The Shocking Truth Behind Wedding Favors

Let’s honestly ask ourselves, are wedding favors necessary? Do we really have to set aside money out of the wedding budget to buy some? Tricky questions, followed by even trickier answers.

These little goody bags, sweet treats, and keepsakes make for a great way to thank your guests for being a part of your big day. And though it might be an old tradition, couples are becoming more creative with their wedding favors. Shockingly, you might have some questions when it comes to wedding favors. So let’s dive right in, shall we?

Why are favors even necessary?

Now you’re free to form your own opinions, thoughts, stances, and platforms when it comes to this issue—but hear me out! Wedding favors are the last memory guests will have of your wedding. So you’ll want to leave them with something they can hold onto and think back to how much fun they had celebrating your big day with you.

But favors don’t have to mean expensive. When you choose to give your guests wedding favors, you can keep them as simple as you’d like—only thing that matters is the thought. Remember, it’s always the thought that counts. Personalized favors, whether it’s a carton of bubbles or a packet of forget-me-not flower seeds, go a long way in thanking your guests.

So, how much do I really have to spend?

Like all aspects of your wedding, the price really depends on you and your significant other’s budget. Now, you don’t want to spend a significant portion of your budget on wedding favors—so sit down and plan out what you can spend. But remember, the key is creativity and thoughtfulness. And keep in mind that you’ll want to keep extra favors on hand just in case a guest (or two) wants to take extra.

Should I give children wedding favors?

Another great question, and another one you’ll have to decide for yourself. You can certainly give children the same favor as you give an adult, or you can make something special for them. You could always give children a bag full of candy or cookies with a sweet message written on the outside. Or wrap up some bubblegum and bubbles to give them a special little thanks for attending your big day.

OK, I want wedding favors, but how do I give them out?

One of the best parts about wedding favors is seeing the appreciation for them on your guests’ faces. But you’re probably wondering, what’s the best way to give them out? A simple way to make sure that every guest has the opportunity to pick up a favor is by designating a table for them. You can decorate the table to match the overall theme of the wedding, and then set the favors on there. Or, if you’re wanting to make sure everyone gets one favor, you can place them at people’s seats so they can have them during the reception.

What’s the main takeaway from this shocking wedding favor truth?

The main point you should take away from this blog is that wedding favors don’t have to be extravagant. Each can be unique and special to the couple and their big day. Find something that speaks about your relationship, creativity, and thoughtfulness—and truly thank your guests for being apart of your day. 

How do you feel about wedding favors? What type of wedding favors are your favorite? Let us know in the comment section below or share with us on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear what you have to say!

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Hey, Event Photographers! Are You Making These Common Photography Mistakes?

Think of the worst mistake you’ve made during an event. Did you forget an extra battery pack? Mistake the bride’s mother for the groom’s mother?

When you made the mistake you instantly knew, and I’m sure you felt pretty embarrassed, right? Well, what if you didn’t know you were making a mistake? Oh yes, there are plenty of mistakes that you might not know you’re making! But no worries, we’ve rounded up a couple of common ones and have a few suggestions on how you can avoid them.  

Mistake #1: Failure to Discuss Poses/Pictures

Brides and grooms naturally have an idea/perception of what their wedding day will look like and how they’ll look in photos. So when they get the pictures back, and it’s not what they’re expecting, it can make for some unhappy clients. The mistake you’re probably making in this situation is failing to ask the right questions during consultation.

Ask your clients to come prepared with photos/ideas of what they want their images to look like on their wedding day. That might be particular poses they want to avoid or the side of the face they are most comfortable facing the camera. Asking the right questions can help you capture the pictures your clients will love.

Mistake #2: Dreamy Turned Blurry

So your client wants a dreamy bridal portrait, but one of the biggest mistakes you can make is deciding to use a diffusion filter on your lense. Although they are packed full of promises, these dreamy filters only cause your subject to appear as if their picture was taken in the 1960s.

Mistake #3: Treating All Events the Same

You’re not going to be able to get the perfect picture on the first go. You’ll have to adjust the lighting, move people around, fix postures, or maybe change a function on your camera. But when it comes to someone’s wedding day, you don’t have hours on hours to make each shot perfect. They want to get back to the party and celebrate with family and friends. As an event photographer, a common mistake you might be making is assuming all clients, their pictures, and their events will be the same.

To avoid making this mistake, take the time to sit down with your client, and to plan where you want everyone to be in the family photo, how many pictures you want to be taken of the couple, their family, and their bridal party. Your clients want to know that you’ll capture all of the special moments that are unique to their event—without keeping them from the party for too long.

Mistake #4: No Candid Moments

Yes, posed and staged pictures are a beautiful keepsake for clients to have to remind them of their wedding day, but don’t forget about the candid moments. Maybe it’s a quick look that the bride and groom give each other during the day, or it’s how a bride’s father smiles proudly at his daughter. Capturing these little moments will take your photography service to the next level. But be sure to avoid the mistake of making candid moments appear too staged.

Mistake #5: Forgetting the Background

You might have captured an amazing portrait of your clients. The lighting was perfect, they had a sincere smile on their face, but then you spot their placement and the background. If they’re standing in front of trees, they might appear to have horns (branches) coming out of their head—and well, there goes that nice picture, right? Just as it’s important to make sure there is plenty of light on their face and that they’re posing the correct way; it’s also important to check the background.

Mistake #6: Where’s the Flash?

Sure, natural light is great in photos, but sometimes you’ve got to use the flash to really capture a good picture. One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a photographer is to be afraid to use it. The flash works wonders brightening up rooms, eliminating shadows, and imitating sunshine. Being afraid to use it can limit the number of viable pictures you take during the event.

Well photographers, how many common mistakes were you making? Do you have any to add to the list? Let us know in the comment section below or share it with us on our Facebook page.

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Avoiding Food Allergies at Your Event

Remember when Aunt Voula from My Big Fat Greek Wedding discovered that Ian was a vegetarian?  “What do you mean he don’t eat no meat? Oh, that’s okay. I make lamb.” Well no offense Aunt Voula, but that just isn’t going to cut it in the event planning industry. When it comes to food allergies and aversions, you need to have a game plan to accommodate your guests and their safety.

No worries though! We’re here to help you avoid food contaminations, as well as give you some tips on how to accommodate your guests —without breaking the bank, of course!

Most Common Food Allergies

According to recent studies, the most common type of food allergies are:

• Eggs
• Fish
• Dairy
• Nuts
• Shellfish
• Soya
• Wheat

Common Cross Contamination Mistakes

One of the biggest concerns that you need to address at your event is the possibility of food contamination. Guests with certain food allergies are at risk of anaphylactic shock or other reactions if exposed. But making sure to avoid food allergies are not the only issues you need to watch out for. You also have to think about cross contamination. Yep, it’s a thing and can be just as harmful!

How does cross contamination happen, you might ask? Great question! Cross contamination occurs for a variety of reasons:

• Using the same mixing spoons or pans to prepare food
• Working in the same preparation space with cleaning between
• Chopping food all on one block
• Believing temperature will remove any allergens

Are you guilty of any of these cross contamination mistakes? If you are, it’s simple to fix! You’ll need a couple extra inventory items: extra pans, spoons, cutting boards, etc. When you first arrive at the event space, you’ll want to set up different areas. (You can even label them to know which food allergen you need to avoid at each station.)

How You Can Prepare for Each Food Allergy

Options! One of the best ways to avoid allergies is to provide your guests with plenty of options. Now of course, you certainly can’t break the bank but you can make some minor adjustments to accommodate your guests. And there are plenty of ways to help your caterer prepare:

1. Allergy Form- Wedding websites or even on an RSVP card are great places you can ask your guests to specify the food allergy. This will give you a heads up on which guest you’ll need to prepare for.
2. Plated Meals- To avoid cross contamination, it’s best to ensure that you hand-deliver the food to the guest—separate from other guests’ meals.
3. Buffet- If you’re having a buffet, have your caterer label the ingredients in the food or list the allergies that might be possible in the food.

So for all of your Aunt Voulas out there, no you can’t serve lamb!

Have you dealt with a food allergy before at an event? If so, how did you handle it? Let us know in the comment section below or share with us on our Facebook page.

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The 2016 Trends Are Here! Check Them Out, Now!

Guess what ladies and gentlemen! The 2016 event trends have just been released, and we couldn’t be more excited about all of the lovely decor, intricate styles, gorgeous designs, and the best music in store for this year. So if you’re anything like us, you’re bouncing out of your seat waiting to see what you have to look forward to.

Come on and check it out!

Bye Bye Pinterest

Pinterest has dominated the event world for quite some time, leaving many clients with high hopes and dreams for their big day. It’s no wonder though as millennials make their way to the industry that the talk of budgets gets more real, and the thought of the perfect Pinterest wedding goes by the wayside. Since couples nowadays are paying for their own wedding/event, many of them are turning away from the ideas they find on Pinterest and are turning more to their own personal style. So be ready to embrace some different designs from your clients this year.

Hello Metallica

OK, so maybe not the band—but this year (and a little bit of last year) is all about the metallics. And it seems like the rose gold metallic colors have taken over tables, cakes, and even couples’ wedding rings. But as gold is slowly wiggling its way back in, silver is headed out. So watch out as this new trend breathes life into some old traditions.

Bringing Home with You

Couples nowadays still want to get married in their dream location, but they want to bring special elements with them. Whether it’s a special memento from home or the place they got engaged, this trend is hot with couples right now. Need some ideas on how to incorporate a little bit of home? Choose a flower that’s significant to your client’s hometown or incorporate different city elements that remind them of where they were engaged.

Brighten up the Romance

In addition to bringing more accents of gold to the big day, couples want to increase the romance and ambiance of their evening. And one of the surest ways to do this is by bringing in some lights! Pendant lighting, especially with ‘Edison’ bulbs, provide a vintage and warm feel to the event. Plus, floating candles are always a nice added touch.

Have a Seat

If I asked you to describe the typical wedding reception layout, you would probably tell me that there are several either square or round tables scattered throughout the venue, leaving a small space for a dance floor. Well, prepare yourself for 2016 reception areas! Instead of tables spread throughout, couples are now wanting to put tables together, creating a series of long tables. They even want to add a separate seating area to provide a more intimate feel. These more comfortable seating options are a must for the cocktail hour and after-party.

Pick a Flower

In 2016, you can forget the elaborate and perfectly coordinated flower bouquet, and go for something more freshly picked. It seems this will be the year for arrangements of flowers that are in season or appear to have a wildflower look. These free-form bouquets are taking over, and you might be surprised that your clients will want to add in more exotic elements, like spiky flowers or vines. And you can just forget about matching! Not all of your decorations or tables need to have the same flower arrangement. Again, it’s all about that freshly picked look.

So event profs, what do you think? Are you ready to tackle this year’s trends? Let us know what your clients have asked you to decorate for their 2016 wedding by leaving us a message in the comment section below or on our Facebook page.

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