How should I word my invitations?
When should I purchase my wedding invitations?
Can I use labels for my return address?
How far in advance should we book our photographer?
What should I expect from the DJ at my wedding reception?
Should we hire a wedding consultant?
Why do we need a wedding website?
How far in advance should we launch our wedding website?
How should I choose my flowers?
Who gets priority, the videographer or the photographer?

How should I word my invitations?
Katie from HandCrafted Invitations answers: The first thing you'll need to do is figure out who will be the official host of the wedding. Will it be the parents of the bride, parents of the groom, both sets of parents, or will you, the couple, be the hosts?

Next, you'll need to decide the mood of your wedding, so the invitation can reflect that mood. If you are having a formal wedding the invitation should read in a manner that conveys formality and tradition. On the other hand, if you are planning a wedding that is a bit less traditional, you may want to make the wording more personalized, drawing on a theme or location to get your guest "in the mood."

Finally, the easiest thing for you to do, is to go someplace like www.verseit.com where there are hundreds of different wording combinations to work with. Browse through the samples, find one you like, personalize it and voila -- your invitation is written!
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When should I purchase my wedding invitations?
Nancy from Focus Ink answers: This will vary from bride to bride. The first advice is to allow more than adequate time. There are many considerations in deciding when to order your invitations. Start with the wedding date and work backwards. Write on your calendar the following projected dates to determine your personal deadline.

First, when does the caterer need the exact count of guests? From that date, add a week in case you need to make calls to those who have not responded by the designated date.

Next, consider whether there are many out-of-town guests invited. You should send the invitations to them 8-10 weeks before the wedding to allow for arranging vacation time and making plane reservations.

When you consider the number of guests invited and your habits, how long will it take you to address all the invitations? Will you have an addressing party with your bridesmaids? Will family help? Will you be hiring a calligrapher? If so, how much time will they require? Many brides will only address 25 or so per week. Be realistic about your time schedule. If you are not having your return address professionally printed, you'll need to have time to add the return address to the envelope, as well.

Allow a week for the invitations to be shipped if you are ordering from a catalog. Many catalog invitations will be printed in under two weeks. Allow three weeks for invitations with photographs (remember you will need written permission from the photographer for professional shots). I try to double this time in case there are any problems. There usually aren't, but sometimes there are. This will allow for time to reprint without adding stress into your life. It seems like the only time there are problems are when the job is a rush one. These rush orders seem to carry an energy of all their own. People all down the line may work too quickly and errors may occur.

If you want something more elaborate, such as multi-layered invitations, handcrafted or custom designed ones, 4-8 weeks is not unusual for manufacturing. Again, double this time to prevent any stress or worry about them being completed on time. Remember, you will want to browse early to determine the style that suits you.

One other consideration is the time of year you order. New catalogs often come out in January. What you saw in October may not be available when the new year rolls in. If you are very excited about an invitation you see in the fall, you can ask your representative to check with the manufacturer whether they expect to continue that style. If it is uncertain, you may want to order early to ensure you get the invitation you want. Make sure your ceremony and reception times and location are secure before printing, however. Some hotels have clauses in the contract saying that if a larger party comes around, you may be bumped.

But what if you are in a rush and need invitations in a week? You are not necessarily stuck, but you will be faced with fewer choices. There are several catalog companies that will print in 24 hours and then ship overnight.

Local printing companies can often print in just a couple of days also. Some keep a small selection in stock. Expect to be charged extra for a rush job. Some paper companies have a good selection of invitations you can bring to a local printer. Confirm this before you purchase. Be sure you buy plenty of extras to allow for press set-up. Be prepared to pay for typesetting, and colored inks will generally cost more than the catalogs. Many printers have minimums far beyond what you need, but will be willing to print the invitations at their "minimum" cost. Make sure they print invitations regularly however, because invitation printing often requires special handling. Be sure you do not fold the stock before giving it to the printer!

Invitations set the tone for your wedding. Allow plenty of time to find what you like and avoid any stress of whether you will have them on time. Plan carefully here.
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Can I use labels for my return address?
No. Labels are considered poor etiquette. Appropriate options include professional printing, handwritten or calligraphed addresses, running them through your desktop printer or going to a store where they have the facilities to do this, foil stamping, and embossing. If the return address is one you'll have for a while, you may consider purchasing your own hand embosser, which will be usable after the wedding, and is convenient and attractive.
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How far in advance should we book our photographer?
Kyle from Kyle Zimmerman Photography answers: Once you have found the photographer that fits your style and temperament, you should book as soon as you know your wedding date. Remember, your chosen photographer is only one person who will probably receive many requests for the date you have in mind. First come, first served is the normal rule of the day. Don't be disappointed by waiting too long.
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What should I expect from the DJ at my wedding reception?
Max from Complete Music answers: Besides being appropriately attired, ready before the event starts, and playing appropriate music at the appropriate level, the DJ should run the event for you. S/he coordinates and works with the caterers and photographers to insure the event runs smoothly and according to your wishes. S/he does the introductions, and announcements. In fact, your DJ is one of the most critical components for the success of your reception. A well-trained, professional, and talented DJ can make your reception a collection of wonderful moments to remember. Carefully interview and screen your DJ to ensure you pick the right personality for your specific needs.
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Should we hire a wedding consultant?
Ellen from Premier Bride New Mexico answers: A bridal consultant, or wedding planner, is a professional whose training and expertise will help to make your wedding as perfect as possible. You certainly can plan a wedding yourself. But, with any project, knowledge is power. Professional consultants have the knowledge about the wedding industry that can save you from making mistakes that cost you time and money. Also, you can hire a consultant to do as much or as little for the wedding as you wish. That way you can have all the fun of planning your wedding, while leaving the difficult tasks and worries to a professional. To ensure that your wedding will be a beautiful and joyous occasion for you and your fiancé, seek the advice of a bridal consultant.
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Why do we need a wedding website?
Steve from OuiDo.com answers: Wedding websites are great for getting all the information about your wedding out and available to your guests 24/7. You can include dates, times, and locations, hotel information, and information about local attractions. You can let people know where you're registered and link straight to the online stores. You can also have guests complete their RSVPs from your wedsite, and let them browse a photo gallery. Many of our clients tell us that the biggest benefit of their wedding website was that they didn't have to spend time answering questions about who, what, where, when, and why. All that information was available at the wedding website, so guests could get their answers there.
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How far in advance should we launch our wedding website?
Steve from OuiDo.com answers: We recommend launching your wedding website no later than three months prior to your wedding date. First, because you'll want to be sure it's in place before you send out your announcement along with the invitation, and second, because you don't want to be scrambling to get the content in place when you have so many other things to take care of before your big day.
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How should I choose my flowers?
Charlotte from Charlotte's Flowers answers: When choosing flowers for the wedding, you should first consider your body type. Are you tall, short, full-figured, or petite? A smaller bouquet is better for the petite bride, while the tall or full-figured bride should choose a larger bouquet.

You'll also need to consider the color and style of your dress. If your dress is ornate, perhaps with floral appliques, pearls, or sequins, you would not want to hide it with a big bouquet. A hand-tied or arm bouquet that can be held to the side works well. A round bouquet works with almost everything. Both styles are good for close-fitting or A-line dresses. If you prefer a cascade, consider whether a loose or airy bouquet would be better. For a ballroom style dress one could get away with a fuller, larger bouquet.

As for which flowers to use with which style of bouquet, certain flowers lend themselves to the design. For example, calla lilies are ideal for a hand-tied bouquet and open roses are perfect for a round nosegay. We can look at samples and books to help determine which flowers to use.

Another very important consideration is what your favorite flowers are, so we can incorporate those into the bouquets. Colors depend on what the attendants are wearing. You can include the bridesmaids color in the bride's bouquet or make hers different to set her apart. From pastels to darks keep in mind a way to match, but also have a contrast so that the flowers will be seen against the dress.

You may also consider using silk flowers. The advantage of using silk flowers is that they can be dyed any color. Choose silk flowers that have similar colors to their fresh counterparts to maintain a realistic look. The main objective is to achieve a coordinated look that puts it all together.

It's a good idea for you to look at magazines, the internet, and other sources, to get a feel of what she likes before the consultation, because there are so many choices it can be overwhelming. We can work with you to meld your tastes and preferences, along with our knowledge and experience, to make the decision of which flowers to use an easy one.
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Who gets priority, the videographer or the photographer?
Larry from Valtelhas Productions answers: Competent professional videographers and photographers work together to stay out of each other’s shots, so both can provide you with the excellent service you deserve. Of course, during the normal course of shooting photos or video, they may accidentally get in the way of one another's shots. That’s normal, especially when they are covering more than four hours of your ceremony and reception. Rest assured, though -- there are plenty of opportunities to get both good photos and good video.

True professionals cooperate, so they can both can provide you with the best service possible. Members of New Mexico Wedding Professionals are bound by a code of ethics that requires them to have high standards when working with their colleagues and many have worked with each other before.

As creative artists, professional videographers and photographers know when a still photo or a moving image should take precedence. They also know that by shooting at different angles, they can stay out of each other’s field of view. In fact, the real problems usually come from guests with cameras and camcorders, who unknowingly block shots or stay in the camera's field of view for much longer than necessary. This is especially problematic at a less formal the wedding, where people are free to move about as they will.

The videographers, photographers, officiants, and wedding consultants of New Mexico Wedding Professionals can all give you tips on how to courteously manage your guests. That way, your guests can take their personal photos and video, and the professionals you hired can do their best for you.
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