Instead of something blue, be different, and try something GREEN.  Raise the eco-awareness of your guests by having a simple and elegantly GREEN wedding.

• For your favors, make a donation in your guests’ names to companies that invest in renewable energy.
• Choose a venue or location that practices green initiatives like recycling, water conservation, or solar panels.  www.greenhotels.com
• Use organically grown flowers
• Print your invitations on recycled paper with soy ink
• Ask your caterer to use local, organic foods and donate all leftovers to local shelters
• For decor, use natural, local elements that are free such as pinecones, seashells, and stones
• Replace regular candles with soy-based candles that are clean-burning
• In your engagement ring and wedding bands, use conflict free diamonds
• Register for energy efficient appliances and organic sheets

1. Will you be the photographer shooting our wedding?  If not, can we meet the person who will be?
2. Will you bring a second shooter?  Can we meet them as well?
3. How many times have you specifically worked as a wedding photographer?
4. Will we receive a CD of all the digital images?
5. Have you ever shot a wedding at our venue or location?
6. How would you describe your style?  Traditional or photojournalistic?
7. Do you shoot digitally or with film?
8. What kind of equipment will you bring with you?
9. How many pictures will you take?
10. Do you charge by the hour or offer packages of unlimited coverage of the entire day, including the pre-wedding preparations?
11. Are you familiar with our style of wedding?
12. What kind of input can we have on the direction of the shots?  Can we provide you with a shot list?

The basics of a wedding are all the same, no matter who the couple is.  Here’s a list of opportunities to put your personal mark on your wedding.

1.  Ask your caterer to prepare you or your finance’s favorite dish or your grandma’s holiday pie that’s a family tradition.

2.  Design a personal logo as an element of decor throughout your wedding - invitations, menu/place cards, lighting, favors, and cake toppers

3.  Instead of the tried and true wedding march, have your ceremony musicans play a song that’s special to the both of you.

4.  Design your own wine.  At the reception or cocktail hour, service wine that you’ve made yourselves.  Try Crushpad in San Francisco.  If you’re in an area without wineries, create your own wine lables.  Try www.bottleyourbrand.com

Every movie with a wedding scene always has the bride and groom happily making a grand exit from the ceremony or reception as all their guests surround them with well wishes and love as they start a new life as husband and wife.

What happened to the grand exit?  I love this part of the wedding.  The Grand Exit has somehow faded away from wedding ceremonies and receptions.  Now, it seems like guests rush off after the ceremony to avoid traffic jams trying get to the reception site.  On the other hand, receptions fizzle like a night club when the lights come up and the bride and groom are left with a handful of straggling guests.

Bring back this classic tradition and plan a Grand Exit with style.  Your guests can send you off with rose petals, bubbles, or sparklers.  Don’t forget about the time honored tradition of decorating the get away car with "Just Married" decorations.  It’s such a great moment to capture via photo or video.    

Let your wedding planner, photographer, and DJ/MC know what time you will be making your grand exit and they will alert and coordinate your guests for you.

P.S. No confetti - it’s too messy.  It gets stuck in your hair, eyelashes, cleavage, etc.

I love winter weddings!  It combines my two favorite things - the holiday season and weddings.

Although some may feel that a holiday wedding is inconvenient, it has many positive attributes.

First, all of your family is usually in town to celebrate the holiday - why "knot" kill two birds with one stone and celebrate a wedding.

Second, every wedding venue is already decorated with beautiful holiday decor that will perfectly accent your winter wedding.  This can save you extra money in your budget.

Third, in this tough and tight economy, corporations are cancelling their holiday parties.  Vendors will be more than willing to offer freebies, discounts, and include additional services at no additional cost.