Clari’s Whims

If you have some photos of a wedding, a website, and the desire to make $2000.00 for four hours work, be a wedding photographer. In fact, charge them 1100 for the time and just a cd of the photos! You don’t even have to compile an album (which you would of course pick up for 20.00 and charge 1200.00 for) or even provide prints! It’s such good money!

If you know how to compile a play list and hit “play,” can announce a few names, and have at least a little charisma, you can be a wedding DJ, and make $1,000.00 for those same four hours. Just bring your ipod and some speakers!

Neither of those appeal to you? How about you get good at sewing. You could make a dress for someone to wear for one day and charge them upwards of 2,500.00

If dresses are too hard, get a piece of sheer fabric (doesn’t even have to have a finished edge) Sew on some lace or fake pearls. Attach it to a comb. You can make 500.00 for that crap! It’ll probably only take you about an hour too!

Let’s see what else… Photoshop a “unique” design for a couple. Make the colors match their wedding colors and print up some invites. Have fun charging whatever you want for that one. These suckers will pay it.

Anyone noticing a pattern here? Most of, if not ALL of this nonsense, you or friends/family of yours can do for FREE or MUCH LESS.

I have been FREAKING out about paying for my wedding, the photography, DJ, all of it. The reception is bad enough, but at least it includes food, alcohol, hors d’oevres, champaigne and the cake. I was trying to figure out how to have 1,000 for a DJ and photographer each, only to find that most photographers cost at least 1,500 or more. Most packages START at 2,000.00

Finally, Glenn explained something so simple, and so logical, that I almost fell out of my chair. To pay someone 1,100.00 to take pictures for four hours and put them on a CD is ludicrous. In the age of digital photography, we could have someone take literally thousands of pictures, they would all be digital already, and we could order any prints we want. No problem. The world makes us think we need a “professional” but most of the women and men I spoke with were operating out of their own homes. One lady had her kids screaming in the background. How are they more professional than a friend with a camera?

As for the DJ, he said, why not just compile a play list on my new ipod? (No no no. DJs have equipment. They have microphones!) We could use half the money we were planning on paying someone to buy a nice stereo system. (Okay, this is making more sense) One of my co-workers gasped and went “yeah, but then who would introduce you?” Does that mean that essentially all you pay a DJ for is an introduction and some light chit chat through the reception? $850.00 for “And now I’m pleased to introduce Mr and Mrs…” is pretty good money if you ask me!

The more I thought about it, the more I realized he was right. My initial reaction was “What will people think? They’ll expect this and that…” but that’s just it! We all have it ingrained in us that weddings require thousands of dollars…but really they shouldn’t. I know that beating on how inflated the wedding industry is is old fodder, but seriously! Things can be done so much cheaper and way more practical than people realize.

When I was in freak out mode, Glenn said to me the most important thing I think I’ve ever heard, and that was this:

“Photography…DJs…all of these details…None of them matter. What’s important is that we’re getting married.”

It’s scary and sad to think that the wedding industry as it were, almost took that idea away from me and replaced it with the need for thousand dollar DJs and limos, and all of that, that STUFF. Weddings aren’t about stuff or hired entertainment. They are about two people who love each other stating their intentions in front of friends and family. It’s certaintly a time for celebration, but not at the cost of a second mortgage.

This month has been nothing if not a whirlwind. It began with a pretty intense ‘fight’ between me and Glenn. Mostly it was just me crying. The very next day while still in the midst I was to go and look at wedding dresses. So I cried and sobbed “should I even bother?” and Glenn hugged me and said “You should. You’ll have fun and feel better and it will be fine.” And he was right. I found the most beautiful gown and no one could wipe the smile from my face. I turned to my mother and said “well now he HAS to marry me so he can see me in this dress!”

We celebrated our second anniversary by going to the Ren faire. We found out that day that Glenn’s sister is five months pregnant with some random child. She was the one who was engaged, broke the man’s heart, and is now knocked up by some guy she hasn’t spoken to in four months. I thought I was freaking out because I was jealous or because I was afraid Glenn would refocus on her like he used to…but no. I think I am angry because of what she did to her ex-fiance, followed by this.

Ren faire was really good though. Glenn was super attentive to me ( i think he realized I was upset) and we went off on our own and had ‘us’ time. We also found the merchant that sold us my anniversary ring with a pearl that fell out. They are going to repair it and mail it to me!!!

Us at Faire

We’ve been doing a lot of home repair type things. The house is really shaping up. Maybe I’ll actually take and post photos of it someday soon!

We also went to a Phillies game. My brother talked all this trash about eating a hotdog an inning (because it was dollar dog night) and no one would take him on. Glenn turns around and goes “Okay Jack. I’ll take that challenge.” Final score: Glenn 5, Jack 4. Ownage!

Phillies Game

I’m looking at wedding venues this week. I have saved a thousand dollars in three weeks, so I’m pretty excited. I might actually pull this off!