MarieSamSanchezPhoto

Wedding rings symbolize a never-ending commitment shared between a couple, but these days, rings not only represent this unbroken bond, they also provide for some pretty epic photos on the Wedding Day. Here are a few ring photos (taken by yours truly) to give you a little "ringspiration" (this is just Part 1, stay tuned for Part 2) ... - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

Bridesmaid style isn't what it used to be. Gone are the days of awful bridesmaids dresses that go straight to the thrift shop donation bin once the wedding is over. Dresses these days are fashionable, practical and beautiful. I for one, wanted to make sure my girls had something to wear that was pretty, practical and affordable. But I also wanted to make sure they each had something they could use in the future, beyond my wedding day. A quite popular trend these days is dressing your bridesmaids in different styles to suit their body shape and frame, according to what looks best on each individual. Because let's face it, not every style looks good on everyone. I think the convertible dress is also a great option for the Bride to wear to her rehearsal dinner or even as a reception dress for those late-night partying hours! The convertible dress is absolutely one of my favorite bridesmaid dress styles and fortunately, these days, there are tons of options -- from affordable to pricey -- to choose from. Two Birds was one of the pioneers when it came to the convertible dress, but Etsy also has an awesome selection of convertible styles. Just make sure whatever line/designer you decide to go with to check on production/turnaround times and for a thorough understanding of the different ways the dress can be styled! Wedding Finds is a BDW feature that will highlight special little finds or ideas that may help you along during your wedding planning journey. If you have a special wedding find to share, feel free to add your suggestions in the comments section! - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

I'm not sure if it was just me being a stressed out destination wedding bride, but while I was planning my wedding I went through periods of experiencing extreme "destination wedding guilt," that is, feeling guilty that our guests were taking time out of their busy lives and spending significant amounts of money to be a part of our Wedding Day. While planning my wedding, it was really important to me to show our guests how appreciative we were of their presence. I wanted nothing more than to make sure they enjoyed their time during our destination wedding experience and I guess you could say, we went the extra mile to make sure they knew how thankful we were to have them there. Here are a few ways you can say thank you to your guests for being a part of your big day: 1) Plan a Welcome Dinner: This can either be done as a full spread dinner or perhaps a meet and greet cocktail and appetizer hour. Either way it's a wonderful opportunity to gather your guests in one place to mix and mingle before the Wedding Day festivities begin. Call it an icebreaker, if you will, most importantly it gives you another chance to make some awesome memories with the ones you love! 2) Create Welcome/OOT Bags for Your Guests: This probably one of the most heavily researched topics in the Best Destination Wedding Forum -- "What should I put in our Welcome Bags?" Honestly it's up to you to decide how much effort and money you want to invest into these little welcome gifts. Just remember to factor in how you manage to get these items to your destination location. If at all possible, try to buy most of the items when you're at your destination rather than having to lug it from home. You can fill a bag with items your guests will find useful during their stay, or you can be simple and keep it to a few bottles of local brew or perhaps a little bag of local snacks. No matter how big or small your gift is, include a handwritten personalized note -- something from the heart is always a beautiful touch that your guests will love. 3) Plan a Group Excursion: The best memories are made when you share adventures and unique experiences together. Consider planning an outing for your guests -- perhaps a catamaran ride, a snorkeling trip, a day at the beach or maybe an ATV biking adventure. These kinds of excursions can range from reasonably affordable to pricey -- so think about either paying for a portion of the excursion or footing the entire bill. If that's still not in the budget, perhaps you can cover the transportation costs or treat everyone to a meal afterwards. The main thing is that you're doing something fun together and at the end of the day, that's all that matters. 4) Plan a Farewell Meal: Maybe it's a Day-After the Wedding Brunch or Lunch or a Bon Voyage Dinner. It's one last opportunity to say thank you to those who've invested their time and money into being a part of your wonderful wedding experience. And don't forget to give one last toast thanking everyone for being a part of your festivities. A simple thank you and a hug goes a long way! 5) Thank You Cards: It really goes without saying, but thank you cards post-wedding are always a must. If you do nothing else, make sure you send thank you cards. Don't wait too long to send these out and if possible, take the time to send out handwritten personalized notes in each card. Even if you've done all of the above or nothing at all, a thank you card is necessary and will mean so much to anyone who took part in your Wedding Day. - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

The 'rustic' wedding style is one that continues to grow in popularity. And thankfully, instead of having to search and high and low for all those rustic touches to compliment your Wedding Day, Etsy has everything you need and more to give your wedding that rustic look. From rings to decor and details, to groomsmen gifts and even your Wedding dress -- there is a "rustic" category to cover all your needs! Click here to view some of the best rustic details Etsy has to offer for your Wedding Day. Wedding Finds is a BDW feature that will highlight special little finds or ideas that may help you along during your wedding planning journey. If you have a special wedding find to share, feel free to add your suggestions in the comments section! - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

Flowers are an integral part of your Wedding Day look, but they don't have to make or break your budget. Like every other facet of your Wedding celebration -- you have the ability to adjust your decor according to your taste and desired price point range. Here are a few bouquet photos (taken by yours truly) to give you a little inspiration (this is Part 3, click here to check out Part 1, and click here to check out Part 2) ... --- About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

The hours leading up to your wedding can be extremely stressful, but at the same time, those precious moments of preparation before you say "I Do," are also uniquely exciting and beautiful. As a wedding photographer, I can honestly say, these hours of preparation leading up to the ceremony often yield some of my most favorite images of the day. Besides the fact that I think I get to work with some of the sweetest and most beautiful brides and grooms (yep, shameless plug!), I know that prepping my clients for the "Getting Ready" shots I plan to take helps immensely in giving me the opportunity to take photos I know they will love and appreciate when they look back at their Wedding Day. Here are a few tips I share with my couples on ways you can help your wedding photographer take beautiful "Getting Ready" photos on your big day: 1) Get ready in a space that has plentiful window light: Whether you choose to get ready in a hotel room or in the bridal suite at your venue, choose a space that has a good amount of window light -- trust me, your photographer will thank you! Light is the most important factor for capturing beautiful photos -- whether it come in the form of natural light (sunlight) or artificial light (flash or video light). I happen to prefer natural light when it comes to Getting Ready portraits because it gives my images a clean, bright softness that my clients have come to love. A room with natural light coming from a large window source will also be what your makeup artist prefers to use as well. So keep this in mind when you're deciding where to prep and get dressed on your Wedding Day. 2) Clean and tidy up the area where you plan to get ready before your photographer arrives: I know on the Wedding Day the rush of getting hair and makeup done as well as making sure everyone has their dresses and the right accessories can often result in a bit of a tornado effect in the preparation room. And that's totally OK and understandable. But asking some of your bridesmaids to help tidy up the space before your photographer arrives will help your photographer move around freely in the area and also capture clean portraits without any clutter in the background. 3) Set aside the details you'd like your photographer to photograph: If you're one of those brides who's spent months carefully crafting your wedding day look, you'll definitely want your photographer to capture your beautiful details. Give your photographer a helping hand by putting aside these details so when he/she arrives, the items are easy to access and can quickly be photographed. That means doing the following: hanging your wedding dress on a nice hanger (wire hangers do not photograph well, custom hangers are perfect as well as a clean wooden or velvet hanger) putting aside your wedding ceremony and reception shoes gathering your jewelry and garter having all the rings in a box -- engagement ring and both wedding rings a clean invitation and envelope as well as any save the dates your bridal bouquet along with at least 1 bridesmaid bouquet 4) Have the people who are helping you put your wedding gown on (bridesmaids, mom, aunts, grandmothers, siblings) be ready and completely dressed: When it's time for you to put your wedding gown on, anyone helping you get dressed should be completely ready and dressed from head to toe. You will be picture-perfect once your wedding dress is on, and those surrounding you, should look their best too. Anyone helping you get ready on the Wedding Day should be prepared to be part of your "Getting Ready" photos and if you plan on having a wedding album, you will want them to look picture perfect too! 5) Give your photographer a good amount of time for "Getting Ready" photos: This is the most important tip -- because without time, you're not giving your photographer a chance to create the images you want. I realize that timelines can't always be stretched or changed due to venue restrictions or timeframes, but when you do have control of setting your timeline, allow your photographer ample time to work without stress or time crunches. Ideally, I like to begin shooting at least 1.5 to 2 hours before the ceremony to capture "Getting Ready" portraits. This gives me ample time to photograph details (at least 45 minutes), about 15-20 minutes for the bride to get dressed and receive any touch-ups, 15-20 minutes for bride portraits and another 15-20 minutes for the bride to take photos with her bridesmaids. If the couple plans to do a "First Look," then I like to begin shooting 2.5 to 3 hours before the ceremony begins to allow for the big reveal as well as romantic portraits. If you give your photographer time, he/she has a much better chance to deliver the images that will not only tell the story of your day, but also images inspired with creativity that you will love for years to come. * All photos posted in this article are credited to MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife destination wedding photography team. - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

Take a step into your Wedding Day with Carrie Bradshaw inspired style! Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker has added shoes created just for brides to the SJP fashion collection. Many of the new satin pumps come in different shades -- from traditional cream, pale green and plum to bright blue. And each set of heels comes in a blush box. And if you're a bride who likes a little bling, you'll be glad to know most of the pairs come adorned with a little sparkle. The collection is available now from bloomingdales.com, nordstrom.com, and zapposcouture.com.

Flowers are such a delicate and beautiful touch to any celebration. For some brides, floral decor eats up a huge chunk of their Wedding Day budget, but for others flowers are a small piece to the overall decor design. A wedding bouquet is a wonderful compliment to your wedding look and celebration, but it's important to remember that your bouquet doesn't necessarily need to break the bank to be beautiful. If sky's the limit when it comes to your flowers, then go for it! But if you've set aside a tight budget for flowers, just know you do have options and simplicity is the key. Here are a few bouquet photos (taken by yours truly) to give you a little inspiration (this is Part 2, click here to check out Part 1, and make sure to come back for Part 3!) ... - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

"Make sure your flowers are nice MarieSam," my dear mom would constantly say to me as I was planning my destination wedding. Because my mom is pretty much the mother of all greenthumbs, I knew telling her I had planned to use a real-touch bouquet would send her into a tailspin. But despite my mom's disapproval at the thought of me using an artificial bouquet, I did it anyways because it was affordable and would be a beautiful keepsake that would last beyond the Wedding Day. So yes, I rocked my bouquet down the aisle and on my Wedding Day my mom even mentioned how pretty my flowers were and how realistic they looked. *Note to self: mother doesn't always know best A wedding bouquet is a beautiful compliment to your wedding look and celebration, but if there's anything I've learned from being a bride, it's that your bouquet doesn't need to break the bank. If you've got money to burn, then by all means, go all out and create a bouquet that would send my mom to the moon But if you're on a tight budget, just remember that simplicity can be a beautiful thing too! Here are a few bouquet photos (taken by yours truly) to give you a little inspiration (this is just Part 1, stay tuned for Part 2) ... - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

Words are powerful and for every relationship there is a great quote particularly fitting for that couple. Here are a few beautiful quotes about love to help inspire your Wedding celebration and perhaps even your Wedding vows. "In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine." -- Maya Angelou "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." -- Emily Brontë "I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out." -- Roy Croft "Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable." -- Bruce Lee "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." -- Dr. Seuss "Your love comforts me like sunshine after the rain." -- William Shakespeare "So it's not gonna be easy. It's going to be really hard; we're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me ... every day." -- Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook "If I had a flower for every time I thought of you ... I could walk through my garden forever." -- Alfred Tennyson - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

I think one of the most fun aspects of planning your wedding is adding little personalized touches that make your celebration special and unique. For crafty brides this means going the do-it-yourself route also fondly known as being a DIY bride. Unfortunately, not everyone has got Martha Stewart skills running through their veins, but Etsy -- the mothership of all things DIY -- pretty much solves that problem Signage is a unique way to customize your wedding in simple yet fun way. Be it signs at the ceremony, or a fun sign at the reception -- handpainted or printed signs can add a colorful and festive touch to any celebration. And whether you chose to do it yourself or attain the services of a creative person on Etsy -- it can be a easy and affordable way to give your Wedding Day a little personal flair, and it's usually always epic photo material! Click here to view some fun Wedding signs that can be used on your Wedding Day! Wedding Finds is a BDW feature that will highlight special little finds or ideas that may help you along during your wedding planning journey. If you have a special wedding find to share, feel free to add your suggestions in the comments section! - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

Free People, the bohemian style apparel company, is launching a 15-piece bridal collection starting on May 18, 2015. The collection will feature a plethora of designers offering "delicate halters, graceful strapless pieces, dramatic long-sleeve gowns, ethereal v-necks, and romantic off-the-shoulder styles alongside distinctive sets, one-pieces, and shorter wears." Pieces in the bridal line will be priced between $700 to $1,600 and will be available exclusively on Free People's US and UK sites. Check out the newly launched Ever After collection by clicking here. Are you a boho bride? Share your boho-chic wedding style with us in the comments section! - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

My reliance on the internet when it comes to handling every day life is astounding, but while planning my destination wedding it was even more apparent just how much I needed the internet to help guide me through the wedding planning process. Although every bride's journey and experience is different, I thought I should share a few of my favorite sites when it comes to planning The Wedding Day! -- Best Destination Wedding Forum: Well obviously this is number one. I don't really remember how I came upon this jewel of a site, but what I do know is that once I became a member, I was hooked. I logged into the BDW forum daily -- actually several times a day -- and collectively with all the great tips from other fellow brides, grooms and and vendors, I was able to craft what I consider my dream wedding. Fortunately, since then, BDW has grown and expanded to offer brides other insightful sections, such as: Wedding Tips, Resort Reviews and Vendor Reviews. I cannot stress enough how lucky you are to have found this site as you begin your journey as a destination wedding bride! -- Loverly: Inspiration and tips galore. I love this website because it offers so much, including wedding planning tools, free wedding websites and plenty of advice and tips. -- Style Me Pretty: What can I say? This website is just full of beautiful pictures that will leave you daydreaming about your I Do's. Chockful of visual inspiration, once you log on, you'll likely find yourself scrolling non-stop because everything is just so ... pretty -- Ruffled: It's pretty much the mother of all wedding blogs filled with real-life wedding inspiration and lots of stylish/trendy ideas. You can peruse through the DIY Projects section for tons of inspiration or even post a few weddings items for sale. This site has everything when it comes to weddings! -- Wedding Wire: It's a great resource for planning everything for your Wedding Day, but it's most known for it's massive venue/vendor guide. From venues to vendors, Wedding Wire listings are super helpful in offering up reviews and suggestions when planning your dream celebration. -- Destination I Do: Dedicated to destination weddings and honeymoons, this site is catered for brides and grooms like you. You can find destination vendors and venues on this site and even create a wedding registry or wedding website. And lest I forget, the gorgeous photos of real-life destination weddings! -- Etsy: I cannot tell a lie, I am obsessed with DIY creations and well we all know Etsy is the mothership when it comes to handmade crafts. Just type in a search of any wedding items you're looking for and this site will give you plenty of options and inspiration for various budgets. I purchased the Groom and Groomsmen boutonnieres on this site and had no regrets! It's also a great source for craft inspiration if you're more of a DIY gal. You can find everything you need and more on Etsy to give your wedding all the pretty little finishing touches you can imagine. What websites have you found helpful in the planning process? Share your suggestions in the comments! - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

While the modern tradition of a Bride and Groom sharing a First Look before their ceremony continues to grow, it seems First Looks aren't just for the couple anymore. These days, the Bride sharing a special reveal moment with her parents is becoming just as popular. Once the bride has completed her finishing touches -- dress, shoes, jewelry and one final sweep of the hair and makeup, she then takes a special moment to meet her parents for the first time dressed as a bride. These photos are often filled with tons of emotion from the parents, after all, it signifies the starting point of giving their baby girl away. So if you plan to do a Parents' First Look, here are a few important things to keep in mind to make sure things go off without a hitch: Make sure you leave enough time in your Wedding Day preparations to do a First Look with your parents. Give yourself at least 15 minutes, because if tears are shed, you'll want time to do touch-ups. Pick a location that will give you privacy for this special moment. To save time, consider the room where you are getting ready for the day so you don't have to worry about traveling anywhere. Make sure you give your photographer a head's up that you'd like to do a Parents' First Look. Your photographer will appreciate being able to plan for this moment ahead of time to ensure he/she is standing in the best location with the best light for the big reveal. Parents' First Looks aren't just limited to the Bride. They can be done with the Groom and his parents as well. Mom and Dad would love to see their son before he walks down the aisle, it may also be a good time for Mom to pin the boutonnière on her son as well. Just remember all the pointers above! Did you do a Parents' First Look? What was your experience like? - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

One of the reasons why we opted for a destination wedding is because we wanted our celebration to have an intimate feel, being surrounded by only our closest circle of family and friends. But like all weddings, both near or far, there were some loved ones who simply couldn't be there with us -- because they had already passed on. So when planning our wedding, I wanted to find a unique way to recognize these special people who could only be with us in spirit. After scouring through websites and photos for different ways to remember our loved ones, we decided to create a small reception table of framed photos of each person that was lit by candlelight and a sweet poem. I cannot tell you how many of our guests expressed how much they loved the idea. It was an easy, simple but beautiful tribute to our loved ones who we kept close to our hearts on our Wedding Day. Here's the poem we used: Always With Us Today we pause to reflect upon Those who have shaped our character, Molded our spirits and touched our hearts. May the lighting of these candles be a Reminder of the memories we have shared, A representation of the everlasting Impact you have had upon our lives. Although we can’t see you We know that you are here Smiling down and watching As we say “I Do” Forever in our hearts Forever in our lives Forever in our minds This is in loving memory of you… Did you do something special for the people who could only be there in spirit on your Wedding Day? Share your ideas with us in the comment section. - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

Can't decide when to have your wedding photographer begin shooting on the Wedding Day? Here are four reasons why your photographer should start shooting during the "Getting Ready" portion of your Big Day. -- Document the Details: If you're like most brides, you've spent tons of time carefully picking out the little details that will make your wedding look picture perfect. The bouquet, the shoes, the hair/makeup look, the veil, the jewelry, the garter, even the undergarments under that perfect dress. When you have your photographer present during the 'Getting Ready' portion of your Wedding Day, he/she will be able to capture all the beautiful details that make you a vision to behold. Collect all your details and give your photographer enough time to photograph these things one by one. -- Capture the Excitement and Anticipation: There is honestly nothing like the electricity in the air when the bride and groom are getting ready on their Wedding Day. Emotions range from excitement, nervousness, anticipation and tons of emotion. And because you're so "in the moment," you often forget the little things that happen in between the rush of getting ready -- like the tears, the laughter and the incredibly touching moments that make the day so special. Having your photographer there to capture it all is a great way to relive and remember all the emotions. Some of my favorite moments as a photographer take place during this time of day because feelings are running so high. After all, it is truly your last few moments thinking as a singular person -- after the Wedding Day mostly everything becomes "we." -- See What Your Sweetheart Was Up To: It's pretty fun to be able to see what your soon-to-be-spouse was up to on the Wedding Day. Yes, you could very easily call them up or send a barrage of text messages back and forth. But there's nothing quite like seeing your sweetheart's Wedding Day shenanigans in photos! -- Remember Your Wedding Day Story as a Whole: If there's any advice I give to my brides when it comes to the Wedding Day, it's to enjoy every moment on your Big Day because it will go by in a blink. All those months and hours of wedding prep culminate into one day. And trust me when I say, that day will pass faster than you want it to. With adrenaline and excitement running so high, the events of the day will fly by and before you know it, the celebration of your life is over. I cannot emphasize enough how much you will love having photos that capture the highlights of your day from beginning to end. It's a complete look at your Wedding Day story, and I promise you, you will cherish those photos for a long time! - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, my husband and I have been wedding photographer/small business owners of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.