Fall Wedding Season Preparations

Fall Wedding Season Preparations

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With summer officially drawing to an end, fall wedding season is in full swing!  What better backdrop this time of year than Wisconsin? With stunning foliage and a crispness in the air, you’re sure to have the best day ever.  However, it’s important to keep in mind that planning a wedding takes more time and effort than what’s seen on the surface. From selecting a venue to choosing a caterer and finding a photographer that best fits your needs, the amount of work and time you invest in preparing for your big day can feel endless.  It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of planning and forget how essential it is to practice self-care during this time.  The last thing you want to be feeling on your wedding day is stressed out or sleep-deprived. Keep reading below for a few tips to help ensure your fall wedding is the picturesque day you always imagined it to be!  

Shine Bright Like A Diamond

When temperatures begin to drop, your skin can experience major change. Perfecting the wedding glow takes some preparation. During the summer, you want to use a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. Quite the opposite when the weather gets colder. According to Allure, opp for a heftier hydrator that will help replace the essential fatty acids that need to be there to help replenish your face.

 

A Smile Can Change The World

The onset of fall tends to largely impact our immune systems. A weakened immune system may leave the body prone to disease or viruses.  These diseases can attack both internally and externally which is why it is also essential to maintain our oral health in order to look and feel your best. You may also want to consider doubling up your dosage of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and fruits and vegetables, to ensure your body is strong enough to fight off any unwanted sickness. Establish a routine early on and your smile will be dazzling come your big day!

Wisconsin Wedding & Portrait Photographer Couples with Dogs Film-Style Images

 

R-E-L-A-X

There is nothing better than taking time out for yourself to get some R&R. Especially in the fall, cozying up on the couch with a pumpkin spiced latte in your hand and an apple cider candle burning, will have you well on your way to clearer thoughts and better sleep. If you want to take your meditations to the next level, Healthline recommends using these smartphone meditation apps. In no time at all, you will be well on your way to improving your mindfulness. With so many decisions, from personal to financial, being made leading up to your wedding, you want to be in a clear headspace to be sure you’re making the right choices for your big day.

Fall Couple Photos in woods with dogs and campfire

 

Things You Should Tell Your Wedding Photographer

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What you should ask your wedding photographer

Your wedding day is one of the most beautiful celebrations in your life. Finally, all of those details that you’ve planned come together, and your friends and family surround you to celebrate this next chapter in your life. You want to make sure your wedding is how you imagined, while never missing a moment. This is why you should hire a wedding photographer.

Your wedding photographer does more than just take images of your special day. It’s your photographer’s job to capture all of the moments that make your wedding perfect. To make sure you’re on the same page as your photographer, it’s imperative to sit down and discuss what vision you had in mind for your wedding. From your ceremony itinerary to the decor you’ve chosen, the more information your photographer has, the better. Here are a few aspects of your wedding that could be important to discuss with your photographer:

Begin With Your Budget

Wedding planning always begins with a budget. Once you have planned your wedding timeline and begun looking at your various expenses, you should have an estimate for how much to spend on your wedding photographer. After you’ve decided on a budget, it’s important to meet with potential photographers and go over what budget you have set aside for wedding photos. Look at what packages wedding photographers offer, and be willing to discuss those package options when first meeting. Photographer’s expenses vary and depending on what you have in mind, adjustments to your budget may be needed. This is also the perfect opportunity to ask any questions about pricing, what your expectations are, and to see more of their portfolio.

Your Wedding Itinerary

Once you’ve finalized the order of your wedding ceremony, you should give a copy to your photographer right away. This allows your photographer to make a timeline for shots and plan where to be for those special moments at your wedding. Go through your itinerary with your photographer and explain what ideas you have, as well as ask any suggestions they may have. We include this with all of our collections and even created an online Bride & Groom Questionnaire to help us get all this necessary information from our clients.

The Venue

Saying, “I do” to the perfect venue, can be difficult. You want to make sure the decor will match your theme, the size will suit your guest list, and most importantly, will look stunning in your wedding photos. Taking your photographer to the venue is a great idea for making sure your wedding photos are a success. Express what ideas you have, ask what your photographer’s thoughts are, and explain your vision for your wedding day. Seeing the venue before the wedding gives your photographer the ability to plan for the best lighting, anticipate possible shots, and offer you ideas that you may not have thought of. While we often are not able to go to venues with couples, we like to schedule your engagement session in the same season and around where you will have your wedding to get a feel for all the possibilities we will have on your wedding day. We also like to do a lot of google hangouts!

What They Should Wear

After you’ve decided the dress code for your wedding, be sure to let your photographer know. You don’t want your photographer to show up in jeans and a t-shirt if your wedding is a black-tie event, just as you wouldn’t want your photographer to show up in a three-piece suit for a wedding that is casual. Keep in mind your photographer will be constantly moving so attire that is suitable but practical is more ideal.
This is a big one! We really try and match the guests at your wedding. So if it is a backyard wedding in July, you will likely see us in shorts and sandals. We shoot better when we’re most comfortable. Similarly, we like to dress up for Country Club weddings and the like.

Country Club Wedding

Any Guests with Restrictions

Look at your guest list and communicate with your photographer guests that might need special accommodations. From guests in wheelchairs to others that have seating preferences, make sure you inform your photographer so they can include these guests in the shots from your ceremony.

The Moments You Don’t Want Photographed

Most brides want all aspects of their wedding to be photographed, but there may be a few moments when you might request to not have a camera present. Whether it’s a private moment shared with a parent or friend, or transitions between the ceremony to the wedding, it’s essential to communicate which parts of your wedding you would prefer to keep more private. We totally get it if you want to spend a few moments without any cameras. Katie is a bit of an introvert, so of all people, she totally understands.

Hiring your wedding photographer is one of the biggest decisions you will make when it comes to wedding planning. After all of the planning and celebrating, it’s enjoyable to look back at the pictures of your special day and remember how warm those moments felt. A word of advice, don’t give your photographer a shot list don’t give your photographer a shot list instead, let them capture the sincere and beautiful moments that naturally unfold on your wedding day. On the day of your wedding, we want it to feel like your close friends just showed up with their really nice cameras.

Thanking Your Wedding Party: A Gift Guide

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Everyone who is in the process of planning a wedding or has done it in the past knows just how important the wedding party is to ensure the day goes off without a hitch. The wedding party helps plan fun events all along the way from your engagement to your wedding day, support the bride and groom and help the day of run smoothly. So, when it comes to thanking the wedding party for all they’ve done to help you and your fiancé, make sure you find the right balance. If you purchase something too over-the-top for the bridesmaids and groomsmen, you may blow out your wedding budget. However, if you get something thoughtless, the wedding party may feel under-appreciated.

 

Luckily, there are plenty of gifts for both men and women, for every budget, to help say ‘thank you’ for their support and friendship during the rollercoaster ride of planning a wedding!

 

 

  • Jewelry – This is a classic and timeless gift that can be used for the bridesmaids. Gifting your girls a matching necklace and earring set they can wear on your wedding day is a great route to take. A simple, matching pair like this will offer your ladies a classic look for the wedding and great set they will continue to wear long after your special day is over. However, you don’t have to gift jewelry your bridesmaids will wear during your wedding. Charm bracelets are a great way to show how grateful you are because they can easily be personalized with a favorite color, quote or a beautiful design.

 

  • Wallett – Anything leather and wood gets an “A” in our book. Get your groomsmen something that they will use every day or simply keep as a keepsake to remind them of the night they may not remember. We really like these custom engraved billfolds in a box from Groovy Guy Gifts They even sent us one to check out for ourselves.

Groomsmen Gifts

  • Sunglasses – If you are planning to have a casual, outdoor wedding then consider stylish sunglasses for the whole wedding party. The bridesmaids and groomsmen can each rock matching shades to help shield their eyes from the sun while still looking the part of being in the wedding party. Now, I’m not talking the flimsy plastic sunglasses; to make ordering fashionable sunglasses easy for you (money and time considering) bulk order them for everyone in one easy purchase. Plus, a gift like this, that’s inclusive for everyone offers you all a fun photo opportunity.

Glasses as gifts for bridal party

Picture Frame – A photo frame is another gift that can be used for both bridesmaids and groomsmen. If you have a well-loved photo of you and your friend or family member, place it in the frame to gift to it to them. Then, when you get your wedding photos back, they can replace the picture with the professional shot of your special day! Take this idea a step further, by engraving the picture frames with an inside joke or a quote you both love.

 

  • Watch – If you want to give your groomsmen an accessory they can wear on your wedding day and long after, gift them one of these on-trend wooden watches. This is a timeless gift, that’s done in a unique way, so it’s sure to be one your guys have never seen before! Your group will look gorgeous with these watches making an appearance in the wedding photos.

 

  • Mugs- A really trendy gift right now and for good reason. They’re practical, stylish, and customizable. Great for bridesmaids and groomsmen alike! Bridesmaids Gifts Boutique sent us a Simply Seamless Wine Cups to give a sip. How fun are these?

Bridal Party Gifts

 

 

This list just scrapes the surface of the endless options to give to your wedding party, but hopefully, this list helps get the gears in your mind turning! Remember, it’s best to give your friends and family members something personal enough to properly thank them while staying within your budget. To make these gift ideas extra special, pair them with a handwritten note thanking each person in the wedding party for something specific they did to help your months of wedding planning memorable!

Portrait Wardrobe Best Practices

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We get it, dressing your children on a daily basis is hard enough, but then trying to coordinate outfits for family photos. Forget it! Unless you’re like us and you head to Target just about everytime we need to take a family photo. Here are a few quick tips from The Stokes on how to get the best results when it comes to planning for your family photos.

What to wear for photos? Dress kids photo

Nothing is worse than wearing clothes that make you feel uncomfortable and there is no better way to get your four-year-old daughter madder than a hatter than to make her wear something she hates. We recommend for families with children who are still of napping age, to schedule their session after nap time to avoid those “witching hours” we know so well in our home.

For us, we love all things grey and blue. I also happen to really love black and neutral whites and creams. While our home may be loud, we want our clothing to feel understated and classic for years to come. When choosing neutrals, opt for a brown tone for a warm color palette, or a gray tone for a cool color palate. Avoid wearing bright white because it will act as a light reflector and will draw the eye to whoever is wearing it.

What to wear for family photos?

Personally, I like a hint of patterns, especially when it is used as an accent piece. But be careful, patterns can add too much texture and distract. We like classic plads and simple elegant florals. Avoid trendy shapes that quickly will date your photo. Just think of your own cringe-worthy photos from 1990 when mom made you wear that hideous turtleneck and you had bleach blonde bangs.  Maybe that was just us…When kept in moderation, patterns can add interesting texture to an image and can bring out the personality of the person wearing it. Avoid matchy matchy outfits like the trend of everyone wearing jeans and white t-shirts. Also, a rule in the Stokhaus is that we do not wear overly branded clothes, this should apply for your family shoot too. We don’t want to distract from your face. and the Nike Swoosh does not need to be in your family portraits. We can talk about it when you’re a senior and you want to do sports photos. Maybe.

How to have fun with family photos

Since we’re located in Medford, many of our family portrait sessions take place with a Northwoods background, thus we recommend not wearing green. We want you to stand out from the background. We like to contrast the environment. One of the best ways to choose your color palette is to first determine if your photo shoot environment has cool or warm tones. For example, an orchard in the fall has yellow, orange, and red warm tones; a beach in the spring has blue, green, and white cool tones.

what to wear for family photos

Furthermore, what are your plans for your photos? Hopefully, you print them and have them hung in your home for years to come. Our walls are very neutral and most of our prints are black and white, but if you want some color in your home make sure the end result fits the decor and color theme of your home. For more simple Do’s & Don’t check out the link below. Also, check out our Pinterest Page for more suggestions.

Wardrobe-Dos-and-Donts

 

3 Essential Tips To Look Picture Perfect // Advice for Men

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Hey Guys, Your wedding and engagement photos are representative of one of the biggest moments in your life. In the past, we’ve shared some important considerations when deciding on your initial engagement photoshoot. Besides the logistic planning that goes into preparing for a shoot, there’s also the personal – what can you do to ensure you look your best? 

You know how perfect your fiancé is, but capturing that perfection can sometimes seem daunting. We have some tips on how to look and feel your best in order to capture the ideal representation of the love that you and your fiancé share and be confident while doing it. 

Get Your Hairstyle Right

This one may seem obvious, but hair mishaps are very common. You and your fiancé should plan your hairstyles at least a couple of weeks ahead of time. This way, if you’re trying out a new look, you’ll have time to see if the style works. However, it’s best to stick to a style you already know makes you look good. Work with your regular, trusted stylist, as they’re the person who knows your hair best and how to style it. If you don’t have a normal hairstylist, ask a friend for recommendations. It also helps if your bride to be is a hair stylist. 

 

Take Care of Your Skin

Photo-editing can only do so much after pictures are taken, so essential skincare is a must before your shoot. The best advice is to maintain your usual skincare routine, as using new products can cause your skin to have an unwanted reaction – including surprise breakouts, redness, and irritation, or increased sensitivity. If you normally slack on caring for your skin, try to build a routine a few weeks before – drink plenty of water, use a gentle cleanser to wash your face, and moisturize.

Many men face an additional skincare challenge with their facial hair. Bad shaving habits, like using an expired razor or improperly navigating the grain of your hair, can cause annoying breakouts. You can take steps to avoid shaving mistakes by changing your razor every 6-8 weeks, storing your razor in an area where there is limited water exposure to prevent bacteria build-up, and avoiding the temptation to use body wash or soap as a shaving product, as doing so can cause further irritation or breakouts.

 

Don’t Forget the Details

The smallest details can make a huge difference in your confidence before a shoot. The more confident you feel, the better the final result. To enhance your smile, consider switching out your toothpaste or looking into whitening strips. Making sure your eyebrows are neatly groomed and put together also makes a huge difference in how your face looks. Going to a professional to groom your brows is never a bad idea, but it’s totally possible to do it yourself.

Keeping in mind these essential tips will do wonders for your look before your big shoot so that the only thing you’ll have to worry about is celebrating you and your fiancé’s love and commitment.

 

Mens Grooming Harrys