There’s no doubt about it, today is a wonderful day to be engaged!  But with all the planning that goes into a wedding, it’s easy to lose track of what you’re celebrating!  A wedding is about more than just a great party – it’s a joining of two families and the start of your new lives together.  Why not take time this Valentine’s Day to reconnect?  Here are a few high impact, low cost ideas:

1. Cook dinner together.  The menu doesn’t have to be elaborate, fancy or expensive – the important thing is to spend time together!  Try fondue or lots of small courses to stretch out the meal (and the experience).
2. Instead of buying dozens of roses (which can eat into your wedding savings), buy a single stem and put it in a beautiful bud vase.  You still get all the beauty of fresh flowers without the high price tag.  For blooms that will last, buy a potted plant instead of a bouquet.
3. Make truffles instead of buying candy.  It’s much more special, and they aren’t difficult to make.
4. Or, skip flowers and candy and go for balloons instead.  They are bright and cheery, and a big bunch of helium balloons will cost you less than $10.
5. Trade back or shoulder rubs.  What a great way to relieve wedding planning stress!
6. Agree to unplug for the night.  Turn off the TV, the computers and shut off your cell phones.  Agree to nix any wedding planning talk!  You’ll enjoy the chance to catch up without any interruptions.
7. Make dinner (or lunch) in bed.  Why does breakfast get to have all the fun?
8. If you arrive home first, turn off all the lights in the house and light a few candles instead.  You’ve instantly set the mood for romance!
9. Surprise your sweetheart by doing some of the chores around the house that are usually their responsibility.
10. Celebrate Valentine’s Day on another day.  Who says you can’t have a wonderful Valentine’s Day the week/month after the actual date?  Especially when the 14^th falls on a weeknight, you might enjoy putting your celebration off to a more convenient (and relaxing) date.  Added bonus: flowers, candy and reservations are cheaper and more available on a day other than 2/14.
11. Go for a walk together.  If the weather cooperates, stargazing can be so romantic!
12. Think mix tapes have gone out of style?  Think again.  It’s time to update this tradition with a CD or custom iPod playlist.  Wedding bonus: you have a leg-up on this idea if you’ve already picked out your first dance song or wedding playlist!
13. Write a poem or love letter.  Already working on your handwritten vows?  Great – this is like a preview!  Who needs impersonal greeting cards when you’ve got a way with words!
14. Have a movie night in your living room.  Get popcorn, candy, soda or your favorite treat and cuddle under a blanket!  Cozy!
15. Plan a getaway together.  You don’t have to get on a plane to get away from it all.  Try a bed and breakfast off-season, a local hotel or a weeknight reservation.  You’ll be surprised at how recharged you can feel even if you only travel down the street!

This blog post is dedicated to my wonderful husband, Ron.  My life is so much better because you’re in it!  Happy Valentine’s Day, my love!

MSN recently featured a photographic gallery “Trash it or Treasure it?” about trash the dress or rock the frock photo sessions.  I’m so honored that one of my photographs was selected for the gallery!  Check it out at:

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2dfmMw/lifestyle.ca.msn.com/weddings/11-amazing-trash-the-dress-photos#image=1

Stay tuned to my blog in February, where I’ll reveal more details about how to plan your own trash the dress photo session!

Special thanks to Caroline K. for her adventurous spirit that made the paddleboard images possible!

I am proud to announce that Kristin Griffin Photography has been rated by local brides and voted The Knot Best of Weddings 2012 Pick.

“The Knot Best of Weddings 2012 provides a “by brides, for brides” guide to the top wedding professionals across the country, and is a must-have when it comes to selecting the best-of-the-best wedding resources. From New York florists and Seattle bridal salons to DC makeup artists, engaged couples will find detailed feedback on local wedding businesses reviewed by thousands of newlyweds who had great things to say.”

Thank you to all my wonderful 2011 couples!  I feel so fortunate that you picked me to capture your precious memories!

Raynham Center, MA – January 23, 2012 – WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Kristin Griffin Photography has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for Photography!

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Kristin Griffin Photography was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

Kristin Griffin Photography is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes  the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Kristin Griffin Photography for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that Kristin Griffin Photography is one of the very best Photographers within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able  to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.

To learn more about the Bride’s Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire™, the nation’s leading marketplace serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 reviewed wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers. WeddingWire also offers a comprehensive suite of online planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire is the only all-in-one marketing platform for businesses online and on-the-go. WeddingWire offers one simple solution to build a professional network, improve search visibility, manage social media and reach mobile consumers. Businesses that advertise with WeddingWire appear on WeddingWire.com, ProjectWedding.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Brides.com and Weddingbee.com.

Thank you to all my wonderful 2011 couples – I truly appreciate the opportunity to witness and record your wedding day!

Hi there,

Happy New Year!  I know you probably have resolutions for 2012 – one of mine is to post more often to my blog.  I plan to share a huge range of wedding resources, tips about how to take better pictures, previews from recent photo shoots and more in 2012!  Please visit often, and may the new year bring you peace, love and laughter!

Kristin