For Better or Worse
Husband and Wife Wedding Videographers, Manda & Bryce Porter, talk about everything weddings, vendors and love.
For Better or Worse
David’s Bridal Photography Was a Total Disaster (feat. Gallery Guthrie)
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Bryce & Manda from Porterhouse Video invite Lauren from Gallery Guthrie (https://galleryguthrie.com/) to discuss which wedding party favors are worth it, why David's Bridal used to do photography but it was a disaster, how Lauren has made Family Photos as painless as possible, and how Lauren's own wedding was nothing how she planned, but everything she dreamed :)
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00:00 - Intro
01:01 - Which Wedding Party Favors are Worth It?
49:53 - David's Bridal Photography Nightmare?
01:08:09 - We require content, my liege
01:08:30 - Wait...Family Photos can be fun?
01:29:42 - Lauren roasts her own wedding!
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Instagram https://www.instagram.com/porterhouse_weddings/
You can find more of our full films on Vimeo! https://vimeo.com/user130815851
Hey love birds, welcome to For Better or Worse, a podcast where we talk about everything weddings, vendors, and love.
SPEAKER_01Amanda. I'm Bryce, and this is Lauren from Gallery Guthrie. Hi.
SPEAKER_03Yay, our first guest we have. Hooray. Yes, Lauren is a photographer who we have worked with before. We were like, who better to have on? Today we are going to be discussing wedding favors, pros, cons if you should even have one, and what ones constitute as being good or bad or pointless.
SPEAKER_01I found out that David's bridal does photography or at least did 13 years ago, and I found a horror story from one of their wedding days. Yes. And then we talk about you for a little bit, right?
SPEAKER_03Yay. I want to be on your podcast. Yes, we are going to be talking about uh family photos and the best way to get pictures with all of your guests at your wedding. Brights, I love this angle for you.
SPEAKER_01Is it it's it's pretty funny? Awful and I love it. I can't I'll I'll it's I don't know what to do. Don't put your hands up.
SPEAKER_03Keep your hands up. I was thinking about this the other day, so I went on a couple different Facebook groups, one out of Indiana and one out of uh it's West Coast weddings because very, very different from the vibe around here. Like what people as like appropriate things at weddings versus like, you know, getting Bill's memorabilia anytime you go to a wedding around here. And I compiled a list of things I've seen at weddings for gifts for your guests versus what other people have said they've seen or are planning to do at their weddings. And we're gonna go through my little list and we are gonna say whether or not this was a good idea or not, or just a waste of money. Perfect.
SPEAKER_04So the first, the tried and true mints out like not even if it has like a little like baggie that's in a mint to it. It's gonna live in my van for like three years and then eventually get it. I'm not even taking it.
SPEAKER_03No, because they're usually disgusting. They're like those weird pillow and beans. Yes, I think they're disgusting.
SPEAKER_04Motion to the roof of your mouth.
SPEAKER_01Yes. I'm out.
SPEAKER_04I've seen Tic Tac. I love Tic Tacs. I've got about like eight different flavors all in my consoles. I would rather that's my thing. I could get down to the branded Tic Tac.
SPEAKER_03That would be cute. And then iconic. We had these like for our first kiss. Like we use tic tac, so like it's a cute little way to like tie it in.
SPEAKER_04Something about smooch. That'd be cute. Love a tic-tac mint. That would be that's in pillow mints. Tic tacks in.
SPEAKER_01So like the bulk mints that usually would buy like no way. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04No. Tic tacs in all day long. Because you're gonna keep those.
SPEAKER_03I'm gonna keep those. I'm gonna use them. I like that. I like that. You could put a little sticker on the front if you wanted to, of like your dog that everybody does. Like we are gonna put the dog on the napkin and the tic-tac. I like the tic-tacks. Hell yeah. Next one is just like a candle. Like a little candle that like bolt candle, or like maybe the ones that coordinate with like the color of the weather. Like a tapered or like the tiny little like the little tiny ones. Tea light?
SPEAKER_01Like a cathedral candle. No!
SPEAKER_03Like the little ones that you like, you know, like when you go to like Yankee candle and they're like get like a the chunky little ones? The little chunky boys that you could I don't like the chunky ones. Like where are you gonna do?
SPEAKER_04That's aesthetic. I don't know. Just like personal a tapered candle. You could like do like dried florals or like painted, and that could even be like a that would be fun. Bridal party like experience. You could like make it tie in, but like a chunky little candle with like the glass top. No. No.
SPEAKER_03Perfect. Because like we did that at my bridal shower.
SPEAKER_01How do you choose the smelts?
SPEAKER_03You would do it like based on the color, or you would just do clean linen.
SPEAKER_01I don't know. Vanilla. Vanilla, yeah, vanilla like a wood whiskey, and it's it's like those are the ones for the guys. Oh sweet babe. Candles.
SPEAKER_04I love a candle, just not you're just gonna do the tiny little ones that are gonna last like an hour and a half. Just don't do it.
SPEAKER_03Some people have such different vibes for scents. Like, I love a good baked good candle, like blueberry pancakes, like all day. But like somebody gives me one that's just like eucalyptus outside and frog. Like, I can't have family's allergic. Oh really? This candle is a health hazard.
SPEAKER_01I can't even candles if we have company over. That's hilarious. Yeah, they have to go. I'm not allergic. I love it. I'm not allowed to have them with my family. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04No, we're good. So like I'd say no. No candles. All right, perfect.
SPEAKER_03Unless they're cutesy, like little, like cutesy thing. Okay.
SPEAKER_01The decoration of the candle more than the candle itself. Yeah. I get that. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03I agree with that. So now we're getting into the more personalized ones, and this is where I feel like some people are so for this, but I'm not. A magnet in the picture of the couple that has the date of their wedding.
SPEAKER_04I can't wait until the event like is RSVP'd so that I can get it off my friends. I love them so much. They go in a box. Yes. Ours go in a drawer.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yes, we do it. But like we're vendors, so it's I know.
SPEAKER_04I have my little tag board.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, we do too. It's kind of like an obligation to but like not not as a guest.
SPEAKER_03No, like imagine like you're just like, oh yeah, like I I kind of know them, like, you know, like we're we're neighbors or whatever with like their parents. Like what we include that pick on the Instagram post carousel.
SPEAKER_04Right. But I don't want it on my fridge. No, it's it's such a waste of money. Put it in my car. Like bummer sticker.
SPEAKER_02That would be controllable. Like we're business van just like sticking all of the magnet on SDP. I'd like that.
SPEAKER_03That's a co-sign. I could get behind that. Or like if it was like at your office, but like, I mean, we're vendors. So like we keep these little things with our thank you cards and any other little random things.
SPEAKER_04It's on it's on par with koozie. I did not have koozie on there. How did you not have koozie? Because I hate 35 years running. So why hate koozie? Yeah, no, probably. I didn't even consider them because I wouldn't take that. Magnet and koozie is like the or like a bottle opener, which I I like functional things. I do like social things. Functionality I would like a whole lot more.
SPEAKER_01We got we stole a little cheese cutter board from a venue. Oh, absolutely. Functionality.
SPEAKER_03It wasn't from a venue, it was from a catering company because it has a billion of them. We took two, they were both from We are editing this out. So then this also goes into like functionality, but it has the couple's name on it and their wedding date, a shot glass. Hmm. I feel like it's neutral. Right?
SPEAKER_04Like it goes in with the other ones, and you like you know the the grid, like chaotic good, chaotic neutral, and then like that's pure neutral.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's just I think it's just like that's fine. I won't be mad. No, I'm not gonna display it. It's gonna go with my other shot glasses, and I'm just gonna grab it when I need to take a shot. Which is not often a shot in there for three years. Right? Like I'd use it to measure something. It'll be in my cupboard. Yeah, it'll be there and I'll wash it a couple times, and then the name will come off.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, it's like, oh, that was a funny.
SPEAKER_01When it rained, that great, you're like, oh yeah. So I feel like that's one of those ones that displays more of like what the couple is. Like if they're like a like from a party college, yeah, all of their bridal parties. You mean if it's a St.
SPEAKER_04Bonaventure couple, literally St. Bonaventure. Did you guys go to St. Bonaventure? No. No, but did we give off that vibe?
unknownNo.
SPEAKER_04Okay, that's why I thank God. In your other episode, I'm like, that's you know, that's local local for me.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that's oh no, like it's funny. Anytime we go to a wedding and we're like, man, this people these people are crazy, and then all of a sudden they bring out the flag and we're like, everybody.
SPEAKER_01They were the Bonnie, go on on the dance floor. We're like, ah, that's why that makes total sense. Yes. But it's like that reflection of like, if you're giving shot glasses out, it's like that's what you want people to think. Is like, what do you think of my wedding? Think about getting drunk, getting taking shots, all that different kind of stuff.
SPEAKER_03Yes, it's more of like a little like memory of the vibe of the day. Yeah, yeah. So now this is another one where do you consider this a party favor, like a gift? Having a photo booth.
SPEAKER_04No, experience.
SPEAKER_03Right. Okay, but taking home the photo itself and hanging it on your fridge, could you be like it counts as both? Like an experience.
SPEAKER_04It still reads activity to me. Right. It's like keeping guests occupied. Yes. It doesn't, I don't see that, and I'm like, ooh, a treat.
SPEAKER_03Right. Like it's a theme.
SPEAKER_04It's one experience. Like a little activity. I get stressed out a bit.
SPEAKER_01RD favor, I guess, if you if you did it with a couple, I think. Because like I like that. The two that we have from weddings, and then the one we have for my brother's wedding is with you know, with the couple themselves.
SPEAKER_04Like we utilized it to do that.
SPEAKER_01That's a keepsake.
SPEAKER_04But even as a vendor, yeah. I love getting a little strip with my couple. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's adorable. But I wouldn't consider that the give back.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Like I like it.
SPEAKER_03I love that. No, that's it's a good take because some people we've been like, you know, are you doing any favors that you want us to like capture? And they're like, oh, we got a photo booth. It's like, so you you do consider that to be the favor.
SPEAKER_01The favor.
SPEAKER_03Like they're well, yeah, they're leaving with something. Like that's something they take home. So it's like a favorite, right?
SPEAKER_01That's why like I just wouldn't consider a digital photo booth that's like QR code, scan this and go away. I feel like that's why that fizzled out so much because people want the physical printout picture instead of you know, like, I guess the main exciting thing is to have the tangible nostalgia in your hand.
SPEAKER_04Like that's the memory. Yeah. I mean, it's cute with an iPad too, if you like sign onto the gallery, but right.
SPEAKER_03But then, like, I also don't want to go through the gallery and 45 pictures of the flower girl, just like I know what I mean, all of the eight-year-olds. Right, and then just like eating it up, and then there's like I think my favorite in any of them is like the grandparents who are just like trying to figure out how to win the iPad while it's taking pictures. That's my favorite thing in the world. All right, the next one is a to-go snack. So, like little thing of chips, maybe like a liquid IV and something like that that they can just grab on their way home. Treat. Yes. Absolutely. I think that'd be so cute. Just like a grab and go little moment, like kind of like you would get on like an airplane. Here's a mini-silly candy. That's literally next on my thing, is it is to go dessert. Like when you can go and get a couple of things.
SPEAKER_01Gonna ask to just include like candy too, like when they have little bags of candy colour.
SPEAKER_03No, that's completely different. His her his favorite, her favorite, and our favorite is its own thing. But a to-go snack, like here's a mini spray spray and some smart food. Like that way you don't have to stop at Wendy's on the way home. Yeah. I've had couples give me to-go boxes.
SPEAKER_04Didn't say that's it. They're like, we know you did not eat enough. You didn't eat a lot.
SPEAKER_03Here's all the catering the entire thing in the back. Do you want gravy on that? Like, I've had literal caterers come over and just be like, So we made you a to-go plate. Do you want sauce?
SPEAKER_04And I'm like, Top ranking venue. Like top ranking wedding. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03It's always my favorite when you go home with them. And then give me the food. You have like older people that are like, is that a to-go box? I'm like, no, this is equipment. This is where I store my batteries. This is not a to-go box. They're not giving these. No shame. And it's for me. Yeah, I'm gonna eat it in the parking lot. Bye. Oh my god. Sometimes the food is just so good. Like, I'm gonna bring my own Tupperware to weddings from now on and just be like, man, this was really, really good.
SPEAKER_01You're like the plate and then like into the Tupperware too while you're going through the buffet or something.
SPEAKER_03People do it at Olive Garden with soup and breadsticks. Like Tupperware. No shame. Because I feel like also, if you were to walk through the line and like they recognize you're a vendor, you have like your camera strapped to you, and you have your plate and just a Tupperware. If I was a caterer, I'd be like, oh hell yeah.
SPEAKER_05Like you're working too.
SPEAKER_03Just like serving it up for them. Oh my god, that's so funny. Cigars. Where do you stand with cigars? Because we've been at wet. Shut up. I hate that you smoke cigars. It's disgusting.
SPEAKER_04I think it's fun. It's getting a little more fancy.
SPEAKER_03Right. It's a cute thing, but also, are you buying enough cigars for every person there? Or is it just like we filled up this cigar box? Here's a trick. Come and get one. Hope you get one if you get one.
SPEAKER_04If there's like 18, we're gonna judge you a little bit because you've got like probably like 75 men just like eyeing it for the past hour and a half.
SPEAKER_03Right, and then like they don't know what what it's there for.
SPEAKER_04Yes, they do.
SPEAKER_03They they all walk by and are like, Do you see that?
SPEAKER_04I don't know. Do we take one? Is it time? Is it do I get one? Like But yeah, no, I think if you ball out enough to get it for all of your guests, but then like what's the ladies' equivalent?
SPEAKER_03A candle. I don't see that. It's something else you can use a lighter with. I don't know. Like what would the cute little matches?
SPEAKER_04I love the little like branded matches. Anything that can be like like my big thing on the little gifts, uh, merch. I love that. I feel like I want merch. If you actually if you make it branded to your wedding, I don't care if it has your name and your social security on it. Like, I will take it home.
SPEAKER_03You worked on that. I do. I'm a proud mother. You did a good job. It's going to be a little bit more. So I will take your merch. Band-t. Right. Oh my god. I love it all day long. I would wear a couple's band-tee. Are you kidding me? I'd show up some other weddings in that and be like, yo, you gotta do better than this one because this was a banger.
SPEAKER_04I just went to a one-year-old's birthday party and she had the heat press for patches for trucker hats. And like that was what they did as a party favor. So there was someone attending the like heat press for DIY trucker hats. Bring it to the wedding.
SPEAKER_03Coolest thing I've ever heard. Yeah. I would love that.
SPEAKER_01And then everybody's usually have the yarmulca with the name on it, right? Yeah. You have so many personalized yamakas. That's amazing.
SPEAKER_03Anytime, anytime we go to a Jewish wedding, they have like, you know, a bunch of extra yarmicas for, you know, if you left yours at home. Uh, and they're usually like embroidered like on the inside with like the couple's names. It's really a wedding date.
SPEAKER_01Actually, so you have a I mean like there's I'm never gonna do I'm not gonna be the one dumbass without a yarmulk, like during the Jewish wedding. Like, no way. That sucks.
SPEAKER_03No, it's super funny. I appreciate time we've gone to a Jewish wedding and like they've been like, yeah, sorry, if you don't have it, and you're like, I have three in our bag. Which one should I wear?
SPEAKER_01I keep them all in our our trunk because we're like You never know when you're going into it. Yeah, when I have to feign being Jewish or something.
SPEAKER_03You know, well, no, because we've walked to the weddings before, and like the bride's like, oh yeah, by the way, like all of his family is Jewish, and we're like, we can do that.
SPEAKER_04That's on the questionnaire for underneath to know. Right?
SPEAKER_03You would like sometimes it's like, oh yeah, and by the way, like we're all deeply religious, and everyone was supposed to wear dark blue, and we're like, good thing we saw an extra happiness, right?
SPEAKER_01Sometimes we walk into weddings, but it's because it's a one time she wasn't on a phone call with us and she didn't know what goes. She was like, Oh, that's this couple, like yes, whoops.
unknownOh god.
SPEAKER_03Okay, so my next one is one that I'm seeing more and more lately. Temporary tattoos that have to do with the cost. Just come at like that's another thing that we have seen with the tattoo artists. I would love that. But like, how do you get so many people? I don't, that's not like 150 tattoos.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, be so for real. Only like 15 to 30 are gonna do it.
SPEAKER_03And then I feel like that's also kind of like having a live painter there because like people are gonna be gathering.
SPEAKER_04With the take-home like little portraits, love those too. I think that I don't know what the differentiation for me between photo booth and like paintings is. Well, it's like it is manual labor.
SPEAKER_01Manual labor artistry, right?
SPEAKER_04And not just like a button click.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, exactly. You can go three, two, one and then like paint, you know.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and I mean, like also once again, it adds to like even though it's entertainment, it's like enriching entertainment to watch somebody like paint or tattoo once.
SPEAKER_04It's live performance, yes. So I mean temporary tattoos, put them in the goodie bag. That would be cute.
SPEAKER_03But if I catch you like with 30 up your arm, like on the dance floor, you know that there's gonna be like somebody walking around with temporary tattoos and being like, I have a wet face cloth and a tattoo. Yeah, where am I slapping one? Absolutely. And then you're gonna have like the ring bearer just completely covered all over and just being like, I'm having so much fun. And the fun uncle is just gonna take it way too far. Who's like a plus one, very recent into this family. He's just like, I'm committed to this bit. Absolutely. We gotta make sure that they all get used so the bride doesn't feel bad about it. So I don't hate it.
SPEAKER_01I feel like all the old people are gonna take it home too and be like, this sticker is stupid.
SPEAKER_04It doesn't stick to anything. I don't hate it. I don't, it's it gives a pass.
SPEAKER_03Yes, I could see it more at like the Bachelorette weekend. Like we all have like a little like tramp stamp that says Lisa Frank.
SPEAKER_04Oh I would be amazing.
SPEAKER_01It's like the folder, like the Lisa Frank the style, the style of Lisa Frank.
SPEAKER_04Lisa Frank didn't just make folders, Bryce.
SPEAKER_01He didn't. She made more than that. I hate the folders. The folder.
SPEAKER_03Oh yeah, like the folder. Yeah, yeah. That would be could you imagine doing like word and stuff like that? No, instead of like the the the pamphlets that they give out. What are those called? The uh the the not the itinerary programs. Programs! It's just a Lisa Frank folder. Lisa Frank are getting married.
SPEAKER_04I think that would be an iconic bachelor bachelorette, like theme, Lisa Frank.
SPEAKER_03Sleepover Lizzie McGuire vibes.
SPEAKER_002000s elementary stuff.
SPEAKER_03If you're gonna do the temporary tattoos, Lisa Frank, do it right. It's like a little bit of glitter on the unicorn one. Oh my god. Okay. Next one is like glow stick and take home party accessories. So like shutter shades and a tambourine. We've seen it. Like, take home your mini tambourine.
SPEAKER_04One of my hot takes, just in general, for like the after party, is if you're gonna spend like 200k on a wedding and you're I love you guys so much. Everyone knows who I like. If you feel called out, just reevaluate. We need to say your name. Reevaluate a little bit because if someone's spending 200k on a wedding and then you think it's a really good idea to hand out 99 cent T MU glow sticks.
SPEAKER_03Yes, the ones just like hid like the button and like the little thing falls out the bottom.
SPEAKER_04And then everyone's just like instead of dancing, now they're going.
SPEAKER_03Now everyone has their hands up and they're all going at different speeds, and then there's one person in the middle of the dance floor who's like, How do you turn this on?
SPEAKER_04Or it's not working, so then there's just the only one that's not.
SPEAKER_03This one sad, just white puffy glow stick. Find something else. Yeah, team glow stick or lady. Like if the DJ includes them, like they bring them and they're like still offended. Yeah, of like, okay, that was fun. It's got the dance floor started, and then they're all just sitting on tables. Or like going nuts on the ground. Just like in the corn. And they all have the little foam butt plug you have to put.
SPEAKER_01And those are scattered upon the floor. It's an ew, I don't want to do that. Pop out the butt plug to turn it off.
SPEAKER_04I like the wands with streamers that light up. I had a couple brands that had those. Like the fiber optic ones? No, those are still tangential to LED nightmare. It's it's literally like the little twinkle lights in a like a little wand with little white streamers. So some of them have a belt. They're dainty. Well, fairy wands. They're dainty. They might be like$3 a pop as a supposed to like 99 cents. But like I like that aesthetically, it's a good choice that doesn't detract.
SPEAKER_03Anytime ABBA or Taylor Swift is on, we're busting those out. Exactly. Those moments. But like it drives me nuts when like there's a slow song and everyone's slow dancing, but they're all under like one guy's holding two by her waist because she wants to hold him. Like, no, no, no. There's three things we can do with them.
SPEAKER_01You put them up in the air, you point them at somebody, or you hit somebody with it. Or the kids are having a lightsaber battle. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03I can't. The last wedding that we went to, the flower girl realized that nobody was using them. So she picked every single one of them up. She picked every single one of them up, walked into the middle of a dance floor, and just threw them.
SPEAKER_01And then picked and rounded them all up again and did it.
SPEAKER_03She kept throwing them until they were all picked up because people were picking them up to like get them off the dance floor. And then we're like, oh yeah, lights are fun. But I don't like the way they look, especially like in like these beautiful venues and stuff like that. And then it's just trash.
SPEAKER_04That's what I'm saying. Like you're in a marble ballroom. Yes. You you sent me 300 photos off of Pinterest with ambient lighting.
SPEAKER_03And then it's just like red, green, blue, red, green, blue. It's exactly all the same. It is 4th of July and Christmas on the dance floor. Yes. Like to mind necessarily maybe if they were like super personalized. Like they're all hot pink because like that's like the the vibe.
SPEAKER_01We've seen DJs that have like the watches that like the colour. The Taylor Swift bands that are like they coordinate.
SPEAKER_03We've seen it once aesthetically. We have seen it once. In Ohio. I was sick as hell. Yeah. The DJ actually for that wedding was the DJ at the Love Island reunion. Okay.
SPEAKER_04You're gonna have to send me the video. Yes, please. For sure.
SPEAKER_03No, he was awesome. He was great. Oh no, he was fantastic.
SPEAKER_04As long as it's got a personalized touch, I'll let it pass. Yes. Or if there's like a song that you just need them for. Yes. But then someone better be collecting them so that we can like slow dance.
SPEAKER_03Like how we do for sparklers. Like, okay, we're done in the bucket. Like we had our fun. We're done now. It's dangerous.
SPEAKER_01That's like what you do with tambourines. Like, oh, this is a bad idea. It was great for three and a half minutes.
SPEAKER_03The the instruments. We've seen kazoos at weddings where they just handed them out, and during Sweet Caroline, everybody's like, he, he, hey, he's like, I want to be there. Like, it was really cool until that, like, four people who saw them the entire time. And it's like, hey, buddy, we're we're listening to like Edwin McCain sing a song right now. We don't need the three of you just blowing us all over the place.
SPEAKER_01It was really funny when you did it for party rock. It's a nice one. Oh, it was real cool.
SPEAKER_03You guys were like dancing and everything, but put it down. Oh my God. A mug or glass is the next one. And when I say this, I mean like they went to a thrift store over the course of being engaged, and they collected a whole bunch of random mugs, put them on like the donut wall display, and were like, we also have hot chocolate if you would like to put it in your mug and take your mug home.
SPEAKER_04Did they wash the mug? Yes, there are no stickers. It does not say goodwill. I've seen anywhere. So have we. Wash your mugs, guys. If you're gonna be thrifting your party favors, wash them good. Yes. For sure. I can't stress that enough. Or like they just bring them in the boxes for which was in their trunk as they were thrifting. And they're just like, Go get one. We forgot.
SPEAKER_01This one has a stink bug in it. Like literally.
SPEAKER_03Um this one you've had the longest, I can tell. Mystery stains.
SPEAKER_04Yes. Yeah, no, I think if is it aesthetic? Does it match like the decor? Yes. Is it personalized, or is it literally just like whatever mug you could find with enough that there's one for everyone? I think it can be fun.
SPEAKER_01I think it can be done tastefully. I think both of them were fun. You know, you use that one. What does it say on it?
SPEAKER_03It's like it's like an old timey mug that reminds me of like 90s goose kitchen. Like I love that. It's that aesthetic, and it says world's nicest mom. It's like the weather is mine. There were so many on there. It said like retired, not fired. Another one that says, like, my first trip to the big apple. Like, so many just randomly. I think it could be, and you could see that people were like looking at them and they chose the one they thought was the ugliest or the biggest.
SPEAKER_04I think it could be a goof and like I think that could be really fun. It it was tastefully.
SPEAKER_03It it was, and it was like off in the back, and there were twinkle lights everywhere, so it still leaned in the aesthetic, but the couple was they were goofballs, and you let them shop. Yes, I think that's cute.
SPEAKER_01Yes, it was another one that reflects the couple more than what it actually is. It's like because like with Morgan and Megan, when they did just the random goodwill mugs, it's like they were, like you said, a bunch of goofballs.
SPEAKER_04If it's intentionally a goof, like I'm here for it. That's a lot of fun. But I will say, if it's like different colored glass and you get to take that home, I'm gonna be really upset because I don't have a set. I don't have a set!
SPEAKER_03Yes! Well, that's why it's good with like the two of us because there's at least like great. I'll take the light green, you take the light blue, and it'll look cute together. If not, right?
SPEAKER_04I won't even take one. It's gonna go back to the thrift thrift store, unfortunately. It will go back to Wednesday.
SPEAKER_03It might ashes to ashes, or I'm gonna like re-gift it.
SPEAKER_04At least at that point, they're just renting. It's beautiful.
SPEAKER_03We do a lot of rentals on wedding days. Yeah. So like if we just rent them. I'm cool with the thrift store. Oh my god. Okay. The centerpieces. The random decor. When they're like, yeah, no, take the centerpiece from your table, or like you can take any of these because once again, we thrifted them. We're not taking them home. Does that count as a favor? Don't make your guests clean up crew.
SPEAKER_05Ooh, hot take.
SPEAKER_04Hot take, yes. No, that turns all you know 40 people that are left at the end of the night into jammers. I don't appreciate that.
SPEAKER_03I also think that it's a weird standard to set like at like somebody's wedding, because then you go to a wedding the next weekend. It's like, um, where did all of our stuff go that we rented? Stealing items.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Where am I left with another thing and like take it too far and be like, well, we take center pieces. Like, can I take these pictures?
SPEAKER_04It's like people that I've seen it done tastefully. Yes. And the planners will like have extra ribbon. They will take the bouquets, they have a little like wrap and they will put them together, line them up for your way out. Yes, and you can either that are clearly like you can take these, or just don't eat them to a nursing home. Love that option. I really love that option. But you know, if your people, if you want to gift them, I think you can, and there's an appropriate way, but don't make them take them off the table with the foam and it's dripping. And like cake plates everywhere. Yes. Don't do that. That's that to me is just it's a cleanup, crew. It is giving under the guise.
SPEAKER_03Under the guise of, oh no, it's a gift. Like, all right, this is making our night a lot like it's gonna end a lot sooner now.
SPEAKER_04Have someone do a little quick little ribbon around them and send them home. I think that would be very sweet. That is very cute. That would be cute.
SPEAKER_03I do like that. I do that. Actually is like a very hot take of just like, you know, just for me. But like you can keep it. You don't have to, you don't have to put it in a box. Like, you can go home with you. I don't care where it goes. Uh so we did to go okay donation to a charity in lieu of a favor. And they put out the little paper on the thing that says, like, we didn't get you a favor because we donated to XYZ.
SPEAKER_04I'm the girl that hits no on every single if I want to, I'll do a GoFundMe. But like, I want the corporations to make their own donations in private. Don't be asking us. Um, I don't, yeah, no, donate to charity on your own time. I don't need a like public call out at your wedding. That's amazing. Donate for sure. And I'm not saying don't donate to charity.
SPEAKER_03Donate.
SPEAKER_04But like in lieu of a gift. Don't just give a gift, or don't even like draw any attention to it. Just like don't do anything. Have an open bar. Like that's that's good as giving to charity.
SPEAKER_03Like you're I mean, like, we're already feeding these people. Like, isn't that like a charitable thing? So if you're just not going to do a gift, just don't say anything at all. Yeah, just don't even acknowledge it. Just don't. Because then, like, I mean, we've seen it done before where like somebody has like somebody who would have been like close to the bride and groom has recently passed, and they're like, Because they're not here, we did like a thing in their honor. That's different. Yes, contextual, significantly, so totally different. Significantly to just be like, this is our way of acknowledging they're not here and us making sure that they are represented in one way, and we did it by paying it the work because we lost somebody to this or whatever. But like when somebody's just like, Yeah, instead we did a donation to a place because, like, eh, no. Are you just humble bragging at your wedding too?
SPEAKER_04Like, just don't just do that on your own time. It's not supposed it's just just like the people that like feed the homeless and then their phones in their face. Yes. Just like don't. I don't mind it inspirational. I just feel bad now.
SPEAKER_03And I you're making us all wash. Like, you also spent money to tell us that you spent money on these beautiful, like notarized things. And just like, I'm a really nice person.
SPEAKER_04Unless they have a sticker sheet next to it full of gold stars, so just like go put on them at the dance floor. Just don't stop. Seriously. Stop. That's you want your sticky star.
SPEAKER_03You might as well provide them. You do. Like, wasn't the wedding day beautiful? Also, did you read what was at the table? Did you see my gold star? Did you see? Like, can I have it? Pulfrisk. I'm such a good person.
SPEAKER_04So, yeah, no, not a favor.
SPEAKER_03No, it's not. It's just like another thing. Like, it, yes. Okay. Blankets and flip-flops. Flip-flops who? Where? Who's gonna wear it? Flip flops why? People do that so just go barefoot, I guess. Right? That's if your feet hurt. I am not gonna go trying a whole bunch of old navy flip-flops or like dollar store flip-flops to find which ones are comfortable and then break them in while dance. I'm getting blisties between my toes.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I took it already hurt. Normally, I'm not gonna be a blanket wear them.
SPEAKER_04Yes, they do. And are they the dollar store tiny little roll-ups that are just like coarse felt of blankets?
SPEAKER_03Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Leave them at home to have hold if you get cold. They all say that on the baskets.
SPEAKER_04I okay, I did blankets, so I'm not going to trash them. I intentionally spent a year thrifting all of the like what are they crocheted or you know what I mean? Like the grandma blankets? Grandma blankets. And granted, it rained on my wedding day outside. We didn't even get to use them. But there was a whole huge like basket of cool blankets that people could take if they wanted. I got stuck with half of them, but half of them got new homes. But that's I thought it was really cute.
SPEAKER_03Very grandma core part of the vibe. But I'm talking about the ones that are like are like the little like Pashmina's that you get that are just like kind of large scarf with frills on the end of them. Like who they warm in.
SPEAKER_04They're not it's giving Mason Jar 2013.
SPEAKER_01You're not sure. We watched what we watched four weddings and it was a 2009. I made them react to an episode of the floor. And they were doing the blankets and the flip-flops or whatever. And it was like really trends. Yes.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Yes. It's because we were watching those shows and then got married afterwards, and we were like, this is the only influence we've had about the planal wedding. Blankets and flip-flops, these are your dancing shoes now. Just like, no, I'm going barefoot. I used to go to dances as a as a teen. I took my shoes off. All you can hear is just the eat or eat or something. It sounds like that scene from high school musical with everybody's feet scooting around.
SPEAKER_04I can just hear it like at the end of the night, everyone's like grabbing their stuff to go, and it's just like flip-flops out in the semi dewy parking lot.
SPEAKER_03Uh-oh. And everybody just like ow, ow. No, they're not a good time. Okay. I see these at a lot of weddings. Seeds.
SPEAKER_04For your love to grow. Is it a garden party wedding? It's just outside full of lace and parasols and cutesy everything. This is not Bridgerton.
SPEAKER_03I don't have seeds. People do that. It's just like a little baggie of seeds that has like the wedding date on it and says, like, if you're in fun or something like that.
SPEAKER_04Garden party, I'll cosign. I like them forever. Right? Like, we've also had people give out like little plants. Remember?
SPEAKER_03Like it was like for a tree or a bush or something.
SPEAKER_04I've had like, and I graciously accept them. But like the little succulent things, they look adorable all together. Like together. But then I just have like, I cannot take care of a succulent. Like I'm going to drown it or neglected it. I can't take care of a succulent. It's gonna die. I don't, I'll be honest, I don't hate the seeds if it's theme, you know, sp like appropriate. It's a home if it's not.
SPEAKER_01I thought you meant bird seed when you first said it. Or like sunflower seeds. Seeds, just like the everybody at the wedding like spitting out some. Did the groom play baseball? Yeah, yeah. Theme appropriate.
SPEAKER_03That's if it if it ties to the city.
SPEAKER_01And then it goes with cigars. And then you can have the seeds and the cigars.
SPEAKER_03I guess like sunflower seeds. You guys just like having things in your mouth to keep you guys occupied. Like it's that's all it is. You want gum too? Like big league two? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01That'd be sick.
SPEAKER_03Baseball theme. That'd be sick. I think there's something there. See, because then I wouldn't want to do a baseball themed wedding because then it's like, yeah, he's gonna make it all the way around the bases tonight.
SPEAKER_02Like, oh yeah, because you know somebody's gonna say that.
SPEAKER_03Some drunk uncle's gonna be like, he's gonna hit a home run, yeah. And then every three drinks it gets said again. Yes. Or like everybody slowly starts like realizing that, and they all keep coming up to the groom and being like, yo, was that your intent? He's like, shut up. Yeah, maybe not. We met at a Red Sox game. Like, this isn't a thing.
SPEAKER_04I think it could be cute. So, do you hate the flower seeds? Do you just not want to go home and like have a chore?
SPEAKER_03It's well, also I'm gonna forget about them and then they're gonna sprout somewhere, and I'm just gonna be like, Where did this come from? And also, like, where what if I don't have like a place to plant them? I'm gonna put them in a pot, they're gonna sit by my windowsill, and then they're gonna die as well. And then I'm gonna be reminded that I can't take care of plants to save my life.
SPEAKER_01That's kind of like a weird thing to have, too, is that at some point those seeds they die, like whatever the flowers grow out of them, and it's like you only get them for a hot minute.
SPEAKER_04Everlasting love is that it's just like it was really pretty for a day and then it died. Not everlasting. No, it's not. No, so love blooms a little bit. Unless it's like temporarily for one season because I got annuals.
SPEAKER_03I didn't realize.
SPEAKER_02Where are they?
SPEAKER_03Where are my flowers? So if you're gonna do it, get perennial. Just get like a bulb. He's his hand out, just plant this wherever comes to the biggest.
SPEAKER_01The flowers are bloom again. Oh my god. The flowers don't represent their love.
SPEAKER_02They could. Who knows? Okay.
SPEAKER_03Nothing. Not even risking it and just being like, our we didn't even get a gift because like a thank you gift because we fed you, the bar is open, I've paid for all of this.
SPEAKER_01I'm not doing against you. A plus. A plus party favor is just nothing at all. Right? Because half the time we're leaving and we're like, oh sh, there's like dog food for your dog or something. I've seen it. Yeah. And we're it's like no idea that it was.
SPEAKER_03Not for your little friend that had to be left home.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_03But like, literally just choosing to not do anything because like I don't want to waste my money or potentially offend somebody, or like, what if I gave a shot glass to somebody who's like a recovering alcoholic? So I'm just like, yeah, no, you have to take it home because I paid for it. And they're like, no! Hey, at least you didn't piss me off with the magnet.
SPEAKER_02At least he didn't give me fing C.
SPEAKER_04I'm cool with it. I'm cool with nothing. Honestly, I don't think I don't expect anything anymore. Sometimes, unless unless it's done right, it almost gives like a child birthday party. Like, you don't if you don't have the budget for it and you want it to go into the experience of the wedding day, don't do it. Put it into the experience because the experience is for your guests.
SPEAKER_03Get another dessert. Get another dessert. Do a late night snack. Get it, bring in a hot pizza guy.
SPEAKER_04Order pizza. That's what we do with BD. Yeah. Yes. And no one's unhappy with pizza. At the end of the night, that's going to be the last thing on their mind instead of grabbing like a random Right, because I'm leaving.
SPEAKER_03Koozie. Right. And like if you go out for like a sparkly, well fed. If you're going out for a sparkly thing, you're putting on like your jacket and grabbing your purse, and you're not like, oh, I forgot my succulent. Yeah. You're just leaving.
SPEAKER_01And then there's your poor mom who's like, you have two dozen succulents if you're the couple, and you're like, what do I do with all of these? I've told you.
SPEAKER_04Or you're one of the guests at the end of the night that the couple's like, there's like you know, 45 here.
SPEAKER_03Do you just here you go? I'll carry them to your car. Right. And you're literally just taking them on a field trip from your car to the wedding to back to your car and home. Like, did you have fun little party favorites? We're going home now. Like, you didn't even get to go. No, that's a thing. All right, I'm wrapping up with my favorite one that I saw. I like these. Isn't this fun? Live animals. I took eight.
SPEAKER_05Okay.
SPEAKER_03What kind of thing? To enjoy for an experience or to take home? Do take home. What kind? So I've seen an array of things where You have? I looked at West Coast weddings. Like so we're fancy. We're fancy. And some people also are just like, yeah, this is like a thing. So we've reached luxury. We've reached luxury, and also people who clearly have no regard for me. Give me the list.
SPEAKER_04I need to know. So I've seen Betafish. Now have one. Zero percent recommend. You have such a commitment. What's your betafish's name? It doesn't have one. No.
SPEAKER_01You're not even asking it.
SPEAKER_04Name it now because it's pointless. Yes, it might as well be. Like literally. And then when I think I hate it. It has a name now.
SPEAKER_03Yes. I love that. Shout out to Magnet.
SPEAKER_04Shout out to home.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. He's blue. So I've seen that.
SPEAKER_04He's also been replaced twice. We've done that as well. Yeah, you have to. Yes.
SPEAKER_03Don't give, don't give bait a fish.
SPEAKER_04No.
SPEAKER_03Don't give responsibility. People have done like the carnival goldfish type thing, like take a goldfish home. Because then, like, also Are they c tossing hoops too?
SPEAKER_01It's like you have to win a fish. You can't just be gifted a fish. You have to win one.
SPEAKER_03I've seen it at like Jack and Jill parties where it's like one of the things that like you like try to win, but it's just one. Like the person who's getting it wins it. Wants to take it home. Like they're like vying to get it, which is like where do you keep them?
SPEAKER_01Is there just like a table next to like the memory table that's just like a milk crate full of bags of fish? Got your cubbies at the wedding.
SPEAKER_03Instead of a donut wall, it's just like a beta fish display from Petsmart.
SPEAKER_04How do you Are you renting them in case no one wants them? Rent a fish? Yeah, honestly.
SPEAKER_01After speeches, you got the bride and groom, and the bride's like, I'm just so happy that all of you guys be here. We planned this for so long. And make sure you take one of the fish on your way out. We can't have them.
SPEAKER_04Do you know how expensive the little aquariums that they're supposed to be in? Like beta fish are to be in at least a 10-gallon, not the tiny little round bowl. No, like you gotta have like a big setup and maybe a snail. I gotta be so for real. Don't come for me, fish community. I don't have half the stuff, but it has adequate space.
SPEAKER_03See, we uh got a snail to live in our fish tank with our beta fish. And then the beta fish died, and we didn't realize, and the snail ate it. And our kids were just like, yo, what happened to Bunty? And we were like, who the f knows? Like, I guess he left. So sorry. I had one jump right out of the top.
SPEAKER_04Why do they do that? I don't know. Here's a suicidal fish from my wedding.
SPEAKER_02Like, love you.
SPEAKER_03Thank you so much. I'm loving this. So we've also seen puppies. No. I took eight. Some people have literally been like, I've left with a Bichon frise. Like we like hired like three different breeders and there were puppies, and you could take one home. I love it.
SPEAKER_01Again, where do you keep them during the wedding?
SPEAKER_03In a pen in the bridal suite, and then you get to go take one home.
SPEAKER_01No. Who do they go when you're getting ready in the bridal suite?
SPEAKER_03Or do they bring them at 8 p.m.?
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Like everybody, if you could turn your attention to the front door, it is the people from the local ASPCA, and they've got puppy. It would be an amazing experience. Who let the dogs out?
SPEAKER_04But again, don't gift responsibility.
SPEAKER_03I would love to have a petting zoo at a wedding during cocktail hour.
SPEAKER_04So I just gonna use a llama and a goat. Go make friends. I have a wedding this year that has alpacas.
SPEAKER_01Hell yeah.
SPEAKER_04And then I have a destination wedding next year, and she's like so on the fence about getting the Highlander cows. I'm going so close. I think she might, and I'm praying that she does. And they can put the little flower crowns upon them and they'll be little friend of cows. Renting cows. Yes. And I love it. And like same thing. I think the um the wedding for this year with the alpaca, they have them.
SPEAKER_03If I showed up at a wedding and there was a Highland cow, I would not attend the wedding. I would just be like, Right. Low, I love you, and all of your majesty.
SPEAKER_04I'm literally manifesting it for her. She wants them. I know she does. I just want her to pull the triggers.
SPEAKER_03Like, yeah. Get the cows and take pictures of it and let me see it. Like, imagine what those sunset photos would look like with you and your partner and Arizona too.
SPEAKER_05Oh, beautiful.
SPEAKER_04I know. I'm she's got so much going on for her wedding, but if she gets the cows.
SPEAKER_03There's a buffalo farm around here, and I told Bryce because our wedding photos were very like, I'll show them to you. Um, they are not at all like our vibe whatsoever. And I was like, how fun would it be if we went in like our full Yeah, when are we going? Up to the don't fucking tease me up at the bison farm, just like in the midst of the don't tease I'm holding you to this. That's gonna be a thing.
SPEAKER_04Like me a date. Go to the bison farm! No, I will you I will be there. How much fun would that be? I want to. That would be amazing. I think that would be beautiful. I think it needs we're manifesting. We're manifesting just live.
SPEAKER_03Cut this clip, run it back four months from now. Yes. Got it. Yes, it'll be like those things where like people show it at the wedding, like hey, like she just met this guy, she's totally gonna marry him, and then like they show it during their speech. It's just listening to Buffalo Field. Buffalo field.
SPEAKER_04No, I'm here for that. I love that.
SPEAKER_03I would love to see more weddings at places with animals. Like, I want to go to a wedding at an aquarium. Wedding zoo.
SPEAKER_04I want to do engagement photos in an aquarium.
SPEAKER_03Okay, so you can't use flash though. That's fine. It's I won't remember it. You really think you're gonna traumatize fish?
SPEAKER_04It's gonna be like apparently you're gonna traumatize the tapestries in the church. Can't use flash in there either.
SPEAKER_03You're gonna scare Jesus out of the channel.
SPEAKER_04Jesus is gonna be like
SPEAKER_05Come from here and build her off.
SPEAKER_03That drives me absolutely nuts. The little random church lady who's like, you can't let you use flash in here because it's disrespectful.
SPEAKER_04You weren't gonna need to be able to photograph the moon because you ain't getting anywhere close to the front of the aisle.
SPEAKER_03So Bryce and I were both raised Catholic. And my favorite thing to do is anytime I see like a church lady who sees me with the camera on her way over to like us, I'll give her like the finger and then I'll genuflect or take a moment and pray and then go, I'm sorry. Like I needed a moment with God. What do you need? And then she's just like, You have free reign, nobody else is.
SPEAKER_01You can do whatever you want.
SPEAKER_03Wow. I need to adopt the power method. Power move. You give the you give the finger of just like, hold on, you're not gonna. I just walked into church. I need to send her message.
SPEAKER_04I have not had that level of success. It's it's because then they come over. I've had bad experiences.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. That's that's amazing. We've also seen photographers just like run up on the altar while the priest is doing the consecration. And I'm just like, this is like streaking at a football game over the shoulder. Yes.
SPEAKER_04Like I want to watch it turn into little like rooms that go to the back where they can like go offstage.
SPEAKER_02You just see them offstage! Backstage, right stage, like we are backstage.
SPEAKER_04They're behind now.
SPEAKER_01They're in the costume room. Yes, you can what do you think the like print that out and put that in their home is a picture over the shoulder of the priest like blessing the sacrament or whatever?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, and then just like everyone, a sea of like your guests in the background, the one yawning grandpa or like the one screaming child.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, great. What a great picture.
SPEAKER_03For sure. Because we've been at a wedding before where the priest forgot to marry the couple.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. He fell asleep.
SPEAKER_03He fell asleep. And forgot to marry the couple.
SPEAKER_04He didn't like officially. He fell asleep where? At the altar.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_04And then standing? Nope, sitting during the readings.
SPEAKER_01He did every all the little things, and then he forgot to do the final part, which was like Do you, do you, like the actual consent. Didn't do the ring prayer, and then he just like went and sat down.
SPEAKER_03I have loved you. And he's just like, This is my jam.
SPEAKER_01We sat there.
SPEAKER_03Nobody knew what to do. First off, some of us thought he was dead. One of the bridesmaids was like, Do we go check on him? I mean, like, he was like a shuffling priest that they like rented because he was like super priest. Yeah, and he fell asleep during the wedding. And then afterwards, we were like, hey. Yeah, oh, it was insane. And then we were like, yeah, no, like, let's go get this, like the couple and whatever. They're like, you cannot come back here. And they shut the door to the sacristy backstage. And they were like, you know, back there for a while. You can't come back here, you can't film any of this. And we were like, as people who were raised in the Catholic Church, what are we missing? Like, we have no idea what happened, but they were mic'd up still. So we found out.
SPEAKER_01Later. Later. The deacon was like, We totally forgot to marry you guys, and like everything we did would be null if you left here without us doing it. So right now, so do you take her? Does he take you? Blah blah blah. They had the recording of it. We went to a bridge and we filmed them for like the couple's portraits or whatever. Yeah. And we put that over top of the city.
SPEAKER_03And you hear the priest go, and now you're married.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Because they weren't. And you kept it in the video.
SPEAKER_01That's what happened. We need to see these. That's how it happened. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03You hear him go, now you're married. And he sounds like he is fighting for his life. He's probably dead by now, honestly. And that's the one that fell asleep. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01He probably died then. He probably did die back.
SPEAKER_03Jesus was like, wait, you didn't marry them.
SPEAKER_01Go back. Go back.
SPEAKER_04That's we call it like my vendor friends and I call it wedding bingo. Like we have a bingo sheet. And the amount of stuff that I have heard or have happened, that's not one that would be on my bingo card. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03No, he was out. He was out. I mean, like, we've had times where like, oh, is he asleep? Okay, he was just taking a second.
SPEAKER_01But I mean, he was like enough time for Amanda and I, who are familiar with the process, to be like, What is happening?
SPEAKER_03We we walked to the back, discussed what to do, and went back to where we both had enough time. He was still out.
SPEAKER_05Still out.
SPEAKER_03And then I don't think he even knows that he fell. Yeah, I want to see that clip on the bridge. We definitely, yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04I like that. Props to that couple. That would have been a great yelp review. I don't think you can yelp review, priest. But it was in the cat.
SPEAKER_03I think you might. It was in the cathedral.
SPEAKER_01Can you just like bring that up to God? Like, don't you just like pray like God? Yo, this guy fell asleep.
SPEAKER_03Can you smite him real quick?
SPEAKER_04Give him a yelp review prayer. Yes. Yes.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, pray bomb this ass.
SPEAKER_04Give his ass. Oh, that's so good.
SPEAKER_01If you guys have party favors that you had at your weddings that we trashed on or that we didn't bring up, feel free, let us know. No, we want to hear all about it.
SPEAKER_04These are also just very particular takes. Yeah. We're sitting here not paying for it, so we're allowed to judge.
SPEAKER_03But we've also had our own weddings and we had to consider these as well. So, like, this would be like if I was planning a wedding, what would I think? I mean, we gave out little, like, I can't believe like little tiny mason jars full of hot chocolate because we got married on New Year's Eve and it was supposed to be just like something cute and warm. And you could take it home and reuse the jar because it I I love a jar. Functionality. It was like bourbon made hot chocolate. Everybody took them home. Your pet your dad still, I think your dad puts like nails in his and keeps it on his functionality. It has been repurposed. We put little heart stickers on him.
SPEAKER_02It was still like home.
SPEAKER_01Worth it. Totally worth it. So that's my list. Um, I got a pretty crazy story that I found. Um, so this is what I'm excited for. I know. I love a good Reddit story.
SPEAKER_04I just sit there and like, I literally sit like this while driving. Just snuggled and waiting.
SPEAKER_05You're good.
SPEAKER_01So did you know that back in 2010 to 2013 you could get a photographer from David's Bridal?
SPEAKER_03No. Well, you could actually say, and Bryce didn't know this either because that's when he was in high school.
SPEAKER_04Actually, I was eighth grade doing photography, wedding photography in high school. That's insane. And I didn't know. No, I think like that was one of the first times that David's bridal was like going out of business. Going out. One of the first times. One of the couple times that it was, but no, I did not know. It's all in. I didn't know that either. Yeah. Like Slay for back in the day.
SPEAKER_01They tried, they tried that have that like vendor or whatever. And since it's only until 2013, it clearly didn't go well. It could work well. And part of it is because of this story that was posted on the not forum back in 2013. Um this is like dusting off the argument.
SPEAKER_04I don't know how I haven't heard this. You don't understand how met how much content I consume.
SPEAKER_01Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I'm a I'm picking through because it's like I could go to Reddit and it's like Reddit stories or whatever, but like these are the people in the trenches when weddings were like the most trendy that they ever had been.
SPEAKER_03You mean when everything was brown and teal? Yeah, and then you know sashes. Or like when every wedding was nautical themed.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, exactly. I got seashells. Um I've taken there's a really, really long forum post um that had like a whole entire epilogue of like what happened after the wedding. I've taken that and condensed it down a ton. So I've I've left out a bunch of details from the aftermath. Um, I've left out a few aftermath. Yes, and and we'll we'll touch on that in the end. But um settle in, baby, it's story time. David's bridal photography never sent me my photos and ruined my wedding day. I need to share this nightmare that was my experience with David Bridal's photography to warn other brides. We booked them through our Syracuse store because the professional photographers, right? Right? We booked them through our Syracuse store because the professional photographers in our area were charging upwards of$5,000. And David's bridal was a bargain price at just over$1,300. The bridal specialist told us about the unusual practices they used to keep costs down. Specifically, we were not allowed to see any samples of our actual photographers' work beforehand. Um this was disconcerting, but the sales girl assured us the quality would be on par with the beautiful sample book that they had in the store.
SPEAKER_03Is the sales girl also your dress person?
SPEAKER_01Probably.
SPEAKER_03She's 19 working part-time. Her feet are sore, and she's just giving out a lure ball gown whatever. You can see the makeup line for her cover girl. Her job is zoomed in in 2013.
SPEAKER_01It's right next to the commission.
SPEAKER_03The only other place she's ever worked is at an Aero Postel.
SPEAKER_01We also learned we would not get a face-to-face meeting with our photographer until the actual wedding day. About six weeks before the wedding, we finally got our first phone call from our photographer. We will call him Chuck. Initially, Chuck seemed quite nice and enthusiastic. Is Chuck the name she picked or you picked? It's the name I picked.
SPEAKER_03I wasn't gonna say anything. I usually pick Mike, Joe, or John.
SPEAKER_01Chuck? Chuck is a good one. Um initially, Chuck seemed quite nice and enthusiastic. However, the enthusiasm quickly turned into total conversational domination. He spent almost 15 minutes nonstop um giving me a litany of his teaching career, his photography career, and a special new lens he had recently purchased that he could not wait to try out on our wedding day. He even apologized profusely for his own adult ADHD, which he proudly claims served him well as an artist. When I finally got a word in, I asked if they had received our list of shots. Yeah, whatever ADHD you have, whatever flavor, it's not what Chuck has.
SPEAKER_04Chuck just needs the bride and groom to know the definition of aperture.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01See what's crazy about cameras is how they're the light that comes into the it's like, oh my god, I don't need requisite.
SPEAKER_03The fact that he's showing up with all of these things of just like, yeah, and also like, sorry, I'm wearing like a whole bunch of mismatched clothes. I live in my car. I'm not even actually a photographer. There was a woman outside selling wedding dresses who handed me this camera and told me to come back. Yeah, there was a chick-by-side. There was a chick outside of the Zoom tan that told me. I heard that there's a really good opportunity. I get 10 tans for free if I do this wedding right now.
SPEAKER_04So is this before or wedding day?
SPEAKER_01This was before. This was the phone call before. Like a week. Six weeks. Six weeks before.
SPEAKER_03Six weeks before I would have called David's bridal and said I need an alteration on my photographer.
SPEAKER_01Um he they did. I I left this out, but they he did send them his website at this point, and they were like, okay, like it, he's a real photographer. This is a real guy. Um I also asked if he planned to arrive early to scout our wedding venue, since he was traveling from Pennsylvania to New York and was completely unfamiliar with the location. He flatly informed me that he does not use the company shot list because he is an artist. As for scouting the venue early, his response was really unbelievable. He claimed he had an amazing ability to be with a space and simultaneously take thousands of pictures in his head, reject the ones that he did not like, and provide an unforgettable set of photos.
SPEAKER_03Which is my brain has a picture of this man because you named him Chuck and he's coming from Pennsylvania. This is an Amish man. This is a man who just left the Amish and is like, I love electricity. Yeah, right. Yeah. Do you have any idea how cool this camera is? It actually doesn't take your soul when you take a picture.
SPEAKER_01This is so cool, you guys. With my new lens, and he puts the like cover over him and that was your one picture today. I only brought one silver plate.
SPEAKER_04So I'm a cover for an alteration on photographer. Oh my god. Oh cry. That one's gonna take me out.
SPEAKER_01Sadly, that unforgettable set of photos turned out to be a disaster. My anxiety only grew on the wedding day. Chuck arrived on time, and that's the only thing, uh, that's the only positive thing I can say about him. Instead of establishing rapport and being a source of calm professionalism, he twittered about like a nervous butterfly, exuding anxiety and insecurity.
SPEAKER_03Because he'd never been around the English people before.
SPEAKER_01What are these candles?
SPEAKER_04They light on their own.
SPEAKER_02Instead of a clown car, it's a horse's boogie. They give him a magnet and he has no idea what it's for. They're like, no, it sticks to things. It's witchcraft.
SPEAKER_01Just feeds it to his horse.
SPEAKER_03It's because you need to jump. How does he have a camera? It was given to him outside of a zoom 10.
SPEAKER_00Oh my god.
SPEAKER_03Um He was just a really pale man who was outside of a Zoom 10 who had never worn English clothes before, and they were just like, This is our guy. It's building from the ground up. He's a like a barn. He's a website.
SPEAKER_01He does not. He pays someone else because he can't have electricity. Yeah, no. His website was just like ye old photos on parchment paper on your screen. Whoa, that's weird. Oh my god. Um, while I was dressing and making final touches, he offended or upset literally everyone in the room. My husband later reported that Chuck behaved no better when taking photos of the groovesmen, alienating and angering every single one of them before the ceremony.
SPEAKER_03What did he do? No idea. He's like, I can see your ankles more.
SPEAKER_01You boys need to shave.
SPEAKER_03No, they didn't shave. That was the problem. You boys.
SPEAKER_01They needed their long during the wedding and reception. Chuck required more supervision than the toddlers we had present. He kept shoving his camera in my face, demanding I approved his photos on the spot until I'd finally told him to cut it out. Because he had not bothered to scout the venue, he was really comp uh sorry, he was completely perplexed about where to take pictures. He repeatedly made excuses. Never seen such a building. He was used to have his assistant with him. He dilly-dallied so much during our outdoor wedding that we completely missed significant photo opportunities as the sun was going down. The absolute worst moment was when he tried to orchestrate the one specialty shot I had requested, which was a falling flower petal picture. He had no clue, which was huge in 2013, right? That was everybody had that. It was he actually, or he had no How do you orchestrate that?
SPEAKER_03Pick up some flowers. One, two, three. Yeah, how do you how do you fail?
SPEAKER_01I missed. You gotta do it again. I need three weeks before I can redo this.
SPEAKER_02Meet me back here.
SPEAKER_05Oh no, my tin tight.
SPEAKER_01Oh my god. Um he had no clue how to go about getting it. He actually told the best man to jump up on a fence behind us and pelt us, pelt us with flower petals. We were in shock that he wanted a man in a full tuxedo to jump up on a fence that was nine feet high and pelt us.
SPEAKER_03He builds barns for a living. He's not scared of heights.
SPEAKER_01Get up there, you sissy. Um, overalls.
SPEAKER_02Just overalls. That's it. That's all he's got on.
SPEAKER_01I keep picturing the guy from Bones and All that's like creepy from Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania! Yeah, it's him, and his-I think his name is Chuck.
SPEAKER_02Right. This is no better if you named him Jebadio or photographer Jebediah.
SPEAKER_01Many guests later asked us in phone calls some version of what was up with your photographer, as they found his behavior bizarre and obnoxious all night long. The nightmare did not end when the reception was over. As of today, it has been eight months and five days since our wedding, and we have yet to receive our prints or photo books. When we finally saw the digital proofs months later, which David Bridal would send like 15 photos.
SPEAKER_04Like schools attracted as the like Is David's bridal the owner of the photos? Like they're subcontractors.
SPEAKER_01It sounds like they were because there's a whole epilogue. It sounds like they were trying to do like the JCPenney route where like you got your photos taken and you can only get them if you buy them a certain way. Yeah, which is nuts.
SPEAKER_03Um they're using like lime wire to download their photos, like what were did you have dial-up connections? It's just taken a real long time. And also, poor Chuck had to crank his computer to get it to start. Yeah, did he get a sewing machine and step on it?
SPEAKER_01We've taken eight months to figure out how to get these pictures onto a computer. Still on his horse.
SPEAKER_05You're just still traveling home. Yeah, you can get all the way there.
SPEAKER_01You got highway robbed on the way home to Pennsylvania. They took all your photos. We don't know how to tell you. Um, when we finally saw the digital proofs month later, the photos were ridiculous and redundant, lacking any of the skill you would expect from a professional.
SPEAKER_03From a David's bridal friend.
SPEAKER_01From a professional, yeah. Some guy they found out of Zoom Town. Um dealing with the company afterwards involved ignored emails, a disappearing event coordinator, and vague excuses about production delays. When I finally demanded a refund, a manager offered me my money back, but only on the condition that they would not create my photo books and I had to stop pursuing social media outlets or consumer protected agencies. Um I declare I declined the offer. I decided that's something they did in 2013. I declined the offer because I want what we were ethically owed. I am now seeking other frustrated brides to join a formal class action lawsuit against them. Listen to the doubting voice in your head and spend your money elsewhere because sometimes you really do not get what you paid for.
SPEAKER_03Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_01Which is oh my god.
SPEAKER_03Did she post any of the photos?
SPEAKER_01No, I looked, I looked. There is this class action lawsuit that was resulted from this is public. I was able to find the the whatever, there were like 70 brides signed up. 70? Yeah, which is pretty crazy, and it's probably why David's bride.
SPEAKER_04And I want to be very respectful before I like say anything. But in North Carolina, there's a situation present day. Have you guys heard that? And I'm not gonna name any names.
SPEAKER_00Everyone in the sphere knows, but there was Is it is it uh is it that one? No, is there's another one? There's another one.
SPEAKER_03There's a couple other ones that are we'll drop names. We won't we'll we'll edit it out, of course. Yes. Everyone knows, but it's Yes, yeah, yes. I have seen I've mentioned this to you.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I've I work the circuit.
SPEAKER_05Right.
SPEAKER_04So like I know all of these vendors that are sitting there, like, how like she her work was amazing. Granted, from what we can tell, like a lot of it was associate photographers and like multiple booked weddings on a certain day. But like, how is this person getting so many bookings and then has so many people working under them? And then I think last time I checked, it was like$300,000, and like they're all doing a class action. It made the news, like yes.
SPEAKER_03Remember, I told you about this, and like there's like all this stuff going on, and it's still all coming out of the way. Yes, there's more and more that's like unfolding.
SPEAKER_04Yes, like I have friends that are helping play matchmaker with people that are out either wedding photos, like that they haven't even got them, like trying to do retakes, or people that are booked for the next like two or three years out that now need someone even though they've paid them.
SPEAKER_00Like it's not just chuck.
SPEAKER_04No, yes, like it's it's crazy. The only difference is that social media wasn't what it was in 2013.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, there's much more connectivity now to now to be like, don't go with this person, or like this was my experience as anybody else going through this. Like now we have drama from across the globe on Reddit.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, like it's crazy to hear and like think about it in 2013. Like, that is horrifying that uh such a reputable company can back that practice, like David's bridal. You would think of top-tier quality, especially in 2013, coming out of them. Like that would be better than just like picking someone at random.
SPEAKER_01But they could they could get away with it too for the same reason. Right, there's no where would people go? Social media This was on the not forum.
SPEAKER_03And they also be there. It's not like very it wasn't super public back then, and only if you're local to that area. Right.
SPEAKER_01Because oh god. And then it was um the wedding wire they did too. Like they posted a big huge response. There's a whole thing at the epilogue, right? Mentioned where, like, they had to go through all this rigor role talking to a director and then the director of another department to try to get where are the photos? Yeah, and they were like, we don't even know if any of the photos or whatever. I don't know. That's where it ends, unfortunately.
SPEAKER_04If you are that person and you see this 13 years ago, I just want to know. Even if you're divorced, like I want to hear what I want to know.
SPEAKER_01I just want the illusion.
SPEAKER_04God man.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, it's it's a sad situation, all things considered, but you know, it's a dude named Chuck, like what from Pennsylvania. Like, what are you coming?
SPEAKER_04Pennsylvania Chuck. Like Pennsylvania Phil around the hug. That's who owns it. Yeah. Oh my god. That's so it's depressing. And it's even it's even worse that like it's it's raging rampant like nowadays. It's still happening. People are still scamming. Like I just had to tell a couple on a consult call last night because they had such good questions that I never get asked. Like, what happens if something happens to you? Or like I've got a team. You won't catch me posting on Facebook for a random associate.
SPEAKER_03Yes.
SPEAKER_04Like for sure. You will always get your photos. Like no matter what. I even have a in case I die folder.
unknownI love it.
SPEAKER_04I'm not kidding. It has all my like Adobe passwords, my client lists, my that's just Honey Book, all of it.
SPEAKER_03Dude, shout out to Honey Book. I hated it in the beginning because it was sponsored this. Oh my god, I would love this is not sponsored. But I would love for Honey Book to sponsor us. Oh my god, just because it I don't know. I like the fact that it's all just there. I love it.
SPEAKER_01It's just uh like the first big fight in our relationship ever was when out she would do all the books by paper and stuff like that.
SPEAKER_05I went to Catholic school and I was like, I write in person.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I was like, we should do a system so that people can like because at that point it was a one-stop thing to be able to keep it all together.
SPEAKER_03And I mean, like once it was finally like, I just didn't want to have to pay for anything that I was just like, I can write these in a legend. So it's so nice.
SPEAKER_04Me and my honeybook pipeline.
SPEAKER_01We respect you straight up. Hey, if you got anything that you want us to read or react to on the podcast, feel free to DM us on Instagram or TikTok, and you can also email us at for better or worsepod at gmail.com. Um, anything goes if it's good or bad, we just want to read it and we'll react to it on the podcast. Please. Thank you.
SPEAKER_03So since we just talked about photographers and stuff like that, and we have a photographer here, I want to pick your brain about the part of weddings that I hate the most when I've been in weddings and also doing videos at weddings. Family photo hour, and I say hour because it feels like it takes forever. How do you go about organizing it or tell couples like this is the best way to get through it and survive it?
SPEAKER_04I like honestly, I struggled and hated it at the beginning, but like I don't even know how to describe it. I've thought about how to make a video or like record my behind the scenes, but essentially it went from this is a nightmare. I need someone standing next to me to call out names. Yep. And like everyone I've started I used to start now, it's every time. Like when I first started being like nervous to direct, I'd be like, listen up if you guys are quiet. We'll get this done and we can all have a drink. And I'm like, and I mean no chit chat, because if there are side conversations, like we're losing it, nothing's gonna happen. I'm like, you want to drink, you want to drink, you want to drink. If we all want to go, have some fun and like some food, be quiet, please. And now, like, I I pride myself, and I think pretty much all of my couples will have my back on this when I say that I have it down to such a science that I only need to know in my questionnaire ahead of time what the dynamic is, and then put names to faces. Nice. And I have such a backwards way of like tag teaming people in and out of like both sides for all these couplings that it's almost like its own math equation to me. That's cool. So I don't know how to explain that to someone unless you see me in action because it's literally like you can't move the bride as much because they're in a huge dress, right? But the groom can jump in and out, and you can just really like go back and forth between both sides and all of these couplings as long as you understand who's who and how they're involved. So that's on my questionnaire. That's a really important thing. Beforehand, it literally says, Are there any special circumstances that I need to know? Example, divorced parents, deceased, do you hate your brother? Like, what is going on in your family? I need to know. Yes. So I'm not making them stand next to each other. And it's calling someone dad when dad died like five years ago. Seriously. We've been there. Oh my god. Mortifying. Where's grandpa? Why isn't grandpa here? Yeah, like grandpa died last year. We need grandma. We're waiting on grandma.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and I'm standing there waiting on grandma.
SPEAKER_04She's not here. Yeah. So, no, I think it's huge to have that in your questionnaire and understand. And then part of your homework in the back of your brain, all the way up until family photos, is identifying who is who and like actually understanding a dynamic. And if you don't, you're shooting in the dark. You have no idea unless you have someone stand there and read it off. Like that's really the only way. I'll have to figure out how to do a video of like how I bounce people in and out because it's such a perfect, like you know, you got this individual with the bride and the groom, and then you just want the one with the bride, and then you just want it with the groom, and then you just keep rotating in and out, and then like bigger and smaller, and then you're done.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's great. How do you do it with like when they're like, we want a huge family portrait of like everyone on dad's side of the family, and then everyone on mom's side of the family, and then the bride's mom's side of the family, and the bride's dad's. Now we want one with everybody. Do you do that first? Or do you get all of the ones done like bride and her parents, and then bring in the groom, take that, then bring in the siblings, then they go out.
SPEAKER_04You gotta start with anyone that has mobility issues. Right. That's the biggest thing. That tracks. And then see if like those are even gonna happen where they are or later. Because sometimes, as soon as the ceremony's over, they are like racing to go find a chair that's huge. Yep. After that, it's kind of like we're gonna work as big as we can down. So, like if there's extended family that they're only there for the group shot, get them done, get them over with, get them to the bar. Like, get them.
SPEAKER_03We only need you for this one. We don't need you making more noise and distracting people.
SPEAKER_04So, yeah, I'll be I'll do group stuff and I'll go through. And even if they don't format it on the questionnaire, I will go back through and I screenshot it and I set it as my wallpaper on my phone.
SPEAKER_03That's genius.
SPEAKER_04You're not like having to unlock your phone. I don't have to go, I don't have to look at my files, I don't have to pull it up, I don't have to do a screenshot and go to my photos because I'm like doing behind the scenes and like recording stuff all day too, between like my little handheld and my phone. So like you just click on your thing, and I don't do timeline because I've got the timeline. I've got the key major moments in my head. Yeah, I've got family photos, or when you press down and do the long pause, you can switch between timeline and the family photos for your wallpaper. So that's all on my wallpaper.
SPEAKER_05That's really smart.
SPEAKER_04Such a lot, I have no problem with family photos, and I try and make them fun and people get it. It's like a little game, like how quick can you like swap in and out? So I actually have a lot of people that were like, wow, that was actually kind of like that entertaining pulling teeth that was actually enjoyable.
SPEAKER_01I like it. It's always a time suck and always is one of those things that like it's either like quick, painless, and everybody gets out, or it's like everybody wants to shoot the photographer right now. They just want to kill him.
SPEAKER_04You do have another side of that though. And if it's if you have a crowd that doesn't like especially a female, which I've noticed that commands authority.
SPEAKER_03When you get the okay, I'm coming. Why are you so upset?
SPEAKER_04Dude, I would be if you just shut up. Can't tell you how many times I will go to the end of the night and all of the wedding party is drunk, and I will get bridesmaids or groomsmen that'll hug me or shake my hand and say, Man, the amount of people that called you a bitch today. Yes, I don't care. And I'm like, I don't care. Wow. Yeah. Because I'm I'm making sure that the bride and the groom have everything that they need. And if you're taking that as offense, like that's fine. You were probably the problem.
SPEAKER_03You're supposed to be on the team too. Like you're here, like anytime like the bridal party gives me crap. I'm like, you're in uniform. Yeah. Like you're supposed to fall in line. I'm the I'm the coach right now, real quick. Like, I I you really think I want to be out here. I'm doing this for fun. Like, I've been asked to do this.
SPEAKER_04I don't want to make you guys take time away from the party. I don't want to be here standing here either. This is more work that I have to do in post.
SPEAKER_03Like it reminds me of kindergarten. Like, you guys want to go to recess.
SPEAKER_04We have to do this first, and we have to be quiet. Sometimes it's literally like hurting cats, but overall, I'd say like at least 90% of my weddings, like family photos are fun. Like I enjoy it.
SPEAKER_03That's cool. I've never like anytime we're like, all right, family photos, most photographers will be like, All right, here we go. Like, this is this is gonna be the hardest part of the day. I think I used to.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, but I think once you understand that like there's a process that you can have to like get through it not only efficient efficiently, but like have fun with it, make it almost like a game. And like I literally have like family members prancing in and they're ready and they're like waiting and they're understanding and seeing how my brain works and they're anticipating it. Yeah, and they're like, Oh, she knows what she's doing, and then they're like, We're all on board because this is so seamless. Yeah, and then they get to go out have fun and a party.
SPEAKER_03And so I'm gonna die cocktail hour. That's actually really cool. Speaking of this, how do you feel about the uh couples that want to get pictures with every single one of their guests? Don't hire me. Get a photo booth. So that's that's one of the things. I came up with a couple just like thoughts off the top of my head is the couple that does, you know, the table race where the DJ comes on and is like, all right, we're gonna run. This is the one song. Everybody get ready. We're gonna go table by table, you know. You are activating my liability insurance.
SPEAKER_04No, like absolutely not. I am going to bust myself. I am going to take out a table. I'm going to run. Break my equipment. I did not sign up for this. No. So I will, like in the reception portion of my consultation calls, I will say, like, is there anything fun? Are we doing traditional stuff? Is there anything that you want to have? And if they're like, yes, this major thing, I'm like, I don't think we're gonna I don't do that. I mean, like, I will stand there. And if you guys want to stand in the middle and have everyone else run up to me, yeah, you guys can run. That was the other option. My the photos are not going to be good. No, they're kind of messy. I'm going to be standing like this, like on the corner of a round table with like my butt in some uncle's face. Like, I don't want this. Like, I can't. There's no way for me to get in between everyone to get everyone framed, and then the colors suck, the lighting's not good. Like there's food and beer cans. Like, I don't want a course light just like front and center in the family photo. If you want a good portrait, call them table by table calmly. Yes. Have some class. Call them in place. Like, or to the photo wall.
SPEAKER_03Like, everyone has a little like photo wall. I said you should do it like they do. Disney World. We're like, the couple's gonna be up here for 20 minutes. We're gonna take like these few tables, give the couple a break. They will be back later. Same thing you do at Disney World. Like, Princess Ariel needs to go see Flounder for a few minutes. We're just gonna let her rest and then she'll be back out. You're up next.
SPEAKER_04Here's my other hot take. If the bride and groom want to like go mingle and do something, I have the DJ announce that the photographer is gonna have open call for 20 minutes at a very pretty area so that they can go get their portraits taken since they're all dialed up. That's that's a favor right there. That's genius.
SPEAKER_03And they get pay for this individual.
SPEAKER_04And the bride and groom aren't in there in their wedding attire. Everyone is like dressed to the best, and they get a formal portrait taken of them. That's genius. They don't need the bride and groom, they know they're at the wedding. Like, get a picture with them at the photo booth or like on your cell phone. But yeah, I think it's wonderful to have a timeless portrait of you guys all dressed up, professionally taken in a nice space, and it's not just like, oh yeah, that was oh, I wasn't even looking at the camera, I was laughing. And the bride and groom will appreciate that photo of their guests way longer than they will appreciate a table mash. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yes, yes, nope, totally get it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, we we always just say, like, because I've like a big family, a big Italian family, and we did all the individual stuff at the church, you know, like this aunt, this cousin, this uncle, and this blah blah blah, right?
SPEAKER_03And the only picture anybody has is either like the couple random photos of like, you know, the his two grandparents. There's a really nice photo of them. Everybody has that one, but it's the huge big family portrait of us in the middle, and everybody that's the one everybody has.
SPEAKER_01That's the one everybody has, or has hung up somewhere or something. So it's like, man, don't even waste your time doing that.
SPEAKER_04I'm all for a coordinated group shot. Yeah. Yes. But the games are trying to do that, like genuinely. That's why I have an insurance policy. Like, I I don't need to be doing that with you know thousands of dollars of equipment on my hips.
SPEAKER_01No, and it's not it's not worth it.
SPEAKER_03No, it also scares me to watch the bride and groom run around. Like no one wants to see me run either. I so I never do. I send Bryce with the gimbal and I post up somewhere. I post up somewhere and I shoot at bird's eye.
SPEAKER_01You know, friend at the party. So the smallest graphic in this stuff. I'm bogging into people. Out of my way, grandpa!
SPEAKER_04Like I'm not, I'm not gonna chuck in this situation. I'm not gonna run around and like squeeze everyone's spread out so they can see speeches and everything else. I'm not gonna everyone's scooting in their chairs so that I can like they're all on one side.
SPEAKER_03Well, like you don't you have the one that like doesn't move at all. It's like I don't want to be in this picture.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no. How long have you been doing photography for? Not photography and then wedding stuff.
SPEAKER_04How long have you done photography itself? I think I'm going into going into my 12th year, but then weddings, niche, like what I'd say well, is like six years. Cool. So all-encompassing. I never even thought I was gonna do weddings. Really?
SPEAKER_03So absolutely. Do you enjoy weddings? Like when you're like, I do weddings, is that something you look forward to?
SPEAKER_04It's that's my full-time job. That's your vibe. That's all I do.
SPEAKER_00Nice.
SPEAKER_04But I wanted to do newborn photography, and then I realized that I cannot touch someone else's baby without having a panic attack. Stop, really. I I bought all the things, like that was and I was in high school, so like that was a huge like I was working multiple jobs. My mom pitched in. She was buying me because she was just newborn online courses, and like I was getting ready to purchase all the like Etsy little like headbands and the little wraps and the tiny little bears and stuff. And I'm like, I can't, I can't touch someone else's skin. I can't do it. So I panicked, and then I pivoted into weddings, and then I just like never looked back.
SPEAKER_03There's gotta be like some nerves with doing that. Cause like, could you imagine being a first-time mom and being like, look at my that woman is bundling up my child very tightly? Can they breathe and they're crying? I didn't know anything about babies. I knew nothing.
SPEAKER_04We're just gonna go right. I didn't know I didn't know about it. Like if you shouldn't really say that way. Come to find out you gotta do the composite, obviously, but like they can't sit like this.
SPEAKER_01You see, I see people all the time do that without the and whatever. They deserve to be roasted.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, like I am an eight-month-old, and if someone ever tried to like or like froggy position her, the punches would break their legs.
SPEAKER_01What's something from your wedding career that you're most proud of talking about? Like whenever somebody's just like, what's the coolest, you know? Oh, you're like, Oh, I did a really cool thing, you know. Do you have any anything like that?
SPEAKER_04I think all of it is just the coolest. Because, like, especially now being a mom, I can't imagine what my life would have been if I had pursued like an office job. I don't I don't think I'd be able to live. Like, I've had eight months of my daughter, and I get to stay home. And like best, isn't it? I tell all my couples, like, I have 15 to 20 clients a year, and that's a lot for me. Like, that's a heavy workload. Yeah. But it does only equate to like, you know, maybe it's a weekend wedding, so it's multiple days, but that's only like 10 to 15 or 15 to 20 times a year that you're actually like leaving to go do something if you're not focused on sessions. Yeah. Then the rest I'm home editing, like I'm home present. So like I'm extremely proud of the fact that I found something to do that's keeps me home with my family. I don't know how many kids I'm gonna have, but like I found a way to not have to leave my house. Like I'm I love that that's huge.
SPEAKER_01Nice, nice, that was a great answer.
SPEAKER_03Same vibes, same vibes. We literally we were like, you know, I I was working as a phlebotomist during COVID. And that's smart too. Yeah. Traveling? No, just like I mean, like technically, yes, but like I all around the finger lakes, and then our son um got COVID at 13 months old, and it was He was well at first case. He was he was the second case in Wayne County. First was his father. Um remember when there's that big outbreak in San Francisco? Uh-huh. His father was there during that and then brought it to Wayne County and gave it to our son. Love you, Larry. Um no. And I quit my job then and there. Yeah. I was like, I we're gonna figure this out. We're gonna dive headfirst into doing. I mean, you were doing YouTube stuff. He was working for Mr. Beast at the time. Yeah. Oh, stop it.
SPEAKER_01That's so fun. Right. The 10-year-olds, you know, IR. Everybody out, you know. Oh, I work for Mr. Beast, and their parents are like, Who f that?
SPEAKER_03And the kids are like, He isn't boring, he is everything. But we I we never went back to working anything corporate after we were like, We're at home and we can work from home and be around our kids.
SPEAKER_012018 is when I started working from home doing like just um the the YouTube stuff, but other like freelance editing. And so when everybody else started doing um like work from home because like everything was shut down. Um we were already like in the midst of it. And having that time to be with our kids, having that time to just be home and stuff. We want to try to like back down our weddings a little bit and do more of this stuff because um our kids are older now and they have sports and weekends and stuff like that, but it's been such a blessing to be able to just be here and home. And yeah, we're gone for an entire day to do a wedding and stuff, but we get to be here all the rest of the time.
SPEAKER_04I look at it like you've got 365 days in your year. If I can only only have to leave my house for 20 to 30 to like go work, I think I'm I'm doing okay. It's hell yeah. Yeah, same vibes.
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_04I wish I could be the type that like brags about some luxury event, which don't get me started. We'll have a I wanted to bring this up so bad because if you have another episode about luxury, you gotta have me on.
SPEAKER_03We're we're gonna do You gotta have me on. We we're that would be amazing because we are gonna do luxury that's my trigger word versus DIY please. Which ones are that yeah, yeah, that's gonna be a thing.
SPEAKER_04I do think like in the grand scheme of things, I I don't like when someone equates what's at a wedding to how successful they are. So like none of that will ever be for me. I there's cool places that I'm gonna go to for sure.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's it's it's an experience.
SPEAKER_04I love going, I love traveling, like I'm breaking into the world of destination. Yeah, very proud of that, but essentially it's just the same thing in a different place, and if people aren't focused on the marriage, I don't want to be there anyways. Yeah, just a party with a ceremony in the middle of it.
SPEAKER_03We literally say that all the time. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01Which is like it's cool because it's a big party with all the people in your life, and it's probably the greatest one you'll have in your life, is you know, it's this big party. But but if you're doing like a luxury wedding, then you probably have these kind of parties all the time, right? Where you're with everybody.
SPEAKER_04As much as we goofed on like party favors, uh we appreciate you thinking of your family and friends. Absolutely, all that for sure, but still like it's we've got so many, it's a topic to talk about. I love talking about it, but that's just like that's my bread and butter. It's just like I I'm very thankful that people trust me to to do this and make this a job. It's so crazy.
SPEAKER_01For people that you know, if this is like their first time ever hearing of you and they're looking for somebody then to photograph their wedding, what's something that you would want them to know about you?
SPEAKER_04About me or the way I work, yes, either. Yeah, both I don't know. I always tell people that as ironic as it sounds, your wedding day is not a photo shoot. So I I if it's not experience based, again, I don't want to be a part of it. So like it wrecked my life for about six months seeing how Instagram or like social media focused someone. Weddings were and I actually went ghost mode and I'm currently suffering the consequence of going ghost mode on socials, business wise. Um, so that I think that's like ethos and business wise, something that's so huge with me right now is like if everything is performative, count me out. Like I want it to be so authentic and genuine, and I hope that it shows through my work that every couple is different. Yes, there's a similar, like cohesive style across the board, but I want to embrace the individuality of everyone's interests and day and expensive choices that they make. Because if I'm just gonna slap a filter on it and make it like everyone else's, or like take you for two hours to go do portraits in a field while you're missing cocktail hour, like we've done this another day. I will go back to an office channel. Like I don't, I can't.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we we're very lucky we've kind of backed ourselves into like a documentary style where it's um like we we show up and we're just there. So we tell our couples like we don't even need to know, like we need we need the timeline, but we're gonna walk through it, and you don't need to tell me the times. It's like I don't care if it's 1205 and it says get your wedding dress on. I'm not gonna pull you away from like hugging your grandma to go put a wedding dress. Like, hey, come on, you've got to stand like that sucks.
SPEAKER_04I think timelines should be a suggestion.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_04Yes, they are a guideline. Light me on fire. That is what I know that is my firm belief. For some brides, other than catering.
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_04That's so different. Other than catering.
SPEAKER_01If you delay the food, just food is the food's the only thing. But the food has to land at a certain point, and then everybody can kind of like cascade what they're planning around.
SPEAKER_04Absolutely. If you're enjoying a moment, how dare someone try and pull you out of it for the sake of a piece of paper? I had a private property anti-wedding because I didn't want it to feel like work. Anti-wedding? It was, and I mean this in like the the best way because like I and I I appreciate and I cannot preface this enough how much my entire family did for it. It's exactly what it was meant to be, but it was so camp. Like when I asked my mom to get tents and I showed up at the morning of, I had a green, a yellow, and a blue striped tent. Three of them. Three striped tents.
SPEAKER_01That's three rings.
SPEAKER_04Three circles. It was a circus night before. There should have been gold. I said with my color scheme because it was very vintage, like vintage floral, vintage, like the little grandma blankets and all the things. I'm like, I really just don't want to convey circus. And I I'm not kidding. So we did a private property, like people had to walk to like a view and everything. And um, again, I think timeline should be a suggestion because when you look at the radar and it says it's going to downpour in 30 minutes, and then no one comes to pick up the bride down the road until 35 minutes later. Oh my god. And it's a everyone was soaked. It was a sea of umbrellas. Like, no, we had about 25 kids there. A huge family.
SPEAKER_03That's insane.
SPEAKER_04It's insane. And then to top it off, my bouquet got taken home. See, I never snatch and fly. I was wedding again because it was offered to be preserved. And then I never I had that bouquet for literally like maybe 20 minutes of photos, and then I it never saw the light of day again. It was before the reception, too. Oh my god, that's so. They're like, hey, like, do you want I'm gonna preserve this for you as a wedding gift? Like, do you mind if I take it? And I'm like assuming at the end of the night, just like the amount of tears that I have cried over my bouquet and planning, and then I finally made it what I needed it to be, and it got taken. Like months of months of crying because the one thing I wanted was flowers, and my bouquet disappeared. It disappeared, I had it for 20 minutes, and then that's insane. My bridesmaids were all family, and again, I love this, but this was not necessarily authorized. They asked me if they were like good on photos for like you know, I'm like, Yesh, I guess they went mudsliding. Mudsliding. I have never shown a I posted a couple on TikTok the other day, but I've spent two years now hiding my wedding photos. Mudsliding. I am actually like mud sliding. So yeah, so it was I and I loved it again. I my wedding was perfect.
SPEAKER_01Do you want us to put these up?
SPEAKER_04Like you can, they're on my TikTok.
SPEAKER_03Oh my god, spooch, you gotta look through these.
SPEAKER_04So my in-laws are like best family that I could have ever married into ever. And we lost my father-in-law, but my favorite one of my favorite moments, he did a blessing, um, was him coming up to my bridesmaids afterwards and very, very sternly and fatherly saying, Girls, girls, it is time to change. It is time to change. It is time to mud. Yeah, it was girls. It was great. We're all done being messy. It is time to change. That's all he said.
SPEAKER_03It is time to change. Just like in my life or my clothes. I'm not gonna lie, the shots of the girls in the mud is actually really like the pilgrim girls got a day off from morning.
SPEAKER_04You know what I joked about growing up? Have you ever seen uh jackass mattress sledding or mattress? You know what I mean? I always, as like a young tomboy, I wanted that so bad.
SPEAKER_03And I got my bridesmaid's mud slighting. A theme. Like seeing the frogs and the kids and the I'm not gonna lie, like whatever you did, it worked.
SPEAKER_04And I tried to um ward off the rain and how you um bury, is it rum? Yes, yeah, I don't like rum, so I buried tequila and I got a downpour.
SPEAKER_01I did.
SPEAKER_03You needed to call a witch and have her do uh an Etsy spell for now.
SPEAKER_01Plus, it's not rum, it's a hot dog. You're supposed to bury a hot dog.
SPEAKER_04Well, we did tequila, and then I had a bunch of drunk cousins just like you manifested it. Literally like looking in opposite directions. They're like, You buried tequila. I'm like where is it? And like, yeah, they're like, Where? Maybe we just point and then they just disappear. So they were hands and knees, like digging for the tequila. It looked a great day. It looked like a dime. Thanks. We redid our portraits a year later because it was we were soaked. Yeah. So yeah, but it was it was good. We loved it.
SPEAKER_01If it wasn't if it wasn't a story, then it's not worth it, is what I always say, right?
SPEAKER_03Very experience-based. Yes, hell yeah.
SPEAKER_01And you can look back on it and laugh, but that's all that's all.
SPEAKER_04I've said for years, if if I was in it for the wedding, I would I would be a nightmare of a human to deal with.
SPEAKER_03Because that was that's not I don't think you could have planned for a single thing there. No, no, not not any of it, to be honest. What? Yo, your dad needs to sell those drink carts, man.
SPEAKER_04He did really good. Those are incredible. We tried, we put them up for rent, not a single soul. Oh my god. I they even had a drainage hole. And they were like lined for like insulation. So cool. And all big, like wooden, like nice.
SPEAKER_03It's giving like carts beauty and the beast in the village going around passing out.
SPEAKER_04We had a canoe too, just as like something, but like I liked that it was like nice and waist level, so people could just like dig through their drinks.
SPEAKER_01I thought it pictured like a like a plastic kayak when you set up a canoe, like an orange.
SPEAKER_04We had like a legitimate, we had a legit like canoe for canoe.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04For um for drinks, also. That's cool.
SPEAKER_03But yeah, it looks like a like a like a 60s, like thrown together batteries. That was what I wanted. And then you get a butt cake. The butt cake is so it's so cute. I loved it.
SPEAKER_01Did you edit those photos yourself? Yes. I was gonna say, it's your style, so it's like had to have been a little bit of a phone. It was good. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04I had an incredible photographer. Shout out Austin. Austin Buck. But she let me um have the rawest. That was huge. Oh, it's like the one thing I wanted.
SPEAKER_00Nice.
SPEAKER_04My port photo and video. They kept asking me for like what I wanted. Just like figure it out.
SPEAKER_03I'm here.
SPEAKER_04I'm basically do whatever you want. There's frogs everywhere. But but shot list, like, don't make me think shot list. You no. Like, no. No, I do whatever looks cool. They did, they killed it. Third time. Beautiful. Loved it.
SPEAKER_01Hey, thanks for joining us for our fifth episode of For Better or Worse. Uh, it was awesome having you here, Lauren. Thank you so much for joining us.
SPEAKER_04I'm so excited. Where can our viewers find you? I'm pretty much across the board at GalleryGuthrie, including galleryguthrieget.com. Blah.
SPEAKER_03Go ahead, you can do it again if you want to.
SPEAKER_04That's how I'm gonna say it every time. Galleryguthery.com.
SPEAKER_03Perfect. And we will link that below so you can check out all of her amazing work.
SPEAKER_04I was feral to come on the show.
SPEAKER_03Yes. We've done just like a couple podcasts, and you're like, let me on the show. Where am I?
SPEAKER_01It was like the very first comment we ever received was you being like, let me on the show, please.
SPEAKER_03Like, can we talk?
SPEAKER_01Which is great. You know, it's awesome that you were able to come out and do this.
SPEAKER_03Yes.
SPEAKER_04I want to come back already.
SPEAKER_03I know. We already have planned our next few things that we're gonna be doing, and yes, you are going to definitely be a regular guest that we have. Also, do not forget to RSVP to this channel by subscribing and to be notified when we put out a new video. Ring the wedding bell below. Bye! Bye. Yay! Buddy, hell yeah, that was fun.
unknownI love that.
SPEAKER_03Yay!