Wedding Photography

In these dire economic times, it is not necessary to have an expensive wedding or reception. You are probably fearful that your guests will be able to tell if you’re operating on a small budget. It has been known to be done on a shoestring, and one can hardly tell the difference.

The Important thing…

You need to decide on how much you can afford, carefully select the most important requirements. You will find that you do not have to have that certain designer dress or suit? You do not have to have your reception at that certain Resort?

You need however to spend on things like rings and professional Wedding Photography and possibly video. You will want to have and cherish those memories for years to come so you shouldn’t be cheap where those are concerned.

An outdoor ceremony

The least expensive way to go would be to have an outdoor ceremony, weather permitting. You will find that the Wedding Photography will be much better if the light is even and the photographer doesn’t have to struggle trying to balance flash with ambient light. You will also be able to take advantage of the natural colors nature has to offer but best of all, it will be free. A beach, backyard or even certain sections of a park can be used but you will need to have a backup plan in case of bad weather.

In many of the Caribbean Islands, you may have to use the services of a court appointed registrar, and in some cases, a Pastor to perform the ceremony. It varies from island to island. You will incur a fee for this service but it will be very minimal.

Controlling for the reception

It is advisable to keep the ceremony and the reception in the same location. You will need to rent some chairs and possibly a tent to control for bad weather. You will find that this would be far better than renting a hall or using the services of a Resort. It is also advisable to offer your guests and well wishers a light afternoon cocktail hour in lieu of a more expensive dinner. You can elect to have appetizers and drinks served instead of a much more pricey meal.

You will need to have some music but there are also ways to control costs where that is concerned too. You do not need to hire a band to entertain your guests either. In the days leading up to the occasion, you can very carefully put together a selection of the best music you can find on CD, and use a battery powered CD player for entertainment. Careful consideration will have to be given to the number of songs selected, depending on the length of the reception and the number of invited guests. You would want to ensure that the music doesn’t “dry up”

You will be surprised at the number of affordable things you will find in stores which will complement your wedding plans. Take your time and be very creative while doing so. You should be able to make your own programs, decorations and Be creative when you go out and look for all of the things you need for your wedding. You’d be surprised at how many things you can save on. At the end of the day, what’s important is that you save a bunch of money while cerebrating your special day with family and friends.

St. Lucia Wedding Photographer

Reprinted from Trip Advisor

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147344-d589407-r29859935-Almond_Morgan_Bay_Beach_Resort-Gros_Islet_St_Lucia.html#REVIEWS

Almond Morgan Bay Resort

My husband and I travelled to St Lucia alone to get married and a fab 10 night stay at the resort.
On arrival we took the helicopter transfer which we booked a little nervously as I was worried about what would happen to our luggage, however St Lucia Helicopters were very professional and they take your luggage separately and we had no problem whatsoever – when you land at the heli pad they also provided a free taxi to the resort – certainly recommend it – especially if you’re getting married – pull out all the stops!

TTD in the ocean

As we arrived into the resort about an hour before everyone else our room wasn’t quite ready however we soon found that the pool bar was open and they had set up a TV in the sunset lounge (open air) with the football (soccer) on showing the Champions league games.
Our room was 743 which was on the 3rd floor and was right next to the pool. The room was beautiful, clean and spacious – it was really handy having British and US plugs – no need for an adapter and the voltage meant that my hair strengtheners worked ( I know the girls reading this will find this valuable info! Sorry boys!) The only tip I would say is take more coat hangers as these are few and far between!
Food wise we had no problem with choice, however the standard and service was hit and miss – however that said we never once had a problem with any of the waiters – all friendly and helpful.

1st page of wedding album

Bar service was great and we can recommend the BBC cocktail (baileys, Banana and Coconut cream) and we would like to say thanks to Emmanuel – he was always happy and we find this adds to the enjoyment of any holiday. The nightlife is as expected – low key – but this is why we went to the Caribbean – to relax.
The beach is as the resort description small – but uncrowded (and we were there for part of the Easter Holidays) the water isn’t crystal clear – but that’s not to say it is dirty, it’s just the sand!!! I think people the people that are complaining about the water quality have never seen the North sea?!
Trips – we joined the Joy’s cruise from on the beach $80 (US) per person and loved it – thank you Joy for the surprise wedding cake that you prepared for us.

Wedding:
Just the two of us and I have to say the paperwork side of things was hassle free and just what it should be. Jessica the wedding coordinator arranged for the minister to come to the resort a couple of days before the wedding and basically that was it!

Couple pose for photographer Bill Mortley with Pitons in the background.

We decided to get married in the Gazebo – before we left we were determined to get married on the beach however the location is not what you want – people eat BBQ food around it every day and to us it just didn’t feel quite special enough. We went for a walk to both locations when we arrived and once we set eyes on the views from the gazebo instantly we knew it was the place for the big day – Jessica was only too happy to switch the location for us.
I got the free manicure offered by Virgin – I have natural nails and let me say ladies – do them yourself and spend the hour with your fiancé instead! Not great – luckily it was free!
I had my hair done the morning of the wedding at the salon and was happy with the service. My fiancé was given a room free of charge for a few hours on the morning to get changed which was really good of them to arrange – speak to Jessica and she will point you in the right direction.
The day itself was PERFECT and fab. We used Bill Mortley wedding photographer as recommend by other brides – he was extremely professional and worked very hard to get every shot he could – he is full of excitement and vision. He persuaded us to get dressed again the day after our wedding and drove us, at no extra cost to the Pitons and the botanical gardens to take more photo’s… he even introduced me to a US custom of “trashing the dress” – yes I went into the sea in my dress………. x
Finally – thank you to Anthony the Virgin rep – we would have missed our flight home if it wasn’t for your help,
love Mr and Mrs. Collins xx

Wedding Photography

So, you have decided to plan a St Lucia destination wedding! Congratulations, you are making a choice to have a
Wedding Photography  that will be both an adventure and a unique experience. Most destination weddings are planned “from afar” which means that the couple will have a bit of organization and work to tackle long before they leave for their trip.

One thing that all professional wedding planners suggest to anyone hoping to have a destination wedding is to do a little comparison shopping before signing any contracts. Destination weddings are incredibly popular and they can range from very traditional, full-size events to incredibly small and intimate affairs. Regardless of size, however, they all require the same decisions, events and plans.

This means that there should be a realistic price range for most destination wedding venues, and if budget is a concern it would be best to inquire at a few resorts, hotels and locations before making a choice. Because the planning is going to be done from another location, it is best to work with a hotel like Almond Morgan Bay Resort, or facility that specializes in weddings or to hire a local wedding planner.

Consider the following: the couple planning a destination

Wedding Photography  is going to need to arrange for all of their “hometown” paperwork and documentation, find and book an official who can legally marry them at the destination, schedule the location for the ceremony, locate and reserve the reception hall, arrange for beverage and meal services, find entertainment or a DJ, schedule the photographer and make arrangements for their honeymoon. Now, that is standard business for any wedding, but the couple planning a destination wedding will need to do all of this via the phone, fax and email. Clearly they are going to need local support, and this is the reason that a St Lucia local wedding coordinator or planner should be considered.