text: Take a look around, get to know me and my work, and feel free to reach out with any questions (or just to chat). Happy to get started on our next adventure together!
  Hey, I'm Amanda!
  My Own Wedding Experience
  I decided to document my own wedding experience. It took me an exceedingly long time figuring out that that’s something I should so, but here I am, now! After the wedding, I hope to follow up on this with another entry. Enjoy!
  I wish I had done one at the very beginning, but now I will just jump in and do one in the middle and one at the end. Here I will list the journey of planning my own wedding, the advantages I feel I have, and the things that have gotten me frustrated so far.
  Me photographing Bridget & Matt’s wedding last Aug. at the Ludlow Country Club in Ludlow, MA [Ludlow Country Club Wedding]
  I feel like my expectations with wedding planning and what actually happens is a bit different. I wouldn’t have thought that early on [which seems like a “duh” kind of statement], but it’s something that surprises me. While I’m not a wedding expert, I feel, being a photographer, I have the “inside scoop” that other people might not experience.
  First advantage of being a photographer planning a wedding:
  Photography is very important to me and I know I value it highly going in. I also know about a few people in my area, their prices, and whether or not I can afford them. Knowing what I want has always come fairly easy to me, so I’ve been able to quickly assess options and figure out what I want and need. I feel like that’s part of the battle now, is educating people on what they SHOULD be receiving from a wedding photographer [instead of just digital images]. Style matters to me and product outcome matters to me.
  More from Amanda & Matt’s wedding!
  Albums are something that I think are more important than people think. They’re something that you might not think you want now, but you will later on. Once you receive your wedding images, and you pay that much for a photographer, you will want to show them off. I know I have to have one.
  Some difficulties I’ve faced so far
  I have walked a line between letting people know that I’m a photographer. It’s hard to figure out when to let people know. Most people, I’ve found, still assume that they know more than you do, so I’ve found it doesn’t always help the situation. Or, they think you’re a hobbyist and still don’t think you know too much. Some people find it helpful, though, because they will assume you know how at least that aspect should run. I’m still not sure if it’s worth it or not.
  Communication
  As someone who strives to answer people as quickly as possible, I’m surprised with the lack of communication or slow communication that I’ve found. Customer service is lower than I would’ve expected, too. A lot of places wanted you to book that day or not waste their time.
  The good parts about planning a wedding
  Honestly, I’ve had a lot of fun. I think the biggest thing you have to do to not stress yourself out is to give yourself enough time. It seems stupid and basic, but I got engaged last March and am getting married this August. The centerpieces, place cards, invitations, and as much as possible will be DIY. I think people think I’m crazy for doing all of it, but I truly am loving it. I’ve been chipping away at it a little bit at a time and think it’s the perfect pace.
  One of the most important things I’ve learned so far is to find the right people for you. Every time I get nervous about things, I can be honest with my photographer [Brianna Verdolino Photography] or venue [Harding Allen Estate] and they’ve both been really helpful and accommodating of my concerns.
  Next post!
  For the next [my own wedding experience] post, I’m going to share with you guys some of our nerdiest details that I’m so excited about. My fiance and I are pretty into a lot of nerdy things and are making them the literal centerpiece of our wedding. Come back for more!