Picking a Photographer

Next steps: picking vendors.  This can be very fun but also so stressful.  Before picking any vendors, make sure you have a set budget.  Think about how much you are willing to spend for each vendor and how long you would want them for.  Most people always question whether or not to spend money on the photographer.  In my opinion, this is so important.  They capture all of the most amazing moments that you may not even know existed.  

Photography:

Pixel Dust Photography - Pixel Dust Photography. This is who we will be using for our wedding.  We are so excited because Amber does amazing work.  Her fees are straight up at $250/hr and a free engagement session as long as you book a minimum of 6 hours.

George Hausler Photography - George Hausler Photography.  Through research I found has great photos and very decent pricing.  

Beth W Photo- Beth W Photography.  So many options for pricing and what you would like out of photography.  Beautiful pictures. 

Pics by Dan - Photography by Dan.  If you are willing to spend a little more on photography, I've heard such great things about Dan.  

Here are some frequently asked questions to ask... 

• Do we get every image that you take? 
• Do you do destination weddings?
• Have you shot at my venue before? 
• Will you be the one shooting the photos at my wedding? 
• Do you provide half day coverage? 
• Do I get a disk of my photos? 
• What's required to save my date? 
• What is the turn around time for my photos? 
• What kind of equipment do you use? 

Photography can be so fun! Here are some of my favorite ideas for engagement shoots. Make sure the photos reflect who you are as a couple.  If you don't usually wear dresses, no need to wear them for the engagement shoot.  People want to see you two as a couple.  Same goes for your fiance.  Mine, rarely dresses up unless he has to.  So I got a little creative with our shoot and got him a nicer pair of jeans and a nice top.  We also put some of our love for football into our shoot.  

     

I love the look of natural and fun engagement shoots.  Catching the love in a simple snapshot. 

  

Have fun with the engagement shoot! I loved incorporating the date into our engagement.  We made a pallet with our date and also did a football date. Easy to use for a save the date.

Here are some fun wedding snapshots.  Think of what type of photos you want.  Traditional, artsy,  vintage, or classic. Do some research on your photographer.  Read reviews, check out the photos, ask questions! That's what they are there for! 

   

Make sure to explain to your photographer what you want captured.  Just by looking at these pictures, you can feel the love.  Without even knowing who they are.  That's what the pictures should represent.  

Colors, Colors, Colors

This can be yet another one of the hardest decisions to make during your wedding planning.  What color will your "theme" be? What color will the bridesmaids wear?  Flowers? Decor?  This is all personal preference, but make sure that your colors reflect who you are and your season. Why does season matter?  This all depends on the flowers that you will choose.  Not all flowers can be brought in during all seasons.  It also can tend to be a little silly to plan a winter style wedding in the hot days of August, but hey that's just me.  

So how did I decide when and what theme I wanted to go for.  We first sat down and when choosing a date we really had to talk about what month we wanted the wedding in.  We chose June because let's face it... we are having an outdoor wedding and we don't want to sweat through our clothes! We are praying for no rain but that's just the gamble we are taking.  (Always have a back up plan in case it rains!)  

So it's June.  Beautiful June.  What colors will I use.  I went to Pinterest for some fast action help.  I knew I wanted subtle colors with a romantic feel.  When I came across this picture, I was sold! 

I literally fell in love and never looked back.  It really worked out that the light, airy look I was going for... was perfect for me and June!

As for an accent color, I didn't really want to just go with white.  BORING.  Not me at all.  I wanted to make it feel uber romantic and light.  I did some more searching to find what exactly it was I was looking for.  I swore up and down that I would NOT have a pink wedding but it turns out, my accent color is a light pink.  It just screams... me. 

But enough about MY wedding.  Let's talk about you! Depending on where you are, seasons vary.  I compiled my thoughts on color choices for each month.  Enjoy!

January - Happy New Year! New year, new life.  Here in MN it is still bitter cold in January but don't let that stop you from having the biggest day of your life! I think winter weddings are flat out gorgeous.  So many fun things to do.  Here are some of my ideas... 

I chose black bridesmaid dresses for January.  So classic.  So chic. Perfect for a January wedding. 

I absolutely LOVE this look.  So whimsical and romantic.  Candles, candles, candles! 

February - The month that is devoted to love.  In Minnesota, the weather is still very chilly, so you'll have to stay bundled.  Have fun with the colors.  I chose red and black for this month's theme.  I love that red reflects romance, and it is perfect for Valentine's month.  

You don't end up seeing red as a choice very often.  I absolutely think it fits perfect for the month of February.  Very romantic and I love the idea of the chiffon.  

Red dresses just a little too much? Go with the traditional black dresses with a red accent.  Shoes and the red roses.  Beautiful! 

Black tablecloths and napkins.  Very chic and adding the extra pop of red is beautiful.  However, be weary that black tends to show EVERY crumb and spill.  

March - Luck of the Irish?  March can either come in with a bunch of snow or be the start of Spring! You may be shocked that I chose green for the main color theme.  Green? Really? YES! I was actually in a wedding one summer that had green dresses and it was SO flattering on so many pictures.  

I think this color combination is just... breathtaking.  See, green isn't so bad after all! You will find that I am a HUGE chiffon fan and this just proves it.  They are so easy to wear and as you can see, you can mix and match and it looks great!  Pair with a mix of spring florals.  

Keep the green flowing into the reception.  Have extra pops throughout your site.  Keep the colors subtle and don't overpower your guests. 

April - Ahhhhh... Spring is here! Maybe.  Minnesotans know, you just never know if it's going to be raining, snowing, sunny?  It's a gamble.  Either way, flowers will begin to bloom! 

For all of you pink lovers... here is your chance! This color combination is perfect for a spring wedding.  Very light and airy.  Pair it with the khaki groomsmen.  Perfection.

Keep your reception centerpieces simple and elegant.  Have your colors reflect the theme of your wedding.  Have splashes of pink throughout the reception.  

May - Spring is officially in full bloom.  I chose a light blue for May.  Weather is warming up and people are way over winter.  

I love having greenery as a centerpiece.  So much of it is overlooked and if it used right it can fit perfectly into your wedding.  Baby's breath is another great choice.  It's fairly inexpensive and you can use it everywhere! 

June - Summer is officially here.  I may be completely biased, but I just love June weddings.  They can definitely be a gamble though as well.  Rain is very common or it could be 90 degrees!  I'm all about soft colors for June.  Simple and romantic.  

Keep centerpieces matching your theme.  If it's rustic, have your centerpieces reflect that.  Greenery is a must in summer and pair with the light mixtures of floral's.  

July - I don't know why, but when I think July...  I think bright colors.  So fun and festive!! 

I love the deep purple.  It's perfect for summer and pairing it with green... It's a match made in heaven! 

Summer is the BEST time to have the fun and bright floral's.  Play around with them and your florist will be SO happy to be able to do something this fun. 

August - What seems to be one of the hottest months we have here in Minnesota.  Wonderful weather, end of summer, what color would you possibly choose? 

I chose coral for August.  It has the summer colors you still want to incorporate and it gives your bridesmaids a chance to look flirty and fun! 

Corals and whites together are a must.  Romantic and flirty all in one! 

September - School is back in session... and fall is on it's way! I love fall weddings because you can do SO much with them.  Stay true to the season.. you don't need your wedding looking out of season.  

I chose a light brown for September.  This is a newer look and color that is becoming so popular and I can see why! It is simply stunning on everyone.  Pair with browns, oranges and whites for flowers. 

I think these flowers are so fun and they fit September to a T! 

October - Fall is in full swing.  Trees are changing, it's getting cooler but you still want that perfect outdoor wedding.  Totally possible!  

Go with a darker brown in October.  You may want your bridesmaids to wear longer dresses as well.  It could get chilly!

Pair with classic fall colors in your flower's.  

November - Brrrrr! Here comes winter! November weddings are tricky because it is starting to get a little busy with the holiday's just around the corner.  

I chose a deep plum color for November.  I'm not digging these flowers with it, but I really like this color of bridesmaid dress. 

I love that these flowers are so unique.  Talk to your florist to see if this is possible.  If so, do it! Perfect for November. 

December - We are in our final month.  Christmas month.  My best friend had her wedding in December and it was absolutely perfect.  

The dark blue was the best color choice possible.  She paired it with his Dress Blues and the light gray suits matched the theme perfectly.  

Have a blast with figuring out your colors.  Obviously I am NO expert on all of this, but it gives you some sort of direction of where to go when choosing a color theme! :) 
Until next time... Happy Planning! 

How to Pick Your Wedding Party

By now, you have had the chance to let things settle down a bit after the big engagement and have hopefully chosen where you would like to have your ceremony and reception.  Now it's time to choose how many people to have stand up with you.  Usually this would come as a very exciting time, but some tend to get very anxious and worried about this part of the wedding planning.  The real reality is... you can't pick everyone to be in your wedding.  No matter how hard it may be, you have to make cuts.  Think of the people in your life who will make wedding planning fun and easy, and not who will bring you down and stress you out.  

Key thoughts on choosing:

• No obligations - Choose those who want to be in your wedding, but also that you want to be apart of your big day.  Never feel obligated to have someone in your wedding.  If you base it on "oh well I was in their wedding..." you will never shorten your list. 
• More is not always better - The more bridesmaids you have, remember the chances for complications.  That could mean that many more need to agree on the dresses, shower ideas, bachelorette party and dates that work for everyone.  And if budget is an issue... think of the amount of bridesmaid gifts and flowers.  Yikes!
• Family or No Family - This tends to be a very sticky situation for all.  Do you include the sister-in-law in your wedding party?  The brother on the grooms? This all depends on the opinion of the bride and groom.  If they aren't a part of the wedding party, think of another way they can be involved.  Personal attendant?  Usher? Reader?  There are so many duties to be filled for the day.  They will be honored just to be a part of it.
• Best/Honor- Picking the best man or maid of honor could be the easiest part or the hardest.  For me, it was an easy pick.  It was the one person who has always been there as a sister and best friend. Have someone who will stand by your side through think and thin. 

Do's/Dont's for Choosing Both Parties

• DON'T ask until you have an official date set and you have decided on the number of attendants together.  
• DON'T feel like you have to have the same number on each side.  Each person is different and you can always have someone walk down with one on each side.  
• DON'T just ask someone because you were in their wedding.  If you haven't been in contact with them, they don't need to be apart of your day! 
• DO make sure that people know their roles.  Choose if you want one or two "maids" of honor or none.  Either way, make sure people are aware.  
• DO make them feel important.  I know it is your day, but they are also coughing up time and money to be apart of it, so show your gratitude. 

Have some fun with asking groomsmen and bridesmaids.  

Here is how I asked mine! I used Etsy to find some fun ways to ask my "maids." 

I did labels on wine bottles and one beer bottle for the one who doesn't like wine. :)

    

Here's where you can find where I got my labels: Etsy - iDoArtsyWeddings

She was very easy to work with and I was able to find a style that I liked.  I customized it to match the colors of our wedding as well.  Just added another special touch. :) 

Here is what they would look like on the bottle: 

Here are some more fun ideas! 

Etsy - PrestonEventPlanning

Make it fun and exciting! Pop the question yourself. 

Etsy - BriguysGirls

Fun necklace that could serve as an option for a necklace at the wedding. 

GROOMSMEN

Etsy - WhimsicalStationery

Who doesn't love a mustache? 

Etsy - marrygrams

Love this idea! So fun and you can use it the day you ask or the day of the wedding.

One King's Lane

Yet another... "I mustache you a question" but with a flask.  Two wonderful things in one. 

I had a blast with this.  Unfortunately, my fiance was not on top of the whole gift giving to ask.  He ended up asking in person, which I think was perfect for him.  Everyone was so excited and the girls have yet to open up their wine! They aren't sure if they even will. :) 

Find something that fits you two together and play around with it. 

What To Do First...

You're engaged.  You've called all your family and friends, posted it all over Facebook and social media, and now the planning can really begin.  Crap.  Planning! Where do you even begin?  This was the biggest question I asked myself after I got engaged.  There are so many things that swirl through your mind when sit down and realize you need to get the party started.  Here are some of the first items that we discussed...

1. Date - What type of wedding are you looking for?  In Minnesota, we have four seasons... so which fits you best?  Spring? Summer? Fall? Winter? Narrow it down... If you are picking a date around a major holiday, be aware that some people may not be a big fan of that.  Yes, it is your day and that's all that should matter but just know that people will be upset that you are consuming their holiday weekend.  It's bound to happen.

2. Guest List - This one was really important and we didn't look at our numbers before picking our venue.  I would definitely suggest getting a rough draft of a guest list together and going from there.  You may run into the problem that you invited too many people after you chose your venue that only holds 200.

3. Venue - Now it's time to go search for your perfect venue.  Decide if you want to have the ceremony and the reception at the same location or if you prefer a church wedding.  More and more people are choosing to do it all at the same location, but make sure that it reflects what you want for your big day.  Make sure you are aware of the big and little (hidden) expenses.  I mean who really wants to pay $2.00 per slice to cut the cake?  Not this girl!   Don't be afraid to ask questions.  No question is stupid! Especially when it comes to your big day and the money you are willing to spend on it.  Here are some great places in Minnesota to have a wedding.  So beautiful.
Olympic Hills Golf Club - Eden Prairie, MN (I may be a little biased, mainly because this is where we will be getting married.  Either way... it's beautiful!)
A'bulae - St. Paul, MN
Stonebrooke Golf Course - Shakopee, MN
Millennium Hotels - Minneapolis, MN

 The Wild's Golf Club - Prior Lake, MN
 Aria - Minneapolis, MN

Unique Wedding Venues in Minnesota

Top 10 Outdoor Wedding Venues

4. TOUR and BOOK!