Wedding Tips by Mimi: Hiring a Videographer

I know some of you right now are thinking, "Why do I need a videographer, Mimi?" You have your amazing photographer already and probably figure you can equip Uncle John with a flip cam and allot those funds somewhere else, right?

But...

Did you know?
50% of all brides don't consider a professional wedding videographer as a top 10 priority when planning their wedding. However, an astonishing 79% regret not having a videographer after the wedding day.

I am one of them.

You spend months, some even years, planning for one day and before you know it that one day is over. With any luck you'll have some beautifully captured moments from your photographer but—truly and honestly—photography has its limitations. Video is the only way to preserve the sights, sounds and emotions of your wedding day into an all-in-one experience.

A professionally produced wedding video can potentially preserve every little detail of the wedding day that you yourself may have perhaps even missed on the day-of. The sound of the music, the jokes, and the joy—what about those elegant fabrics and beautiful centerpieces that you spent hours meticulously picking out? 

A friend of mine who has been married for over 30 years admitted to me recently that he watches his wedding video all the time. In addition to wanting to relive the day he married his wife, it's the only video he has that captures some of his, now passed, relatives. Though we all wish otherwise, our loved ones won't be here forever and being able to capture so many of our most beloved people together...and happy...seems like the gift that keeps on giving. 

And you know what? Wedding videography has come a long way. Videographers these days look at footage editing in an entirely new and much more cinematic way. Highlight reels are set to music and look more like movie trailers.

Don't believe me? Check this out:

Video via YouTube/by IQ Videography

With today's technology you can even share your wedding video online with loved ones that couldn't make it to the wedding.  The memories of your wedding day will be shared for generations to come with your children and grandchildren and perhaps even their children.

OK, now that I have (hopefully) convinced you to learn from another of my own wedding-day mistakes, let me give you some tips.

How to Choose a Videographer
Choosing the right videographer to produce your wedding video can be a daunting and overwhelming task, but the time invested is well worth it.

Without careful research, you can end up with a cheesy, low quality, out-of-focus, poorly told story of your special day. Your wedding video should be looked upon as an investment into your life together, now and in the future.

Make sure you ask to see examples of their highlight reels and their fully edited videos. This will help you decide if their editing style and visual aesthetic is in sync with your own taste. 

Investment
Many people are surprised at the cost of today's wedding video. While there are cheaper options out there, a professional wedding videographer has invested a lot of time and money into expensive equipment, software, and perfecting each of the important skill sets necessary to produce any feature film or big budget music video including:
    ▪    Producer
    ▪    Director
    ▪    Sound engineer
    ▪    Lighting technician
    ▪    Cinematographer
    ▪    And Editor

When you look at everything that goes into creating a cinematic documentary of your wedding, the cost is minimal to the benefits. So let "Uncle John" relax and enjoy the party. Leave the wedding videography to the professionals.

And truly think about it—your wedding is one of the most important and memorable days of your life. Of course you are not going to forget the day you married the love of your life, but memories do fade, and without a professionally produced wedding video your special day will soon be a distant memory. Take it from me :)


-Mimi

Wedding Tips by Mimi: Hiring a Wedding Planner

Hiring a wedding planner is a personal decision—one to not be taken lightly. It's important to understand just how truly valuable a planner can be before dismissing the option, as a planner can help prevents lots of headaches! A wedding planner can truly take the stress out of planning a wedding—allowing you, the bride or groom, time to take in the joy of your engagement and wedding day.

Honestly, I sure wish I had hired a planner!  Had I done so, I'm sure I could have saved, not only myself but, my poor mom and sister a whole lot of unnecessary grief. So, once again, my loss is your gain during this week's edition of "Wedding Tips by Mimi"!

As a custom invitation and stationery designer, I often see the bride and groom at the VERY beginning of their wedding planning process.  We plan, and I design and print their wedding invitations and then I don’t hear from them again until their RSVP’s come in. At that point, I assist my clients with the remainder of their wedding stationery—escort cards, table numbers, programs, etc. There's a bit of a gap in my involvement and I wanted to learn MORE about the whole wedding planning process.

As such, I have begun to work with different wedding planners here in the Bay Area. This way, armed with new first-hand knowledge, I can better help my clients and offer even more ideas and wedding tips! Since doing so, my brides and grooms have thanked me so much for the new tips and tricks I have to share. Honestly, all the new information I have learned has been from just watching the professional planners at actual weddings, so I can't take full credit!

This past summer, I had the pleasure of shadowing my wedding planner friend at a wedding in which I had designed the stationery. John and Pei had a beautiful wedding on Treasure Island and I was so grateful for the knowledge gained by helping to work their wedding.

 Images via Loic Photography/Event Planning via F Duncan Reyes by Design

How a planner works.

• Generally speaking, you will pay a wedding planner either a percentage of the total cost of your wedding, or a flat rate. 
• A wedding planner's job is to make your wedding happen on your terms. The planner will handle making all or most of the arrangements, such as picking the location for the reception, ordering the invitations, setting up the cake and food tasting, and, in general, arranging all the details—all up for your discretion.
• He or she also takes care of arranging for payments and scheduling vendors such as the caterer, photographer and DJ etc.
• Often times, dependent upon your budget, you can hire a planner for different time frames—one year prior, six months prior, a month...or just on the day-of.

What Makes a Good Wedding Planner?

• A good wedding planner will explain what you can expect every step of the way, and offer you options for services, vendors and your arrangements, as well as answer all your questions. 
• A good wedding planner is a broker of services and will offer you multiple choices in vendors.
• The planner's job is to help you get what you want, within your budget without cutting corners.

Here are a few things to ask before hiring a Wedding Planner! 

   Ask...

• For references from other brides and grooms. Be sure to request references from weddings similar in budget to yours. This is the best way to determine if a wedding planner is a good match for you.
• The wedding planner to give you an overview of what he or she envisions for your wedding. A prepared wedding planner will bring samples and a written plan to your initial meeting.
• If your budget is realistic with what you want. Get him or her to tell you where you will have to make cuts or adjustments. An experienced wedding planner will find creative solutions to help you maximize your budget.
• What his or his or her terms are for payment, such as deposit and when your balance is due, and about a possible refund policy.
• About the timeline for your big day. How much time will you have to devote to sampling food, picking out invitations or meeting with vendors? A good planner will give you a pretty good idea of the amount of your time will be required during the planning process.

Remember, your wedding day is your day, not the planner's day. Above all, be sure YOU are completely comfortable with the planner you choose to hire!

I know that I could have saved A LOT of stress had I known what I know now :)

~Mimi

Love at Any Age

I've had the great pleasure of working with wonderful clients from all walks of life—different ages, races and personalities—and I feel so grateful that I am able to share in such an important and fun time of their lives! When I meet with my clients, I swear I can feel the love and excitement emanating from within :)

Though each one of my couples holds a very special place in my heart, every once in a while I have the distinct pleasure of meeting a pair of people who really teach me something special. With Art and Eden , I was taught that love truly does come at any age.

To give you a bit of background on this extraordinary couple—Art and Eden didn't meet until they were both in their seventies. Art, though retired, is currently working in the hospital as a security guard, while Eden teaches. Eden has never been married and Art is a widower with several grandchildren to show.

Eden's sisters initially set them up, but it required quite a bit of determination and perseverance on Art's part to gain her trust and attention. Art told me he called Eden several times with not so much as a peep in return. Finally, just as Art thought it was time to throw in the towel, he decided to leave one last message, "Sorry to bother you. I know you don't want to answer my calls, meet me, or even talk to me—I won't bother you anymore. Goodbye, good luck."

Apparently, this was exactly what Eden needed. She found the courage to return his call and after quite a few walks and talks, she agreed to dinner—and the rest, as they say, is history.

Working with these two was a pleasure. Eden loves the color pink and therefore wanted to incorporate it into the stationery and wedding day. Art, on the other hand, hates the color but relented because she has never had a wedding before and "deserves it". They are the epitome of sweet.

Normally, after the initial consultation, I mostly work with my clients through e-mail. Art and Eden, however, weren't very familiar with e-mail so we worked in a more traditional fashion. I snail-mailed their designs to them and each time they required a revision they would mark the changes on the design and physically come to my studio to drop it off. I would then make the changes, mail it back to them and so on. This went on for quite some time, and eventually we came up with a design that they both loved!

Over the course of working with this amazing couple, I was able to bear witness to just how deep their love is. While Art was telling me the story of how they met, they couldn't keep their hands off each other. Whether he was rubbing her back, holding her hand or massaging her knee—they were in physical contact at all times. Occasionally, in between the stories and sweet pet names, they would exchange a kiss, resulting in a sweetly blushing Eden. She was very much a giddy bride and he was the ever-accommodating groom. At one point, Art turned to me and asked, "Do you think we are being silly? Planning this wedding and having a big to-do affair at our age?"

My response? "Of course not. Love comes at any age."

It truly does :)

Join Mimi and San Francisco NACE at a Fun Event for Wedding Professionals!

Enjoy an evening of Fun, Food, Wine and Great Networking with Hospitality and Event Industry Professionals at Kenyon Estate. Kenyon Estate is a New Private Gated Estate on the Napa County Line that features spectacular panoramic views and overlooks the Napa River.

Register online at http://www.sfnace.com/ - Space is limited!
Special Rate Event $35.00 (before 9/01/11)
http://www.kenyonestate.com/
...
Registration includes:
Full Hosted Bar
Dinner (Food Stations)
Networking with Hospitality and Event Industry Professionals

Event Date and Time:
Tuesday, September 13
6pm to 10pm

Register online now:
http://www.sfnace.com/

Special Rate:
$35 for members and guests

Host Venue:
Kenyon Estate
http://www.kenyonestate.com/

Planner:
Jason Diavatis
http://www.jasondiavatis.com/

Hosted Bar:
Bartenders Unlimited
http://www.bubars.com/

Wineries Pouring:
Gundlach Bundschu Winery
http://www.gunbun.com/

Hall Wines
http://www.hallwines.com/

Catering Stations:
Wine Valley Catering
http://www.winevalleycatering.com/

Englunds Catering:
http://www.englundscatering.com/

Parking Direction:
Certified Parking Attendants
http://www.cpavalet.com/

Disc Jockey:
DJ Randy Harris
http://www.bayareaentertainment.com/

Floral Design:
A Love's In Bloom
http://www.alovesinbloom.com/

Lighting and Décor:
The Lux Productions
http://www.thelux.com/

Party Rentals:
Classic Party Napa
http://napasonoma.classicpartyrentals.com/

Fire Pits and Heaters:
Patio Heaters R Us
http://www.patioheaters-r-us.com/

Invitations:
Creative Designs by Mimi
http://www.creativemimi.com/

Photography:
Gustavo Fernandez
http://www.gustavofernandez.com/

Video:
Colin Pattison
http://www.colinpattisonphotography.com/

S'mores Fire Pit Action Station:
Treats and Sweets
http://www.mcsweets.com/

Green Party Ware:
Party Green
http://www.partygreen.org/

Great Raffle Prizes Including:
Dinner Cruise for 2 on Hornblower
Dinner for 2 at New Delhi Indian Cuisine
Complimentary Registration to October NACE event at Kaiser Roof Garden

More to come!

Wedding Tips by Mimi: Photography Hints and Tips

In my line of work, I've had the pleasure of working with tons of talented and seasoned event professionals. From caterers to florists, photographers to DJs—I've learned a thing or two about the events industry outside of my stationery design bubble ;)

And with that, I would like to introduce a new series called "Wedding Tips by Mimi". Wherein I will take a break from designing invitations to pass along some of the tips and tricks I've learned over the years in hopes that they will prove helpful to the planning bride (or groom) to-be!

To kick things off, I'd like to share some things I've learned about photography.

Photo via Gustavo Fernandez

Hiring a talented photographer (with whom you "click") is so important. After the vows have been exchanged, the cake has been eaten, the last dance has been danced and the guests have all gone home, you will want to have some lovely and telling photos (and hopefully videography, too!) to look back on. I, unfortunately, have first-hand experience as a testament to this...but hopefully my loss will inspire your gain.

When I was engaged to my now-husband, I was working in the layout department designing advertisements for the Yellow Pages. One day at work I came across a photographer's ad and, wanting to quickly cross something off my rapidly growing to-do list, decided to book him. Did I interview him? Barely. Did I carefully inspect his work to see if it matched up to the photography I envisioned to capture my own wedding memories? Sadly, no.

I paid the price for my lack of effort. Not only was my photographer late come wedding day, but he was rude to my very friendly family. Furthermore, he took none of the posed photos I requested and ran out of film (yes, this was when photographers still used film—did I just age myself?). After the wedding, things just go worse. He claimed the package I agreed to and paid for only covered the cost of taking the photos—no actual photos themselves. Thus all I was left with were mediocre 5x5 unedited proofs (all of which had "DO NOT REPRODUCE" printed all over them) and a headache. This "photographer" simply disappeared after he had my money...never to be found again.

So, take it from me! Do your research (read reviews!) and find a photographer you get along with and whose visual aesthetics are in sync with yours—you won't regret it.

Now once you've done that, here are a few tricks I've picked up from my photographer friends!

• Create a list of must-have shots. Depending on your photographer's preferences (be sure to allow room for creative freedom—that's why you hired them, afterall), this may be a short list of mandatory family portraits or a comprehensive list noting every desired detail close-up. Talk to your photographer to discern what you can do to help facilitate both of your needs!

• Kindly remind guests to be mindful of your photographer. Whether this is your Great Uncle Jim stepping into the ceremony aisle to photograph your entrance or your new second cousin snapping a (super) close-up of your father-daughter dance—sometimes, these well-intentioned guests can prove to be an obstacle preventing your photographer from getting the perfect shot.

• Get a head start. I've heard from quite a few photographers that brides often underestimate how long it will take to get ready. Starting the day behind schedule will only continue to throw you off as the likelihood of gaining back that time will be fairly slim. So as not to stress or be rushed through the necessary family and bridal party portraits, get ready as early as possible. Even if you're not having a "first-look" try and get all of the separate bridal party and family photos taken care of before the ceremony, leaving only a few group photos and bride and groom portraits for after.

• Have an engagement shoot. If your budget allows, schedule an engagement session with your photographer. (Many photographers even include these with their basic packages.) This affords you and your significant other and your photographer some time to get to know each other. Not only will this help make you more at ease in front of the lens come wedding day, but it will give you an opportunity to see how your photographer works best. Oh! And you'll have some beautiful engagement photos to cherish forever too ;)

Anyway, these are just a few of the helpful photography tips that have been passed down to me! Be sure to tune in next week for another edition of "Wedding Tips by Mimi".

~Mimi!

Creative Designs by Mimi is soo happy! We have some new and exciting products to share!

These mailer boxes are both functional for shipping and beautiful for gift giving. Provided pad with your choice of ribbon will hold the box in place during shipping. That way you do not need to fill the box with wasteful padding to protect the content. You may use tissue paper, crinkle paper, candy or any other decoration to jazz it up. These mailers are made of 100% recycled material. Ribbon sold separately.

‎

1. Lid & base are sold separately so you can mix & match colors and patterns.

2. Create a 2-tone color and/or pattern combo!

3. Add-On pockets can be added to the lid to hold any enclosure cards.

4. Boxes are all custom order in a WIDE variety of colors and patterns.

 

Call Creative Designs by Mimi today for a free quote and consultation!

 



Addressing your Outer Envelopes - A service that Creative Designs by Mimi provides!



Ok… so you may have heard me say once or twice…. The printers are buzzzin at Creative Designs by Mimi!  Well, they have!  And this means… the addressing your envelopes to MAIL them is the next step after you receive your custom invitations!  This is a service that Creative Designs by Mimi provides.  Just assemble your guest list and their addresses in a Word document and email it to me!

The most organized brides will have their wedding invitations in hand at three months prior to the wedding. The easiest way to get this daunting task done is to organize a lunch or dinner party with your bridesmaids, who I like to call your “entourage”, and get these peeps to help out!  You and your entourage could even be drinking Mojitos and be fine.  Just not too many.

Typically you will have two envelopes in your wedding invitation ensemble.  There usually is the inner envelope and the outer envelope. The outer envelope is where you will address the name and address of a particular guest or guests. 

The inner envelope is for the Response Card and usually will have your return address already printed on it (if you had them done by Creative Designs by Mimi. 

So here are some tips for you as you begin your project!  Remember!  The outer envelope has the name and address.

1.      Single Man named Robert Smith – Outer envelope: Mr. Robert Smith

2.      Young Boy named Robert Smith – Outer envelope: Master Robert Smith

3.      Single Woman or Girl named Jennifer Brown – Outer envelope: Miss Jennifer Johnson or Ms. Jennifer Johnson

4.      Single Woman and a Guest (let us use: Jennifer Johnson and Robert Smith) – Outer envelope: Miss Jennifer Johnson
5.      Single Man and a Guest (let us use: Robert Smith and Jennifer Johnson again) – Outer envelope: Mr. Robert Smith and Ms. Johnson

6.      Widow named Claudia Duran (assume her deceased husband's name is Gary Duran) – Outer envelope: Mrs. Gary Duran..

7.      Divorcee named Claudia Duran. Her maiden name was Jones – Outer envelope would be Mrs. Claudia Jones Duran (a combination of the maiden name and former husband's last name).

8.      Unmarried couple that lives together (let's use Robert Smith and Jennifer Johnson) – Outer envelope in two lines: Miss Jennifer Johnson, Mr. Robert Smith.

9.      Husband and Wife with same last name (let's use Fred Renfro and Estela Renfro) – Outer envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Renfro.

10.  Husband and Wife from example 9 also have 2 children: Mimi and Joanne. – Outer envelope on two lines: Mr. and Mrs. Renfro, Mimi and Joanne (children go on line two in order of age)



R.S.V.P.

If you plan to attend the wedding, fill out the RSVP card to indicate this, and include information about who will be accompanying you.

You should do this PROMPTLY, ideally within three days.  Take care to read the invitation carefully, as it will provide information about who is being invited along with you.

"Ms. Rodriguez and friend" or "Ms. Rodriguez and guest" suggests that Ms. Rodriguez and another individual are invited.

"Mr. Rodriguez and family" suggests that Mr. Rodriguez, his partner, and his children are invited, while "Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez" suggests that the children are not invited.

In the above instance, Ms. Rodriguez would note that she planned to attend the event along with Ms. Renfro, and would express her delight at having been invited.

New Brides: Don't miss this Free event @ the Stanford Faculty Club on March 26, 2011!!!

Creative Designs by Mimi will be at the Oakhurst Country Club Bridal Faire!

Creative Designs by Mimi - Bride's Choice Awards 2011

San Francisco Bay Area – Tuesday, January 25, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Creative Designs by Mimi has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Custom Wedding Invitations and Stationery.

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Creative Designs by Mimi stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Creative Designs by Mimi for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Creative Designs by Mimi is among the very best Custom Wedding Invitations and Stationery within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/creative-designs-by-mimi/747fab36470cc9fa.html.
For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Table Numbers don't HAVE to be NUMBERS! ...

...they can be a names of places you have visited as a couple, your favorite movie, song, t.v. show, or like in these photos of a past client of mine, the names of the flowers and/or plants they had growing in their back yard.  Add a full color photo and look how beautiful it compliments your tables!