Local artist: Suzanne Staud; personalized wedding art

Courtesy of Staud Design/Suzanne Staud

Besides the wedding dress, your partner’s suit, cake and interior design, a wedding means something else … choosing invitations. Knowing that this is the first element that announces the wedding, the invitations have come to represent an extremely important issue.

Suzanne Staud is a local artist who has been in business for more than 20 years. Located in the heart of Modesto, California, Staud Design offers an innovative choice for incorporating unique, personalized art into weddings.

Courtesy of Staud Design/Suzanne Staud

 
Suzanne’s art has been showcased in numerous venues throughout the United States as well as being part of many individual collections around the world. This celebrated artist can bring a fresh approach to a couple’s big day as well.

While there are more websites than ever that offer quick and easy online ordering of the standard fare in wedding invites; those seeking to make these a truly personal, out-of-the-box announcement may want to try their hand with Staud Design.

“When I first meet with the client I ask them to describe how they want to be perceived by the viewer”, says Suzanne. She may ask clients to bring in samples of fabrics or provide adjectives that the client wants the invitation to exude. Then she gets down to business: creating a work of art that stands out as a true symbol of what the couple wants to convey.

Courtesy of Staud Design/Suzanne Staud

Her most memorable design project has been creating the design for PlumpJack Wine, in San Francisco, along with Leavitt/Weaver Interior Designers. She’s also been invited to the grand opening at Ann & Gordon Getty's home. Taking a look at Staud Design’s website highlights much more of the superb artwork that keeps clients coming back.

Standard invitations can be a beautiful, classic means to announce your big day. For those who are looking for an artistic approach to their wedding, Staud Design is definitely worth contacting.

Professional Wedding Videography

The following is courtesy of Alex Yeo and Wedding Videography Singapore. Thank you, Alex, for great tips on wedding videography!

In this day and age of technology, there is no wonder why professional wedding videography is increasing in popularity. More and more bride and grooms are opting to capture their memories in both still images and videos. This gives them the chance to relive their exact feelings time and time again as they progress through their marriage.

Here are our top 5 reasons to take advantage of capturing your wedding memories with professional wedding videography.

1. Top of the line equipment. No one at your wedding is going to have the proper equipment to capture all of the moments you want with the perfect lighting.  Whereas the professionals, have all of the expensive equipment and know which moments are must haves and which ones can be edited out or avoided altogether.

2. Reliable: Hiring a professional videographer is your best way to ensure the equipment works, they are on time for every important part of your wedding from getting the dress on to walking out  of the reception hall.

3. End result: The final video will be professionally edited, so you are almost guaranteed that it will be nice.

4. Piece of mind: Unlike utilizing wedding guests, when you hire a professional they understand their “name” is on the line. This gives the professional a little more reason to do the best possible job they can. The best advertising is done by word of mouth, so every professional videographer wants to please their clients.

5. Captures the moments you don’t get to see. On your wedding day you are going to be busy greeting people, dancing and enjoying the day. Most likely, there are going to be things you are not going to see that could very well be moments you do not want to miss. The moments that bring you right back to your wedding day, ten years later.

It is important that you realize the prices for professional wedding videography are going to fluctuate according to the time of year, location of the wedding and reception as well as the package or number of hours you are looking to hire the person for.

Another thing that you should keep in mind is the experience of a videographer. The more experience he or she has, the more it is likely to cost you. This is simply, the videographer way of setting themselves apart from those that are just starting out. They have more experience and should be compensated accordingly.

Wedding Registries 101

Before stepping up to the altar and saying "I do," here's one other vow to consider: Promise to avoid the financial traps when signing up at bridal gift registries. Read the fine print, avoid unnecessary credit card offers, and ask about extra fees, charges and return policies before registering online or at the store.

This is a busy time of the year for wedding planning, and with so many details to consider, it's no wonder that setting up the gift registry and researching choices is frequently done haphazardly.

Here are some tips that could help the bride and groom avoid financial headaches before tying the knot.

Register online as well as at traditional stores. Register with two or three merchants, so your friends and family members will have more options on gifts and prices. Keep in mind that Aunt Mary's not Web-savvy and would prefer shopping at the store.

Some multipurpose online sites offer reasonably priced wedding reception decorations and gifts for the bridesmaids and groomsmen. TheKnot.com, links to two companion sites; The Nest and The Bump.

Be wary of plastic pitches. Nothing looks as good on wedding registries as big discounts on china, cooking utensils and other gifts that you purchase or that you get as gifts. But take a closer look. Sometimes those discounts, or rewards point, are available only if you use the merchant's credit card.

Macy's online bridal registry, for example, offers rewards points and a $100 wedding gift - but the fine print explains that you must have a Macy's credit card to take advantage of its Registry Star Rewards program.

Ask yourself: Do you really need the credit card?

Check on fees and extra charges. Know what you're signing up for. What are the charges for wrapping and shipping? This may help protect the person who's buying the gift from getting slapped with a hefty service charge.

Does the retailer offer "completion" deals? Some merchants will toss you a generous discount on unpurchased registry items, according to Bankrate.com, a personal finance website.

Ask for gift certificates. This way you can buy what you want when the items go on sale.

Get it in writing. Is the bride offered a discount on the price of the china? Were you quoted a price for ordering a minimum number of place settings?

"Don't be stuck with empty, very verbal promises," wrote Jeff Ostroff, who operates the consumer website bridaltips.com.

What's the return policy? Is there a generous time frame for returning duplicate gifts or the wine goblet that has a chip in the base?

On the other hand, consider keeping some extras, they might come in handy after you accidentally drop the butter knife down the disposal.

Fresh Ideas & Wedding News

http://www.examiner.com/x-72190-Modesto-Wedding-Planning-Examiner

Lodi Wine Country Wedding Faire ~ October 24, 2010

Don't miss out on the Lodi Wedding Faire on Sunday, October 24, 2010. This event is sure to be a hit, featuring numerous vendors from throughout the wine country. This wedding faire is being held from 11am - 4pm at the Hutchins Street Square, 125 South Hutchins Street in Lodi.

To step up the whole experience a notch consider taking part in the Wine & Weddings - "Stay & Play" Wine Tour. Limited to only 10 couples, book now so you won't miss out!

All-inclusive Package - $149 (+tax) per couple:

• Exclusive VIP wine tour
• Quality overnight accommodations
• Hot breakfast
• Wine & Weddings bridal show – VIP admission
• American Red Cross benefit bridal fashion show – VIP seating
• PLUS...more features coming soon!

Enjoy an overnight stay at Lodi’s newly renovated and popular Best Western Royal Host Inn on Saturday, October 23^rd and sample some of Lodi’s fine wines and wedding venues. For further information visit the show's website. 

VOW Awards

I am so fantastically excited to be a nominee for the 2010 VOW Awards in 2 categories - Wedding Coordinator and Synergy awards! I can hardly wait for the awards dinner November 5th; whether I win or not I am honored to have been nominated and voted for! Thank you to all my clients and networking partners/vendors/associates!

Home-Sweet-Home Reception

If you're lucky and you, or someone you know has a house and yard big enough to accommodate your reception, you could be in luck! A place that's filled with memories is fabulous when filled with friends and family on your wedding day.

If you and your groom aren't much for fluff and fuss, a backyard reception might be a safe bet, because these receptions are much less formal. They can also be much less expensive - you won't be tied down with including typical wedding trimmings or adhering to a formal dress code.

Just be clear: Home reception does not equal backyard barbecue. The last thing you want to do is make your parents and other family members sweat in the kitchen all week long before your wedding, preparing food for the reception.. If you're having more than fifty guests, hire a professional caterer.

Want to learn more about this?  Send me an email at Erica@ElegantAffairEvents.net