Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Choosing your Wedding Dress

Hannah Michael offers an unrivalled styling experience for the Bride, Groom and the rest of the wedding party. We help you source or plan your outfits if you so desire, we get involved to ensure they coordinate the entire theme, colour, mood, texture and ambience of the wedding. We are meticulously detailed.

Below are some of our tips for shopping and picking that perfect wedding dress.
  • First of all, it is important that you shop with an open mind. There are so many dresses in different styles out there to suit all different body shapes and sizes, and remember everything looks different on than it does on a hanger.
  • Start looking for your dress approximately six months before your wedding. This will allow time for dress fittings and alterations.
  • Do not go to more then 4-5 shops otherwise confusion will take over! Plus you want to be able to enjoy the whole shopping experience. Go to a shop that stocks a variety of designers and styles. Remember your dress should match the theme of your wedding – for a Vintage themed wedding, get a vintage styled dress and accessories, for a beach wedding, it might be very tricky to walk on high heels!
  • Bring along an honest family member or friend who you know you can trust to tell you the truth, last thing you want is for someone to tell you everything looks great when in actual fact it is unflattering or you don’t even feel comfortable in it yourself.
  • Do not forget to shop for the right undergarment - Ardyss Body Magic products are fantastic body shapers should you need one for that perfect fit (for more information on this product, please contact us or visit www.ardysslife.com/hannahmichael).
  • Finally, finding the right dress for you is like finding your groom, you’ll know when it is ‘the one’!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Choosing your Photographer

At Hannah Michael, we refer vendors because we believe in the quality of their products and the quality of service these companies provide. We try very hard to guide our clients to the people who will provide them the best possible service at an outstanding value, but some clients book vendors who are not on our preferred vendor list. So this is our guide to picking the right Photographer for your special event.

Photography is an all encompassing term used for all types of image capture but there are in fact distinct variations in the manner in which photography is approached in different genres. Different genres of photography require a different style and perspective. The techniques used by photographers vary based on the subject, the situation and the end use of the image or scene.

  • Identify the style and print of photography that appeal to you most. Identify your budget and the size of your party. Identifying the key things will help you narrow down your options e.g. if you are planning a big event and you will like both Traditional and Reportage shots, it will be wise to engage a company that can provide more than one photographer on site for proper coverage, this will invariably cost more.
  • Based on your identified needs, narrow down your options to the best three (3) companies that meet ALL your criteria. To avoid getting overwhelmed and confused, limit your options!
  • Check out the photographer’s online portfolio as well as the finished products included in the package they are offering. There are many types of albums available and you want to be sure of the quality of the photography, as well as the quality of the design and make of the album they produce.
  • The best photographers are capable of consistently producing great results in all types of lighting situations from the morning to evening celebrations so ask if it is possible to see a full wedding shoot from start to finish. This is better than seeing the 'best of' portfolio.
  • Preparation is important – ask your photographer to have a site visit of your venue, to run through the schedule and plan the formal family group shots. The more time spent planning this with your photographer, the less chaos there will be on the day...ensuring a swift and smooth family photo session.
  • Arrange to meet with your photographer before your big day. The success of the photos depend on how relaxed and confident you feel with the person, and considering they will be with you for most of the day, it's important you feel comfortable with them.
  • Relax and enjoy the photography experience - your photographer will give you some direction to get the best from you on the day with some helpful hints and advice. Take all these suggestions on board...one good tip is to remember to smile with your eyes not just your mouth - a genuine feeling of happiness shows in the photos!
  • Finally, remember only your photos will capture and store memories of your special event. Only the best will do!