When it came to choosing a photographer, we knew the options were plenty. We had seen so many beautiful photos all over Instagram and Facebook. So we visited the Harsanik.com directory and started e-mailing photographers for quotes and requests for meetings. The roadblock we hit almost immediately was the costs. Most photographers offered packages, which included engagement photos, wedding day photos, videos, and all sorts of extras, which ultimately raised their prices. We saw prices that ranged between $6,000 and $13,000.

Had I written this blog three months ago, I would have said that choosing a dress was truly the hardest part, but now I can say it was the most exciting. Every girl dreams of putting on the big white dress and mine was no different. After looking all over for the perfect dress, I found a picture of an Essence of Australia ball gown to try on. I visited Panache Bridal in Pasadena and tried on the gown. It was pretty, but definitely not “the one”. How did I know? I looked at my mom and she didn’t have tears in her eyes.

Given that our wedding is during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, we felt it was necessary to send save-the-date cards. Initially, I thought I would send them in January for our May wedding but was quickly told by some close friends and family, and even some vendors that the sooner you send, the better, and ideally anywhere between 8-10 months before the wedding. I started shopping around for some ideas, and settled on using Shutterfly’s Wedding Divas services. They have an option, where you can choose several styles, colors, and layouts and they will send you a sample package. It was the most convenient and inexpensive way to go. Plus, it was an excuse for me to convince Serj to take some engagement photos.

The first question people often ask when they hear you are engaged is, “so when is the big day?” and realistically, the answer is “whenever I find a hall.” At first, Serj and I were very adamant that we wanted to shy away from the typical Armenian banquet hall. Realistically our dream was to get married at Hummingbirds Nest Ranch in Santa Susana. We reserved a date, a random Saturday, then were told that the location had been booked almost all summer for the filming of a show or movie. So we started our search for an outdoor location all over again and our dreams of an outdoor wedding were quickly crushed when we learned about the costs and restrictions associated with those types of locations. 

Photo by Metropol Banquet