Photographer progress

This whole deal about picking a photographer is turning into a never-ending process.  As you may recall if you've been following this blog (or if you don't, by reading it here) that I had found someone I liked, but by the time I went to contact her to hire her, two days after meeting her, she was no longer available.

So, I kept looking.  I met with another lady, liked her, and emailed her in the evening on Friday, Sep 9 to request references.  When I hadn't heard back from her by Tuesday evening, I emailed her again to make sure she got the note.  She replied to say she was contacting previous clients to see if they would mind if I contacted them.  I've never heard another word -- it's been a week and two days since then, or two weeks less a day since the day I first emailed her.

So, I started looking again.  But I also emailed the first one to see if she is still busy that day, because this is just getting ridiculous.  I've met SO many photographers.  It turns out she is busy the day after my wedding and she normally only schedules one wedding per week, but she is willing to do the wedding up until the formals, she just wouldn't be able to do the reception.  Yay!  I'm going to see if she can stay for the first part of the reception, and do the cake cutting and first dance and such, but if not, there will be dozens of cameras around for those things anyway, and I can just spread the word that I'd like copies of people's pictures, and maybe even bring our own camera.

Now... I just have to pick a dress.  That's my next big block -- once that is done, I can figure out bridesmaids dresses and flowers and colours and things like that!

My To-Do List (8 months)

Here's an update to the status of my to-do list I last posted on August 18. The wedding is currently 8 months away.

To do 12-18 Months Before

• Make an appointment with your Officiant. Done - we met her on Friday and booked her. We will meet with her again within three months of the wedding to finalize things, and that's done!
  
• Assemble your guest list, remembering to consult both families. Haven't done anything further with this.
  
• Choose attendants. We'll have two on each side. My two are done. Groom's attendants STILL not decided.

To do 8-10 Months Before (This section should be done now, too)

• Shop for your wedding dress and accessories. Dress shopping was put on hold for a while -- have started again. Accessories to come after dress decision.
  
• Shop for bridesmaids' dresses. As before, still to decide after my dress is selected.
  
• Select photographer and videographer. Still in progress - have requested references from the one we currently like.
  
• Select florist. Still not started.
  
• Select musicians or DJ for ceremony. Still considering live music for the ceremony, haven't done anything to investigate that.
  
• Pick a Honeymoon destination. Check if any inoculations are required. Not started, other than to say "what do you think of ____?" Today we're thinking France or Great Britian. A few days ago it was Australia. So, we've definitely narrowed it down to "Earth, somewhere."

To do 6 - 8 Months Before (The "new" section, oh no!)

• Order formal wear for groomsmen Okay, gotta pick those guys!
  
• Order Invitations Am currently deciding whether I'm going to make them myself or not. I bought a couple of sheets of fancy paper and such last weekend, but haven't actually tried doing anything with it yet.
  
• Enroll in pre-marriage course Not going to do this.
  
• Select table favours Hmm... need to pick my colours first, I think! I have an idea of what I want to put inside the favours though. (Chocolate!)

Great deal

I've just recently learned about http://www.netbride.com/ which is an online store in the States that carries a fair number of bridal gowns for a lot cheaper than the other stores.

I sent in a quote request for five dresses:

• Sincerity 2982 - they don't carry this line
• Fabulous Bridals FF09 - they don't carry this line
• Bonny 449 - $410 CDN (about $800 in stores)
• Venus 6478 - $310 CDN (about $600 in stores)
• Maggie Sottero Pia - $945 CDN (not sure store price, this line they aren't allowed to discount for some reason)

On top of that, it would be about $40 for shipping. Still pretty amazing!