Out of this world....

...that's where the Hubble space craft literally got to fly and is what we think of our official wedding photographer - Andrea Hubbell! YAY!

Thank you all for the kind and open advice you gave on my last post. I truly believe it helped because you each called attention to the distinct differences in the two photographers we were considering. The more Javier and I talked, the more we realized, while Joyeuse photos are absolutely beautiful, they weren't what we wanted for our wedding pics. The vintage look that Tahni edits with certainly makes her photos romantic, but in the end we decided that we really didn't want that editing style for our day. Andrea's clean and crisp approach really allows you to see how everything was on the day (the good, the bad and the ugly) - but I think that's exactly what we want! We want someone to document the day for us, as is!
So in the end, while cost did matter, it didn't decide for us (which I think is okay). These pictures will be what lasts (besides our wonderful marriage) past the day so we decided that we should get what we really wanted and if it meant skipping out on something later on, we were okay with that!

Here is Andrea and her hubby, Brian (our 2nd photographer for the day). Javier and I really enjoyed sitting down with them for just an hour and are looking forward to continue working with them throughout our planning. (Preview - Andrea will be taking some engagement pictures for us as well - look forward to it!).

Okay, so what did I learn from our photographer finding journey? I'll give you two.

**Advice Alert** Stand your ground.

Now, you don't have to be mean about it, but I think it is okay to know what you want, set some priorities and stick by them. So far, all the vendors we've met with have had a lot of advice. Which is great! They're in this business, they do 30+ weddings a year and the truth is, this is our first (and hopefully last). So its great to have the advice supplied in plenty. However...if you know what you want (and I mean that its a hope above hopes) and a vendor tells you 'you really don't want (that thing you actually really do want)' - you totally have to stick to your guns. Yes, they have more experience, but they don't know you! - and the day is really about you and that other half. We ruled out a photographer because I felt like she kept dismissing some of the options I was asking about, saying 'you don't want that.' Well clearly I do or I wouldn't be asking you how much its gonna cost....so, take the advice, but stick with what you want. After all, they'll get to do 29 more wedding this year and you'll still only get your one. They can do it their way for another wedding ;)

**Advice Alert** Negotiate.

Okay, I'm saying it like I'm William Shatner in a Priceline commercial and I am not. In fact, Javier is the negotiator in our house hold. (When he negotiated the price of his bed last year - I was so embarrassed that I went to wait in the car rather than watch the painful process of the back and forth.) I'm a negotiating wuss - which is somewhat odd considering my ability to argue in most other aspects of my life...anyways, I do think that there is some room for negotiating with your vendors for your wedding. I'm personally more of a fan of asking for more stuff at the price the vendor gave rather than straight arguing $$. Anyways, the point is, it doesn't hurt to ask and if you don't ask then you definitely won't get more stuff. Andrea's price was a little higher than what we were hoping for, but we talked with her about what we were looking for and ended up with a package that really fit our needs at a cost we could live with. She told us herself that she was willing to 'work with couples' if she felt like they would be good to work with. So ask, maybe they'll say yes!

Alright readers, two big decisions down (place and someone to take pics of us there)! I think we'll try to tackle food next! Apparently we're supposed to feed you folk if you show up?

Oh! and I'm trying on wedding dresses this weekend :) If they let us take pics I promise to post some rejects next week :)

Strike a pose

Madonna sure as hell could. But will we be able to?

So now that Javier and I have finally selected the lands on which we will vow to tolerate each others' poor driving and lack of patience for a lifetime, the next decisions should just be flying into place.... well kinda.

One of the best things about having a wedding in Cville is that it is a super popular place to have a wedding. This means lots of vendors and lots of options. One of the worst things about having a wedding in Cville is that it is a super popular place to have a wedding. This means lots of vendors and lots of options.

Lots of vendors, including photographers (which I think I hinted in my last post was our next mountain to tackle). I bet I looked (and by looked I mean studied) something like 15 different photographers' websites. (And I'm sure I didn't even find all of my options because I stuck to the 'recommended' photographers I found on venue or blog sites.)

I narrowed that down to like 7 or 8 that I liked and then Javs took a look. We got it down to 5 together, then cut out 1 because of $$ and met with 4. We thought it was important to meet with the photographers to talk more about their style and editing process, but also to make sure we felt comfortable with them. I know we are all picture takers (particularly me around 1am on a night out) but taking those formal wedding shots on a day where your nerves are already heightened meant we wanted a photographer who would put us at ease.

I'll tell you now we eliminated 2 photographers after our meetings. Not that they both weren't lovely people - just not the right fit for us. So we've got it down to 2! And in true Javier and Audrey wedding planning fashion....we're having some trouble making our decision...

http://www.joyeusephotography.com/?cat=4
http://www.andreahubbell.com/blog/

I know...they're both awesome right. (AND now you have two more fun blogs to follow if you're like me and adding something new to your google reader daily)

So here is our dilemma; we really like them both! We did feel slightly more comfortable with one of them. And of course, the one we liked just slightly more happens to be more $$ (sad face). Nearest and dearest, what do you think? Are they both so beautiful that we're good either way? Should we take the cheaper route? Or is comfort king in this situation?

**They both list pricing on their sites so if you investigate enough you'll figure it out, but we'd love to have your opinion before you check out the costs so you're uninfluenced.
***Please note, that while your opinion is being requested it may end up being absolutely ignored. Comment at your own risk :)

Click, Click, Click

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtoBPZ-RSM4- listen to it. Its NKOTB. Its good.

Photography. Its our next conquest.

Whats that you say? We still don't have a date? or venue? - pish posh. (Well actually yes that is true, but we think after this weekend we'll have both!) So we're gazing longingly into the next realm of wedding planning for the joy and excitement that comes with the next steps in the process. And I want some really good pictures of the day :)

I know I keep saying it (and reminding others to say it), 'its just one day,' but in reality it is an important day. And certainly one where the pictures will last. College friend readers, remember when we'd have that epic night where it just seemed that we got some really good pictures. And those pictures would last forever and pop up everywhere. (I'm looking at the Jamie's bday night pic pre-wahooptie on my desk right now. And then that random night when we all wore black and white and took pics in front of the fireplace. I don't even remember what we did that night? but those pictures...they show up...on the frig, in frames on dressers...they're around)

Anyways, I'm sure the rest of you know too...you take a really good pic with your significant other and you want to print it and then make it your FB pic and then maybe your parents want a copy, etc, etc...and then its like this living thing that lasts waaaaaaay more than a day.

That's what these wedding pictures will be. They'll be the thing that can (and will) make this day last for us.

And you guys know me. After college I really started trying to take more pictures. (I think the line in Avenue Q's 'I wish I could go back to college' scared me into it.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut6YtMXjaZY

So this brings me to the real reason for my post (which has nothing to do with advice or philosophy) but it is something I'm noticing more and more on the wedding blogs: the awkward wedding pics. They're hilarious and bound to happen (probably to me too), but I'm sure you guys have been noticing them too. Here are two I stumbled across just today.

Tell me that it does not look like this man is handcuffed and being escorted to the altar. Sure he has a big, goofy grin on and that lovely tux complete with little yellow boutonniere, but all I see is an arrest.

And maybe he only stood this way for a second. Heck, his buddy standing up there with him probably only had his hand on his shoulder for a brief 'hey man, this is it' kind of encouraging shake. But captured by that photographer - this moment reads: I'm being forced into this.

Its kind of hilarious.

And this one. There is no way those two girls on the left are looking at anything other than the monstrosity hanging around that bride's neck. That 'look natural, like you're hanging out and smiling at the beautiful bride' turned a little too natural. (cause we all know we'd probably stare at it too.)

Anyways, regardless of the photographer we select I'm sure Javier and I (and our closest friends) are sure to guarantee some awkwardness caught on camera - something to look forward to after the big day.

If you find any good (and by that I mean quality or ridiculous) photos or photographers - feel free to send them my way!

PS - there was apparently a trend to take a pic with the groom peering from under the bride's dress...what do we think? on our 'must click' list?