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!

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.

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!)

We had a bunch of stuff going on here – including our great giveaways and got away from our scheduled detail posts. So let’s get back to it!

Technically the ceremony isn’t a “detail” … it’s the point of the entire wedding day and therefore the most crucial element.  Ceremonies are tricky, though, from a photographer’s point of view.  Many venues, churches, and officiants put serious restrictions on photographers; limiting where they can stand, how much they can shoot, some even forbidding the photographer from being in the sanctuary or chapel during the ceremony.  When photographers are allowed in the ceremony, often we’re restricted to the very back of the room, so finding ways to be creative is important.  When I am allowed to photograph from different angles,  I can get wonderful closeup shots of rings and facial expressions.  When I can’t, I still try to be creative by shooting from different angles, from balconies, through doors or archways, and even by using a remote controlled camera hidden in the back of the altar (when it’s allowed).