Iowas Gay Wedding Planner

Though same-sex marriage legislation is sweeping the world over, there remains a discouragingly low population of wedding planners that can be called upon to help gay couples plan the big day of their dreams. Iowa’s Gay Wedding Planner aims to be a part of the solution by offering practical solutions, collaborating expertly with couples, and keeping a keen eye on the details that will make or break the vibe of your wedding day.

Iowa’s Gay Wedding Planner knows what hurdles may lie ahead in the wedding planning process, and we’re prepared to help you along every step of the way – even after the “I do’s.”

Should You Hire A Wedding Videographer Or Not?

You might be wondering whether or not you should allocate a portion of your budget to hire a wedding videographer. While many couples look to sidestep hiring one, there are ample reasons to hire one. In this article, we will be going over some of the main reasons you ought to hire a professional wedding videographer.

Reasons To Hire A Professional Wedding Videographer: 

1. Being Able To Relive Your Happiest Moment 

 

Your wedding day is likely to be one of the happiest days of your life. After all, it is the day where you officially celebrate your union with the person you love and adore. Therefore, you might want to be able to relive this moment over and over. The only way you will be able to relive this moment in its authenticity is by hiring a professional videographer to tape and direct it for you. While you can look to have someone that is inexperienced video your wedding, there is simply no substitute for having high-quality video resolution and proper editing of one of the best days of your life. Having a video of your wedding ceremony and celebration that is capable of capturing the moment in its essence is simply invaluable.

2. Share It 

Another big reason you will want to be sure that you hire a professional to video your ceremony and celebration has to do with the ability to share your happiest moment with the other loved ones in your lives. The fact is, some friends and family might not be able to attend your big wedding day for whatever reason. By hiring a professional videographer, you should be able to capture your wedding day and its raw emotion perfectly which will help your loved ones that couldn’t make it experience it first hand themselves. This will allow you to really be able to get everyone involved and allow others to have their own ticket to your big day. Nowadays, you can host videos on various video hosting websites which makes it as easy as sending your friend or family member a link to it.

3. Capture Emotion 

While a good photographer will be able to capture a lot of emotion while taking photos, there are certain things that cannot be captured. For instance, you will have a portion of your wedding event dedicated to things like speeches and toasts which simply cannot be captured in photos alone. Another moment that you are likely going to be glad that you were able to capture would be your first dance as a couple. That is something that you simply could not capture with photos alone. By getting a professional video done, you will be able to look back on the raw emotion that was displayed at your ceremony and during the celebration which is something that you won’t want to miss.

4. You’ll Regret Not Doing It 

A lot of people look to cut costs for their wedding by avoiding hiring a professional videographer. This is easily one of the main regrets people have when they look back on their wedding day. Without having a video of your big wedding day, you will miss out on a lot of memories and emotions that you would otherwise have forever. While the cost is certainly something worth considering, it is not one of the things that you will want to cut out of your budget to save money. Looking back on it, you don’t want to regret not hiring a professional videographer to capture the biggest day of your life in motion.

5. You Can See Different Things You Missed 

When you are enjoying your wedding, you will only be able to see what you see and hear what you hear. By getting a videographer team to capture your wedding, it will allow you to really be able to experience all aspects of your wedding and see and hear things that you otherwise would have completely missed out on. By re-watching your wedding video, you are likely going to be able to experience and witness things that you completely missed or that you might not have paid attention to during the actual event.

6. Unique Personalities 

Having a video of your wedding is going to be a great way to help showcase the different personalities of people that attended your wedding and you will be able to enjoy their participation in your big day. This will help you look back on your wedding day to see how much people were able to enjoy it along with you.

Overall, there are so many different reasons you will want to hire a videographer to capture your big day on video. By hiring one, you will be able to get a professional video of one of the biggest days of your lives. Not only is it going to provide you with the ability to look back on your wedding day to relive and experience it all over again, but it will allow you to seamlessly share your big day with those that missed it. They will be able to watch your wedding video and see the emotion displayed and feel as if they were there. It is simply one of the best things that you can have once your wedding is finished and over. While looking back on photos is something that you are likely to enjoy, being able to experience your wedding all over again through video is even better.

How To Find The Right Musicians For Your Wedding

Getting married is a huge event and it might be the most important thing that happens in your life. When you get married you have a ton of planning to do and it is going be hard to deal with all of the preparations you need to make unless you have a good plan in place. One of the best ways to make your ceremony more beautiful is to hire wedding musicians. Live music is so much better and it brings your wedding together in a different way. Read on to learn the benefits of hiring wedding musicians and how to choose the best musicians for your wedding.

Decide When You Need Music 

The first thing you want to do is decide when you are going to need live music. You might only want to have live music after the ceremony. Some people want live music during the prelude as well.

Consider the entire ceremony and then decide when you are going to need the music the most. How much music you have is also going to depend on your budget. The longer you have the musicians play, the higher the price is going to be.

Prelude music can be nice, but it isn’t really necessary. You can easily play prerecorded music during the prelude. If you have the money though, having live music during the prelude is a nice touch and will start your wedding off on the right foot.

Live music during the processional is always a good idea if you have the budget for it. The processional is a very important part of the wedding and having music during this time can be very elegant.

If you are on a limited budget, the best time to have live music for your wedding is going to be after the ceremony and during the meal when everyone is relaxed and ready to have fun and enjoy themselves.

After the meal people are going to be dancing and having a great time. This is when you want live music to come out. People are going to want to enjoy the music. Having a live band makes it so much easier to have fun and you get to truly relax and enjoy what you are doing.

Consider Your Budget 

Hiring a live band can be expensive, so you need to know what your budget is going to be before you start looking for the band you want to use. Make sure that you know exactly how much you have to spend and don’t go over your budget if you can help it.

You will want to take the time to research bands and interview them so you find the bands that are in your price range. Most bands have websites where you can listen to music and the prices are usually on the site as well.

You should spend a lot of time looking at the different bands so you end up choosing the band that is going to be the best fit. tick with your budget so you end up getting the best deal for your needs. There are lots of options and you can easily find what is going to work best for your situation.

Consider The Venue 

You will need to have enough room for the band and you also have to make sure that the venue has electricity and a place for the band to play. You might need to check in with the venue beforehand to make sure it is going to be okay for the band to play there. You need to do a lot of research so you should make sure that you find the best place for your band to play.

You also have to think about how many people are going to be at the wedding so you find the right venue for your wedding, to begin with. There are lots of places you can choose from and you need to make sure that you choose the venue that is going to be the right choice for your needs.

You have a lot of things you can do and it is going to be important to take care of everything so your band knows what to do. You should also think about the acoustics of the place so your band is going to sound good.

Make sure that the band can perform lots of different types of music. You should also make sure that you end up with a good invoice and contract so you don’t have any issues with the band. You have a lot of choices and you want to make sure that you choose the best band for your wedding.

Other Things To Consider 

Look for a wedding band that has lots of different types of music. They should be willing to go the extra mile and come up with a custom plan that is going to work best for your needs. You should be able to choose what you want to listen to as this makes it a lot easier to enjoy your wedding party.

Make sure that you read the reviews of all of the different bands so you end up choosing a band that is going to be the best fit for your needs. You can find a band that is going to work well for your needs and help you and your guests enjoy your wedding.

Photobooth Rental Companies For Gay Wedding Receptions

If you are planning a wedding, and you and your partner are gay, you may want to consider getting a photobooth for entertainment. This is one of the more popular items that people are renting for weddings. It allows people to take unique pictures that they can take with them once the reception is over. Additionally, many of these companies allow you to upload everything to your Facebook or Twitter account, allowing you to share your day at the wedding almost instantly. If you are currently searching for a photobooth rental company for gay wedding receptions, here is the easiest way to find one of the best ones for less.

Origins Of Photobooth Companies 

Technically, a photobooth is very similar to a standard kiosk or vending machine by design. It performs a certain function, one that can be utilized by paying for the ability to use it. This differs when working with a photobooth rental company. You are paying upfront for the use of the machines. There are typically no limits on how many photos can be taken during the time that you are renting it for a gathering. These have gone through many incarnations over the years. There are passport photo booths that were designed to provide images of people in the exact size needed for a passport. Subsequently, photobooth provided images with stickers, leading to the ones that we have today.

Why is Photobooth Rental So Popular? 

When people go to a special gathering, such as a wedding, they want to take pictures with everyone that is there. Although most of us will have a cell phone with camera capabilities, sometimes it’s better to get a group shot with a unique background for fun. It is for this reason that photobooth rentals are very popular at conferences, birthday parties, and also wedding receptions.

Can You Use Any Photobooth Rental Company? 

Although people from all different backgrounds can use a photobooth rental company, you may want to choose one that caters more to a gay audience. Part of the reason is the photo booths may be designed in a way that you prefer, or perhaps the owners are gay and you will feel more comfortable interacting with them. Regardless of the reason, you can always find photo booth companies that are willing to work with those that are planning a gay wedding. Your objective should be to compare the many different ones that are out there, their prices, and the selection available for the different styles of photobooth that they have available.

How To Get Discounts On Renting? 

There are a couple of ways that you can find discounts on photobooth rentals. Initially, you should look on the Internet. The ones that are advertising discounts, or limited time offers, are the advertisements that you will want to click on. When you do your search, be sure to specify your specific city and state so as to get accurate listings. Although websites like Google will usually know exactly where you are and will provide the best results for your area, it just helps in limiting your results. By comparing the different offers, you can decide which ones have the best deals available. From there, you will want to compare the different types of photobooth rentals that they have so that you can make the right decision.

Different Types Of Photobooth Rentals 

When photobooths were first introduced, almost all of them were very similar. There was a literal booth that had room enough for two people. Typically people will make funny faces or strike unique poses, and then the pictures will have a background that you will choose. These are usually printed in under a minute, usually on those long pieces of photo paper with a total of four photos each. Today, modern technology allows you to sometimes upload these photos to your social media page. You may even be able to send them to your email. Over the last decade, many different types of photobooth’s have been produced. This will include open-air, old school, and 360° photobooths that are very unique. They also have many other options instead of just the standard for photographs. This will include green screen options, flipbooks, GIF makers, and even slow-motion videos that you can upload as well. By comparing all of the different types of photobooth options they have, and the prices they are charging, this will help you further narrow down your final choice.

How Much Will It Cost? 

The cost of a photobooth rental can vary depending upon how long you have it, the size and capabilities of the photobooth, and the standard prices that each company will charge. On average, the cost will range between €125-€200 per hour, and they will often require a minimum of two hours. Therefore, when planning your wedding, and the reception, you must consider how many people will be there. You may want to consider getting a couple of them, preferably smaller and larger ones, and each of them should have different backgrounds and capabilities.

How To Reserve One For A Gay Wedding Reception 

In the same way that you would reserve one for a wedding for heterosexuals, a gay wedding is really no different. You will simply choose the time that you would want it to arrive, determine how long you will need it, and then agree upon a price. You should get multiple estimates from different companies that you find to be appealing. This will allow you to make a final decision. Even if you have to pay slightly more for the ones that you want, it will be worth the extra money.

Reserving a photobooth for a gay wedding is very easy to do. Simply start looking for photobooth rentals in your area. Obtain quotes on the total cost of renting one, specifically telling them the date and how long you will need it, and then compare all of these estimates together. Once you have found a reliable company that has good prices, you should go without one if you like the photobooth that they have. For larger weddings and receptions, consider getting two or more so that everyone has a chance to get their photo taken in a photobooth with family and friends.

Ready, Set, Plan! A Brief Guide to Honeymoon Success

What many couples look forward to as much as the wedding day itself, is the day following it: the day they embark on their honeymoon. This is a cherished time for most, where they can focus on one another and the excitement that the future will bring in their shared lives together. But before the departure day comes, there’s a lot of planning that goes into its fruition. In this guide, we’ll help you get your honeymoon planning started off right, to minimize your stress and let you look toward what comes next with exuberance and delight.

Start Planning Early

Oftentimes, it is much less expensive to make your bookings well in advance. This includes your hotel, your flight, and any other reservations that you need to schedule to stay on-track with your itinerary. Shop around to find the best deals through various reservation providers. Online browsing makes this much simpler than it used to be. Write down and compare your options carefully, and then book what seems to be the best fit for your timeframe and your budget.

Work Together in the Planning Stages

If one partner gets saddled with all of the planning for any reason, this can breed resentment on both ends. The planning partner might feel overwhelmed at the heaping responsibility on their plate. The other partner might feel bothered by the choices that were made, that they didn’t have an active say in. Instead of shouldering one partner with everything (or even most things) try to set aside designated times where you are both available to sit down and plan together. This will reduce stress by keeping you both on the same page!

Get the Help of a Travel Agent

Especially if you are traveling abroad for your honeymoon, travel agents can be your most valuable resource. They have connections and resources to get you into the best spots that you can afford, even opening up some options that might not have been available if not for their help. Agents have relationships with location hoteliers and other destinations, so you never know what kind of helping hand your agent can provide!

Have Fun – But Relax Too

Sure, lying on the beach is awesome, but is that all you want to do for 7 days or more? There can be a fine line between relaxation and boredom. Many couples choose to keep a happy balance by incorporating activities into their honeymoon adventures. Plan an itinerary of events that you and your partner can get excited about, like a tour, bar crawl, museum, or other area where you share an interest. Decide what times of day (or night) you want to reserve for yourselves in private and which times are better spent adventuring. It’s also important to have matching personalised robes which you find online at Robes 4 You, they have a great selection for honeymoons.

3 Things Every Couple Should Know About Wedding Photography

While every wedding is unique, there are some traditions and rituals that have endured the tests of time and have become a staple to many, if not most, wedding day celebrations. One of the most enduring of these rituals is wedding photos.

Of course, everybody wants to capture snapshots that commemorate the day where a couple has exchanged their vows of love and devotion. It’s not hard to see why staged, professional photographs have become borderline essential to weddings worldwide. But if you’ve never been married before, you don’t really know what you’re getting into. You won’t until the moment arrives, which can be stressful after all this time spent carefully calculating and planning.

This article will help you navigate the difficult surprises that may come up during your time spent with your wedding photographer.

What You Need to Know About Wedding Photography

Yes, you should be relying on the expertise and professional opinion of your professional wedding photographer for a bulk of the experience. However, it will drastically improve your time spent if you walk into your wedding day with some knowledge in your pocket. Here are three things that you, as the spouses-to-be, should know ahead of time.

Big Group Pictures are a Pain

For everyone involved, group wedding portraits can be quite agitating. It’s not exactly as simple as smushing everyone together so they fit into the frame and getting them to say “cheese!” Lighting and composition will be taken into consideration by any professional photographer, and the unpredictability of large groups can add some difficulty. Your photographer may need to re-stage the shot a few times and prompt several people to help ensure the best image possible.

You, your spouse, the photographer and the guests might grow agitated or bored but rest assured that it will end! Discuss with your photographer when the best time might be to stage these particularly challenging shots.

Backdrops Make a Big Impact – not the Details

While you might be invested in a really cool detail that will add some “oomph” to certain pictures, know that most details will be missed across the photos taken. A wedding backdrop is significantly more impactful, especially during the ceremony when the photographer typically has minimal room to work. In many venues, the backdrop does a lot of work to help make each photo interesting.

Plan Some Extra Time

Just in case of the unexpected, you should try to accommodate an extra hour into your preparations prior to the wedding ceremony. Weddings can be hectic events where anything can happen. Sometimes, couples end up frantically trying to recover with no time to spare. This doesn’t make it easy to get that elated vibe that should be present in your photos. If the unexpected doesn’t happen and you have time to spare, this time can be used to relax a bit before festivities kick off.

Hire Us

For many couples, planning a wedding is one of the most stressful undertakings they will embark on at the beginning of their lives together. Iowa’s Gay Wedding Planner strives to make the process easier, more straight-forward and completely centered around the soon-to-be newlyweds’ vision. Reach out today to connect with the wedding planner who takes your big day as seriously as you do.