From the mail bag:

Dear Amy Taylor,
I have found a photographer we absolutely love and want to hire. However he says he does not use a contract and all we have to do is put down a fifty percent deposit. I have signed a contract with everyone else and find this strange. My Fiance says just put the money down and forget about it, but I am a little less sure about that especially since it is $1500. What should I do? Do I need a contract or not?
Thank you,
Mary to Sean

Mary, I have one rule, signed contract or I am going elsewhere! This is a pet peeve of mine! I can't believe in this day of age anyone would not be using a contract. The simplest contract is what, where, when, who and how much. This way there is no misunderstanding about the basic details of the agreement, what would you do if he came back and said, the $1500 was only the first 1/3 or 1/4 of the total package. Without a contract it would be a he said/she said, with a contract it is very easy to settle.

In most cases, it contracts are more complicated, defining what is expected of you, the client and what is expected of the photographer. This is the type of contract I prefer, what is included in your package. I heard of a decorator last year that took it upon themselves to add flowers, vases, lights etc to the already agreed upon arrangements to the tune of an additional $4000 without the client's permission. The decorator presented the bride and groom with the additional bill at the end of the reception. The client was fortunate enough to have an itemized list as an addendum to the contract and told the decorator they would not be paying for what was the decorator's decision.

We all hope for it never to happen but what if you have to cancel or god forbid the photographer? What is their policy, does it have to be in writing. Do you get any of the retainer back? (If you cancel, don't expect to see the retainer refunded but if they cancel, you should get all your money back) Is it transfered to other services? Some contracts are short, some are long, but make sure you get a contract! If the photographer is unwilling to give you a contract, draw up your own and insist they sign it. If they refuse, find another vendor.

And make sure you read the fine print! One of the local reception halls has an out clause in their contracts where they can cancel any time they want. I personally know one who two months before her wedding was sent scrambling for a new hall because a party willing to spend more money had come along and rented the hall on the same date. Consumers need to be informed about what they can expect and personally I would not sign such a contract. In my friend's case she did not read the fine print and ended up under a tent on one of the hottest days in August. The day she had dreamed of for 2 years has been left with a decidedly sour note.

One wedding I was in the reception hall had a limo drink clause. It said if the limo pulled up and the hall staff saw alcohol inside the bride and groom would be charged $100 a bottle in lost drink fees. The limo had provided each set of bridesmaids and groomsmen one bottle of champagne and there were 20 of us, so 10 bottles. At the end of the night my friends were billed an additonal $1000 above what was consumed at the hall. They hadn't read the fine print of the contract.

No matter what vendor you are hiring, get a contract and read it! And good luck Mary.

One note, I am not a lawyer and this post was not legal advice. For legal advice consult a lawyer. :-)

-Amy

Labels: contracts

One of the movies I'm looking forward to, Made Of Honor is having a sweepstakes! You can win a wedding, a European honeymoon and many other prizes. Sponsored by the Knot and the movie.

Labels: wedding sweepstakes

Green is in with weddings and you can't get much greener than these wedding favors from the BloemBox Collection. A feast for the eyes, each BloemBox favor contains a long strip of hand made seed ribbon. This favor is made with all natural, biodegradable paper embedded with flower seeds. Simply plant the ribbon in soil, water and watch as your own beautiful garden blooms. These wedding favors / gifts appear on the Oprah ‘O’ List and have been seen in InStyle Magazine. The Bloembox collection includes an assortment of six varieties: Carnation, Pansy, Flanders Poppy, Shirley Poppy, Sunflower, and Zinnia. Each favor includes 15 ft. of seed ribbon.

Labels: wedding favors

I love the fall and I love deep dark red and this real life weddings has them booth! Thanks to Cynthia Basker over at our favorite wedding coordination company, Celebrated Events we have this inspiration board from Kristine & Jason Listner. Kristine and Jason were married on October 27, 2007 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the University of Notre Dame. The reception followed at the Palais Royale. Here is a few photographs to inspire your wedding!
If you are a past bride and groom, or getting married soon in the South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Plymouth area, we'd love to get a few images from your wedding to feature so other brides and grooms are inspired. Drop an email to michianaweddings at ameritech dot net!

Labels: Basilica of the Sacred Heart, inspiration, Palais Royale, wedding

You are a discerning bride, looking for something different from the normal wedding nic-nac. These sleek, modern and unique Champagne Toasting Flutes are the perfect choice for your wedding toast(s). Conceived by Netherlands-based designer Alissia Melka-Teichroew, these handmade Toasting Flutes are the iconic flute housed inside a discreet outer tube. The mouth-blown double-walled ensures the bubbly stays crisp and cold, sip after sip throughout your wedding day. A unique item that can be used again and again, after the wedding for the discerning bride!

Champagne Toasting FLutes

Labels: unique item, wedding

What do you get the groom who has everything, namely you? From Ms. & Mrs. we first got the Wedding Survival Kit, then the Bride's Maid Survival Kit and... the Grooms Survival Kit! Included: Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Dental Floss, Mints, Pain Reliever, Antacid, Facial Tissues, Deodorant, Razor, Shaving Cream, Styptic Pencil, Adhesive Bandages, Nail Clipper, Hair Comb, Interior Mirror, Lint Remover, Mending Kit, Scissors, Safety Pins, Boutonniere Pins, Stain Remover, Static Remover, Wrinkle Remover, Stress Ball Keychain, Extra Wedding Bands, Black Socks. I especially love that stress ball and chain! Cool idea for those stressed out grooms.

Your groom and his men will keep their composure on the big day with this . The kit includes all the essentials to keep his stress level at a minimum. Inside is a collection of 26 wedding day solutions for any emergency that befalls the groom. This sleek and practical Groom's attaché is made of silver chrome and is topped with a stress ball...just in case! Just be prepared to assign a bridesmaid to carrying this one around, you may find your groom just a little reluctant to carry it himself. But it is a cool idea, knowing most men! ;-)

Check with Girly Girl Gifts I'm sure they'll have this one in stock!

Labels: cool idea, Groom

This is too cool. Today I stumbled over the Mars Inc. website (chocolate is a girl's best friend!) and discovered they are offering to personalize the backs of M&Ms for weddings, parties, birthdays etc!

Here is what their website says: Personalized M&M'S® Chocolate Candies on mymms.com. MY M&M'S® are a great way to customize your wedding favors, birthday party, or give as a creative gift. Personalize your candy with your choice of color and a personal message.

Check it out!

-Amy

Labels: cool idea, wedding favors

I was looking around the Essense of Australia site at their Couture line of bridal gowns. I love their gowns, but I really fell in love with these three! I love their simple lines, especially in the skirt. A relief from the gowns of the last few years with those over done poofy Cinderella skirts.

Labels: bridal gowns

Monday is Basilica Day when the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame opens their books to brides and grooms who want to book the church for their wedding in 2009. Wake up early ladies and flex those dialing fingers and good luck! Here's hoping you get the date and time you want!

And once you have your wedding dates be sure to check back here for the Best Bridal Guide to your Wedding Day for those Essential Wedding services in the South Bend, Mishawaka, Notre Dame, Elkhart and surrounding area!

-Amy

Labels: Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Essential, Notre Dame, Wedding Day

Hi. I was wondering if you could answer an question. I am getting married at Notre Dame in July and I am having trouble finding some place for the rehearsal dinner. My favorite hangouts while going to Notre Dame won't hold 50 people, do you have any suggestions?
Katie

Congratulations on the impending nuptials Katie! I know you are just going to love having your wedding at The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame, such a beautiful church.

There are many great locations in South Bend, Mishawaka to hold a 50 person rehearsal dinner.

Italian
Sunny Italy, located on Hill Street in South Bend, this is an old family run restaurant offering the best in Italian food.

Papa Vinos provides excellent Italian food with a modern twist. Really good.

Bruno's Pizza, the original, located on State Road 23 and still the best Bruno's offers more than just pizza, they have a full old world, home cooked menu.

Steaks
Ruth's Crisp, from talking to several brides and grooms the last few months, a lot of rehearsal dinners are being planned at the new Ruth's Crisp. I can't speak to the food, I have never been there, but the people I know who have, love it.

LaSalle Grill, they have some private facilities I believe to host your rehearsal dinner and the food is good too.

Nouveau
The Vine, great food in a cosey location.

Bistro on the Race, they have plenty of room for your rehearsal dinner, but I don't like all their food. You may find you do though.


Banquet Facilities
The Hilton Garden Inn, we have a write up of their quality of food below, and I've since had the opportunity to sample it myself, and I must say, I love it!

Windsor Park, Rita and her chef are top notch and the banquet facility setting will give you a more private experience for your rehearsal dinner.

Labels: Rehearsal Dinner

Sorry for going MIA, I had to get out of town and to someplace warm, like Florida. This snow we are having is getting depressing!

Cynthia Basker, wedding coordinator extrodinare over at Celebrated Events in South Bend has posted a couple of cool ideas from one of her wedding receptions.

Fist you have place card trees. Creating little hanging ornaments of the place cards and hanging them from trees!

Another great idea is to take the table numbering used for assigned seating at the reception and place pictures of the bride and groom on the table with their corresponding age. So at table one there were pictures of the bride and groom at age one, at age 15 there were pictures of the bride and groom at age 15 and so on.
This is a fantastic idea, especially if your number of tables does not exceed your ages!


- Amy

Images courtesy Allure Films.

Labels: cool idea, place cards, reception, seating arrangement