Showing posts with label Tips from the pros. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips from the pros. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Aimee + Tyler | A Planner's Plan

I’m always the self-proclaimed “planner in the group” and have always had a passion for creating beautiful experiences. While I was closing on a real estate deal, I was also dreaming up the next themed dinner party with friends. My background in real estate management, an entrepreneurial spirit, and my natural ability to entertain fueled me to pursue my dream career in event planning and vendor coordination.



 My husband Tyler, a Montana native, had been taking me to Montana over the course of our four year courtship, and during that time I fell in love with his childhood town, Bozeman. He popped ‘the question’ in April while we were on a trip to Paris. Moments after saying “Yes!” I knew I wanted a destination wedding in Bozeman.



Fast forward to a few weeks after the proposal, and I had already created our budget, developed a vendor list, and delegated any task I knew would be better handled by a professional (more on that later). While it was new for me to plan a destination event, I hired my key vendors and designed the overall look and details for the wedding, down to custom cocktail napkins. Most of our guests were traveling from out of state, so planning our wedding day quickly turned into planning a wedding week. I wanted our guests to get the full Montana experience, so  I planned a variety of pre-wedding day events, including a private tour of Yellowstone, a 50 person float on the Madison River, dancing at Music on Main, and a welcome dinner for all of our guests at the historical Story Mansion.













 I felt that the fairytale-like atmosphere of The Woodlands spoke for itself, and I didn’t want to take away from the valley backdrop and rustic venue. I decided on a simple palette of white complemented with varying shades of green, navy, and pops of orange.  Katalin Green, my florist, had just visited her friend’s vineyard in the Flathead and had returned with several crates of apricots.  She incorporated them into the bay leaf garland that adorned our family style tables. The orange from the apricots was a perfect complement to the bursts of orange in my beyond beautiful bouquet.  To pay homage to our east coast pride and our home in Baltimore , famous for its crabs, I decided on crab shaped cookie cutters as a wedding favor. My groom made sure that the West was well represented with bison and moose cookie cutters.





Planning a wedding can seem like a daunting task, especially if you are planning from a far, but  with organization, research, and a good team of vendors, you can be make your wedding dream come true.


  • Keep the planning process fun! My most important tip for couples is to keep the wedding planning process light. If at any time a task doesn’t feel quite right, re-evaluate your approach and think about out-sourcing. For me, it was unbearable to think about addressing all of my envelopes by hand.  After a bit of research, I found many printers will do addressing for free.
  • I recommend hiring a day-of-coordinator.
  • Take this time to develop that one-of-a-kind event with your loved one. You and your future beau clearly have good taste, which is why you chose each other. While your friends and family will have many opinions during the planning process, you will never regret making personal wedding decisions with your loved one.
  • Be open to suggestions from your vendor team, especially if you are planning a destination wedding.  They will have information about the area that will help you make decisions.  You hired them for a reason, so place trust in their decisions.  The apricots Katalin incorporated into the design were a last minute addition, but really tied together the floral design.
  • Develop a timeline, and will make sure your day runs smoothly. Planning a wedding can be a roller coaster ride, and having a timeline will assist with those natural pre-wedding jitters. Review your timeline and be open to editing it frequently before your big day. Plans change and that’s OK! Be organized, but allow yourself some wiggle room for new ideas or unforeseen circumstances.

Photographer: Orange Photographie
Florist: Katalin Green Flowers
Wedding Design: The Bride
Venue: The Woodslands at Cottonwood Canyon
Hair & Makeup: Canyon River Spa
Gown: Pronovias
Shoes: Badgeley Mischka
Grooms Suit: Calvin Klein
Caterer: Seasonal Montana
Rentals: Montana Party Rentals
DJ: Joe's DJ Service
Videographer: Vector Visuals
Invites: Minted
Transportation: First Student
Lodging: Element Bozeman
Lodging: C'mon Inn
Day of Coordinator: Bash

The Bride, Aimee Miller,  is currently planning events in Maryland and D.C., and can’t wait to plan another destination wedding. You can follow her adventures at: Instagram @byaimeemiller or on the web at www.byaimeemiller.com



Monday, March 7, 2016

2016 Montana Bride Guide to Makeup and Skincare

Our girl Alexa is fierce. Not only is she our resident model, but she also happens to be a talented and stylish makeup artist. We're super lucky to have her expertise on hand at Montana Bride. You can check out her guide below or in this year's issue of Montana Bride Magazine.  
Photography: Orange Photographie / Hair & Makeup: Alexa Mae / Flowers & Styling: Katalin Green

Here are some pointers for a classically beautiful makeup look. Enjoy!
  • Start out with a clean and moisturized face, preferably A spf tinted moisturizer is a great option!
  • Apply under eye concealer to dark circles and cover-up to blemishes or problem areas. Tip: pinkish hued concealer works wonderfully to hide purple tones in under eye circles. Greenish hued concealers counteract redness caused by blemishes.
  • With a large powder brush dip into skin toned or sheer powder, tap off excess and apply to face in circular motions.  
  • Apply bronzer from the top of the ear toward the mouth, directly underneath cheekbones and blend downward towards jaw, also into temples and on hairline, and underneath the chin. 
  • Blush on the apples of the cheeks. 
  •  Lightly fill in eyebrow with brown or grey on a slanted brush starting from the middle of each eyebrow working outwards, brush out any excess powder 
  • Curl eyelashes and apply two coats of mascara and done! 
  •  To create a more dramatic look, supplement with liquid liner on the top lid, add a wing for a cat eye! Or add shadow to the lid crease. A bold lip can always add a pop of color- be sure lips are exfoliated and moisturized and always use a liner especially if using a red or bright pink! A bit of highlighter directly above the Cupid's bow accentuates lips! 
  •  Set your face with a sheer powder (favorite brand: mineral veil) or spray for a long lasting effect!
Remember, the most beautiful things about your face are your expression and the quality of your skin. Wear sunscreen, wash your face every night, stay moisturized (I recommend facial oils in this dry climate), hydrate, and most importantly smile! The most beautiful girl in the room is always the one who is laughing.

Montana Bride Recommendation for Makeup and Skincare: Indulgence and Canyon River Spa
Orange Photographie / Hair & Makeup: Alexa Mae / Flowers & Styling: Katalin Green / Dress: Poppy Bride
Orange Photographie / Hair & Makeup: Alexa Mae / Flowers & Styling: Katalin Green / Dress: Poppy Bride
Orange Photographie / Flowers & Styling: Katalin Green / Winter Wedding Flowers
Orange Photographie / Hair & Makeup: Alexa Mae / Flowers & Styling: Katalin Green / Dress: Poppy Bride  / Wedding Hair Style
Orange Photographie / Hair & Makeup: Alexa Mae / Flowers & Styling: Katalin Green / Winter Wedding Makeup
Montana Bride / Orange Photographie / Hair & Makeup: Alexa Mae / Flowers & Styling: Katalin Green / Dress: Poppy Bride
Orange Photographie / Flowers & Styling: Katalin Green / Dress: Poppy Bride / Bouquet / Feathers
Winter / Montana Wedding / Orange Photographie / Hair & Makeup: Alexa Mae / Flowers & Styling: Katalin Green / Dress: Poppy Bride
Vendors:
Photography: Orange Photographie / Hair & Makeup: Alexa Mae / Flowers & Styling: Katalin Green / Dress: Poppy Bride   Hair Piece: Horse Feathers by Debra Moreland of Paris available at Poppy Bride

Thursday, February 4, 2016

2016 Montana Bride Real Budget + Wedding

Our dear friend and newlywed, Danielle, kindly offered up her recent wedding budget for your viewing pleasure. Danielle not only had a beautiful wedding, she had a big wedding... 450 guests! Needless her say, her budget was a huge factor in managing the needs of a party that size! She pulled it off... her event was not only completely gorgeous, it was filled with all the people she and her hubby love. We really appreciate her sharing all the details here at Montana Bride. You can see the article here in the 2016 issue.
Montana Bride & Groom / Photography by Doug Loneman
Rockin' TJ Wedding / Photography by Doug Loneman
Fireworks / Photography by Doug Loneman
 
wedding flowers / Photography by Doug Loneman
Bridal Bouquet / Photography by Doug Loneman
cupcakes / Photography by Doug Loneman
Seating chart / Photography by Doug Loneman
Rockin TJ Ranch / Photography by Doug Loneman

Wedding Fireworks / Photography by Doug Loneman
From the bride... The day could not have been more perfect. After smoky days from all the fires and plenty of evening thunderstorms, July 4th was as beautiful and clear as could be. 450 of our guests had made their way from places spanning Washington and California all the way to South Carolina. The morning was a blur for me as I was pampered and loved by my mom, mother-law, sister, bridesmaids and family. We enjoyed mimosas and delicious goodies as we all got ready in the bridal salon. For Mikey, a quiet morning spent fishing on the Gallatin was exactly the way he wanted to start this day. When 5pm finally came, it was 93 degrees with the sun directly overhead. Everyone was sweating. At one point I remember looking over at my brother who looked as if he had just gotten out of the shower; we all just had to laugh. After a beautiful sermon by our pastor, Marc Johnson, everyone was ready to get the party started! Mikey and I, along with our 27 bridal party attendants, made a grand entrance into dinner, which consisted of a southern BBQ, buffet style. We cut our cake right away and let our guests dig in to the gourmet spread of desserts: we had triple berry pies and huckleberry cheesecakes, chocolate ganache coconut cakes and carrot cakes with cream cheese frosting, and even brownies and raspberry crumble bars. We made it through heartfelt toasts with tears and laughter before Mikey and I had our first dance. Between our first dance, and my father daughter dance to Sweet Home Alabama with my dad, I still can’t wipe a smile off my face. The dance floor was packed the entire night with an eclectic mix of music to suit all ages. Everyone was truly enjoying themselves. But the night didn’t end there…. because what’s a Fourth of July without fireworks? One of my dad’s favorite things in the whole world is fireworks. We moved all the guests back over into the meadow where we got married and watched an incredible display of fireworks right over our heads. It was truly the most magical night of our lives. Thank you again to everyone who was a part of it… we got our fairytale.

Vendors:
Photography: Doug Loneman / Ceremony + Reception Venue: Rockin' TJ Ranch / Catering: Rockin' TJ Ranch / Flowers: Mac's Florals / Cakes + Desserts: Elle's Belles / DJ, Sound, & Lighting: Bozeman DJ - Paul Churchill / Rentals: Montana Party Rentals / Hair + Makeup: Castine Fuchs-Capelli's, Ashley Dunkelberger-The Brooklyn, Amy Penwell / Wedding Dress: Allure / Gown Shop: Eskay Bridal / Tuxedo: Jason's-Billings / Rings: Toni Soueidi Jewelers / Officiant: Marc Johnson, Faith Chapel Billings / Invitations: Elum

Monday, May 18, 2015

Local Cheers




 Thoughts on Cheers!
Choosing your wedding beverages—especially beer—can be challenging with so many craft brewery choices. With craft breweries seemingly popping up every day, the options can seem endless. Just a few of the factors you will need to consider are: price point, choosing local to the area, keg vs. bottles / cans and the types of beer and selections you want to offer. If you are having a wedding of more than 100 people, our opinion is at least two beer selections that are a perfect compliment to any fare. A light beer (Pilsner, Belgian White / Blonde Ales or any Honey Ale) paired with a darker or hoppy-er beer (Cold Smoke or the Hopzone IPA) is a wonderful way to mix it up for your guests. Ultimately, you know your wedding guests better than anyone else, so choose what you think is most fitting for your crowds palette.

Some Favorite Montana Wedding Beer Choices
Belgian White- Harvest Moon Brewing Co. (Belt, MT)   www.harvestmoonbrew.com
Cold Smoke- Kettle House Brewing Co. (Missoula, MT)  www.kettlehouse.com
Czech Mate Pilsner- Red Lodge Ales (Red Lodge, MT)  www.redlodgeales.com
Hopzone IPA- Bozeman Brewing Co (Bozeman, MT)  www.bozemanbrewing.com
Salmon Fly Honey Rye- Madison River Brewing Co. (Belgrade, MT www.madisonriverbrewing.com
Summer Honey Ale- Big Sky Brewing Co. (Missoula, MT) www.bigskybrew.com
Saw Tooth Ale- Bitter Root Brewing Co. (Hamilton, MT)  www.bitterrootbrewing.com 

When Ordering
Half Barrel Keg- 165 pours, (12 oz servings)
Pony Keg- 82 pours, (12 oz servings)

Estimate 2-4 pours per guest, but once again, you know your guests best. If you are having doubts, cans / bottles are a good option, since you can you can stock your fridge with the leftovers.


In many instances, you can order kegs directly from the breweries. Also check with local distributors, they may even deliver to you. If you are picking up the kegs yourself, get plenty of ice, as well as an appropriate container to hold them. A galvanized tub or watering trough works and looks great. You can also dress up an otherwise blah trashcan with a couple of extra tablecloths.

If you are serving cans or bottles, its often most affordable to go straight to the brewery. If not then check your local grocery store, package store or even the super market. We also recommend having these on display in a stainless steel beer cooler or large galvanized bucket for easy self serve.

Drinking Vessel
If you are not interested in ordering glassware from the rental company or venue, we recommend biodegradable cups. These cups feel similar to typical plastic Solo cups, but they are completely compostable. You can find several different options online and have them shipped to your door. Being environmentally friendly is always a great choice and your guest will appreciate it! If your friends are craft beer fans, consider logo glasses and pints from the brewery as a guest gift. Your guests can use them throughout the reception and then take them home.


Bar Tenders
We are big fans of hiring a bar service, even if you are doing just beer and wine. Bartenders can help you with ordering based on your preferences, budget and guest count. A professional bartender will make sure the bar stays stocked; tap kegs as needed and make sure everything runs smoothly. As a professional bartender, they are also able to control the flow of alcohol when a guest has had too much. Most services will break down your bar at the end of the evening and pack up the bar rentals properly. Its important to note that some venues require a professional bartender on location for liability and insurance reasons.

Let’s raise a glass to your big day!

Cheers!

Article by Brett Conner
Photography by Mkate Photography

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

{From the Pros} What's for Dinner …. Plated vs Buffet


There are a number of big decisions in planning a wedding, but right up there near the top is “what’s on the menu”.  We’ve worked with a lot of couples and for most, making the choices about what to serve is one of the most perplexing.   Your menu ultimately boils down to preference and budget.  One of the most common questions we get about catering is buffet or plated. There are a number of factors to consider when making your final choice, but rest assured that most professional caterers are comfortable with either option and will serve a beautiful meal either way.

Budget:  As far as the actual cost involved, it’s pretty much a wash.  With a plated dinner the caterer is better able to control your food portions and thereby your costs,  But you will have to hire more wait staff to serve the meal.  By serving buffet style, the labor costs will be lower but most caterers recommend 15% to 20% more food since there will be no portion control and people may come back through the line more than once. (Caterers want to insure they will not ever run out of food!)   Many couples like to offer several selections for guests with the standard being 2 proteins and a vegetarian option.  With a plated dinner, the guests would make choices prior to the event and be served the selected option.  With buffets, a majority of guests will serve themselves all 3 options.

The Experience:  The budget may be a wash, but plated and buffet style dinners offer to very different experiences for your guests.  A plated dinner is going to have a more formal and cohesive feel.  Once the dinner service starts, the plates will come out so your guests are all dining together.   Your guests will also be presented the food as the caterer, intended it to be presented.  Watch any cooking show and you will see presentation plays an important role in the dining experience.  All in all, a plated dinner will present itself as a calmer room experience.  Because the staff is not having to focus on keeping the buffet stocked, they are better able to focus on seeing to your guests dining needs.  If you have offered your guests protein choices, you will need to have assigned seating or ‘markers’ so the wait staff knows who gets which options.  Assigned seating means more planning and setup time.  Not only do you have to decide who sits where ( and sometimes more importantly, with whom they will be sitting), you will also have make and organize a seating chart or cards. 
 A buffet style dinner is going to be a much more casual feel.  Guests will be up and mingling and conversing.  With a buffet, you can have open seating since guests will be serving themselves.  You can ‘reserve’ the family and head tables, but other than that guests can sit with whomever they choose.   Be prepared for the dinner service to last longer, by as much as a half an hour.  Some guests may linger in conversation before going through the line.  You will also have the guests that go through the line first finishing dinner just as others are getting served. 

Family Style:  Family style is when large platters are brought to each table and is a great option for a smaller wedding (50 to 75 guests).  As far as budget, it will generally be more expensive because you will need the wait staff associated with a plated dinner, but also the larger food portions required by a buffet since caterers will want the platters to be full and bountiful.  You will also incur extra rental fees for the various platters and vessels required for this type of service.  When selecting the courses, keep in mind your guests will be required to pass the platters around the table which can be a little messy and interrupt conversation.

The Bullet Points!

  • ·          Whenever possible, meet your caterer and taste their food.  If you are out of town and not able to meet, seek out references from other area vendors.  This is where the advice and recommendations from a professional wedding planner are worth their weight in gold.
  • ·           If serving a plated dinner, consider the mixed grill.  Instead of guests picking an option, each guests will be served a smaller portion of each of the proteins you choose.  You should still have a vegetarian option.  This allows for open seating or assigned seating since each guest gets the same plate.
  • ·          Consider the Venue.  If you want to serve a buffet, make sure the room can accommodate the actual buffet line as well as allow for comfortable traffic flow.
  • ·        Leftovers.  Most caterers do not wrap leftovers due to safety concerns and the packaging required.  If you need a plate prepared for a guest that is arriving late or to make sure that your Dad actually gets dinner after chatting with everyone of your guests, inform your caterer prior to the service.
  • ·          If you are throwing a wedding in a pristine meadow in the middle of nowhere with no running water or electricity, expect the catering to cost more.
  • ·         Most caterers will require a 50% non-refundable deposit to secure the date.
  • ·         Many caterers will assist in setting the tables and will bus the tables, clean and repackage the catering rentals, and haul food related garbage.  They do not set or break down the room.  That is to say, they don’t set up table and chairs or break them down.  They may offer it as an option, but there will be additional charges.  Be sure to ask where their services start and end. 
  • ·         Which brings us to the most important piece of advice we can give about any vendor…Read The Contract.  Though we just said many caterers will assist in setting table, be sure!  It is essential you know exactly what services are and are not covered by the caterer.
Article by Montana Bride
Thank you to Emily Ryan from Food For Thought

Saturday, June 7, 2014

{Tips From the Pros} Hiring your Photographer. Part 5 of a 5 Part Series

Hiring the right wedding team is a critical part of the wedding planning process. Personality, budget, skills, compatibility are just a few of the factors to consider, but whats the deciding factor in hiring the team to run such an important event? We are excited to bring you this insightful, in-depth 5 part blog on hiring your vendor. Though its written with hiring your photographer (a VERY important vendor!) in mind, its applicable to hiring all of your vendors. Thank you to our Guest Blogger, Paul Bellinger Photography for this great piece. We will be posting this complete blog over the next weeks, so check back weekly. Now for Part 4. Read more here: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PERSONALITY
Problem: how to ensure your wedding photographer has a personality for success on your wedding day.

Solution: Meet with potential photographers face to face and assess their personality on key characteristics detailed below.

You need to like your wedding photographer! This doesn’t mean you have to be their best friend, but you need to like the way they handle themselves, how they interact with people, and their attitude before you unleash them on your dearest friends and family. Your wedding vendors represent you on your wedding day, and reflect your taste to your guests. The photographer is one of the most visible vendors on your day and they’ll be spending a lot of time with you and your guests, so you should care about the way they are representing you. The photographer is also one of the most pivotal vendors at your wedding, and if they get flustered, lose their cool, or freak out, it could be disastrous.

Personality is a complicated trait to consider, but beyond generally being nice and a pleasure to be around, there are two key characteristics to seek out that will ensure you have a great experience with your wedding photographer: professionalism and leadership.

1. Professionalism: There is no better way to represent yourself to your guests than by hiring professionals who conduct themselves in a tasteful manner no matter what may happen on your wedding day. Hiring a professional should give you peace of mind and let you relax and enjoy your day. You’ll be in good hands with wedding professionals in your corner. But how can you judge the professionalism of a prospective photographer? Professionalism is about habit. It’s about always following best practices. Send your photographer an email and see how long it takes for them to reply. Professionals usually reply very quickly, almost always within 24 hours. If your photographer is repeatedly slow to reply to emails, then their professionalism may be lacking. Meet with your photographer and assess their punctuality, preparedness, dress code, and demeanor. Ask them tough questions and see how they handle the pressure. Professionals never crack under pressure.

2. Leadership: No matter how hard you plan there are going to be times throughout the day where your photographer will have to take control of a situation to ensure that you get the wedding photos that will be worthy of your first family heirloom. It may be an unruly guest, a wardrobe malfunction, or a pushy church attendant. You never know what may happen on your wedding day and you want your vendors to be able to lead the way out of any chaos that breaks out. But does your wedding photographer have the ability to be decisive, take control, and be a leader? This seems like a difficult question to answer, but it’s usually apparent when you meet someone face to face. Are they outgoing? Are they passionate and opinionated about their area of expertise? Do they have a voice or presence that could be commanding if necessary? A shy, quiet photographer may be a great artist, and exactly the type of person you’d like to hang out with or have a portrait session with. But if you can’t envision them being a leader during crucial, chaotic moments, then they are probably not your best choice as a wedding photographer. Just to be clear, I don’t want anyone to think that I’m saying you need a man with a loud voice. The woman who taught me how to be a leader as a wedding photographer doesn’t have an especially loud voice. But her presence is commanding because she’s a leader. People listen when she speaks, just as they do for women leaders in all disciplines.

Key tip: You have to meet your wedding vendors face to face in order to assess their personality! You can learn a lot by noting their professional work habits, such as how quickly they return your call, but there is no substitute for a face to face meeting. If you are hiring a photographer from out of town and absolutely cannot meet them face to face, you should at least meet them on video chat using Skype or Google+ hangout.

Guest Blogger
Paul Bellinger, Paul Bellinger Photography 406-850-2674
Follow Paul on: Twitter, Facebook, Vimeo.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

{Tips From the Pros} Hiring Your Photographer. Part 4 of a 5 Part Series

Hiring the right wedding team is a critical part of the wedding planning process. Personality, budget, skills, compatibility are just a few of the factors to consider, but whats the deciding factor in hiring the team to run such an important event?  We are excited to bring you this insightful, in-depth 5 part blog   on hiring your vendor.  Though its written with hiring your photographer (a VERY important vendor!) in mind, its applicable to hiring all of your vendors.  Thank you to our Guest Blogger, Paul Bellinger Photography for this great piece.  We will be posting this complete blog over the next weeks, so check back weekly.  Now for Part 4.   Read the Entire Blog…. Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3  


PRODUCTS YOU NEED

Problem: how to find a wedding photographer that offers the products you need.

Solution: Meet with photographers face to face and inspect the products they offer, looking for heirloom quality albums and large prints that are only available from professional photographers.

It’s great that photographers offer lots of unique products, but it can get a little overwhelming with so many options out there.  On top of all of the cool unique things a photographer may offer, there are a few key products that every bride should look for: albums, large prints and digital negatives.  These three items are absolutely essential for preserving the memory of one of the most important days in your family’s history.  These are the first family heirlooms of the new family you’re creating on your wedding day, so they should be heirloom quality products that your family will be proud of for generations.  Fortunately, professional photographers have exclusive access to the finest quality products that are not available to the general public.  Any photographer can provide digital negatives, but only professional photographers can offer heirloom quality products worthy of your special day.  Here’s what to look for in each product:

1.  Albums: Your wedding album is the single most important wedding product you’ll purchase.  It’s going to be telling the story of your wedding for generations.  It may be your only major family heirloom that will literally be preserved forever and it may be the last documented record of your family elders, including your parents.  So the wedding album is very important!  You want one that will be a work of art in and of itself, and that will last forever.  This is where hiring a professional photographer pays off, because pros have access to heirloom quality albums that are not available to consumers.  Meet with potential photographers and inspect their albums closely.  Ask them about the durability of their albums and listen for them to use words like “handmade,” “archival inks,” and “museum quality papers.”  Ask them if their albums are available to the general public.  If they are, it’s a sign the photographer is either not a professional, or are not interested in offering their clients the highest quality products available, both of which are a bad sign.

2.  Large Prints:  As important as your wedding album is, large prints are the wedding artwork that will brighten up your day every day.  Albums will be put on shelves and in boxes for preservation, digital files will be buried on your computer or on a disc in a drawer, but you will see your large prints every day.  And every time you walk past your artwork you’ll get a little tinge of the emotions you experienced at your wedding, and trust me, it will put a smile on your face!  And size matters!  I recommend you get your wedding artwork printed as large as possible, with 20”x30” being the minimum size to consider for your large artwork (personally I prefer 40”x60”).  But why not save money by making your own prints instead of buying them from a professional photographer?  The reason is because printing is itself an art form and each print requires the special attention of a trained professional with printing experience.  Each print should be finely tuned for the medium it is being printed on, such as photo paper, fine art paper, canvas, metal, acrylic, etc.  This is especially true for large prints that are going to be proudly displayed on your walls.  Professional photographers will make sure your prints look perfect.  Pros have probably made thousands of prints and tested a variety of print labs, so they can save you a lot of time and effort by getting your prints right the first time, while saving you the hassle of dealing with print labs yourself.  And again, pros have access to professional print labs that offer archival and museum quality products that are not available to the general public.

3.  Digital Negatives:  It’s a popular misconception that digital negatives are for making your own albums and prints, so at this point you may be asking yourself why you would even need digital negatives if your photographer is supplying albums and large prints.  The answer is that your digital negatives are for archiving and not printing.  It’s true that you can make your own prints from digital negatives, but most people never do.  Why not?  Because it’s a hassle!  And most people have very little experience making prints and albums.  Meanwhile, a professional wedding photographer has years of experience and can offer you products that you can’t get yourself.  So for most people, digital negatives are for archiving and backup, not printing.  Your kids may pull them out one day to make a print for your 50th wedding anniversary, or you may have a few prints made for the funeral of a loved one that attended your wedding.  You may need them someday, so be sure to back up your digital negatives in multiple locations (including online in the cloud) so that you and your family will have access to them no matter what may happen.  Hopefully your photographer will also keep a backup.  When meeting potential photographers ask how they will deliver the digital negatives.  Are they going to give you a disc that will get scratched up, or a cheap USB drive that will get corrupted?  Ask to see the products and judge for yourself.  Lastly, ask potential photographers what your printing rights will be, and to see a copy of the print release you will receive with the digital negatives.


Key tip:  Seek out a wedding photographer that offers albums and large prints, and save yourself the hassle of trying to make prints on your own so you can start enjoying your beautiful wedding artwork as soon as possible!  Anyone can provide digital negatives, but only pros can offer the finest quality products worthy of your first family heirloom.

Guest Blogger
Paul Bellinger
406-850-2674

Follow Paul on: