When timing out your wedding day, remember to allow enough time after the ceremony for your Hudson Valley wedding photographer to take pictures.  Brides and grooms don't realize how quickly time moves on their wedding day.  Too often the photographer is struggling to get the shots they know you want and still get you to your reception on time.  It is so important that you listen to your photographer.  When he(or she) asks you to do something, do it.  Your photographer undoubtedly has your best interests in mind.  They know what shots are important and are very aware how little time there is to get them.  Try to plan all family pictures to be taken BEFORE the ceremony. 85% of wedding photos can be taken before the ceremony without the groom seeing the bride.  It's just a matter of proper planning.  Photos of the bride, her family and her maids can be taken before the groom arrives.  Just before the groom arrives, the bride departs to the bridal suite/dressing room and then photos of the groom, his family and groomsmen are taken.  These can be taken as the guests arrive since guests are allowed to see the groom before the ceremony.  Together shots of the bride and groom and shots of the entire bridal party are very time consuming.  So it is important to get as many pictures taken before the ceremony as you can.
 
 
The wedding reception is a big part of wedding planning.  An outdoor Hudson Valley wedding reception should be a joyous occasion where friends and family of the bride and groom gather to celebrate in the joining of two people. It is the part of the wedding day where everyone gets to relax and celebrate the occasion. You may find yourself overwhelmed by the endless possibilities of where to hold and how to decorate your wedding reception. As you plan an outdoor Hudson Valley wedding reception you will find that there are a lot of factors to consider such as where to hold the wedding reception, what type of music to have, which Hudson Valley photographer to choose, how to decorate and what kind of food to serve. The biggest decision you have to make is where to have your wedding reception.

When planning your outdoor Hudson Valley wedding reception and ceremony, you should to give special consideration to back up plans.  It is necessary to have more than one plan because in certain situations, more than one alternative may be necessary.   Things to keep in mind while searching for an outdoor venue include: availability of outdoor heaters in the event of a chill, availability of a covered area in the event of rain or hot sun, availability of an indoor room to accommodate your ceremony and/or reception.   And finally, the time frame necessary for making the call on the day of and who is in charge of making that call.  Most facilities allow a two to three hour window.

Many outdoor Hudson Valley facilities are able to provide an appropriate back up location as a feature of their property. For example, the Mohonk Mountain house is popular for an outdoor New York wedding reception and ceremony.  It features rock formations that rise majestically above the water, framed by vivid gardens, enchanted forests, storied mountains, and a lake with water so clear that the sky seems recreated on its glassy surface.  This backdrop makes for gorgeous Hudson Valley wedding photography.  However, when the weather does threaten to be a problem, the festivities can easily be moved to an alternate indoor location.

Some facilities require an alternate backup plan but provide very little shelter. In this case, it would be wise to reserve a portion of your budget to cover the additional expense of renting a tent. You might also consider reserving space at a local civic center in the area where your outdoor Hudson Valley wedding reception is being held to ensure that inclement weather will not wash away your dreams of a perfect wedding day.

Although securing a secondary location is an expensive proposition, it is certainly better to address the issue early on in the process rather than at the last minute, when you are already in panic mode.  Plus, you will be better able to communicate the alternative plan to all the vendors and your guests when you are not stressed.  Your reception is a way to say thank you to your guests for sharing in your love, affection and joy.  You want to take every precaution so that your day goes off smoothly.
 
 
Now that you are engaged, the biggest decision you have to make is where to have your wedding reception. There are endless possibilities of where to hold a wedding reception. The most common places to hold a wedding reception are a Country Club, banquet hall or at a Hotel.  If you are paying for your own reception and working with limited funds, you may want to consider a less expensive wedding reception idea.  Consider maybe breaking away from the ordinary and having a totally unique destination wedding.

Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular especially for couples who are on a budget and still want to create a memorable occasion.  A destination wedding is the most convenient choice for busy couples and it provides all the special extras that wedding day dreams are made of.  A wedding reception is a joyous occasion where the friends and family of the bride and groom get to celebrate the joining together of two people. The wedding reception is a part of the day where everyone gets to relax and celebrate in the merriment of the occasion.  A wedding reception is a big part of wedding planning. 

Destination weddings are perfect for couples who don't want to worry about the large number of guests and formalities that are often expected in traditional weddings.  Typically planned as small, intimate affairs, destination weddings are becoming larger and can be lavish and expensive.  However, most are small romantic affairs with family and close friends typically cost $500.00 - $5000.00.  Destination weddings are usually packaged together as wedding ceremony, flowers, photos, reception and lodging but can easily be personalized.  Many couples choose to fly in their own photographer to ensure they get the quality photos they are looking for.

Becoming “the trip of a lifetime,” popular locations for destination weddings include the Caribbean, Hawaii, California, and Florida.  Whether you choose a wedding in the Adirondacks or faraway in the tropics, your guests will feel very special and you will have a memory-filled place to visit for anniversary celebrations in the years to come.

 
 
Your wedding day is the most important day of your life and nothing is more important than capturing all of the memories from that day in a beautiful album.  It is essential to be able to look back over the years and reflect on all the precious moments that have since escaped your memory. Your wedding album is meant to preserve your special day for the rest of your life.  In years past, newlyweds would expect their wedding album to be a collection of single images, one 10x10 per page, followed by another 10x10. The leather-bound book would be a very stiff and serious depiction of the affair.  

Fast forward to present day and couples’ expectations have significantly changed.  This change was due to advances in the technology of photography which led to changes in style.  First, there was the advent of 35mm photography, which increased the number of shots on a roll of film from only 12 to 36. More recently, digital photography has increased the number of photos even further. This brought on a new trend in photography known today as the "photojournalistic style." With more emphasis on candid and spontaneous moments and a de-emphasis on static portraiture, there has been an explosion of images.

With these new components in wedding photography, the whole way of styling wedding albums has undergone a massive transformation. Taking their cues from the world of magazine and graphic design, photographers have begun creating albums that express the same level of creativity as the photography itself. The most talented photographers implement graphic design placing multiple images per page and include pictures that are floating over other pictures, turned to sepia or blue, blown-up into giant panoramas, half-panoramas, or even mock-panoramas.

Things can get a little complicated, and it's good for newlyweds to familiarize themselves with the different types of wedding albums before they begin the daunting but extremely pleasurable task of working with their photographer to create their own unique album.

There are many new design elements that can dramatically increase an album's ability to tell a story. The best albums contain just the right amount of surprises. An important rule to keep in mind is that a wedding album should not be overly designed. It is sometimes tempting to throw every technique into it. This can turn a beautiful storybook with carefully planned out surprises, into an overly done album crammed with one dramatic effect after another.  This dilutes the visual impact of each effect. This is where good taste and artfulness come into play. The sequence of pictures in a book must have the right tempo. Balance is essential. A series of simple, dignified pages sets up a more elaborate "surprise" page. An album with a surprise on every page lacks subtlety and has no sense of timing.  It can look tacky and overdone.  A talented photographer lets the photographs inspire him or her to create a book that tastefully presents the ambiance of the day, all of the moments and the traditions in a moving, artistic depiction of the wedding day.
 
 
Couples spend a great deal of time and money creating the perfect wedding day.  Many achieve it, but it’s not always the couples who spend the most money.   Many couples spend a great deal of energy on tiny details and not enough on the really important things.  Booking early for venues and photographers are two of the most important details. Popular venues in the Hudson Valley and Central New York will book up one or two years in advance.  The best New York wedding photographers fill dates about a year in advance.  So to avoid disappointment it’s best to start in early.

Wardrobe plays a larger role in wedding planning than people think.  You want your wedding album to be filled with beautiful photography.  When planning your wedding, things like dresses, shoes and men’s suits need careful consideration bearing in mind the time of year of the wedding and the wedding venue. Long trains get very dirty on wet winters days or even after a rain shower in the summer. High-heeled shoes sink in the grass and can get wrecked during outdoor photography or during an outdoor cocktail hour.  Long and short veils can be a nightmare on windy days.  Brides usually find them uncomfortable and can’t wait to get them off.  So think carefully before choosing your veil.  A stark white dress or very pale suits with white shirts may look great in the shop, but is a technical challenge for the photographer on a bright sunny day.  Sunny days are more of a hindrance for wedding photographers in the Hudson Valley and all across New York.  Another thing that looks great indoors but annoy brides and brides maids outside are hairstyles that incorporate long thin strands of hair cascading down the sides of the face. They can create a nuisance and nearly always blow across your face unless it is a totally still day.

The easiest way to achieve the best wedding photography is to relax and enjoy the most special day in your lives.

 
 
The best New York wedding photographer must capture the right emotions during key moments that cannot be recreated. It is both art and science. When meeting with wedding photographers in the Hudson Valley and across New York, it is important to remember, you will usually get what you pay for. A truly professional wedding photographer works particularly hard for the fee they request.  This includes the hours of coverage on your wedding day and the time they spend in post production creating something beautiful and unique.

Unfortunately, the digital age has paved the way for untalented lazy photographers to make a very lucrative living off of unassuming brides and grooms.  Post production is a key element and a necessary skill which many of the new photographers don’t possess.  The digital camera’s automatic settings are far from fool-proof.  There are countless hours of color correction, sizing and retouching needed to ensure that every shot is as beautiful as it can be. Post production is what truly separates the gifted artists from the rest of the pack. Therefore, it is important question photographers about how much time they spend editing your pictures.  Anyone implying they don’t need to edit their pictures is unwittingly exposing a lack of knowledge and skill.    

It is very important to feel comfortable with the wedding photographer you hire.  You want to know that you can count on them on your wedding day.   Have realistic expectations and know who you are hiring.  Look over their portfolio and see if you notice any trends.  Trends usually mean you are dealing with a cookie cutter photographer who does not think outside the box very often.  Ask for recent references from recent brides.  They will be able to tell you how they felt about their decision and their experience with photographer you are considering.

Your wedding day is the most important day of your life and nothing is more important than capturing all of the memories from that day.  It is essential to be able to look back over the years and reflect on all the precious moments that have since escaped your memory. Selecting the right photographer is the best way to make certain the tender moments of that day will be beautifully documented.
 
 
Opinions have always varied about which season is best for a Hudson Valley or Central New York wedding.  Some say spring is the best because flowers are starting to bloom and the weather is getting warmer. Some say the winter is best because the snow provides the perfect backdrop for wedding photography .  However, over the years, fall has become the most popular season for New York wedding receptions. 

Fall is the perfect season to have a warm and intimate wedding reception.  It is the time of year when families start to spend more time together.  It is also a very romantic time of year.  The hot summer days have become cool brisk evenings that are perfect for wedding receptions.  As the leaves start to change colors, they create a breathtaking backdrop for wedding photography.  Thus, outdoor weddings have become very popular.  Exchanging vows in a garden with the reception under a tent allows everyone to enjoy the fall season and its splendor.  Even if the ceremony is held indoors, wedding photos can be taken outside.  Booking a talented wedding photographer and researching parks and other places to take outdoor photos ensure beautiful pictures.

The possibilities for fall weddings in the Hudson Valley and Central New York range from Inns or Bed and Breakfasts, to vineyards, barns or private estates.  It is best to try to plan the wedding for when fall foliage will be at its peak and to choose a location that allows you to take advantage the beautiful fall foliage.  Since fall dates are in such high demand, couples need to plan well in advance.  It is recommended that couples book the reception location at least one year in advance.  Soon after, other vendors like the wedding photographer, DJ and florist should also be booked.  Waiting too long runs the risk of not getting first choices.

It is no wonder that fall weddings are widely considered the most beautiful.  The red, gold and orange hues provide a colorful and natural backdrop for beautiful wedding photos.  The rich colors exude a strong sense of romance. Fall weddings tend to leave fond lasting memories for everyone, not just the bride and groom.
 

    Author

    I am a freelance writer who has worked in the wedding & event planning industry for years.  I blog to share what I have learned throughout the years.

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