Tipton Bridal Guide 2010 - The Leader

Tipton Bridal Guide 2010

A Supplement to The Leader + APRIL 15, 2010

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your guide to planning the perfect wedding day

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INSIDE top trends for 2010

planning tips and advice

being budget-savvy choosing a photographer tipton county's best vendors

2 • Thursday, April 15, 2010 • Tipton Bridal Guide

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It’s all about the details

O

ften the first thing a bride does after getting engaged is buy a dress, then the fun of wedding planning begins.

Some brides choose to handle the plans themselves, but hiring a professional coordinator to help can alleviate some of the stress associated with planning.

"It's the best money you can spend," said Covington wedding coordinator Lina Shankle. "At the beginning it may sound like a lot of money, but when you look at it you'll see you've saved a lot of steps and stress."

Shankle said a common misconception is brides can save money by not hiring a wedding coordinator.

"You think you're saving money, but you'd save more if you hired someone," she said. "We know where to look for the best deals."

With decades in the business, Shankle, also a freelance floral designer, has been

coordinating weddings since before there was such a thing.

"Lina lives weddings!" said Kathy Daniel Wright, owner of Hometown Flowers and Gifts in Covington.

For Shankle, coordinating a wedding is not just a job, it's a passion, a joy and a way of life.

"I'd rather do weddings and use my God-given talent than do anything else," she said. "This is a lifestyle for me because I love it that much."

Several years ago, Wright was first asked to do a wedding and was apprehensive, but agreed to do it if Shankle would help. Shankle agreed, they did the wedding and calls began pouring in.

"We started getting calls to do weddings and here we are!" said Wright.

Planning and getting personal Shankle consults with brides approximately six months prior to the wedding and then six weeks before, she really begins the major planning, such as mak-

see PlanS, Page 3

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plans Continued from Page 2 ing sketches.

"I take their ideas and thoughts and turn them into a dream wedding," she said. "I strive for perfection."

For this team, it's all about the details.

Wright shared that Shankle, when arranging a bride's bouquet, usually embellishes it with something special for the bride. When she made Wright's daughter's bouquet, Shankle included a rhinestone butterfly, not knowing that the bride grew up in a room decorated with butterflies.

Shankle said today's brides have become increasingly worried about the details and making decisions.

"There's so much to choose from that they get overwhelmed," she said. "I try to get them to focus on what's most important."

The most important detail, she said, is the reason for the wedding.

"They're so worried about everything, I think we need to worry about why we're doing this instead of what shade of pink the napkins should be," said Shankle.

Wright and Shankle enjoy the process of designing and putting together arrangements and working hard to make everything perfect for a couple's special day.

They also love the personal interaction that the business affords.

"By the end, it's like we're a part of the family," said Wright.

Borrowing a line from another wedding professional, Shankle said, "There's always a level of professionalism that is second to none, but certainly a friendship occurs with each client as the process of planning their special event unfolds."

Admitting to having to run interference between vendors and brides, Shankle said the job isn't without its drama, but almost every bride is pleased with her big day.

"It's all about convenience for the bride," she said. "There's a lot less stress for her so she can enjoy her day. I don't like seeing brides stressed."

Though it can be stressful, Shankle and Wright said they enjoy the process from beginning to end.

"We're creating memories that will last a lifetime, that's what it's all about it," said Shankle.

Hometown Flowers and Gifts is located at 1055 S. Main Street in Covington. For more information, please call (901) 4761212 or visit them online at www.covingtonhometownflowers.com.

Tips for planning your wedding Advice from planner Lina Shankle With more than 30 years in wedding coordinating business, Lina Shankle has seen her share of dos and don’ts.

Here are her top tips for a great wedding: 1. Enjoy planning - make it fun, not stressful 2. Set a budget and try not to go over it 3. Enjoy your wedding day and smile 4. Love the ones around you who have worked hard for your big day 5. Don’t overdo it 6. Think outside the box when planning your wedding and make everything special 7. Look around you, there are so many jewels in Tipton County that are often overlooked

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Thursday, April 15, 2010 • Tipton Bridal Guide • 4

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Making the most of what you’ve got

I

By Echo Day eday@covingtonleader.com

n the midst of a recession and higher than average unemployment rates, many of today’s brides are making more budget-conscious decisions than ever before.

A budget-savvy bride is not necessarily one who cuts out the things she wants because she can’t afford them, said blogger Jessica Bishop, but one who makes the most of her budget.

“I think a budget-savvy bride is a woman who does her research and makes good decisions. She has priorities, and tries her hardest to find the best value for her money,” said Bishop, the famed Budget-Savvy Bride (www. budgetsavvybride.com). “It’s not about sticking to a small budget necessarily, it’s about making the most of what you’ve got.”

Bishop, who lives in Nashville with her husband Eric, began blogging about

her wedding in April 2008, shortly after becoming engaged.

Her plan for the blog was to document and organize ideas and projects for her wedding, but Budget Savvy Bride turned into the go-to resource for many budget-conscious brides.

During the course of her engagement, Bishop was laid off from her graphic designing job and worried she’d have to postpone her May 2009 wedding.

Bartering, she said, saved her wedding.

“At around the same time our photographer, Evin, was in need of an assistant and photo editor to help alleviate some of her workload so I ended up bartering my services in exchange for our wedding photography,” she said.

“This alone saved me around $2,500, not to mention saved our wedding! It probably wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for this wonderful opportunity.”

Like many of today’s brides, Bishop

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also did what she could herself. to the big day,” she said. ”If you can “I work as a graphic designer, so do-it-yourself, do it yourself! Starting I used my skills in design to DIY all early and allowing time for projects can of our paper products really help alleviate for the wedding: the costs.” save the dates, invitaAnd while some tions, programs, sigbrides are still cutnage, etcetera,” she ting things out, said. “With the help of Bishop said brides my mom and some of are still splurging on her friends we made wedding photograhundreds of tissue phy. paper flowers to make “Many brides put a pomander balls that high priority on phowere used as décor tography and will for the ceremony and actually mold the reception.” rest of their budget Bishop said many around fitting in the web-savvy budget brides are havexpense of their choStarted in April 2008, ing to think outside sen photographers.

Jessica Bishop’s blog, the box in all aspects In general, if there’s The Budget Savvy Bride of the wedding. From something a bride choosing a non-tradeems important, she (www.budgetsavvybride. ditional venue, like will work the rest of com), has become a public park that is the budget around increasingly popular free to use or a family that important item.” member’s backyard, With unemployamong budgetbrides are getting crement rates higher conscious brides for its ative. than 13 percent at the ideas and inspiration.

Some even choose height of the recesalternatives to catersion, the economic ing and flowers by downturn hit West having friends and Tennessee hard. family make dishes to bring to the wedFor many, it’s been hard to make ends ding as a potluck, creating wedding day meet, but that hasn’t stopped brides bouquets with flowers bought from the from walking down the aisle. farmer’s market and antique brooches Slowly, but surely, the economy is or baking their own wedding cakes. recovering, but Bishop thinks the bud“Right now many brides are getting get-conscious trend will continue. creative and going the DIY or handcraft“I think the recession has given all ed route which not only saves money, of us a reason to be better about how but adds a beautiful, personal touch see savvy, Page 5

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SAVVY

Continued from Page 4 we spend our money, and hopefully will continue to affect our spending decisions in the future.”

Though Bishop and her husband will be celebrating their first wedding anniversary next month, she continues to share other budget-savvy weddings and tips on her blog.

As a result, she’s been a featured speaker at events for Ashley’s Bride Guide (www.ashleysbrideguide.com) and was invited to be a panelist and judge at the Not-So-Big Wedding Boutique in Washington DC in November 2009 (www.notsobigwedding.com).

Later this month, she will be attending The B-List, an exclusive blogging conference for some of the top wedding bloggers in the industry (www. theb-list.com).

She has no plans to give up blogging any time soon.

“I want to continue to help brides like me. When I started planning my wedding there weren’t any real resources for brides who were on a tight budget,” she said. “I get so many sweet emails from brides who’ve been inspired by my blog- it’s a really rewarding thing

Something old, something new Top wedding trends of 2010

Less formal, more relaxed Brides are choosing garden settings over church weddings this season. The good news is most outdoor wedding require a lot less decoration, leaving room in the budget for other things.

Bold colors Wedding planner Lina Shankle says brides are gravitating more towards bold colors this season. Orange, robin’s egg blue, hot pink, lime green and yellow are all popular colors.

After losing her job while planning her wedding, bartering saved Jessica & Eric Bishop’s wedding. Photo by Evin Photography

for me. I get so much joy hearing from my readers and helping them in any way possible. I especially love hearing from the readers who want to share their own tips, tricks, and experiences and ‘pay it forward’ by allowing me to share their own budget savvy weddings with other brides on my blog! It’s really cool to be able to do that.”

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Shorter, tea-length dresses Brides are beginning to choose shorter, tea-length dresses, even for formal ceremonies. The key to pulling off short dresses at a formal ceremony is all in the fabric, says TheKnot.com. Choose airy tulle or cotton for an outdoor summer wedding and silk or satin for a more formal venue.

Hand-tied bouquets For the last decade, brides have preferred the hand-tied look for bouquets over the cascading-style bouquets their mothers carried.

Personalization “Weddings are becoming more detailed, more personalized,” says Shankle. “That’s the fun part of it.” Brides are choosing to add personal details to their ceremonies and receptions, such as photos of their parents and grandparents on their wedding day and other fun details.

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6 • Thursday, April 15, 2010 • Tipton Bridal Guide

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The art of choosing a wedding photographer

By Echo Day eday@covingtonleader.com

mixed in with classic portraiture.

Some photographers and brides prefer the traditional style of wedding

photography, taking more posed foror most brides, photography is a mal portraits than candid photos at the major part of the wedding day, event. but choosing a photographer Creative professionals, every photogwho’ll interpret your vision into art rapher has an individual style. Some can be stressful. photographers have high-fashion editMemphis wedding photographer ing while others Annabella prefer to keep Brandon, owner their subjects of Asian Bees looking naturally Photography, while post-proadvises brides to cessing photos. do their research A photograbefore they hire a pher’s style, said photographer.

Brandon, is what “When you should set them meet with other apart from othvendors, ask ers. about their rec“Before you ommendations choose a photogfor photograrapher, figure out phers,” she said. what style you “The vendors are looking for. have more expeFind a group of rience working photographers with the photogthat have that raphers.” style and presBrandon ent it well,” she believes prior to said. “Another choosing a phoway to research a tographer, brides photographer is should decide to log onto their on their vision, blog. You want that is the style to make sure that of photographs Photographers have their own style of processing and shooting photos. Find one their work is conthey would like sistent with your to remember their whose vision fits yours. Photo by Asian Bees Photography vision.” wedding day.

Usually only Modern wedthe best photos are included in a portding photography is more photojourfolio, but a wedding photographer’s nalistic in nature, capturing more canportfolio should also include at least did shots over the course of the day,

F

one wedding from start to finish.

When meeting with clients, photographers should have examples of recent work in their portfolio.

“Ask the photographer to provide a portfolio of recent work. You do not want to see what they did five years ago. You want to see what they did last week.”

According to statistics from TheKnot. com, the average bride spends 10-12

percent of her wedding budget on photography and videography.

With prices averaging approximately $2,500, wedding photography is expensive, but Brandon advises brides not to make decisions based primarily on price.

“It might seem nice to get more for less, but you will get what you pay see photos, Page 7

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photos Continued from Page 6 for,” she said. “Quality always beats quantity.”

A common misconception is that photographers get paid an exorbitant amount of money to snap photos of the bride and groom, but many hours of work go into preparing for a wedding, post-processing photos, fulfilling print orders, designing albums and more.

To understand the price, said Brandon, know that photographers spend 20-80 hours a week editing and perfecting your photos.

“A photographer’s job is not to take photos, but to capture memories as the bride and groom want them remembered,” she said. “Photography is an art. You are not just paying for the hard copy photos, you pay for the creativity and passion that is put into the photos.”

Once hired, a professional wedding photographer will have his or her

clients sign a formal contract and pay a retainer fee to reserve the wedding date.

Brides may also want to schedule engagement and bridal sessions with the photographer prior to the wedding. This will also help forge a relationship with the photographer prior to the big day.

If you have hired a group of photographers, make certain that the photographer you meet with will be the one photographing your wedding, said Brandon.

Communication with your photographer, as well as your other vendors, is important.

“If you are uncertain about anything, make sure to ask. The last thing you want on your wedding day is a surprise from the photographer.”

Visit Annabella Brandon and Asian Bees Photography online at www.asianbeesphotography.com.

TIP: Scanning photos and/or posting images online without permission is often a violation of your photographer’s copyright policy. Many can provide you with low-resolution images for sharing on social networks.

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