How I knew he was the one...

Alexandra Marie Photography

We love love. Because weddings are all about love, right?? So in the midst of our planning tips, tricks, and secrets, we wanted to take a moment to remind you what your wedding day is all about.

It's all about marriage. It's all about "the one" you are going to spend forever and always with.

So we decided to ask you how you knew when you found "the one." You may be thinking about getting engaged, asking the question soon, or at the start of a beautiful relationship and are wondering how you know when the time is right! Or you're me and just love hearing these adorable stories ;)

So sit back, relax, and enjoy :)

"The day I met him. I was a ski instructor and he was a snowboard instructor. I had a few nervous kids in my class and when he made them not only smile and laugh but also helped them understand the concept I was teaching - without ever having put on a pair of skis himself - I knew I couldn't let him get away."

"He makes me laugh and puts up with me even though I annoy him sometimes."

"I was getting rid of old clothes and he asked why. I said I don't have enough room in my closet and he told me he would give me a bigger closet! Sold! hahaha!"

"Because no matter how much he may annoy me sometimes, I can't help but smile when I look at him. I knew that from the second week in!"

"When he took me to his parent's house for Christmas after only dating for three months and told his family he planned on keeping me around for a while."

"My fiance and I have a number in common. 610. It is our birthdays (3.21.91, 3+2+1=6, 9+1=10 and 2.13.82) 610 also comes up a lot more for both of us but I am not going to write it all out lol. Also, his son is named Cayden and my daughter's name is Cadence...both named before we met! We also both had surgery and our scars match up when we are laying on each other. And then there's the obvious, I knew he was he one when I couldn't explain my feelings. They were too strong and not very understandable. I made choices involving him that I couldn't explain. Everything, just was. It was like my heart was making all decisions without my permission. Yeah, he's the one :)"

"They are not, nor do they bring drama That's how you know."

"No matter how annoyed or upset or moody I am, he never fails to make me do my embarrassing witch cackle laugh. We can be in an empty room and have the best time! We are like two mischievous kids when we're together. But most of all, after 5 and a half years togehter, we are still like loved up teenagers."

"I never get sick of his company. No matter what I am doing, I know that I would enjoy it more if I was sharing the moment with him."

"He's the one for me because he's patient with me when I lack patience. He always knows how to make me laugh even when I am mad and cheer me up or make me feel better when I am having a bad day. We built our relationship based on friendship, and have shared the same values and relationship goals for our future together. He is easy to communicate with and knows my personality even if I don't always express myself. He is the one for me because he is the one I want to talk to when something good or bad happens and he continues to push me to be a better person. He is the one for me, because he makes me feel lucky to be his fiance, and I couldn't imagine my world without him."

"They say relationships are hard, but the right one isn't. Life is still hard, sure, but my true love is always the joyful part."

A huge thank you to everyone who shared your story and reasons you know that he/she is "the one." It is always great to get some positive energy in the midst of planning and to remember what this wedding is all about!

And if you didn't have a chance to tell us, comment below with how you knew that he/she was "the one." We would love to add to our list!

Photography Myths Uncovered

Written with love, by Andy Macpherson

So this is it! You have your engagement ring and are stepping into the world of planning your wedding. You are researching your but off and you bought an armful of bridal magazines, not to mention setting up a Pinterest board or two...or ten.

If you follow the normal procedure, you have picked out your wedding venue, figured out the reception location and catering, and have tried a few wedding dresses on. Now its time to start looking for a photographer! You grab your trusty list of ‘questions to ask when hiring a photographer’ which can be found in EVERY bridal magazine or on any blog and you are ready to go!

Lets go over some of the questions and see if we can shed some light on a few of them. This should help you and free you up from the stress those big lists un-necessarily create.
 

How long? How many?

One of the first questions on those lists is: “How long have you been in business?” or “How many weddings have you done?” As a photographer this question is very annoying and un-necessary. It IS important to make sure your photographer is capable, but you can do so by asking to see other wedding clients' complete gallery, and if you really need to, ask for recommendations from past clients.

Upfront and Honest

The number of weddings and if the photographer has ever been to your venue, is really not as important as you might think. However, if the photographer is trying to tell you they are very experienced and you find out they have only photographed one other wedding, run away as fast as you can. If they aren’t honest and upfront with you, DO NOT do business with them.

What about the equipment?

Another good question they tell you to ask is, “What kind of equipment do you use?”. This meme sums it up.

Just like the typewriter doesn’t write a book, the camera only does what the photographer wants it to. If you like the photographer’s work, does it matter what camera he used to take it with? Do you know the difference between a Nikon d3, d300, d3200, d800? Or the difference between a Canon mark III and a Nikon d4? When you start hashing it out and breaking it down it doesn’t matter.

Are you a good match?

If you absolutely LOVE the photographer's work, just go have a conversation about your wedding and what you are looking for in your photos, and see if you get along.

One thing we like to do to see if we are a good fit with the couple looking for a photographer is to offer them a engagement shoot. By spending some time with them and having some fun shooting and delivering great results, it helps us and the couple feel comfortable working together.

As you continue on your wedding planning and shopping for a wedding photographer, hopefully this will help you out a little bit. Have some fun and find a photographer you get along with and connect with. Other than that, as long as you are confident in their ability to deliver great results, the rest are just minor details. Remember, your wedding is YOUR day so make sure you have people around you that you feel comfortable with.

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We are a husband and wife run business located in New Jersey but we cover weddings worldwide. We are wedding photographers for the classic bride!

Shopping With Caution

I am a shopper. I love shopping and have loved it for as long as I can remember.

When I was young, back to school shopping was the highlight of my summer. Not only did I get to spend an entire day with my mom (just the two of us for an entire day!) but I got to get all of the new clothes I was just dying to have! And this wasn't just any shopping trip, this was an entire day event.

We would get up early and be ready to shop as soon as the doors opened at the mall, Starbucks in hand. And we would shop, shop, shop until lunch time. Quick lunch break at the food court and sometimes we would even head on over to another mall across town! One year, I even got my second piercings on my ears! But I digress.

While I never remember getting a specified budget for these shopping trips, I was a smart girl, and a kind girl. And I was never greedy - I always shopped with caution.

How to shop with caution:

I am not sure if this is a problem for all girls, but I have such a hard time deciding whether or not I should buy something. I know it often comes down to price but at that time in my life, that wasn't the case, because I wasn't even paying.

I had the most difficult time deciding whether or not I would actually wear something I liked. I would try it one, liked it but didn't love it, and couldn't decide if it was something I would even take the tag off of. Sounds a little crazy, now that I am writing it all out.

But one year, this all changed. My mom gave me a little piece of advice that I still use to this day.

She said to me, "How many times do you think you are going to wear this shirt in your life."

And I responded with, "Maybe three times?"

"Okay. The shirt costs $20. Divide that $20 by the three times you will wear it, and you get about $6.67."

"Okay..." I said.

"Now do you think that shirt is worth $6.67 for each wear?"

And for some reason, that clicked. And it has worked for me ever since!

Many of you may be shaking your heads, not wrapping your head around this whole concept, and I understand that. This may not work for everyone, but it worked for me!

How does this relate to weddings?

Yes, the big question that you've probably been thinking this whole time! How does this relate to my wedding?

There are many items you will see that you will want to buy and we all know that we can't have everything. So if you are having trouble deciding, I want you to think back to how I shop with caution.

Here's an example:

You find the most adorable favors and they are $5 each. You have 160 guests. Are those guests going to use that item $5 worth of times? Is it really worth what you're going to get out of it?

If you have 100 guests and feel pressure to host the bar "because that is what you heard is the proper thing to do," think about the cost vs the use. There may only be 5 guests who even drink alcohol at your wedding and you are paying $30 per person for an open bar. Doesn't seem like you're shopping with caution, are you?

Or if you find a gorgeous dress that you know you can turn into a casual dress after the wedding that you'll get 500 uses out of over its lifetime, then you may be willing to spend a little more on it!

Get my drift?

I know this won't work for everyone, but it sure works for me so I wanted to share that little piece of advice my mom gave me years ago.

And if all else fails, shop with caution.