Much Ado About Weddings

Weddings are kinda like stage plays, are they not? Maybe the one tiny difference is that stage plays do not usually open and close on the same night. Weddings do.

Yesterday on STORIES Photography sister site;  Grey Barn Occasions Facebook  we asked you to name the first thing wedding couples should do after getting engaged.

1.  Change your status on Facebook
2.  Secure a venue
3.  Set the budget
4.  Work on the guest list
5.  Invite friends to be in your wedding party
6.  Attend a bridal show
7.  Hire a wedding planner

Can we talk, because money talks?

We understand that money isn't everything, but to be fair to everyone, no matter who is footing the bill, the budget is your number one priority in wedding planning.  Figure it out... if mom and dad say they'll throw the wedding, get a figure from them.  If bride and groom are going to pay, calculate how much each can contribute monthly, and how much time you have to save the dough.  See, the budget will even weigh heavily on your wedding date.  If mom, dad, bride, and groom can't seem to swing for everything, call in the grooms family for reinforcements.  Everyone doesn't have to agree on every detail, except the bottom line.

According to The Knot, the average wedding is $30,000.  You used to be able to buy a small house for that price!  Pretty darn sure you want to get it right.  Grey Barn Occasions helped this wedding day couple go from "before" to "after" on a budget far less than the above average.

So set your ticket price and then get ready for your mid summer night's dream wedding day story.

Act One

  Scene I    Ticket Price

  Scene II   Setting ~ Crew (ceremony ~ reception vendors)

Act Two

  Scene I    Pick theme ~ date

  Scene II  Auditions  Wedding Party ~ Guests

Act Three

  Scene I   Opening Day

  Scene II  Memories

Grey Barn Occasions and STORIES Photography have package deals.We LOVE to talk wedding talk.
Comment, call, text, or e-mail for more information.
 
Here's our phone number spelled out to keep away those dang spammers and our gmail address.
Two three one-two zero six-two seven eight one
StoriesphotographyLLC@ you know where^^^

Time to "BOOK" with STORIES Photography

THANK YOU TO Midwest Rentals Bridal Affair for a successful 2 days of talking with awesome Lafayette, Indiana and surrounding area wedding couples.  Check your e-mails this week-end! 

OFFERING "Off-Season" pricing for your summer wedding until Feb 4, 2014

You don't have to book by then just call, text, or e-mail us and we'll give you OFFSEASON coupon.

Photography Booths ~ For this discussion, we're talking about the kind at the bridal show, but STORIES Photography offers a guest photo lounge with our "Library" package. Guest pictures on gallery by midnight on wedding day!


1.  Look at our pictures.
Don't worry so much about making conversation with us, or listening to our pitch.  Make sure our style matches what you're looking for in wedding photography and the best way to do that is to look, really look, at the photographs.

2.  Ask questions.
Ask how long we've been in business.  Ask if we carry back-up equipment.  Ask if we're available on your date.  Ask if we have fun shooting weddings.  Ask if we copyright release our photos.  Ask us if we have discounts on Sunday - Friday weddings.  Ask us anything, but don't forget Tip #1 ... Look at our pictures.

3. Tell us your story.
How'd you meet? Outdoor or indoor wedding? Big or small?  Formal or intimate? Story behind your venue? Tell us what you would like your wedding to be all about, but don't forget Tip #1... Look at our pictures.
4.  Set up an appointment.
If you look at our pictures and like what you see, book us on the spot or at the least, set up an appointment to talk further with us.  STORIES Photography will hold consultations directly after bridal show to save you another day of appointments.

5.  Look at our pictures.
Seriously, folks, this is KEY.  You'd be surprised how many people come by and enter a drawing or fill up their bridal bingo card, and don't even--I've said it before--look at our pictures.

Bridal Booths In General

6.  Don't stop if you've got it covered. 
Unless, of course, you already have your caterer, but need sustenance to keep you going.

7.  Don't book on the spot.
I know I said the exact opposite in Tip #4, but photographers and venues are the first to go, so book away especially if you're worried about losing your date.

8.  A word about give-a-ways.
Vendor "drawings" are our sneaky way of getting your e-mail/phone number.  If you are very, very interested in our services put some stars * * * * * and exclamation points ! ! ! ! ! by your name and write "Call Me"  on you entry form.

9.  Concentrate on the biggies.  
PHOTOS, FILM, FOOD, FUN.  You want the memories forever on film, and your guests want good food and fun.  If your photographer doesn't like videographers ... think again.  At STORIES Photography we're too busy to break, so no need to put us on the caterer's count. Plus, we've been known to hit the dance floor. (With camera in hand, of course)

10.  Look at our pictures!
Pictures are worth a 1000 words.  If a vendor does not have pictures of their work ... run don't walk, past their booth.  If they do have pictures ... make sure to look at the pictures.

STORIES Photography would love to meet you ~

Photographer's View ~ After The Show

Top Ten Tips ~ After The Bridal Show

Remember: From the photographer's view

 1.   If you haven’t already, set a budget for each category--venue, photography, caterer,etc. Just do it.  Go through some of the material and base your budget on the average, and/or how important that wedding category is to your dream wedding. And then see Tip #8

 2.   We’re all about saving trees but do go ahead and throw or give away vendor material that you’ve got covered.  No use jamming more stuff into that bridal notebook.  List  the vendor categories in a  “day of” timeline and importance.  Get the biggies taken care of first.

 3.   Sit down, preferably as a couple, and make some decisions on who you gonna call.  {Insert ghostbuster theme music here}  Seriously, whose photographs evoked your emotions?  What cake melted in your mouth?  Do you want to make your own playlist or hire the comedian DJ?

 4.   Split up the responsibility.  If the groom really really liked a vendor give him that info and let him run with it.

 5.   Get the rest of the family(s) involved here.  Not so much Tips #1-4 but here, especially if they’re writing checks. Talk openly about $.  If you absolutely LOVED a  pricey DJ ask the groom’s family to kick in the extra.

 6.   Rob peter to pay paul.  If you can’t live without chair covers, discuss losing the stuffed mushrooms.

 7.   Narrow each category down to two.  Start by e-mailing each vendor the same questions so you can compare apples to apples.  Then move to phone conversations … you can get a lot done with these two forms of communication. Maybe even consider 'skyping' a vendor meeting, then at your pre-wedding consultation you can jump right into turning your 'dream wedding' into reality.

 8.  Take 'dream wedding' out of your vocabulary and replace it with Wedding Day Story…what do you want to show and tell your children about your wedding day?  Every wedding will tell a story.  Embrace it.

 9.   Do not stress out about anything.  It’s simply not worth it.

10.   #10 is actually from the Official Vendor Category Rule Book.  It's true.

         A. Have enough ... and decorate the port-a-potties.  This is key folks. 

         B. Hire the Videographer … your kids will thank you. 

         C. Thinking about letting the DJ take requests?  

              You will end up doing the chicken dance. 

         D. If you are gonna have a friend take the pictures... 

              ...make darn sure the friend is a photographer. 

Trends, Tweets, & Traffic

Do you long for the industry giants to pay a bit more attention to small town and budget minded brides?

Simple DIY and cost effective ideas with creative suggestions, would sell on pinterest, don't ya think.  We'll see, I'm heading there as soon as I post this.

I confess, I will watch the January Bachelor Wedding and hope against hope Sean and Catherine throw a simple, doable affair which could be repeated by mere humans, but I'm not holding my breath.

How much is too much to spend on a wedding?

If I wasn't a wedding photographer, I'd jump into helping the DIYer bride and groom - plan, implement, and throw a reasonably priced shindig the likes of which you and ever other bride on pinterest has ever seen.

In the meantime, take a look at some 2014 trends ~ From The Photographer's Viewpoint, of course.




1.   Venues: Farm, Barn, Charm, Rustic, Outdoor,  and 1-2 hr mini-destination weddings

2.   Look and Feel: This is so subjective, we'll help you with "Themes" but the main thing here is keeping it simple and cohesive.

3.   Wedding Clothes: Suits, bowties, barefoot, flats, sleeves, straps, polka dots and prints


4.   In lieu of flowers:
Fruits, vegetables, herbs, sticks, tree branches

5.  Clergy   Instead of a friend taking your pictures: have one become ordained and perform your ceremony

6.  One Stop Shopping: All in one venues = happier guests, and better use of photography time!

7.   Variety: Grooms cakes.  food trucks, guest lounges, week-end festivities.

8.   Photo/Video: Stop Motion Photography, Video Save-The-Dates,   Two and even three team photography: a must-have for stopmotion - check out our version below.

9.   KISS Don't forget to keep it simple, snappy, and savvy.  No need for ceremony decorations with green trees and haybales.

10. Trending     If it's old-fashioned or over used, put your spin on it. If you love calla lillie's, mix 'em in with john deere green.  Go ahead and smash the cake all over the place, your kids will thank you, some day.
After all, it's YOUR day.







STORIES Photography wants to know:

Were you moved at the ceremony, did you have a tasty meal, and did you dance all evening?  If you answered yes to those 3 questions, then it doesn't matter what the guest book, card holder, or chair covers looked like. On the other hand, we want every photo to be the one you look at over and over again.
Cheers!
Julee @ STORIES Photography



Stop Motion Video


We do not believe the outdoor, farm, rustic, barn wedding is going anywhere, anytime soon. But we'd love to help you with your story, whether it be small town, or urban, intimate gathering or big shindig,  we'll make sure you get the look and feel you want. In fact, follow us on Twitter, "Like" us on facebook and keep this blog in your favorites, especially if you want help with the preplanning and timelines for your photography story (included in our "Library" package. We have 2014 summer Saturdays available and we're 1/2 way between Chicago and Indy. We do not charge travel fees for either city or Indiana wedding photography.

We'll be at the Midwest Rentals Bridal Affair  on Saturday and Sunday January 11 & 12, 2014. West Lafayette, IN. What story do you want to tell through your wedding day photographs? Because ... everybody has a story to tell.

Relax, we've got ya captured.

Hay Bales & E-mails, It's All In The Details

In the off-season we like to write and post from the photographer's viewpoint.  Hopefully, it will help in your planning and preparations for the big day.  Our Number One Tip remains the same: While planning, grab a yellow legal or iPad and in your mind ... walk through your day in 20 minute increments. Take notes.

For instance, to do a Stop Motion video as seen below... you'll want to tell the florist to have your flowers arrive a couple of hours before pictures start.  At the beginning of the day there is a lot of "down" time for the photographers, and a "Stop Motion" video takes some set-up.  Think about how we got those shoes to "walk" down all those stairs ;-) 
Here's our Top Ten Tips to optimize your photographer

1. If you like all the little details, get your rings, your shoes, and your flowers to the photographer first thing.  We promise to return everything in tact.

2. If you want photos of an undisturbed reception site, hire two photographers and make sure you, your family, or your bridesmaids are NOT the reception decorators.

3. Make your wedding "shot" list for family. Be specific and list the families in order of the timeline and in order of when and where they should gather (obviously, but you'd be surprised).

4. Wedding Party and Family: DO stand with your body straight towards the camera. Sideways is not always more flattering. If you guys are huggers, go ahead and put your arms around each other and then lower them to the waist line ... it helps with jacket pucker!













   







5.Bridesmaids: Do not lean in and do not lean over.  No one should show more cleavage than the bride. Your bouquet can be used for multiple purposes.

6. Brides: See if your hairdresser and/or make-up team can stop by later in the day and refresh!  Sometimes the weather can wreck havoc on the hair and happy tears still smudge the make-up.

7. Be careful of overwhelming your photographer with too many Pinterest pictures, it can stifle our creativity, we want to capture your day, not monopolize it.


8. If we can have 1 hour with  bride and groom, preferably outside, and hopefully no onlookers, we'll capture the romance.  Act like we're not there and savor the moment. You won't get even 10 minutes alone that day unless you carve it out.

9. Location, location, location.  If you're dressing at your grandmothers family home, you'll want "getting ready" shots.  Bridesmaids and moms should make sure they are in their wedding clothes before helping bride dress.



10. We will follow you around all day, that is why we're there.  If we need you to stop and pose, we'll tell you and FYI-we're lying if we say, "Just one more." Chances are you may be sick of us at the end of the night. But we do our best to capture the essence of your day and the romance between bride and groom. We've been known to hit the dance floor (with camera in tow, of course) We're going to see to it you enjoy the heck outta your day ... so relax, we've got ya captured.


Trending Topics!

2nd Day Shoot
Stop Motion Video


2nd Day Shoot
Ask the photographer about including a non-wedding day photo shoot.  This was popular back in the 20th century and featured a cardboard backdrop.

Then the 21st century couples got a hold of it and called it "trash the dress".

We're more inclined to call it the candid, casual, non-stressed, photo op.  Of course, you'll wear your dress, but no need for stiff tuxedos, up-do's, or heavy make-up. Just the two of you and the camera.

Here's where you could include a pinterest vignette, a beautiful countryside or funky cityscape ...

Stop Motion Video:  

Speaking of paying attention to details, we'll set up a camera on a tripod and take pictures all day long at short intervals. It's all about the details and we'll let this video speak for itself.

We're including 2nd Day Shoot & Stop Motion Video in our 2014 "Library Package" 

Check our website for package details. STORIES Photography

Coming Next: A Wedding Story Mad Lib

Because ... Everybody Has A Story To Tell

Julee, from Story Land Farm and STORIES Photography is a born and bred Hoosier, even though she calls Michigan home. She dreams in small town tones but would just as soon live in an Ikea city flat. 

She is looking to tell wedding day stories. Be it through photography, helping brides find their "look" or writing feature articles about unique wedding couples with a story to tell.

Are you from the heartland? Or does your heart simply yearn for the "days-gone-by" simplicity of a rustic  wedding? Talk to her. She is happy to be your pinterest board in the planning stages, your camera eye on wedding day, and/or your wedding day storyteller. (For publishing and/or a hardcover keepsake album)

But that's not all. She will photograph and tell your marketing story. She will come to you and capture your stuff, your shows, your styling, your staging, and your storefronts.  Heck, she'll even write and photograph her story about writing and photographing your story. Her pricing is extremely minimal because she loves to travel, take pictures, and tell stories. Hopefully yours. 

Because ... everybody has a story to tell.

Grey Barn Farm

While all these things can and have been associated with a country or home wedding, we're suggesting you can have a "down home on the farm" wedding with or without them.  We did... check out our new and updated website Story Land Farm ...  Photography and wedding planning dates still 2014. Ring us up.

Myth #1 Country wedding means a red-neck wedding.

If you call dancin' till the cows come home redneck, then so be it.

There's really no quitting time when you're out in the wide open spaces.

Myth #2 Country wedding means a summer wedding.

Notice patio heater in above photo and fall foliage below!

Myth #3 Country wedding means bride wears cowboy boots.

She can, but she doesn't have to.

Myth #4 Country wedding means DIY.

Well, actually this one is kinda true, especially as far as DIY budgets are concerned.

 Grey Barn Farms will do it all over again for your 2014 Wedding.  

We went from tin shed to spectacular in 6 months and under budget.

Myth #5 Country Wedding means casual wedding.

 Although I did change to dark jeans at around 11pm, and this little dapper guy had has pajamas on ... on the dance floor, we clean up pretty nice.  See non-country music video below!

Myth #6 Country Wedding means mason jar decor.

Nonsense! And yes those are original grain sacks made into aprons for our farm supper servers.

Myth #7 Country Wedding means bride or groom was raised on the farm.

Wrong again, but these city mice did get engaged and married at their grandparents' Grey Barn Farm with a little help from their families

Myth #8 Country Wedding means primitive outhouses.

Grey Barn Farms will wheel in VIP trailers with running water, and flushing les toilettes, s'il vous plaît 

Enough said.

Myth #9 Country Wedding means bud light.

If you do have it, it's easly incorporated into decor. Grey Barn Farms uses local and farm labels and we can make a Blue Moon keg display look like it was brewed in the back forty.

  

Myth #10 Country Wedding means playing country music.

Check out these country boys and girls gettin' down on the farm.

Ring the dinner bell, stock up the frig, we're fixin' to customize a couple of 2014 country weddings, reunions, or happy occasions. At STORIES Photography & Occasions we don't want you to worry 'bout a thing.  Country strong and city savvy. Here's to a few more good years of country weddings. Hopefully yours. Cheers!