u/Initial_Savings_196

Are we tipping our photographers? My fiance and I are going over our cost spreadsheet and have tips factored in for most vendors, but are unsure about tipping our photographer. She’s pretty “well known,” owns her own company, and frequently does big budget weddings — we’re small fish in the pond she swims in. We’re paying a premium for her services and since she is her own boss it feels a little odd to throw a tip onto an already large sum of money.

We’re planning on tipping her second shooter, but would love feedback on how anyone has approached tipping their photographer! I’m getting my head planner a nice, thoughtful gift rather than a tip (she made sure to say early on not to include her in our tipping, which I appreciated) and am considering going that route for our photographer as well.

Hi! I’ve gone down the rabbit hole on the threads about Sarah Seven/Sept on this sub and know there’s an overwhelming bad taste towards their customer service, but I’m hoping to connect with anyone that’s had a positive experience?

I went to their showroom in the last few weeks and had a really fabulous experience. My mom and I both found the stylist to be very kind and helpful (after reading the reviews on here we were bracing for the opposite.) They were very sweet and not pushy in the slightest. I think I found my dress - which feels like a bit of a miracle because I have tried on everything, everywhere - but want to know what I’m getting myself into before I book my follow appointment that would be paying the deposit for the measurements and the made to measure experience.

It’s a hefty investment, but seems like it averages out with a lot of other gowns because 2 alterations appointments are included? How has people’s experience been with this? Are there additional hidden fees?

Appreciate any feedback!

My fiance and I were having a conversation about our annual travel spend compared to some of our peers, and are curious how others decide what their travel budget (or lack there of) looks like (how many trips, budgets, locations, etc) compared to their take home pay. This obviously is layered when you factor in investments and other assets as opposed to just what the annual take home is from a job, and everyone prioritizes different things, but how do you decide? What percent of your income is spent on travel? How does choosing locations and budgets factor into that for you?

Looking for recommendations for a photographer for our NYC City Hall elopement. I also don’t know what a reasonable expectation to have for the investment might be? Hoping to find someone local to NYC and just have them for ~2 hours.

We’re doing a BBB destination wedding and have an incredible photographer for that, but need to do the legal part here in the states first and thought it would be fun to document. Thank you for the recs!

We’re throwing together a trip for August and got a really good deal on flights to Paris from the states. The obvious issue being, we don’t want to be in Paris during August. We’re using it as our jumping point (and will stay a few days on each side of the trip for good meals + shopping) to try and find a slower place to relax! We would ideally love somewhere with great water access (of any kind - lake, ocean, pool) and great food.

We’re looking at options in Corsica, Mallorca, Menorca, etc. but really are open to anywhere. I know it’s high season for pretty much everywhere, so hoping to find a hotel that makes us feel a little more secluded from the crazy tourist season. For that reason we’re avoiding the big hitters in South of France.

Would love suggestions that are an easy flight, train ride, or drive from Paris. $1.5k/night is the hotel budget! Thank you!

Can anyone help clarify about their appointments at the NYC flagship? I will be there later this month and wanted to make an appointment to try on some Sept gowns, but also like a few Sarah Seven dresses I think are worth looking at from their new collection. Can you not try them on at the same appointment? And it clearly states you can’t go back within 60 days to try on the sister brand, which seems really odd. Does anyone know why or have experience with this? The customer service over the phone at their Chicago location was so rude and cold, I figured I might try NYC, but it seems like it might not be much better there.

Hi! I don’t know if this is the right place for this, so if it’s not, I would love if someone could point me in the right direction!
I am a 2027 bride, trying to prepare my save the dates. I had custom envelopes ordered, and now and struggling to find a way to have liners made for them!
The envelopes will be 5.5”x5.5” Euro Flaps, so I’m assuming I’ll need the liners to be around 5.25x5.25” euro flap? Does anyone know where I can have these printed/made?
Thank you so much for your help, I appreciate it!

We are leaving for a month in Europe and I have decided to stretch my dress search over the ocean. I would love recommendations on Paris bridal stores! Open to new and vintage shops. My budget for a dress is around ~$15k but am also looking for other wedding week looks while abroad!

Hi! My fiance and I are starting to look at options for our honeymoon in 2027. Would ideally like for it to be in August or September, so hopefully locations that are great for that season, however we are open to going later in the year for the right place. We’ve done Lake Como and other popular honeymoon spots in Italy, so we’d like to stay away from there, especially during that timeframe! We’ve been fortunate enough to travel a lot of Europe, but aren’t opposed to returning places to go “all out.“

We Looking for a mix of relaxation and bopping around, and open to super chubby spots, but fine to throw in less chubby spots to splurge on other day. Must have incredible food! We’re open to multi city recommendations.

Looking to keep it around $35k (this is flexible) for 2 weeks. Anywhere in the world is an option! Thank you!

Edit: I meant to add no safaris! We’ve done many of them in different countries and have loved them all! I highly recommend to anyone who hasn’t been on one (:

Hi! I think I want to move forward with purchasing a gown I found during a trunk show, but want to sit on it a few more days before moving forward. The problem being, the trunk show ends today, and so the dress is leaving too.

Would it be better to just track it down at another trunk show in a month? Or will I still be able to order it where I tried it on in a few weeks, even if it’s not actually there (Mark Ingram.) Does anyone have experience with this?

We had a designer do our logo + Save The Dates and now are looking to have them printed! I’m getting some crazy quotes back (HCOL area) so would appreciate recommendations for printers who do letterpress that won’t charge me close to $1,000 for 50 copies. Thank you!

Hi! I’m deciding between a Danielle Frankel dress and a Dana Harel piece from a her new collection that is doing the trunk show right now at Mark Ingram! I’m having a hard time deciding and would love some thoughts on each and the process working with the brands.

Danielle Frankel - the Henrietta! I do think I would slightly customize it. If you have worn it or seen it in person, what did you think of it? If you have wedding photos in it that you would be willing to share I would love to see them. The texture is to die for but I’m a little bit worried about how it photographs. I know the belt is removable, but I’m also a little afraid of all of it being overdone (and before you come for me for saying “overdone” 3/5 of my closest friends who will be at the wedding have all worn DF dresses in the last 2 years, so lots of overlap.) I just don’t want to wear something that feels so repetitive, but I haven’t seen much of this one outside of their website? Also, I’ve read horror stories of dresses from her showing up too small. I felt like the consultant took my measurements more snug than other stores. Should I be worried about that?

Dana Harel - the Harmony! I tried this one during the Mark Ingram trunk show and felt like a Bridal Barbie in it, but it’s a very different vibe than I saw myself going. It’s the only dress I’ve tried on (and I‘ve tried on a lot) that elicited an emotional reaction from me, but it very well could have been from being overwhelmed and exhausted (and about to start my period!) I’m also a little worried it’ll be the next dress they push to the gods, because every consultant was waiting outside of my room to snag it and have other brides try it on. I’m a size 0 but have a larger chest than most at my size, so I already know there will be a lot of alterations and custom cups. Can anyone share their experience with Mark Ingram’s tailors for alterations? Will it end up costing a fortune? I would also assume with the amount of lace it will be generally difficult!

I appreciate any feedback - thank you!

Hi! I hadn’t previously done a deep dive into ANDREW KWON gowns, but one from his most recent collection caught my eye and now I am obsessed with all of them.
Has anyone bought their gown from their atelier? Has anyone tried on dresses from the most recent collection? And if so, would you mind sharing pricing (happy to share specific gowns if anyone might know the cost!) Thank you

If you have personal experience with any of the below photographers, I would be so grateful if you could share with me your thoughts! This is our list to send inquiries to for our winter (either late 2027 or early 2028) wedding and although I’m going to ask for a full galleries to view, I would love to know more about their energy day of! And would love if you felt comfortable to share your gallery (or pieces of it!) I’m sure they send their best galleries to potential clients, so would love to see realistic ones as well.

- Naomi Goggin

- Sara Lincoln

- Bring Me Somewhere Nice

- Sophie Berard

- Lato Photo

- My Favorite Human

- Bianca Virtue

We are hosting a high budget, destination wedding in a fairly remote location in June 2027. I am looking for a recommendation for a destination videographer! Would appreciate if it’s someone you have personally used and had a positive experience with. We have an absolutely incredible photographer, and used the majority of our media budget on securing them, but would like to see if we can make a videographer happen too! Not asking for discounts or anyone to do it ”at cost” but very open to someone young or newer in the field who isn’t going to charge an arm and a leg (:

I’ll be in NYC dress shopping in a few weeks and am trying to make the most of the limited time I’ll have in the city. When I first got engaged I was absolutely sure I would wear a Vivienne Westwood gown, but since I’ve actually started paying attention to wedding content, a lot of her stuff feels overdone (no hate to anyone who wears it, it’s stunning, and clearly still on the table for me!) so am having a harder time imagining one of her dresses being “the one.” That said, is the appointment itself still worth going to? Or would it be better to cancel and try another spot?
I’m all over the place with styles and silhouettes, but have appointments booked at Danielle Frankel, Mark Ingram, Lee Petra Grebenau, and Vivienne. Is Lela Rose a must stop? Anywhere else I **have** to go? Thank you!!

I feel like I’m at a dead end with dress shopping. I think it would be fun to see dresses everyone loved while searching, even if it wasn’t what you went with!

Looking for hotel recommendations in Douro that are not the Six Senses. No budget really, but would like to be under $1k/night if possible.
Would also love to hear some of the best wineries or restaurants that you enjoy!

There’s an older post I found in this sub with great lists, but curious of everyone’s favorite boutique hotels of the world and if there are any new ones to add!