PLANNING ADVICE
Gowns, Photo, Restaurant & Cake

Selecting a Photographer
Working with Your Photographer
Bridal Gowns

Selecting a Photographer

Asking for Recommendations
You can look for a photographer in the phone book, but you'll be taking a risk hiring someone you know nothing about. If you cannot find any recommendations, look to a local bridal association. They will gladly give you a list of reputable recommendations.

Make an Appointment
Many larger operations will have you speak to a sales representative. They will be able to show you portfolios, but they won't necessarily relay your specific needs to the actual person who will be taking your photos. Be sure to speak with the person who will be taking your photographs.

Good Photographers
When you do meet with your photographer, ask to see samples of his or her work. You should see an entire wedding album. Be wary if you are only shown individual photos. Anyone can take a wonderful photo occasionally. A professional photographer will be able to take good photos consistently. Check for things like color, and focus. You should also see a variety of candid photos. Every wedding has its share of standard poses. Candid photos capture the mood of the wedding and provide visual memories. Good photographers have the ability to take candid photos which show their subjects in a good light.

Asking Specifics - Questions For Your Photographer
The number of photographs that will be taken
The cost per print
Fees for traveling long distance
Any special requirements

Many photographers will not allow anyone else to take photos while they are working. Their reasons vary. Some fear that flashes from other cameras will mess up the lighting. Others simply want ownership of all the photos of your wedding so that you will buy more prints.

Ask who has the ownership of your photographs.
Most photographers retain copyrights to the photos they produce. This means that if you want a favorite photo reproduced, you'll probably have to use the same photographer. It is illegal for anyone else to reproduce a photo unless you have ownership of the copyrights.

Who keeps your proofs?
Many couples do not understand that the fee they pay their photographer doesn't always include any photographs. Clearly understand what you will receive for the price they're asking. If you want the proofs of all the photos that were taken, you'll probably end up paying an extra $200-$300.

References
Your photographer should have a list of references handy. Make sure he or she was the actual photographer who took their photos. Call the people on the list. References don't help unless you speak with them. Ask them questions like:
How did they find the photographer
Friends or family of the photographer do not make good references
Were there any unexpected costs
Was the photographer discreet during the ceremony and reception
How long did the photographer stay at the reception

Too Good to be True
You can expect to spend between $500 and $2000 on your wedding photographs. If you getting an entire wedding package for less than $500, you are probably dealing with an amateur. On the same hand, don't be an emotional buyer and pay too much. You should spend about 10 percent of your wedding budget on your photographs.

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Working with Your Photographer

Working out the Details
Timing is important. If you meet with your photographer too soon, it is easy for him or her to forget the small details that you asked for. If you meet too late, things are rushed, and something is inevitably left out. Four weeks before the wedding is an acceptable time frame for meeting with your photographer.

The Schedule of Events
It is very important that the photographer know the schedule of events, especially if he or she is planning to take candid shots. The last thing you want to happen is for the photographer to sit down and take a break as the bride and groom are planning to cut the cake. Precious memories are not captured on film when this type of breakdown in communication occurs. Your photographer should know when and in what sequence the following events occur:

The cutting of the cake
The best mans toast
The first dance
The fathers dance

List of Portraits
Any reputable photographer will have experience with weddings and should know what the "traditional" poses are. It is up to the bride and groom to decide who they want in their photographs. It is traditional to have the following portraits taken:

Individual bride
Individual groom
Group of the bridesmaids
Group of the groomsmen
The bride with her bridesmaids
The groom with his groomsmen
The bride with her parents
The groom with his parents
The bride and groom together
The entire bridal party
The bride and groom with both sets of parents
The bride and groom with each set of parents
Any and all special requests

Make Your Wedding Personal
This is your chance to make your wedding personal. Warn your photographer of any surprises so that they can be captured on film.

Try to get most of the portraits taken before the wedding. If superstition prevents you from seeing your spouse to be before the wedding try to get all the bridal party photos done before the wedding and get the rest done quickly after the ceremony.

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Bridal Gowns
Fashions to suit your form

If you're the type of person who runs away from over - eager salespeople,  buy a few wedding magazines first, then visit a bridal store.  That way, you can take your time to look at wedding gown styles  without being influenced by others (with the possible exceptions of your mother and potential mother - in - law!).  Have a clear idea of the wedding theme and the budget.  Bring along some magazine clippings of styles you want -  sometimes it can be difficult to describe your dream wedding dress to others.

Pick an established bridal store - they would be able to give you better (free!) advice on so many things.  Even if you don't buy anything from the store, it's worthwhile listening to the staff, who will be able to offer suggestions on fit and style based on your age and body type. A gown may look wonderful in a magazine, but it may not look good on you. Your consultant will help you find the right gown, at the right price. If you feel you need to put on a few store gowns to help you decide, consider wearing a strapless bra. This will help you get a better feeling of how each gown would look during your wedding. Remember - don't rush - take at least one day to decide on the gown you would like to purchase. This will help ensure that you make a rational decision.

Here are some useful  questions:

• Modern or traditional?

Most Malaysian couples will wear both styles, one for  the traditional ceremony  and another for the  reception. The traditional costume is easy enough as there are really not too many styles for baju Melayu, cheongsams and sarees.  You only need to think of the colours and costs involved.

      Modern styles need far more thought - do you want to float down the aisle (or hall) in a bell shape          gown complete with train and lace, or do you prefer a simpler style?  You could go for a form fitting      satin gown, perhaps with sequins sewn into it. Many brides in the US and Europe wear mini - length dresses or suits, but here in Malaysia, this might raise a few eyebrows.   Whatever you choose, be sure to get the details of your order in writing i.e. dress size, color, style, etc.  so that both you and the store or tailor are in complete agreement.

• How much do you want to spend on something which will probably not fit you in ten years time - or even sooner ?

 Wedding costumes  can range in price from a few hundred to a few thousand ringgit.  Many wedding consultants suggest setting aside about 5%  of the  total wedding budget on costumes and accessories.  Also, alterations may be needed, so you need to factor that in as well.

• Payment terms?

Use a credit card. Most cards offer some kind of buyer protection services so if something goes wrong, you may be able to recover some of your losses.  Most stores will expect a 50% deposit on the costumes.

How do you look?

Both the bride and groom should try to have at least two fittings -  the first to see what needs to be altered, and the second to check that you both look great in your costumes.  The rules are - do not rush yourself and the tailor, and bring along someone else who you can trust to tell you how you really look .

Now that your clothes are ready,  it may be a good idea to leave them at the bridal store or tailor. Most of these places have proper racks where clothes can be hung neatly to prevent wrinkles.

 
Serenity or stress?

You may have had visions of a serene wedding day, when everyone remarks how radiant you look. The truth is , your wedding day is going to be very hectic and without proper planning, you'll end up simply looking harassed.  Try to have a good night's sleep, and allow yourself at least two hours to get ready before your wedding is scheduled to begin. Take your time and enjoy the company of those around you. Bring an "emergency" kit with you to the wedding venue to deal with last - minute sewing jobs, extra makeup, stockings, and tissues, as well as comfortable shoes just in case you have to stand for long hours. This is not the day for you to experiment with new  six - inch high heeled shoes!

Finally…. make sure you're really happy with your choice of clothes and accessories, because  when you look good, you feel good. 

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