Wedding planning can come with some pretty tough decisions: Where should we get married? What colors should we decorate with? What should we wear? One decision you may be at a crossroads with is whether or not to use a friend as a vendor for your wedding. Whether it be photography, florist, planning, or other services, we think there are a few things you should consider before hiring a friend to do your wedding.
Is my friend a professional in the service I want to hire them for?
First and foremost, if your friend has not done a wedding before, making yours the first may not be the best idea. Even if they are an event planner outside of the realm of weddings or they’re a hobby photographer, a wedding is a totally unique experience they may not be prepared for. You deserve to have an experienced professional taking care of the details without causing you any unnecessary stress. A well-versed wedding vendor knows how to handle the kinds of unexpected circumstances that come with weddings and are skilled in making moves you don’t even know are happening behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly.
Do I want to hire my friend because I think they’ll give me a discount or because their work resonates with me?
This consideration may not seem like a big deal, but it really comes down to respect. If your friend is a professional in their field, then this is their livelihood and they’ve got bills to pay! Expecting a discount or even free services is awfully presumptuous and can make your friend feel as though you don’t value their time or talent. Before contacting your friend simply because they make a living as a photographer or florist, look at their portfolio as if you didn’t know them personally and see if their work is truly a fit. Is their style what you envision for your day? Be sure to genuinely look into other vendors in your area as well to make sure your friend’s work is really what you want, that way no one feels any disappointment when everything is said and done.
Would I rather have my friend enjoying my wedding day with me or working?
This last question can be a tough one to answer, so spend some time thinking about it before you inquire. When you close your eyes and picture your wedding, is your friend standing by your side or in the crowd with tears in their eyes, or are they behind the scenes making sure everything goes according to plan? If what you really want is for your friend to celebrate and enjoy themselves on your big day, then it might be best to invite them as a guest and leave the work to someone else.
Get ready to set your eyes on the most romantic wedding at HoneyLi Hill! Andri and Antonis’ focus was creating a magical and romantic evening for themselves and their guests, and boy did they deliver! With sights of the Cyprus countryside all around, these two said “I do” and then continued their celebration outside with twinkle lights illuminating their night as Karina Leonenko Photography and Oscar Studio documented the very special day. Having enjoyed their own wedding so much, Andri and Antonis decided to transform their home into a wedding venue so others could marry in the glorious Cyprus countryside – how cool is that?!
One and very special advice would be to enjoy every single part of your wedding planning. From the beginning until the end. Besides, it’s the preparation and planning that will lead to the most memorable and exciting day in your life.
I do not believe that you can identify what is more important when it comes to such a special day in someone’s life, like a wedding. However, I would say that one of the most important things is to ensure that the wedding is planned & organized as good as possible in order for everyone to have the time of their lives. This is why we wanted to ensure that the atmosphere was perfect.
There were several emotional and memorable moments during the day. However, I would say that the most unforgettable moment was when I was walking down the aisle, with my father by my side towards the church where my husband was waiting for me. It was like a movie scene where everything suddenly seemed as if they were in slow motion. The emotions I was feeling at that time when I saw all my guests looking at me and smiling, showing me that they really care, was and still is unforgettable ! It was truly a magical moment and I would never have asked for anything more.
Our dream was to simply have a wedding that would be so dreamy that everyone, including ourselves, would remember it forever or at least for a long time. One of our priorities was to make the transportation between the wedding locations to be easy for our guests. Therefore, we thought of having all the events in one location. Eventually, we had an idea of having our wedding in my family house in the mountains. The house is on the top of the hill with an amazing panoramic view over the mountains. Moreover, there is a small church next to the house – where the ceremony was held.
In Cyprus, there is a tradition of inviting a lot of people to your wedding. By saying a lot, I mean a couple of thousands. We did not want that. We wanted a more intimate wedding, with only our close friends and family by our side. We knew that they would be the ones that would make this day memorable.
SHOP THE POST
The colours we chose were based on the location wedding location. since there were many natural and magnificent colours that were surrounding us. We were right in the middle of the nature since we were surrounded by mountains. Therefore, we chose to play around with colours like pink and white which combined a romantic vibe along with a simplistic touch. In addition, we added the colour green since it is my favourite colour and it was perfectly blending with beautiful nature.
Everyone was thrilled with the wedding by the end of the night or should I say the end of the morning, since we kept celebrating until the early morning. All our friends couldn’t stop talking about “that special night” for a long time. That leaded us to an amazing idea to turn our “mountain house” into a wedding venue; into a magical place for all couples who is planning their dream wedding in Cyprus, and, of course, for those who is planning their destination wedding on the island of love.
I believe that the photographer is the most important person on the wedding day and our photographer could not have done a better job. Not only did Karina capture amazing moments, but she was also by my side the entire time, trying to ensure I wouldn’t stress during the day. Now, when we have received our images – we couldn’t be happier with the results.
By the end of the day – your wedding photos & video will be the only things – reminding you about your wedding day. So choosing the best story-teller of your wedding day is very important. A good photographer will capture your wedding story in the most unique way.
With the end of the year just around the corner (can you believe it!), we thought it would be fun to round up some of our favorite weddings of 2017. Whether it be the way the couple’s story was captured, the way they infused their personal style into to their decor choices, or a combination of both, these are the weddings we returned to again and again for inspiration this year.
Autumn and Michael’s Race + Religious Wedding that Takes Fun and Stylish to the Next Level
Why we love it: No inch of Autumn and Michael’s Race + Religious wedding went un-decorated, and the whole celebration was decorated to the nines, at that! Pink never look as good as its use in this vibrant New Orleans wedding, including dip-dyed napkins, feminine florals, and even the bride’s edgy hair.
Taylor and Noah’s Barefoot Seaside Sunset Cliffs Wedding in San Diego
Where it took place:Sunset Cliffs, San Diego, California
Why we love it: Is there anything better than a barefoot bride and groom? We love this cliffside ceremony, Taylor’s gorgeous mismatched bridesmaids’ style, Noah’s trendy-meets-beachy groomswear, and Jonnie & Garrett‘s breathtaking portraits of the newlyweds!
Why we love it: Modern romance was one of our favorite wedding styles this year and nobody nailed it better than Cas and Zack in their Flour Factory wedding. The red-headed Aussie couple were absolutely dashing in their wedding day looks and we’re still not over their unique use of florals, wine-colors, and greenery. Plus, just check out that “cheese cake!”
Why we love it: Lauren and Kendrian’s Phoenix wedding has a little bit of everything: a deeply emotional ceremony, urban wedding party portraits, cool desert vibes, an elegant black and white color palette, and a bridal leather jacket. This couple proves that all you need for an elegant-cool wedding are a few well-curated details and a lot of love.
Why we love it: This backyard wedding is like a boho-glam paradise! With the help of Flawless Fetes, Jessica and Shannon transformed Bird Island Lake Ranch with macrame, a wine and cream color palette, and an assortment of textures from vintage rugs to lush greenery. Plus, just look at the two brides’ style – Jessica and Shannon nailed it on every level.
Why we love it: Looking at Casie and Peter’s boho destination wedding is like taking a mini Tulum vacation of your own! We’re obsessed with the beachy neutral color palette throughout this wedding, punctuated with bright pops of color thanks to a few papaya, blue glassware, and a few lush peonies in Casie’s bouquet.
Victoria and Bryan’s Artsy Georgia Brunch Wedding at Sugarboo Farms
Where it took place: Sugarboo Farms, Blairsville, Georgia
Why we love it: Nothing gets us giddy quite like a colorful wedding and Victoria and Bryan’s Sugarboo Farms affair was vibrant as can be! From lavender bridesmaids dresses to punchy florals to their watercolor wedding crest, the entire celebration was chock full of personality and fun.
Cris and Harry’s French-American Wedding at Home in Pasadena, CA
Where it took place: Private Residence, Pasadena, California
Why we love it: We talk a lot about how couples can make their wedding truly represent them and Cris and Harry really took it to heart. Their Pasadena wedding took place at their home and combined their French and American backgrounds to create a welcoming, eclectic, and elegant environment with the help of Orange Blossom Special Events.
Why we love it: 2017 was a big year for big florals, and it doesn’t get bigger than the botanica display at Janine and Ian’s Woodson Ridge Farms wedding! From the actual flower farm venue to Janine’s fiery bouquet to the next-level florals used to make the epic ceremony arch, flowers played almost as major a role as Janine and Ian’s adorable love for one another.
Why we love it: We’re major plant lovers here at Junebug (though some of us are better than keeping them alive than others!), so of course we’re big fans of the styling in Klinta and Roberts’ K. K. fon Stricka Villa wedding. From potted plants as table decor to an eclectic blend of natural and edgy decor, this couple committed to their wedding look from ceiling to floor.
Junebug Weddings uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. We also use cookies to show advertising that is most relevant to you. If you continue you agree to the use of cookies on Junebug Weddings.
Terms & Conditions
photo by Katie Hoss
photo by Kira Stein
photo Anni Graham Photography
photo by Melissa Marshall
.jpg "Photographers")
