Friends! It is such a different time right now with all the shifting of wedding dates, more elopements, back yard weddings and much more! Regardless, we can still share some of our preferred vendors. Every time we see stunning photos from clients who tied the knot at Winn Homestead we are in awe of the simplicity. The rolling hills, green grass, and detailed landscape paint the colors for beautiful photos. We got the chance to ask the owner of Winn Homestead what their “why” is behind what they do. Here’s what they had to say:

“We host weddings because we love sharing our historic, family homestead with others as they begin writing their own family histories.”

-Kendra

For more info on Winn Homestead and the venue features, please visit their website at: https://www.winnhomestead.com/

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Hi all! Britt here, your bridal designer for sustainable bridal fashion. I got the chance to talk to professional wedding photographer Erik Gilliland. His work is phenomenal! I might be a bit biased because he did our wedding photos, but nonetheless, I asked him when the best time was to schedule or book a wedding photographer. Here is what he had to say:

“As a wedding photographer I have had the opportunity to capture many different wedding styles, locations, and time frames. I have been booked for weddings only a couple months away, and even two years out. Life is ever changing and curve balls are often thrown! A good photographer must be able to adapt and overcome any obstacle thrown their way.

Everyone has their own way of planning a wedding and most wedding planners I have worked with will bear the brunt of the load for you (I highly recommend getting one). In my personal opinion I recommend booking your wedding photographer at least a year out. Wedding photographers are usually pretty booked in the summer months so finding one last minute is not an easy task. As soon as you have the date for the wedding locked in, contact the photographer to make sure they have that date available. Most couples get married on weekends so dates start becoming very limited for photographers. Like I said, a good wedding planner will also help you with timelines. If you cannot decide on an exact date you should still contact the wedding photographer and talk with them about dates you are thinking about. They might only have one or two of those dates available and that might be the determining factor on deciding on your wedding day.

” I like to capture emotion, candid photos as well as posed photos. I love to take advantage of the venue and scenery, incorporating that into my images. I always ask for any photo ideas that the Bride has as well to meet her expectations. “

Once booked, I like to meet with my clients a couple times before the big day. I like to talk about the timeline or flow of the day and see what their ideas are. It is always good to get a rough plan on the who, what, when and where for photos before the wedding day to create less kayos. As long as the photographer and Bride are on the same page everything usually works out. A couple weeks before the wedding I like to have the bride send me her outline of the day. I can look it over and offer advice and ideas based on my experience.

I find it hard to say what my exact style of photography is. I like to capture emotion, candid photos as well as posed photos. I love to take advantage of the venue and scenery, incorporating that into my images. I always ask for any photo ideas that the Bride has as well to meet her expectations.”

You can learn more about Erik Gilliland Photography and contact him on his Facebook page here.

Hi All! It’s Britt, bridal tailor here with Modern Cottage Bridal. I got the chance to chat with Derek, personal trainer with Beginner Fitness Solutions, and he shared with me his top 4 keys to losing weight. Keep in mind, if your wedding is this spring, summer, or fall, your goal date should be your first fitting. From there on out, plan on staying the same weight (as best as you can) to make your alterations journey easier. If you still have time to work on your goal before your first fitting, check out Derek’s top tips below:

Set a Goal

Every great achievement began with a simple goal in mind. But not just any goal will do. There are a few parameters that can help increase your likelihood of success when setting a goal. First off, it needs to be specific. Simply stating that you want to “lose weight” is too general. It needs to be measurable so that there’s some way to track progress over time. That can be anything from a desired weight, your body fat %, or even a specific number of inches lost around your waist. Lastly make sure that the goal you select is attainable. Be realistic when setting a goal, don’t set yourself up for failure before you’ve even begun. Losing 100lbs in 3 months just isn’t going to happen…In fact anything more than 10lbs a month is going to be pretty unlikely.

Let That Goal Become Your Top Priority

When you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen. There are endless excuses for why people fail when it comes to losing weight. “I don’t have time”, “I can’t afford it”, “I don’t know what I’m doing” …But ultimately what it all boils down to is that it just wasn’t important enough. In order to be successful, your life must revolve around your goal. Everything must come second to doing what it takes to succeed. Whether that means sleeping less, skipping out on social gatherings, or giving up chocolate ice cream for three months.

Have a Plan

A goal without a plan is just a wish. You’re not going to reach your goal by continuing to do the same thing you’ve been doing for the past 5 years. You need to set weekly tasks for you to achieve that will ultimately lead to your overall goal. They should be things such as, complete three workouts a week, eat no more than 1500 calories a day, or weigh in once a week. Whatever they are, just make sure they reflect your goal. If after a couple weeks you notice you’re not seeing the change you were hoping for, change up the plan, not the goal.

Believe in Yourself

What the mind believes, the body can achieve. The mind is truly a powerful thing and if you don’t believe that you’re going to succeed, then most likely you won’t. Positive thoughts lead to positive outcomes, so in times of struggle (and believe me, you’re going to struggle) it’s absolutely essential to build yourself up. Remind yourself how strong you are, think about how hard you’ve worked, and how badly you want to succeed. Doing this will help keep you focused, motivated, and on track.

If you need help coming up with a plan or would like a little more support and accountability feel free to contact me by visiting our website at
https://beginnerfitnesssolutions.trainerize.com/contact.aspx

-Derek

Beginner Fitness Solutions