MyWedding.com, the co-founder, Rob Johnsen recommends considering how close you are to the couple getting married.  If the couple are “two of your most cherished friends or relatives” expect to spend about $200, if they’re people you value but don’t communicate regularly or see often than spend between $50 and $100, and a couple who you don’t know very well would receive a gift worth $50 or under.

This question was recently asked over at idosugar and some of the readers chimed in with their own comments:

I determine it by how close of a friend/family member they are, and how much we spent to attend the wedding. If it was a local wedding I usually spend more-a little less if we had to travel. And I hate giving checks-it feels strange to give my friends monetary gifts. I much prefer giving an actual gift.

Comment:

I am from the Midwest, and I think the standard is still $100 per person. I also live in Chicago, so maybe that makes a difference. So does being Polish. But even at non-Polish weddings most people I know give at least $100 per person … more for the closest friends and family.

Comment:

I’m also from the Midwest, and $200 seems steep to me. I didn’t get any gifts more than maybe $50-75 from anyone except my parents and mother in law (who paid for our catering). I didn’t expect it, though. One of my best friends did sort of cheap out and it irked me - she got me a very inexpensive mirror/candleholder. I like it, but I always thought she could have put a little more into the whole thing. It was disappointing, but I didn’t hold it against her. She’s not much of a gift person.

I don’t get too many wedding invitations, and that’s a good thing. I enjoy attending if I like the person (i.e. a friend), but for acquaintances and relatives like cousins, I don’t feel any obligation. If I attend those sort of weddings, I usually give a gift around $50 or so.

I have to admit, that I haven’t given gifts to my two closest friends, and niether of them expected one. That being said, I was both of thier maids of honour. With all the costs involved, including travel for one, the need for a ‘gift’ was less important than the fact that I was there to share and support through every stage of thier big day.

Comment:

I am by NO means rolling around in money — I’m a poor Ph.D. student, working 80 hours per week in the lab making $24,000/year, but I would never, EVER give less than $100 for a wedding gift. Usually, I give closer to the $200 range, more for closer friends. It’s a (hopefully) once in a lifetime event!

Comment:

In the Russian community, it is customary to give money, at least $100/person. If it’s someone that’s really close, me and my fiance will give $200 (for the both of us.) For our wedding we expect people to give at least the same. The assumption is that you are ‘paying’ for your place at the wedding, and there aren’t any connotations of cash-only being tacky. In fact, it’s really awesome because we don’t have to do a registry!

Comment:

I usually give about a $100-$150 depending on who it is. I know this is awful but I try and base gifts on what certain couples gave me for my wedding. If someone gave me a $30 gift for my wedding then I am not going to be giving them a huge gift at their wedding. Is that wrong?

Comment:

I think weddings are pretty much stupid, over-hyped, and a huge waste of money. My husband and I decline any invitations we get. We figure since your wedding is going to be boring anyways, and you’ll be too wrapped up in your family/new husband to notice if we’re there or not, we’ll just stay at home (or go have some fun of our own!), send you a card, and you can buy your own damn gift with the money you save on two less guests. Works for everyone!

Comment:

I attended a wedding last month and even though I’ve known the bride for almost 20 years, I could only afford a gift in the $50 range because I just have too many financial obligations right now. (And also because I flew from the East Coast to the West Coast for her wedding.) It really all depends on your budget. Another friend of mine got married last fall and because I was a bridesmaid and spent over $1K on the responsibilities of being a bridesmaid alone, I didn’t have all that much left for her wedding gift. Sigh.

Take the time to review their portfolio to make sure you like their work. You should also take the time to conduct an interview with the photographer to make sure you like them. If your personality clashes with that of the photographer, this is a sign that you should take the step of hiring someone else. When you choose a photographer, choose the best you can afford. If you follow this general rule, you will be successful.

Track Your Progress
Keep track by recording your goals in a journal — having them in writing is a fantastic motivator. The key, Rice says, is to keep them small and specific. He gave us a few examples:
Week One: Work out at least twice and be sure to strength train; then also do cardio two times during the week for at least 20 minutes.
Week Two: Repeat your fitness regimen from week one, but add 0 minutes to your two cardio workouts. Also, cut out all soft drinks for the entire week.
As you reach each goal, record it — you’ll find it’s not so tough to build on your successes.

Change Your Mindset
Conde says that instead of looking at your fitness goals as chores, you should try to see your time at the gym as an oasis of sanity. After all, she says, “With all the chaos around you planning a wedding, it is comforting to know that you have control over how your body will look in your wedding gown and on the honeymoon.” Focus on what you’re doing, turn off your cell phone, and forget about your list of to-dos.

Maintain a Positive Perspective
Will you ever have better fitness motivation than your wedding day? Maybe, but we’re not sure when. “Take advantage of this rare window of opportunity to be super-motivated,” Rice says, “there may never be another time like this in your life. It’s not about discipline, it’s desire! Get real — when is your desire going to be more intense than the months leading up to your wedding day?”

Stay Well-rounded
The key to your success: Putting it all together, with proper diet and exercise. “You can lose weight through diet alone, but it is exceedingly difficult to lose body fat by leaving your diet the same and trying to exercise it off,” Rice says. Conde advises a balanced workout as well. “Most brides want to focus solely on their upper body because of their wedding gowns, but you want to work on your entire body for symmetry and balance. Remember ladies, the dress eventually comes off!”

Now you can have that wedding in your backyard!

If you’ve ever dreamed of saying the words “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife (or husband and husband, or wife and wife)!” or wanted to have your wedding ceremony performed by someone who is not a complete stranger, then consider getting ordained over the Internet. It takes about five minutes, is generally free, and in return you can legally perform wedding ceremonies and be called Minister.

A well-known and popular way to be ordained online is through the Universal Life Church. Nondenominational and nondogmatic, they charge no fee for online ordination, just submit your application and they get back to you within 24 hours. They also have a list of state-by-state legal considerations to check out.  Once you’re ordained, don’t go crazy with the baptisms, OK?

Looking to drop a dress size (or two)? We talked to a couple of our favorite health and fitness pros and got some of their best tips on how to get slim and strong for your wedding day. No more excuses!

Be Realistic
What’s healthy weight loss? About one to two pounds per week, for a total of four to eight pounds per month. “Not every bride must be a size 2 on her wedding day,” Cynthia Conde, celebrity trainer and creator of Bridal Bootcamp tells us. “You need to realistically evaluate what your ideal weight should be.”

Set a Deadline
With a healthy level of weight loss, all it takes is some grade school math to figure out how much time you’ll need to do it. Need to lose 30 pounds? Get the lead out at least six months before your wedding. For 5, you’ll need three months, and so on. Still, Doug Rice, one of the nation’s leading bridal fitness experts and creator of FitToBeWedLIVE.com, recommends you leave yourself a little air on either end. “We all can lose focus at times and might have a bad few days — or weeks,” he says. “Also, once you lose the weight, you want to have time to really tone up and sculpt your physique to look absolutely fabulous in that dress!” So set a firm deadline, just don’t make it your wedding day.

Know What it Takes
Rice recommends a minimum of three to four 30-minute sessions of cardio per week and the same amount of strength training, though the amount should vary depending on your goals. For example, he says, “If you have more than 5 pounds to lose, you will need to really kick up your cardio to five or six times per week.” What’s a truly fitness-phobic bride to do? Rice says taking three or four brisk walks around your neighborhood per week and spending at least 20 minutes doing some basic exercises (like push-ups and crunches) can’t hurt. “Just try to stay active, and cut down on at least the worst of your high-calorie eating habits,” he says. “Remember, if you continue to do what you’ve always done, you’ll continue to get the results you’ve always gotten.” Want to make more progress? Then you’ll need to push yourself a little harder.

Up the Ante
To stick with the program, Conde recommends increasing the intensity of your cardio and strength-training programs every week. “Brides should not be afraid of increasing the weight load. This is required to challenge your body and take it past a plateau,” she says. “And no, increased strength training does not necessarily equal a masculine physique.”

Many photographers who create so called black and white images in actuality manipulate a color image in a way that makes it appear as if it is black and white. To do this, all that is required by the photographer is to remove all the color from an image. They can do it manually from a color negative, and this effect can also be accomplished digitally. It should be noted that these techniques have been around for a long period of time, and many people have been tricked into buying images that are not truly black and white. When these images are compared to true black and white photos, the difference become obvious.

There is a variety of black and white film available on the market, and each type will have its own characteristics. Some photographers will use a few different types of black and white film along with various types of color film at one wedding. This does not take into consideration the number of cameras they use. The appearance of the final product will be dependent on a number of factors. These factors are the grain, contrast, speed, and development of the film. Not only are these factors related to the film, they are also closely related to the paper on which the film has been printed.

While most people are under the impression that black and white photos are made up of primarily black and white colors, professional photographers know that there are a large number of shades of gray. The dynamic range for black and white film is much higher than color film. All the shades of gray can be captured with a great deal of depth, and the image can be very rich and rewarding. Many couples make the mistake of paying for black and white wedding photos that are only color photos that have had the color removed.

If you’re going to pay for black and white wedding photos, they should be truly black and white. If they are not, the photographer should make you aware of this before he begins the work. While true black and white photos may be more expensive, it is worth it for couples who want authenticity and dynamic images. If one element is changed in a wedding photo, it will not bring it the richness that it is capable of. The last thing you should want to do is pay for black and white wedding photos that are not truly black and white. Because it is your wedding, you should only want the best.

Freelance or amateur photographers are those who are new to the field. They haven’t been photographing weddings for a long period of time, and they don’t have as much experience. However, this doesn’t mean that they can’t produce fantastic work. All it means is that they have less experience than professionals. Those who work in the professional wedding photography field tend to be those who use high quality equipment. The cameras and equipment they use may cost them hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and this is reflected in the work they produce. While some may think that becoming a professional photographer is easy, this is far from the truth.

It is difficult for most people to afford expensive photography equipment, and you must also become trained in the field. Perhaps the biggest difference between professional photographers and freelance photographers is their prices. Those who specialize in wedding photos will generally charge hundreds or thousands of dollars. There is a good reason for this. First, since weddings don’t occur often, the photographer must make as much as possible from one client. Once the client gets married, they will likely stay married, and they may only be one time clients. In order for the photographer to make profits, they must charge a hefty sum of money.

Being skilled with a camera entails a lot more than just aiming it and clicking the flash button. A professional must pay attention to things such as lighting and angles. They must know how to shoot, and when to shoot. This is something that you don’t just learn in one day. It is something that takes time and patience. In most cases, experts will advise couples to choose a professional when they are getting married. While choosing a freelance or amateur photographer may not be bad for sporting events, or family reunions, the wedding is special, and if you stay married to someone for the rest of your life, the event can only happen once.

Therefore, you will want to hire the best you can afford on your wedding day. Trying to go for the cheapest deal may vary well lead to problems. However, if you can find an amateur photographer that has a portfolio of work you like, perhaps you may want to choose them for your wedding. It is your choice, but professionals tend to use professional equipment, they have professional backgrounds, and they will create professional photos of your wedding.

It is unwise to pick a photographer that you haven’t taken the time to review. Because wedding photography costs a lot of money, you will want to avoid hiring a photographer that you know nothing about. The best way to find a good photographer is to do so by word of mouth. Ask your family or friends do they know of any good wedding photographers. More than likely, they hired a photographer for their own weddings, and they can point you in the direction of someone who is reliable. Relying on your friends or family to provide you with a good photographer is much better than choosing someone you’ve never heard of.

It is also important for couples to make sure they choose a wedding photographer, rather than a photographer who doesn’t specialize in weddings. It must be emphasized that photography is a broad field, and while a photographer may be good at one style of photography, they may not be so skilled when it comes to taking photographs of a wedding. It is always important for you to choose a photographer who has a great deal of experiencing working with weddings.

Let’s be honest. Weddings are usually events that are mostly run by and for women. It’s the bride’s day, and her careful planning runs the show, from choosing her lace-embossed ivory dress to selecting the peach peony bouquet. However, one matrimonial item is reserved for her male counterpart to envision and bring to fruition—groom’s cake. Groom’s cake is about two square feet of edible real estate—Southern tradition dictates that the men in the wedding party decorate the cake at the chosen wedding venue. The groom’s cake may reflect hobbies, interests, or obsessions of the groom; its theme is generally light-hearted (think red-velvet armadillo, á la Steel Magnolias). Let’s see just how creative grooms can be in using (and abusing) their slice of recognition: