Honoring missing loved ones at weddings and events

I honestly couldn't believe it when my client emailed me asking for help on this particular subject. I couldn't believe it and I was truly devastated for her. All too recently her daughter had passed. Her question to me, "What should I do...is there anything you can recommend to help us get through this?"

We never expect it, especially something like this. I was truly heart broken for her. I wanted to be there for her, to do whatever I could for her. The first question she and her fiance needed to answer was if they wanted to move forward with their wedding. Is she going to be able to truly enjoy it? Inevitably it is going to be a truly bittersweet event because that person is missing. But she had to answer the question, does she want to go forward. 

They decided yes, they are going forward. They discussed it among themselves (bride and groom) and then with friends and family. So we move forward. The next question is do you want to do anything to memorialize the missing person at the wedding? 

There are a lot of options to remember loved ones at weddings and other events. 

• If your loved one was going to stand in the wedding, you can have flowers resting on a chair for him/her. 
• You can have his/her picture at the wedding with flowers or a candle. When you walk up the aisle, you can light the candle before the ceremony starts. 
• Or, when my father in law died a month before my wedding, we decided we just wanted a memorial setting at the reception. We had two candles, one for my father and one for my father in law. My mother in law did not want pictures or too much because she didn't want to be sad or for Marc (my husband) to be sad. We knew what the candles were for, and it was enough for us. We also had our officiant say a quick prayer to acknowledge those lost in our lives, especially my father in law. 
• Or you can do a table with pictures of happier times of not just your lost loved one but of yourself with others who are both there and those not there. And maybe add a candle. 

• Another option is for you to carry a photocharm on your bouquet (see attachment). Jewel Kade  makes the charms and they come out very nice. Once the charm is ready, we'd give it to the florist to tie onto the bouquet. Then after the wedding, you have a charm to hold onto and wear on necklaces for the rest of your life of a pic of you and your loved one. 

• Or make it special to you: loved one's initials hung from a bouquet, a tiny photo of him/her in your pocket, a seat at the ceremony with his/her name (and add a rose if you want) or have the band play a song dedicated to him/her that he/she used to play on an instrument or loved to sing. Or you can wear a piece of clothing or jewelry that is personal to you and that person.

The point is to make it special to you or make it as elaborate and as personal as you want. It's your day. It's what you want. If it's going to make you sad though, keep that in mind....we don't want you sad on your wedding day :)

Getting to know your vendors - GK Photography

February 22, 2015 UPDATE:
GK Photography is taking things to a new level! They are handing out expert, first-hand information about local wedding venues! Check out these awesome and quick clips! 

Southern Oaks
The Chicory
Omni Royal
Rosy's Jazz Hall
The Audubon Institute


Talk about your consumate professional photographer. George Kuchler takes it to another level. For George, or GK, it's about doing it right the first time. It's about respect from his clients and his peers. He takes pride in the profession and in how other photographers are representing the profession. He's been doing this for years and has never stopped wanting to be better and to learn more and to be challenged. So GK says, "Bring it on." You want something different, he will work to make it happen.

GK started in 1994. He was first a musician, so in addition to having years of experience and knowledge you know he is fun to work with!

He learned the camera inside and out (which is truly a testament to his wanting to know as much as possible about his profession and the tools he works with). He was hooked immediately and it became his passion.

He worked with others as much as possible. He went to conventions/conferences and over the last twenty years he's spent roughly the equivalent of my student loans on his own education in photography (and it's a lot, believe me). He wanted to know the languages and the ins and outs of the business. And now, he is one of those people teaching courses and on stage sharing the language because he loves every aspect of photography.

Photographers are artists. And as a photographer and artist, GK loves growth. Whether he is shooting at a location he's done 50 times or at a brand new venue that takes a lot of planning, he wants to see at least one image where he can see how he has grown and his photography has gotten better. If you have something in your head, whether it is for your wedding or as a senior or a business owner, he wants to help make it happen. So he has creative sessions. Contact GK to find out more on how to do this!

Today GK focuses on weddings, seniors, and families because it allows him to get to know his clients better and grow his business. And because he has ventured out into other areas like fashion and commercial shoots, his main focus has gotten stronger.

For GK, his biggest inspiration is his family. If he won the lottery though, he'd still be a photographer, but with a huge warehouse studio. It's through his photography and work that he shows his kiddos that anything is possible if you work hard and go after what you want.

In terms of what sets GK apart, it's just him. His personality. His work ethic. His experience. For GK, it's not about being the best. His work is very subjective. Photography is the latin word for "painting with light." What I think is gorgeous, others might not. It's all about what you like. Go to GK's page, look at his work, check out his About page, and see if it's what you like. If you like what you see, then book him!

To brides, he says, "for your day, before your day, write down the family groups you want pictures of. Then for each group, add two minutes. And see how quickly your time adds up." If you want all of those people and all of those groups, make sure the people you want in those pictures know they will be in pictures and to hang around. Make a list to give to your coordinator or to a friend to coordinate. He does not want you to waste your reception time taking pictures. He wants you to have fun. GK is known for being quick if you are prepared. So be prepared :)

GK also says, spend your money in the right places. Coordinators who know you and your schedule will help to make your day go smoother. If you're going to have bridesmaids, let them help you. Lay it out for them so they know who is doing what and when and so it doesn't get missed. But if you have a good coordinator, this eliminates a lot of the "who is doing what and when" questions. So GK says to be organized because it's the unknown that can throw kinks into your day.

If you've gotten this far and you've checked out GK's page and you want to book him or even just want to learn more about him and what he does, give him a call. You can reach GK Photography at george@gkphotography.com or call 504-737-5557. You'll probably talk to Elizabeth, his awesome wife! They're a great team to work with!

Photo by Arte de Vie

Starting at the beginning, pulling together a vision. My first photoshoot - LOVED IT!

When the lovely ladies of New Orleans Weddings Magazine asked me if I wanted to design a tablescape for one of the issues coming up, I was over the moon excited. Of course I want to do a tablescape! A tablescape is an artistic arrangement of articles on a table (according to Wikipedia). So often as a planner I get to pull together your vision of your wedding. With my own tablescape I get to be creative and pull together my vision.

Like many events, there were central colors and a venue. That's where you start. I was given the colors coral, cream and gold and the Champagne Palace as my location. That's it....an open canvas, if you will, to pull together my vision in this awesome location with some gorgeous colors.

Who knew coral, cream and gold had so many options???!!! To narrow it down I went to my favorite color palette creating website to create my palette. I love playing with colors but narrowing it down was kind of hard. So I kept at it and below is the finished product. It doesn't have to be perfect, because just giving your florist and other vendors actual colors is a great help!

After getting my color palette together I then went straight to Pinterest to start my inspiration board! I looked up coral, cream and gold weddings, tables, decorations, etc. There was so much to see and use! But I fell in love with one in particular from Style Unveiled. Not the same exact colors or an even close on the setting, but I loved the inspiration!

So far I loved what I was seeing online and on my board. You can see more of the Inspiration board on my Pinterest board. I was beginning to see my vision....my tablescape. I then went on to see my venue - Champagne Palace. It is gorgeous and has a gorgeous courtyard.

 

After seeing the courtyard, we knew exactly where to do the shoot! But we also knew we wanted to bring in current trends like vintage style. And while vintage is in right now and the inspiration comes from a vintage style, I couldn't very well do a true vintage style in this setting. Champagne Palace is grand, gorgeous and lavish, and if I wanted vintage at all, it had to be subtle and in smaller ways. So I used bits and pieces. The multi-shaped and mercury vases and vessels added touches of vintage while the gold overlay, brooches, and gold lanterns provided the opulence to match the environment.

We loved the way things were coming together and we could see the coral, cream and gold as well as touches of vintage and opulence working together.





(LESSON ALERT: ALWAYS HAVE ALTERNATIVES AND PLAN Bs) When working an outside space, you have to be ready to adapt to what you have and what you can do. The day of our photoshoot it was raining....and rained for at least an hour.

We scouted Champagne Palace and knew we could move inside if we needed to. But luckily it stopped and we set up outside in the courtyard. When working with Event Rentals, it's important to know your "punch list." This is a list of items they will pull to deliver to your event and this is what will be on your contract. For this "event" or photoshoot we needed the following: drapery, poles to hang drapes, bases, chandelier, dinner settings, chairs, etc.

(LESSON ALERT: ALWAYS DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECK YOUR CONTRACTS EVEN IF YOU ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE VENDOR AND KNOW THEM. THE CONTRACT IS THE FINAL SAY ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY DELIVERED.) 



We created a Sweetheart table for our lovely hypothetical couple. And it was sweet! The table was set off and intimate by framing it in front of the fountain. Overhead, we used a crystal ball chandelier to enhance the intimacy by lowering the ‘ceiling' and creating its own space in the courtyard.

Keep an eye out in the future New Orleans Weddings Magazines for the finished tablescape as well as all the detailed shots of our tablescape by Oscar Rajo. I can't wait to see them! Thank you to the following vendors for working with me on this:

• Firefly Ambiance Candles & Decor
• Stationery Studio
• Grow With Us
• Event Rentals
• Sweet Life

This tablescape was planned and designed by It's Your Time Events. If you are interested in working with It's Your Time Events to plan and design your event, please contact Erin@It'sYourTimeEvents.com or call 985-234-9757.