Hello, Happy Couples!

Every bride and groom that I have worked with will tell you, hands down, a wedding cannot happen without the assistance, and expertise, from their wedding pros.

Anyone who has searched everything from WeddingWire to The Knot or scrolled through the infamous “In Search Of” threads on Facebook bridal groups will tell you, its hard to know where to start.

Who are the best vendors to work with? Who will be the best fit for our wedding?

Well, never fear, or stress, Peter is here! For this next series of posts, I asked 12 vendors 12 questions to help couples get better acquainted with them and what they do. Each week, starting today, I will highlight three of The Bryan Museum’s favorite vendors and allow them to tell their stories. The questions are always the same but the answers may surprise you.

For this week, I interview three Galvestonians: a photographer, a florist, and a BOI caterer.

2) How long have you been in business?

I photographed my first Wedding in 2012.  But I’ve tinkered with film photography and developing most of my life. I also studied photography in college.  

 

3) How did you find your profession?

Wedding Photography actually found me! I was living in Hawai’i and just started grad school and I was fresh out of the military and getting reacquainted with civilian life.

I had saved a little bit of money to buy a really nice camera and wanted to take pictures of birds and waterfalls, etc. The day I bought my first professional camera my friend called, and he invited me that Friday to assist in photographing a wedding! That was it! I was hooked!

 I shot every wedding from that day on with him for the next three years. You can say that I was a wedding photographer out of the gate. He taught me everything about the business of wedding photography from scheduling the day, shooting techniques and poses, to writing contracts and consults with brides. He’s my best friend and the best wedding photographer in Hawai’i. Needless to say, I never photographed birds or waterfalls. 

 

4) What do you love most about your job and what is the most challenging aspect of it?

I think that it’s cliché to say that when you do what you love, it’s not considered work. But, it’s so true!  I absolutely love photography, especially Wedding Photography.

 I love the entire process from start to finish and feel that what I do is extremely important. I have a great responsibility. I capture moments to creatively tell a story of a couple’s most special day. 

Relationships are built during the long process from the initial consultation with bride and groom to planning and envisioning the engagement shoot, bridal shoot, to writing timelines for the wedding, and then to the big day itself. We are talking on average of a year of planning and working together before the wedding. When it’s all said and done, we become friends!

My favorite aspect of my job are the relationships that I create during the long journey to photograph a couple’s wedding. It’s the Christmas cards and phone calls that I receive years after, or the baby announcements that I get in the mail.

For example, when one of my couples, Maggie and Jim, were planning their wedding, they were both in medical school eating Ramen noodles and barely saw one another. Now, four years later, they are both doctors and have two children.  I photograph their growing family every year. It’s a wonderful honor to document people’s lives in such a way. The most challenging aspect I think would have to do social media. (lol) I’m not very good at that and I’m still learning….and struggling. 

 

5) What are some of the most memorable weddings or events you have done?

That is a tough question. I have photographed hundreds of weddings and there have been so many that have been memorable. I’d say it’s a toss-up between two weddings. 

I did a wedding in Pittsburg two years ago that was memorable due to the relationship that was created between me and the couple. They hired me for a beach engagement session in Galveston and then moved heaven and earth to get me to Pittsburg for their wedding.

Weddings in Hawai’i are all mostly special too due to the culture there. The culture is very family orientated and close. One particular family of the bride used to invite me over for dinner and family gatherings long after the wedding. The mother, Auntie Bev used to cook for me and would send me home with home cooked leftovers. All of our meetings about wedding related stuff would be at her house to talk in person over food and fellowship. Every time I’m in town, I stop in for a visit to talk.  

 

6) What is a hot trend right now and what do you project for 2021?

Details!

Themes, colors, invitations, etc., and how those are arranged and photographed to display the overall look of the wedding are what all planners, magazines, and online sources are after right now. It’s constantly changing and honestly, may be influenced differently geographically. What’s hot in Cali may differ for what’s hot in Texas, and vice versa.

I’m projecting that venues will start grabbing the creative reins and have more control on the overall look/theme of the wedding in the future.

The Bryan Museum is a great example of how a venue can emphasize the look and style of a wedding with its many options, seasonal gardens, and flexibility. You know that I have photographed many, many, weddings at The Bryan Museum, and can say that each wedding has a different look and unique style from the last. It’s the reason why the Bryan is one of my favorite venues to photograph weddings. The possibilities there are endless.

7) How have weddings changed in the last 10 years?

The “first look” has become very popular in the last 10 years or so. I remember when it was a trend to photoshop a tyrannosaurus running after the bridal party. I never really got into the dinosaur thing and I think that trend was quick to become extinct. However, I am a big fan of the first look, or father-daughter first look. It’s not for everyone but definitely something to consider, especially when timelines are tight, or if you want to add a little more depth to the look and feel of the wedding story. 

 

8) What is something all weddings, or couples, have in common?

Mothers of the brides!!!

Moms are all so unique, but all have something to offer when it comes to daughter’s getting married. 

 

9) Do you participate in Bridal Shows? If so, are they helpful?

Yes, I am a big fan of Bridal Shows. One of my strongest assets are communication and discussing weddings with couples. I love speaking to potential clients to explain and answer questions in person and Bridal Shows offer just this.

The number one secret to choosing a wedding photographer is personality. Find a wedding photographer that you feel comfortable with and that you enjoy their personality. You need to trust your photographer and feel comfortable with them. It’s the number one secret to getting great photos. I especially enjoy talking to mom and daughter pairs and learning about their wedding plans. It’s a two-way street. Bridal shows are an excellent way to build relationships and rapport with potential future clients in order to get a feel for how each party will work with one another.     

 

10). What sets you apart from the pack?

I think that my work ethic is my strongest asset. I am an experienced photographer and I have the best camera equipment available, but what separates me is perhaps how hard I work. I’m bold and not afraid to get the shot. This is especially important when I’m standing in front of hundreds of people before the procession with all eyes-on-me. I don’t allow pressure to distract me. I strive to do each wedding better than the last. I’m constantly trying to push the envelope and be creative.

I like to bring the couple to the table to offer their vision of how they see their wedding photographed and conceptualize together and come up with a plan and overall goal. This can be explained by the story as if viewed chronologically via a storyboard or wedding album per se. I want the theme, the look and style, all the colors to flow from start to finish to incorporate the feelings and emotions of the couple and their families to be revealed throughout their wedding story.  

 

11) What is the Galveston wedding scene like?

Galveston is a wonderful place for weddings. I’m into photographing weddings in Hawai’i and abroad and when doing so, an element of being a “destination” wedding becomes attached to weddings far away from home. Galveston offers that “destination wedding” element. It is also very historic and has an aesthetic unlike other run of the mill wedding venues.

 The Bryan Museum for example offers over a 100 years of history that’s infused in its beautiful gardens, trees, walkways, and architecture. Finally, the vendors in Galveston, be it the florist, cake company, venue, caterer, or photographer, all have a special relationship with one another is incomparable anywhere else.

 If you have a wedding in Galveston and hire local vendors, your wedding will be spectacular and cared for in a way that only a tight niched group can offer. It’s like family working together to put on the best wedding possible.   

 

12) What is the first piece of advice you would give a newly engaged couple?

Hire your venue first, caterer second, then photographer all at least a year out. If you are getting married sooner, then that’s okay, but focus on those three first.

Limit your emails to your photographer. If you like their work, then get them on the phone as soon as possible. Talk to them, ask them questions, get a feel for their personality, style, and work ethic. If they pass this test, then meet them in person for coffee or dinner and elaborate more.

The objective is to build a relationship and trust. You want to feel comfortable with your photographer and trust him or her.  You just can’t do this through emails.

I’m old school and my goal is to get couples on the phone or to meet me in person. You can learn a lot about a photographer who tends to shy away from in-person meetings or who seems to be always unavailable to meet or talk on the phone. A photographer who is anxious to go the extra mile, to put in the effort to face time, or meet you in person, is a photographer you know will be dependable on your most important day.  

3) How did you find your profession?

I have a background in Graphic Art and had a successful career for many years in Houston. My transition to floral design was very easy, I just had to learn the language!

 

4) What do you love most about your job and what is the most challenging aspect of it?

My favorite part of my job is meeting couples and working with them to create the wedding of their dreams. The challenge sometimes is matching their dreams with their budget, but we always work it out.

 

5) What are some of the most memorable weddings or events you have done?

A favorite wedding [of mine] was one I did for my niece and her groom. The venue was a 1930’s vintage luxury lodge at the foot of Mt. Rainer.  The location was breathtaking!

I also love our beautiful island venues especially The Bryan Museum. One of my bride’s grandmother happily grew up in the children’s orphanage (the original use of the museum).

 

6) What is a hot trend right now and what do you project for 2021?

A popular trend now for weddings is to create the ambiance of an upscale night club. A mix of different sized tables, gorgeous linens, luxurious floral in different sizes, and upholstered seating [for] conversation areas.

7) How have weddings changed in the last 10 years?

Many traditional customs have been relaxed or even discarded such as a garter toss, receiving line, matching bridesmaid dresses, and ushered seating at ceremonies. The exceptions are mothers and grandmothers. Couples are making their weddings more uniquely their own.

 

8) What is something all weddings, or couples, have in common?

All weddings have one thing in common, the guest list!  Who to invite, who gets scratched, and who RSVP’s!  It becomes a major issue 30 days prior to the wedding! Food costs, liquor costs, and decor costs all depend on the number of RSVP’s!

 

9) Do you participate in Bridal Shows? If so, are they helpful?

The only bridal show I participate in is The Bryan Museum Bridal Show and my own bridal show [for] The Galveston Bridal Group. I book my best brides and produce the best wedding florals from these shows.

 

10). What sets you apart from the pack?

What sets me apart from other florists is my art background. I understand balance, space, tension, color, etc.  plus, I can visualize room decor and fitting a design into a space. I love to create original floral art to fit the wedding design.

 

11) What is the Galveston wedding scene like?

Galveston has become a favorite wedding destination for couples around Texas and beyond. We have treasured churches, beautiful historical venues from lovingly restored original architecture, to island flare with Victorian backdrops!

We have the most gorgeous sunsets and beaches. Something for everyone!

 

12) What is the first piece of advice you would give a newly engaged couple?

The first thing to choose after you choose each other is the venue! This important first decision paints the picture for all your other vendors; the base for your perfect wedding!

 

2) How long have you been in business?

We opened in 2005 and we employ a chef, cooks, dishwashers, servers, bus boys, bartenders, and captains. My mother, Judy, and I manage the couples, the consultations, tastings, etc. and we are present at each event.

 

3) How did you find your profession?

My mom started a bakery here on Galveston Island in 2005 and after it opened she started catering small UTMB Events. I have been in the restaurant and bar industry part time my entire life. I was an account executive in Houston and my mom asked me to quit my job and move back to Galveston to help with Chopin Mon Ami as it was quickly growing. So, that’s what I did and 16 years later- here we are!

 

4) What do you love most about your job and what is the most challenging aspect of it?

What I love most about my job is after the wedding is over and when my couples, their family, and guests come up to me and tell me that people are still talking about how great the food was.

I also love when couples tell me that my team went above and beyond their expectations and my staff was excellent. I am only as good as the people that I surround myself with. I learned this at an early age.

What is most challenging about catering weddings is educating couples about planning the wedding meal. Most couples have no idea about details and costs of wedding catering. So, 99% of my job is educating brides about my industry.

 

5) What are some of the most memorable weddings or events you have done?

The most memorable wedding I have catered [was] a large wedding of guests from India. We used their own recipes, and everything turned out beyond their expectations. We got great reviews from everyone that attended. Also, the very first wedding at The Bryan Museum. It will always be memorable to us. 

The most memorable events [have] to The Bryan Museum’s annual Gala. The Gala is a black-tie event that we have had the opportunity to cater several times and it is always quite a challenge. In order to cater a black-tie event with 360 guests that is sprawled out over the Bryan Museum property is not easy. But, we do it, and it is the most memorable.

 

6) What is a hot trend right now and what do you project for 2021?

In the catering industry, the hottest trend is family style dining. In order to be able to do family style dining at a wedding, the caterer must have the precise catering equipment for each table. Double walled bowls and platters to keep the food either hot or cold. We invested in these items several years ago and it enables us to cater family style dining beautifully.

My projection for 2021 is smaller, higher end weddings. I see couples inviting less guests and dialing up quality.

 

7) How have weddings changed in the last 10 years?

 Well, couples and trends change all the time. Linens and colors are always changing. For instance, for a while we frequently used chair covers. I haven’t seen any chair cover in years. Couples want an elegant and clean look today. 

Food is always changing. Today it’s multiple, smaller amounts of aesthetically pleasing foods. Couples are also not afraid to mix and match foods now. Couples like to fuse themes as well.

So, we always try to create what the bride envisions. We will go outside of our menu all the time to create what couples specifically want.

 

8) What is something all weddings, or couples, have in common?

Someone is getting married! (LOL) Commonalities are budget, service and quality. Each couple has a budget and they want the best bang for their buck. This is what we work on all the time. What we wish couples would do early on is share [their] budget with us. We want to give you the best wedding experience that we can for your price range.

Each wedding is a marketing tool for us. When your guests walk away from your wedding saying, “that caterer did a great job,” that is how we gain our best business. We have couples coming to us all the time telling us that they attended one of our weddings and they want the same service, budget and quality that their friends had with the wedding we did for them.

 

9) Do you participate in Bridal Shows? If so, are they helpful?

Well, Peter, we only attend The Bryan Museum bridal show. We used to attend the other shows, but The Bryan bridal show is the most fun and I believe the highest quality Bridal Show in Galveston.

 

10). What sets you apart from the pack?

After winning “Best of Weddings” 9 years is a row for “The Knot” we are doing something right. What sets us apart from the pack is we really care about the couple’s experience from start to finish. We care about the quality of food, the quality of service and hitting the couple’s budget. After it is all over, we want the couple saying, “we really enjoyed working with Chopin and our guests had a great time.”

 

11) What is the Galveston wedding scene like?

Oh, Gosh! We are the largest wedding destination location in Texas! Many couples do not realize this fact. We have it ALL for a couple’s weddings. Many venues to choose from, hotels, excellent wedding vendors that work together as a team, The Strand for fun, historical events and of course the beach. The support that couples receive in Galveston is not surpassed.

 

12) What is the first piece of advice you would give a newly engaged couple?

Choose your venue! Once you have chosen your venue, choose a caterer. Don’t try to just get pricing from a caterer over the phone or via the internet, go visit them and spend time with them to get your proposal correct. A lot of couples never want to spend the time to pick the caterer’s brain. Then they end up changing everything at the last minute and it can be costly. Spend quality time with your caterer in the beginning. Go in and have a consultation with them. The time you spend with the caterer in the beginning will pay off in the end.

So, what’s our big take away from this week? Pick your venue! Once you have a time and place you narrow down your search and put together the BEST group of vendors for you big day!

I want to thank Ryan, Connie, and Todd for taking a moment during these crazy times to join me for this first 12 X 12. I highly suggest checking them out below!

Until next time,

Keep calm & plan on!

Peter Ochoa
Director of Events

Ryan Jones-Ryan R Jones Photography

http://www.ryanrjonesphotography.com/

Connie Dryden-Island Flowers

https://www.facebook.com/Island-Flowers

Todd Schott-Chopin Mon Ami Catering

https://www.cmacatering.com/