Small Town: Vendors and Politicians

Small towns are fun. People are quirky and everyone knows it. Of course, it also makes guest lists insane! But thats for another post. This one is about another interesting (oft overlooked) feature of small towns. People tend to have several jobs. For instance, our wedding planner was also my babysitter for a while . (Fortunately for us all, I don't have any digital photos to share of that era.) =)

When it came to choosing how/who to provide music, we had decided on a DJ (I know some of you are thinking - No band? I'll talk about that in just a sec - hold your horses) and when we said DJ to our wedding planner she said "Jim Lawson". Hands down. She said she would call as soon as we were done talking to book him. Well OK then. She's planned lots of local weddings and if she's that set on it, thats good enough for me.

Well, me being the internet reliant one googled him. And this is what I found...
I know thats a little fuzzy, but basically its that he's been the summer DJ at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort on Panama City Beach for the past 15 years.

Enter the small town fun - I used to be a beach lifeguard at that hotel and used to know him. Well, at least I know he can definitely fill in with tropical music for the atmosphere, and I know he's got a fun personality with just the right amount of "cheese factor" for a DJ. He's like a sharp cheddar, gets your attention and makes you laugh more than a blah swiss, and doesn't leave you making a face like a over the top gorgonzola. (Don't get me wrong - I love almost all cheeses in there own right. But some are more appropriate for weddings than others.)

Ok - so the small town thing gets even more fun. These were the signs that were plastered everywhere last time I drove into PC.
Oh yeah, thats our DJ running for county commissioner! He reassured me on the phone that it wouldn't interfere (and I believe him), but unfortunately, he didn't win.

Anyone else have multitasking vendors or small town fun to share?

(Don't worry - my DJ vs Band post will be along soon.)

Photography: In the Moment

So I've told you the background of "picking our photographer"... which in reality was me convincing everyone else that while I chose our photographer 1 day after getting engaged solely based on 1 friend's recommendation, I had made a really good choice. So I thought I would post a few photos that exemplify what I mean by "you don't have to be there to understand."

Note: I was not a guest at any of these weddings.

This picture just made me smile and want to shout "mazaltof!"

This just captures not only a pretty bride, but a genuinely happy, beautiful soul.

I have no idea what this man said, but I laughed anyway.

I am a goofball. There will probably be moments like this at my wedding... and while I probably won't put them in my formal album - I sure as heck want those moments captured!

Pictures like these I want to put in my album. You can feel the emotion and they have an artistic flare.

I don't know what she was laughing at, but it made me giggle.

I am a fan of all things water... and thus a fan of this photo.

Can we say "frame it and stick it on the wall, please?"

Nothing better than capturing a happy bride in her "unassuming, it's all about me" moment. (Yes, I know thats a contradiction in terms. But look at the picture and tell me that doesn't fit. She's not pompous but she's walking down the middle of the street without a care in the world, knowing no one else would dare mess with her moment. And time seems to have stood still around her.... hmm... sounds a lot like walking down an aisle!)

And this one is just cool.

Ok. So there is a quick snippet of why I love Rae Leytham Photography. Go check out her blog for MANY MANY more reasons to love. Seriously, some photographers create pictures that make any bride look like she just stepped out of a magazine. Some take a very avant guard approach for artsy shots. Some can make it look like you were actually married in 1940. Those are all great. But I don't think there is anything better than a photographer that can make any viewer (read blog-stalker) laugh or cry or smile or aww at photographs of moments they have no other connection to. Isn't that the point of photographing the wedding? So you can share with others, and other generations what it was like to be there in that moment?

Vendor Bender: Photography

So we booked our venue. Now its on to vendors... we started with photographers.. and not on purpose.

Let me start by saying this: Research research research.

That being said, I actually chose my photographer the morning after I got engaged on one persons' recommendation. I didn't book her until a few months later and LOTS of research, but in my head, all along I pretty much knew.

My crazy scavenger hunt proposal took place on a January Saturday (If you haven't seen the slideshow yet - Click and watch. It was amazing and I still want to share it with the world at every chance I get). Monday morning I told a friend at work (we'll call him Guru) and his response was
"Congratulations! Rae Leytham."
Me - "umm - no - my name is Michelle."
Guru "No, Rae Leytham is your photographer."
Me - "We don't even know where or when we are getting married! We only get engaged on Saturday."
Guru - "Doesn't matter. Rae Leytham. Here is the website. Here are my favorite photos. Hands down best photographers. Husband and wife team that also have the best equipment and back ups of everything. You don't even have to be there to understand the moment." (I'll explain that last remark in another post.)
Me - "Ok then. Rae Leytham it is."

A few hours later I go home to my now fiance:
Me - "Rae Leytham is going to be our photographer. And I got a few recommendations on great cake bakers in the area."
Adam "Don't plan the whole wedding without me!!" (This was one of my favorite real life love moments.)

My family was INCREDIBLY skeptical of my being so attached to the idea of one photographer before I had even researched the other possibilities. The next few months were filled with lots of research of prices, style, locations, styles, albums, personalities etc. And then in May - we signed the contract with Rae. =D Thank you Guru!

I promise my next few posts will detail the rest of the photographers we considered, and what really sent everyone over the edge for Rae.

Anyone else make a quick decision that ended up being fantastic?

Blog Bliss: Elizabeth Anne Designs LIBRARY

So sometime in the near future I will jump back on the Blog Bliss Bandwagon and tell you more about which blogs I love and why... but for right now, I have a great announcement to relay:

Elizabeth Ann Designs just launched a new Library page! Its a great (and growing) reference page for brides-to-be to get a good idea of who EAD loves in the vendor world.I am thrilled to see some of my favorite planning site now including vendor listing and reviews. As a bride-to-be I hope to only do this once! Which means I have no experience with these vendors ahead of time and rely on the recommendations of professionals and other brides. Style Me Pretty has a similar board (which I'll post about later) and I am thrilled to see that my photographer is on both boards!!!

Congrats to the EAD girls!