Category Archives: weddings

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save the date cards

January 24, 2011 – 12:33 pm

I’ll just say it right out … for a photographer, I’m graphically challenged.  I dithered over what color to pain my livingroom walls for months.  I agonize over how to match fabrics for my bedroom.  And for my business, when it comes to designing cards and albums, I stick with single images on crisp white backgrounds and fine black keylines.  Mostly that works for me and my clients but every now and then I get jealous of those photographers who whip out amazing cards without a second thought.

That’s why I was thrilled to find a fantastic resource for card templates that not only aren’t too frou-frou, but that I can offer to my clients w/out having to spend hours and hours agonizing over various design elements.

This is the first set of cards I found that I love – clean, crisp, slightly retro lines and completely customizable for color, size, and content.

Pricing on these cards is the same as for any standard press printed card – there is no graphic design charge for cards from templates!

save the date cards | © solaisphoto + kara hudson ……….save the date cards | © solaisphoto + kara hudson

save the date cards | © solaisphoto + kara hudson

save the date cards | © solaisphoto + kara hudson

By Kara | Also posted in cards, engagements | Comments (0)

Married! Julie + David at Primrose Cottage in Roswell

July 6, 2010 – 9:03 pm

Julie + David got married at Primrose Cottage in Roswell, GA.

Click to continue reading “Married! Julie + David at Primrose Cottage in Roswell”

By Kara | Comments (1)

A Favorite from Julie + David

May 29, 2010 – 1:10 am

This was from the last dance tonight.  I think it’s my favorite from the whole wedding.

By Kara | Comments (0)

Wedding Insurance

March 18, 2009 – 7:41 pm

Just a quick break from image posting and fun stuff to strike a serious note.

I read wedding planning boards and magazines to keep current with the trends and what brides and grooms are looking for. I think any serious wedding vendor does. Recently I ran across a situation where a bride had to cancel her wedding for a very valid reason – the groom died. Some of her vendors wouldn’t return her deposit when she canceled the wedding. As you might imagine, feelings run high on this situation, with vendors trying to explain why they are not being totally heartless to not return the deposit (or only to return some of it) and brides and grooms being outraged that the deposits weren’t returned.

There is a solution here and I think one that more couples should be aware of. It used to be that a wedding cost a few thousand $$ and deposits were small tokens that didn’t amount to much. Nowadays weddings are big events and prior to the day a couple may have spent tens of thousands of dollars in deposits, booking fees, and retainers. In most cases those retainers are NON-REFUNDABLE for any reason.

With weddings costing so much and the amount of money a couple puts out prior to the event being so high, I STRONGLY recommend to my clients that they look into wedding insurance. I know most people have never heard of it … but there are several companies that offer event and wedding insurance in case of cancellation or postponement. The most popular one is WedSafe.

For around $150-$250 (depending on the level of coverage you choose), you can purchase insurance that will reimburse you for your vendor deposits if you have to cancel your wedding for any reason.

Now some people will think that it’s crazy to spend another $150 on your wedding for insurance for something that will probably never happen. Me? I think that if you’re going to spend $10,000 or $20,000 or more on a wedding, then it’s well worth $200 or so (around 10% of the total cost of your wedding) to make sure that you’re protected in case of a death, a natural disaster, or any other event that might cause you to have to cancel or postpone your wedding.

It’s not a fun subject to talk about – just like life insurance, making a will, and other serious things that you should discuss when you join your lives together – but I think it’s important. I really encourage you to look into wedding day insurance, either with WedSafe or another company. I truly believe it’s money well spent.

[Disclaimer:  I'm not affiliated with WedSafe, I haven't received any compensation for posting this, and I don't know anyone who works for them.  I just know their name and have heard good things about them.  They don't even know that I'm posting this.]

By Kara | Also posted in advice, news | Comments (0)

Details | Dresses + Shoes

March 10, 2009 – 8:10 pm

A lot of times when I meet with a potential client, I’ll find that a bride has picked out her dress (and even her shoes and other accessories) before almost anything else.  And why not?  A woman’s wedding dress is often the most personal part of her wedding planning.  It’s something that many women keep forever, passing down to their daughters and even their granddaughters.  Even if the dress isn’t worn again, often the fabric from the dress is made into christening gowns for babies and grandbabies.  Very few things hold the symbolism and meaning that a woman’s wedding dress does.

As a photographer I always try to get lots of photos of the dress and the accessories that go with it – both on and off the bride.   Very few women will wear a dress like this again in their lives and I think it deserves to be properly documented!

By Kara | Also posted in details | Comments (1)

Venues | Crane Cottage – Jekyll Island

February 22, 2009 – 10:48 am

Here’s another venue collage from a fabulous wedding I shot on Jekyll Island – part of Georgia’s Golden Isles.  Crane Cottage is part of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel .  Crane Cottage is an Italian Renaissance style building and has a gorgeous formal sunken garden, an inner courtyard, and a beautiful upper terrace and fountain.

By Kara | Also posted in venues | Comments (0)

Details | Food + Drink II

February 17, 2009 – 10:56 am

Many couples include their favorite regional or cultural foods when planning their reception menus.  I’ve been to a reception that hosted a low country seafood boil (in Savannah), a New Orleans high society bash catered by the Restaurant August, an Indian wedding that had some of the most amazing food I’ve ever eaten (and where I tasted my first salted lassi), a Southern wedding where favorites like hush-puppies and fried tomatoes and pecan pralines were served, and a Texas wedding that featured smoked barbecue.

Custom cocktails are more and more popular as well.  Instead of having an open bar, many couples are designing and serving one or two signature drinks at their receptions.  Appletinis and Cosmos were the drink of choice at one wedding where the colors were green and pink.  A southern (spiked) lemonade  was served in mason jart at a Deep South themed wedding.  Champagne cocktails with a perfect raspberry in the glass were served at a brunch reception.

By Kara | Also posted in details | Comments (0)

Details | Food + Drink I

February 16, 2009 – 10:47 am

In my experiences over nearly 15 years of photographing weddings, I have come to believe that the single most important detail of a wedding reception is the food.  (Music is the second.)  People won’t remember what flowers you had on the table. They won’t remember the color of the linens.  They won’t remember what specific song you first danced to.  They’ll remember the food – whether it was good or bad and if there was enough of it.

Whether you have a sit-down dinner or a buffet; whether you have plated appetisers; whether you have an open bar, served signature cocktails, or beer and wine; whether you have a simple dessert offering or a full meal; having tasty and well prepared food tells your guests you appreciate them!

By Kara | Comments (0)

Details | Boutonnieres

February 9, 2009 – 10:34 am

First of all, yes I did have to look up the proper spelling of boutonnieres! When I worked in a flower shop, we simply called them “bouts” (pronounced “boots”), which is much easier to write and say. Regardless of how you say or spell the word, I think in some ways boutonnieres are even more interesting than bouquets. A bout represents the entire “feel” of the bride’s bouquet, in a tiny, pinnable, floral package.  They create a beautiful splash of color against the plain black of a grooms tux.  I am really in awe of florists who can create good boutonnieres.  (Oh, and sometimes, some grooms prefer an homage to their favorite athlete – and a pocket square instead!)

By Kara | Also posted in details | Comments (0)

Winner!

February 5, 2009 – 10:22 am

Here it is – the very last winner of the Bloggie Giveaways. This one is for  Colin Cowie Wedding Chic: 1,001 Ideas for Every Moment of Your Celebration

The winner of this fabulous book is #27  Kim F. Kim – I’ve sent you an email. You just need to let me know your shipping address and I’ll get the book out to you today!

By Kara | Also posted in for fun, news | Comments (0)
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