Grand Prairie Wedding

Some of you may already know.  I am trying to start building a portfolio.  I am interested in starting my own bussiness as a photographer.  I would love to know more on how others have gotten started.

Please share! :)

What made you want to start a career in photography?

What resources have you found useful for Building a webpage, Making a logo?

Where did you find props or place to shoot at?

Do you have a great place to buy cheap equipment (Lighting, lenses)?

How did you know what to buy?

=) Any other information you'd like to share would be great too!

I am getting married to a wonderful woman this summer. We want to find some wedding favors that suit us. The problem. We are two women and everything we find is a bride and a groom . Does anyone have ideal where we can look. We live in Grande Prairie Alberta Canada 

This wedding planning community is huge!  I know there are now brides from all over the world!  Curious to see where everyone is from.

I'm a bride from Chino, California 

How about you.  Where are you from?

...from?

I know I can look in everyone's bio, but that would just be too easy. Gotta love how PW brings everyone together from all over.

Where is everyone from??

I am in Houston, Texas

Do you like/love where you live?

Me... well I've lived in the same town I was born in here in California.  The location of it is perfect for everything here in Cali (beaches, amusement parks, etc.), but in the past 5 years we are getting a bunch of crappy people from South of us... (gangs, people who drive like s**t, rude, no cares for anyone but themselves).  Although I love the beach I think I should move to the mid-west.  I'm a country girl at <3.  California is getting crappier and crappier imo (at least where i live).  I love the small town feel and with everyone moving where I live to it's losing that feeling.

I want to move... what about you girls?

edit: i  do love CA... i just hate the town i live in! yuck!

favorite 80's memories.  Remember these???

Bah! I flew home last night after going home for 10days for wedding planning. Well I arrived in Grand prairie last night to discover they had lost one of my suitcases:( Of course it's the one that has all my hygiene stuff in it and the majority of my clothes:( Oh and all my wedding stuff like my budget and all the paperwork from the visit! It was supposed to be on the flight after mine last night so would have arrived before midnight but I just called to confirm and they can't even tell me if it's left edmonton yet to go to GP.

Oh the joys of traveling. Good thing I paid with my VISA because I think they cover me buying new bathroom stuff:)

Born and raised in a very small town in northern British Columbia has resulted in one thing, one very big personality. I love life, in every way shape and form!  Which means I am also a very friendly, chatty, outgoing and fun loving individual. Which makes me a perfect fit with my fiance!  He is extremely charming, comical, social butterfly, and very entertaining, to say the least.

Ryan too hails from my small northern hometown of Dawson Creek, although he was born in Surrey.  We went to the same schools, knew the same people and somehow never really knew each other.  Now one can imagine that growing up in a small town like Dawson, everybody knows everybody - which I guess is true.  Although I never had formally met Ryan, I always knew who he was.  I remember seeing him in the hallways, hanging out with my older sisters group of friends, and always being the one who was telling the stories and cracking the jokes.  Was he cute?  Yup.  Popular? Sure was.  Ya think I'd have the guts to go up and introduce myself to a senior when I was a freshman?  Not a chance in hell!  Thinking back about it now, I cant believe I never did!  

As years went on, and each one of us had went off to college, and grew into who we are today something in each of our lives seemed to be missing.  Each of us had serious relationships, and as those relationships turned into the the more adult style, spend the rest of your lives together....well they just didn't feel right. Me, myself, I was dating a nice guy, had a beautiful house, nice vehicles, all the 'THINGS' a person 'thinks' they need. But when it came down to it the things that really mattered....that 'spark' that 'need you' feeling wasn't there. 

Elsewhere, and luckily for me, Ryan was in the same type of relationship. That feeling of 'the one' just didn't exist in his relationship either.  Oddly enough, Ryan had the same thoughts going through his head as I did.  "Does what I'm looking for really exist?"  "That can't eat, can't sleep, over the moon in love with one another. Does that only happen in books and movies?"  Who would want to spend the rest of their lives wondering if it was truly existed, and would want to spend the rest of their lives feeling like they had just settled with someone?  Both being told by our others that we were unrealistic for searching for such a love, we each decided to end things with our then partners and not give up hope that there is one prefect person for everyone.

Luckily, neither one of us had to look very long.  On what Ryan now calls "Worlds Greatest Wednesday", we both ended up at a friends BBQ back in good old Dawson Creek.  Once again, I was totally smitten by him.  But even better, I was fully able to have a comfortable conversation. Our paths had crossed enough times over the years that we developed the same group of friends, ended up at the same parties and pubs, that I was fully able to consider us friends.  Friends who shamelessly flirt with one another, and who were clearly attracted to one another, but friends to say the least.  That night I remember watching Ryan tell a story, and what a great story teller he is, and I just couldn't take my eye's off of him.  And sure enough, that night, was our night.  After many attempts on both our part of showing our interest in one another, it finally happened.  World's Greatest Wednesday!

Now our first date, I was excited, but not nervous. Finally a date with Ryan, oh geez, never saw this in my cards.  It was a great first date, we sat out on the deck, drank a bottle of wine, and nothing short of great conversation.  I was really starting to like him. Which was a surprise because I had a crush on him based on high school feelings, hence the word 'crush'.  But wow, this was so much more.  By the time our second date came around....nervous was and understatement! I almost fainted while fixing my hair!  I found it quite comical when Ryan told me months later that he nearly puked he was so nervous.  Sparks were flying, stars were lining up, it blew me away by how great Ryan was, and how it seemed like he was perfect for me.  Once all of our friends found out that we were an item they all said the same thing "You guys are prefect for one another!"  It only took me till the third date to realize he was the one I wanted to marry. 

Ryan really is everything I was looking for, he's someone I could laugh with, be a goof with, be myself with.  He's someone who shares the same values of what a relationship is - which is TEAMWORK.  It takes two to make a relationship work, and that's exactly what happens every day. He helps me in every little thing I do, even when all I need is support and a shoulder to lean on.   He's very open minded, which helps when your having a difference of opinion. 

After having a long distance relationship for nearly two years I made the decision to go all in and move to Grande Prairie to live with Ryan, and I have never regretted it.  A couple of months after my move, on our two year anniversary Ryan convinced we had to channel measurement or a river for a bridge file for his work, Ryan is and engineer. After getting a couple measurements from one side to another, he asked me to come join him on the side of the river he was on.  I jumped from rock to rock, and then "SPLOSH", my foot soaking!  I hadn't quite made it from one rock to another.  Of course Ryan laughed and came over to help me. There we were standing on a rock in the middle of a river and Ryan pulls out this ring out of twist ties - I had always joked that he could propose with a twist tie and I would say Yes!  I tried on the ring and was joking about how beautiful it was. Then, all of a sudden, he started to pull out a box from his pocket I started to shake.  He got down on one knee and then when he opened the box to reveal the most beautiful ring the words "Will you marry me?" came out of his mouth, I was speechless (which never ever happens)!  After a couple of seconds of me standing there with my trembling hands over my mouth, I shouted yes, and jumped into his arms! Yes! Yes! Yes!  Simply, the best proposal I could have ever imagined.

We have decided to marry in Punta Cana in the beautiful Dominican Republic!  Such a beautiful island, and what a place to marry such a beautiful person.  The wedding will be on November 14th 2011 infront of our friends and family. A reception will follow back in Dawson Creek on December 31st 2011 - one great way to ring in the new year!

Did I mention I'm trying to keep this under $5K? Easier said than done but I'm trying to be budget savvy. Here's my rough checklist and where I am budget wise. I'll update it periodically.

ME

Get dress DONE! (Group USA: $602.24)

Get shoes DONE! Paris Hilton Harmony in Turquoise Floral (Ebay seller shoemiami: $86.95)

Get reception shoes DONE! White patent flip flops (Charlotte Russe:$6.84)

Get jewelry DONE! (Earrings from American Eagle, BOGO free so...$3.50)

Get undergarments DONE! seamless bustier push up corset bra (Ebay seller sexylittlev...$26.90)

Schedule hair/make-up appointment Found a girl named Jen who's UHMAZING at doing hair. ($25 for hair...$12.50 for make up)

Have trial run of hair/make-up DONE! $10 plus $5 just because...$15 total

Something borrowed DONE! JoandCompany's sixpence brooch which is UHMAZING & my friend's veil

Something blue DONE! A cute little blue button (etsy seller Gnipmac...$3.00)

Something old DONE! Vintage rhinestone tennis bracelet (etsy seller ilovevintage stuff...$10.25)

Something new DONE! (The Dress...duh :D)

Personalized Hanger for Dress DONE! (etsy seller aressa...$26.70)

Garters DONE! USC garters...FI is gonna love em! (etsy seller gartergallery...$34.98)

Get dress steamed/cleaned DONE! Free because it was included in my purchase.

Pedicure/Manicure DONE! A present from one of my co-workers. :)

HIM

Have class A’s cleaned DONE! ($29.35)

Haircut

Tanning? Lol. All the outdoor work made him tan. Lol.

US

E-Pictures DONE! (My friend Jessica did them for FREE in a local park and they turned out cute)

Book hotel room for wedding night (Prairie Hotel in Yelm for two nights...$173.82)

WEDDING PARTY

Make sure girls’ get dresses DONE!

Make sure girls' get shoes DONE-ish...waiting on one of them to decide on theirs

Buy flower girl dress DONE! (From esty seller Fattie Pie...$101.95)

MOB dress DONE! My mom paid for it but I wanna point out her dress was $5.41 and it's so cute!

OOOOH PRESENTS

Register for gifts DONE! Target baby!

Get girls’ presents DONE! I'm going to pay for their hair and makeup for the wedding (grand total: $300)

Get boys’ presents DONE! 4 (one for FI) Engraved metal flasks (from theknot.com $67.31 after 10% off coupon)

GUEST LIST/INVITATIONS

Compile guest list DONE! At 150+ but they're not all coming. Going to be mostly local family/friends.

Get invitations made DONE! 250 of them on recycled paper (Zazzle.com…$117. 52 + $25.45 in test invitations)

Get RSVPs made DONE! 250 postcards (Vistaprint.com..$31.72)

Get business cards w/ wedding website link DONE! 250 business cards (Vistaprint.com...$17.67)

Get E-Pics for Inivitations DONE! 130 4x6s 5 5x7s for major relatives (Walmart...$34.06)

Put them together DONE! Brads and other stuff to put them together (Michaels...$11.38)

Get them addressed DONE!

Get them return addressed DONE!

Get them stamped DONE! (Stamps...$75.20)

Get them in the mailbox DONE!

VENDORS AND SUCH

Caterer Benje's BBQ ($351.54 for the meat) All the sides were purchased by us (

Cake DONE! 100 cupcakes w/stand and cake top tier (Burning Cupcakes: $229.52 -includes tax for favors too)

Favors DONE! 200 custom tealights (Burning Cupcakes: $80)

Photographer DONE! He's all mine...all day...as many pictures as I want :D (Anselm Photography: $500)

D.J. DONE! Free...my loud obnoxious brother and an iPod hooked up to a stereo.

Officiant DONE! FI's dad is going to do it...for FREE and it's going to be super sweet. :)

Beverages DONE!

Rentals DONE! 3 20x20 canopies, 2 10x10s, 75 chairs, a generator and 10 tables (Recreation Center of Fort Lewis: $300)

My bouquet DONE! (Pike's Place Market in Seattle...$10)

3 Bridesmaid bouquets DONE! (Pike's Place Market in Seattle...$15)

Flowers for reception/décor DONE! (Pike's Place Market in Seattle...$50)

CEREMONY/RECEPTION STUFF

Write vows DONE! Didn't even say them...ugh.

Compile play list DONE!

Gather vases for reception DONE! Some of them were my mom's and some of them were mine/purchased

Finalize Day-of-Schedule DONE! Although I discovered that schedules are for organized people...not us.

Guestbook DONE! But it didn't work out too well. :(

DIY PROJECTS

Programs DONE! 65 fans ($17.12)

TOTAL SPENT SO FAR: $3427.72 (Still calculating...)