Jill Christine Design & Photography » Blog

Summer weddings and heat go hand in hand! While warmer temperatures may pose extra challenges, as long as you’re prepared, your day can still go off without a hitch. Here are a few ideas to keep you and your guests cool and having fun on your wedding day!

  1. Provide relief from the heat. Choose an indoor/outdoor venue that will allow for guests to enter air conditioning to cool down for a few moments if needed. Also, look for shaded areas for the ceremony site and cocktail hour.
  2. Time the wedding to begin in the late afternoon or early evening.  Avoid beginning the ceremony during the middle of the day when the sun is strongest (generally 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
  3. Have water and cool towels available.  Ask ushers to pass out water and small ice-cold hand towels while guests are seated waiting for the ceremony to begin. Bonus: Serve glasses of water with fruit that coordinates with your wedding colors.
  4. Consider your attire and the wedding party’s attire.  Select knee-length dresses for bridesmaids and consider choosing linen or khaki suits for the groomsmen. Also, opt for open -backed vests for both the groom and the groomsmen.
  5. Serve lighter fare.  Heat and heavy food don’t mix. Serve items such as grilled entrées, fresh produce, frozen cocktails and even popsicles!
  6. Provide sunscreen, sunglasses, paper fans and parasols to protect your guests from the sun and help keep them cool.
  7. Keep flowers hydrated. Leave your flowers in water and shade as long as possible to prevent wilting in the heat.
  8. Keep powder and blotting papers close by to fend off shiny noses and foreheads.
  9. Skip the perfume. Bugs are attracted to the scent of perfume so trade in your sweet smelling fragrances for bug spray instead. Additionally, stock up on citronella candles for all outdoor areas where guests will gather.
  10. Keep your cake in the refrigerator. Keep your cake in a cool area for most of the reception to prevent it from melting in the heat.

Planning a Summer Wedding

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As summer comes to a close, it’s time to start thinking about fall and even the holidays! This year, I will hold two mini session events — Fall Mini Sessions and Christmas Card Mini Sessions.

Fall mini sessions will be held the afternoon of Sunday, October 25th. The location is still being finalized, but the intention is to hold these at a private farm in Leonardtown, Md. These sessions will be 20 minutes each, and average 25-30 images per session. The cost is $150 per session.

Christmas Card Mini Sessions will be held the afternoon of Sunday, November 8th, at a private farm in California, Md. The purpose of these sessions will be to capture 5-10 images that could be used on your Christmas card! These sessions will be styled for Christmas. Think red barns, fresh greenery and red and green plaid! These sessions will be 10 minutes each, and cost $60. Christmas card designs and printing are also available.

Email jill@jillchristinedesigns.com with questions and to book your session!

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On a warm summer day in July, standing near the water’s edge, Laura and Dave became husband and wife! It was truly an honor to witness their celebration, which included a beautiful ring warming ceremony. During this time, Laura and Dave passed their rings through each row of guests. Every person present held the rings in their hands, and warmed them by sending them a blessing, wish or prayer for their marriage. By the time the rings made their way back to Laura and Dave, they were saturated with love from their friends and family. I really can’t think of a better way to start off a marriage. Can you just imagine the good things in store for them given all those blessings?

Many talented vendors contributed to this day including: Swan Point Yacht & Country Club, venue and catering; Cathy Hubbs, celebrant; On the Count of Three Trio, ceremony musicians; Billy Breslin Band, reception band; Charles Street Bakery, cake; David’s Bridal, dress; Halo Salon, hair and make up; Davis Florist, flowers; and JILL CHRISTINE DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY, photography.

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Choosing a wedding photographer can be a difficult task! There are no do overs when it comes to your big day and the pictures so how can you ensure you pick the right person? A lot of times we’ll rely on our gut instinct and we’ll know immediately whether we like someone on a personal level. This is a great start for choosing your photographer. They’re going to be by your side for an entire day that just so happens to be one of the biggest of your life. Add to that the consultations, engagement session, and album design process, and you’re now talking about a relationship that could span up to two years. So trust your gut and if you like someone, they’re definitely worth considering!

But liking the person isn’t enough. You’ve also got to love their work. If you view their images and find yourself oohing and ahhing over each one, that’s a good sign. It’s even better if you can envision yourself in the photos. On the other hand, if you find yourself saying something like “I like this image, but I’d change this…” then that’s a sign that you might not be a good fit for one another. Trust me when I say that you want to find someone whose style matches your own. It doesn’t really work to hire someone and ask them to change the way they shoot. You’ll both end up disappointed in the end.

As you’re reviewing someone’s work, ask to view an entire wedding that they have photographed. Portfolios and web sites are going to include only the best images. But to get a true picture (no pun intended!) of what your wedding day photos will look like, you’ll want to look at a wedding day from start to finish. Ask to see a wedding at your venue if they have one, or one that is similar. If you’re having your ceremony in a dimly lit church, than looking at photos from an outdoor ceremony isn’t going to be helpful. Look for consistent, well exposed images throughout the day.

If you’ve found someone that meets these criteria, you can feel confident in your decision to work with them and know that together you’ll create beautiful images!

choosing a wedding photographer - southern maryland weddings

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