About 365 days of marriage

I started this blog in April of 2011. At the time, Bret and I were wedding photographers and it was a way to share how marriage is more about the day to day and so much more than the wedding day itself. For about 5 years, I blogged about the joys and sorrows of the Christian walk, marriage, work, family and friends. I’ve blogged every day since a few weeks after I started. In May of 2015, we photographed our last wedding. Now, I have become passionate about simplicity, particularly in marriage, Christianity, business, travel and life. For a number of reasons, we have become minimalists. I’ve found that having simplicity makes life so much deeper, refreshing and joyful. I hope that this blog will help others see the benefits of living simply.

Day 1798 – Repost – Guest Post – Matt Buerhaus of Buerhaus Design, LLC – Delmarva Wedding Videographer

Posted on June 13, 2014 by 365 days of marriage

Today’s post comes from Matt Buerhaus of Buerhaus Design, LLC. I met Matt a few years ago through K&B Bridals and have really enjoyed getting to know him! He was even my groom model for the style shoot I did with K&B! This just goes to show how hard Matt works to help his fellow vendors!

Between shooting, I grabbed this quick shot of him with his fiancé (who is also a total sweetheart)!

Without further ado, here’s Matt!

What is one thing that would surprise most brides about your business?
The time it takes to produce a video… an average wedding video takes about 40-50 hours to film, edit and produce.

Walk us through what a bride will typically experience working with you.
Brides will typically experience a personal level of communication with me personally. I coach them on the ins-and-outs of video and what to expect, which is also explained in detail on our webpage, and our entire crew is family, so they know they’re getting a personal level of service and not a ‘cookie-cutter’ experience.

What is your favorite thing about weddings?
The fact that I know the documentation of each wedding we film will be around for generations and touch hundreds of thousands, if not millions of lives eventually, long after my time is up. Imagine having a well produced video of your parents or even grandparents (or great-grandparents) wedding? It would be priceless to see what the family was like, or relive times with folks that we’ve lost. That’s very powerful to me and I take a lot of pride in the fact that we provide these memories for dozens of couples every year.

Do you use lots of cables or a ton of lighting at the wedding or reception?
Our goal is to blend in and not be a distraction to the guests. In fact, if one was to read reviews for us on our website (www.buerhausdesign.com) (in the Feedback link) or on Wedding Wire, a common theme will be “we didn’t even know they were there!” To answer the question specifically, we leave a very small footprint, and will use dim lighting only in very dark reception halls. No video camera can film in the dark! In moderately lit halls a light isn’t even necessary in most cases, and if we use a light at all, it’s just bright enough to light up the subject matter right in front of us (and not the entire room).

Since this is a blog more about marriage than the wedding day, what is one piece of advice you’d give to future brides and grooms?
Don’t overspend on things that will be gone once the reception is over. Going overboard on favors, centerpieces, food, lighting, etc. will kill a wedding budget… which usually forces cut-backs on photo and/or video. What’s ironic about that is, photo and video is the only way to relive the most important day of one’s life. There should be an emphasis on those two services when planning. Why have all of this elaborate stuff when you’re not going to have professional documentation of it?

At the same time, be careful to not let photo or video blow a budget, either. Just because a photographer or videographer starts at $4000 or more, doesn’t mean their work is better than those that start in the $1000 range. It’s a cut-throat industry, and a lot of vendors get away with murder with what they charge. We could charge a lot more than our current rates to reflect what some other companies charge, but we like to sleep at night knowing we’re not ripping anyone off. We’re not the cheapest act in town, our rates are ‘middle-of-the-pack’, but we feel what we produce is the best video work in the region and offer all of our clients a real value.

The biggest mistake I see couple’s make all the time is overspending on a lot of things. There’s deals to be had within reason, and with those deals, you’ll probably get more bang-for-the-buck.

What is one thing that has surprised you in planning your own wedding so far?
What some vendors charge! We look at one dress and it’s 8k. Then we find one for $500 that looks exactly the same. No brainer. Same holds true of cakes, flowers and just about anything else. Why is one cake-maker charging $1500 for an average wedding cake, but our local bakery is charging $300 for basically the same thing? Again, no brainer here either. More expensive DOES NOT mean better.

Would you like to offer any special deals on your post?
If a bride mentions this blog, Buerhaus Design will give you $100 off regular in-season rates.

This is a great deal, so head over to Matt’s site now to make an appointment!

Day 1797 – Throw Back Thursday – Lake Placid

Posted on June 12, 2014 by 365 days of marriage

In the wee hours of the morning tomorrow I’ll be heading out on vacation. Figured I’d do a throw back Thursday to one of my favorite memories there!

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Day 1796 – Repost – Guest Post – Shelley Stannard of Flavor Cupcakery – Wedding Cupcakes in Harford and Baltimore County Maryland

Posted on June 11, 2014 by 365 days of marriage

Today’s post is by Shelley Stannard of Flavor Cupcakery. You know I love Flavor Cupcakery SOOO much! Not only their cupcakes, but the people. I’ve known Shelley since before they had their location in Bel Air (and now Cockeysville), before she was on Cupcake Wars and all the deserved success she’s had. She is always so upbeat and positive.

Here’s Shelley!!

What is one thing that would surprise most brides about your business?
Surprise… How doing what we do isn’t “magic” but considerable work…! I think most people don’t realize how difficult it is to bake fresh every day (nothing is sold the second day) and to offer the variety of flavors that we offer. We have to start fresh again each and every day with 15 creative flavors for the shop and additional flavors for special order – weddings, etc… We don’t use shortening as a stabilizer so the cupcakes could last longer nor do we use cake mixes that have synthetic softeners that stay moist longer… but that’s what sets us apart and ensures a fresh, non-chemical taste!

Walk us through what a bride will typically experience working with you.
A bride could expect to meet with one of our Wedding Consultants and work together to design a cake or cake/cupcake display that fits their desires! They can choose from a variety of flavors which makes it fun for the guests. All our cupcake flavors are the same cost – no additional charge for premium flavors. We touch base again a few weeks before the wedding to solidify flavors and details. If desired, we deliver and set-up so the brides/grooms don’t have to worry about a thing!

What is your favorite thing about weddings?
My favorite thing about weddings is how each one is so unique. Every bride has a “vision” for what she wants the overall effect to be and I love how the cake and/or cupcakes can play such a vibrant role in that vision. I love to set up a display and see how it works within the overall decor and to see how it can become a focal point that gets everyone excited!

Since this is a blog more about marriage than the wedding day, what is one piece of advice you’d give to future brides and grooms?
Advice… to enter a marriage knowing it’s the beginning of an amazing union between two people that are going to be on an up and down journey for the rest of their lives. Enjoy the wedding day as a wonderful celebration of this union, but don’t hyper-focus on the wedding because it should only be about fun and happiness. Know that you’re committing to a person not to a “wedding day.” It’s the union, friendship, love that you’ll be experiencing in all your future days that needs to have the most attention!

If you could go back and change one thing about your wedding, what would it be?
What would I change about my wedding??? I honestly don’t think I would change anything. It was a beautiful, relaxing day and I truly enjoyed all the planning/preparation. The only mishap was the person in charge of the video camera forgot to charge the battery… next time I would hire a professional!!!!

If you got married while you were working in the wedding industry, did you make a change in your business based on what you went through?
I believe you can come up with a beautifully coordinated wedding (all details including the cake/cupcakes) with a relaxed, fun attitude. There is no need to stress. Most of the brides we work with are very relaxed and our displays turn out beautifully. Most say how easy the process was and in the end they are always super pleased with the result!

Would you like to offer any special deals on your post?
We will offer a 5% discount off the price of cupcakes/cake (excluding stand rental, delivery & set-up) for anyone referred by your blog!

So get over to Flavor Cupcakery and set up an appointment! If you’re still not convinced, here’s a few of my favorite pictures of their cakes and cupcakes!

Day 1795 – Repost – Linda Montuori of Blush Florals – Wedding Florist in Bel Air, Maryland

Posted on June 10, 2014 by 365 days of marriage

Since I’m in vacation mode and will be MIA for a few days, I’m going to repost my guest posts!!

Today’s post comes from Linda Montuori of Blush Florals. I met Linda at a bridal show at K&B Bridals several years ago. I’ve worked with her on several weddings and her work always blows me away. Her flowers are so beautiful, you don’t want to touch them. She is an amazing woman and I am thankful to know her.

Here’s Linda!!

What is one thing that would surprise most brides about your business?
A lot of people think it’s a glamorous job, but it’s very physical and dirty. Processing flowers properly requires making sure the buckets are disinfected each time, cutting the flowers and putting them into proper solutions and refrigerating them at the right time. I keep my flowers “drinking” for 24 hrs before I start designing with them.

Walk us through what a bride will typically experience working with you.
I like to meet with brides after they have selected their dresses. The color of the bridal attendant’s dress sets the color scheme for the wedding.

What is your favorite thing about weddings?
The Flowers! I also love the excitement in the bride’s voice when I talk to her a few days before the wedding.

What sets Fine Florals apart from other florists?
I specialize in weddings and events only. Therefore, my focus is specifically on “my brides” that’s how I refer to them. I never skimp, I have a tendency to give more than what a bride is paying for. I work mostly on referrals and therefore, everything must be 100% perfect when it leaves my shop.

Since this is a blog more about marriage than the wedding day, what is one piece of advice you’d give to future brides and grooms?
Keep your spouse at the very top of your list!

If you could go back and change one thing about your wedding, what would it be?
I would have today’s flower designs and I would have a burlap/vintage wedding.

If you got married while you were working in the wedding industry, did you make a change in your business based on what you went through?
I had no idea 25 years ago, when I got married, that wedding design would be my passion one day.

Would you like to offer any special deals on your post?
$100 off package ($1000 minimum purchase for discount).

Don’t wait! Contact Linda now!