W E D D IN G S U P P L IE R S
CAPTURING
Ltohe ve
HowtoChooseyourIdealWeddingSuppliers
I'veinterviewedsomeofthetopweddingspecialistsinCalifiorniatodiscoverthesecretsofchoosing
therightvendorsforyourbigday.I'vespokenwithweddingvenues,florists,caterers,bridalstores,
hairdressers,photographersandmore.
You'lldiscover:
1.Thecunningtricksforensuringyou'lllookgorgeousinyourweddingphotos.
2.Howtoavoidthecriticalmistakesmostcouplesmakewhenchoosingvenues,photographers,hairstylists...etc.
3.Thedo'sanddon'tsofchoosingyourperfectvenue.
4.WhattolookforwhenchoosingyourDJ.
5.Whyyournormalhairdressermaynotberightforyourwedding,
andmuchmore...
HowtochooseyourIdealWeddingSuppliers
Howtochoosethebest
suppliersforyourwedding...
...andavoidawholeheapofwork,stressand
tears!
AsafulltimeweddingphotographerI'veseentimeand
againhowsupplierscanmakeorbreakawedding.
Choosingtherightbusinessesforyourweddingcanbe
thedifferencebetweentearsoffrustrationandtearsof
joy.
I'veseenweddingdressesfallapart,hairstylescollapse,
flowerswilt,carsthatdon'tfiteveryoneinandsoon.
IfIweretosummarisethisbookintotwowordsitwould
be'trusting'and'caring'.Youneedtofindvendorswho
youconfidentlyfeelyoucantrusttodoagreatjoband
whoclearlycareaboutmeetingyourexpectations.
Buthowdoyouknowifabusinesscanbetrusted,orif
thestaffcare?Herearesomesignstolookoutfor:
Dotheyaskyouquestionssotheycanfindout
whatyou'relookingfor?
*Dotheylistentoyouranswers?
*Whatistheirtoneofvoicelike?Forceful,defensive,
negative,positive,friendly,calm,confident,arrogant,
empathic,enthusiatstic,tdull?Toneofvoicetellsyoualot
aboutsomeone.
*Dotheyhavelotsofhelpfulideasthatshowtheyknow
theirstuff?
*Dotheyhavelotsofpositivereviews?
BookbyGeorgeVivanco-
OwnerofGeorgeVivancoPhotography
GeorgeVivancoPhotography
Phone:562-441-7990
www.georgevivanco.com
[email protected]
www.georgevivanco.com
ChoosingaWeddingVenue
Whatareyourtop3tipsforanyonechoosingavenue?
1.Communicationiskey!Speaktoyourfiancé&findacommongroundonhowyou’dlike
thedaytounfold.
2.Guestlist.Preparearoughlistinadvanceandbepreparedtoalterit.AlthoughHawk
Ranchcancaterforanysizeweddingsomevenuescannot.Thiswillsaveondisappointment
ifyoufindyourdream venuebuttheycan'taccommodatenumbers.Italsohelpswith
budgeting.
3.TheWeddingDate–Ifyouhaveselectedyourdate,callthevenuebeforeviewingto
checkavailability.Ifyouareflexiblewiththeday,week,month,seasonoryearyouwillhavea
muchwiderchoiceofvenuesandoptionsthatcreateyourbigday.
Whatarethetwobiggestmistakespeoplemakewhenchoosingtheirweddingvenue?
1.Usingseparatevenuesfortheceremonyandreception,whenyoudon’thaveto.There'sa
lottocram intoyourweddingdaysothelesstimeyouspendtravellingorroundingup
gueststhebetter.
2.Notpickingthevenue/datesoonenough.Shortlistyourfavouritesandarrangetomeet
theWeddingcoordinatorateachvenueasap;therearemorebridesouttherethanyou
think!
ChoosingaWeddingVenue
ChoosingaWeddingVenue
What'sthebestormostuniquethingaboutyourservice?
Wewillworkwithyoutomakesureyouhavethehappiestdayofyourlives,offeringalltheadviceandsupportre-
quiredtomakeyoufeelateaseandensuretheplanningofyourweddingdaywillbestressfree,turningyour
dreamsintoreality.
Anyfinalthoughts…?
Ifthephotosfromyourweddingdayareimportanttoyouthenchooseavenuewith attractivearchitectureor
scenicgardens.Ifyouhavealotofgueststhenyou'llneedanarealargeenoughtocreateagroupphotoofevery-
one.Ifyouhireaphotographerbeforethevenuethentheycanadviseyouonwhichvenueswillworkbestphoto-
graphicallyforyourwedding.
www.georgevivanco.com
ChoosingaWeddingPhotographer
Asktoseeafewcompletesetsofimagesfrom awedding-notjusttheirportfolio.Aportfolioonlyshowsthebest
oneortwophotosfrom eachwedding.Agreatphotographerwillconsistentlycreateamazingphotosagainand
againinanysituation.
Whatarethetwobiggestmistakespeoplemakewhenchoosingaphotographer?
*Mostcouplesdon'taskforawrittencontract.Averbalpromiseisprettyworthlessunfortunately.You'llwantqualityimages,the
professionalismandcourtesyoftheirservice,thespeedofdelivery,whathappensiftheyloseimages...
*Toomanycouplesonlylookattheportfolioandtheprice.There'ssomuchmoretoconsider.Dotheyhavespareequipmentin
caseacameraorlensbreaksdown?Dotheyback-uptheirimagessoabrokenharddrivedoesn'tmeaneverythingislost?Dothey
carryliabilityinsurance(mostvenuesrequireaminimumof$1million)?
Howmanyimagesdoyougetinthealbum?Doyoutrustthemtobecalmandpoliteinanysituation?Istheirequipmentof
pro-qualitytoensurethateveninadarkchurchtheycanstillcreatesharpimageswithoutaflash(flashisgenerallynotallowed
duringtheceremony).
ChoosingaWeddingPhotographer
What'sthebestormostuniquethingaboutyourservice?
WeareaHusbandandWifeteamandputourselvesinyourshoesandremovealltherisk.Weofferasigned,written,contract
thatexplainsyourcompletecollection,butyou'llalsolovehowwetreatyouallthewaythroughtheprocess.
Anyfinalthoughts…
Doyou100%trustyourchosenphotographertodoagreatjob?Thephotographeristheonlyweddingsupplierwho'llbewith
youallday,soyourrelationshipwiththemiscrucial.Theyneedtheperfectbalancebetweenbeingconfidentenoughtopose
largegroups,butpoliteandrespectfulenoughtotreateveryonewithkindness,nomatterwhat.
ThanksforReadingOurThoughtson
WeddingPhotography.
WeareMiranda&George,ahusbandand
wifeweddingandphotographyteam
shootingourwayacrossthecountryand
aroundtheworld.
Wedowhatwelove--tellingthestoriesof
whoandwhatyoulove!Welovetophoto-
graphingCRAZY-IN-LOVEcouples.
Wewouldlovetochatwithyouaboutyour
weddingphotographyifyou'venotbooked
anyoneyet.
Contactus:562-441-7990
Email:[email protected]
web:www.georgevivanco.com
www.georgevivanco.com
WeddingDayBeauty
Timelessweddings
TOCHERISH
foralifetime.
“Afterall...I'm justagirl,standinginfrontofa
boy,askinghim toloveher.”
—AnnaScott
www.georgevivanco.com
Howtolookgreatinphotos
ShootingStars
Youwon’tbesurprisedtohearthatmostclientsIspeakwithdon’tlikehavingtheirphototaken.
Butthinkofitlikethis–thereasonyouprobablydislikebeingphotographedisthatmostpeoplewho
photographyoudon’tknowwhatthey’redoing,soyoudon’tlookyourbest.
Myportfoliohascouplesofalldifferentshapes,sizesandpersonalitiesandtheyalllookbeautiful.
Agoodphotographerwillknowhowtoaccentuateyourpositivesandhelpyoulookmorebeautifulthanyou’ve
everlookedbefore.Youinvestalotoftime,moneyandenergyintocreatinganamazingweddingdayandthe
tipsinthispostwillensureyourweddingphotosdojusticetoitall.
Let’stakealookatsomeofthethingsthatgointomakingyourweddingphotosatreasuredcollectionofimages
you’llcherishforever.
HowtoLookGreatinPhotos
Here’saposerforyou
AlmosteveryclientIchatwithsaystheydon’tlike
posedphotographs,butalargepercentageofthe
photosclientslovearetheposedones.Agood
photographercanposeyouwhilestillcreating
naturalemotionssotheimagelookscomfortable
andauthentic.
Journalisticphotographyisfantasticfor
capturingthestoryofthedayandIwholeheartedly
embraceit,howeverifyouwanttoguarantee
jaw-droppingphotosthensomeposingisnormally
required.Afterall,greatphotosarecreatedusing
beautifullight,flatteringposingandgorgeous
environmentsandbackgrounds.Tobringallthat
togetherconsistentlythroughoutthedaythen
someposingis necessary-otherwiseyou're
leavingeverythinguptochance.
Thefunnythingisthatthelessconfident
photographersavoidposingandthelessconfident
bridesavoidittoo.Sowhathappensismany
bridesleantowardsphotographerswhoareless
confident.
Justremember,posingdoesn’thavetobestiff,
dullorfake.It’sasciencedesignedtohelpyou
lookmorebeautifulthanyoueverhavebefore.
Onceyoustarthavingfunwithit(andthe
photographershouldbemakingitfun)andyou
seetheresultsitcanachieveyou’llbeitchingto
getinfrontofthecamera.
www.georgevivanco.com
WEDDINGDAY
Thereisnothingmorethanwantingtolookandfeel
beautifulonourweddingday!
Thereareseveralthingsyoucando,startingrightnowtoaccomplishthis.
FIRST,youmuststarttheprepworknow,thesoonerthebetter.Itcanbesimplebychanging
onelittlethingatatime.
Startwithyournutritionandmovement.Eatinghealthierandexercisingcanhelpyou
transformhowyoufeelandlook.Addinginmorefruitsandvegetablesinyourdietwilldo
wondersforyourhairandskin,nottomentionyouroverallhealth.Exercising1-2daysaweek
willalsohelpyourmetabolism,toneyourmusclesandsendendorphinstoyourbrain(Allgood
things!).
WeddingDayBeauty
BEAUTY
SECOND,youneedtostartworkingonyourcom-
plexion.Masks,facialsandmoistureareyounew
regimens,whetheryoudothemathomeorget
themdoneatasalon.Consistentcareofyourface
andneckwilldelivertheglowyouarelookingfor.
Makesureyouaddlotsofwatertoyourdiet,fruitis
alsogreattohelpyouhydrateyourskinandcreatea
fresh,healthycomplexion.
Aprotipistoalsostarttakingaprobioticbeforethe
wedding… Thiswillhelpyourgutflora!Whyisthat
important?Ahealthygutwillgetridoftoxinsin
yoursystem,reducinganybloatingandhelpmake
yourskinglow.
THIRD,getyourhaircutatleast2weeksbeforethe
wedding(andcoloredifyourdoingthat).Ifyouarea
browgirl,takecareofthoseaboutaweekbefore
FOURTH,don’tforgetyourhands(andfeet).
Whenyouhavetheexchangeoftherings,youwant
yourhandtolookamazing,somakesureyougive
yourselfamanicureorgoandgetanicemani/pedi
www.georgevivanco.com
Howtolookgreatinphotos-contunied
ShootingStars
Celebritiesareprofessionalperformersknowathingortwoaboutlookinggreatinfrontof
acamera.Trythisclassicredcarpetposeinfrontofthemirrorandyou’llseehowitcreates
beautifulcurvesthatflatteranyfigure.Here’showyoudoit.
1.Standwithyourhipsrotated45degreesawayfrom thecamera.
2.Putyourweightonyourbackfoot.
3.Stretchoutyourotherlegandcrossitinfront,withthefootpointedtowardthecamera.
Thenbendthekneesoyoudon'tlookstiff.
4.Feelfreetoputahandonyourhip.
5.Agoodphotographerwillknowhowtohelpyousmilenaturallysoyoudon'tneedto
forceit.
HowtoLookGreatinPhotos
Smilewithyoureyes
Onetechniqueforgivingyoursmilearestwhilestilllookinghappyistosmilewithyoureyes.
Rememberhowyoulookedatyourfiancéwhenyoufirststartingflirtingwithhim?Lookat
thecameralikethat.
Lookdeepintothecamera.Curltheedgesofyourmouthslightlyandturnyourhead45
degreesandlookbackatthecameratomakethewhitesofyoureyeslookbigger.When
youreyesseducethecamerathenyoudon’tneedabeaminggrintolookgorgeousand
happy.
Ofcourseyoudon'talwaysneedtosmile,orevenlookatthecamera.Awistful,dreamyex-
pressioncanlookjustasbeautifulandupliftingasabeaminggrin.
Avoidthedoublechin
Idon’tcarewhoyouare,we’reallsusceptibletothemandwecanallavoidthem.Toavoidit,
elongateyourneckbymovingyourheadforwardslightlyandliftupyourchin.
Iliketothinkofitasthewayyouliftyourheadifsomeoneasksyouifyoucansmellsome-
thingfall!
Anexperiencedphotographerknowstheyneedtophotographdownonyouforthebest
perspective.
Howtoslim yourarms
Itcanbetempting(particularlyifyoufeelnervous)tokeepyour
armstightlypressedagainstyourbody.Thisactuallymakes
yourarmslookbiggerandyourshouldersbroader.Instead,try
liftingyourarmsouttothesides,justfarenoughtogivethe
bicepsandtricepsbreathingroom.
Youcandomanythingstogiveyourselfareasontoliftyour
arms:
1.Putyourhandsonyourhips
2.Holdabouquet
3.Placeyourhandonyournewhusband
4.Placeyourhandonaninanimateobjectlikeatableorwall.
www.georgevivanco.com
ChoosingyourWeddingPlanner
Youwanttochoosesomeonethatisgoingtofityourpersonalityandstyle. Havinga
personalconnectionwithyourplanner,becausetheyallhavedifferentpersonalitiesis
important. Youmustfeellikeyoucanworkwiththisperson,becauseyouwillbeplanning
oneofthemostimportantdaysofyourlifetogetherandwillbeworkingwiththem forabout
ayearbefore. Choosesomeonewithexperienceintheindustryandhasreferencesyoucan
call,likeapreviousclient.
“Peoplespendthousandsofdollarsplanningtheir
weddingday,”
alotofbridesdonotrealizehowbeneficialaplannercanbeuntiltheweddingday,andthey
say"Whydidn'tIhireaplanner". Theyfindoutthattheydidn'tgettoenjoytheirday
withoutworryingaboutiftheflowersareontime,orifthecakeisthere,orthatthe
decorationsaredonetherightway.
16 ChossingyourWeddingPlanner
Whatarethetwobiggestmistakespeoplemakewhenchoosingtheirplanner?
1.Notchoosingexperienceandknowledgeoverprice,lessexpensiveplannersdon'talwayshavethe
experienceandcertifications,educationandknowledgetobackthemup.Checkouttheirwebsite,
researchweddingsitesthatshowtestimonials,andarecredibletolistexperienceintheindustry.
2.Makingsureyougetacertifiedplannerthroughanassociationisalsoagoodbet,everyeventyour
plannerlearnssomethingnew,sothemoretheyhavedone,thebetter.
Anyfinalthoughts?
Iliketothinkofmyservicesasa1stopshop. Icanprovidemybrideswithven-
dorsthataregoingtogivethem100%customerserviceandsatisfactionon
theirweddingday. Iworkwithprofessionals,thathaveexperienceandIam
www.georgevivanco.com 17
ChoosingYourFlorist
Whatarethreetipsonchoosingaflorist?
1.Workingwithafloristthatcanworkwithallbudgets.Nomatterwhatyourbudgetiswe
canmakeitlookspectacularandrevealyourindividualstyle.
2.Afloristthatcancreatecustom weddingpackagesdesignedwithdualpurposeinmind.
Transferringarrangementsfrom ceremonytoreceptionalwayshelpsyourbottom lineand
spreadscolorandbloom thruoutyourwedding.
3.Design,images,accentsanddetails.SomanyBridesfeeloverwhelmedwhentheyarein
ourofficetheybringintheirweddingplannerfilledwithallthethingstheireyeisattracted
to.Don’tworryorfeelbadthat’swhatweareherefor!Withovernineteenyears’experience
wecantakeallofyourideasandcreateacohesivedesignforyou!
Whataresomemistakespeoplemakewhenchoosingtheirflorist?
NotBeingupfrontabouttheirbudget.Don’tbeafraidtosetabudgetbutbeupfrontabout
it.Floristsarecreativepeopleandwespecializein“MakingItHappen”withinrealisticex-
pectations.
Pickingbloomsthatarenotinseason.It’sneverafunmomentwhenabrideshowsmea
bouquetshehasfalleninlovewithforaweddinginAugustandIhavetosaypeonies,ra-
ChoosingYourFlorist
becauseshepickedabouquetfromPinterestorclippedapagefromaspringeditionmag-
azineandhascarrieditinherbinderanddesignedherwholeweddingontheseblooms.
Therearemanybloomsyeararoundthatcanworkineachseasonwiththecolorpalateyou
havechosenbutthatrequiresflexibility.Wealsotowanttochoosebloomsthatarestrong
andwillstayvibrantfortheseasonandclimateyourweddingisin.
What'sthebestormostuniquethingaboutyourservice?
Webelieveinmakingyourdayaseasyandstressfreeaspossible.Weincludecomplimentary
accentswitheachpackagewecustom makeforyousoyouarenotpurchasingaccentslike
votivecandlesfortablearrangements,andshepherdhooksfortheaislefloral,assortmentof
glassvasestogiveyoutwoorthreedifferentdesignshigh/lowforreceptiontablesalleasily
detachablesoyoucangivecenterpiecestofamilyandfriends.Weareafull-servicefloral
designcompany.Wedeliversetup,transferitemsfrom ceremonytoreceptionandreturnat
theendoftheeveningtopassoutfloralsandpickupanycomplimentaryandrentedprops
andaccentssoyoudon’thavetoworryaboutreturningitems.
www.georgevivanco.com
ChoosingaWeddingDJ
WhatareyourtoptipsforanyonechoosingaDJ?
TheDJistheonlypersonyouwillhirethatcanaffecttheoutcomeofyour
weddingday. TheDJisresponsibleforsettingthemoodwiththerightmusic
foryourfriendsandfamily. Theyarealsoresponsibleformakingallthe
announcementsandensuringyourguestsarealwaysenjoyingthemselves.
“AskprospectiveDJ'showtheywoulddefinetheirstyle
whenmakingannouncements”
CommunicatetoyourDJyourstyleofmusic,playingthewrongmusicforyour
event,andnotmakingappropriateannouncements,theoutcomecanbe
disastrous.
ChoosingaWeddingDJ
Whatarethetwobiggestmistakespeople
makewhenchoosingtheirweddingDJ?
1.Firstmistakeisusingyourbudgettodictatewhomwill
entertainyouandyourguests.Imaginepayingtolittleor
choosingaunprofessionalDJ,andseeingallyouinvestedin
yourweddingbetarnishedbytheDJ’sinabilitytoreadyour
audience,playappropriatemusic,andmakealltheneces-
saryannouncements.
2.It’simportanttomeetwithyourprospectiveDJforafree
andinformativeappointmenttodiscussyourneeds. They
shouldguaranteeyouanopressureenvironmentinorderto
showyouwhattheycanoffer,themusictheyhave,andallow
youtoensureyoubothfeelcomfortablewitheachother.
AnyDJthatsaystheydon’tmeetwiththeirprospective
clientsisasuresignsomethingiswrong. Iftheyarenot
comfortableenoughtomeetyou,howcanyoubesurethey
willbecomfortableenoughtostandinfrontofyourguests
andfacilitateyourweddingreception.
Anyfinalthoughts
EnsuretheDJyouraremeetingwithistheDJthatwill
showtoyourevent. Manysingleoperatorcompanieswill
allowyoutomeettheowner,whomwillalsobeyourDJand
emcee. Manymulti-operatorcompaniesmayhaveyoumeet
withoneDJwhomyoumayfeelverycomfortablewith,only
tofindonyourweddingdaythatthereisadifferentDJthat
hasshownup.Isuggestifyoumeetwithamultipleoperator
companytowritedownonthecontract“wewillexceptno
otherDJoremceeexceptforxxxxxxwhomwehavemet
withtoday”.Thisletsthecompanyknowyouareawarethat
theyhavemultipleDJ’s,butyouwantthespecificDJyou
metwithtobetheonewhoattendsandDJ’syourwedding.
Withmycompany,IamyourpersonalDJandemceefor
yourspecialday..
www.georgevivanco.com
ChoosingTransportation
Whatareyourtoptipsforcoupleschoosingtheirtransport?
Makesurethecompanyhasallthelicensesandinsurancestheyneed(many
don't!).Thelastthingyouwantisforthemtobeshutdowntwodaysbefore
yourwedding.Useacompanythathasitsownvehiclesandnotanagentfor
anotherbusiness.Thishelpseradicatemistakesandensuresyougetwhatyou
want,whenyouwantit.
Trytoseethecarifatallpossiblebeforeyourbigday.Getinsideandcheck
there'sroomforyourdress.Youwillalsoseewhatconditionthevehicleisinas
photoscanbemisleading.
Thinkabouthowmanypeopleyouneedtotransporttotheceremony.Doyou
need2carswhenyoucouldpossiblygettheminalargervehicle?Howmany
tripswillyouneedthecartodo?Ifyouwantthebridesmaidsetc.togofirstyou
needtoensurethecarwillbebackintimetocollectthebride.
ChoosingTransportation
Whatarethetwobiggestmistakespeoplemake
whenchoosingtheirweddingcar?
Peopleoverestimatehowmanypeoplecanfitintheircar.
AlthoughaRollsRoyceisa5seater,youneedtoremember
thatthedriverisoneseat,thefrontpassengerseatisn’tused
andyourgownwithtrainetctakestwoseats.
Ifyourweddinghasacolourthemethenbeveryspecific
aboutthecolouryou'dlike.Forexampleifyourthemeispink,
thenstresswhatshadeorshowthemacolourswatchsothey
canmatchit.
What'sthebestormostuniquethingaboutyourservice?
NotonlydoItakethecallsandsendoutthequotes,Iwillalso
beyourchauffeur.Thismeansnothinggetslostintranslation
itallgoesthroughme.Wearecompetitivelypricedforany
occasionandlicensedlimousinecompany.
www.georgevivanco.com
Giveyourselfthegiftofabeautiful,luxurybridalsession
Celebrateyourweddingwithaluxurybridalportraitexperience
thatincludesamakeoversession,photoshoot,reveal,akeepsakefoliobox
collectionfilledwithyourmostcherishedbridalportraits,
andabeautifullyframedportraitforyourwall.
email:[email protected]
www.GeorgeVivanco.com |(951)313-7762