Planning a wedding is VERY stressful, and depending on your situation, you may or may not need the help of a wedding planner.  Here are some questions to ask yourself before making the decision. How busy are you? What kind of job do you have?  Do you work a lot of hours? Mary and James […]

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As a wedding photographer, I’m here to tell you that not all of your wedding planning ideas are good.  When planning, you need to take into consideration that the day is also about your guests.  By definition, a guest is someone you’ve invited and plan on taking care of, feeding, and entertaining.  You’re their hosts.  […]

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Wedding hashtags are a great trend, and I love it!  Here are some tips to make your life easier, and who doesn’t need that. A custom hashtag organizes your photos, your photographer’s photos, and your friends’ snaps! If you know me, you know I’m OCD and I love to organize things.  (It’s a sickness.)  When […]

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Oh the days of horrible wedding trends…. Huge puffy sleeves, pink punch fountains, the bride and groom opening all their gifts at the reception, and the disposable cameras on guest tables that were always a disaster… Well, times have changed. Wedding dresses are sleek, chocolate fountains flow at weddings, and disposable cameras are a rarity […]

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My favorite part of a wedding day to photograph is the Bridal Prep portion. It’s an incredibly special, personal time for the bride because it’s her final hours of being single. Next, she’s to be joined with her husband, thus no longer “Me,” but “We.” I find myself having the same conversation with all of […]

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Wedding planning is overwhelming, especially with so many important decisions that need to be made. Your photographer can make or break the wedding day, and the preservation of your memories is in their hands. Here is some great info to help you choose your wedding photographer. Be sure to hire a PROFESSIONAL Your wedding photographer […]

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False advertising SUCKS. I attempted to read The Silent Wife. About half-way through the boring third-person narrative sludge, I started skimming, then went online to find out how it ends. And the ending …. sucked too. This isn’t a book review, so I won’t go into details about The Silent Wife. Just trust me when […]

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Every bride wants a KILLER wedding dress, but most brides don’t want to pay the high price tag. There are a couple of ways to get an AMAZING dress for a fraction of the price. 1. Sample Sales I had the pleasure of going with my friend Jenelle to shop for her wedding dress this […]

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It was the most horrifying thing we’ve ever seen during a wedding ceremony. During the ring exchange, the photographer, dressed sloppily, got up into the gazebo, shoved her way between the minister and the couple, and took photos of their hands while the bride’s ring was being slipped on. The shocked minister stumbled from the […]

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Being a wedding photographer is kind of like being a cowboy. We ride into town, shoot up the place, and go to the saloon. And we say, “This town ain’t big enough for the both of us!” I have a very clear clause in my contract that states the following: “Dawn Kelly Photography will be […]

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Cocktail Hour (n) – The time between the ceremony and dinner when guests can get their drink on and eat cheese while waiting for the couple to arrive after photos. May include tequila and good conversation. Have you ever attended a wedding, then gone to the reception to find that there is nothing to eat […]

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Now that I’ve had a couple glasses of wine, I think it’s time to blog about a very tricky wedding reception subject – booze. Most wedding receptions have some form of alcohol, whether it be a full bar or just champagne. The question is: how do you plan the alcohol that will be served to […]

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Hello all! Captain Obvious here again with some wedding tips! Well, in this case, pre-wedding tips. At this point in my career, I’ve come close to seeing everything, and I feel I should use my knowledge for good instead of evil. Today I’m going to give some advice that could save you from wedding misery. […]

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I’ve photographed my share of weddings over the years, and I’ve seen some pretty “interesting” attire on guests – overly formal gowns, shorts and tube tops, sheer, low-cut, or very short dresses. Really, I’ve seen it all. I’ve heard horrified and embarrassed brides say, “What is she WEARING to my wedding?!” More than once, Mark […]

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Personally, when I give gifts, I ask myself two questions: 1. Is the gift suited to the person? 2. Is it practical? Ideally, a gift should be something the receiver will use. I know that sometimes it’s easiest to buy a gift certificate and call it a day, but I find it more fun if […]

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