By Peter Bruce posted on Thursday, August 26, 2010 @ 2:43 PM - (General)
All the photos from Sarah & Josh wedding are up on line to every one can see them. No pass word needed. Just go to www.peterbruceweddingphotography.com Click on "Store" tab at top right & look for your photo.
PLEASE ALWAYS GO THOUROUGH THE WEB SITE AS GOING DIRECT TO THE STORE MAY LOCK YOU OUT THINKING YOU ARE SPAM
By Peter Bruce posted on Saturday, August 21, 2010 @ 11:06 PM - (General)
Please be careful out there. There are hidden cost from companies that can make your wedding hell. Here are some handy tips from Peter Bruce Photo on not being ripped off.
1. Wedding Band Equipment, you say what
Why it's hidden The cost of the wedding band includes fees for the musicians' time and the minimum amount of equipment needed. If your reception space is extra-large, then additional speakers and microphones could possibly be required to project the best sound quality. The cost Anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars How to avoid it Before booking your band or DJ you need to clearly explain the layout of the space (or have them check it out, if they're willing) so the vendors know exactly what they're working with. If they want to add in extra equipment, you should have them explain why it's necessary before you sign a contract or agree to pay for anything else.
2. Postage Stamps good old USPS can kill you
Why it's hidden Stationers don't advertise the shipping costs; if they did, you might decide to go with simpler (read: cheaper) invites. The cost Oversized, awkwardly shaped and bulky invitations will most often run you as much as $3 each to mail. How to avoid it Skip the fancy boxed invitations and multilayer cards, which can bulk up quickly and cost a lot more than you bargained for.
3. Wedding Dress Alterations
Why it's hidden wedding dresses are pretty pricey and stores don't want to scare away clients by listing alterations as part of the total cost. The cost A simple hem can be less than $150, but completely rebuilding a bodice or moving zippers can send the price soaring. How to avoid it Ask about what the store charges for every alteration you may need before you purchase the gown. If it's too much, don't be afraid to take your dress to a less expensive seamstress to have alterations done.
4. Photo/Video Overtime
Why it's hidden Your photo or video person are booked for just a certain amount of time, so if your wedding runs a little longer than you expected, they'll charge per hour. The cost Starting at $250 per hour How to avoid it When planning the day, factor in extra time for getting dressed and taking photos. You'll get a realistic sense of how long everything should take. Refer to this itinerary when booking your photo/video vendors. Can I say I don't charge by the hour. I am with you for the day. Flat rate
5. Welcome-Bag Delivery
Why it's hidden Most hotels don't factor in a welcome-bag delivery fee when you block rooms. And they may fail to mention the rate unless you ask -- they'll just add it to your final bill. Inquire within; they may even charge you a fee for holding the welcome bags if you drop them off before the guests arrive! The cost Up to $9 per bag How to avoid it During the booking process, ask about the hotel's policy on receiving and delivering welcome bags to guests' rooms. It may be free or cheaper if they hand the bags out at the counter as guests check in. If you don't want the extra charge, you can distribute them at the rehearsal dinner.
6. Rental Transport cost
Why it's hidden You'd assume that the rental companies would include these extra fees in the per-item costs (do they honestly think you're going to fit 150 chiavari chairs in your own car?), but surprisingly, they don't. The cost From $50 up to more than $500 How to avoid it Ask the rental company what their shipping and packaging fees are up front -- if the cost is too high for your budget, shop around a bit. You just might find that you'll actually save some money by renting items from a more expensive company that includes delivery costs at no extra charge.
7. Taxes death and taxes wil get you
Why it's hidden Even though these aren't exactly hidden -- we all know that there are taxes on almost everything -- most couples don't think about how much they'll end up owing during the planning process. The cost This will depend on the total amount of money you're spending as well as the location of the event (taxes vary in different areas). How to avoid it There's no getting around paying taxes, but paying the entire bill in one lump sum can help lower the overall price, especially in the winter when vendors have fewer weddings to cover their bills.
8. Cake-Cutting Fee,and this one is wrong
Why it's hidden If you use the cake provided by your reception site, the charge is typically wrapped into the cost. Going with an outside baker can jack up the price. Why? Because your venue's workers are responsible for slicing and serving each piece, then cleaning the dishes. This means more work for their staff! The cost From $2 to $5 per guest How to avoid it Go with the site's cake baker. Don't worry: They'll likely be able to work with your vision. If you're set on a particular cake baker, then call your venue and find out what the fee is before you sign a contract.
9. Coat Check,even more wrong
Why it's hidden When you book your venue in the summer, it's easy to forget just how cold it'll be in winter months like December. The cost The damage starts at around $200. How to avoid it Union rules may dictate the number of people who are required to work the coat check (and the amount they get paid). Have a good approximation of your total guest count when you book the coat checkers.
10. Gratuities,only tip if the service was good
Why it's hidden Many couples often think that the "service charge" is a tip for the event staff when it's actually an additional fee that the catering halls charge. For what? To cover their own cost for hiring servers. The cost Typically 15 to 20 % of the event's total food and drink fee How to avoid it Once you get the proposed fee, add the service charge percentage so it's already accounted for before the event. The last thing you want is to get hit with an unexpectedly huge bill that just about breaks the bank.
By Peter Bruce posted on Friday, August 13, 2010 @ 10:21 AM - (General)
Here is some other great advice from Peter Bruce Photo. Even though it is your day,there are going to be people who know better or just think that there in put help. Yes some times it does but over the years I have seen the bad and the good. Read on and learn.
SOME PEOPLE JUST WANT TO HELP
1.The very Testy Bridesmaid
Problem: "I love my maid of honor to death, but getting her in a dress that wasn't black or covered every inch of her was a task. If we found a color or a print, she would tell me that she didn't want to take attention away from the bride." My Advice: If one of your bridesmaids is a little nervous about showing some skin or wearing a bold color, it's better to find her an alternate option than to force her into something she's not comfortable with. For a modest maid of honor, make a strapless dress more conservative by incorporating a wrap, a fun cardigan, or a vintage bolero jacket in a complementing shade. Or play up your color palette in a subtler way with jewelry or hair fascinators. And look at the bright side, compromising now will give you a little leverage when you serve as a maid in her wedding.
2. The Wedding Know-It-All person
Problem: "My future sister-in-law is telling me I shouldn't wear a white wedding dress because it would be too harsh with my skin tone, wants to register for gifts with me (as well as tell me what to register for), and is suggesting where we honeymoon!" My Advice: When wedding suggestions cross the line from helpful to aggravating, it's time to redirect that input so that you don't end up arguing over something that might not seem so significant a few years down the line. Assign specific tasks to keep her busy but still involved, like helping you confirm orders with vendors or assembling favors.
3. The Doesn't-Know-Her-Place Wedding Guest
Problem: "One of our guests keeps insisting that we invite everyone on her 'party guest list' to our destination wedding -- I even found an open invite on her Face book account!" My Advice: Some wedding guests take it upon themselves to suggest a few invitees. And then some guests invite everyone on the Internet. Unless you want Tom from Face book raising a glass to toast your union, make sure it's clear that there's only one guest list for your wedding. Luckily, rationalizing a small guest list is a lot easier when you have a destination wedding -- just explain that you're having an intimate wedding with close friends and family only (she should feel honored that she's one of them!).
4. The Over-Eager Wedding Guest
Problem: "A woman my mother knows wants to do my ceremony music, and a customer of my mother's always volunteers to help and acts like she is family. I hardly know her!" My Advice: You know that expression about too many cooks in the kitchen? Meet its wedding equivalent. Having a lot of people offer to help you plan sounds like a blessing, but when assistance comes from left field, it can feel like more of a hindrance. If you feel like someone's eagerness is a bit more than you need, let her know how grateful you are for the offer, but that you're in great shape, planning-wise, and that if anything comes up that she could help with, you'll be sure to call.
5. The Children-Or-Bust Wedding Guest
Problem: "My husband-to-be has a niece and nephew (both under five), and his sister, her husband, and his parents said they would refuse to come if the children aren't allowed."
My Advice: A lot of couples choose not to invite children to their wedding, but if you risk a boycott by some VIPs, find a way soothe the situation. Offer to hire a babysitter and set up a private area with games, coloring books, and a few comfy pillows for little ones to crash on if the reception runs past their bedtimes. Your relatives might even offer to chip in once they see how accommodating you're being, but if they don't, the extra expense will be worth bypassing the drama of a fight with your new family.
By Peter Bruce posted on Monday, August 9, 2010 @ 6:40 PM - (General)
All the photos from Chritine and Zac's wedding at the Garden Pavilion are up on line to every one can see them. No pass word needed. Just go to www.peterbrucephotography.com Click on "Store" tab at top right & look for your photo.
NOTE YOU MUST ALWAYS GO TO www.peterbrucephotography.com TO VIEW. PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO GO TO THE SITE DIRECT IT MAY NOT LET YOU IN.
By Peter Bruce posted on Sunday, August 8, 2010 @ 9:40 AM - (General)
There is some wedding advice that is so invaluable, I tell it to every bride and groom-to-be I know. In fact, I think it is advice that should be told early, and told often.
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT THE GROOM DOES FOR A LIVING BEFORE THE WEDDING
1... Have a wedding you can afford,your your father can afford
Rather than accruing massive wedding debt, pay for it as you go along. The number one thing couples fight about, according to psychologists and couples therapists, is money. You don't want to start off married life with a monkey (debt) on your back. A big formal wedding is nice for those who can afford it, but you don't need to "keep up with the Joneses" at the expense of your future happiness.And spend the money on the most important things.
2... Take time to savor your wedding,look from the outside in
To many couples say that their wedding was a whirlwind that they barely remember. Consider building in time for reflection- whether it’s a scheduled time between ceremony and reception where the two of you will enjoy a glass of champagne, or the moment when you change into your getaway clothes. Talk to each other during the reception about what you are enjoying and who you've talked to. That evening, take a few moments to write down what you remembered about the day.
3... Infuse your personality
Don't have a dull cookie-cutter wedding. Think about your hobbies, happy memories, and personalities. If you love to travel, consider naming tables after places you've visited together. If you are a fishing aficionado, consider fishbowls with live fish in them as centerpieces. Your wedding will be a thousand times more special and memorable.
4... Don't always follow tradition
Don’t spend money on things just because you think they're traditional. If you don’t really want it, don’t do it. A great example of this is the custom of using both an inner and outer envelope for a wedding invitation. Many couples these days are forgoing this option in favor of more modern and cost-efficient invites.
5... Don’t sweat the petty stuff and pet the sweaty stuff
A wedding is full of thousands of details and there are bound to be a few snafus along the way. Keep in mind the reason you are doing all of this- it's not to have the perfect cake baker, who is now too overbooked to make your cake. It’s to celebrate your love together, which you could do in a mud puddle, if you had to.
By Peter Bruce posted on Sunday, August 1, 2010 @ 8:17 AM - (Press Release)
Astor Courts, a riverside estate, was the venue where the former first daughter and an investment banker tied the knot. Pictures were released following the festivities.Chelsea wore a white strapless down with full skirt and silver beading around her waist. With a bouquet of white flowers in her hands, her father, former president Bill Clinton, walked her down the aisle.
Both Bill and Marc wore dark suits. Current U.S. Secretary of State and former New York Senator Hillary Clinton wore a fuchsia dress.
Chelsea Clinton, wearing a strapless white gown with a full skirt and silver beading around the waist and carrying a bouquet of white flowers, was escorted down the aisle by her father. The former president and the groom wore dark suits, while the mother of the bride wore a fuchsia dress.And the big thing,we could have shoot the wedding.
By Peter Bruce posted on Monday, November 9, 2009 @ 7:10 AM - (General)
Life is to short to not have fun so we decided to pull out some funny photos,let us know what you think...
Someone Ought To Fire The Caterer!
Surely the bride's foot can't taste better than the buffet – unless she's got one heck of a shoe maker, that is! Lesson number one, schedule the reception festivities for after the meal. Lesson number two, don't let your groomsmen see just as much of the bride as you hope to lay eyes on later … in private!
Not Everything Needs To Be On Film!
Someone needs to let that photographer know that every detail doesn't have to be preserved for all of eternity! Some fun wedding photo ideas are best left at the idea stage, but the photographer who captured this photo definitely knows what a funny wedding photo is all about!
Real Tiger On The Honeymoon!
If he doesn't wake up soon, this won't be the first time he's unconscious tonight! Here's a tip for the guys – falling asleep on the best day of her life won't make it anywhere near the best day of yours.
By Peter Bruce posted on Friday, November 6, 2009 @ 7:16 AM - (General)
Life is to short to not have fun so we decided to pull out some funny photos,let us know what you think...
He's Falling For Her... HARD
What a great photo.Because there's no way she can catch him! This leap of faith is a sure show of love, and with any luck she'll remember her vows to be there for him in his sickness and poor health, because that's the condition that he'll be in after he hits the dirt!
Do You Have Change For A ...
You get the impression that this guy isn't the groom, but the real groom obviously isn't wearing the pants in the family if the bride is already digging around in someone else's! Here's a big tip... Save wedding photo ideas such as this one for the people you aren't too fond of, because the ones who used to like you won't after finding this one in the wedding album! PS tell us know how high you think he is ?
This Guy Is a Morning Person?
Anytime a guy is willing to do this crazy stunt, it's a can't-miss photo op. Hopefully the groom calms down before the honeymoon, or there's the potential for quite a few funny wedding photos that the photographer won't be privy to! Take a tip from this picture for a few wedding photo ideas of your own – the use of color in this shot is phenomenal!
