Your wedding is bound to be one of the most memorable days of your life as well as your significant other’s.  When planning a wedding, hiring a quality photographer is necessarily to make sure those memories don’t fade away over the years. Quinns Wedding Cars out of the UK has compiled a list of fantastic tips to help you get the most out of your wedding photographer which we’ve posted below. Make sure to keep these tips in mind and let  Branches Catering handle all of your wedding needs to help make your day one to remember forever.

Source: Quinns Wedding Cars

A photographer is an absolute must at any wedding, as you’ll hopefully want to savor the memories for years to come. Photographs are arguably the best medium for saving memories.

But how do you get the best work out of your photographer? Well its mainly down to preparation, and choosing the right photographer based on his experience and skill level.

The following tips will also help to get better results on the day:

Arrange an Interview with Your Photographer

Make sure that you get an interview with your photographer before the wedding to ensure he will be able to complete the job to your specifications and taste.

You may want to ask him to bring along examples of photographs that he has taken in the past so you can check if his style is what you want your wedding photographs to look like.

Help your Photographer out!

At the interview you will also need help the photographer by revealing as much detail about your day as possible. Let him to understand how events will roll out and where you would expect him to be at specific times.

You may also want to give him any tips on locations that would be good for photographs. Is there a picturesque garden near the church that you would like some photos in…? All these tip-offs will help you to get the best possible photos out of your photographer.

Let Your Photographer be Creative

Remember that a photographer will probably have many years experience in his field, so you need to trust his skill and allow him to complete his work without restraining his creativity too much.

Understand the photographers background and look at any examples that he may have. Look at his style carefully and see if that’s what you want your photos to be like.

Very often photographers will inadvertently create a style, and this will be hard to change just for your day, so choose carefully.

Choose a Photographer That Communicates

You’ll want to make sure you hire a photographer that communicates well. If a certain location isn’t working well, you need a photographer that will have the confidence to tell you. You’ll also need to regularly communicate with him on the day to make sure he’s getting on ok.

Be polite and instructive and allow his creativity to shine. This, as well as the tips above, will help to improve the quality of your wedding photographs and get the results that you want!

For the original article: click here

This Jersey Shore catering hall has been the perfect venue for many couples from all around New Jersey. When a couple is looking to decorate in their ceremony and reception location there are a lot of factors they must keep in mind. We found these great tips to guide a bride and groom towards the perfect theme/decoration for their wedding day.

Source: 1weddingsource.com

With any wedding it is often the reception which will require the most planning and attention to detail. Your wedding reception will be the biggest party you will ever organize and as such it is important your wedding reception decoration is perfect.

When thinking about your decoration you need to take into account several factors including:

The style of your wedding
Your wedding colors
Your wedding theme
Your budget
Your venue

The style of your wedding will determine whether you have a formal reception, such as a sit down meal with several courses or a more casual reception perhaps with a buffet. Your wedding colors will provide the backdrop to your reception decoration and will determine things like table cloths, chair covers, flowers, balloons etc. Usually brides will choose a combination of two or three colors, with one of those forming the main color used throughout (often white or ivory), the remaining colors then become accent colors in the smaller details such as flowers, table centers, napkins and decorations.

If you have chosen a wedding theme then this will be the main focus of your decoration. With a wedding theme it is important to research all the small details and elements that you want to include, otherwise your theme could fall flat and be lost on your guests. Try to be true to your theme in terms of colors and design, for instance, an art deco themed wedding is usually associated with a scheme of black and white, therefore using hot pink and aqua blue would not work! Likewise a medieval wedding theme with table centers of tall martini glasses filled with crystals and feathers would look totally out of place.

Your budget will dictate everything, from the scale of your decoration to your choice of wedding favors. Make sure you set a realistic sum for your reception decorations, especially if you are having a grand wedding theme. That, said, much can be achieved by making your own decorations, including table centers, favors and hanging decorations. So if your budget is tight make sure you explore your DIY options.

Venue’s can often be the deciding factor when it comes to how your reception will look. Whilst many venues can offer a blank canvas, allowing you to decorate them however you wish, others can be rather more grandiose, meaning you will need to work your decorations around existing colors, fixtures and fittings.

The best way around this it to pick your venue with your wedding style or theme in mind. A beach wedding would obviously be at the beach, whilst a 1930’s themed wedding could take place in a ballroom or theatre. If no suitable venue can be found then your best option would be to hire a marquee and pitch it in a garden or hotel grounds. Marquee’s offer the ultimate blank canvas and many companies can offer decoration and furniture packages to suit.

For the full article with more tips click here.

Preparing for your big day can be confusing and stressful, and nobody knows that more than newlywed Vanessa Minnillo. Thankfully, she’s posted her top 10 tips for those brides-to-be  to make the wedding both memorable, and stress-free! When you’re done, make sure to check out what Branches NJ Catering Hall can do do help make the wedding of your dreams a reality, either at our hall, or somewhere beautiful off-site.

Source: She Knows

Vanessa Minnillo has married the man of her dreams. In the process of getting hitched to Nick Lachey, the 30-year-old learned a thing or two about being a bride and the wedding planning process. Here are Vanessa Minnillo’s top 10 tips for other brides!

Vanessa Minnillo, whose big day was featured on TLC’s Nick & Vanessa’s Dream Wedding, writes on her Twitter page:

Tip 1: Try on different styles of dresses. Even if u know what u want, it may surprise u. Go for it all & be girly! Most importantly, HAVE FUN

Tip 2: I Love a “little” splash of color! I had a beautiful bouquet of gloriosa’s, BUT I didn’t put my matron of honor in a fuchsia dress

Tip 3: Listen to your groom & have elements of what “he” wants in the Wedding. After all, it’s both of your day. Nick had great suggestions.

Tip 4: A welcome bag w/”personalized” goodies is always nice! We did beach towels w/their names embroidered, & all the beach essentials.

Tip 5: Make sure to take time before the wedding & spend it with ur fiancee. A night with a glass of wine, or a weekend away. #QualityTime

Tip 6: To save money: use venue’s place settings & glassware, but we brought in our personalized linens and chargers for a more custom feel.

Tip 7:If you can, have multi-photographers. We loved Yitzhak Dalal, & he brought 2 others w/him. There’s always more than one angle u want!

Tip 8: Consider weather when planning an outdoor ceremony. The ONE thing I regret is we didn’t have fans or a.c. at the ceremony. #sweating

Tip 9: Do something special for ur fiancee b4 the ceremony, a gift, &/or a hand written card. Let them know how u feel & that u Love them!

Tip 10: HAVE FUN! Once it’s the day of, try ur hardest not to let ANYTHING get in the way. You’ll regret it if u obsess about small stuff!

*Tip 11: Secure a wedding sponsor or three and air your nuptials on television to help off-set the cost of your dream day.

*We kid, we kid!

Congratulations to Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo on their gorgeous wedding!

For the full article: click here

The Asbury Park Press is running their annual Readers Choice Contest. Branches Catering has received an award for the past 6 years in a row! Keep the tradition going and vote for Branches as Best Banquet Facility AND Best Caterer (off-site catering) for 2011!

It only takes a minute to vote. All you have to do is click here by July 31st and fill out the form. Remember to vote two times for Branches Catering under the categories Banquet/Reception Facilities and Caterer.

Thank you in advance for your support and we look forward to serving you in the future!

Branches Catering
123 Monmouth Road (Rt. 71N)
West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Toll Free (877) 316-1753
www.BranchesCatering.com

A lot of money and hard work goes into the preparations of planning a wedding. From booking the florist, photographer, DJ or band to finding the perfect ceremony and reception hall, and getting the invitations even the smallest of weddings can become a large ordeal. NJ Consumer Affairs has offered up some tips on how to avoid walking into a wedding day scam.

Source: newjerseynewsroom.com

How to prevent a dream wedding from becoming a nightmare

Planning a wedding can be fun and exciting, but it can also be a monumental task. Hiring a photographer, booking a reception hall, arranging for entertainment, making hotel arrangements for overnight guests – these may all be elements in making the day a success.

With wedding season approaching, the state Division of Consumer Affairs is offering a two-page brochure, “Planning Your Wedding: Tips to Avoid Scams”.

“At the Division of Consumer Affairs, our top priority is to empower New Jersey consumers,” state Acting Consumer Affairs Director Thomas R. Calcagni said. “Couples put enormous amounts of time and effort into planning the perfect wedding. Consumer Affairs is reminding them to take precautions to help ensure they create a day they’ll remember as one of the best in their lives – a memory that will not be marred by shoddy services or outright fraud.”

Calcagni said these tips are included in the brochure:

Contact the Division of Consumer Affairs to find out whether any potential vendor – such as a photographer, videographer, DH, band or caterer – has a history of consumer complaints, or has been cited for violating any consumer protection laws.

Take the time to carefully review every contract before signing. Note the terms of cancellation.

Remember that paying by credit card, as opposed to cash or other means, can generally help you resolve any future disputes.

Beware of wedding scams, such as phony exhibitions. Before paying to attend a bridal show, try to verify that the event is real by checking the organizer’s credentials or checking with the owners of the venue.

Before buying engagement or wedding rings, conduct your own research to learn about precious gem quality and ring settings. This will help you find the best deal to match your budget and your style.

Before buying a wedding gown, learn whether the seller is following Federal Trade Commission requirements on providing information about the garment’s fiber content and country of origin.

For more information, view the full Consumer Brief.

More information designed to help consumers protect themselves is offered free of charge at the State Division of Consumer Affairs NCPW website at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov.

Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file a complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website, www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov, or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.

Source: newjerseynewsroom.com

We’ve got a slew of new events going on in the next couple of months at Branches! If you’re planning your wedding or just looking for something fun to do make sure to check out all of our upcoming events.

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 7:00pm: Summers Winery Wine & Food Sampler

One of California’s most highly-rated wineries is coming to Branches Catering!
We’ll be hosting a walk-around tasting with substantial appetizers and short plates led by Barbara Longué.
$42 per person plus 18% service and tax.
You can also purchase your favorite wines by the bottle after dinner and take them home with you at special savings!
To RSVP call 732.542.7790
To view full menu click here.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011: Branches Spring Bridal Showcase

Join us at Branches for our Spring Bridal Show! There will be lots of activities including:

• Runway Fashion Show
• Live Entertainment
• Prizes
• Sample Signature Dishes
• Receive Excellent Coupons
• Discounts and more!

Click to view the flyer.
Free Admission just register here!

Holiday Brunches at Branches!

Saturday, April 16th, 2011: Breakfast with the Easter BunnySunday, April 24th, 2011: Easter Brunch

Sunday, May 8th, 2011: Mother’s Day Brunch

For more information an all of these events and more view our upcoming events.

At Branches we love this timeless classic color palette of Wine, Mauve and Blush! The colors look great outdoors, like out in our waterfall garden, and also indoors, say… in our beautiful ballroom! Either way the colors are no comparison to the beauty of the bride at her wedding ceremony and reception.

Source: The Knot

Check out the hottest vintage wedding color combos that we’re obsessed with right now.

Perfect match for Branches Catering

Good for: Vintage garden weddings

Tips for pulling it off: Dress up this feminine color palette with crystal or pearl details, or dress it down with rustic fabrics like burlap and faded handkerchiefs.

Clockwise from top left: Marie Labbancz Photography, Antonis Achilleos, Jen Kroll Photography, Leigh Miller Photography, Justin and Mary Marantz, Dan & Anne Almasy, Simon Yao Studio

For the full article click here.

Whether it be a jersey shore ceremony or another off site catering location this couple definitely went one step further with their post-wedding  travels. They have been traveling around the world with the bride’s wedding dress in hand. Taking photographs in each new place, the dress has traveled more than 100,000 miles! They’ve just published a book of all the photos they have taken so far, but a second edition is planned for the future.

Source: nj.com

Jennifer Salvage’s wedding dress has traveled more than 100,000 miles and been worn 183 times — so far.

The dress goes with the former bride and her husband, Jeff Salvage, wherever their love of adventure is headed. The gown already has been worn hiking in the Swiss Alps, visiting the Great Wall of China, riding a camel in the Egyptian desert, bungee-jumping in New Zealand, and making a snow angel in Medford.

Not surprisingly, Jennifer Salvage was married in the gown.

She and her husband exchanged their vows in 2008 on remote Easter Island off the coast of South America.

Despite their heavily stamped passports, the couple’s latest adventure has been a foray into the publishing world.

They recently released “One Dress, One Woman, One World,” a book featuring a collection of photographs that shows the “bride” in various locations, both exotic and familiar. A written travel log accompanies the images taken by Jeff Salvage, a computer science professor at Drexel University and part-time photographer.

Their inspiration for the book derived from their own wedding, and the idea kept evolving.

“My husband asked me to get in the dress multiple times while we were on Easter Island,” Jennifer Salvage said.

A shared love of travel, nature and hiking subsequently led the township residents to other corners of the world. Each time, they took the dress.

“We realized we were on to something,” Jennifer Salvage said.

The “unofficial” photographer for the national race walking team and author of several books about the sport, Jeff Salvage directed a model for the first time with this project. A guidance counselor at Strath Haven High School in Wallingford, Pa., Jennifer Salvage also was taken out of her comfort zone by posing for the images.

“I’m not a model, and it’s not something that comes naturally to me,” she said. “Although the shots are glamorous, the photo shoots are not.”

At the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, one of several local shoots, the couple stepped into a stingray tank. In New Zealand, they hiked for four days in the pouring rain and were rewarded with a rainbow.

In Luxor, Egypt, camera lights were prohibited and the Salvages were allowed to take just one photograph before being told to leave. A fellow traveler on a cruise offered to lend Jennifer Salvage jewelry after the couple realized they didn’t have a necklace for their shoot.

“Usually we’re greeted with kindness and help,” Jeff Salvage said. “I’ve been traveling to Third World countries for 10 years. We always ask. We don’t want to offend anybody.”

Jennifer Salvage said many people stop to watch the sessions, believing she’s getting married.

“A lot of people wanted a photo with the bride, which was flattering and sweet,” she said.

Wear and tear has taken its toll on the wedding dress, for which Jennifer Salvage paid less than $400 plus the cost of alterations. But the gown appears pure white and unblemished in the photographs.

For the full article click here.

We can’t all be princesses but at least we can feel like one on our wedding day! Here are some helpful tips from Allure!

Looks like my childhood fantasy of becoming a princess was crushed yesterday with the official announcement of Prince William’s engagement to long-time girlfriend Kate (now to be known as Catherine) Middleton…tear. While I will be spending the next couple of months coming to terms with the reality of the situation, I’m sure Middleton will be busy planning her royal nuptials–and while things like the location and a majority of the guests will be chosen for her, she’ll get to make the decisions on her hair, makeup, and nails. She has great taste, and she’ll be getting the best of the best to help beautify her for the special day—but for us commoners, the process isn’t always easy. Here are a few expert tips on how to prep for your wedding day, that even a prospective princess should follow:

Hair

Book a consultation and a trial beforehand so you know exactly what to expect. After the initial appointment you should feel confident and beautiful, not uncertain. Then, take your style for a spin. If it collapses or begins to fall out, tell your stylist—it could be a sign your vision needs a revision.

Makeup

If you’re going to book a pro, it’s no different than getting your hair done—go for a test-run a week or two before the wedding (the same goes for if you’re doing it yourself). Make sure to give the makeup artist as much detail about the event as possible (the location, how formal it is), as well as your everyday makeup preferences. If they suggest something you’re not feeling, speak up. “Ultimately, it’s your big day. You want to look back at the photographs fondly, not full of rage,” says makeup artist Chrisanne Davis.

Nails

Ji Baek, founder of Rescue Beauty Lounge in New York City, suggests getting your manicure the day before your wedding, and our editors agree: “You are going to have a million things to do on the actual day, and you don’t want to be dealing with wet nails,” contributing editor Allure Alyssa Kolsky Hertzig says. “Just be extra careful that you don’t chip, so bring along a bottle of nail polish on the actual day for emergency touch-ups.” Choosing a pale pink or beige will also help since it will be much less noticeable if you do nick your nails—and you won’t regret it later, as you might if you went for a more trendy color.

Self-tanning

Wearing white can make pale skin look even more washed-out, but an orange faux tan can leave you Snookified. So if you’re going to use a self-tanner or get a spray tan, try it out several weeks before the big day. It takes time to figure out which faux tanning option works best for you.

For the bridesmaids

Word of advice, Kate: you may be in line to be Queen of England one day, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to dictate what your bridesmaids should look like at your wedding. “All of your bridesmaids looking the exact same is too much too ask, and not everyone is flattered by the same hairstyle or makeup shades,” Allure beauty director Amy Keller Laird says. “Plus you don’t want them to look like robotrons either.”

Source: Allure

When thinking of a wedding everyone thinks of the dress, the venue, and most of all flowers! Whether it’s your wedding ceremony or reception, in a church or on the beach flowers remain a number one priority of decorating and enhancing any wedding.

Source: dianamaweddings.com

Jennifer Schmidt of Embellish Floral Studio Shares Her Favorite Floral Trends

A few weeks ago, I had the distinct honor and pleasure to visit Jennifer Schmidt of Embellish Floral Studio for some coffee and cake in her home (in Keene, NH).

Jennifer’s talent and creative flair is quite remarkable!! With a background in art, she is a self taught floral designer and has worked under the apprenticeship of Tamara Rogers based in the Boston (MA) area.

Between laughing and mouthfuls of amazing coffee cake (the one from Panera Bread is seriously TDF!), Jennifer shared with me her top 4 favorite wedding trends in everything floral.

1. Think loose, flowing and organic. Our shaken economy has forced almost everyone to get back to basics. We all seem to be looking for ways to scale-back, opening our wallets only when we absolutely need to – for high-quality essentials. I think that this trend has spilled over into the wedding industry and can be seen notably in flowers. Look for looser, more haphazard arrangements as they would appear in nature. Why go to the trouble of taming roses into a tight ball, when they grow gorgeously on their own? With more and more weddings being planned in backyards or at private residences, looser arrangements charming, whimsical and very beautiful.

2. Bolder colors make a bigger impact. Jennifer mentioned to me that she was seeing a lot of requests for unusual, bright color combinations. I can’t help but love this trend! How can you not be wowed by turquoise or teal teamed with orange and red? Talk about making a statement!

3. Masses or groupings of centerpieces on long banquet-style tables. This look is adorable and so unpretentious. I absolutely love the look for any tented wedding. Think little bundles of lush arrangements on a long rectangle vs. a single massive one arrangement and tea lights in the middle of a circle. The look of long, rectangular tables is less fussy than their rounder counterparts. Plus, a family style meal invites more conversation and laughter when you’re passing food to one another!

4. Vintage and heirloom touches. What makes Embellish Floral so unique is Jennifer’s attention to detail. She told me that she actually scours flea markets almost every weekend for unique vases, urns and estate jewelry. She also encourages her clients to incorporate their own heirloom jewels in bridal bouquets. How cool is that? You can definitely do this too and come up with your own eclectic look from off-beat flea market finds.

Jennifer Schmidt is an absolute delight and highly talented. Embellish Floral Studio offers personal detail and flair to any home spun wedding.

For full article click here.