genejockey 

Two companies ago, the CEO used to say, "And at the end of the day, it's all about.......", and I thought, "And at the end of the day, it's all about going home."

genejockey 

Requires a totally different bit from drilling up.

datlas 

"At the end of the day" makes me hear the Kinks:

seedsbelize2

Yeah. It was our second, each. I do not envy you.

Mojo31

My second was much larger and expensive than my first, but it was my wife's first. I wasn't paying though.

This time I'm paying. If anyone thinks college is expensive . . ..

Velo Vol 

Seems like that would work for a reception, but not be that great for the ceremony.

Sad.

Show us your work.

rjones28 

Clients only.

Velo Vol 

A free preview.

Mojo31

And then there are the shots before the wedding in the dressing rooms, etc.

Sometimes "good enough" is good enough, but for this type of event "good enough" is not near good enough. I want quality images taken with an artistic eye.

Most people's snapshots are pretty crappy with no thought to lighting or composition. I don't care for that.

But, that's just me.

Velo Vol 

I don't know how important the artistic eye is, but you need someone with a good camera who can move about. Someone shooting from the pew isn't going to cut it.

MoAlpha

We were on the hook for a wedding in Iceland, one of the most expensive places this side of Singapore, including a certain amount of airfare and lodging. Thank you COVID. There is some sort of rain check in force, but I think it will be a somewhat more modest affair in the event.

Mojo31

I want someone who can tell the story of the day through their images. I could care a less of a snapshot of Aunt Edith sitting at the dinner table talking to Uncle Albert taken with a pocket camera or cell phone. And, those story book images have to be properly exposed and tack sharp.

If you ever want to tell the difference between a good photographer and a "guy with a camera", look at the eyes. A good photographer will focus on the eyes so they are sharp and bright.

Mojo31

I could buy a nice, albeit used, Porsche for what this little event will cost.

Fortunately, the size of the place we are having it limits the number of people that can be invited.

MoAlpha

Hey, she’s your baby.

LAJ

A thinking man would have put a deposit down on a converted Taco Bell type structure, and then bought a nice Porsche, albeit used.....

Kidding, of course. I'm just happy my kids have litters, and we can even prevent that.

Mojo31

For sure! 🥰

Fortunately I only have one.

rjones28 

You can have a look at the raw materials.

www.census.gov

Mojo31

There is a wedding venue 100' from my office. But, no.

big john

It was my ex wife's real mom. The guy was her step father but she didn't call him that. The ex had a tough childhood, I think she was born when her mother was 14 and Mom went through several husbands/boyfriends and there was physical and mental abuse involved.

The ex and I paid for our wedding and everything ourselves and we didn't have a lot to spend but it worked out to be pretty great. Ther ceremony was performed by a friend in the bike club and took place in the forest where we lived. Another friend played acoustic guitar there. The reception was held at the clubhouse of the community center, free of charge. Food was catered by a woman who owned a restaurant there. Her fees were reasonable. All of my siblings were there, which was the last time we were all together. My mother came, too. 100 guests total.
Clubhouse.

LesterOfPuppets

The Illini Solar Car was out doing some testing. Looks like they're going with the ol' Holiday Inn Express strategy, I hope it pans out for them.

ls01

Well, I'm jot leaving "that" on the road either....I hope to use it again someday....

genejockey 

Mrs. GeneJockey and I got married 3000 miles from where our families lived, which meant we didn't have that many relatives to worry about. Her Mom and Dad had divorced when she was about 10, and her Mom wouldn't fly, so she didn't come. Her Dad and his wife did. And her brother was living out here, so that was it for family from her side. From my side, my Mom and Dad, one brother and SIL, and one sister. I think our total guest list came to 35 people we could think to invite. I mean, I was 30 and she was almost 30 and so we were both way beyond inviting everyone from our college class or stuff like that.

Funny thing was, we'd found a nice venue, and put down a deposit, but as we thought about it we realized it would be pretty sparse even if EVERYBODY came. So Not-Yet-Mrs. GJ says, "We need to invite more people!!"

I said, "Hold on. We're going to pay for a venue that's so big we're going to invite people we didn't think to invite, just to fill it up?" Meanwhile, we had just moved into a flat in The Richmond in SF which had a big, living room the width of the building with windows all across looking out over SF, not to mention a big formal dining room. Definitely big enough for what we had in mind. So we canceled the Forest Hill Club and had the wedding at our own place. It was nice! One thing my Dad insisted on, after holding/attending weddings for the other 5 kids, plus all his nephews and nieces, was tables for the reception. None of this "glass in one hand, plate in the other, how the hell do you eat?" stuff. SO we had tables and chairs. And we got married in front of our own fireplace.

EDIT: The other thing was we were paying for it ourselves. It's remarkable how much more economical couples get when it's coming out of their own pockets.

ls01

Ah, charity...brings a tear to my eye...

ls01

I am very happy with my Roam, its a little bigger than the bolt. Not that I'm bragging (I am too) ots been flawless since I started using it.

Velo Vol 

Aside, portraits where the subject is gazing off to the side annoy me.