Philadelphia's Tattooed Wedding Photographers

Tattooed Brides: Why We Love to Photograph Them!

2012-05-18T16:50:00.002-04:00

Tattoos are chosen for a special reason.

Spouses are carefully chosen for a special reason.

They are two decisions that are not made lightly because they are life-long decisions.

They will forever reflect who you are and what is important to you.

That is why tattoos and marriages are so important to us at Allebach Photography.

That is why we love to celebrate tattoos along with the blessed union of marriage.

That is why we accentuate the unique personalities of individuals and couples.

That is why our engagement and wedding photographs are not stuffy or over-posed.

That is why we capture moments that represent who you are and what is important to you.

That is why we are the original "Home of the Tattooed Bride."

That is why we are appreciated for what we do and how we do it.

"I am completely blown away! I knew that you and your team would be awesome but...wow! Not only were you so much fun, you captured every moment of our wedding day perfectly, I love the personality in the photos, they are truly priceless. And our guests loved you guys too!

It was a wonderful experience, we can't thank you enough! Love all around!" Stephanie

"It's obvious that Mike and Rachel Allebach totally get Offbeat Brides...Allebach Photography can master awesome posed shots and make them look like art." Ariel Meadow Stallings, Offbeatbride.com

That is why we love photographing Tattooed Brides!!

1950's Themed Engagement Photos - Jenn & Jack

2012-05-09T22:05:00.002-04:00

It is so much fun when a couple like Jenn and Jack shout who they are through their engagement experience.

Jenn shares their Inspiration for the shoot:
When Jack and I started dating, one of the early things we had in common was a love for mid-century cocktail culture -- the music, the design, etc. Each of us had a few things that reflected that, like the '55 Bel Air that he and his dad built when he was in high school... and the house I'd just bought at the time, which was built in 1955. For our engagement shoot, we thought it'd be fun to pull all of our stuff from the late 50s and early 60s together to give the photos that kind of themed look.

Enjoy a few choice pics from the session.....

North Bowl, Philadelphia is the Place to be - Eric and Rae:

2012-05-01T22:38:00.001-04:00

If we were to create a "Top Ten Places to Have Your Wedding Ceremony" list (not a bad idea, actually...), Eric and Rae's venue, North Bowl, Lounge and Lanes would be right up there. This wedding had the personal, special, and classy... yet fun, chill, and crazy vibe all wrapped up in one. They totally rocked it.
Insight from the groom:
"We met online so I'm afraid that there is not much of a story there. Our engagement lasted a year due to financial issues; it was tough with the current economy but we made it happen. I would say the greatest piece of advice we would give is to stay calm and be sure to make your day exactly how you want it. The highlight of our wedding day was when we read our vows, we wrote them ourselves and they really made people laugh. We think that everything about our wedding day represented us as a couple. Our wedding was very unique, unusual, and full of fun which represents us totally."

Clint and Rae Two-Day, Tattooed Wedding Featured

2012-04-12T15:49:00.000-04:00

This couple is so amazing that they were noticed internationally.

Rachel, the fabulous owner of Marry Me Ink, fell in love with Clint and Rae's two-day/one-of-a-kind wedding. The emotions, details and of course...the photographs of both days are brilliantly captured here and here.
Guaranteed that you will love Rae's story behind her dress and tattoos. It involves this priceless picture:

Prime Engagement Experience Locations

2012-02-29T22:14:00.000-05:00

Engagement photography sessions have come a long way recent years. Good-bye to the days of a stuffy studio with bland curtain backgrounds and awkward poses. Helloooo to the opportunity to just be yourselves as you allowing the human with the camera to capture who you really are as a couple.
When choosing a location for your engagement experience, the number one rule is to select a a place where you will have the most freedom to comfortably be yourselves as individuals and as a couple. Sure, you want to consider the backdrop and some technical issues, but pretty much anything goes!
Below is a conglomeration of past engagement experiences to get your wheels turning.

NATURE:
Ridley Park, which happens to also have unique structures.

Snow scene

Autumn scene

INTERESTS:
Battleground

Fonthill

Eastern State Penitentiary

Grounds for Sculpture

Machine Yard

Place of employment

PHILLY LOVE:

ARCITECTURE:

NOSTALGIC LOCATION:
Fave hang-out, first date, engagement location….

Looking for a photographer to capture the personality of your relationship? Contact Allebach Photography and we will be happy to answer all your questions.

Tattoo Stories: Whole Again, Sparrows & Mended Hearts

2012-01-23T00:57:00.000-05:00

I wasn't going to post any of the tattoo stories project from our shoot on Saturday. But I read over Tanya's email today and felt, I just had to share:

Lets just say, my life hasn't been what you'd call easy. I'm not complaining, I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm simply stating fact. I do everything backwards, and i ONLY learn lessons the hard way. Its really just who I am.

So, after a tumultuous childhood and a string of shitty relationships with boys that needed a mother and not a girlfriend, i found myself pregnant by a guy I'd been "casually dating" for 4 months. I had just gotten a new job at a prison, (yup, I said prison) and I thought that my only option was to make it work, so for the duration of my pregnancy, and the first year of my sons life, that's what I did. I tried, and tried, and tried... while he stole from me, lied to me, bounced from job to job, and made it his daily goal to make me feel unattractive, worthless and sad.

And then, I broke. I couldn't pretend anymore, his lies made me a liar. I needed to do better, to BE better for my baby!! I decided that it was over.

The first time that I met my husband I was 7 months pregnant. I asked my Lt who the hot new Sgt was, and she told me to keep my crazy pregnant hormones in check. I worked for another month, and then went out on a 6 month maternity leave. I had so much drama in my life, that i just kind of forgot about that really cool tattooed Sgt with the buddy holly glasses.

The first time that I really "saw" my husband, was after I'd returned from maternity leave. I was dropping off paperwork to our headquarters when Brad came to retrieve a schedule. We exchanged some small talk and then I noticed that his eyes were two different colors. The sunlight hit his face in such a fashion that my breath stuck in my throat. i looked down to compose myself, and noticed the swallows tattooed on the backs of his hands. I grabbed one, and started very excitedly asking him about them. I told him that I'd always wanted swallows, but never really knew how i wanted to incorporate them into a tattoo... then I realized that I was standing in the middle of the hallway, at my place of work, holding and literally stroking this guys hand that I didn't even know! I have this extreme talent of making awkward situations even more awkward, so of course that's what I did, and abruptly left the situation.

For whatever reason, he was cool with this. A few days later he called me in my office, offered me his phone number, and we made arrangements to go out that week. we kissed at the end of our first date. I fell in love at that very moment, in the third parking spot, at the TGI Fridays in Mount Laurel, NJ. We moved in together after our third date.

Bradley Smith is the inspiration behind my tattoo. Those red swallows swooped into my life so completely unexpectedly, and very literally took my broken heart and sewed it back together. I am more whole now then I have ever been, and I have my husband, our two children, a pair of swallows, and that awkward moment in the middle of a prison to thank for that.

Light Painting Engagement Experience Preview: Jane & Adam

2012-01-08T00:05:00.001-05:00

Jane & Adam Engagement Preview: Light painting at WXPN's World Cafe Studios.

All light painting done in camera.

Stephanie and RJ: Intimate, Culturally Infused Wedding

2011-12-20T15:11:00.001-05:00

“I am completely blown away! I knew that you and your team would be awesome but...wow! Not only were you (both) so much fun, you captured every moment of our wedding day perfectly, I love the personality in the photos, they are truly priceless. And our guests loved you guys too! It was a wonderful experience, we can't thank you enough! Love all around!” Stephanie

We couldn’t let 2011 end without highlighting at least one more truly amazing wedding. Stephanie and RJ hit the “intimate wedding” nail on the head. Every aspect, from the classy Victorian venue to the infusion of Indian cultural elements reflected warmth and love.
And so they met….
We met at the bar...is there really any other way?! We had both been frequenting the same local bar one summer. We were casually introduced one night by a mutual friend, who happened to be the bartender. After that we didn't run into each other again for months and then in the winter we both found ourselves there again. RJ walked me home, and hasn't left since!
Countdown to the wedding day:
18 months
Free Advice!
Get started early, the big day will be there before you know it! Also, stick to your guns and have the wedding you want as a couple, don't let anyone dictate or push their opinions into the planning.
The Wedding Day Headliner~
RJ: "My highlight of the day was finally putting the wedding bands on!"
Stephanie: "I loved the first dance, we were in our own little world."
Represented:
For us, it was all about the venue. We had a difficult time in the beginning finding the perfect spot that reflected our love of Victorian/classic style but still felt warm and intimate and could cater to a smaller group. When we walked into Lippincott we immediately knew it would be our place. We had a total of 42 guests in the end, which was right on track of what we were hoping for. It left a very intimate vibe which we loved.
Originally we were going to have 2 ceremonies, one traditional Western and one Sikh. As the planning went underway it was clear that 2 ceremonies in one week would be quite overwhelming. Since RJ's grandmother was traveling from India it was important to find a way to recognize and incorporate the culture in our current plans.
We decided on doing some henna, because what's a little more ink when you're already covered :) The sari change was a last minute decision, RJ's mom and I had purchased it together last year and I decided to surprise her and the family by changing after dinner. I also loved that while it was traditional dress, it was untraditionally black and white, which tied in well with the Western ceremony.

PS: If you just can't get enough of this couple, take a look at their engagement session.

Featured Tattooed Bride - Alicia

2011-11-03T01:17:00.001-04:00

Alicia [tattooed bride] got married! She is a friend, model, stylist of Allebach Photography. Here is a teaser image from her epic tattooed wedding.

New to Allebach Photography: Newborn Sessions

2011-10-28T16:30:00.001-04:00

“It goes by so fast!” If you are a mother or a father, no doubt that you have heard family members, friends, acquaintances, even strangers say this a dozen times. As irritating as it can be to hear the cliche over and over…it is the truth of the matter. In a blink of an eye, the tiny fingers are throwing food across the kitchen and the teeny toes are running away from a diaper change.
A Newborn Session is an opportunity to savor the precious first days of your baby’s life. Rachel Allebach is able to capture the sweet stillness of your infant in gentle and unique ways....all while, the little bundle is sleeping soundly in baby dreamland!
If you are expecting, now is the time to contact us to find out more information and to reserve a time frame around your baby’s due date.

Contact us for Newborn Session pricing and packages. Family sessions are also available.

Karen and Ed Engagement and Wedding: Love Machines

2011-10-13T22:17:00.001-04:00

Karen and Ed requested that their engagement session take place at the Ransome machine yard. Read their scandalous office love story below and you’ll know why (okay, more like sweet than scandalous, but scandalous got your attention…). Wait until you see how they incorporated the influence of machinery into their wedding reception! Karen, Ed and their bridal party were fabulous group of people who knew how to have fun, Karen’s beautiful smile and stunning green eyes sparkled all day, and the teal details were exquisite.

Totally unique engagement picture
(they actually ordered a metal print from us and had their guests sign it at the reception = brilliant idea).

And now for the juicy details in Karen’s words:

And so they met….
Ed and I met 5 years ago while working at Ransome. He is a mechanic there and I worked in risk management. He actually called me a snob the first time we talked at an office party! He said I always walked through the shop with my nose in the air and wouldn't talk to anyone. We made peace that night and he started asking me about my girlfriend who was at the office party with me. I gave in and set them up and they dated for a few weeks maybe. During that time, Ed and I started talking a lot! He and my girlfriend broke up and we actually became best friends. Months went by and we got closer and closer. We would spend hours on the phone at night. He kept pushing me to take things beyond friendship but I felt weird about it. Finally one night at another office party (we had a ALOT of office parties at Ransome back then) one of his fellow mechanics pulled me aside and yelled at me telling me I was an idiot for not dating Ed and to just get over myself....I thought for a second, walked over to Ed and kissed him. The rest is history! Countdown to the wedding day:
Our engagement was 1 year. We started planning the weekend after our engagement.
Free Advice!
Make your wedding about you and your fiancé'. You have to ignore everyone else's opinions and just make it about you as a couple. You have to try to not worry about everyone else's feelings and making them feel included. It is YOUR wedding day and so the only people you should worry about are each other.
The Wedding Day Headliner:
Other than actually marrying my best friend, I think the highlight of our wedding day was seeing all of the people we care about having a blast and partying it up on the dance floor.
Mishaps?
The only mishap I can think of is that the DJ played the wrong version of the song we chose for our first dance. But at that point we didn't even care, we were blissfully happy and our day was perfect.
Represented.
The details that represented us as a couple (there are so many to choose from)… definitely the ceremony because it was sweet but also easy going with lots of laughs, the bobble head cake topper and our entrance on the Big Wheels John Deere tractor.

The Wedding Day located in New Hope, Pennsylvania

Caterer/Hall - Cathy Skurdis, Memorable Affairs, cathy@memorableaffairs.com Occasions, New Hope, PA http://www.occasionsnewhope.com/
Florist - Suesan, Murphy & Klein Floral Studio, mkfloralstudio@aol.com mkfloral.com
DJBob, On the Move, 215-547-1206, onthemovemobilediscjockeys.com
TransportationCelebration limos, www.celebrationslimos.com

Laurie and Anthony: Backyard Wedding Bash

2011-09-30T16:49:00.000-04:00

The color yellow definitely represented Laurie and Anthony and the vibe of their beyond-beautiful- backyard wedding. The shabby chic details were astonishing, the rain shower didn't damper a thing, and the party lasted through the night!

And now for the details in Laurie's words:

And so they met...
We met at our mutual friend Lucas’ birthday party. I just broke up with a boyfriend 3 weeks before and was moving out of the city back home to save for a house. Going to this birthday party was the last thing I wanted to do, but birthdays are important, so I went. Unbeknownst to me, my friend had been talking me up to Ant, but I had a boyfriend, so there was no point in us meeting. When it was confirmed that I was coming (and newly single!), Lucas told Ant he had to come out that night. Ant actually had a date, so being the gentleman he is, moved the time up and took the girl out, got her home, and got to the bar to meet me. When he was introduced to me, I thought he was cute but unfortunately I had another guy chatting my ear off. Finally the guy went to the bathroom and while I was about to buy myself a beer, Ant swooped in, bought it for me, and toasted “Dog lovers of the world unite,” knowing that I was a dog lover (I do still tease him about that cheesy line). Then that other guy came back and he disappeared, much to my dismay. We eventually got a chance to talk. We hit it off but since I just got out a relationship, I played it cool for a couple months, even though I was totally smitten! We’ve been peaches and cream ever since.

Countdown to the wedding day:
Our engagement was only 10 months. I’m glad we didn’t stretch it out any longer, I really didn’t like having this huge event looming over us for so long. It was more than enough time to plan the best wedding ever.

Free Advice!
My advice would be to just relax. Easier said than done, but it is one day of your life. Do what you can afford, make it a reflection of you and your partner but just know that you will have many more amazing days. Oh, and hire a great photographer, like Mike! When the day is over all you will have are memories and photographs, and you can’t show your memories to your kids! (AP note: we swear we don’t give discounts for compliments)

The wedding day headliner:
My favorite part of the day was right after the ceremony. Our wedding was outdoors at my parents’ house and moments before I walked down the aisle, it was spitting rain. It held off for the whole ceremony and we even were able get through the receiving line before the sky opened up. We ran to the porch and waited out the rain. That downtime was perfect- it was a few minutes of privacy after becoming husband and wife in front of 150 friends and family members.

Reperesented.
We’re not terribly traditional people. A wedding at a hotel or country club was out of the question, it wasn’t us. We also wanted the party to go all night. Nothing is worse when the lights go on and the music stops and you have to either figure out where to have the after party or go home. Previously, we had decided to have the wedding at the farm down the street from my parents. Unfortunately there was a snafu and we had to change the location (after the invitations went out- ugh). This was 2 months before the wedding, so after going through our options we had decided to have it at my parents. Luckily it’s very rural where they are and they have a lot of property so we were able to take advantage of that. The party went all night and many of us camped out, which was our vision for the reception.

Our centerpieces were old bottles and jars with locally grown flowers. I also planted wheat grass in wooden boxes, milk glass vases and metal Jello molds and measuring cups (which looked AMAZING). We both have an appreciation for old things and recycling, so using antique vessels for centerpieces was the way to go for us.

We didn’t officially have wedding colors, but I had a yellow crinoline under my dress and my maid and matron of honor wore yellow-striped dresses. Nothing is more “June wedding” to me than yellow!!

Mishaps?!!?
As I mentioned, we had to move the wedding location two months before the big day. It actually worked out better, I believe, because we did nearly everything ourselves (besides food and setting up the tent), so it was very convenient to have my parents house right there for anything we needed. We just rolled with the punches and the actual day of was perfect (even with the rain storm!).

Vendors:
Colonial Village Catering
215.760.4140
http://www.colonialvillagecatering.com/

For Sure Entertainment
Frank, DJ
215.932.6673
http://forsureentertainment.com/

True Love Tattooed Engagement Session & Blog Updates

2011-09-15T01:36:00.003-04:00

So....Steph and RJ are engaged and here are some photos. Oh and yes, they are tattooed and we'll be shooting their wedding photos. Rock'nRoll!

Thanks to Becca our Office Ninja, this blog is starting to get a steady flow of new images (you can thank her in the comment section below). As you can tell, she has a talent for writing...I do not. I focus on taking photos. But we did want to let you know that we changed the blog today and added some new features and made navigation easier. I hope you enjoy. Put comments, questions and tattoo love below.

*Much Love*

-Mike Allebach
The Tattooed Bride Photographer Guy
weddings@allebachphotography.com
619-PUN-KROC
@tattooedbrides

KJ and Christian: You won’t believe the outcome of this Engagement Session

2011-09-13T15:07:00.001-04:00

Don’t they just look like the nicest people you’d ever want to meet?

What is he looking at?

Oh, this jolly guy. You would look too.

Okay, his focus back on his beautiful fiancé…

True love for sure...

(click for the rest of the session and the all out crazy ending...trust me you're gonna wanna see it)

The smiles don’t get more natural than this.

Well, maybe they do. They are having way too much fun….

Just so long as they don’t cut the session short with a broken bone.

Okay good they are back on solid ground again all safe and sound.

Never mind…back to the danger zone. Never know what this couple’s gonna do.

So sweet.

Is that a hand puppet?!?

Who wants to hang out with these guys for laughter therapy?

Uh, oh. Where did the smiles go? Where is this going?

Nice.

A basket o’ fun.

That’s some target.

Great aim!

Prepared.

Run KJ RUN!

He would never…..

No more Mr. Nice Guy.

Revenge is sweet.

Calling a truce.

Kiss and make up.

Couldn’t resist the cheap shot. Shame.

She’s so forgiving.

You guys are a blast!
Do you and your fiancé want in on an unforgettable engagement experience? Contact http://www.allebachphotography.com/ …the possibilities are endless.

Brian and Brittany: Make March Marvelous

2011-08-29T23:56:00.001-04:00

So often couples are intimidated by having a wedding in the winter months...not Brian and Brittany. As you will see they had a flawless wedding this past March and even have beautiful outdoor photos to prove it.

And so they met....
We went to the same high school & had some of the same friends but never talked. We ended up going to the same college and it wasn’t until then that we were introduced through a mutual friend. Ever since the first time we hung out there was no looking back.

Countdown to the wedding day:
We got engaged July 26, 2009, laying in bed watching Gene Simmons Family Jewels. We both wouldn’t have had it any other way ;-) We were engaged for a year & 8 months!

Free Advice!
ALWAYS keep in mind that this day is about the two of you, & everything should be exactly how you both want it. Even the biggest problem you encounter while planning won’t even mean a thing to you on your actual wedding day.

The wedding day headliner:
The entire thing. Seriously, we have never had more fun then we did at our wedding. Nothing went wrong, everything was on time, and it couldn’t have been more perfect if we had tried.

Represented.
The people who were able to be a part of our wedding day represented us the most. We have some of the most incredible friends and family members and we couldn’t have gotten to the point we’re at now without all of them by our side.

Mishaps?
Even if there were... we didn’t notice. It goes by faster then you can imagine. Take it all in and enjoy the party!

78 and Just Getting Started With Tattoos

2011-08-23T22:13:00.000-04:00

Read this article about a women who is just getting started with becoming tattooed. She is 78 and got started at 75.

What do you think?

Flappers, 1920s, 2009 and Beyond

2011-08-23T07:01:00.000-04:00

I decided to bump our most popular post to the top of the blog! This one is an oldie but a goodie from January 2009. Tattooed Flappers.

Somehow I became obsessed with the idea of Tattooed Brides, 1920s - 1940s fashion and thought I'd mix it all together. We were fortunate enough to be able to shoot photos at the wonderful Stotesbury Mansion (also known as the Philo or the Philo Literacy Institute) on 19th and Walnut in Philadelphia. This place looks like you've literally stepped back into 1920 - amazing! (oh yeah and you can host a small wedding here)

So in my crazy mixture of ideas we shot flappers, that were tattooed up. Certainly, if you are an offbeat bride, I'm sure you'd have no problem wearing a flapper dress, as your wedding dress right?

Anyway I'll let the flapper photos do the talking:

We've got a ton more vintage flapper photos after the break! So read on...

2009 Wedding Couple Dan and Jade stopped by for a few engagement photos at the Stotesbury Mansion. This is my favorite.

Please Note: If you are wondering where the wedding photos are - you can find them at http://www.allebachphotography.com . For wedding and engagement information email us at weddings@allebachphotography.com or call 610.539.6920 .

Tattooed Trash the Dress - Ocean City, NJ

2011-08-17T23:32:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered...is doing a Trash the Dress photo shoot fun?

This is only 1/3 of the shoot (the beginning of the Trash the Dress Photos). See the Trash the Dress Ocean Pics Here

Book your own photo shoot here.

Is a Wedding Planner the right fit for you?

2011-08-17T22:10:00.001-04:00

Since there are so many different elements to wedding planning, we value input from professionals in all areas who interact with the bride-and-groom to-be. We asked Anna from Something New to provide us with the skinny on wedding planning services. You can tell this super-friendly gal and her partner know their stuff. Check out this helpful synopsis below to determine if hiring a wedding planner is the right avenue for you.

I wouldn’t feel right sitting here and telling you that your wedding won’t succeed without a professional planner. There are plenty of weddings that go on without a planner every year and they don’t all fall apart at the seams. On the other hand, the couples who choose to forgo having a wedding planner go through more hassle than those with the extra help. Here are my Top 10 reasons that you should hire a wedding planner.

A wedding planner…
1. …saves you money. When planning a wedding on a budget, it may seem impractical to drop a good chunk of money on a planner. You may think to yourself, why don’t I take that money and spend it on more décor, etc.? Yeah, I may work harder, but I’ll get more out of it. For some couples, that may be true. Through careful research, you may be able to find the absolute cheapest vendors and décor.
However, there’s much to be said for having great vendors at a reasonable price, instead of the cheapest vendors. A wedding planner can help you negotiate contracts and get you the best vendors for you a couple.
It’s not just those vendor connections that will have your planner saving you the big bucks. You know the wedding section in book stores - the one with every book from The Groom’s Guide to a DIY Wedding to Bridal Bargains 101? Well, we have read them all… twice. Save yourself the $15 cover price and ask us how to create $15 centerpieces instead.

2. …connects you to the best vendors. We can’t knock big name wedding websites for finding the best vendors in the area. However, it’s a hassle to call all 28 DJs listed in Philadelphia to find out their prices. The “$-$$$$” mean different things to every vendor. Wedding planners pride themselves on the connections they are able to make with vendors in their areas, saving you the time and weeding out those DJs who think that the Macerena is still the best song since sliced bread. Tell your planner a price point and they’ll be able to give you a few great vendors, their prices, and be able to give you advice on which person will have the right vibe for you as a couple.

3. …helps you Do It Yourself. You want to make your own paper flowers? Great. Finding vases at thrift stores and keeping the collection in your basement? Awesome. Making old frames into blackboards and writing your buffet choices on them? Very cool. We love DIY couples and all of their incredible ideas. But what happens when you realize you have 8 boxes of stuff to bring to the venue and no one to set them up? Once again, it’s your wedding planner to the rescue.
We are not above physical labor. We don’t run around in high heels a la Jennifer Lopez in The Wedding Planner. We are often on our hands and knees perfectly arranging a handmade aisle runner, up on ladder hanging carefully stitched swags, or arranging kitschy household items into funky centerpieces. Even if you have done all the work yourselves, you will need someone to pull it all together on the actual day.

4. …helps you avoid the tedious side of wedding planning. So, you’ve found a florist that sounds awesome. You two look at some pictures of her past events, she seems to fit your style, and you decide to hire her. Unfortunately, she’s only known you for about an hour and she probably can’t come up with your dream centerpieces and just show up with them… especially within your budget. Instead, the two of you will have to go over what flowers are in season, what flowers fit your budget, how you can make a small space look larger or a large space look smaller, why Kate Middleton’s bouquet cost so much and how you can try to get the same look for a quarter of the cost… and on and on…
Wedding planners are used to all of these questions and can usually answer them for you. If they don’t know the answers themselves, wedding planners know all the right questions to ask the caterer, photographer, florist, etc. They know the red flags, as well. Plus, a wedding planner is often your saving grace. There is a lot of up selling in the wedding industry. Vendors will often try to convince you that you need an additional charge here and there and sometimes you don’t notice until the contract comes. Instead of sitting down with a contract and a cup of coffee and re-reading over and over to figure out where something is amiss, your wedding planner can usually just scan one and find out where something went wrong.

5. …can be a therapist. Not all planners are lucky enough to have a psychology major on their staff, but all wedding planners have real life experience in being a therapist. They are able to help you through all kinds of tough situations with family and friends, they know that almost all brides have a slight mental breakdown a month before their wedding, and they are there to calm your bridezilla tendencies. If you have a good planner, they are available to you all the time – even if just through text messages. It’s always awesome to have an impartial person to let you know that what you’re doing and feeling is perfectly normal.

6. …curbs any of those nitpicky concerns your parents have. There’s always a member of the family (or two or three) who believe this is just as much their wedding as yours. We have had parents who worried about everything from older guests getting to their cars to some guests not speaking English to bartenders stealing liquor at the end of the night. If there is a concern that your parents have, a wedding planner has probably heard it and knows how to handle it. The phrase “the wedding planner will handle it” will become a very welcome and very common phrase to leave your lips.
There is nothing worse than being bogged down with questions on your big day. Even though your wedding is about you and your partner celebrating your love, it’s also about seeing all of those family members you don’t see very often. All of those family members have the best intentions, but they often come with a lot of questions and concerns… it’s because they want the best for you, but the concerns often come at the worst time… like when you’re getting your makeup done and trying to relax. With a planner, you can relax and they will take care of it.

7. …is there for you when your “friendors” aren’t. Yes, your friend Sally may have taken a flower arranging class once and has graciously offered to make your centerpieces. Your friend Lucy always has the most adorable bathroom baskets and promises to show up with her best ones ever for your wedding. Oh, and don’t forget Tom, who just bought a new chocolate fountain and would love to try it out on your big day.
So, this all sounds great… free bathroom baskets, chocolate strawberries, and centerpieces at cost. But what happens when, a week before your wedding, Sally realizes that she needed to have ordered those Birds of Paradise a week ago to avoid being charged a $125 rush delivery fee? The day before your wedding, Tom’s chocolate fountain breaks down during a test run and doesn’t think to tell you because he doesn’t realize it was going to be the highlight of your dessert table. On the day of the wedding, Lucy arrives, sans baskets, because, well, getting beautiful was more important than tediously picking out tiny toiletries. This is when you need a planner.
Sure, you could scrape together bathroom baskets at the last minute (who doesn’t love a CVS run in a wedding dress?), you could rearrange the dessert table and you could suck it up and pay the rush fee on the flowers. But… what if you didn’t have to? A wedding planner can call up flower shops and get you a great deal on the flowers you truly wanted, can find a quick rental on chocolate fountains, and can take that trip to buy bathroom baskets without you ever knowing they weren’t there to start with.

8. …makes sure you never know what actually went wrong. Do you really want to know that your cake topper has a tiny crack in it or that your linens were late or that one of the kids ran around and ate some people’s favors? No. This is where we say “ignorance is bliss.” You want to enjoy your day and not worry until those linens finally arrive. That’s what your wedding planners are there for. We’re constantly stocked with tide pens, super glue, hair pins, etc. etc. That’s one thing that we do have in common with the aforementioned movie. Unless knowing about the mishap will make / save you money (i.e. we once had to borrow linens from the hotel after the florist didn’t bring them – allowing the couple to get back the money they had paid the florist) you will never know.

9. …makes sure you are a guest at your own wedding. This is really the best thing about having a planner. All of the above mentioned reasons fall into this category as well. As I’ve said a million times here, you don’t want to worry about a thing. Your wedding planner takes care of all of the little details, keeps the rest of the vendors on track, and caters to you like no one else will.

10. …lets you leave the wedding without a care in the world. The end of a wedding night includes cleaning, paying vendors, and collecting all of your personal items. We had a bride tell us once that she had been to a wedding where she saw the bride running around in her dress gathering up centerpieces. That stuck with us and it’s something that has stuck with most planners. At the end of the night, you want to leave / go home / go to a hotel / go to an after party… and you want your family and friends to do the same. You don’t want people to be forced (much less YOU don’t want to be forced) to make sure you leave the place spotless. A wedding planner is the last one to leave and will make sure that you are able to leave your big day with a smile on your face and no worries whatsoever.

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2011-08-16T22:49:00.000-04:00

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April and Rich: "Totally Neat-Totally Sweet"

2011-08-09T15:13:00.004-04:00

The Rock Stars over at RockN'Roll Bride did an excellent job covering April and Rich's alternatively awesome wedding. Check out all the details and photos...

Tried and True Wedding Tips From Real People

2011-07-20T07:22:00.007-04:00

Face each other at the altar...it will not only be more intimate for you and your groom, but will allow your photographer to get shots of your faces instead of your backs Heather

Do not buy a dress overseas, it may not be the one you want. Angela

Assume it's going to rain and plan for it. Buy a cute umbrella or fancy rain boots. Then if it rains you won't be bummed because you have all this cute stuff you get to use, and if it's sunny, well then all the better. Jess

Always have a snacks on the day of your big day. with all the stress, running around, etc you WILL forget to eat. this goes for both bride and groom. Kayla

There is always that one person who is always there for you ... they might not be in the wedding party but they still show up with a lint roller for pictures and they go to the reception site early to make sure the favors are placed just right ... make sure you hug this person ... tell them how special they are ... cause your day will be that much more perfect because of them! Kelly

You can get a less expensive dress and have it altered or re-designed, you don't NEED an expensive caterer, flowers from a friends house would look just as amazing, but...PAY FOR A ROCKIN' PHOTOGRAPHER!!! I don't think that going in debt for your wedding is a good idea but if your gonna go in debt for something it should be your photographer! Shannon

Have the Allebach's do your wedding... that way you have awesome pictures AND a photographer for life! Add a personal flare- whatever is YOU! Personal touches and silly embellishments can redesign any wedding into your wedding. (ie ...personal cake topper, signature charm on your flowers-or no flowers and balloons-just something you, like people will see and smile because they see you, as a couple in it). Michelle

Plan early. Don't wait, especially when it comes to churches and halls. Do your research. Angela
On a money tip: if the bouquet isn't a biggie to you go to the florist and pick a floral arrangement from the book. Ask them to wrap the arrangement into a bouquet. I paid $60 compared to the starting price of $300 they quoted. Nicole

I had a printed out timeline of what was supposed to happen and when. Also, on the side was people to be involved with each task, contact numbers of all the vendors and important people. That way if there was an issue the coordinator or other vendors had the information in case anything went wrong. I handed these timelines out to everyone! And nothing went wrong ... not one thing! Kayla

Give wedding dresses a chance. Yes I know you are uber original and may not love dresses. I felt the same way, and was open to everything. I fell in love with a dress that flattered both me and my tattooes. Nicole

Are you feeling overwhemed by your wedding planning? Check out this post for some encouragement!

Do you have a tip to share that would help other brides? Please leave a comment to share the wealth!

Real Wedding Advice from Real People

2011-07-08T16:23:00.007-04:00

Are you engaged and feeling discouraged or overwhelmed with wedding planning? We have some encouraging words from past brides and friends who have been there. Read below and we hope your spirits are lifted so you can enjoy every moment of your wedding planning endeavors. If you are looking for some practical tried and true wedding tips, check out this post as well.
Share the wealth, leave us a comment and let us know your advice!

Be proud of your body art and don’t take any flack from other people. You love your art, it defines you. & obviously your spouse loves your art too =)... That’s all that matters is the 2 of you. Sarah

First, focus on your marriage- if you do, planning your wedding will be less stressful and more enjoyable. Grace

Relax..no matter what goes wrong (unless the bride/groom or officiate doesn't show)...you will be married when it's all over. Melissa

Remember that your wedding is about you and your spouse, not about what anyone else wants. Sheena

It's YOUR time to shine, and you both should shine however you please. Stephanie

Follow your heart. If following your heart means eloping, do it because it is your wedding day. And you shouldn't be in tears over the planning aspect. Shannon

Do what YOU want, and don't be a people pleaser! I spent the first half of planning worrying about everyone else. The stress of trying to make everyone content was unbearable. It's you and your soul mate’s day. Stephanie

Important is knowing what you want and standing towards it. NOT letting others tell you what YOU LIKE and what you need. Getting Ideas YES but getting TOLD what YOU HAVE to HAVE a big NO NO. Enjoy, have fun and do as you like it ..in ...Abraham

Sarah and Nicole: Rock a Reception with a House Party Vibe

2011-07-01T22:26:00.000-04:00

"Sarah and Nicole wanted to create a total house party vibe -- a six hour dance set, no slow songs, no formalities! When people of grandmother age request "Move Bitch" by Ludacris, you know it's going to be a crazy night." -Tom from Hi-Society Productions

And so they met....
Nicole actually saw me before I saw her. I was face down on a table getting tattooed. Our paths did not cross again until years later, after several milestones occurred in our separate lives fate brought us back together through, of all things, someone she was dating who was a friend of mine. I had just moved back from a stint in San Diego and started hanging out with them. From there the juicy part was us falling in love whether we wanted to or not.

Countdown to the wedding day::
We were 'engaged' for 7 or so days. We decided to go for our civil union license here in NJ on a Friday-ish, applied for the license Monday and were in the courtroom Friday afternoon. Our reception was 6 months later.

Free advice!
CALM DOWN, its all going to work itself out. Our banquet manager changed mid planning and what seemed like the worst timing ever turned out to be no big deal. Lay back, relax and enjoy the time. It's such a wonderful time in life ... enjoy it.

The wedding day headliner~
The highlight of the actual day was signing our license. The highlight of the reception was looking around the dance floor, realizing we were surrounded by all those we love most in this life and seeing them smile along with us.

Represented
I think what most represented us as a couple was our choice of first dance. We started with "isn't she lovely" by Stevie Wonder because Nicole's father who has passed used to sing it to her when she was a little girl. But the music quickly switched to "Push it" Salt n Pepa, "Kiss" prince, "Poison" Bel Biv Devo. We are laid back, fun and awesome. We didn't want to waste any time getting to the dance floor so we set the bar high right away for our guests as we try to do with every endeavor in our lives.

Mishaps?
No mishaps besides 46 degree weather, other that it was wonderful and we would like to do it every 6 months.

Location: Latitudes on the River
Florist: Birch & Burlap
Music: Hi-Society Entertainment
Hair: Studio Salon

Does your bridal bouquet speak?

2011-06-29T21:47:00.000-04:00

These sure do. Isn't it amazing how each of these bouquets are able to shout a sense of individuality? They are all absolutely gorgeous yet as unique as the bride who has strategically picked them to grasp throughout their momentous day.
How did you decide upon the wedding flowers that represent you?

How did you decide upon the wedding flowers that represent you?