marc shaw 6/13/22 marc shaw 6/13/22

How to Walk Into Your Reception Like a Boss!

Baton Rouge and New Orleans Wedding Photographer and Videographer

YES! You made it through the wedding ceremony! Now, it’s time for your first announcement as a married couple. Walking into your reception is kind of a big deal, and you don’t want to wait until the day of to figure out how you’re going to make your grand entrance! In Baton Rouge, we know how to party from our Louisiana roots, so the bar is set pretty high. These days, moments like this are captured not only for your official wedding video, but also on a few dozen smartphone cameras, and possibly shared across multiple social media platforms, but no pressure!

Walk Into Your Reception Like a Boss

No need to scour internet forums or frantically search YouTube videos for ideas. At Complete Weddings + Events in Baton Rouge, we’ve witnessed thousands of entrances through the years (some awesome, and some not so awesome). From choreographed dance moves to props, we’ve seen it all. So, we put together the perfect “How To” guide just for you to make sure you walk into your reception like a boss.

Have Fun

Don’t be afraid to be goofy. If it’s not a little awkward you’re not doing it right. You have to fully commit, and remember that everyone is there to celebrate YOU! When the guests see you having fun, it automatically sets the tone for the rest of the reception. Comedy is your friend!

Involvement

Get the whole bridal party on board. The bride and groom are the main attractions, but it’s even better when the whole group gets in on the fun to build up the momentum for the new married couple’s big announcement! Encourage them to get creative, and props are always a fun addition. Sunglasses, hats, or switching outfits (pending both parties are on board) can elevate an entrance from bland to grand. Props help take some of the pressure off because there’s something else for people to focus on, and they help spur creativity!

Be Yourself!

Some people go for the shock value and others go for sweet and romantic -but whatever you do, make sure it feels authentic for you. At the end of the day, you want to be comfortable and able to enjoy YOUR moment to its fullest.

If dancing isn’t your thing, you can use dramatic lighting to take your moment to the next level. Complete’s lighting experts will help make your entrance all about you. From Old Hollywood with dim lighting and a spotlight, or neon flashing lights for the rockstars out there.

Walk Into Your Reception Ideas

Now, let’s look at some epic entrances (and fails) to get inspired for what TO DO and NOT TO DO. If being outrageous isn’t your style, here are some entrances even your grandma can get behind.

Let’s take a look at the video that inspired people to start getting more creative with their entrances: The JK Wedding Dance Entrance. Granted this is a wedding entrance, not a reception, but with over 97 million YouTube views it’s deserving of a mention! If you have been living under a rock and haven’t seen this yet, you’re in for a treat! It has it all – the whole bridal party, props, music, authenticity, and most of all FUN! Enjoy!

Marc Shaw Photography & Films in Baton Rouge and New Orleans , LA

If you’re planning a wedding, you’ve come to the right place. At Marc Shaw Photography & Films, our team of photographers and videographers, specialize in wedding services to make your day a success and make sure you’re just worried about enjoying it. Contact us today to learn more about our wedding packages best for your special day!

marc shaw 6/6/22 marc shaw 6/6/22

Ways To Personalize Your Wedding Ceremony

Baton Rouge and New Orleans Wedding Photographer and Videographer

The moment you walk down the aisle to meet your better half in front of your favorite people should be a moment to remember. If the idea of a traditional wedding ceremony sounds a little lackluster, personalizing some of the moments could be a great option. Through years of attending tons of weddings, we have seen many ways to personalize your wedding ceremony. Take a look!

Personalize your Wedding Ceremony Entrance or Exit

Is there anything more fun than a wedding party dancing as they make their way down the aisle or a happy couple celebrating as they leave the ceremony? The aisle processional and recessional are awesome moments during your ceremony where there is tons of room for personalization.

Music can play a key role in your wedding ceremony before you even walk down the aisle. Work with your wedding DJ to create a playlist specifically for your ceremony. When it’s time to walk down the aisle, you can choose to have a special song play that means something to both of you. “Here Comes The Bride” (Wagner’s Bridal Chorus) might just not do it for you. If you’re feeling a bit bolder, choreograph a dance for your wedding party to party down the aisle as they enter. The choice is yours!

As for the exit, you can also leave on a high note. Choose a song choice that fills the room and your soul with the mood of your choice. You could have your ushers pass out fresh flower petals to guests to then throw them as you walk back down. Or, plan for a grand exit from the ceremony space with fun elements like sparklers or dried lavender without the pollution.

Personally Written Wedding Vows

Here’s the thing, vows are already pretty personal. It’s a chance for each of you to express how much you mean to each other. Avoid copying and pasting your vows from something you found online. To make it personal, include your favorite memory of your better half or even your favorite things about them. Here are more of our top wedding vow writing tips to help you get personal on this meaningful day.

Wedding Ceremony Location

You and your fiance should work together to find a location that you agree on or that represents something in your relationship. The wedding location can be a very personal choice for any couple. It can be a church closest to your new home, one that one of you grew up in, or a chapel you’ve always envisioned getting married at.

Most wedding ceremonies now actually occur outdoors, in backyards, parks, or outside of your wedding reception venue. Your reception location may help guide this choice. However, be sure to talk through what makes sense for you and your fiance and how you want to look back and remember the ceremony.

Officiant

Your officiant plays a major part in your ceremony. When picking your officiant, make sure you choose someone that means something to both you and your fiance. They should be someone that is rooting for both of you and your relationship. Choosing a pastor, a friend to both of you, or even a family member will be a perfect way to make the ceremony feel more personal!

Marc Shaw Photography & Films in Baton Rouge and New Orleans , LA

marc shaw 5/30/22 marc shaw 5/30/22

A Work of Art

Baton Rouge and New Orleans Wedding Photographer and Videographer

Your wedding is a work of art. Every detail you pick out will come together to tell a story. And stories are best told through art. All kind of art. Music, dance, painting, and yes even the planning of a wedding. Imagine having all that work physically captured in a painting.

Have you heard of live wedding painting?

It is a new trend in weddings right now and we absolutely love it! Can you imagine waking up to your own original piece of art that captured the lighting, the movement, the fun, the food, the people, the colors, and the love of your special day?! What a magical piece to have to immortalize your wedding.

$$$

Although the price tag for a live wedding art might not be in your budget. Photography and Videography most definitely should be. At Tolman Media we also capture the lighting, the movement, the fun, the food, the people, the colors, and the love of your special day. Telling the story of your love and your special day through film and photo.

Immortalizing your best day for years to come.

And with our printing discount, you’ll receive on the completion of your wedding, you can print as many of those favorite photos to wake up to again, and again!

Marc Shaw Photography & Films in Baton Rouge and New Orleans , LA

marc shaw 5/25/22 marc shaw 5/25/22

What to consider when choosing a Wedding Photographer

Baton Rouge and New Orleans Wedding Photographer and Videographer

Price - it doesn't have to be a dirty word.

Yes, I know money is top of mind for you right now. So let’s touch on this first. Photography is an investment, but it is not something you splurge on then forget about. You want to remember your day. You want to reminisce on every moment for years and generations to come. So I challenge you to look at it as a lifelong and meaningful investment. But also stay true to yourself and what you think your wedding day is worth! We take absolute pride in knowing we can offer our couples amazing work at a fair price.

Editing Style

Your photos should make you feel incredible about yourself and the experience you had taking them. You should also feel like the images will retain its longevity and be forever timeless! These photos should not look like they will go out of style over the years. Our Team is known and praised for our timeless, bright style. We are able to use the talent and eye of each team member but offer our clients a cohesive gallery by using 1 editor for a seamless style no matter who your photographer is.

Details you want to think about before you sign with anyone.

-Does your photographer put watermarks on their images. When you work with our team you'll never have to pay us to take our name off of your face.
-How many locations are included? Although the standard wedding will take place at 2 locations (ceremony and reception) you may also want to add a 3rd for getting ready. We offer up to 3 locations included in our pricing for wedding day services. More locations can be added.
Other services that you might find important need to be discussed. Every wedding is unique to that couples love story. We are happy to customize any package to fit your specific needs.

Client Care

Your wedding photographer should make you feel relaxed and comfortable. You should be able to vibe with them whether you are in front of their camera or on the phone. You want to enjoy being around them because they will be with you during your entire wedding day. Additionally, you want to ensure they will be able to direct you and groups of people during your wedding in a timely and natural manner. After you reserve your date with us we pair you with your media team about *6-8 months prior to your wedding day giving you plenty of time to not only communicate with your photographer but create a relationship with them as well.

Experience

Does your photographer have the experience you are looking for? Our team is not only incredibly talented but they have a vast amount of experience in wedding photography. We hand select all of our team members, and we are confident you will love working with our team, getting to know you'r photographer, and having us capture your special wedding day. We look forward to working with you! 💕Tolman Media Weddings

Marc Shaw Photography & Films in Baton Rouge and New Orleans , LA