Holly & Jordan *Engagement Session*

 

This week Amy Shepherd shares with us a few of her favorite photos from a recent engagement session.  To view more of Amy's incredible visit her website to view her porfolio.  (click here)

There is nothing more exciting than to say "fiancee" for the first time! It is one of those wow! moments in life when you realize the significance of this new journey you are getting ready to take.  We waste no time in beginning our wedding plans, and the "groom to be" has barely gotten off of his one knee before we have amassed a collection of wedding magazines, etiquette guides and fabric swatches. At our studio we highly recommend an engagement session for our couples.  It is a perfect way to slow down a bit, and enjoy this time as an engaged couple. While I have no doubt that you will be in love with your wedding pictures, it is equally important to have a set of images that truly reflect who you are as a couple.

WHITEFIELD DESIGN

Brynn Synder, owner of Whitefield Design, recently gave SBC a ten question interview highlighting her business, products, custom invitations, great tips on wedding invitations, and the latest trends in wedding invitations.  Brynn can custom designs every aspect of your wedding invitations to set the tone for your whole wedding and your guests will be sure to be wowed when they receive it in the mail.  Please visit her website by clicking (here) and after reading the interview you can view her SBC video describing the different wedding invitation options by clicking (here).

SBC:  Where did you get your start in wedding invitation design?

Byrnn:  Planning my own wedding several years ago, I developed a strong interest in helping create weddings. Now with a beautiful daughter in tow, designing wedding invitations and other related stationary and decorative products allows me to fulfill my desire to create while still having time to love and care for my family. 

I am an industrial designer by education, and have from a young age enjoyed design of all types. I graduated in Industrial Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Brigham Young University, and have since worked in a variety of design fields. While a student, I had several internships: at Back to Basics I primarily designed kitchen appliances, at Johnson & Johnson I designed medical devices, and at Trike Studios I designed children’s toys. I also worked as a graphic designer on campus, creating posters for school events. After graduating I worked as a custom furniture designer for Wadsworth Design (I love working with wood!).

 

SBC:  Where do you find a lot of your inspiration for your designs?

 Brynn:  I like to have brides provide me with 3-10 photos of things that are inspiring their wedding plans. With that information, I am able to understand the feeling they want to communicate with their event. After that I create inspiration boards for their event and try to dream up what I think will best convey their message to their guests. 

SBC:  What different types of printing do you offer for wedding invitations?

Brynn:  I offer 4 types of printing. Digital, Flat Ink, Raised Ink and Letterpress. I prefer to use flat, raised or letterpress for the quality they provide. When you print with ink you pay per color so most wedding invitations I do are 1 or 2 color.  

 Here is an overview about each printing type:

DIGITAL This type of printing requires just a digital computer file and is printed on a color copier. This type of printing is best if you are on a budget or if you want more than 3 colors on your invitation. When brides chose this option, I recommend printing on nice paper to make their invitations stand out.

FLAT INK This type of printing is broken down color by color. Each color is separate because a plastic plate is made for each color. Each piece is then put through a printer that runs the sheet of paper by itself. These colors stand off the page since they are printed with ink. This is another affordable option.

RAISED INK uses the same process and plastic plate as flat ink, but has one more task after the sheet has been printed - a powder is put on the wet ink and once the powder dries it creates an embossing. LETTERPRESS The oldest and most versatile method of printing still in use today. The letterpress process uses metal plates with raised printing areas. Ink touches only the top surface of the raised areas, and the inked image is then transferred directly to the paper, leaving indented text and images.

LETTERPRESS The oldest and most versatile method of printing still in use today. The letterpress process uses metal plates with raised printing areas. Ink touches only the top surface of the raised areas, and the inked image is then transferred directly to the paper, leaving indented text and images.

SBC:  What is the number one request from brides and grooms in regards to their invitations? 

Since I do custom wedding invitations, this is a hard question. I try to ensure that each invitation is individual to each couple. I would say that most just ask that I create something unique to them and their event.

SBC:   Invitation suites can include a variety of information. What are the most typical pieces brides and grooms choose to include and what are some items that are not typical but nice to include.

Brynn:  Every invitation suite is tailored to the bride and groom, however I would say almost all my invitations suites at least include an invitation and envelope and an rsvp card and envelope. Many weddings I have done also include a map/direction card, accommodation card (for out of town guests), place cards, escort cards (to help guests find their seat/table), itinerary card, menu, luncheon/rehearsal dinner card, program and thank you cards.

SBC:  What are a few of the national trends in wedding invitation designs? 

Brynn:  Current trends include using letterpress or raised ink for your invitation, and doing a heavily graphic print. Most people have themed weddings and want their stationary to reflect that (ex. peacocks, carnival, birds, etc).

SBC:  What other products and designs do you offer couples besides wedding invitations?

Brynn:  Since I do graphic design the options are almost limitless. Standard services I provide are Personal Stationary, Baby Announcements, Custom T-Shirts, Custom Address Stamps, Logo Design, Business Stationary (Cards, Envelopes, Paper, etc), Custom Vinyl (perfect for dance floors, doors and car windows).

SBC:  What are a few of the advantages of choosing your designs and services, as opposed to an online retailer or an invitation chosen out of large catalog book?

Brynn:  I love creating something that is personal to my bride. When they come and meet with me they are able to choose each detail - the paper, envelopes, and colors they want. Brides who want to be involved in decisions can fully participate and give input in the design process. I create everything from scratch so the invitations are individual and high quality.

SBC:  When do you suggest for brides and grooms to begin shopping for their wedding invitations and when is the appropriate time to mail out wedding invitations? 

Brynn:  When sending out Save the Dates, if it is a destination wedding you should send them out 9-6 months prior. Invitations are typically sent 8-6 weeks prior to the event. If you have a calligrapher most like about a month to do the calligraphy, so you would need your invitations or at least the envelopes done 12 weeks before the wedding. 

SBC:  Can you describe a few of your favorite invitation designs of this year?

I created an entire wedding suite for the owner of Shabby Apple, a total of 12 pieces, including Save the Date, Invitation and Day of Items. I loved creating her Save the Date and loved that she picked Letterpress as her printing medium. I love the colors and way they feel. Her invitations were classic but still expressed her personality.

I created a berry theme wedding suite for a client named Karli Low, and at first I thought she picked some interesting colors but after implementing them in her invitation, I love what was created. She also picked out a really cool wood textured paper and had it wrap around the invitation.

I just finished doing a rock and roll themed Save the Date. At first I was a little stuck on what I could create that would still have a wedding feel to it, but after a few hours of seeking out inspiration I came up with what might be my favorite Save the Date thus far.

Wedding Music for an Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

 SMT Music

The vision of an outside wedding ceremony strikes a beautiful chord in the imagination of many a bride. And rightly so. Who of us wouldn’t like a beautifully landscaped garden setting or perhaps an open clearing bordered by towering trees for that most important life event, our wedding ceremony?

As a wedding musician, I’ve been able to enjoy such scenic places and play a small role in the lives of many a bride. And those settings can be truly wonderful but…. you knew there was a but coming right ? When the stars are aligned in your favor an out of doors wedding ceremony can be a dream. But, Mother Nature can capriciously intervene and pull the rug out from under you.
So, it’s important to have a “backup plan”. Try to choose a setting that has a shelter, building, or house nearby which can be the safety net in case of sudden rain showers or high winds. Here in Louisville, Ky. I can think of a number of places that have beautifully landscaped settings with an on-site structure that can be used for receptions or in the case of inclement
weather be quickly converted to accommodate the wedding ceremony. If you’re getting married in the summer, think about the comfort of your guests. Have cold bottled water available for them to take to their seat, and consider printing your program on a fan so they can keep cool. Also, think ahead to where the sun will be at the time of your wedding. Try to position your seating so the sun is at the back of the guests, not in their eyes.

On the other hand, if you’ve chosen mid October for your wedding ceremony the mercury can dip in other direction. Here in the Ohio Valley, late September to mid October can be very warm, or it can be downright chilly. While your guests can keep their coats on and even their gloves, please consider your musicians. We arrive usually an hour before the wedding. We get set up and run through a few selections before we begin your prelude music which normally last about 30 minutes. We can’t wear bulky coats and we can’t wear gloves. Even more critical our expensive instruments can be damaged by cold weather conditions or also by direct sun especially in mid summer. We are more protective of the instruments than we are ourselves.

So, if your wedding is in mid summer make sure your musicians are in a shaded area. Try to have them on a flat surface. It’s hard to play your best if one leg of your chair is 3 inches below the other and you’re angled like you’re playing on the deck of the Titanic. Position them to the audience left off to the side of the wedding party.

To recap: temperature (heat or cold), sun exposure, rain and even high winds, can be factors in an out of doors wedding ceremony. Talk with the music leader and wedding coordinator, if you have one, in advance and plan for contingencies.

What about noise ? It’s a good idea to scope out the wedding ceremony site before you book it. Visit it the same day of the week (usually a Friday or Saturday) and time that you plan on having it. I can think of one site in particular in town we play at that, although it’s very scenic, it seems that planes are always flying overhead. It’s near a small airport and Saturdays are popular days for pilots to practice their takeoffs and landings. Another is in a park like setting but borders a residential area. Saturdays are popular days to mow the grass. I haven’t found a piece of music yet that harmonizes with a whining lawnmower! Another consideration along those lines: when you’re checking out the wedding ceremony site position a person at what will be the back row of the seating. Have another person do some speaking up where the minister will be. How’s the volume ? You may need to have sound reinforcement for your minister.I have been at lots of weddings where there are 200 or so guests and only those near the front can hear what is being said or read. Often the couple has carefully picked out a favorite poem or reading and only those who are in the first few rows or have Peter Parker (Spiderman) super hearing can enjoy the recitation. If you’re having a singer make sure you have a mike for them. We often will present a string quartet at a wedding ceremony and may accompany our singer. The strings carry pretty well and we rarely need sound enhancement, but a singer will need it. Even trained singers whose voice can project well in a hall will benefit with some miking when performing outside. The sound is dispersed very differently in an open air setting than in a church sanctuary. If you’re having a DJ or band for your reception inquire if they would be willing (for an extra fee) to take care of the sound for the wedding. Your minister would need a lapel mike and your readers will need a mike. If you have a singer, they should be able to use that same mike. Make sure you have a sound check before the ceremony. All too often, the equipment gets set up but not properly tested. So, it’s about as useful as yesterday’s news. Another word about the band. If the reception is in the vicinity of the wedding ceremony talk with the band leader and make sure the band sets up before the wedding and certainly not during the preludes. They should be set in advance if possible, and have already had a sound check. As ceremony musicians we have often been trying to create a nice ambiance during the prelude music only to have the thumping of an amplified bass or reincarnation of Jimmy Hendrix trying out his latest amazing riff simply annihilate our puny acoustic string instruments. So, a little advance planning there helps too.

What else? Well, if your outside wedding ceremony is anywhere near a lake, or low lying water you may need to plan ahead for those pesky flying critters. Have plenty of citronella candles in stock placed along each row of your guests. You don’t want see them constantly swatting the air as if practicing kung fung during your wedding. A lot of what I’ve mentioned comes under the category of “common sense”. Try to think ahead and be prepared for unforeseen circumstances and have a back up plan in case mother nature decides to throw you a curve ball.
It can take a lot of the burden off you if you hire a wedding planner. They have been through all this before and a good planner will have a long check list of to do’s and have contacts for all the services you will need. They can save you a lot of time, hassle and provide peace of mind so you can enjoy your day to the fullest.

I hope this helps a little as you plan for your outside wedding ceremony.
Cordially,

Steve Taylor
SMT Music

 

KRISTEN & MIKE *Destination Weddings*

This week our talented SBC Lousiville wedding photographer Amy Shepherd, with Amy Shepherd Photography, shares with us a destination wedding from Paso Robles, CA she recently captured.  She also gives us some insight into why many brides here in Louisville are choosing to hire a local photographer to travel to their desintation to photograph their wedding. 

Thanks for sharing Amy.  Your images are stunning as always. 

The destination wedding has in many ways replaced the elopements of our parent's generation. Whisking your closest family and friends away to a stunning destination to share with you in your commitment and vows with one another is a beautiful...and increasingly popular idea.  So, take me with you! In all seriousness, don't rely on a resort photographer or videographer who is combined in on a package deal.  These are once in a life-time memories, and I have heard far too many stories of brides who have been bitterly disappointed by the quality of their video and pictures.  If you hire a photographer and videographer to travel with you, much more of your event will be covered, and the post production process of designing albums and other products will be much easier for you.

-Amy Shepherd

SCOTT HAYES WEDDINGS

This week SBC had the pleasure of chatting with Scott Hayes with Scott Hayes Weddings.  Scott is a videographer based out of Lexington, KY that travels throughout the region capturing beautiful weddings.   Scott gives us a look at the current trends in the wedding videography, describes his style of videography, and what other services besides wedding day coverage are available to couples.  After reading his interview please visit his website (click here) to view his great work. 

Also, check out his SBC video (click here).

Thanks Scott for you time!!

SBC:  You offer your clients lots of experience in the wedding industry.  How many years having you been capturing weddings?

Scott: I have been making wedding films for the last 10 years.  I have a degree in photojournalism and experience in commercial television, so I am fully trained in capturing events as they happen.

SBC:  Why have you chosen to specialize in weddings, as opposed to other video services?

Scott:  I truly enjoy shooting weddings.  The experience allows me to meet so many wonderful people, some of whom have become very close friends. I also enjoy working with other professionals in the industrywith whom I have something in common.  We can share ideas, learn and grow from each other, as well as network when we aren't working.  Most importantly, all of us as a group of wedding professionals, provideour clients a beautiful memory of one of the most important days of their lives, they can cherish forever.

SBC:  What style of videography do you deliver to your clients?

Scott: My style is a combination of documentary and cinematic storytelling.

SBC:  What should a good wedding video consist of and convey? 

Scott:  A good wedding video should tell the story of the day, whether it is a music video, or a full documentary.  It should convey how the day felt when the couple watches it.  they should remember exactly how they felt during each part.  A properly shot and edited video will contain good audio, steady shooting and good editing and pacing.

SBC:  What trends are you seeing nationally in wedding videography?

Scott:  The biggest trend we are seeing in the industry right now is the use of shallow depth of field cameras, including the use of DSLRs.  They provide a very distinctive look, which emulates film.

SBC:  What top three questions do you suggest brides and grooms ask a potential videographer when meeting?

Scott:  Couples need to not let their budgets determine who they hire for video.  In this business, you truly get what you pay for.  They need to find out how much experience the company they hire has, what type of equipment they are using, how are they going to delivery their final product, how much time is the production going to take...read the contracts carefully and make sure to ask any questions before signing it.

SBC:  What other video services besides wedding day coverage do you offer your brides?

Scott:  We offer rehearsal dinner coverage, bridal elegance videos, love stories, photo montages and same day edits.

SBC:  What sets your wedding videography apart from all of your other competition?

Scott:  What sets me apart from other videographers in the area is my editing and storytelling.  Being in the business for so long, and doing video full time has allowed me to hone my skills to provide a very unique product to my clients.

SBC:  You’re based out of Lexington, KY but frequently travel, what are some of your favorite venues to work?

Scott:  I have had the pleasure of being able to travel, and some of my favorite venues to work in the immediate are are the Marriott Griffin Gate, Spindeltop Hall, Bodley Bullock House, Talon Winery, Glassworks.  I enjoy shooting at all the venues really.  My destinations have included Washington, DC, Sarasota, FL, Nashville, TN, Las Vegas and Atlanta, GA.  I'm still waiting for a trip to the Caribbean :-)

SBC:  I am sure you book up quickly, how early do you suggest brides and grooms contact you to reserve your services for their wedding day?

Scott:  The recent trend in video is to book 3-6months out.  However, I would suggest couples serious about booking talented video teams to book as early as they can once they determine their budget.  NOT having a video is the number 1 regret most brides have about their wedding day.  8-10 months would be a safe bet to make sure couples book the vendors they want to use.