Photography Castiel: wedding planning

<a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/13Blog/jamieGuest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/13Blog/jamieGuest.jpg" width="800" /></a> Hello Y’all! You can only imagine how excited I was when I received an e-mail from Dale asking me to be a guest blogger while he and Meredith are enjoying snuggles from precious Cece! If you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting the two of them you know they have hearts the size of the moon, so I am delighted to help them in any way I can! As you read this post it’s important to keep two things in mind: I’m from a very small town- Marvell, Arkansas, in the heart of the Delta, and I’m a 2nd grade teacher. I believe these two characteristics were evident in the style of my wedding! Dale asked if I could give a few DIY tips since most of my wedding consists of personal touches and was FULL of DIY projects! When Ben popped the question on August 4, 2011, I, like most other brides was ecstatic! I had stumbled upon Dale’s blog when I was a freshman in college and knew from that moment that I wanted him to photograph my wedding! So, of course, he was the first person I contacted as far as planning goes! Being from a small town, I knew I wanted my wedding to feel “comfortable” yet chic. I had always dreamed of having an outdoor wedding. This leads me to a piece of advice: THIS IS YOUR DAY! During the wedding planning process there will be PLENTY of sweet helpful people who want to offer advice and insight- which you should receive with open arms, but you must keep in mind that this is your day, you call the shots, and in the end you want this day to symbolize the two of you, your beliefs, and the love you share! As I said- I am a 2nd grade teacher therefore, I believe creativity and “crafts” are just a way of life for me. I discovered a wonderful website that fit my style: <a href="http://www.save-on-crafts.com/">http://www.save-on-crafts.com/</a> . It is reasonably priced and full of fun finds! This website allowed me to create so many things that truly symbolized our relationship and the journey we took to get to our wedding day. One of my favorite things about the centerpieces at our reception was the standing chalkboards inside the floral pieces. I was able to order these in bulk from save on crafts. I used a white chalkboard marker to write scripture that was meaningful to us, phrases we say to each other often, and song lyrics that reminded me of the two of us. Looking back at the pictures (that Dale & Mere captured), I can see that they not only fit into the style of the wedding but they were wonderful reminders of “US”. <a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/0523_jamie/teal_yellow_outdoor_wedding_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="800" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/0523_jamie/teal_yellow_outdoor_wedding_001.jpg" width="800" /></a> Another DIY project I took on was making hanging fabric (ball) lanterns to hang in the trees above the ceremony. I ordered white paper (ball) lanterns in various sizes in bulk. I then bought (many) yards of fabric, traced circles onto the fabric, and used a rotary cutter to cut out the circles. I gathered each circle in the middle, and hot glued the point to the lantern. I hung them in the trees using fishing wire. I will tell you this was a very time-consuming project, but the end result was exactly what I envisioned---and who knows maybe I’ll find use of those wonderful little pretties (that are sitting in a storage bin in the attic) for decorations in a wedding shower, baby shower, or MAYBE a nursery…?! <a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/0525_jamie/teal_yellow_outdoor_wedding_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="533" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/0525_jamie/teal_yellow_outdoor_wedding_003.jpg" width="800" /></a> DIY project #3 was our table runners. Burlap played a big role in our wedding. I cut burlap for DAYS! Then, I discovered I’m allergic—what fun! I ordered a 100 ft role of burlap and cut 2 ft x 6 ft strips to make table runners. My talented mother-in-law sewed on white lace to the ends of each strip. They were gorgeous! I also made my own programs! YEP! By doing so I saved $480. Going through the Elementary Education and Master’s Programs at the U of A required that I make lots of “cute” things using a computer, so after getting the quote on the programs I wanted, I decided to try making my own before clicking “submit” on my Etsy order. I was completely satisfied with my production- as were my parents. Of course, I would still be cutting out circles to finish fabric balls to this day if I hadn’t had help from friends and family with all of the DIY projects I thought up, but luckily we have so many wonderful people in our lives that were willing to help with whatever we needed. The best advice I received during wedding planning really had nothing to do with wedding planning at all. I was told “People won’t remember all of the tiny details of your wedding, but they will remember your attitude and how you handled things”. It was important to us to make sure everyone that played a part in our wedding knew how much we appreciated them, and that we knew how truly blessed we were to have them. So, keep in mind that you may not use the advice or make the decisions that everyone demands of you, but you want your wedding day to be remembered as a joyous occasion rather than the day Bridezilla married Frankenstein! I wish you all happy planning, and pray you are able to soak up every tiny memory that you are about to make! Thank you, Dale for allowing me to ramble on about my perfect day! Jamie <a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/0524_jamie/yellow_teal_wedding_portraits_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="533" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/0524_jamie/yellow_teal_wedding_portraits_3.jpg" width="800" /></a> Thanks for stopping by! I've updated the blog every single day since 2008 (over 4 years), so be sure to come back tomorrow! Here are some fun and helpful links! <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 800px;"><tbody><tr> <td><a href="http://www.benfieldphotography.net/contact.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Contact Dale','','http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/contact_mouseover.jpg',1)"><img alt="Contact Dale" height="200" id="Contact Dale" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/contact.jpg" width="200" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.benfieldphotography.net/signe.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Vista West Ranch Wedding','','http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/signe_albumdesign241x362.jpg',1)"><img alt="Vista West Ranch Wedding in Austin TX" height="200" id="Vista West Ranch Wedding" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/signe_albumdesign241x362.jpg" width="200" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.benfieldphotography.net/chelsea.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Couture wedding','','http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/vera_wang_designer_wedding_bridal_portrait_arkansas_7_mouseover.jpg',1)"><img alt="Couture bridals and exquisite wedding details" height="200" id="Couture wedding" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/vera_wang_designer_wedding_bridal_portrait_arkansas_7.jpg" width="200" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.benfieldphotography.net/ashley.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Southern outdoor wedding','','http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/ashleyreagan2dale_mouseover.jpg',1)"><img alt="Outdoor wedding, featured in Southern Bride Magazine" height="200" id="Southern outdoor wedding" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/ashleyreagan2dale.jpg" width="200" /></a></td> </tr><tr> <td><a href="http://www.benfieldphotography.net/athena.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Wedding by Lauren','','http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/athena_d_mouseover.jpg',1)"><img alt="Hollywood themed wedding by Lauren" height="200" id="Wedding by Lauren" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/athena_d.jpg" width="200" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://benfieldphotography.blogspot.com/2010/11/hey-everybody-im-super-excited-to-share.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('engagement video','','http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_Benfield_1_mouseover.jpg',1)"><img alt="Adorable engagement video" height="200" id="engagement video" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_Benfield_1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://benfieldphotography.blogspot.com/2012/08/101-photo-tips-for-beginning-semi-pro.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('buy photo tips ebook','','http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/cover800px_mouseover.jpg',1)"><img alt="buy photo tips ebook for photographers" height="200" id="buy photo tips ebook" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/cover800px.jpg" width="200" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.benfieldphotography.net/brooke.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('marlsgate wedding','','http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/brooke_josh_010540x360_mouseover.jpg',1)"><img alt="marlsgate wedding" height="200" id="marlsgate wedding" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/blogPost_footer/brooke_josh_010540x360.jpg" width="200" /></a></td> </tr></tbody></table>

Hello Y’all! You can only imagine how excited I was when I received an e-mail from Dale asking me to be a guest blogger while he and Meredit...

<a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/13Blog/guestsigne.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/13Blog/guestsigne.jpg" width="800" /></a> Hey y’all.  Since Mere and Dale are welcoming a new little bundle of joy into their family, he has asked me to do a guest blog post while they are busy oohing and ahhing over their new addition. And how in the world could I say no to that?! So before I get into any wedding advice, I should probably tell you my name and a little bit about myself. My name is Signe, (nice to meet you) and I am no stranger to the blogging world.  I have just started one of my own, so hop on over and give it a little look sometime! (<a href="http://www.signeroo.com/">www.signeroo.com</a>) Anyway, I am an Arkansas native, who recently married and moved to the great state of Texas! My husband, a Texan native, LA transplant, and once again Texan (did I make that confusing enough for you?) and I were <a href="http://benfieldphotography.blogspot.com/search?q=Signe+Chad" target="_blank">married this past July down in Austin, Texas</a>.  We currently reside in a Norman Rockwell-esque small town right outside of Dallas in a little 1900s bungalow, and we love the married life.  But before our wedded bliss began, (about 8 or 9 months ago to be exact) our lives were one giant wedding to-do list.  If you are amidst the wedding planning, then you know exactly what I am talking about. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/0723_signe/austin_texas_wedding_photographer_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/0723_signe/austin_texas_wedding_photographer_002.jpg" width="800" /></a></div> Here is my sage (note my sarcasm) advice. Be you. Completely, totally, 100% you.  Embrace the craziness.  Embrace your eclectic-ness.  Embrace your simplicity.  Embrace who you are as a couple (and as individuals) and what you want. Whatever you may be. Whoever you may be. Just let your wedding be uniquely “you”. I know. I know. When you walk into a venue and the thoughts of flowers and cakes and dresses and rings dance through your head….what you know you want can quickly become a distant thought. It’s easy to listen to other people’s opinions, and feel as though you need to please them.  But you listen here, ladies and gentleman.  This is YOUR wedding. At the end of the day, you want your guests to feel like they are stepping into your love story. We had many friends and family members tell us that they felt so at home at our wedding.  That it didn’t feel like it was a “normal, everyday” wedding.  And that, my friends, was a compliment to top all compliments.  That is exactly what Chad and I desired.  That everyone would be witnessing one of the most important moments in our lives, and that in some small way, they would feel a part of it. In 20 years, when you look back, hopefully you will feel like your wedding day still embodies exactly who you both were. Dale and Mere captured our wedding exactly the way we wanted it to be captured.  How they were in a million different places at one time?  I will never know.  But, they captured the teeny tiny details. The most special moments.  The tears.  The laughter.  The moment of walking down the aisle and seeing the tears and joy in my husband’s face.  The moments you want to live over and over in your mind forever.  And when time goes on and the memories start to become a little blurrier than they were the day before, you get to relive those amazing moments in the photos. Are you crying yet? (No? Okay, I’ll keep going) To sum up my (almost finished) ramblings, I am leaving you with three pieces of wisdom: 1) Tell Your Story: Really make your wedding about you and your significant other. 2) Don’t Sweat The Details: Ladies.  I guarantee you I will not be the last to tell you this. But if any tiny thing doesn’t go right (or anything for that matter)...the only person that will notice is you.  So don’t sweat it. Don’t let it bring you down.  The day will be perfect even if it’s sprinkling. Or someone doesn’t’ t have a bouquet. Or the cake was the wrong flavor.  No one. Will. Notice. But. You.  So just take a deep breath, put a smile on, look at your (now husband) and enjoy your once in a lifetime day. 3) Be in the moment in every moment: Confession: Chad and I blubbered like babies the second we got in our getaway car.  Totally out of character, totally hilarious.  We just felt so blessed and so happy.  Make sure you take the time to look at all of your hard work you put into the day.  Take in every. single. moment.  Every single detail.  Get caught up in the small things, swept away by the big things.  All of those people are there because they love you, have shaped you, care about you and want to witness you becoming husband and wife.  So slow down and really take in the day. And if you cry a few tears in the getaway car, don’t be embarrassed.  It happens. Trust me. So, my friends, if you are planning for that big day, I wish you all the luck in the world.  This is such a sweet, sweet season in life.  One that might cause you major stress, but ultimately pure joy.  Remember to breathe.  Relax.  It will be here before you know it.  So take in every detail.  Every moment.  And remember to make the day about you. Thanks for stopping by and reading.  Dale and Mere are such great friends, and we love them dearly.  So honored to have been asked to write up a little blurb while they love on baby Cece. <a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/0723_signe/austin_texas_wedding_photographer_034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="533" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/0723_signe/austin_texas_wedding_photographer_034.jpg" width="800" /></a> Best wishes to all you beautiful single ladies planning that dream wedding, engaged couples looking for advice, or married couples that are perusing the Benfield’s breathtaking photo blog!! xoxo, signe

guest blogger planning advice tips for brides wedding advice wedding planning Guest Blogger Signe: On Planning {YOU}R Wedding

Hey y’all. Since Mere and Dale are welcoming a new little bundle of joy into their family, he has asked me to do a guest blog post while th...