With that said, here is a Wedding Tip that Duran Rex wanted to share with you from Newport Beach.  He said that one of the biggest things that will always will get shortened dramatically – will be the timeline for your wedding photography.  You’ll want to treat your wedding timeline with almost the same zeal and somewhat twisted passion Gollum did for the ring in Lord of the Rings.

So!  If you’re thinking… Hey – I’d really like to learn more about how to save time, money & my sanity planning my wedding, totally check out my program; “How To Make The Most Out Of Your Wedding Day” that’s been on break for the fall & winter season.  Or if you’d like to share some Nachos & Newcastles (My favourite snack!) and get to know this Newport Beach Wedding Photographer (Previously a Huntington Beach Wedding Photographer) that loves music & fashion, photography and art, feel free to contact me anytime.

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, Google+, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

Have a great TRex Tuesday & stay in touch for some more absolutely incredible events that I’m sharing this week.  From San Diego to Newport Beach and all the way up to Oakland – I’ll have some fantastic Weddings, portraits and events that I’ve had the honour of doing the photography – Cheers!

PS, If you haven’t already seen on Twitter & Facebook the two very HUGE announcements I shared last weekend – check this out.  One is the Military Promotion that launched last Saturday.  I had the honour of giving it to Ali & Justin when I was up at Edward’s Air Force Base with both of their parents location scouting and going over details for their Lancaster Wedding Day I’m photographing next August.  The other HUGE announcement I shared is the Workshop I’m teaching with my good friend & fellow photographer Danny in Paris France.  So if you’re in Paris over Christmas break, totally let me know because the workshop is very affordable & only 100 Euros per person.

PSS, Here’s an awesome quote I recently shared on Twitter that I think helps keep the “Butterfly Effect” moving forward – spreading positivity.  But!  This quote seems very dichotomous to what we’re programmed to think in today’s society.  “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished” Lao Tzu.”  I love it!  But more importantly – what do you think?  Slightly too forward thinking or too old school.  In a way, I like that it’s showing great things will happen an in their time.  Yet, the impatient part of me is programmed and wants it all yesterday.

PSS, Check out this awesome song from Duran Duran!  They’re doing a “Tune In Tuesday” and shared “Serious” from their “Big Thing” album.  Let Duran Rex know what you think!

Click the Google+, Facebook Like or Twitter buttons below
to show some love for Duran Rex for his Wedding Tip Tuesday!

• Tweet

Good evening from caffeinated HQ of Esquire Photography in Orange County everyone!  I’m one Newport Beach Wedding Photographer who is totally beside himself with all the blessings of exciting Engagement Shoots, Portraits, Quinceañeras, and Weddings I’ve been photographing from Newport Beach down to San Diego and all the way up to Oakland. 

As if that wasn’t enough going on – I’m sure you saw on Twitter & Facebook the two MEGA announcements I shared this past weekend.

One of which is the Military Promotion that launched on Saturday.  I had the honour of giving it to Ali & Justin when I was up at Edward’s Air Force Base with both of their parents location scouting and going over details for their Lancaster Wedding Day I’m photographing next August.

The other HUGE announcement I shared is the Workshop I’m teaching with my good friend & fellow photographer Danny in Paris France.  Can I just say; “Wholly Nachos & Newcastles!”  So if you’re in Paris over Christmas break, totally let me know because the workshop is very affordable & only 100 Euros per person.

With all this talk about helping brides & grooms who are active in the military save money on their wedding photography and helping photographers with a totally MEGA gorgeous location called; Paris, France save some money with a workshop – it only felt appropriate to share this awesome story from my friends at Elegala on establishing a wedding budget.

With the average wedding cost at over $25,000, it’s no wonder tackling the budget is one of the most overwhelming tasks on your to-do list.  We’ve come up with a few steps to help you put it all in perspective and build a plan of attack.

3 Simple Steps To Establishing A Wedding Budget

Step 1: Talk to all contributing parties
As the cost of weddings increase, so does the number of people paying for them (good news for the bride’s parents, who no longer need to take out a second mortgage to fund their daughter’s nuptials). You’ll need to sit down with everyone who is going to contribute to the wedding-day piggy bank and discuss how to logically divide the tab and arrive at a total number.

The old-school rules dictating who pays for what are meant to be broken, but you can definitely use these wedding etiquette guidelines on who pays for what as a starting point for your budget discussion.

Step 2: Allocate totals for each service accordingly
Now that you’ve arrived at a reasonable total budget, you’ll need to determine where that money is going to go. Come up with a list of items/vendors/details you’ll need, and how much you’ll allocate to each.  Then you can customize each amount based on your style and priorities. For instance, if a fabulous wedding gown is particularly important to you, you may splurge in that area, and make up for it by cutting back on your floral arrangements.

Step 3: Get a system and start saving
You’ll need to establish a reliable method to keep track of all savings and expenditures. There are endless ways to save and track your finances, from sophisticated software to old-fashioned spreadsheets. You can download easy-to-use budgeting software at My Wedding Organizer, Five Star Software or Elm Software for $29.95.

Bank It
If you’ve already got a hefty seed to put down for your affair, talk with your financial institution about the best way to accrue interest leading up to your big day. A seemingly nominal interest rate can mean the difference between Vera Wang and hand-me-downs. Just be sure to open an account separate from your personal savings so that you won’t be tempted to dip into the funds and ultimately find yourself in the hole.

Save Smart
If you are starting from zero with your wedding-day savings, consider paying for as many of your expenses as possible on a credit card that amasses benefits like frequent flier miles, rewards, or cash back that can go toward your honeymoon travel.

Awesome – yes!?!  Three quick and easy steps to help save money and stick to your wedding budget.  I love it!

So you’re thinking… Hey – I’d really like to get to know this Newport Beach Wedding Photographer (Previously a Huntington Beach Wedding Photographer) who helps brides, grooms and photographers save money and loves music & fashion, photography and art, feel free to contact me anytime.  Perhaps you’re a fan of Nachos & Newcastles (My favourite snack!) like Duran Rex and I & if so – we could always meet at Fred’s Mexican Cafe on Main & PCH in Huntington Beach.  They’re out of this world at Fred’s!

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, Google+, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

I hope you’re having a great start to your holiday season & stay in touch for some more absolutely incredible events that I’m sharing this week.  From San Diego to Newport Beach and all the way up to Oakland – I’ll have some fantastic Weddings and events that I’ve had the honour of photographing.  And of course, Kristine, Jay, Brian & Lindsay from Darvoset with their MEGA performance where Kate Mesta provided some “One of a Kind” jewelry (which I’m sure you saw from Darvoset’s Riverside Photo Shoot) and be sure to check out the Huntington Beach Photo Shoot of Sarah for her portfolio for The Ford Modeling Agency – Cheers!

PS, I just had to use one of my favourite photos I captured at Monique & Collin’s Ventura Wedding at the Wedgewood Buenaventura.  They were both a BLAST for their Engagement Shoot & Wedding!

• Tweet

It started on Saturday photographing the American Music Awards Industry Pre-Party with epic celebrity jewelry designer; Kate Mesta.  Then there was Super Sunday up in Camarillo where I spent the day with Amy & Ron for their totally gorgeous wedding at the Wedgewood Golf Club Sterling Hills.

Which brings me to  yesterday where I spent about 10 hours responding to correspondence followed up with a meeting with Kate Mesta in Laguna Beach and then off to PRIMO Studios in Riverside – where I had the honour of photographing one of the HOTTEST bands in Southern California; Darvoset for their promotional materials and for the upcoming show at Slidebar in Fullerton.

You may remember Darvoset with them letting me license one of their songs for Amy & Ron’s Anaheim Engagement Shoot at Disneyland & Downtown Fullerton and also the Los Angeles Portrait Shoot I did with UK Model; Jane Lavin’s Urban Glam Portrait Shoot.

Let me just say that even with only 2 1/2 hours of sleep last night – I’m still energized and fired up from all the creativity flowing through me for three days.  From Los Angeles to Camarillo and Riverside and back here to Newport Beach – I’m definitely a psyched photographer who’s in awe of everything happening this year.

Ok, so I shared that whacky & fun photo of Duran Rex with me & some of the members of Darvoset on Facebook at last night’s photo shoot at PRIMO Studios in Riverside & Duran Rex said he had a TRex Tuesday Wedding Tip he wanted to share.  It was about hiring a wedding photographer & it’s very smart of him to pass this wisdom on to you.  Check it out!

“After you have chosen and hired your wedding photographer – someone that has a style and personality that not only is what you like, but compliments both you and your fiance, then make sure to schedule your Engagement Photo Shoot so you’re able to get comfortable in front of the camera.  Plus, you’ll be able to see how your wedding photographer is as well.  That way, when the wedding arrives – all of you will know what to expect.”

Was that cool or what?  He’s quite the smart little TRex!   So if you’re thinking…  Hey – I’d really like to get to know this Newport Beach Wedding Photographer (Previously a Huntington Beach Wedding Photographer) that loves music & fashion, photography and art, feel free to contact me (Or Duran Rex) anytime.

Duran Rex and I are available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

I hope you had a totally awesome weekend and keep in touch because I have more great wedding photography and other events to share with you.  From San Diego to Newport Beach and all the way up to Ventura (and Oakland for Angela & Andrew’s Wedding and Rehearsal!) – I’ll have some fantastic Weddings, Portrait Photoshoots and events that I’ve had the honour of photographing.  Cheers!

PS, Check out this awesome quote from one of my favourite brilliant minds ever; Mr. Albert Einstein:  “Creativity is more important than knowlwedge.”

PSS, I’m surprised nobody discovered the FREE COFFEE in the story about Nancy & Edwin’s Engagement Party I photographed at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort and Spa in Laguna Beach down in Dana Point.  Interesting!

Sharing is SEXY!  Be sure to click the Google+, Facebook Like or Twitter buttons below
to show some love for Nancy & Edwin’s Engagement Party!

• Tweet

With that said, here is a Wedding Tip that Duran Rex wanted to share with you from Newport Beach.  He said that one of the biggest things that will always (and he said “RWARRR!” to emphasize the word; “Always”) will get shortened dramatically will be the time for your wedding photography.  You’ll want to treat your wedding timeline with almost the same zeal and somewhat twisted passion Gollum did for the ring in Lord of the Rings.

So!  If you’re thinking… Hey – I’d really like to learn more about how to save time, money & my sanity planning my wedding, totally check out my program; “How To Make The Most Out Of Your Wedding Day” that’s been on Summer Break for the peak season.  Or if you’d like to share some Nachos & Newcastles (My favourite snack!) and get to know this Newport Beach Wedding Photographer (Previously a Huntington Beach Wedding Photographer) that loves music & fashion, photography and art, feel free to contact me anytime.

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, Google+, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

Have a great TRex Tuesday & stay in touch for an amazing and totally colourful wedding that I’m about to share with you.  This couple took gorgeous, classy & timeless to the HNL – cheers!

PS, Here’s an awesome quote I recently shared on Twitter that I think helps keep the “Butterfly Effect” moving forward – spreading positivity.  But!  This quote seems very dichotomous to what we’re programmed to think in today’s society.  “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished” Lao Tzu.”  I love it!  But more importantly – what do you think?  Slightly too forward thinking or too old school.  In a way, I like that it’s showing great things will happen an in their time.  Yet, the impatient part of me is programmed and wants it all yesterday.

PSS, I want to give a shout out to my good friend & fellow photographer; Danny who’s living the dream over in Spain.  It was a total surprise to hear from you this morning & a blast chatting with you!  Keep on rockin’ it over there and I’m lookin’ forward to catching up in December in Paris.

Click the Google+, Facebook Like or Twitter buttons below
to show some love for Duran Rex for his Wedding Tip Tuesday!

• Tweet

In today’s world, it can be really challenging planning a wedding – let alone planning a wedding and working a job (sometimes two – to pay for the wedding), taking care of kids (if you have them) and overall – maintaining some level of sanity through all this.  So when I received this note, I just had to share it with you as it has five terrific ideas on how to overcome the wedding planning stresses.

But before I present you with this week’s wedding tip and you’re thinking…  Hey – I’d really like to get to know this Newport Beach Wedding Photographer in Orange County (previously a Huntington Beach Wedding Photographer) that wants to help brides and grooms enjoy planning their wedding to the fullest, feel free to get in touch with me anytime.

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

And without further ado, here is the awesome article from tips from About.com & I hope you’re having a terrific weekend – cheers!

• Tweet

But before I present you with this week’s wedding tip and you’re thinking…  Hey – I’d really like to get to know this Huntington Beach Wedding Photographer in Orange County that wants to help brides and grooms enjoy planning their wedding to the fullest, feel free to get in touch with me anytime.

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

And without further ado, here is the awesome article from tips from Elegala.com & have a terrific weekend – cheers!

Gone are the days when wedding etiquette mandated that the bride’s parents, and the bride’s parent’s only, hosted the wedding. Today anyone can foot the bill, and with modern family arrangements often anything but nuclear, there is no straightforward rule for wording invitations. Below is wording samples for nearly every possible arrangement.

Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Bride’s Parents Host
Mr. and Mrs. John Doe Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Marie
to
Thomas Allan Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Bride’s Parents Host
Mr. and Mrs. John Doe Smith
invite you to share in the joy
of the marriage uniting their daughter
Jane Marie
to
Thomas Allan Johnson
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe P. Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Bride’s Parent Deceased, Remaining Parent Hosts
Mr. John Doe Smith
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriage of his daughter
Jane Marie
to
Thomas Allan Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Bride’s Parent Deceased, Remaining Parent Hosts with New Spouse
Mr. and Mrs. John Doe Smith
requests the honor of your presence
at the marriage of Mr. John Smith’s daughter
Jane Marie
to
Mr. Thomas Allan Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Both Parents and Bride/Groom Host
Ms. Jane Marie Smith
and
Mr. Thomas Allan Johnson
together with their parents
request the favor of your presence
at their marriage
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Bride and Groom Host
The honour of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Miss Jane Marie Smith,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Doe Smith
and
Thomas Allan Johnson
son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe P. Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Bride & Groom Host Semi-Formal Event with Both Families
Together with their families
Jane Smith & Thomas Johnson
Invite you to celebrate their marriage

Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Bittersweet Farm
438 Main Road
Westport, Massachusetts

Cocktails, dinner and dancing to follow

Joint Hosts – Multiple Friends and Families
Please join family and friends
in celebrating the Marriage of
Jane Marie Smith and Thomas Allan Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Reception to follow at
the home of Dave and Carol Murphy
543 Main Street

Divorced Parents are Jointly Hosting
Mrs. Mary Peterson
and
Mr. John Doe Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Marie Smith
to
Thomas Allan Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Bride’s Remarried Parent and New Spouse Hosts
Mary and Bill Peterson
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of her daughter
Jane Marie Smith
to
Thomas Allan Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Bride’s Divorced Parent Hosts Alone
Mrs. Mary Peterson
requests the honor of your presence
at the marriage of her daughter
Jane Marie Smith
to
Thomas Allan Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Both Parents Deceased, Invitations Issued by an Elder Brother
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan H. Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage his sister
Jane Marie
to
Thomas Allan Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Both Sets of Parents Host
Mr. and Mrs. John Doe Smith
and Mr. and Mrs. Joe P. Johnson
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Jane Marie Smith
and
Thomas Allan Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Groom’s Parents Host
Mr. and Mrs. Joe P. Johnson
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of
Ms. Jane Marie Smith
to their son
Mr. Thomas Allan Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Invitation to Reception Only
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage reception of their daughter
Jane Marie Smith
and
Thomas Allan Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Bride Keeps Maiden Name
Ms. Jane Marie Smith
and
Mr. Thomas Allan Johnson
are pleased to announce
that they will become
Mrs. Jane Marie Smith
and
Mr. Thomas Allan Johnson
Saturday, the sixteenth of July
Two thousand and eight
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia

Invitation to Post Wedding Celebration
Jane Marie Smith
and
Thomas Allan Johnson
are pleased to announce
they will be married
on Saturday, July Sixteenth
during a private ceremony
on the Island of Maui
Please join us for a
celebration when we return as
husband and wife
Saturday, July sixteenth
at six o’clock in the evening
Anthony’s Restaurant
Atlanta, Georgia

Different Wording Idea -– 1

Two lives, two hearts
Joined together in friendship
united forever in love
It’s with joy that we
Jane Marie Smith
and
Thomas Allan Johnson
invite you to be with us
as we exchange our marriage vows
on the sixteenth of July, two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Anthony’s Restaurant
Atlanta, Georgia

Reception to follow

Different Wording Idea – 2
This day I will marry my best friend
the one I laugh with, live for, love

Jane Marie Smith
and
Thomas Allan Johnson
invite you to join them as they
begin their new life together
on Saturday, the sixteenth of July, two thousand and eight
at six o’clock in the evening
Anthony’s Restaurant
Atlanta, Georgia

Reception to follow

• Tweet

You might remember me mentioning before that I was going to be working with David Tutera from WeTV‘s My Fair Wedding for Shelby & Matt’s Wedding last fall along with their 12 Hour Engagement Shoot at Disneyland, San Diego Wild Animal Park & their home in Orange County.  Unfortunately I’m not able to share the wedding yet as Shelby & Matt’s wedding hasn’t aired, but I love David Tutera’s Top 10 Wedding Tips for planning a wedding from his book.

I’ll cut to the chase & get straight on to the article, but let’s say you’re an Orange County bride and you’re finding yourself bogged down planning your wedding & it’s really starting to take it’s toll on you.  Having planned my own wedding, I think that David Tutera’s list is really creative and will help you relieve yourself of some of the stress or at least help you deal with the wedding planning.

But before I present you with this week’s wedding tip and you’re thinking…  Hey – I’d really like to get to know this Huntington Beach Wedding Photographer in Orange County that wants to help brides and grooms enjoy planning their wedding to the fullest, feel free to get in touch with me anytime.

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

And without further ado, here is the awesome article from David Tutera & have a terrific weekend – cheers!

David Tutera’s Top 10 Wedding Tips

A glimpse at David’s new book
“The Big White Book of Weddings: The How-To Guide for the Savvy, Stylish Bride”

10. Overall Planning: Think about the big picture! Before jumping into all the details, take some time to envision the overall end result (what is your dream wedding?) Organize all your thoughts and great ideas, andthen, with a goal in mind, start with the shopping and decorating as a calm, cool and collected bride with a great plan.

9. Budget: There’s no need to spend a ton of money to have a beautiful wedding; you just have to spend the money you do have wisely! Remember, being over-the-top is not a necessity – less can be more and some of the most elegant weddings are done with well-executed simplicity.

8. Invitations: Invitations should set a tone of excitement for your entire affair! The outside of the envelope, the stamps, the layout of the invitation, and the font—all the details count. When you’re creating invitations, imagine what it will be like for your guests to be receiving them. A great invitation grabs the attention of your guests and guarantees the impression that yours is a wedding not to be missed.

7. Décor: When it comes to table centerpieces and reception floral arrangements, ask for a mix of high and low arrangements, or a variation of three correlating arrangement designs (that vary in cost) mixed throughout the tables. This combination will help cut costs from having to pay for all large arrangements for each table and will also add aesthetic variety to the look of your reception on many visual levels.

6. Your Wedding Dress: There are so many gorgeous gowns out there to choose from—how do you pick “the” one? The key is to flatter your body and work with what you’ve got to look amazing in a fashion piece that compliments your every move. Pick a dress that compliments your body type – know your body shape and what styles work best on you before you go dress shopping, and you’ll be sure to find a dress that’s truly the “perfect fit!”

5. Hair and Make Up: Hiring the right amount of make-up artists for your wedding party makes all the difference. Ask your make-up consultant in advance how much time she needs per girl, and how many assistants you need to hire to get the job properly done with time to spare for any touch-ups. Create an order of who in your bridal party will be done first, starting with mothers of the bride and groom and doing the flower girl towards the end (kids love to play with their hair and face, so the shorter amount of time between your flower girl’s styling and the wedding, the better.) You, as the bride, should be last—with plenty of time to spare to enjoy getting beautifully bridal!

4. Food and Beverage: Food can be so much more than a meal—you can even use it to help convey your personalities and include your guests in your love story! For example, instead of just selecting regular foods to serve, create a menu that is inspired by places you and your groom have visited, your heritages, or your favorite dishes.

3. Expect the Unexpected: Always keep your guests guessing to keep them eagerly anticipating what they will experience next! Have something different happen every 30 minutes. Introduce a new food or drink, change the lighting or the music, have a new type of entertainment, move locations, or choose to have unique wedding timeline to change up things for your guests so it’s not just another cookie-cutter wedding! Your guests will have unforgettable memories.

2. Happily Hosting: Being a great bride also means being a great host! Take time and make efforts to let your guests to know how much it means to you that they came to share in your special day. Receiving lines, toasts and visiting tables as a couple are great ways to show your gratitude (and to see everyone!)

1. Enjoy every step of the way! You will only be able to enjoy the rush and elation of planning your wedding one time, so revel in every moment of your wedding dreams coming true. Wedding planning should feel like an exciting series of events leading up to a grand finale. Include your closest family and friends and make the whole process a joyful journey.

• Tweet

I’ll cut to the chase & get straight on to the article, but let’s say you’re an Orange County bride and you’re finding yourself bogged down planning your wedding & it’s really starting to take it’s toll on you.  Having planned my own wedding while keeping Esquire Photography runnig as smoothly as possible, I think that this article is really creative and will help you relieve yourself of some of the stress or at least help you deal with the wedding planning.

But before I present you with this week’s wedding tip and you’re thinking…  Hey – I’d really like to get to know this Huntington Beach Wedding Photographer in Orange County that wants to help brides and grooms enjoy planning their wedding to the fullest, feel free to get in touch with me anytime.

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

And without further ado, here is the awesome article from Elegala.com.   Have a terrific weekend – cheers!

How to Juggle Wedding Planning with Your Career

Ensure your professional life doesn’t suffer while you’re in wedding-planning mode…

You don’t need to be told twice that life as a bride-to-be is punishing on the day planner. Every decision, from the flowers to the favors, is in your newly banded hand. Planning a wedding is essentially a full-time job, and if you’re already a busy professional, guess what? Your work week doubled the moment you said yes, and the delicate balance between your professional and personal lives is in danger of collapsing. So how can you juggle your career and your wedding without losing your sanity?

Get a Grip

This advice may sound obvious, but getting organized is the best way to avoid missteps and their accompanying headaches. Pre-think everything. Appointment books or electronic planners are literally the bottom line when it comes to organizing your work and personal life. There it is, right in front of you, a complete visualization of your day, week or month. Take control of your wedding checklist with an organizational system you can stick to – even an old fashioned three-ring binder will work. Use the same method of organization to stay on top of your work day. Get the latest piece of desktop organizational equipment, or surf your computer program to find the most efficient daily or weekly planner.

Divide and Conquer

Surfing the ’net for bouquet ideas while on the phone with an important client is generally a bad idea. Instead, segment your day into times when you are solely focused on work and solely focused on the wedding; letting one intrude on the other can slow you down. If you must accomplish some wedding-related tasks during the workday, set aside a specific time for wedding planning. Designate your lunch hour for calling vendors or 30 minutes in the afternoon to look for dress ideas. If you’re taking time out of your workday, plan ahead to arrive early or stay late to make up for any lost productivity.

Maximize Free Time

You’ve got a lot on your plate, so what was once “free time” may now have to be used more productively. Try to swipe some items from your to-do list after hours. Instead of vegging on the couch during Grey’s Anatomy, use this time to multitask. An easy chore like addressing save-the-dates or clipping photos can safely be done in your pjs without missing any of the action on TV.

Get Some Help

Don’t be afraid to delegate. Your fiancé is your greatest untapped resource; divide wedding planning tasks evenly between the two of you. (It’s his wedding too, you know.) Then delegate even further. Accept help from anyone who offers. Give small tasks to immediate family members or bridal attendants (key word is small – don’t turn former friends into resentful full-time wedding planners). And if that’s still not enough, consider enlisting the help of a professional.

Take a Break

Kicking up your heels as your task list exponentially expands may sound a tad indulgent, but allowing yourself some time to rejuvenate is essential to avoid burnout. Some downtime will even make you more efficient. Have you ever tried going for a morning run without a good night’s sleep the night before? The same applies here. What activities comprised your freetime before the career versus wedding juggling act seized your soul? Reading? Hiking? Painting? Don’t let those activities slip; take that time to yourself and enjoy the relaxation that comes with doing something that you enjoy.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask

So you’ve organized, compartmentalized, multitasked, delegated, and rejuvenated, but you still find that there just aren’t enough hours in the day, and your work is suffering. Don’t ignore the problem and hope it goes unnoticed. Schedule a meeting with your boss to discuss your situation. Avoid blanket complaints about being too busy and unfounded requests for time off. Instead, present the problem and possible solutions. Explain the job duties that are suffering, and share with your boss ideas for how you can accomplish them more efficiently.

• Tweet

I’m very excited about this project and I totally believe that you will enjoy it as much as I am while it’s being worked on.

In the mean time, if you’d like to get to know this Orange County Wedding Photographer that is into helping educate brides & grooms with their wedding and fashion along with sharing the occasional Nachos & Newcastles, feel free to contact me anytime.

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

PS, Email me so you can be on my mailing list & be one of the very first people to know about the Super Secret Project For Brides & Grooms when it launches on Black Friday next week.

PSS!!!  I was invited by my friend; [b]ecker to be a guest speaker on The [b] School Study Hall this Thursday, November 18th.  I’m on from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. PT and I’ll be chatting with you – some fantastic topics to help photographers get better at their craft & build their businesses. So set your clocks & I would love for you to join me!

• Tweet

Bernadette & Vlad’s concern was why with all the weddings that they had been to, why the wedding guests storm the alter where the wedding is at, cake cutting and other various special moments during the course of the wedding day.

This really opened up the floor for some terrific conversation and as I drove back to Huntington Beach from Laguna Beach that night, I really felt admonished to share my thoughts with you in a video.  I launched it on You Tube & Facebook, which sparked quite a few views and a lot of traffic.  So I thought I would share it here with you as well.

But before I present you with this wedding tip for guests about wedding etiquette and you’re thinking…  Hey – I’d really like to get to know this Orange County Wedding Photographer in Huntington Beach, California that wants to enjoy life to the fullest and share a toast with his couples celebrating a phenomenal day, feel free to get in touch with me anytime.

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

Without further ado, here is the video that I recorded that night.  I would love to hear your comments or suggestions as well – cheers!

• Tweet