Posted by Jaime Wood on Tue, Jul 06, 2010 @ 08:02 AM
If you've decided to have an outdoor wedding, congratulations! Outdoor weddings are romantic and beautiful. However, they aren't as easy as they may look. Outdoor weddings come with additional caveats and pitfalls, but if you follow these tips, you'll be sure to shine on your wedding day.
- Make your guests comfortable Think about what the weather will likely be at the time of day and month of the year of your outdoor wedding. Sunny and hot? Don't leave your guests uncomfortably melting – have your ushers give guests ice-cold bottles of water as they are seated. Consider printing your wedding program on a fan so that guests may cool themselves. Don't forget to have plenty of sunscreen on hand as well. For a very warm location, look into renting large electric fans (don't forget a generator) and/or a tent to shade the suns rays. If it will be cold and damp, make sure you tell guests that so they can wear extra layers. A simple xeroxed insert will do. You might want to have lap blankets on hand, or rent portable heaters.
- Have a backup plan What will you do if it rains? The ideal outdoor wedding location has an indoor location waiting just in case. Many brides and grooms opt to have their ceremony outside and reception inside. In a pinch, the tables can be scooted to the back of the room during the ceremony. A tent is another option, but only for light to moderate rain storms. A heavy rain will soak the ground underneath, leaving guests with soggy and muddy shoes. Make sure any tent you rent is sturdy so it won't flip over, and that it has thick and weighted sides.
- Plan for Wind Many outdoor weddings suffer from windy conditions. Avoid light fabrics like chiffons and china silks in your dress and the bridesmaid dresses. Tell your hairstylist that you'll be having an outdoor wedding so she/he can plan a style that won't leave you looking like Cousin It! Men in the wedding party should use pomade or other styling product. Again, tell your guests in a printed insert so that they can plan accordingly. And of course, make sure your tent will stand up to gusting winds or find an indoor backup plan.
- Can everybody hear? When you picture your dream wedding at the beach, you're probably not hearing the roaring of the waves, the rushing wind, or the local kids running and screaming around you. Look into renting a sound system with clip mikes for the bride, groom and officiant. Your DJ or band may be able to easily arrange this for you.
- Decorations One of the bonuses of an outdoor wedding is the natural beauty around you, lessening your need to decorate. But you still need to do some work. Visit the site a week before your wedding to make sure the grass is mown, the ground raked, and the flowers have bloomed. If your wedding is at a public park, you may want to ask the groomsmen or friends to do this the morning of your ceremony. If it's been an especially cold season, you may need to supplement the flowers with some potted bulbs from a florist. Other decorations you may want to consider include an arch or trellis to focus the ceremony and frame the bride and groom as they say their vows; strings of lights or lanterns in the trees; luminarias; torches; or farolitas.
- Make things tasty outside Does your caterer have experience planning an outdoor wedding menu? Make sure they're planning things that will keep well outdoors in the heat. Avoid things like mayonnaise salads or dishes which must be served cold.
- Don't leave your guests parched Since alcohol is dehydrating, consider serving a variety of lemonades, teas and punches. Be sure to have plenty of ice and water around as well. For a fancy cocktail, why not serve a classic mint julep or a mojito? The mint will refresh and cool your guests.
- Those pesky flying things Be sure to put out citronella candles or a bug zapper so that your guests won't spend the whole ceremony swatting at the air.
- Here comes the sun Consider timing your outdoor wedding for sunset where your guests will see you take your vows surrounded by the warm glow of the sun. Those having a daytime outdoor wedding should orient the ceremony so that the sun will be on guests' backs rather than in their eyes.
- Permits Don't forget to contact your city parks department or other local government to get a permit for an outdoor wedding. Be sure to ask about rules concerning trash removal, candle or torch lighting, and pre-wedding photography.
Originally posted on weddings.about.com By Nina Callaway, About.com Guide
Posted by Jaime Wood on Thu, Jul 01, 2010 @ 11:59 AM
Who ever said that you can't have a wedding ceremony outside in the rain didn't know Lauren & Matt! On June 26th I had the distinct pleasure of sharing in Lauren & Matt's day up at the Mountain View Grand in Whitefield, NH. Such a fabulous spot, I love filming weddings there. It was raining when it was time to have the ceremony, but Lauren and Matt still went for it outside anyways, and they got the cheering approval from all their guests.
With the help of Diana Ma Weddings, Lauren planned and designed the details of this day so perfectly. From the awesome green color of the bridesmaids dresses, that carried through in the linens and AMAZING flower arrangements by Emily Herzig Floral Studio to the programs by Gus & Ruby Letterpress and lighting, this wedding was one for the magazines.
Oh, and let me just say that the band Lauren & Matt chose - OUT OF THIS WORLD!! First Class Band out of Boston, MA performed phenomenally! The dance floor was packed the entire night. I would highly recommend them if you're interested in a band for your reception.
Thank you to Lauren & Matt for letting me be a part of such an amazing day. It is certainly a day that I will not forget.
All my best,
Jaime
Posted by Jaime Wood on Wed, Jun 09, 2010 @ 12:22 PM
On Saturday June 5, Shannon and John got married at the Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa in Whitefield, NH. What a crazy day this way. I started out with Shannon during bridal preparations, and she was as calm as ever. After she got in her dress I went downstairs to the ceremony location and as I proceeded through the ballroom, the fire alarm went off. Thankfully it was just a false alarm.
While outside, you could see storm clouds beginning to circle the resort, with the sound of thunder and the sight of lightening bolts in the near distance. It was very questionable if the ceremony should still take place outside. The decision was made to go for it and wouldn't you know, just as Shannon walked down the aisle, it started to lightly rain. And then it started to come down heavier, with large rain drops. So, we proceeded into the ballroom and resumed the ceremony in there.
During the ceremony you could hear the rain pouring down outside and the sounds of thunder getting closer and louder. About halfway through the ceremony, right when John was reading his vows, the skies cleared and the most spectacular double rainbow appeared in the windows right behind the bride and groom. It was absolutely perfect. During their formal session it started to rain again, but it was short lived. And wouldn't you know, that they got another full rainbow for their formal pictures.
It truly was an amazing and unforgettable night. From the unpredictability of the rain, to the rainbows, to the fantastic entrance that Shannon & John made - they kept smiling and kept calm through it all, even finding laughter in it. I can not thank Shannon & John enough for letting me be a part of such an fantastic day. This is their highlight video. All my best ~ Jaime.
Posted by Jaime Wood on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 @ 07:18 AM
On Sunday May 30th, I had the honor of sharing in Chad and Lauren's special day. From the little details to the weather, the day was absolutely perfect. It was a small and intimate day wedding set on the coast of Maine in Ogunquit at The Beachmere Inn. Lauren looked stunning in her dress, and the diamond starfish necklace that Chad gave her the night before was a perfect touch. Their simple and elegant beach theme shined through from the arbor with sand dollars and starfish, to my favorite - their wedding cake which had bride and groom clams on the top. This is their wedding day highlight film. All my best ~ Jaime.
Posted by Jaime Wood on Thu, May 27, 2010 @ 12:08 PM
If you ever wanted to know about NH Images Photography & Video, we have now created a handy video guide. For those parents who are paying for the wedding and have not met us (yet), this video will give you an idea of who we are both personally and professionally. For those couples who are thinking about using NH Images, this video will give you an idea of our personalities and how we operate. The video is meant to be informative and fun so if you like the video and want to see more of what we can do for you: Email: info@nhimages.com , Call: 603.888.7204 / 603.865.7445 or click the button below to book an appointment with us. We look forward to hearing from you!
Posted by Jaime Wood on Tue, May 18, 2010 @ 08:45 PM
This past Saturday I had the priviledge of sharing in Heather & Eric's special day. A great story of two people that were destined to be together - Heather and Eric were high school sweethearts that separated when moving away for college and fate and a little help from family and friends, brought them back together. Heather looked like Audrey Hepburn in her stunning gown and Eric got emotional when he first saw her walking down the aisle which was very sweet. The ceremony was at a gorgeous church in Lawrence, MA and the reception was one of my favorite venues - The Atkinson Country Club in Atkinson, NH - where the dance floor was hopping the entire night! Below is their highlight video, Enjoy!
Highlight Video from Heather & Eric's wedding day on 05.15.10 in Lawrence Mass and the Atkinson Country Club.
All my best,
Jaime
Posted by Peter Clayman on Tue, May 18, 2010 @ 07:32 PM
Hi Everyone,
I hope this blog sees you well. I wanted to take a moment and touch upon a subject that has to do with us doing business with you. I always tell people that you need to love our wedding photography and wedding videos. This seems basic, but it's so important to have the right company and people documenting your very special day!
Which leads me to my main point...if you love us then lets figure out how to work together! We have set packages that contain various hours and products, but if you are on a specific budget or are looking for something customized then simply talk to us...don't walk away assuming that we won't be able to meet your budget or provide specific products. We will always be upfront and let you know if can work within your parameters...most times we can, but sometimes we can't. But we both won't know unless you ask...If we click when we meet then let's keep the lines of communication open.
We have been very fortunate to be in demand, but we never want to lose sight of trying to help as many couples that we can. We love doing weddings and we want to be as accessible as we can for you! Give us a call if we can ever be of any help. Thanks for reading and listening.
All my best,
Peter
Posted by Jaime Wood on Wed, May 05, 2010 @ 12:03 PM
Once engaged, couples spend a lot of time planning for the big day and all the little details but usually in the midst of it all, some of the smallest yet most important things can get overlooked.
1. Don't forget to eat! - Many brides and grooms forget to eat and after a sip of Champagne find themselves a little tipsy or faint. A light breakfast or lunch will give you that much needed energy to get through the day. Don't forget to keep hydrated too!
2. Designate Duties. - Have a bridesmaid or groomsman take care of last minute payments to vendors, worrying about your gift table and holding on to your personal items. That's one less thing you'll need to worry about.
3. Something will go wrong. - Everyone wants the perfect wedding day, and chances are that it will be. But there is also the chance that something will go not exactly as planned. It could be the weather, that you're 5 minutes late to the ceremony, or that something wasn't put out properly at the reception. The important thing is to not stress over these little details and if you are prepared for something to go wrong ahead of time, then it won't seem like a big deal. Nobody is going to know but you that something is different and the most important thing still happened. You got married to the love of your life.
4. Say Thank You. - Throughout the day remember to thank all of the people that helped you in planning your wedding day and your friends and family for attending. Their love and support helped to get you to your wedding day.
5. Enjoy Eachother! - This day is about the two of you and your love. Don't let any of the stressful moments of the day get in the way of that. And when you're standing there during your vows, really look your fiance in the eyes and savor the moment. It only happens once.
All my best,
Jaime
Posted by Jaime Wood on Fri, Apr 30, 2010 @ 12:45 PM
Do you have a unique and amazing love story that you love to share? Maybe meeting and dating were pretty average, but the proposal was something out of a fairy tale?! Whether your amazing love story consists of one moment, one day or one year, we want to hear about it!
We are looking for the best love story to help promote a new video service. "Love Story" is a cinematic 3-4 minute movie set to music with voiceovers that the tells your love story from the first meeting right up to the proposal. This can be used as a Save-The-Date video, put on your wedding website and/or played at your reception prior to your introductions. A $899.00 value!
Just tell us briefly about your love story (how you met, 1st date, proposal, etc.) and why it's unique. We will pick 4 finalists for in-person interviews to learn more about the details of your story. The best love story wins!!
Click on the button below to enter! Deadline is May 31st!
Posted by Jaime Wood on Fri, Apr 16, 2010 @ 08:24 AM
Hi Everyone!
Well, after a fabulous week weather wise, we woke this morning to a dusting of snow in the yard. April 16th in New Hampshire and we have snow. Got to LOVE New England!
Last weekend we kicked off the videography wedding season with Angie & Dave in Meredith NH. We were lucky enough to have some great weather for their day. Angie and Dave got married on Sunday April 11th at Church Landing. It was a sunny day but a little windy which made it a tad chilly outside. But that didn't stop them or us from getting those special moments captured on photo and video! Angie and Dave had a simple ceremony inside by the fireplace which quickly turned emotional when their eldest daughters each read a very touching poem. And once again, Hillary and her staff made sure all the details were perfect for Angie & Dave.
Below you will find a video teaser from their day, and I'm sure Peter will have some pictures to share soon as well!
Angie + Dave's teaser video from their April 11, 2010 wedding at Church Landing in Meredith NH
All my best,
Jaime