How to Pull Off a Wedding Photo Booth

If there’s one wedding trend that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon, it’s the photo booth! Whether you rent a full-scale photo booth for your festivities or set up a picture area with a fixed camera, this is a wonderful way for you to capture the most light-hearted moments of your special day, while giving your guests a chance to create their own memories of your wedding.

Sound like something that would fit in perfectly with your wedding plans? Then, Nanina’s in the Park is here to help you pull it all together! Here’s what you need to know to pick the perfect wedding photo booth and give your guests all the tools necessary to create unforgettable memories.

1.   Photos or video?

First and foremost, you should pick what type of photo booth you would like to use during your wedding festivities. In addition to the traditional single-shot booths, companies such as The Bosco, Phhhoto and Photomadic offer the ability to capture GIFs. These files, made popular by sites like Buzzfeed and Giphy, take quick bursts of photos and then automatically string them together in a stop-motion-style short clip. Additionally, other options include slow motion video, flipbooks and other styles to suit your tastes.

2.   Backdrops

If you decide to skip renting a full photo booth and would rather set up a photo area, your backdrop can make or break the look of this space. There are nearly unlimited options to choose from, but to start your thought process think of how the season and your wedding’s theme can inform your decorative choices and work from there. This is the best choice for couples who love do-it-yourself craft projects and decorating on their own, and this can be a dazzling way to put your personal stamp on the photo area.

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Your Wedding Stationery Checklist

With all of the tasks you’ll have to accomplish before your wedding day, it can be easy to let small details fall through the cracks. While you may set aside a solid portion of your wedding budget to cover the stationery basics, there is an amazing amount of decorative and utilitarian potential of stationery that you may be overlooking.

As you put together your wedding budget and begin to plan out your expenditures for your special day, we at Nanina’s in the Park want to help you maximize the potential of your wedding stationery. Be sure to keep this list handy as you begin your wedding planning.


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4 Tips For Putting Together A Video Save-The-Date

Now that your significant other has finally popped the question and you’re ready to begin your wedding planning, the save-the-date notice is among the first major projects you’ll have to complete. In today’s interconnected world of social media, word travels fast and video content seems to spread faster than any other. What could be a better way of announcing your engagement than with this fun, shareable message to your friends and family?

While it’s advisable that you send out traditional save-the-date notices to your less digital savvy relatives, a video save-the-date is your first chance to show off your creative abilities. Here are a few ways to get started and pull it off.

1. Include all necessary information

First things first, before you start storyboarding or planning out an elaborate announcement, make sure that you include all the information your loved ones will need to attend the wedding. Keep it simple: the date of the ceremony, location, and the listing of your wedding website/wedding registry are the most important pieces of information you should include.

2. Keep it snappy

Your video save-the-date should be about as abbreviated as a traditional note sent in the mail. Make sure to keep it short and sweet, about 90 seconds. This will convey all the necessary information you need to get across while ensuring that your loved ones don’t have to sit through a long-winded production!

3. Share the story of your relationship

Now that you’ve covered the basics, it’s time to put together something truly unique that will tell the story of your relationship and build excitement for your special day. There’s a nearly unlimited amount of possible themes you can choose for your video, but a few of our favorite ideas include photo slideshows that showcase the many events of your relationship, a skit that highlights the important aspects of your relationship, recreate a movie scene and much more!

4. Ask for help!

If you’re not a professional videographer or editor, it can be difficult to start from scratch with a save-the-date video. To ensure that your video comes out great, you’ll need a camera and editing software and the know-how to use them, so consider enlisting the help of friends or family members who have expertise in this area, or use a portion of your wedding budget to hire a professional studio to produce it. If you’re going to take the time to create a save-the-date video, you’ll want to do it right, so don’t hesitate to ask for help from the experts!

5. Post far and wide

Last but not least, when your video is completed and ready to be sent out, don’t reserve it for just one social media platform.  Make sure it has the potential to be seen by as many of your guests as possible by putting it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and any other platform you frequent.

How To Dress For Your Loved One’s Wedding Dress Code

Have you finally received a long-awaited wedding invitation from a friend or family member? As important as finding the perfect wedding gift or making travel preparations are, figuring out what to wear can be a major challenge – especially if you’re not sure if you’ll be able to adhere to the dress code.

Do you know the difference between formal and semi-formal? How about the finer points of a black-tie dress code? Before you head out and buy a new wedding ensemble, we here at Nanina’s in the Park want to help you pick the perfect attire so you’re not feeling over- or underdressed on the big day. Here are the most common wedding dress codes and how to pull them off.

1. Casual

For the truly laid-back couple, casual attire gives guests the freedom to wear whatever they’d like, but this doesn’t mean that you should show up in shorts and flip-flops. Colorful sundresses for ladies and polo shirts/button-downs and pants for men are the perfect comfy chic look for a casual wedding setting.

2. Cocktail Attire/Semi-Formal

This is a step up from casual attire and is designed to allow guests to feel breezy and comfortable, while still showcasing their own unique sense of style. This dress code is ideal for ladies who love to wear cocktail and tea-length dresses, while men can easily get away with a shirt/tie with a blazer or sport coat combination.

3. Formal/Black Tie Optional

This dress code is one step below an official Black Tie setup, as it means that while the wedding party will be dressed in formal attire, it is optional for all guests attending. A good way to start putting together an outfit for the occasion is to focus on a dark suit or a tuxedo for menswear, while ladies can comfortably dress for this occasion in a formal gown or an evening pant suit.

4. White Tie

This is the most formal of all the wedding dress codes and you should expect your attire to be similar to the wedding party. Think something along the lines of attending a White House state dinner or another type of elegant affair! Men are expected to be decked out in their best tuxedos, while full-length gowns are par for the course for the ladies.

5. Themed Attire

Last but not least, a couple may throw a curveball at you with a themed dress code, such as Beach Casual, Festive Attire or Texas Formal. These can vary greatly based on how casual or formal the couple would like the event to be, but if this happens, a good way to get started is to plan your outfit around a specific piece or accessory. For instance, if it’s a beach formal wedding, pick one piece of casual wear (sandals, linen shirts, flats) and then appoint the rest of the outfit with more formal pieces that adhere to traditional wedding fashion. Experiment to find the right combination that works for you!

4 Ways To Make Doughnuts The Star Of Your Wedding

We here at Nanina’s in the Park always love to shine the spotlight on great wedding trends as they emerge, especially when it comes to the many food choices that couples’ have to celebrate their nuptials. It seems that doughnuts are having their wedding moment, as they have been spotted at weddings all over the U.S. as a welcome alternative to the traditional wedding cake or even the cupcake trend that has popped up in recent years.

But how do you make doughnuts the star of your wedding reception? If you’re looking for some creative inspiration, try a few of these great ideas for your wedding day.

1. Doughnut Pops

We’ve all seen cake pops before, but doughnut pops are a new spin on this extremely popular food trend. While traditionally-sized doughnuts may be a bit too large for skewers, smaller donuts that are either dusted in sugar or in colorful frosting will be a welcome reception snack for you and your guests. With a nearly unlimited amount of frosting and sprinkle options, you can design doughnut pops in a color scheme that matches your wedding theme perfectly.

2. Doughnut Wall

This is by far one of the most popular new wedding trends, which consists of arranging donuts on a wall with hooks, either on a cork or wooden board set against a wall. Not only is this a perfect backdrop to play around with color and other creative designs, it’s the perfect place for guests to come by and grab a snack during the evening, as well as being a wonderful spot to take photos. If you’re working with a tight budget, this is one of the easiest and least expensive DIY projects you can take on for your special day, and there’s a good chance that your guests will have never seen anything like it before!

 3.Doughnut Cake

No one says that you need a traditional wedding cake on your special day, so if your dream dessert is a heavenly stack of donuts, you can make it a reality! Doughnut cakes have become increasingly popular in recent years, and while you can make one yourself, bakeries have begun making specialized doughnut arrangements for weddings. Who doesn’t want to cut into a slice of stacked donuts after a night of dinner and dancing?

4. Doughnut Favors

Last but not least, if you’d like a delectable way to send off your guests as your wedding day comes to a close, doughnut favors make for a perfect snack for the ride home. Make an effort to support a local bakery to give your guests a taste of a local specialty, and try to pick a doughnut that reflects your chosen theme or the season in which the wedding is held.

How to Share Your Wedding Hashtag

 

Add caption

With the nearly ubiquitous nature of social media in our daily lives, platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others have become just as indispensable for your wedding plans as hiring a wedding photographer or a caterer. Uploading pictures, videos and other reactions will create a digital record of your ceremony, but these files will be scattered all over their respective social media platforms if you don’t encourage your guests to utilize a wedding hashtag during your special day!


A hashtag refers to a word or phrase preceded by a hash or pound sign (#), which turns this arrangement into a direct link that will track discussion topics, picture/video uploads and other reactions under one umbrella. For instance, if you created the hashtag #johnandrachelwedding, guests who use this phrase can organize their best moments in the same place. But, spreading the word and educating your guests (who may not be social media-savvy!) is a challenge for your special day. Here are a few of our best suggestions from Nanina’s in the Park.

 Invitations/Wedding Website

To ensure that your guests know about your special wedding hashtag, make sure you start early in the process! Put a reminder on your invitations, and go in-depth on your wedding website to show your guests how to use the hashtag and why it is such a helpful tool in collecting all of the best pictures and videos from the gathering. This is a great way for your less social media experienced guests to become familiar with hashtagging before your big day!

 Chalkboard Sign
At the entrance of your ceremony, ask a friend or family member with great handwriting or artistic flair to write out your wedding hashtag with an illustration that adheres to your chosen theme. Place it in an area where your guests can pick up your wedding programs so they don’t miss it!

 Drink Stirrers

When it’s time to kick off your cocktail hour, drive the message home even further by including your hashtag on drink stirrers. This is a clever way to remind your guests to share their favorite moments using your hashtag, and it can help improve the visual punch of your cocktail menu! Additionally, putting a few small signs around your bar and other main focal points of the venue can be welcome reminders to your guests to share.

Wedding Centerpieces

Last but not least, whether you’d like to include your hashtag on your wedding table numbers, as a feature of your centerpieces or simply as cards on your guests’ dinner tables, this is the perfect time to remind your guests that every picture and video they take during the event can and should be shared online for everyone to see.

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What You Should Know Before You Start Interviewing for a Wedding Planner

 

Before you check Google for all of the wedding planners that live within a thirty mile radius of you, and before you walk into those all-important consultation visits, it’s important to have an idea of what you need out of a prospective wedding planner. It’s okay if you’re not sure. How many times in life have you searched for and interviewed a wedding planner? Chances are highly likely that this is the first. Here’s the basics so you can move confidently forward in your search:

Compatibility is a must

You’ve probably seen this plenty of times, if you’ve ever searched “what makes good wedding planners” or just searching in general for a wedding planner. The two of you should get along, right? Of course!

Well, that’s true, and we’re not downplaying that as an important factor but it’s also a half-realized concept. Interpersonal skills are a high priority for effective wedding planners. They’ll make you feel welcome; they’ll smile. They never have a shortage or crazy wedding stories and jokes –that’s wonderful. But –as choosing a partner for marriage teaches people –compatibility is about much more than being able to enjoy each other socially in doses. The two of you need to hit it off in terms of direction and taste as well. If you want the most out of your wedding, you’ll need a wedding planner that’s excited about your themes and choice of aesthetics. You guys will need to gel creatively and interest-wise.

That sounds like we’re putting a lot of pressure on the wedding planner, but the fact is that not everyone works effectively together for the purposes of long-term projects. You guys might not have hit it off, but that same wedding planner may be perfect for the next couple that crosses their path. Any successful director or manager has a knack for recognizing good work chemistry between people and utilizing that potential. When it comes to directing your own wedding, you need employ that type of long-term critical thinking. If you’re looking to hire a wedding planner, ask yourself can I work with this person over the next several months and stay enthused? The answer must unequivocally be yes.

Ideas are wonderful, but planning requires substance

There’s a popular nugget of wisdom in business. The specifics vary, but the basic idea remains throughout each telling: ideas are great. Everyone’s got an idea What have you created? How will you go about turning your next project into a reality?” Anyone who’s ever had a drink with someone who’s all-too-eager to describe themselves as “a Producer” knows what we’re talking about. Beware of any wedding planner eager to sell you on their Vision™ for your wedding.

This a major red flag. When you meet with a wedding planner for a consultation, most of their talking should be making inquiries about your vision for the wedding; not vice-versa. You’ve had a vision for your wedding for decades –perhaps longer. Their job is to take that vision and use their savvy to make that into a reality. Don’t be afraid to ask for specifics. “What vendors will you contact? Will you have other weddings to attend on my wedding day? Is this possible with this budget outline? How many hours a week will you be available during crutch time?” (one month and counting down to the wedding) These aren’t nitpicky concerns. They’re an oral test to make sure you talking to a planner that can deliver.

 Know what type of planning your need and budget accordingly

We’ve been tough on wedding planners so far, but the truth is that it certainly doesn’t all fall on them. By the time you visit a wedding planner, you should have an idea as to both the budget and scale or your wedding. If you want their help in turning your dream wedding into a reality: direction and communication will go a long way towards making that happen.

You’ll also need to have an accurate idea of what you need from them. i.e. type of service. Are you just looking for some pointers and have vendors recommended? Because some planners (and agencies) will just charge by the hour for in-depth consultation visits. Perhaps you’re just looking for help and crowd control for the wedding day? Or are you looking for a full-time partner in crime from the consultation visit until you drive away in the getaway car with the “Just Married” logo fading off into the horizon?

Those different types of needs have vastly different costs and lets the planner know where they’ll need to focus their attention and energy to best suit your needs.