When thinking of a wedding photo album, the first thing that comes to mind is the usual LP record-album sized scrapbook with loads of pages of photographs all lovingly displayed. Fortunately, the ever changing technology has presented us with another innovation, the digital wedding photo album. First off, a digital wedding photo album is a product put together by a digital camera and a computer program (usually PhotoShop or Paint Shop Pro) and then exists only as electronic information as opposed to traditional negatives and stills.

What are the Pros and Cons?

Cons

Probably the main disadvantage of a digital wedding photo album is that it doesn’t look all that impressive. You can’t actually hold it and impress everyone around like with a traditional wedding photo album. When you receive a digital wedding photo album from your photographer, it’s usually comes out as a CD in a protective case. Normally you can select some individual stills to be made into prints or a smaller version of the traditional wedding album, but that would sure cost extra (depending on the photographer).

Pros

In the eyes of most couples and for professional photographers, there are far more advantages to digital wedding photo albums than disadvantages. It’s much easier to make copies of wedding images when you’re utilizing digital photography with a digital camera than by a conventional film camera. All that is needed is a desktop printer and special “photography print” papers in order to make hard copies. You can even skip the latter and just email the images to your loved ones and exes for them to view in their computers.

Yet another advantage is that your digital wedding photo album is safer than a traditional wedding photo album. Because the images are all stored in a computer as electronic files, you can make as many back up copies as you like. This is rather hard to do with traditional print film. If your wedding album is ever destroyed, all you can do is cross your fingers and hope that the photographer you used is not only still in business, but has kept all of the negatives.

Remember that another major advantage is it’s easier to add any effects with a digital image than with a traditional print film. Basic effects could include getting rid of glare spots, red-eyes or cropping the image to make an overall better composition. Even more spectacular effects include transforming the images into sepia tones, to blend a series of images into just one photo or to give your photo borders and frames.

Wrapping up, it’s much easier and usually much more economic to go with a digital wedding photo album than a traditional film album. Just always be sure to ask your photographer if it is possible to combine both type of album, because in all likelihood he is desperate for business and he’ll cut you a deal.

For many couples who are planning their wedding, one of their biggest concerns is the price and budget for a wedding photographer. They don’t want it to be so cheap that they have to settle for someone ill-experienced who could mess up their precious moments in print, but they do not want to shell out an arm and a leg for a wedding photographer either. Because a wedding is something that the majority of us will only experience once, most of us are clueless on what a reasonable wedding photographer price would be or how much we should budget to get the wedding photographer that suits our preferences.

There are several factors that can affect the wedding photographer price and each of these factors could increase or decrease the price you will have to pay to have your photographs taken, developed, and delivered. It is important to ask the photographer questions about the pricing of different packages and other things before booking the photographer to handle your wedding. Sometimes, the wedding photographer price does not include everything that you think should be included for the price.

Optional Types of Pricing

Generally, there are two different pricing methods that are used in determining a wedding photographer price. In the first method, the bride and groom pick a specific wedding portrait package that includes different types and styles of photographs for a set price this normally includes the photography session and the development of the photographs afterwards. If additional photographs are needed after the photography session they can be ordered as extras. This method allows the person planning the wedding to determine the exact cost of the wedding photographs before the event so that the costs can be budgeted accurately.

The second method in determining a wedding photographer price which is commonly used is paying a set price for the photography session and then choosing which photographs you would like to obtain after the event. This method can be really cost effective if you will only be purchasing a few photographs, but can get very expensive if you would like to order a lot of photographs or are interested in giving some of them out to friends and family members. An unscrupulous wedding photographer may use this type of pricing to charge a low session rate to get the job and then sets a high price for developing the photographs in order to compensate for the low session charge and to make their money. Thus it is crucial to ask what is included in the wedding photographer price prior to signing anything or scheduling the photographer to handle your wedding photography.

Finding an affordable wedding photography package isn’t easy. Every bride wants the best for her wedding, but the reality is that not every bride can afford the best. Many couples have limited budgets with which to work and all too often, they find themselves having to cut corners to avoid over-spending. The first aspect of a wedding that is slashed for costs is the professional wedding photographer.

The reason for this is that wedding photography prices are anything but standardized. Depending on the photographer you select, the format and style of photography and the length of the celebration, the base rate can fluctuate wildly. Added to this is the fact that there are almost limitless options in the wedding photography package. The more extras you add, the higher the price.

Many who are seeking budget wedding photography decide to spend their money on hiring a better photographer to do less work. Rather than selecting a lower priced photographer and ordering a huge photo package, they go with the photographer that they most trust and order a smaller package. Some couples even forgo the traditional wedding photography package altogether and simply buy the negatives or original digital images from the photographer. These couples then use their own technological savvy to create personalized albums and reprints that are meaningful to them.

The best wedding photographer will probably maintain a traditionalist view. They may feel that as the expert, the wedding photographer is the only one truly suited to put together the wedding album. This argument does have some merit. The photographer is the only one who knows what he or she was trying to convey in each pose. Additionally, the photographer works closely with trusted contacts at the developing lab and is able to judge when photos return with imperfections. He or she is familiar with color balance and stylistic concerns and is therefore quite adept at placing the photos within the album to create a pleasing whole.

The onset of digital photography and computer graphics programs has made it possible for individuals to create their own professional looking photos rather than pick from a wedding photography package. If you’re the type of couple that has a flair for crafts or graphics, you might be able to do your own retouching of your photos. For some couples, creating a wedding album is a fun project that they take into their own hands.

Many couples opt for the best of both worlds. These couples purchase a basic wedding photography package that includes a small album and a few reprints. They also purchase the original media and create a personalized album as well. They may do reprints and reorders themselves, or they may order these items from their photographer, depending on how much time and money they have. This way, the couple receives a classic wedding album to show their children and grandchildren, as well as the ability to personalize and scrapbook to their hearts’ content.

Whatever your feelings on wedding photography packages, you are certain to find a photographer who will meet your needs. The wedding photography market is changing rapidly and photographers are adapting to the times. Perhaps you want a traditional large wedding photography package that includes an album full of traditional posed photos. Maybe you want to purchase nothing but the photographer’s time and the raw media. Or perhaps you want something in between, a small photo package that also includes the original media. The choice is yours. It is your wedding and you deserve a photographer that will work with the choices that you make.

You are planning your dream wedding. No expense will be spared; price is not a consideration. On your wedding day, the world revolves around you and only you. Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime experience — the day that your most romantic fantasies come true.

It’s time to begin planning every little detail, from the dress you will wear to the napkins on the table. As you begin to plan your wedding, don’t forget to think about the wedding favors you will give to your guests. You know that you do not want an inexpensive wedding favor. Instead, you want an elegant wedding favor that your guests will appreciate and that will not go into the trash can as soon as they  get home. With that in mind, let’s look at some ideas for unique, elegant wedding favors that your guests will love.

Unique Wedding Favor Ideas to Create Yourself

Many brides to be enjoy making their own wedding favors. This allows them to give one-of-a-kind favors to their guests and show off their creative flair. It’s true that this option also saves a few dollars, but the most important reason to make your own wedding favors is the impact they will have on your guests.

There are an unlimited number of options when creating your own wedding favors. One option is to purchase elegant wedding favor boxes and fill them with either baked goods or homemade candies. You should be able to find both pyramid shaped and heart shaped wedding favor boxes. Wedding favor bags are also an option. There are some very pretty ones available in a huge variety of colors.

More Elegant Ideas

If you don’t wish to create your own favors or simply don’t have the time, you can purchase your wedding favors. There are a large number of options available to you here as well. One idea that is certain to please your guests is to offer them picture frames that suit the occasion of your wedding. This would be a nice alternative to edible wedding favors. Silver bottle openers could also be an elegant wedding favor for your guests. Engrave your wedding date on them to make them especially memorable.
 
Here are some more ideas that you can use for elegant wedding favors. Glass coasters, silver wine stoppers, letter openers and keychains all become memorable wedding favors when inscribed with your wedding date or a special quote or poem. We have barely scratched the surface when it comes to elegant wedding favor ideas. The best idea of all is to choose the wedding favor that means the most to you.

Invitations to a wedding are welcome pieces of mail that people enjoy receiving. It’s fun to open up that envelope knowing there’s an invitation inside. With all of today’s junk mail, how can your mailing envelope be unique to get noticed by your guests?

Why not consider being creative with the outside appearance of your ready-to-mail wedding invitation using any of these suggestions.

• Shape - With so many wedding invitation designs available today, you could easily select a uniquely shaped style such as square or tea length. The mailing envelope will then be the same unusual size to accomodate the invitation.
• Style - Another option is to select a Seal and Send wedding invitation style. This all-in-one invitation is designed to be folded into a self-mailing piece eliminating the need for a mailing envelope. The response card is attached to the invitation so it can be easily detached by your wedding guest along the perforation. Since it is a postcard, the return mailing envelope is eliminated and your postage cost will be less.
• Color - How about using color for emphasis? Some wedding invitations now come with colored mailing envelopes. In particular, self-mailer invitations often include a colored envelopment that holds your invitation card and has a built-in pocket for keeping any extra enclosures. It is then folded up wrapping around all your invitation pieces to become your mailing envelope.
• Decorative Seals - Adding a seal to your wedding invitation envelope could be that extra touch you’ve been looking for. Even though your envelope is sealed, you can choose to place a special seal on the back so it gives the illusion that it is actually holding the flap down. There are often seal personalization choices, from monograms to first names. Design options include white, clear, gold, silver, embossed, themes, etc.
• Custom Wedding Stamps - There are now websites that offer you the option of creating your own personalized postage stamps using an uploaded photo or choosing from ready-to-use wedding designs. This is a great way to dress up your wedding invitation envelopes to reflect your personal style.

You want to make sure your wedding invitation envelope is attention grabbing and doesn’t get misplaced in your guests’ stack of junk mail. Using any of the above ideas will also start creating excitement before they even open your invitation.