More Toronto Wedding Photographers

As you probably already know, we’re on the hunt for a photographer (though I think we’ve found one!). Below is a quick look at the few more of the photographers we were considering but didn’t go with, usually because they were already booked or are out of our price range.

And speaking of price range, here’s a guide to how much these guys charge:
NA = didn’t get price
+ = under $1,500
++ = $1,500-$2,000
+++ = over $2,000

Note: I’m just commenting on the starting price, which is usually for a pretty basic package. If you want two photographers and full-day coverage, you can generally expect to pay at least $2,500 and usually more.

AMG Photography: Run by a friendly guy named Tony. +

B&N Photography: Gorgeous work but a bit pricy for our cheap-selves. +++

Calculated Style Photography: Aron is an award-winning winning photographer out of Milton. ++

Impact Photography: Liz only shoots films but the equally talented Tenzin does digital. +

Michael T Photography: We would have loved to of worked with this skilled guy but he was already booked. NA

Sam Obeid: Another amazing photographer who was already booked. He referred me to some of his equally amazing peers. NA

Shawn McPherson: Would be perfect for any one having a bit of an “off-beat” wedding. ++

Big Sale On a Superior Bridal

Markham’s Superior Bridal is having a giant 80 percent sale starting today and running until Sunday. Sounds like there are some great deals over there!

Let's Build a Wedding Website

I’d like to get our wedding website up for Christmas (maybe I can even mention it on our save-the-dates if we end up doing those) but first I need to figure out what site to go with.

I *think* these are the top wedding site site-builders out there but please let me know if I’m leaving anyone out:
http://www.ewedding.com/ - claims that you can set up “your free wedding website in under 5 minutes”; themes seem limited but looks like you can add lots of stuff (polls, events, etc.) to your sites

http://www.weddingannouncer.com/ - they seem to offer lots of features but what do the templates look like

http://www.wedquarters.com/ - I like their site but you have to pay

TheKnot.com - a popular site but the templates are pretty limited

http://www.mywedding.com/ - tons of templates here, many that come with matching stationary

http://www.momentville.com/ - oh, it looks like you can customize the look of the templates. I like that
I’ve heard good and bad things about all of these sites. What are your thoughts on them? Is there one that you would use over another?

I want a site that’s fairly easy to set up but at the same time, I want to be able to customize how it looks. While I don’t really have any design skills, I do know HTML and I’m fine with mucking around with templates that other, more talented people have created.

I would also prefer to go with free site though I might be persuaded to paying a small fee if it gets me a better site.

I am going to do a bit more digging into these sites and I’ll let you know which one I go with.

Hey Photographers, Read This!

So it’s official, we’ve lost our photographer because we were to slow to sign the contract. Lesson learned. Now I’m on the hunt for a new photographer and after looking at at least two dozen websites, I have some web-related advice for wedding photographers:

1. You will be judged on the look of your site so make sure it reflects your particular aesthetic. While it might not be a fair assumption, it’s easy to assume that an ugly site means ugly photos.
2. At the same time, make sure your site is user-friendly. Flash can be fun but it can also turn a site in a confusing mess that will just turn potential customers off.
3. Have obvious, always present navigation.
4. Avoid pop-ups. Yeah, you can include a note about turning pop-up blockers off but many people won’t.
5. Include a “best of” gallery. Showcasing individual albums is great but a “best of” gallery lets you show off your best work and keeps potential customers from crossing you off their list just because they didn’t like a particular wedding album.
6. Include thumbnails. This lets the customer get a quick sense of your work and lets them select what photos they want to check out closer.
7. Make sure your gallery includes “back” and “forward” controls so that the customer can check out the photos at their own pace.
8. Have a calendar! Showing when you are and aren’t available saves both you and the customer time.
9. And finally, give at least a sense of your prices. I realize that many photographers adjust their prices based on the date, the location, etc. but if you know that you won’t work for under $2000, put that prices start at $2000.

Are you still looking for your photographer? Then check out this site: www.photographypros.com It has hundreds of listings for all types of photographers, divided by type and region. While it doesn’t list everyone, it’s certainly a good starting point.

TV Show Casting Call

Planning an at-home wedding? Want to be on a reality TV show? Then check out the posting below.

ARE YOU PLANNING A WEDDING AT HOME FOR YOU OR A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY? DOES YOUR RESIDENTIAL VENUE NEED A SERIOUS FACELIFT IN ORDER TO HOST WEDDING DAY GUESTS? WE CAN HELP!

Are you a bride/groom-to-be with nuptials planned for February 2010 and beyond (spring, summer, fall 2010)? Are you considering having your wedding ceremony or reception “at home” (whether it be your house, your parent’s place or your great Aunt Sue’s farm) but the interior home décor is too ugly/outdated to expose to friends & family for any aspect of the event (rehearsal dinner, bride preparation, out-of-town guests, photography or even the ceremony itself)? We can help make your horrible place a stunning space for your special day & beyond. Why spend money on a venue when you could invest in the place you get to enjoy ‘till death do you part?

Television Production Company Knight Enterprises, creators of Food Network Canada’s hit series Road Grill & HGTV’s Junk Brothers, are in development for a wedding series with a down-home twist! We are looking for couples that are having weddings/wedding-related events in a residential setting that is in need of a serious face lift! Our expert hosts (1 interior designer + 1 wedding planner = a fantastic team) will design the event of your dreams AND a home re-design (in the “highlighted” rooms of the house) that will be functional & stylish far beyond the wedding day.

If your upcoming wedding seems like it would be a good fit for us, get in touch & tell us why! Start with an email that includes the following:

• Your wedding date & location
• About “you” the couple (include a few photos!)
• About “the home” where your wedding/wedding event is taking place – why does it need an update? (include a few photos!)

All materials (and questions) can be submitted via email (**no phone calls please) to talentsearch@knight-tv.com

CASTING IS OPEN TO COUPLES IN THE TORONTO & OTTAWA AREAS

To find out more about Knight Enterprises visit us at: www.knight-tv.com

Don't Delay; Book Today

So Shawn and I learned a valuable lesson last week: don’t delay when it comes to booking your vendors.

Back in late October we settled on a photographer but someone-who-will-not-be-named said wait, let’s take our time and not book the photographer just yet. So we waited and in the meantime another possible candidate popped up and it took someone-who-will-not-be-named a few days to check out this other person’s work and then someone-who-will-not-be-named decided yeah, let’s get in touch with our first choice and book him.

And you know what’s coming next. I got in touch with the photographer and it turns out that he might have another event already booked for that day. The other event is a wedding in the Bahamas (can’t blame him for wanting to do that) and the days aren’t nailed down yet so he’s going to chase after this other bride to find out what’s happening with her wedding and then he’ll get back to me and let me know if he can do mine.

Yep, as soon as the find a florist, baker, officiate, whatever else we need, we’re booking them.

A Couple Weekend Sales

There’s a couple big sales going on that you might want to know about...

The first is over at Ikea and runs until this Sunday. They are having a two-for-one promo on all styles of their Fenoman candles. These classic-looking candles come in range of sizes, some of which are packaged together in a convenient five-pack.

We’re using one of those five-packs as part of our centrepieces so we’re definitely going to be at Ikea this weekend, stocking up.

If you’re in the market for a dress you might want to check out the Maggie Sottero truck show at Superior Bridal. Yeah, that store is way out in Markham (7703 Kennedy Road) but trekking out there could save you 15 percent off the cost of a gorgeous gown.

The trunk show runs until November 22 and features plenty of 2010 designs. It’s recommended that you book an appointment first since this sale is sure to be a popular one.

Save-The-Dates

So what are your thoughts on save-the-dates? Originally we weren’t planning on doing them, an extra, unnecessary cost I figured, but then I discovered Vista Print and how cheap it was to make cute little magnet and then I started thinking, “Hey, I could do Christmas cards this year and just toss the magnets in those.”

But while I could affordably do save-the-dates, it’s still another expanse and really, will anyone care? I’ve never received a save-the-date. I actually had never even heard of them until I saw that episode of The Office where Angela asks Pam where her save-the-date is. So it might be kind of weird to send out save-the-date to our family members and friends.

On the other hand, sending them out would send a clear message that says, “Hey, you’re invited and here’s the date”. We are getting married in August, prime vacation time, and some people will be travelling so getting the word out to potential guests that yes, they’re invited, is something we need to do.

And what better way to do that then mail out a magnet? After all, who doesn’t love a useful, practical magnet (okay, maybe people with stainless steel fridges). I know that paper would be cheaper but it seems so wasteful and its design possibilities/expectations are so much greater. I’m not really up for figuring out how another piece of paper should look but a small, square magnet, designing that I can handle.

I think what’s going to make or break this save-the-date idea will be Shawn. I have a strong feeling that he’s going to say “no” to this extra spending. What we might end up doing instead is using the Christmas cards themselves to double as save-the-dates though I worry that might look odd. But maybe I can find black, silver and dark purple Christmas cards…

Dress Day

Looking for your dress? Then you’re going to want to check out the links below.

On Friday, BlogTO.com posted its list of the city’s top 12 wedding dress shops. I have no idea how BlogTO made this list but I do know that at least a few of the shops they list (Becker’s, Jealous Bridemaids and Ritche Bridal) generally get good reviews from brides who check them out. The list also covers a variety of price ranges (it features both high-end White Toronto and the more affordable Your White Dress Bridal Outlet) and highlights Fashion Crimes, the perfect place to shop for that not-quite-traditional dress.

Yesterday, TheKnot.com sent around a newsletter that features a link to 50 different new dresses. So tons of dress candy there and as you can see, I’ve highlighted a few of my favourites in this post.

TheKnot.com also features a slideshow on “Pound-Erasing Wedding Dresses.” However, its idea of pound-reducing includes satin and mermaid-style skirts. But hey, it is true that A-line skirts look flattering on almost anyone.

Are You A Toronto Bride-To-Be?

And are you planning what could be considered a “common sense” wedding (so nothing too crazy but at the same time, it’s what you and your other half want)? If so, do you want to be profiled on this blog?

I was actually hoping to be posting another W-Bride profile this weekend but that didn’t work out so now I’m on the search for other local brides. Being profiled is quick, fun and the results in something like this.

And don’t worry if your wedding isn’t being held in Toronto proper. I’d actually love to hear from some destination brides and find out how they decided on where to get married.

If you’re interested in being profiled, email me at wedtoblog[removethis]@gmail.com or if you’re reading this on Facebook, send me a Facebook message.

And speaking of Facebook, you can follow this blog via Facebook using the NetworkedBlogs app.

Hope to hear from some of you soon!

Picking Guests

Are budget or space considerations causing you to have to slash your guest list? Then use the following five questions to help you decide who to invite and who to uh, put on the B-list.

1. Is this person a blood relative?

2. Is this person a friend who I am close to and see (or would like to see) on a regular basis?

3. Will not including this person result in drama? (Or vice versa.)

4. Will including this person add to the wedding? (Is this person fun/will dance/etc.)

5. Would this person invite me to his/her similarly sized wedding?

20 Ideas For Your Reception

WeddingBells.ca currently has a slideshow up that showcases 20 real-life reception décor ideas. While some are pretty taste-or-theme specific (like using homemade jams as favours), some are just great (such as using calligraphy on your invites or having a seating chart that shows how everyone is connected).

Most of the ideas are also quite affordable and realistic. For example, have guests figure out what their meal is with a find-the-word menu or create a simple but elegant centrepiece using candles, low flowers and horizontally placed bamboo sticks.

Some pics from the slideshow below.