Father Daughter Dance

One of the most emotional and important moments to capture at the wedding reception are the first dances.  You've no doubt seen many bride and groom shots here on the Wedding Journal, but today we focus on Father and Daughter dances.

I did some research on the most popular Father / Daughter wedding dance songs and there were some surprising results.  Here are few that kept showing up in every list... 

• What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
• Unforgettable - Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole
• I Loved Her First - Heartland
• Tiny Dancer - Elton John
• Forever Young - Rod Stewart

A real surpise that kept coming up, but a song that I totally love is God Only Knows by The Beach Boys.  The number one Father and Daughter wedding dance song according to most wedding websites is The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra.  It kept topping list after list that I found.  I guess traditional is the preferred way to go for most brides when it comes to dancing with Dad.

Here are some tips when planning this loving moment for your reception....

• Talk to your Dad.  Ask him what he'd like to dance to or if he wants to practice ahead of time.
• Keep it short.  After all your Dad is a guy and sometimes we are uncomfortable dancing in the spotlight.  You can also have your groom come up mid song with his mother.
• Go ethnic.  Show off your ethnic pride and be surprised when Dad really cuts loose.  It could make for a fun moment between you guys that I can capture with the camera.

While photographing the above reception at Villa Cesare Banquet Hall, the bride's dad surprised me by spinning his daughter around and around on the floor.  It was a showstopper and I loved capturing it for their wedding album.

Photo Booths at the Wedding Reception

Every once in awhile I notice another vendor at a wedding that really stands out.  I usually get really busy with editing of the images and meeting new clients that sometimes I forget to point out these exceptional businesses.  I plan a few more of these spotlight posts, but today I will concentrate on a fun reception phenomenon that has really taken off this year - the Photo Booth.  Hey everything that is old is new again, right?!!

I have seen many of these in 2011 and I believe the best of the bunch is Memories in Minutes.  I like to take a peak at the images that come out of these machines both for the shock value (it's a private booth & supposed to be silly) and the print quality.  Now, none of these machines are going to produce images with great lighting that you can hang as a wall portrait.  That is not their purpose.  However, you do want to have photos that are at least on par with a small point and shoot.  Many times I see very low quality images getting spit out, but the Memories in Minutes folks had a higher quality.  They also are extremely friendly and are greeting and helping your guests in and out of the booth.  Visit their website for details as I'm only going off of memory here, but I have seen them filling a nice looking album with the images.  It appeared to me that it get's delivered to the bride and groom at the end of the night.  Very cool.

I imagine this could be one of those things that may be taken lightly, but as usual, quality does matter.  I can attest that they are professional and will do a good job for you on your reception night.  Oh, as bride and groom, don't forget to stop into the booth yourselves.  Have fun!!

Receptions: First Dance, Bouquet Toss, Cake Cutting and More

- click image to enlarge -

The above wedding reception collage has much of what is covered during the big party - first dance, cake cutting, decorations, etc.  My assistant and I try to be as unattrusive as possible and just let the celebration take place.  I might get up and close during crazy group dances to capture the action, but for the most part we treat this part of the wedding with mostly candids.

I don't care to take photographs of people eating so we will usually do some detail shots at this time or an over view of the hall type of shot.  The image below is from a Michigan wedding and the hall had a balcony that overlooked the party.

The introductions are covered from the elegant walk outs to this silly one from The Patrician Banquet Hall in Schererville, Indiana.

As dinner winds down, we usually look for candid photos such as this grandfather having a loving moment with his grandaughter...

Let's not leave grandma out...

The cake cutting is a long time tradition.  I usually get asked during the moment by the couple how to cut it. Just take the knife together and cut a small piece off and then feed each other.  I know, tough to do with when you're at Avalon Manor with a large crowd watching...

It's up to you how silly you want to get with the cake.  This couple had a good time getting cake on their faces during their reception in Hammond.

Speeches from the wedding party can be touching and / or funny and sometimes a little of both.

We use very minimal lighting during the first dances.  This shot of the groom spinning the bride did not use flash at all and gave us a nice blur on the wedding dress.

This next one is from Marquette Park Pavillion and was given a vintage brown tone effect...

Father and daughter chat on the dance floor at this Crown Point wedding reception...

If you have entertainers at your party that are involved with the festivities, I will surely capture them as part of your wedding day.  One of my favorite photos are these acapella singers from a celebration at The Patio in Merrillville.

It was a packed room in the Celebrity Ballroom at the Radisson for this Indian wedding...

How to properly toss a bouquet of flowers?  Well, it may seem silly to make these points, but trust me I've seen some go awry!!  

• Make sure the single girls are a good distance behind you and are in place
• Look for overhead obstructions - ceiling fans chopping up your bouquet = a big mess  :)

How to properly remove the garter?  I've got nothing guys, sorry.  :)

Some of these guys line up for this garter toss look a little young to be the next ones getting married!!

When the music really starts thumping, I will be there to capture the action on the dance floor along with more candid moments as the guests interact...

- click image to enlarge -

The bridesmaids dancing at a Masquerade Ball at this reception in Gary, Indiana...

When the bride and her maid of honor take a break and start goofing off with the ring bearer, time to abandon shots from the dance floor...

When you open up your wedding album 20 years from now, the reception shots at the end of the photo book will hopefully showcase the fun time that was had by all.  The wedding day may be a long one, but at the same time it passes by very quickly.  Make sure you pause to enjoy yourself.  After all, the party is in you honor!!

Indian Wedding Reception at Radisson Celebrity Ballroom

Jay and Rupal's wedding reception at the Radisson Celebrity Ballroom featured traditional Indian wear right along side some modern customs such as driving a convertible Porsche onto the dance floor for their entrance. It was a fun night in Merrillville and one of the most unique celebrations I have photographed.

While the wedding planner was hard at work putting the finishing touches on the decorations inside the main ballroom, the happy couple and I stepped outside for some bride and groom formal pictures.  We had the golden light from a sunset and were able to capture the bride's beautiful eyes and henna decorated on her hands.

Jay and Rupal had already gotten married a month earlier in Atlanta, Georgia and were now having their celebration here in Merrillville for their Northwest Indiana family.  You can see the happiness in her eyes as she gazes at her new husband in the glow of the sunset.

The lobby of the Merrillville Radisson can make for a scenic background and we captured some wedding photos in there as well...

The wedding planner decorated the Celebrity Ballroom impeccably.  Everything was top of the line, from the gorgeous purple and blue wedding cake to the wall of candles behind the wedding party's head table.

A separate night club style lounge was set up in another ballroom and had it's own bar.  We also used this area for family pictures as well...

- click image to enlarge -

The wedding guests had no idea that the bride and groom would enter in a Porsche convertible right onto the dance floor!!  To get them warmed up, parents of the groom Dr. Kansal and his wife Sadhna danced for the crowd during their introduction....

All family members took a spin on the white floor with the women showcasing their Indian dresses....

Start your engines!!  The bride and groom have arrived.....

 

The bride and groom were then seated at the head of the ballroom dance floor to watch dance routines from family members.  It was quite the show!!

You will notice in many of these reception photos that the wedding coordinator was casting Indian symbols along with changing light patterns onto the walls of the Radisson reception hall.  Colors were changing all night as family and friends began to party....

It certainly wouldn't be a celebration without running children!!

I finally got her to slow for this shot with her red rose...

Jay and Rupal were the center of attention for the traditional first bridal dance...

I made sure to take time to get some close up shots of the bride's henna decorated hands and of course the wedding ring too...

The groom's brother gave a great speech with much humor and love.  Here he is with his new sister in law...

One more look at the incredible dresses shown off here by the mother of the groom with her family and friends...

It was an incredibly fun night at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville with a wedding reception like no other.  I'm sure the bride and groom can drink to that...