Planning a wedding can be an exciting experience for couples, but there is so many details to consider, that it can easily become overwhelming. When planning a wedding, whether it be close to home, or a destination wedding, you'll have to decide whether to go it alone, or hire a wedding planner to help you. As a wedding photographer, I have a very unique perspective. Unlike other wedding professionals, I have the unique advantage of meeting with couples after the big event to share photographs. I hear all the stories from what went wrong, what the couple would change, what went right, and what they would do all over again. With over 15 years of experience in the wedding industry, I've learned the key ingredients to having a luxurious experience throughout the wedding process and will share some tips here with you.

When it comes to destination weddings, unless you have a friend in the area, hiring a wedding planner is almost a must. Wedding planners are not only experienced in making the day flow smoothly, but will also know, or have access to the who's who of event professionals in the area. If planning close to home, referrals from friends or family members should be high on your list, but a wedding planner is always a great idea as many can offer a calming experience that takes the stress out of all of the details. But brides beware, it is also important to note that many wedding planners, or wedding wedding referral services, are paid by local or national wedding professionals for their referral. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it can alter the wedding planners decisions on who to send you to see. It is important to know how your planner makes their suggestions so that you know if they are looking for the best of the best, or simply to those that pay for the referral. Many of the very best professionals are so successful in their own right that they don't need to pay for referrals, and therefore can end up on the wedding planner's long list rather than the short list.

In life most everyone has to budget for the things they want. When it comes to planning a wedding, there is literally no limit to the experience you can have, or the amount you can spend creating it. In my 15-year career as a New York City based wedding photographer, I have photographed small events with 20 guests and budgets of $10,000 to weddings with 500 guests and budgets of millions. Truth be told, it makes no difference photographically speaking. The importance of amazing photography is the same. The relationships between couples, their parents, their siblings, and friends are the key ingredient and truly what matters.

Wedding photography and video coverage is the only intangible element of planning a wedding before the event and is often under valued until after the wedding is over. Then suddenly it is of the utmost importance and often the biggest regret of couples that cut their budget in this area. Photography should never be lumped in with the other items to consider in the budget such as lobster vs. shrimp for the menu. It should have it's own separate budget because it is what you take away from this special day. The importance of great photographs cannot be stressed enough and to put it in perspective, when facing disaster at home, you don't go back in to the house for your microwave. You only go back in for your memories. Choosing to hire a photographer with a gifted eye and choosing to build a one of a kind gorgeous album with all of your friends and family is the perfect way to honor them, and share their existence with future generations.

Finding the perfect wedding gown to walk down that aisle is important to all brides. Having photographed bridal couture runway for years with the biggest names in wedding gown designs, I've learned a thing or two about how to choose your wedding dress. One key point is not to shop for your gown with an entourage of people. Go with very few key people that you trust, and that understand your body type, your vision, and that will be honest with you about how the gown looks on you. Too many opinions can quickly lead to indecision. Another key is to go with your gut feeling. If you feel beautiful in it, then chances are, you are making the right decision.

Figuring out the guest list, and inviting guests to your wedding, takes some serious time and thought. And, your wedding should be an extension of your being. Creating a theme for the event is a great way to allow guests to look beyond the surface into the depths of who you are both as individuals and as a couple. The key to a theme is following through, and it starts with the wedding invitation, and ends with the thank you. Your wedding invitations should give subtle hints, of what to expect during the wedding experience and intrigue guests to rsvp with a definite yes. By creating a theme and carrying out the theme to the end, guests are involved in your story, which allows guests that aren't as close to you as immediate friends and family to get solid picture of who you are.

Time is the ultimate luxury. And, today luxury isn't about how much you spend, it is about how much you enjoy it. It's the little personal touches and personalization in itself that constitutes planning a luxury wedding. Together In Style, luxury wedding television online, is a great online resource that caters to couples that want to save time, learn how to personalize their wedding, and enjoy every moment of the wedding planning process. These and other natural wedding planning embellishments can be found online through three hours of on demand television programming, which is free for all to enjoy.


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TogetherInStyle
Charles Maring Photography