Sonoma Valley Good Works

Sonoma Impact100, a local organization just formed in 2009 has membership of over 150 women  each promising to give $1,000 to form a $100,000 grant to be given to a Valley nonprofit each year. The remaining money raised goes to community grants.

 This year's recipient of the $100,000 grant is Teen Services. Teen Services runs the No Name Café at Sonoma Valley High School, where students train to become baristas and gain an understanding of the food service industry, from making drinks to handling cash. The kids working at the cafe also learn about customer service and good people skills. 

 As a Sonoma photographer and also a member of SonomaImpact100, I have been doing some of the photography for the presentations that the Teen Services will provide to the community.

Sonoma's Red and White Ball August 20th

The proceeds for the Red and White Ball held in the Sonoma Plaza on August 20th went to the Sonoma Education Fund. This fund's  purpose is to help 4600 students in the valley schools find success and inspiration in school so they graduate well prepared for both college ad a career.  The fund support the schools by funding excellent programs aimed at raising students achievement and creating a generation of students who love to learn.

SVEF was founded in 1993 by a group of concerned parents and community leaders. Since that time SVEF has invested over $3.6 million dollars into the school. The organization currently funds programs in Science, Art, School Gardens and Teacher Support.

Sonoma Valley Weddings: Watch out! Here comes the photo brigade!

As a wedding photographer in Sonoma, I have noticed an ever increasing photo brigade that follows me around when I am setting up for shots of the bridal party and the wedding ceremony. This “photo brigade” consists of well-meaning guests with all levels of photography equipment ranging from cell phones to high-end cameras.

Professional photographers have an unspoken code of etiquette that we never interfere with another photographer's shot. But wedding guests...that is another story.

What to do? The issue is this: when there are multiple photographers shooting the same group of people at the same time, it is impossible for the professional photographer to create an image where everyone in the shot is looking in the same direction towards the camera. That direct eye contact from those in the picture can make or break a shot.

Encouraging the photo brigade to shoot first, I tell them to “Just go at it and have a good time!” Then I insist that everyone has to step aside and let me do my work. Everyone enjoys themselves (which is the whole point of a wedding) and......... I get my shots.

Sonoma Valley Weddings: Adding Flair to your Special Day

There is a great article by Bethany Kandel in the New York Times July 17, 2011 Sunday edition about surprise beginnings and endings at wedding events.

“Couples with theatrical streaks are making sure that their wedding receptions have big opening numbers or dramatic closers. An arrival by helicopter fueled one couple's big moments: other newlyweds made an impression by departing on a Jet Ski and and in an ice cream truck.”

“Brides and bridegrooms are 'reinventing the tradition of a grand entrance or exit', said Millie Maritini Bratten, the editor in chief of Brides magazine. 'While some may go for a stretch limousine', she said, 'others seek a mode of transportation that might fit the couple, like teachers who arrive on a school bus.'

Sonoma Wine Country Wedding: What are you willing to spend?

To quote from the Weddings Edition from REAL SIMPLE, “there's a reason traditional wedding vows include the phrase”for richer or poorer”...couples doesn't always see eye to eye on finances. If you're thinking of blowing your nest egg on your wedding, but your groom wants to use his savings for a down payment on a home, you'll need to compromise. Use these guidelines.

• Sit down together, then each write your own wish list of every single thing you would like to include in the wedding.

• Next, implement the three-strikes rule. In this highly scientific process, you get to strike three of his ideas without giving a reason; he gets to do the same with three of yours. For the rest, you must negotiate until you agree. With only three “Because I said so” rejections, you will use them wisely.

• Keep in mind that your ball park estimate will probably be a lot less than what you end up spending (unforeseen expenses add up). In 2010 the average cost of a wedding was about $22,000, according to the “The Wedding Report”. But the Bridal Association of America says that most couples shell out 10 to 12 % more than originally planned.”

So as a Sonoma wedding photographer, my advice to you is to follow the lesson learned from above:

“Set the budget 10 to 15% below what you really want to spend.”

Next blog: How are you paying for all of this?

Sonoma Wine Country Wedding: How are you paying for it?

If you have read my blog, you will see that I am a big fan of the Wedding Edition of REAL SIMPLE. It addresses issues that no one wants to face like budgeting for your wedding. As a Sonoma Wedding photographer, I find many of my bride clients struggle with these issues.

My last two blogs discuss who is paying and what are you willing to spend? Now the big question: “How are you paying for this wedding? Here is some worthy advice from the Wedding Edition.

“Haven't squirreled away $20,000 for you wedding? Start saving now so you won't be scratching together money for years to pay your debts. It's a good idea to start a separate joint bank account for your wedding fund.

More tips...

• “Open a savings account with an online bank that pays high interest rates like ING Direct (ingdirect.com). Because these banks don't have high overhead, they let you automatically transfer money out of your checking account with no fees. Ideally, arrange to have 10 to 20% of each paycheck deposited into this account, beginning at least a year before your wedding date.

• Set up a bank certificate of deposit (CD). With a CD, you can put away a large amount of money and it will earn interest at a fixed rate for a pre-determined amount of time - 6 or 12 months, for example. When the term is up, you can withdraw your money and use it to pay your vendors.

• Avoid withdrawing from a traditional retirement account (an IRA) or a 401 (K) (you may be taxed and subject to withdrawal penalties) or taking out a bank loan, which will only increase your debt. If you must use a credit card to pay vendors, have a plan in place to pay the bill off quickly.”