Tips For Hiring a Wedding Photographer

Choosing a wedding photographer is an important decision. Not only should your wedding photographer be able to produce a good album, he or she should also be a good communicator. After all, you are going to be spending quite a bit of time with your photographer, so it is important to find someone who can keep things running smoothly.

You should also make sure you get a solid price quote from each potential wedding photographer. A higher priced photographer is likely to offer you a better client experience.

Getting the best possible pictures of your wedding day requires a lot of planning and preparation. The photographer must be well prepared for any eventuality, including bad weather and other unexpected delays. The photographer should also be able to provide advice on the flow of the day, including how to deal with your guests.

The most important piece of advice for choosing a wedding photographer is to keep in touch with them before your big day. Not only will you keep your wedding plans on track, you may also find out about other vendors that may be of interest to you. This is not the time to cut corners. You’ll also want to be sure you’re choosing the right photographer for your style and budget.

For example, you should find out what sort of photo albums are available, and what their price tag is. This will ensure you don’t end up paying for an album you won’t use.

And finally, go with your gut. If you really vibe with your photographer, remember, your wedding day hopefully happens once! So pick out someone who makes you feel comfortable.

Destination Weddings – Planning a Wedding in Florida

Whether you want a beach wedding or a ceremony on a pier, Florida has a wide selection of locations to choose from. You can choose from charming waterfront cottages, or upscale resorts. You can also choose a private beach for a unique and secluded ceremony.

Florida is a great location for a beach wedding because of its beautiful beaches and warm climate. It is one of the few states that has a year-round wedding season. However, it is important to choose the right date to get married. If you are planning a beach wedding, you will need to choose a date that has the least amount of rain, as well as an area that has a good chance of getting a lot of sunlight. It is also important to have a backup plan in case of rain or a hurricane.

The state of Florida is a long one, so there is a large variation in climate from one end of the state to the other. Some areas have a subtropical climate, while others have a more tropical one. In the north, there is an occasional cold snap, but temperatures rarely drop below 59 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, Florida’s tropical climate means it gets a lot of rain in the summer months. The humidity in the southern parts of the state can be a bit more intense, and there can be thunderstorms. The state also has the occasional hurricane, and extreme heat can lead to more thunderstorms.

Florida Beaches

Florida’s climate is also one of the reasons why it is such a popular destination for weddings. With 825 miles of beaches, there are plenty of options, it’s no wonder why. With all the beautiful beaches and the current real estate market, it’s no wonder houses have been selling for a premium! Keep in mind, some locations are more popular than others. For instance, Florida’s Gulf Coast is becoming a destination wedding hot spot, thanks in part to the proliferation of new venues. You can find gorgeous beaches in all of these locations.

Miami has a cosmopolitan flair and a plethora of bars and restaurants. Many of the cities bars serve Cuban cocktails, which are a popular drink in Miami. The city is also home to the world’s most popular theme park, the Walt Disney World Resort. The Miami area also has a vibrant art scene and a variety of neighborhoods to choose from. It is also one of the most popular destinations for tourists, with 14 million visitors per year.

The best time to have a beach wedding in Florida is before or after summer. It’s also a good idea to book your wedding venue in advance, because it can get quite busy during Spring Break. If you are deciding on a beach location, be sure to ask about permits, clean-up charges, and food restrictions. There may also be container laws that apply to public beaches.

The most important thing to remember when choosing a venue is that Florida has a lot of great options. For example, Miami is home to some of the best wedding venues in the state. You can also find some great venues in other regions, including Jacksonville and Daytona Beach.

Wedding Attire Guide For Men & Getting In Shape For The Big Day

It’s wedding season, and while there may be a lot of articles on how women should dress, we at Piazza in the Village decided to write one for the men. Check out these tips and tricks to stand out at your next wedding and how to get in shape to feel great.

Black-Tie Wedding Attire
Many weddings request a black-tie dress code, which means you must wear a tuxedo jacket with tuxedo pants with a bowtie. If you’re someone who likes to stand out, try to keep it under control as it’s considered rude to upstage the groom and bride. Dark colors such as black, charcoal, or midnight black are safe bets. The accessories that accompany them are also typically on the solid-dark color side of things. If you absolutely must add some pop to your outfit, try to show off your style through your dress shirt, bow tie, and shoe selections. Wear a collared dress shirt with a black or midnight blue tuxedo paired with black patent leather, velvet oxford, or loafer shoes.

Semi-Formal Wedding Attire

For weddings with semi-formal, cocktail attire, you can loosen up a bit and slip into something more modern and stylish. Suits are the most popular and acceptable form of attire. You can wear blazers and a sports coat over a collared shirt with a necktie. Feel free to wear jewelry, lapels, pocket squares to show off your style. Tan and light gray suits are perfect for those summer/spring beach destination weddings as they give off a relaxed look. Suits in lighter tones can also help the groom stand out on his big day. Dark suits in colors like charcoal and navy are perfect if you’re looking for a casual, formal look that isn’t tuxedo fancy. With these suits, you have more room for customizability on details like shoes and shirt color. You can still wear a bold color, with monochromatic styling and blend in enough that you don’t steal the thunder from the bride and groom.

Casual Wedding Guest Attire

This may be the most confusing of all wedding attire requirements. We suggest you consider what kind of people are hosting the wedding, who may show up, and take cues from the location of the venue. We recommend you wear chinos or khakis with loafers or dress shoes, or you can wear the stylish tucked-in polo. What you should avoid is wearing a t-shirt, open-toed shoes, clothes that have been ripped, or a bowtie.

It’s not just women who are worried about looking and feeling their best during the wedding season. Men want to look and feel good too. Ideally, it’s best to start one year before the wedding, but the truth is people live busy lives. Check out these tips on how to get in shape for the big day.

Tips For Men On Getting In Shape For the Wedding

Get Serious About Your Diet

You need to be disciplined with your diet and really consider what you’re eating. Intermittent fasting has been popular in recent years for its ability to promote weight loss and help improve your metabolic health. Fasting can even help promote the production of testosterone.

Get Serious About Your Workouts

If you’re looking at a year until the big day, we suggest you pace yourself. You don’t want to injure yourself or start training so hard that you end up giving up half-way through. If you’re looking at a month until the wedding, we suggest you try HIIT (high-intensity interval training). HIIT workouts involve you using a quick burst of energy with very short resting periods. They have been clinically proven to help you lose weight because your body will continue burning energy after your workout. Try these workouts for 20 minutes total, 30 seconds each with a minute in between to rest before continuing again.

Take Inventory of All Your Bad Habits

The best way to really clean up your health is thoroughly recognizing bad patterns and habits that hold you back from getting in shape. It could be either smoking, alcohol, staying up late, or even juices. Did you know juice counts for 44% of added sugar in the American diet? Staying up late and weight gain are strongly correlated, and we all know the detrimental effects of smoking and drinking. The best way to eliminate your vices? Start small. According to leading therapist Dr. John Yun, “If you take away one vice at a time, every 30 days, your chances of success are higher than trying to eliminate every bad habit in one go.”

Alternative Bachelorette Destinations Beyond Las Vegas

Many brides are now traveling to vegas for their wedding celebrations. But if you’re not into city lights, theme resorts, and gambling, there are plenty of options for your bachelorette festivities. You don’t have to just do tequila shots, you can indulge in a spa day, or if you’re more of an outdoors kind of girl, you can go to a national park to take those perfect scenic photos.

New Orleans

There’s no denying it, New Orleans is one of the most vibrant, eccentric, friendliest city in the world. You and your party can drink hurricanes in the French Quarter and have po’boys, crawfish, and beignets late into the night. There are tons of ghost tours, swamp adventures, and live music is a constant, guaranteeing a good time. And the best part is the architecture, meaning you will be able to have that great photoshoot.

Sea Island Georgia

Sea Island Georgia is a beautiful destination that feels like you’re in the Bahamas, except you’re not overloaded with tourists. In fact, there are only two resorts. There are tons of activities like golf, tennis, horseback riding, fishing, and more. We suggest you plan for late spring and summer as June is the start of the hurricane season.

Grand Canyon Arizona

For the outdoorsy gal, the Grand Canyon offers breathtaking views and tons of opportunity to get fresh air. Horseback riding, hiking, burro riding, rafting, and beautiful scenery. Take the most beautiful breathtaking photos along the canyon. You can even schedule your wedding up to a year in advance. Click here to check out the National Park Service website to learn more. Tip: Arizona has tons of arts districts where you can find beauty on canvas and the streets. Check out live music, dramas, and ballets, and take in the beautiful sculptures, murals, and paintings surrounding Arizona.

Savannah Georgia

Haunted houses, cobblestone streets, Spanish moss, southern charm, horse-pulled carriages, and takeaway drinks will make you never want to leave Savannah, Georgia. It’s the perfect mix of old-America mixed with the modern world for everyone in your wedding party. Make sure you bring your appetite as Georgia is the destination for great southern food.

Napa Valley California

There is a reason Napa Valley is one of the most popular destinations to host wedding festivities. California’s Napa Valley is a beautiful dream destination for many couples for its picturesque view. You can barrel your own wine, stomp grapes, dine by rail, take yoga classes, and take beautiful pre-wedding photos at Napa Valley. Tip: There are only a few places that allow weddings in Napa Valley, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great pre-wedding bash there.

Florida Keys

The Florida Keys is the perfect destination for the beach nut. With 42-bridges that provide scenic views, you can’t go wrong with this 125-mile island chain. Life moves at its own pace in this slice of paradise. This string of tropical islands offers fishing, boating, snorkeling, and even scuba diving. For nightlife check out the many famous bars along Duval Street.

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How To Save Money On Your Wedding

Plan your wedding for the “off season.”
Wedding season is typically from late spring to mid-fall. Weddings tend to peak around June and September. You can save thousands of having your wedding in December, and you won’t have to compete with others for that perfect date. Saturday is also one of the most popular days of the week for a wedding, and statistics also show, it’s the most expensive day for a wedding. Try calling the venue of your choice and see if they have any dates they just can’t seem to fill up and if they’d offer a discount for you to take said date. Tip: If you live in a state that is prone to winter weather emergencies, make sure you plan in case of a winter storm.

Buy in-season flowers and food.
Getting seasonal and local flowers and food can save you money. That’s because when you purchase what’s in season, you get said items at the peak of their availability, meaning most distributors offer them at lower prices.

Hire an event coordinator or wedding planner
It may seem like your throwing money in the wind by hiring someone who can do all the research and planning for you. But know that wedding planners and event coordinators not only know industry secrets to staying in budget, but they also have connections to vendors who may be able to offer you special one-time-only discounts.

Put a limit on your plus-ones
Your guest list can get out of control when you allow every guest to bring a plus-one. You can limit your guest list by only allowing plus-ones for those who are married or engaged. Did you know cutting just 10-20 people can save you $1,000?

Go paperless
Wedding invitation suites can cost up to $1,000. Slash the cost by creating a simple website that tells everyone the details of the rehearsal dinner, brunch, welcome party, transportation, location, and hotel information.

Don’t hire a photographer for the entire day
Consider hiring a photographer just for the actual wedding rather than have them stick around for all the pre-wedding festivities. This can save you tons of money, as the photographer will have fewer photos to alter and process.