Jodie's Tips
So many times we go to do a wedding and the couple have no idea what we want them to do. What we want our couples to understand through this website (and through all our interactions with them) is that it's not so much what we want as what they want. We are happy to be there and to be part of your special moment, we have no need to be catered to in any way.
Probably the only exception is with photography or video. Sometimes what the bride and groom have in mind will make for a terrible video/pictures and then I will say something like "Can we do this instead?" My best tip for your big day is this: RELAX, have fun, and have the wedding you want, not the wedding you think we want.
Probably the only exception is with photography or video. Sometimes what the bride and groom have in mind will make for a terrible video/pictures and then I will say something like "Can we do this instead?" My best tip for your big day is this: RELAX, have fun, and have the wedding you want, not the wedding you think we want.
Put your best face forward
Well here it is, your big day! You get ready, you're calm, cool, collected. After all, you are marrying the greatest guy ever, right? You don't think you are going to cry, after all you're not that sentimental.
The moment comes when he's putting the ring on your finger saying those words: "With this ring, I thee wed." and the waterworks start. Will you be ready?
I know, you don't think you'll cry (or you're sure you'll cry, in which case you'll be prepared) so you wear the makeup that you normally wear, the stuff that's easy to get off. What that means is the last few pictures of your wedding probably will include the famous raccoon look from mascara running down your cheeks. What's more, you will have to delay everything to go fix yourself.
This hint is simple...use waterproof makeup for your big day. Even if you don't think you'll cry it's better to be safe than sorry. After all, you don't want to spend your wedding day looking like Rocky Raccoon!
Part two of this tip...if you don't usually use makeup, but would like to look extra nice for your special day, use a good salon for your makeup. The cost will be well worth the great photos you will get!
The moment comes when he's putting the ring on your finger saying those words: "With this ring, I thee wed." and the waterworks start. Will you be ready?
I know, you don't think you'll cry (or you're sure you'll cry, in which case you'll be prepared) so you wear the makeup that you normally wear, the stuff that's easy to get off. What that means is the last few pictures of your wedding probably will include the famous raccoon look from mascara running down your cheeks. What's more, you will have to delay everything to go fix yourself.
This hint is simple...use waterproof makeup for your big day. Even if you don't think you'll cry it's better to be safe than sorry. After all, you don't want to spend your wedding day looking like Rocky Raccoon!
Part two of this tip...if you don't usually use makeup, but would like to look extra nice for your special day, use a good salon for your makeup. The cost will be well worth the great photos you will get!
Big Windows, Big Problems
You select a cabin with a vaulted ceiling and a wall full of windows looking out upon the majestic Smoky Mountains. When you get your video and play it you can hear everything but your faces are not visible, you are nothing but dark figures against a light background.
If you've done a bit of photography you will know that this problem is called "back lighting." The camera "sees" the bright light streaming through the large windows and adjusts it's settings for that resulting in a very lousy video.
What can you do (short of bringing studio lighting with you)? Well, as tempting as it is to stage your wedding in front of those beautiful windows, it is much better to use a fireplace or other interior location for the backdrop. You can always have some portraits taken in front of the view, but most likely your photographer will be able to compensate for the back lighting with his flash.
So this tip is simple, if you want a great wedding video step away from the big windows!
If you've done a bit of photography you will know that this problem is called "back lighting." The camera "sees" the bright light streaming through the large windows and adjusts it's settings for that resulting in a very lousy video.
What can you do (short of bringing studio lighting with you)? Well, as tempting as it is to stage your wedding in front of those beautiful windows, it is much better to use a fireplace or other interior location for the backdrop. You can always have some portraits taken in front of the view, but most likely your photographer will be able to compensate for the back lighting with his flash.
So this tip is simple, if you want a great wedding video step away from the big windows!
Cell Phones, Cameras & Your Guests.
Everybody has a camera in their cell phone (or just an old-fashioned camera). The problem is just because you have a camera it doesn't mean that you are qualified to photograph a wedding.
Not trying to be mean, but let's face it, the photographs are one of the most important things you have to remember your wedding. Most couples hire a professional to shoot their wedding service. If your guests are standing behind the photographer using their phones or cameras they will throw off the settings for that photograph. They might even be so bold as to ask you to "look here" so they can get a good shot, but that will often ruin your pro's shot.
Being a destination wedding photographer is very difficult. You are dealing with situations and settings that are very challenging. No controlled lighting or optimum studio setting for this photographer. Added to the difficulty for that pro is the guests literally ruining their portrait session.
The other problem with cell phones is that sometimes they will ring in the middle of the wedding service. I don't think I need to tell you why that would be bad.
Make sure that your guests (and even anybody in your wedding party) know that they need to turn their cell phones off. They should let the photographer do his job, after all, they can blind you with endless photos after the photographer has left to go to their next booking.
Not trying to be mean, but let's face it, the photographs are one of the most important things you have to remember your wedding. Most couples hire a professional to shoot their wedding service. If your guests are standing behind the photographer using their phones or cameras they will throw off the settings for that photograph. They might even be so bold as to ask you to "look here" so they can get a good shot, but that will often ruin your pro's shot.
Being a destination wedding photographer is very difficult. You are dealing with situations and settings that are very challenging. No controlled lighting or optimum studio setting for this photographer. Added to the difficulty for that pro is the guests literally ruining their portrait session.
The other problem with cell phones is that sometimes they will ring in the middle of the wedding service. I don't think I need to tell you why that would be bad.
Make sure that your guests (and even anybody in your wedding party) know that they need to turn their cell phones off. They should let the photographer do his job, after all, they can blind you with endless photos after the photographer has left to go to their next booking.
I have about 20 guests & want a wedding on the deck, how can I be sure it is big enough?
To be brutally honest, you can't be 100% certain that the deck is big enough. There are things you can do (short of a pre-wedding "scouting" trip) to be more certain that the deck is big enough.
First, look closely at the pictures provided of the cabin; is the deck a "wrap-around" or just across one side? A wrap-around will give you a bit more flexibility in staging.
Second, ask lots of questions. Ask the reservation personnel if they know the approximate dimensions of the deck, where the hot tub is located, is it cluttered with a lot of furniture or a grill that can't be moved. If they don't know see if they can find out by asking the home owner, maintenance or cleaners.
Third, use common sense! If the cabin is a small one-bedroom do not expect to get 20 of your closest friends on the deck to have a formal wedding.
Ultimately you might have to switch from an in-cabin wedding to an outdoor or chapel wedding if you have too many guests. Don't try to duplicate a big formal church wedding in a cabin. This is difficult to do in any rental cabin. Pare down your guest list (if you can) and simplify your day.
Ultimately an in-cabin wedding isn't always the best idea for every wedding. If you want a very formal wedding with more than just a few guests, you might want to seriously consider booking a chapel for your day.
First, look closely at the pictures provided of the cabin; is the deck a "wrap-around" or just across one side? A wrap-around will give you a bit more flexibility in staging.
Second, ask lots of questions. Ask the reservation personnel if they know the approximate dimensions of the deck, where the hot tub is located, is it cluttered with a lot of furniture or a grill that can't be moved. If they don't know see if they can find out by asking the home owner, maintenance or cleaners.
Third, use common sense! If the cabin is a small one-bedroom do not expect to get 20 of your closest friends on the deck to have a formal wedding.
Ultimately you might have to switch from an in-cabin wedding to an outdoor or chapel wedding if you have too many guests. Don't try to duplicate a big formal church wedding in a cabin. This is difficult to do in any rental cabin. Pare down your guest list (if you can) and simplify your day.
Ultimately an in-cabin wedding isn't always the best idea for every wedding. If you want a very formal wedding with more than just a few guests, you might want to seriously consider booking a chapel for your day.
How can I make my wedding more "my wedding?"
Too often today we are forced to accept things the way that everybody else has them. Our clothing is mass produced, the same with our food, furnishings, and even our homes. The one thing that most people want to truly reflect their personalities is their wedding day.
The first thing you want to ask yourselves is "what can we do that will best reflect our personalities and our relationship?" For instance, if you are really "outdoorsy" people it would be out of character to rent a tux and gown to have a very formal service. Feel free to wear the clothes that make you feel "you." If your relationship is low-key and private, then maybe having 200 people witness your wedding is an uncomfortable experience. Find a way to get married that reflects your relationship and your style (Pinterest is great for that!)
If you want to carry or feature streamers, kites, or balloons, then, by all means, streamers, kites, and balloons for all!
The first thing you want to ask yourselves is "what can we do that will best reflect our personalities and our relationship?" For instance, if you are really "outdoorsy" people it would be out of character to rent a tux and gown to have a very formal service. Feel free to wear the clothes that make you feel "you." If your relationship is low-key and private, then maybe having 200 people witness your wedding is an uncomfortable experience. Find a way to get married that reflects your relationship and your style (Pinterest is great for that!)
If you want to carry or feature streamers, kites, or balloons, then, by all means, streamers, kites, and balloons for all!
I want to wear blue jeans for my wedding, is that ok?
We have one rule about clothing...IT MUST BE WORN!
Really, whatever you want to wear is fine by us. I always tell "my" brides that the more comfortable you are the better the pictures will be. I can't tell you how many times we've done an outdoor wedding in the colder months and the bride is in a sleeveless sheer gown that leaves her in goose flesh and shivering through her vows. I don't need to tell you that we can't get a ton of photos in that situation. I can guarantee you that if that bride had worn blue jeans and a cute jacket or sweater we would have gotten TONS more pictures.
So what if you really want to wear that "to die for" gown in the middle of February? There are some simple things you can do to make your wedding more comfortable. Wear hose, silk long johns (available at Walmart), and pick up a nice shawl or wrap to throw over your shoulders in between photos.
Of course this is the south, so what if you want your groom to wear a tuxedo in the middle of July? If you don't want all the pictures from your wedding to be sweat-stained you will want to make the tux or suit to be as few pieces as possible (like just skip the vest and cummerbund) or check out Pintrest to see what alternatives to a tux you could consider. You might also think seriously about having your wedding in the late evening, inside your rental cabin (air conditioning) or in a chapel.
One other possibility is to have your wedding at our waterfall location, Serenity Falls. Usually beside the waterfall is about 10 degrees cooler than the surrounding area, much nicer in the summer (a bit bracing in the winter, but then just pick up the silk long johns!)
