A How-to Guide to Choosing the Perfect Wedding Photographer

A ‘How-To’ Guide to Choosing the Perfect Wedding Photographer. Simply follow these three steps brought to you by InFrame Bride Magazine. 

1.     Portfolio.  Investigate portfolios. Flip through the pages of this magazine and make a note of the images that catch your eye. Pay close attention to the mood the images portray and trust your own impressions.  You know what you like; let that be your guide.

Follow-up by perusing the photographers’ websites. View more than one wedding for each photographer (a great photographer will capture inspiring images of every wedding). Keep in mind photographers post their most recent work on their blog. Before moving on, make a list of your top 10 favorite photographers. 

2.     Price.  Decide on your budget.  Your wedding photography is as important as your wedding gown! As a rule of thumb, wedding planners advise spending 20-30% of your total wedding budget on photography. Make it a priority.   Don’t be afraid to make compromises with your wedding budget.  If you are in love with a specific photographer’s work but feel their price is out of reach, be flexible and play with the numbers. Could you cut back on your wedding favors or go with a more cost-friendly flower that is still just as beautiful?   In the end, you won’t regret the results; your wedding memories are priceless, and your images will last a lifetime.  Now, narrow down the list to your top 5 favorite photographers. 

3.     Personality.  Set up appointments.  Meet with your short list of favorite photographers.  Expect that some photographers will want you to come to their studio and others will meet you at a cozy coffee shop or restaurant. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; have a list ready and take notes (We’ve even supplied you with a cheat sheet of questions on the following page). Again, trust your instincts; choose the photographer from whom you get the best vibe and with whom you feel most comfortable.  You want a photographer who is confident and accommodating, but also concerned and enthusiastic.  And, be sure it’s a person whose presence you enjoy.

InFrame Bride: Pick Your Perfect Photographer!  Image by Grand Rapids, MI based photographer Summer Jean. 

Wedding Videography

So, you are engaged!  Congratulations!  I am sure you are having fun choosing your locations, picking out flowers and decorations, and maybe you have already booked your photographer and DJ...but did you already book your videographer?

You do not want to wait to pick a videographer, as the best tend to book up the quickest.  Many people forget about this vendor until just before the wedding day, and by then, it may be too late to get the one you want. 

People tend to think that photography is most important for capturing the day, and then maybe they will add video.  I urge you to reconsider.  There is a good chance that once the day is over (and trust me, that day will fly by) that you will want to be able to look back on your day using more than just photographs.  You will want to be able to relive the special moments in between the shots that your photographer took.  You will want to be able to hear your toasts again, your vows again, and all the well wishes and special words people spoke.  You will be able to do this if you have a video.

I few things to keep in mind when choosing your videographer:

          -Take a look at many samples of their work.

          -Many wedding videographers now shoot in HD, but not all of them do - something to keep in mind when shopping around.

          -Remember that most of the time, a good videographer is going to come along with added cost.  This is important to keep as a priority, as it is one of few things you will have left after your special day.

I hope this gave you a little added insight as to the importance of video on your wedding day.

Contributed by:

Anne Oppenhuizen

Inspiration Video

inspirationvideo.com/weddings.php

Moments in Time

As we head into a new wedding season we begin to see trends flourish.  In 2011 we are expecting to see more monogram, initial, and gobo lighting. Although this trend started back in the 90’s we are seeing technology create an endless amount of possibilities to monogram lighting options.  They are elegant, understated, versatile, and a dramatic visual reminder of your new life together.

The basic description of a monogram light is a two to three initial design, names, and or picture made up by the bride and groom to suit their desired needs. 

The location of your monogram light also can be decided on what works best for you and your venue. In a recent wedding reception at The Grand Volute Ballrooms in Lowell, MI we were able to project our gobo lighting in a very stylish fashion.  We had many options at The Grand Volute due to the large size of their ballrooms.  We had so many possibilities!  Your monogram can be used on your dance floor, behind the head table, above the cake, or on any wall visible to all guests. 

If you are looking for that extra something for your reception, you may want to look into the idea of having a monogram light at your event.  It may just add that extra something to bring the whole look of your reception ballroom together.

Contributed by: 

Moments in Time Disc Jockeys LLC

http://www.mitdj.com

Please check them out-- another wonderful business that we love working with! 

Questions to Ask Potential DJ Companies... Part Two!

Here are the rest of the questions that each person should be sure to inquire of before hiring a DJ company for their big day.

4. Can I meet my DJ before my big day?

1.      This is very important as your DJ’s personality is what makes or breaks your evening.  Light shows are nice, sound systems are important, but if their only sales points are they have the loudest system or fanciest lights in the industry, then they may be compensating for unprofessional or untrained DJs.   The DJ does two very critical things for you.  Number one he or she coordinates the flow of the evening with all the vendors and number two he or she makes sure people have fun during the dancing.

5. Have you worked with my facility before?

1.       The DJ must be well versed with the facilities set-up requirements, load in procedures, flow of the evening, and ending times.  One of the BEST forms of references for your DJ should come from your facility.  They see hundreds of DJs and are probably your best source for a recommendation.

6. Do you pay employees a 1099 or sub-contractors? 

1.       Many larger DJ companies actually use other smaller DJ companies when they book-up.  The draw-back is then you pay too much for a potentially inferior service.  Make sure that your company does not sub-contract their DJs.

7. Do I need to sign an agreement?
YES!  You need to work with a company with a contract.  Remember that contract protects you as much as them!  It says they promise to be there for your event!  With that in mind the quality of the literature they give you is a direct reflection on their customer service and professionalism.  If they had really bad copies for song lists, or hand write your plans on a cocktail napkin, you can bet your evening will not go as you planned!

The most important thing to remember when planning your wedding is to have fun!  The DJ should not be a stress for you to overcome.  Simply look for the signs that you are hiring a trusted and professional and you stand a GREAT, chance at having a Stress-Free wedding day of which dreams are made!

Contributed by: Floyd Nobis, President of Complete Music and Video

(616) 957-4200, or http://www.cmusic.com

Questions to Ask Potential DJ Companies

As promised, today we will continue our DJ Feature with questions that everyone should ask a potential DJ before hiring him or her. These questions are supplied by the well-recognized (and highly-recommended), Complete Music and Video. To contact Complete Music and Video, visit http://www.cmusic.com, or call them directly at 616-957-4200.

1. How long have you been in business? 

1/3 of DJ companies go out of business every year.  Considering most engagements are now 18 months long and you should be booking a DJ about a year in advance, you stand a 1 in 3 chance that you might be scrambling trying to find a new DJ company the month of your wedding, if your company goes out of business.  The longer a company has been in business the more likelihood that they will be in business a year from now.  Be careful that you don’t fall for the “We have 10 years combined experience,” sales gimmick. Some companies will hide the fact that they have 8 people working for them with a year or two of experience at most between them.

2. Do you have back-up DJ's and equipment? 

Complete Music is one of the few companies that has a paid manager on-call with an entire system ready to go whenever we have event out.  This is different than companies that say we have extra DJs.  Consider this scenario, your DJ gets into an accident or gets sick the day of your wedding.  If the DJ Company calls one of their guys that has plans that day, then after they beg them to work and leave their family picnic in the middle.  That DJ still has to gather equipment, has no information about your event, and will most likely have a bad attitude when they show up to entertain on your big day.   Complete Music’s on-call managers are prepared and even carry their tuxes with them so if they get a call they can be at your event in a moments notice.

3. Do you have an office?

Believe it or not this is very important because most DJs are part-time companies and those are the ones that go out of business, have bad reputations, and often very poor training and business skills.

Check back on Friday for the additional three question to be sure to ask!! These are priceless questions, and are absolutely crucial to ensuring a quality experience with your DJ. 

Contributed by: Floyd Nobis, President of Complete Music and Video

Choosing a DJ

Choosing a DJ for your big day can be very confusing.  Most Brides and Grooms have never actually had to hire a DJ before, so they have no idea what to even ask a prospective company they are interviewing.
About 95% of brides that call Complete Music’s office ask the same first question… “How much do you charge?”  Although price is an important factor in choosing a company, if you base your decision solely on price you will be disappointed.

According to Modern Bride Magazine, the Knott and a few other national wedding sources:
Before their wedding, brides ranked the entertainment 9^th in importance but AFTER their wedding those same brides surveyed ranked the entertainment as the number one most important thing in their wedding!  Considering, on average only 5% of your wedding budget is going to be spent on the entertainment, it is critical that brides and grooms know what to ask companies and know what to look for in finding a professional service.  

On Monday, we will look into a few of the questions that you MUST ask your potential DJs before hiring them! Be sure to check back! 

(Contributed by: Complete Music and Video; 616-957-4200)

Complete Music and Video

Welcome to our DJ Feature! For the next two weeks, we'll be featuring our favorite DJ businesses, as well as providing you with some important information that you should know, before you hire your wedding Disc Jockey. 

Today, we're featuring Complete Music and Video, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Complete Music and vidoe is a full service entertainment company with a strong focus on event lighting, music, and video. Often overlooked, up lighting is another cost effective way to make your room unique and add some pizazz. Unlike other companies that are part-time and make you leave your sometimes vital message on their answering machine, Complete Music and Video is a full-time, professional company dedicated to serving you. You can always reach someone from Complete Music and Video. 

Packages start at just $315, and Complete Music and Video offers free set-up and delivery to their clients. We love working with them! They are incredibly professional, fun, and cost-effective. 

Please check out Complete Music and Video. They offer such a quality experience! Their website has much more information-- head on over to http://www.cmusic.com to find out more! 

To contact Complete Music and Video, call (616) 957-4200, or visit them in person at:

3720 28th Street

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512

Engagement Announcements-- with a free gift!

Grand Volute wants to invite you to upload your engagement announcements to WoodTV.com. Each couple that uploads their pictures receives a 25 dollar gift card to Seigel Jewelers in Grand Rapids! Just for uploading a picture! The process is simple: visit WoodTV.com and visit the "engagements" section and upload your picture. Then, visit Seigel Jewelers to claim your gift! Your gift card can be used for wedding bands, bridal jewelry, gifts, etc. Additionally, Seigel Jewelers offers the "Sunshine Guarantee"- if it rains on your wedding day, your bands are free! What a deal! 

Come Visit us at the Grand Rapids Bridal Show!

This weekend is the Grand Rapids Bridal Show, and we would love for you to stop by and say hello! 

A reminder: the show begins Friday, and runs 5-9pm, and ends Saturday, and runs 11am to 5pm. It is located at DeVos place, at 303 Monroe Center Ave, in Downtown Grand Rapids. 

We will be bringing some great deals, samples of our signature dishes, and we would love to get to know you! 

Wedding Show!!

Grand Volute Ballrooms wants to invite you to visit us at the Bunny Tuxedo Grand Rapids Wedding Show, on January 7 and 8! This year, Bunny Tuxedo celebrates their 41st anniversary of hosting the Grand Rapids Bridal Show. This is the largest, and longest running wedding show in West Michigan. Over 5,000 dollars worth of door prizes and giveaways will be offered. The show truly is your one-stop bridal shop, with over 100 bridal resources represented. And Brides get in free, with pre-registration!

Pre-register for the event at GRBridalShow.com. The event is January 7 and 8, (Friday 5-9 PM and Saturday 11 AM-9 PM) at DeVos Place in Downtown Grand Rapids. Please visit GRBridalShow.com for more information, and please be sure to visit us during your visit! 

Our Biggest Giveaway Yet!

Grand Volute Ballrooms is preparing to give away something huge! So huge, in fact, that you'll have to visit us at the February West Michigan Bridal Show in order to get the full details, as well as enter to win the prize (valued at several thousand dollars.) The show is February 19 and 20th at DeVos place! Be sure to note that this bridal show is different than the Bunny Tuxedo Grand Rapids Bridal Show. The show begins Saturday at 12 noon, and runs until 6:00 pm, and Sunday from 12 noon, until 4:00 pm. Be sure to listen to HotFM 105.3 for more information as it is released! It will be worth your time!