Here are some of my favorite photos of a recent wedding done at Club Nautico in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Here some of my favorites photos of a wedding celebrated at the Museo Castillo Serrallés.
Several weeks ago I got the privilege to photograph a wedding at the Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza of an extremely in love couple from USA who chose Puerto Rico as their location for their wedding.
Here are some of my favorites from that wedding.
What’s hot for weddings in 2009?
DRESSES
1. Gray is the “it” color for wedding apparel this year, with fabrics ranging from silver-gray to lavender-tinged gray to deep, dark steel gray. Gray looks great with yellow or pink, and it’s striking with a deep purple.
2. Pink continues its comeback in 2009, with shades of it showing up on details within the bride’s dress, in large splashes on bridesmaids’ gowns and in bouquets.
3. Chocolate brown, so popular last year, remains high on the color wheel of choices for brides in 2009.
If you’re intrigued by the idea of gray, pink or chocolate, but not sure about accent colors, take a tried-and-true hint from interior designers. Visit the paint department of your favorite home improvement store and collect strips of paint chips. Take them home, arrange them, and rearrange them. You’ll soon find your favorites emerging as you ponder the possibilities.
CAKES
4. Influenced by elaborate cake decorating challenges on cable TV shows, we’re seeing more and more asymmetrical wedding cakes. These askew masterpieces are often quite colorful, which is another trend we’re seeing plenty of in 2009 – fewer white-on-white wedding cakes.
5. For a trendy reception, brides are taking a cue from the recent return of the cupcake fad. Cupcakes situated on a tower continues to be a popular option, but the new trick is to order cupcakes in geometric shapes instead of the expected round.
6. If you desire a more traditional wedding cake rather than cupcakes, the geometric-shaped trend carries over into larger layers, as well. Square-shaped or hexagonal-shaped layers are popular this year, and stacking the layers can create a unique, eye-catching look.
7. Monochrome cakes still have their place, especially when the bride opts for the ever-popular black-and-white wedding theme. While black icing in moderation can be quite striking against a stark white cake, some brides step it up a few notches with intricate lacey details and splashes of black on their cakes.
FOOD
8. Sample stations have emerged as a popular alternative to a sit-down dinner or buffet.
9. Wine and cheese pairings, champagne bars, coffee, and dessert stations are popping up at receptions from coast to coast. Other options include potato bars with plenty of toppings, sushi, seafood, and Tex-Mex stations.
Sample stations can be a very considerate way to pamper your guests who may have special dietary needs. How about a selection for diabetics, vegetarians, or those with specific food allergies?
Multi-cultural couples also use food stations as a way to introduce their unique cultures to each other and to their guests.
LIGHTING
10. On the wall or on the dance floor, projecting your names or initials in light against a surface can be a striking addition to your reception décor.
Choose a traditional-looking monogram with the bride’s initial on the left, the groom’s initial on the right, and the initial for the groom’s last name in the center. Or, if the bride is keeping her own name, go with your first names or initials. Another option is to have a graphic designer create your own custom logo, incorporating something sentimental from your courtship with your names or initials. Whether you realized you were meant for each other while high at the Eiffel Tower or on a Ferris wheel, little details like this can be fabulous touches for your ceremony and reception.
Check with your DJ to see if they have the equipment needed to reflect your initials or logo at the reception.
GREEN WEDDINGS
With concern for our earth growing, it’s easy to make subtle changes to make sure your wedding has less of an impact on the environment.
11. Minimize the amount of driving for your guests by holding the ceremony and reception in one spot. Sometimes this just isn’t possible. For example, your church won’t allow you to have a champagne toast or an open bar at your reception. In that case, choose a reception site that doesn’t require guests to drive to another town.
12. Recycled paper for wedding invitations is another easy way to go green. Or, take that a step farther and use one of the many beautiful papers with seeds embedded, and ask recipients to plant them and enjoy the flowers in their yards.
Other ways to go green include wearing a vintage gown, choosing organic or homegrown flowers, beeswax or soy-based candles, and tossing biodegradable confetti as the couple makes their getaway.
This video contains my favorite photos from Gwendolyn & Ivan wedding celebrated at Hacienda Siesta Alegre in Rio Grande.
With the sacredness of the ceremony out of the way, the reception is the place where guests want to walk in and say, “Wow! Now we’re going to have fun. It’s time to celebrate!”
If you’re staying at the church for a while to finish taking photographs, don’t forget about your guests. They are already on the way to your reception site.
Considering the fact that guests tend to arrive for the wedding 30 minutes early, by the time the ceremony is over, they’ve invested quite a bit of time. Many have also traveled a distance to be there. Don’t rush through your photos before heading to the reception, but do be respectful of your guests.
Your coordinator, the reception site staff, or your attendants can help make sure the reception site’s tables are set up and the decorations are in place early the day of the wedding or the night before. Be sure to find out what time the band or DJ needs to set up, and make arrangements for someone to be there to let them in. If you’re using an off-site caterer and baker, you’ll need to make arrangements for someone to let them in as well, with plenty of time to set things up.
While they’re waiting for your grand entrance, your guests will be happy with light appetizers. Keep your guests there, having fun and satisfied. You don’t want guests thinking, “Well, I’m starving so I’m leaving.”
A coordinator can take care of the guests and prevent an awkward transition from ceremony to reception. If you don’t have a coordinator, appoint someone to make sure that when people arrive at the reception, the music is playing, the bar is ready, the hors d’oeuvres are being served, and there is some sort of organization to it so people don’t arrive only to stand around waiting for the bride and groom to get there.
What’s the most important part of a reception? The visual impact is what people will remember.
Be creative with touches like lights, floating flowers or candles as centerpieces. Fresh flowers, candlelight and music add so much to a wedding, and they add ambiance to the reception site.
Another way to add ambiance is to rent a chocolate fountain. If the chocolate fountain is there, you’ve got a great party. The chocolate fountain earns points for being visually appealing and also tops another important aspect of the reception – cuisine.
Food is one reason people come to a wedding, so don’t disappoint them.
There are lots of choices when it comes to food for your reception. Sit-down dinners tend to be most expensive since your caterer will need to hire more servers. Appetizers can be a less expensive choice, but not if they’re being served at meal time. Guests tend to fill up on them, making your per person price higher. When it comes to choosing between a buffet or hors d’oeuvres reception, it all depends on what you would like to serve. Often, a buffet can be the same price or less expensive than ordering finger foods.
To keep your guests happy, make plans to cut and serve the cake in a timely manner. Guests of all ages don’t want to leave before they enjoy a piece.
Depending on where you live, one of the most expensive additions to your wedding reception could be the fancy mints that are served alongside the wedding cake.
These are often molded into the shape of a heart or a flower, or the shape might have special meaning to the bride and groom. They are sweet, smooth confections that are labor-intensive and, as such, may come with a hefty price tag.
If you’ve got the time to devote to creating your own wedding mints, you can freeze them, leaving plenty of time to devote to other wedding-related tasks without having to worry about the mints at the last minute.
First, you’ll need to obtain the mint molds. This type of mint needs to be formed using soft, flexible plastic molds. Keep in mind that candy molds are not the same thing and you won’t have the same results. Candy molds are made from a stiffer plastic, which does not allow the mint to pop out like the flexible molds.
Flexible molds are easy to find online and they are available in many forms. You might choose an initial mold to represent the bride and groom’s last name. Other options to consider would be roses, calla lilies, swirls, hearts, cupid, bells, bride and groom silhouettes or doves. If the wedding has a western theme or the bride and groom share a love of all things equine, choose a boot or cowboy hat mold. If he proposed at the beach, choose a sea shell mold. An ultra-religious couple might choose praying hands or a cross. The possibilities are endless.
You’ll only need one mold of each shape, since you’ll be pressing the dough for each individual mint into the mold and popping them out. If you plan to have helpers, go ahead and order an extra mold or two for them to use and you’ll get done much faster.
When it’s time to make the mints, be sure to clear off plenty of work space on the counter and cover it with wax paper or parchment paper.
To make the mints, follow the recipe to make the dough (below). Take a very small ball of dough, roll in granulated sugar, press into the rubber mint mold, press out immediately, and let dry at room temperature for 1-2 days.
Once the mints have dried, pack them in freezer-safe containers, with wax paper separating each layer. They may be refrigerated for up to six months or frozen for up to a year. If frozen, take them out of the freezer the morning of the wedding, remove the lid, and allow to thaw.
Cream Cheese Mint Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
8-oz. block Philadelphia brand cream cheese, room temperature
2 lb. bag of powdered sugar
1/8 teaspoon flavoring (peppermint, crème de menthe, vanilla butternut, almond, etc.)
Food coloring, if desired
DIRECTIONS:
In a mixing bow, beat together the cream cheese and flavoring until smooth. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar. Add food coloring, if desired (the more you add, the darker the color, so be careful). Mix well. You’ll want the dough to be stiff enough to hold its form, but not liquid enough to slide out of the mint mold without setting up.
Form balls of dough approximately 1/2-inch in diameter. Roll in granulated sugar, press into rubber mint mold, press out immediately onto wax paper, and let dry at room temperature for 1-2 days. NOTE: May need to adjust the size of the dough balls based on the size of the flexible rubber mint mold that you have chosen.
Makes approximately 150 mints.
Your first dance as husband and wife will likely stand out in your memory for the rest of your life. How can you make sure these treasured moments go smoothly?
Dance Lessons
Most couples haven’t had formal dance training, but with the popularity of shows such as “Dancing With the Stars,” couples feel nervous about putting their arms around each other and simply swaying to the music.
Take a few dance lessons in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Don’t worry about putting on a show or learning difficult moves. Some basic dance steps will give you both the confidence to glide gracefully across the dance floor, impressing your guests.
Dim the Lights
Well in advance of your reception, find out where the light switches are at your site and learn how to dim the lights. Assign this task to someone trustworthy so that he or she can dim the lights when it’s time for your first dance. Not only is it romantic, it will give your DJ the chance to shine your custom monogram or wedding logo onto the wall or onto the dance floor. Check with your DJ to see what services they might be able to provide.
Dimming the lights can also let your guests know what is next on the agenda. If the lights are dimmed for your first dance, as soon as that dance is over your DJ is ready to get the party started with disco lights zigzagging and creating high energy to let the guests know it’s time to dance.
Choosing By Type of Dance
The song you choose for your first dance may be “your” song, so the choice has already been made. But if you’re not sure about a song, how do you narrow it down?
One way to choose is to decide what type of dance would you like to kick off the reception – slow dance, fox trot, swing, waltz? If you’re taking dance lessons, ask your instructor for suggestions. Once you have chosen the type of dance, it’s time to choose the song.
Some great suggestions include:
SLOW DANCE
• “Amazed” by Lonestar
• “At Last” by Etta James, Celine Dion, Nat “King” Cole or Beyoncé
• “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon
• “Don’t Know Much” by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville
• “It’s Your Love” by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw
• “Unforgettable” by Nat “King” Cole
FOX TROT
• “A Wink and a Smile” by Harry Connick, Jr.
• “Cheek to Cheek” by Fred Astaire
• “Could I Have This Dance” by Anne Murray
• “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
• “I Hear a Symphony” by The Supremes
RUMBA
• “Fields of Gold” by Sting
• “How Deep is Your Love” by the Bee Gees
• “I Don’t Wan to Live Without You” by Foreigner
• “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder
• “Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel
• “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green
SWING
• “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin
• “I’ve Got You Under my Skin” by Frank Sinatra
• “More” by Bobby Darin
• “Stepping Out” by Tony Bennett and Christina Aguilera
• “The Way you Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
WALTZ
• “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones
• “Could I Have This Dance” by Anne Murray
• “Open Arms” by Journey
• “When I Need You” by Leo Sayer
• “When I Said I Do” by Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black
Choosing By Specific Song
Another way to make the decision is to make the song itself the top priority rather than the dance. How about the song that was playing when you met? A favorite song that the two of you share? A song with lyrics that have special meaning for you? Now that you have a song in mind, ask your dance instructor or your DJ for suggestions about the type of dance that would be most appropriate.
Whichever song and type of dance you choose, take a deep breath, look into each others’ eyes, and enjoy those minutes alone on the dance floor before your guests join in.
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