From true love to true happiness, it is the mission of North Photography to capture your family’s most
memorable moments with the beauty and integrity you deserve through artistic lifestyle portraits.
‘Tis the season to get engaged!
With Christmas Eve & Christmas Day sharing the spot for most popular days to drop to one knee, New Years follows as a close second and Valentine’s Day is not far behind in third place. Once you have the ring and have shared the wonderful news, it’s time to get planning! But, where do you start?! Location? Date? Guest list? Budget? Bridal party? Photographer? Caterer? GAH! Before you know it you are a muddled mess with a case of wedding planning blues and an idea to elope with your sweetie. Now, elopement is not a bad idea, however, planning a full wedding does not have to be stressful or difficult. I reached out to some wonderful couples who have been there, done that and they shared their advice on where to start, how to tackle things, and how to enjoy the whole planning process. If you have additional advice to share, please leave a comment below.
Thank you to everyone who put the time into sharing advice for this collaborative post! ~Kathleen
Where to start?
“Get organized…While some brides might opt for a traditional wedding planner, I strongly suggest creating an excel spreadsheet of things to do, complete with the due date and the person in charge (or use Google’s free one!). It’s easier to share (especially with the groom) so everyone is on the same page.” Muna & Irving, August 2011
“Make a point, early on, to talk about what your decision-making process is going to be. There are going to be LOTS of decisions that have to be made, both big and small, and knowing how to approach these will lead to happy outcomes.” Mollie & Nia, May 2011
“First thing we did was make a list of all of the people we thought we would want to invite. This will make a difference when you are trying to find a location. Once we did that we thought about the time of year we wanted to get married. We really wanted a fall wedding but with school that was not the best choice for us. So we decided on summer.” Liz & Kevin, July 2011
“Book your church…you have to get the date you want first.” Mary, Mother of the Bride: Maria & Matt, July 2011
“It’s ok to have a wedding on a Tuesday, or even two weddings. As long as the photographer is cool with that.” Steve & Brianne, September 2011 ** Steve & Brianne had an intimate ceremony and celebration with their closest family and friends on a Tuesday at their family home and then had a much larger celebration with their extended family and friends on the following Saturday. A great way to spread out the celebration and your budget!
“Establish a budget. Gather estimates and get a sense of what event services cost. By putting a price tag on photography, flowers, venue rentals etc. you will soon gain better understanding of your realistic budget. Hold a family meeting with both sets of parents to determine who and how much each is willing and able to contribute then allocate the necessary funds for each area.” Cher Goggins, Wedding Day Magazine
“Tackle one big thing at a time. For example find your venue, then Photographer (so you can do engagement shots), then DJ, then cake, etc.” Liz & Kevin, July 2011
“A few words of advice that I would have would be to get things done early…there are going to be so many people to see and fun things to do right before the big day that you want to be able to take it all in so if everything is done well in advance then you will have a relaxing few days leading up to the BIG day.” Meg & Will, November 2011
“If you are on a tight budget and want a lavish looking wedding, concentrate on the season and location. We choose December and a smaller hotel knowing that it would be decked out for the holidays and we wouldn’t have to spend a fortune on flowers. Same for a field in the spring or a farm in the fall.” Karleigh & Tom, December 2011
“Don’t sweat the small stuff, people don’t remember what they have for dinner as much as they remember the love the day had in it.” Bridgett & Eric, July 2011
“A great place to visit is your surrounding libraries to flip thru magazines and check out books, cd’s for music and any other resourceful literature. Talk to the librarian, she’ll put you to the right shelf. There are so many great books to look at.” Jeanette, Mother of the Bride: Jacqui & Jon, October 2011
“Sometimes “DIY” isn’t worth the money you may save. Your time and sanity (and your families) is worth something. Having the personal touch of DIY projects is great but don’t go overboard, realize a million little projects are hard to keep track of and organized.” Kali & Erik, September 2011
“Use www.theknot.com. Plan ahead and know what you want, however, be flexible and willing to compromise. Work as a team and remember that in the end, all that really matters is that you will be married.” Andi & Steve, July 2011
Choosing your Winning Team
“Your bridal party does more than just stand up next to you on your wedding day. They are there to offer support and help through the whole planning process and wedding day! Choose friends and family members you can count on.” Kathleen, North Photography
“Pick the right vendors and get to know them. These are the people who can either make or break your day. Make sure you pick the ones who understand your vision and can work with you before, during and even after the wedding.” Muna & Irving, August 2011
Utilize the internet and local wedding publications: “I knew that we wanted a more casual feel and also that we did not want a tent for the wedding because I was nervous about the weather being bad, so I looked for places that could hold around 125 that had an indoor reception area. I began buying Vermont Vows magazine and this was VERY helpful with my planning. I looked on-line at every venue in that magazine which is how I found Pigeon Hill.” Liz & Kevin, July 2011
“Set up meetings with vendors as early as possible. Especially if planning from afar and can’t travel to the wedding venue/area as often. We didn’t get to VT until the week before the wedding and while everything went smoothly, it was a pretty stressful week.” Muna & Irving, August 2011
“Have someone that will be the “contact” person on the day of the wedding. Everyone has questions and wants YOU to answer them. Try the best you can to relax and delegate things that come up. If no one can answer the questions but you, at least you will only have one person asking you instead of everyone. They can answer the text and phone calls from friends about directions, timeline, etc.” Kali & Erik, September 2011
“Seek out the advice and assistance of well-regarded professionals.” Andi & Steve, July 2011
“I used the internet and Vermont Vows a lot. My DJ was in Vermont Vows and I also got a recommendation for my photographer. I think it is really important to meet with everyone you will be working with for your wedding. They are very important for your big day and it is important that you like and trust them” Liz & Kevin, July 2011
Keeping it Together
“Stay organized and make to-do lists. I made a binder with a tab for each vendor and made monthly to do lists so that as the month went on I was able to know what I got done and feel like I was accomplishing things. We made a list/schedule for the wedding party and emailed it out so that everyone knew their expectations.” Meg & Will, November 2011
“Don’t lose sight of why you’re planning this all-consuming, expensive, and at-times stressful event. It should be about your love of one another, your shared commitment to the future, and a desire to have all of your loved ones together – in one place, at one time – celebrating with you. You will never have all of these people together again, ever.” Mollie & Nia, May 2011
“The most important aspect of planning my daughter’s wedding was to communicate with everyone involved. Designate one calendar book for all appointments, names, contacts, phone numbers, etc.” Jeanette, Mother of the Bride: Jacqui & Jon, October 2011
“I would suggest using a site like the knot for its checklist. It basically lists everything you should do or consider doing for the wedding and when it should be done by. It was very helpful to me in my planning.” Liz & Kevin, July 2011
“Don’t let yourselves get bogged down in the minutia. When you’re stressing about the color of the napkins and the right font for the invitation, ask yourself this all-important question: Will anyone remember in 1 year? If the answer is “no” then make a quick and informed decision and move onto the things that matter.” Mollie & Nia, May 2011
Handling Wedding Planning Stress
“Sometimes when you are stressed and feeling overwhelmed, you need to stop what you are doing, and do something fun with your fiancé. After all, they are the reason that you are getting married and you need to put it in perspective when you are starting to regret not choosing to elope.” Meg & Will, November 2011
“List out the things that you MUST have and compromise on other things. It made sense for us budget-wise. Talk to both families and decide which traditions (if any) will be included in the wedding.” Muna & Irving, August 2011
“I learned not to read wedding magazines! They were a huge cause of stress and doubt about my choices. Once you choose a dress, color, location etc. then you need to just put it down and walk away.” Karleigh & Tom, December 2011
“Relax. The most important detail, marry the right person.” James & Josh, August 2011
“Keep family members informed but too many opinions makes everything harder. You can’t make everyone happy so don’t put the pressure on yourself.” Kali & Erik, September 2011
“When we didn’t see eye-to-eye on something that required a decision, we talked about it in an open way and found ways to compromise. Compromise was key.” Mollie & Nia, May 2011
The Day is Here!!
“We made a ‘Day Of’ contact list with every vendor’s name and phone number so, if anyone was a no show we wouldn’t have to scramble for their names and numbers the day of.” Meg & Will, November 2011
“Create a list of things to pack. We forgot our cake topper back in Chicago and just remembered few days before the wedding, unnecessary stress!” Muna & Irving, August 2011
“Use the people you have around you. Family and friends are always willing to help. Take them up on it even if it is the day before.” Bridgett & Eric, July 2011
“I was really nerved up about decorating the space, but I made sure to be really organized with labeled boxes and extra things I might need – a craft box (scissors, tape, sharpie, extra paper for labeling); a dessert table box; guest book/entrance room/gift table box; a dressing room box (my makeup bag, shoes, extra heal and blister pads, Band-Aids, gifts for my mom and sisters).” Suzanne & Paul, January 2011
“On the big day take a moment to be with each other on the wedding day away from everyone. The day might be overwhelming so it’s good to just take a step back and unwind a bit.” Muna & Irving, August 2011
“The one piece of advice that my sister gave me that I took and was really glad I did was doing a first look. I was already pretty nervous so it was really nice to see Kevin before the ceremony. It was also really nice that we got a lot of our pictures done then. We actually got to go to some of our cocktail hour, which was really nice. I know that when I go to weddings I am always wondering were the Bride and Groom are and how long until I can see and congratulate them.” Liz & Kevin, July 2011
“Remember that you can never plan for everything. There will always be something in the end that goes wrong, something you didn’t plan for or that doesn’t happen they way you hoped. You will realize after the wedding that the things that weren’t “perfect” don’t matter, no one else noticed, and that the bigger picture was still beautiful!” Kali & Erik, September 2011
“Take time to dance and have fun. You will not be able to have lengthy conversations with everyone but do at least talk to and thank everyone for coming.” Liz & Kevin, July 2011
“Instead of worrying about guests that may not show up, take time during the ceremony and reception to look around and appreciate that all of those people are there to support you as a couple and your marriage. If something does go wrong, constantly remind yourself of how perfect everything else is and that tomorrow most people aren’t even going to realize what went wrong. Staying positive is key!” Meg & Will, November 2011
“Give yourself a day between the wedding and the honeymoon. Also at least one day when you get back before returning to work.” Kali & Erik, September 2011
“Remember to breathe, enjoy the planning and have fun on the Special Day and SMILE. All your planning and hard work is over in 4 to 6 hours.” Jeannette, Mother of the Bride: Jacqui & Jon, October 2011
“LET GO and IMMERSE YOURSELF in the FUN OF IT ALL! By the day of the wedding your excellent pre-planning work should ensure that everything (or almost everything!) comes off without a hitch, and you shouldn’t need to micro-manage things.” Mollie & Nia, May 2011
Let the planning begin! To inquire about availability for photography, please e-mail Kathleen@north-photo.com with your wedding date and location. For other wonderful Vermont wedding resources, visit www.yourvermontwedding.com and www.vtvows.com. I look forward to chatting soon!
Another year is nearly here. Another year is nearly past. Like many of you I am tempted to make a New Years resolution list and yet, I do not think I will. I make enough lists in my daily life that every day is a New Year. “Today I will: clean the cat box, walk the dog, organize my desk, go to the gym, make a healthy dinner.” Sometimes those lists get resolved and other times they happen another day. I do not need a New Year to make another list. And yet, it is a New Year and we are so tempted to set ourselves forward into it with a resolve to do better, get healthier, and change our ways. But do you need a list?
Over Christmas, while visiting Devin’s family, his mother handed me a tattered slip of newspaper that her father had given to her the day previous. It read:
“If he earns your praise, bestow it;
If you love him, let him know it,
Let the words of true encouragement be said,
Do not wait till life is over,
And he’s underneath the clover,
For he cannot read his tombstone when he’s dead.”
“I’m not sure where he found it, but I have decided that this is my New Years Resolution,” she said. I cannot help but agree that it is possibly the most important resolution anyone can make any day of the year. Family or friends. And it does not require a list to start.
Happy New Year everyone.
no comments
Karleigh & Tom’s wedding officially closed out the 2011 wedding year for me. And even though Mother Nature was not in cooperation with providing a light covering of snow with some soft flakes still falling, it was still a beautiful wedding and full of Christmas color! The ceremony and reception took place at The Middlebury Inn where the staff handled everything just wonderfully. I am always impressed how seamlessly they go from hosting the ceremony in the main dining room to getting everything ready for the reception afterwards. Bravo!
Having only chatted with Karleigh and Tom a few times on the phone, I was very excited to meet them in person! With Karleigh’s beautiful smile and Tom’s sweet nature I adored them instantly and had a wonderful time getting to know them and their families during the portraits. Wonderfully good natured folks.
Congratulations again Karleigh & Tom! Here’s to many years of happiness, laughter, and good memories.Happy New Year! Kathleen
The Middlebury Inn was decorated beautifully for Christmas! Karleigh added some pops of red with the flowers and the dining room was perfect! Irene’s Cakes by Design made the lovely (and delicious!) cake.
I just love everyone’s reaction to seeing Karleigh and her father coming down the aisle!
Karleigh’s father officiated the wedding, which was really special.
No snow, but the twinkle lights added such a wintry touch!
Karleigh’s Christmassy bouquet was done by The Blossom Basket. It smelled wonderful!
Such love & joy!
Check out Karleigh & Tom’s slideshow to see more images from their beautiful day.
1 comment
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!
I hope you are able to enjoy some good times with family & friends.
3 comments
Once upon a time I had a crazy idea. Then, with the help of some friends and the willingness of my dearest darling, it became a reality.
And I love it.
For all the amazing cards that get sent and received this time of year, I was pretty darn tickled to hear the response to our creation! Thank you to my very good friend Kelly of Mountain Dog Photography and her team of assistants for capturing us in all our glory!
★ Cheer & goodwill to all, from my family to yours. ★
2 comments
A favorite image from Jacqui & Jon’s Autumn wedding at The Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm is featured on the Moment Junkie blog today!
You can see the rest of their beautiful wedding here in the archives.
In other news, we might get some snow in the next few days! Vermont could really use a nice white blanket to mask the barren, dull landscape. Come on snow!
Happy day all!
no comments
This one is for Nana, who passed away this Sunday.
Perhaps I did not know her well, but that does not matter. She was Nana. A perfect symbol of what all brides want and sometimes have with them on their wedding day. Kali was lucky because Nana vowed and fought to be there for her and Eric’s wedding day. Now her job is done and wonderfully so! Kali has found her perfect soulmate to travel through life with. Now Nana’s job is to sit back and watch them from above. And I know she will be doing so with a quiet smile.
Maybe I did not know her well, but she was Nana and really, what more do you need to know?
2 comments
Meg & Will were married at the magnificent OceanCliff Mansion & Hotel in Newport, RI. After a year of planning, everyone was excited for the day to arrive! Particularly Meg & Will who are just head over heels in love with one another.The day dawned bright and sunny, although a little bit chilly by the ocean front. No worries though as when you are in love, it will keep you warm! Enough chit chat from me though…Enjoy a few fantastic favorites from their day!
Elle Designs put together a beautiful paper suite with fantastic colors that were carried throughout the day!
The fabulous ladies of Avessa Salon & Day Spa did a wonderful job making everyone look fantastic with make-up and hair!
A good friend of Meg’s works at The Rivers Edge and had a big hand in doing the floral arrangements and bouquets. So colorful!
Due to the weather being a bit brisk and windy, we tried to do as many portraits indoors out of the chill. Luckily The Oceancliff has many fabulous spaces for portraits! You’ll notice though, this was one of my favorite locations.
Meg & Will chose to do a First Look before their ceremony so that we could do a few quick outdoor photos (in the daylight!) and so that they could enjoy their cocktail hour with their family and friends.
A wonderful group of people to work with! Always ready with fabulous smiles and witty jokes.
Indoor ceremony because of weather? No problem! They still have a fabulous view of the ocean. WOW!
During the ceremony, a friend read “I Like You” by Sandol Stoddard Warburg. The preface of the book (yes, a children’s book with a preface) reads, “Here is a book that Damon would have given Pythias; Romeo would have given Juliet; Tonto would have given Ranger; Charlie Brown would have given Snoopy…” and Meg would give to Will. Perfectly fitting for two sweethearts and best friends.And what a beautiful reading for their wedding! PS…Notice the amazing sunset?
Newlyweds!!! I just adore you both Meg & Will! And how happy you make one another.
Daylight Savings Time took place on the day of their wedding, so by 4:45 is was dark! But, with a little patience and skill and we found a little sunset still left in the sky!
The ceremony location was flipped and transformed into a beautiful reception hall during the cocktails! Most impressive.
Sin Desserts made the amazing cake that really did taste a little sinful…and perfectly scrumptious! I loved the little pumpkin place settings! And of course, Meg & Will’s guest book was a hit as it featured photos from their B&B engagement session!
During Meg & Will’s first dance, the bridal party started to sway along and eventually joined in! Their friends really love them.
Malloi Band kept the dance floor filled and jumping! I can see why they are so popular.
The parting shot before the party continued well into the night!
Congratulations again Meg & Will.We are so happy for you and so happy you chose us to document your day! Here’s to a long life full of happiness and good stories.Enjoy your slideshow below. xoxo Kaht
You’re invited to leave any comments below. Don’t be shy, I love to hear from folks! And you can bet Meg & Will will enjoy seeing some love from their family & friends!
Also, if you are interested in a 2012 wedding date, be sure to contact me soon as popular dates are booking fast!Be well, Kathleen
8 comments
3 comments