Coordinators are so beneficial. They can really make or break a good wedding day experience. If you don’t have a good one, it would be better not to have one at all. If you can’t afford a coordinator, ask a friend if they would help and take them out to eat or something before the wedding day so they know they are appreciated. Plus it will give you a chance to talk about the wedding. Finding a good coordinator is very very hard to come by. Over the years, I’ve only met a hand full of coordinators that I was impressed by at all. I’ve been to weddings where they have disappeared, yelled at everyone, made the bride cry, or just didn’t do anything at all. Most coordinators aren’t required to have any type of license, insurance, equipment…nothing. It is pretty easy to slap their name on a card to start their business. Make sure you choose someone that you can relate with. That person will be making decisions on your behalf, so find someone that you think will make the same decisions you would make yourself.

Referrals are always the best when it comes to people you will be working with on a more communication and personal level.  It isn’t like you are buying a product, you are buying a person for the day.  It isn’t just important for the bride and wedding party, but also for the hired help as well.  As a photographer, I could careless how much money someone was paying me if I knew that my style of photography wouldn’t please them when they received their photos after the wedding.

Wedding planners are the most important when it comes to large weddings, brides and families who have tight schedules and bride’s planning their wedding out of town.  Thank goodness for the internet for out of town brides!  Many people plan their weddings away from the destination just using the internet and phone, but it is hard to know who is good and who isn’t from far away sometimes.  Larger weddings of course need an extra hand to organize details that a coordinator won’t be able to catch up with in just one day.

As far as coordinators and planners I recommend, it depends on where your wedding will be, so contact me and I’ll give you some good ones!

If you’ve read my older blogger posts, you’ll remember my section “Proverbs for a Wedding Planner”  I wrote it about three years ago and considering I’ve been to a lot more weddings and combined what I’ve seen and heard, my advice is somewhat different now.  The original post is quite long, so I decided to focus on just a few subjects.  Therefore, calling it by the same title with “The Venue” attached.

The Venue

Firstly, I’d like to share some advice about the venue of your wedding.  When it comes to the general aesthetic of your wedding, where it takes place is the most important part. I can’t express how important it is.  Think about how important the atmosphere of a restaurant is.  It immediately explains the type of food you are about to eat.  The same goes for your wedding venue.  The atmosphere of a wedding on the lawn of a mansion is completely different than the atmosphere of a Catholic church in December.  If you are going to splurge on anything, splurge here. The best venue takes very little to no decor.  Not only will this save you money, but it will save you a lot of headache!  Of course, not every city or town has an array of options, so you may have to settle somewhere.  At our wedding, the ceremony was held outside under a tent behind in an old civil war home that was turned into a restaurant where the reception was held. We didn’t have to rent tables, chairs, linens, glasses, etc. And the restaurant was decorated so nicely, we just put a small candle on each table. It saved us so much time and money that we were able to spend on other things!

Lighting

As a photographer, I’ve had some really bad lighting conditions. No one looks good under fluorescent lighting. Pick a place that has some great natural lighting.  Your photos will turn out so nice. If you are having your wedding at night, a white ceiling will help with external flashes and spotlights.

Discount

Venues and other wedding services love weekday weddings. If it could be an option for you, ask them if they would consider giving you a discount for a weekday.

Location

Having the ceremony and the reception at the same place is a good idea. If it isn’t an option for you, make sure you have a card with well written directions and even a map. Designate someone to pass the cards out after the ceremony or include it in the program and invitation.

Parking

Think outside the box.  You can have a ceremony and/or reception almost anywhere!  The biggest thing to consider is parking.  Although, that may not even stop you.  I was a photographer at a wedding right on 3rd Avenue in Nashville where it would be impossible to find parking on a Saturday night for that many people.  She really wanted to have the wedding there, so they resulted in hiring a valet service which made it even more classy than it already was!

Your Guests

Also, think about your guests.  If you have several older guests attending, insisting they sit outside in the middle of July is inconsiderate.  So many people will want to make the wedding day the bride’s day, but when your guests are uncomfortable because they had to hike to get there or had to wait 2 hours just to eat will more than likely make them feel unpleasant and in return dampen the mood of the afternoon or evening.

Most importantly, pick a location where you know you will have a great time!  A lot of people forget that the wedding ceremony was intended to be a CEREMONY, so CELEBRATE!

As a photographer, I’m with the bride almost the entire day and during the most important moments at the very least.  I’ve seen my fair share of wedding mistakes and have developed a list of common mistakes people don’t prepare for before the big day.  I always insist on people asking me as many questions as they can when it comes to the wedding details because most people only get married once and only plan a wedding once, so it is hard to know what to expect.  Here are five of the most common mistakes I’ve seen in the past 3 years of photographing weddings:

1. The Boutineers: Even though this isn’t a tragic one, about 1 out 2 weddings have an issue with the boutineers in some fashion.  Most of the time, there hasn’t been anyone designated to pin the flowers on the guys and since putting a flower on your left shoulder isn’t a normal routine for a guy, they usually stand around with their shoulders shrugged waiting for direction where there usually isn’t any.  In fact, I’ve been known to help put on several boutineers!  I don’t mind at all of course, it just eliminates a few minutes of a good photograph or two.  It is always more special to have the mom or some other relative help pin them and normally the parents are the ones running around taking care of everyone else.  So waiting on them delays even more time for photos and other events.  What I would suggest is to schedule a time for someone close to the groom to help pin them on and allow 15 min to do so for all the groomsmen as well.  Sometimes its hard getting those things on!

2. Scheduling: Writing out a schedule for everyone is so important.  It helps eliminate everyone in the wedding party asking a million questions and wandering when they should be somewhere else.  Especially when it comes to photos, if the group photo is of 30 people and 29 people show up, all 29 people have to stand there and wait for the last person and more than likely one of the 29 people has to go find the last person.  Sometimes, the last person shows up before the guy that went to go look for him comes back and so on… it can get frustrating.  Not to mention it delays everything else following.  Having a schedule posted on doors and in people’s hands help out so much for everyone.  Think of it like you are scheduling air line flights, more than likely, something is going to be delayed and it is going to effect the most of the events following.  You’d rather be early and have to sit around for an hour than be in a hurry on such a fun day!

3. The Bride’s Hair: Most people go for a more simple look these days.  There are probably a lot less metal hair spray cans in salons inventory these days.  Although, it is just one of many things that you can’t do ahead of time, it has to be done at the last minute.  If you are planning on doing your hair yourself, practice a lot before the wedding to make sure you have it right.  If someone else is doing it, have a trial run appointment.  If you are having engagement portraits or bridal portraits, the morning before your portraits would be a useful time.

4.  The Legal Stuff: You’d be surprised how many weddings I’ve been to and someone forgets the really important stuff because they were so worried about all the details.  For instance, the marriage license…yes, for real!  I’ve been to three weddings now where they have forgotten to go to the courthouse and get the marriage license!  The rings are a big one as well.  The bride thinks the groom has it, the groom thinks the best man has it, the best man thinks the dad has it… I have also been to two weddings where the bride has completely forgotten to put her veil on!  Veils aren’t as popular these days so usually no one notices if there isn’t one.

5. Flowers: The flowers can be arranged differently than you hoped very easily.  If you are having a florist arrange and deliver them, make sure you are very specific about what you would like.  There are many kinds of flowers, colors and designs.  Bringing photos help a lot.  One less expensive and less nerving approach you should consider is silk flowers.  I know, it sounds really stupid, but if you know where to go to get some nice silk flowers, they look fantastic.  Some flowers are really hard to get in different seasons so silk flowers gives you way more options.  Plus think of other fun things to add to your arrangements like peacock feathers, christmas decor, ribbon, etc.  Visit www.etsy.com for some fun ideas.

Ok, so if you can think of a better name than “The Photo Idea” please let me know, I’m not completely satisfied with it. However, I have had a great response to the concept and you should check it out if you haven’t already. The page is a collection of our favorite images by category. So if you are planning your wedding or just want to see what people are doing, look through the photos by item or moment like flowers, cake or the leaving.

Cedarway.ORG has reached up to 70-90 visitors per day this past year! Whether you are a paying customer or just admire our work, you are welcome to our site and we value your friendship very much. We hope our work inspires your creativity.

WHY WE HAVE….

ENGAGEMENT RING The engagement ring is a promise for marriage. During the Roman era, the man had to “barter” for his future bride. The engagement ring was security for the “betrothed.” As time went on, men presented diamond rings to future brides because a ring containing a diamond was considered more valuable than a plain gold band—thus, it is a stronger promise and offers more security. Diamond engagement rings were given by medieval Italians, because of their belief that the diamond was created from the flames of love.

BRIDAL SHOWER This custom came about when a father disapproved of his daughter’s marriage and refused to provide a dowry to the couple. The shower became the alternative to the dowry. Supportive villagers would assemble and provide the bride a variety of household items for her new home. Bridal showers were also meant to strengthen the friendships between the bride and her friends, give her moral support, and help her prepare for her marriage. The idea to give gifts is fairly new, dating from the 1890’s. At one shower, the bride’s friend placed small gifts inside a Japanese parasol, and then opened it over the bride’s head so all of the presents would “shower” over her. When word of this hit the fashion pages, people were so charmed, they decided to do the same at their showers.

BRIDE AND GROOM NOT SEEING EACH OTHER During the time when marriages were arranged, the Bride and Groom did not see each other as a way of preventing either from running away.

BRIDAL GOWN (WHITE) There was a time when the bride would wear her favorite dress to the ceremony. In 1840, Queen Victoria wore an elegant all white gown to her wedding. She started a fashion trend which quickly caught on and continues to this very day. White was worn because people believed it represented affluence, virginity and purity.
THE BRIDAL VEIL  
The origin of the wedding veil is unclear but it is thought that it predates the wedding dress by centuries. One explanation is that it is a relic of the days when a groom would throw a blanket over the head of the woman of his choice when he captured her and carted her off. Another explanation is that during the times of arranged marriages, the bride’s face was covered until the groom was committed to her at the ceremony – so it would be too late for him to run off if he didn’t like the look of her! It is also thought that the veil was worn to protect the bride from evil spirits that would be floating around on her wedding day. Traditionally the bridal veil was a symbol for modesty, respect and virginity. The veil served as a reminder to all witnessing the ceremony that the physical relationship was entered into only after the vows were exchanged and the marriage became official with the seal of a kiss. The veil was removed after the vows were exchanged and the couple was pronounced “Man and Wife.”

BRIDAL FLOWERS The carrying of flowers by the bride has its roots in ancient times when it was believed that strong smelling herbs and spices would ward off and drive away evil spirits, bad luck and ill health. Garlic and chives were also popular for the same reason. During Roman times, this tradition was extended, with the bride and groom wearing floral garlands signifying new life and hope for fertility. The bouquet in particular symbolised a women in bloom. During Victorian times, flowers took on an additional significance as lovers would send messages to each other using different flowers, with each flower having its own meaning. It is also been told that many people couldn’t afford perfume, so flowers were a less expensive alternative.  These associations were soon adopted for the bride’s bouquet and are still used today by many brides. The most popular flowers with their traditional meanings are:
•    Apple Blossom – Better things to come
•    Camelia – Gratitude
•    Carnation – Fascination and love
•    Chrysanthemum (red) – I love you
•    Chrysanthemum (white) – Truth
•    Cyclamen – Modesty and shyness
•    Daffodil – Regard
•    Daisy – Innocence
•    Fern – Fascination and sincerity
•    Flowering Almond – Hope
•    Forget-me-not – True love and remembrance
•    Heliotrope – Devotion and faithfulness
•    Honeysuckle – Generosity
•    Hyacinth – Loveliness
•    Hydrangea – Boastfulness
•    Iris – Warmth of affection
•    Ivy – Eternal fidelity
•    Japonica – Loveliness
•    Jasmine – Amiability
•    Lemon Blossom – Fidelity in love
•    Lilac (white) – Youthful innocence
•    Lily – Majesty
•    Lily-of-the-valley – Return of happiness
•    Magnolia – Perseverance
•    Maidenhair – Discretion
•    Mimosa – Sensitivity
•    Orange Blossom – Purity and virginity
•    Peach Blossom – Captive
•    Rose (red) – Love
•    Rose (white) – Worthiness
•    Rose (other colors) – Love and beauty
•    Rosemary – Remembrance
•    Snowdrop – Hope
•    Sweet Pea – Delicate pleasures
•    Tulip – Love
•    Veronica – Fidelity
•    Violet – Faithfulness
SIXPENCE In England placing a silver sixpence in the bride’s shoe is a symbol of wealth. This is not just to bring the bride financial wealth but also a wealth of happiness and joy throughout her married life.

BRIDESMAIDS AND GROOMSMEN The bridal party has many origins, one of which comes from the Anglo Saxon days. When the groom was about to capture his bride, he needed the help of his friends, the “bridesmen” or “brideknights”. They would make sure the bride got to the church and to the groom’s house afterwards. The bride also had women to help her, the “bridesmaids” or “brideswomen”.

WHITE AISLE RUNNER The white aisle runner symbolised God’s holiness and walking on holy ground. It is believed that marriage is not just between two individuals but includes the presence of God who is actively involved in the marriage ceremony.

WEDDING CAKES A wedding just wouldn’t be complete without fertility symbols, like the wedding cake. Ancient Romans would bake a cake made of wheat or barley and break it over the bride’s head as a symbol of her fertility. It became tradition to pile up several small cakes, one on top of the other, as high as they could, and the bride and groom would kiss over the tower and try not to knock it down. If they were successful, it meant a lifetime of prosperity. During the reign of King Charles II of England, it became customary to turn this cake into an enjoyable edible palace, iced with white sugar.

THROWING OF THE GARTER BELT This ritual dates back to a time when woman wore hose with a garter belt. It was a chance for the single men to share in the good fortune of the groom. Today, it is believed that the man who catches the garter when it is thrown will be the next to marry. In the 14th century, is was customary for the bride to toss her garter to the men, but sometimes the men got too drunk, and would become impatient and try to take the garter off her ahead of time. It got to be less trouble for her just to toss the bridal bouquet.

FLOWERS AND THE TOSSING OF THE BOUQUET Flowers were incorporated into the ceremony because they represent fertility, purity, new life and never ending love. Traditionally, bouquets were a mixture of flowers and herbs. Dill was a very popular choice as an herb because it was believed to promote lust. Following the ceremony, the dill was eaten for that purpose.
Tossing of the bridal bouquet is a custom which has it’s roots in England. It was believed that the bride could pass along good fortune to others. In order to obtain this fortune, spectators would try to tear away pieces of the bride’s clothing and flowers. In an attempt to get away, the bride would toss her bouquet into the crowd. Tradition says that the single women who catches the bouquet is the one who receives the bride’s fortune and will marry next.

THE GRAND EXIT AFTER THE RECEPTION Traditionally, old shoes were tied to the back of the car to represent the transfer of property from the father of the bride to the groom. Horn honking, the shooting off of firecrackers and ringing of bells were a means to protect the bride by warding off evil spirits.

THROWING OF RICE, FLOWERS When thrown as the couple exited the church, throwing of rice and flowers represented the wish for the couple to have a fruitful and plentiful life together. Originally rice and wheat were thrown over the married couple to represent the hope for fertility.
When rose pedals are thrown before the bride as she walks down the aisle, it is to ward-off evil spirits below the ground and grant fertility.

CARRYING THE BRIDE OVER THE THRESHOLD There seems to be two explanations for this tradition where the groom carries his bride over the threshold when entering their home as a married couple for the first time. The first is to protect the bride from evil spirits that were thought to be lying in wait under the threshold. The second explanation relates to Roman times when it was believed that if the bride stumbled when entering the newlywed’s home for the first time, it would bring bad luck and harm to their marriage. So carrying the bride across the threshold would prevent this from happening (although we haven’t established the likely outcome to the marriage if the groom stumbled while carrying the bride!

If you know me, you know I don’t really care for the beach too much.  The sand is messy, the water is salty and I’ve just been a million times!  Although, I know it sounds a bit ridiculous to some of you…January is the most pleasant time to go to the beach.  It is almost feels deserted like in the winter.  Instead of high school seniors by the thousands, there are old men flying kites, jogs on the beach, cold sand in between your toes, high waves and the ocean turns silver at dusk.  The temperature was perfectly in the high 60s and low 70s at Casey and Amy’s Wedding.  I always tell people that it doesn’t matter how much money or expertise you put into a wedding, the most important part of it are the people you invite.  This group of people are exactly the type of family and friends that make a wedding special and completely enjoyable.  The drizzly rain didn’t stop anyone from having a great time.  Amy wore a beautiful a Hollywood style gown along with a vibrant personality.  The families were so considerate.  You could tell all of them naturally spent most of their energy taking care of other people rather than thinking about themselves.  The afternoon started with an intimate ceremony on a screened-in porch that was anything but strict and stuffy. There were more than just a few giggles.  The evening ended with a reception in Rosemary Beach.  I was reminded when I saw a Post Office that said “United States” that we were in fact still in the same country.  The modern, old english village seemed unreal and foreign compared to other parts of the beach.  Dinner was served in a modern palace, equipped with Alice in Wonderland chairs for the Bride and Groom.  The lighting was so romantic I hated to disturb its darkness with my flash.  It was, to say the least, a lovely wedding.  Congrats Casey and Amy!

June is filling up fast, hurry! May is in second place as well!

A lot of brides and friends ask me if I have any referrals.  Here are a few places I feel comfortable referring.  I don’t get paid to put their names on here.  The names with *stars beside them are places I either know the people who own it or work there and I highly recommend.  The rest are places I’ve seen work at weddings or elsewhere and I feel are good, but don’t know them well enough to give them a high recommendation. For the links go to: www.cedarway.org/referrals.html

Food and Cakes:
Dumplins
Premier Catering
Chick-fil-A

Homemade Cupcakes, Muffins and Pies: Lisa Garner (email me to get her info!)

Dresses:
Loews, Very large dress house in Arkansas

Flowers:
*Two Doors Down

Invitation Custom Design:
*BW Creative

Hair:
*Euphoria, Cut and Color only
Bella Melange

Coordinator:
*Janie Williams, The only great coordinator in Jackson! ($400+)
(janiewilliamsATgmail.com)

Party Supply Rentals:
Southern Rents

Venues:
Crown Winery
*Barefoots Joe (reception only)

Videography:
*Cedarway Photography

Accessories & Decor:
Etsy.com

Jackson, TN Hotels:
*DoubleTree
Holiday Inn
Old English Inn

Jackson, TN Local Restaurants
*Los Portales
Old Town Spaghetti Store
Dumplins
Sakura Japanese
Green Frog (coffee & sandwiches)
Barefoots Joe (coffee & shows, in Union University)

Travel:
Expedia.com

Apartments and Homes for Rent:
Craigslist.com

Real Estate:
*Jon Putt HomeSelling Team

Residential Painting:
*Ross Guthrie
(ddmjxtnATyahoo.com)

Home Systems: Custom home theater and smart home systems
*New Wave

Insurance:
*Farm Bureau- Lee Workman

University:
*Union University (alumn!)

Photography Lessons:
*Cedarway Photography

Baby Gifts:
*Bug-a-Roo Slings and Things

Bank:
*Foundation Bank

Optometrist:
Brandi Long Shaw, Wal-Mart South

Website Design:
*volaciousmedia.com
snappages.com

Music:
*Joe Garner
*Cool Hand Luke
*Paper Route
*Farewell Drifters
*Lee Hester (Recording and Mixing)
*Tyler James

Church:
Christ Community

Missions:
Birth Choice – Helping young women choose for the lives of their unborn children
Bremerhaven Port Ministry – Ecki Breitenmoser ministers to merchant sailors in Bremerhaven, Germany
The Care Center – Temporary housing for indigent women and their children
Downtown Discipleship Ministries – Sanctuary Home for the discipleship of young Christians
Greater Europe Mission – Missionary to Ireland Mary Ann Steffey
Indigenous Outreach International – Financial support for indigenous overseas missionaries

Well kids, 2009 has shaped up to be a good one. We’ve grown some, learned some, and loved some. In April, we launched a great new studio to work in right on Carriage House Dr. in Jackson. Although it was a great place, we (or I) learned it wasn’t really that grand having a “studio” or office. Since we primarily shoot weddings and events, plus our portraits are normally on location, we were hardly ever there! So toss that idea out and move back to the home office. I had to try it or else I wouldn’t know right?

We have had some pretty fantastic brides I must say. I always tell people that the best weddings are the ones with the best people, no matter how much money you spend on one, good, fun people are priceless. I thought it would be fun to include our top favorite 5 weddings in our blog! Mine are:
1. Phil & Becca
2. Logan & Tiffany
3. Jimmy & Callie
4. Scott & Emily
5. Sean & Lindsey