Going to a bridal show? 3 smart tips when shopping vendors

Bridal shows in Cincinnati come in all sizes. For larger shows such as Bridalrama and Wendy’s, here are 3 quick tips to make the most of your time spent (from a seasoned vendor’s point of view).

1. Go with a small group. Going with your mother, future mother-in-law, besties, or any combination thereof provides several advantages:

  • “two heads are better than one” rings true here. More people = more perspectives. Your best friend might think of an important question that you overlooked. Also there are many distractions, so effective listening can be a challenge. Someone in your group may have caught that important detail when you smelled those wonderful cake samples next door.
  • split up and do some “reconnaissance”. The above mentioned bridal shows feature more than 100 vendors, so while you are talking to vendor A, your mother and best friend can be combing other aisles, looking for the next vendors to talk to on your short list. This saves time.

2. Pay attention to the schedule. Many bridal shows feature a fashion show or two during the duration of the main event. This is a great opportunity to grab extra time and attention from vendors. This leads to more meaningful conversation, wherein you can develop rapport with that photographer, DJ, or photo booth provider (hint, hint). Also, I can tell you from years of experience, that shows slow down during the last 30 minutes. Again, this means less competition with the crowd for the time and attention of vendors.

3. Be ready to book. Many vendors offer bridal show only specials. If you have already done some internet research to narrow your field of candidates, the bridal show offers a great opportunity to meet them in person to identify a possible working relationship. All things being equal, we humans like to associate and do business with others we feel good about. If a match or two has been made, take advantage of the savings.

Speaking of vendors, we know a bunch of ’em. We can help you narrow your list of candidates and provide some solid referrals. Here are just a few of dozens I am happy to recommend:

DJ – McFadden Music, DJ Toad,

Photographer – Daniel Michael, Pottinger Photography


Say Cheese Photo Booth now a member of Better Business Bureau (BBB)

Say Cheese Photo Booth now a member of Better Business Bureau

Hello everyone who may want to rent a photo booth in the near future. We are happy to announce our recent accreditation with the Better Business Bureau. This simply means that we have been vetted as a trusted, ethical company to do business with. Since its founding in 2006, Say Cheese has long maintained a positive reputation among customers, event venues, and party planners and we strive to continue that tradition.

"OK Patrick, let's get past all the formalities... Flesh this out for me"

Here are the nuts and bolts kiddos:

  • When you call or email us, you can expect fast correspondence.
  • We are honest and upfront. No gimmicky, slimy marketing here.
  • We provide and maintain good looking, commercial grade quality photo booths that don't break down
  • Our photo booth attendants are not from Craig's List or "fill-in" folks. No one is outsourced. Every last one of them (except my nephew who just started) have AT LEAST 3 years experience under his or her belt working weddings and events of various types
  • Our customer reviews are plentiful and real, found among The Knot, Perfect Wedding Guide, MyWedding.com, and Wedding Wire.
  • We are local. Say Cheese is not a franchise or licensee.
  • Our family dog Lucky is President

All kidding aside, we really do want to treat you well. We all take pleasure in doing so.

If you think we're a good match, reach out to us by calling 513.256.3460 or click HERE to see all that we have to offer you.


Say Cheese Photo Booth and your Prom? YES!

Say Cheese Photo Booth and your Prom? YES!

Photo booths and proms go together like peanut butter and jelly! High school students love taking pictures and they want to be entertained. Prom and after prom budgets often vary depending upon school district and fundraising efforts. As a way to offset the cost of renting a photo booth, one strategy we suggest is to divide the number of tickets expected to sell by the cost of the photo booth. Here's an example: Let's say "Awesome High School" in Cincinnati builds a package for $550 and they expect to sell 230 tickets. The prom committee will simply build the photo booth cost into each ticket. In this scenario, exactly $2.39 (550 / 230) will be added to each ticket price, a nominal fee considering how much value the photo booth adds! This figure of course will fluctuate, depending upon how many tickets will be sold, but you get the idea!

So what would Awesome High School get for that $550 you ask?

  • 4 hour rental (choice of three photo booth styles)
  • unlimited photo sessions with duplicate prints
  • digital copy of all photos taken
  • props
  • school and/or event logo at the bottom of each photo strip

*Please note that a travel fee may apply if your school is located beyond a 25 mile radius of downtown Cincinnati

Call 513.256.3460 or click HERE to view all that Say Cheese offers, like photo strip magnets or having your school logo turned into a mosaic like this one below!

 


Say Cheese Photo Booth rental Cincinnati

Say Cheese 2016 Couples' Choice Awards Winner

Say Cheese Photo Booths Reviews

We won! The WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® 2016 recognizes the top 5% of local Wedding Professionals from the WeddingWire Network throughout the United States and abroad that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® are awarded solely based on the reviews from over 1.2 million newlyweds. Awards are determined by a combination of excellence in four factors: overall rating (quality), total number of reviews (quantity), review performance from 2015 (recency), and consistency of reviews from year to year (consistency).
What this means for you: You will receive the same quality of service that earned us this award.
To be more specific:
1) We respond to inquiries quickly.
2) We're flexible: Call, email, or text us at any time.
3) We're knowledgeable: We have successfully executed over 2,300 rentals. We have been in virtually every venue in Greater Cincinnati and can tell you where your booth will be placed and what works best to optimize your guests' experience. Plus, we have developed solid relationships with numerous vendors across different categories and know the owners by name, so we can put in a great referral for you.
We encourage you to read our reviews for ALL sources, including:
Happy Planning!
To Contact US, click HERE 

Reading bridal district and Say Cheese Photo Booth rental

A new place to try a Say Cheese Photo Booth

Reading Bridal District

We are excited to announce that Say Cheese is now part of the Reading Bridal District, North America's largest bridal district, with over 44 wedding related businesses! You will find one of our photo booth styles (Photo 2 Go) inside the Creative Invites and Events building. This not only is an excellent way to try one of our photo booths and experience firsthand their quality and speed, but also a great opportunity to meet vendors in virtually every category of wedding planning, including photographers, cakes, DJ's, limo, venues, makeup, and others. The team at Creative Invites and Events (CIE) is talented, thorough, and they truly strive to please you. Some benefits to working with CIE include:

  • booking your bridal gown appointments
  • free wedding planning sessions
  • receiving special offers from participating vendors
  • seeing the latest trends

Creative Invites and Events

Inside the showroom space at Creative Invites and Events
Inside the showroom space at Creative Invites and Events

 


Pottinger Photography

At Say Cheese, we are NOT photographers. In fact, I would sooner mistake “aperture” on a camera with a term I learned in anatomy class. Photography is an art and while there are many “photographers” out there, Brenda Pottinger has always struck me as a qualified, astute professional at her craft. She knows what she is doing, is thorough about her process, and as you’ll learn, she is adept at looking for and capturing the “we did it” kind of moments on your big day. Below is a Q&A with Brenda so you can get to know her as you shop your photography options.

*What is your background? *

What if you could stop time and hold it in your hand? I heard that I could
have super powers when I was a kid and so I knew photography was for me! I
started taking photos very young with an old girl scout camera. My father
taught me the rules of photography and composition and we used to go out on
the weekends on a photo adventure. From old cemeteries to Civil War
reenactments to dawn at the Downs (at Churchill Downs) we always had fun
practicing photography. In high school I took two newspaper classes and
learned how to develop photos in the darkroom. In college I fell in love
with art graphic design and decided to take my minor in photography and
upgrade it to a major in art. I also majored in Mass Communications.
throughout my life, photography has always been there. Even with graphic
design I would use my own photographs to create ad pieces and designs.

*When did you first realize you wanted to work with weddings?*

After photographing a few smaller weddings I was hooked. I loved that
wedding photography now was an art form. We could create something that our
brides would pass on and share with the friends and family and be proud to
hang on their walls.

*How long have you been in business? Where are you located?*

We have photographed weddings for more than 10 years! After focusing on
growing our business and building our client base I went full time about 8
years ago. We are located in the Northern Kentucky area and we travel all
over the country for weddings.

*Why did you start your business?*

We started our business because we love photography. Wedding photography is
a creative art form that means so much to so many people. I love when at
the end of the night the bride gives us a hug and says they couldn’t have
done it without us or that we are their favorite vendor. We try to make our
job look easy but there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. From
preparing a custom photo timeline to helping out on the day of the wedding
in any way that we can. We have been known to help bustle dresses, move
dinner tables to get the dancing going, find spoons and uncover dishes when
caterers leave early and to do everything we can to make our couples have a
wonderful wedding day. We love that our couples have invited us to capture
their celebration! And the best compliment is that they recommend us to
their friends and family. And when the time comes, we love photographing
their newborns and first family photos!

*What is your favorite part of a wedding? *

I have two favorite parts! One is when the music is playing and doors open
and the bride walks in. Even after more than 100 weddings I still get
choked up! It is an emotional moment and you can just feel the excitement
in the air. Another favorite is right after the ceremony. I love it when
the couple recesses down the aisle and has a minute to themselves It often
results in the second married kiss. It is such a beautiful moment because
they know nobody is watching and they are officially married. They have the
– we did this- smile!

*Where do you go for inspiration?*

My favorite place to look for inspiration is in fashion magazines (Vanity
Fair, Vogue etc.) and art museums. I love finding classic compositions that
work well in contemporary settings.

*What are your favorite upcoming trends?*

I love that brides are thinking about unique locations for their
celebrations. They aren’t afraid to try a new location and make it their
own! New locations and surroundings are inspiring. I love going to a new
place and scouting for the best photo locations. If it is a location that I
am not familiar with I often get to the location early to make a game plan
so we can move quickly during the day.

*Do you have any new favorite products?*

Our new bamboo prints are a great way to display beautiful photographs on
a renewable source. It looks amazing on outdoor photographs because the
grain of the bamboo shows through in the lighter areas of the photograph.

*Anything else you want to share with us?*

We are excited for our 2015 weddings and we can’t wait to capture
the moments of their story!


Pottinger Photography

At Say Cheese, we are NOT photographers. In fact, I would sooner mistake "aperture" on a camera with a term I learned in anatomy class. Photography is an art and while there are many "photographers" out there, Brenda Pottinger has always struck me as a qualified, astute professional at her craft. She knows what she is doing, is thorough about her process, and as you'll learn, she is adept at looking for and capturing the "we did it" kind of moments on your big day. Below is a Q&A with Brenda so you can get to know her as you shop your photography options.

*What is your background? *

What if you could stop time and hold it in your hand? I heard that I could
have super powers when I was a kid and so I knew photography was for me! I
started taking photos very young with an old girl scout camera. My father
taught me the rules of photography and composition and we used to go out on
the weekends on a photo adventure. From old cemeteries to Civil War
reenactments to dawn at the Downs (at Churchill Downs) we always had fun
practicing photography. In high school I took two newspaper classes and
learned how to develop photos in the darkroom. In college I fell in love
with art graphic design and decided to take my minor in photography and
upgrade it to a major in art. I also majored in Mass Communications.
throughout my life, photography has always been there. Even with graphic
design I would use my own photographs to create ad pieces and designs.

*When did you first realize you wanted to work with weddings?*

After photographing a few smaller weddings I was hooked. I loved that
wedding photography now was an art form. We could create something that our
brides would pass on and share with the friends and family and be proud to
hang on their walls.

*How long have you been in business? Where are you located?*

We have photographed weddings for more than 10 years! After focusing on
growing our business and building our client base I went full time about 8
years ago. We are located in the Northern Kentucky area and we travel all
over the country for weddings.

*Why did you start your business?*

We started our business because we love photography. Wedding photography is
a creative art form that means so much to so many people. I love when at
the end of the night the bride gives us a hug and says they couldn't have
done it without us or that we are their favorite vendor. We try to make our
job look easy but there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. From
preparing a custom photo timeline to helping out on the day of the wedding
in any way that we can. We have been known to help bustle dresses, move
dinner tables to get the dancing going, find spoons and uncover dishes when
caterers leave early and to do everything we can to make our couples have a
wonderful wedding day. We love that our couples have invited us to capture
their celebration! And the best compliment is that they recommend us to
their friends and family. And when the time comes, we love photographing
their newborns and first family photos!

*What is your favorite part of a wedding? *

I have two favorite parts! One is when the music is playing and doors open
and the bride walks in. Even after more than 100 weddings I still get
choked up! It is an emotional moment and you can just feel the excitement
in the air. Another favorite is right after the ceremony. I love it when
the couple recesses down the aisle and has a minute to themselves It often
results in the second married kiss. It is such a beautiful moment because
they know nobody is watching and they are officially married. They have the
- we did this- smile!

*Where do you go for inspiration?*

My favorite place to look for inspiration is in fashion magazines (Vanity
Fair, Vogue etc.) and art museums. I love finding classic compositions that
work well in contemporary settings.

*What are your favorite upcoming trends?*

I love that brides are thinking about unique locations for their
celebrations. They aren't afraid to try a new location and make it their
own! New locations and surroundings are inspiring. I love going to a new
place and scouting for the best photo locations. If it is a location that I
am not familiar with I often get to the location early to make a game plan
so we can move quickly during the day.

*Do you have any new favorite products?*

Our new bamboo prints are a great way to display beautiful photographs on
a renewable source. It looks amazing on outdoor photographs because the
grain of the bamboo shows through in the lighter areas of the photograph.

*Anything else you want to share with us?*

We are excited for our 2015 weddings and we can't wait to capture
the moments of their story!

Pottinger Photography


Make a Wish Foundation and Say Cheese Photo Booth rental Cincinnati

Cincinnati Reds and Make a Wish Foundation team up...

Make a Wish Foundation

Last night I had the repeat privilege of being a part of the annual local chapter fundraiser for Make a Wish Foundation. Their mission statement is simple: to "grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength & joy". Make a Wish does just that and the impacts are authentic and stirring.

Last night I saw the honorary wish kid Brock a.k.a "B-Rock" receive his own Louisville Slugger bat contract. LS will manufacture a custom bat, engraved with his Brock's signature (which he signed in front of a huge crowd last night) just like his big league counterparts. No, seriously, bat contracts are reserved for major league ball players, so Brock is in good company! Being a huge Red's fan, Brock received his wish last August to spend time on the field with the likes of Votto, Cueto, and his favorite player Brandon Phillips, who left a surprise message on the video screen in front of the whole Music Hall audience. Simply awesome! Our local chapter does fantastic, meaningful work that touches the lives of other children in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana as well. To learn more, visit oki.wish.org. Special thanks also to Funky's Catering for providing excellent food and service to the over 300 people in attendance. Well done (as always)!

 


Glow on your wedding day with this skin care!

One of my favorite aspects of participating in a bridal show includes the prospect of meeting new vendors and networking with them. Recently, I spent time with Amy Brewer and Elizabeth Duffy at last Sunday's "A Bridal Affair" show at the Carriage House in Mason (beautiful new venue by the way!)  They are two local consultants for Rodan+Fields, creators of the wildly successful ProActiv line of skin care that fights acne.

During some down time, we proceeded to talk about properly caring for our skin, or my lack thereof. Being a guy, I don't pay much attention to my skin other than using moisturizer when it's dry and applying sun block. Being fair skinned, let's just say the sun and I don't get along real well. I need SPF "mud" in the summer. This is when Amy displayed a before and after picture on her phone, showing how this product line can really transform red, blotchy skin into a glowing testimony of true effectiveness - literally. With my male defenses down (and hopefully no one looking), I decided to take several samples home after Amy allowed me to try a Retinol and Vitamin C cream that felt awesome on my dry and ruddy Irish hands, totally unlike the Aveeno I use at home.

I got to play around with some other nifty tools, including a "Macro dermabrasion Exfoliator" which which cleans 5 million dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. That's where the glow comes in. If you have every noticed how "smooth" your teeth feel after a professional cleaning, you can expect similar feeling with your skin after using this tool. The other tool I found fascinating is called the  "AMP Md".  To quote Amy, "This is a genius tool that rolls across the skin leaving microscopic needle holes in the skin causing the creation of collagen to form and fill in where the roller has been…thus filling in the fine lines of aging"

Basically, all products for Rodan+Fields fit into one of four categories:

1. Soothe regimen - addresses concerns for those with sensitive skin. Great for people who battle rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, and other skin irritations

2. Unblemish regimen - treats adult acne

3. Reverse regimen - works to reverse the damage caused by the sun…dulling, brown spots, discoloration of the skin

4. Redefine regimen - fights fine lines and wrinkles to make skin firmer and younger looking

Brides, it goes without saying that you want to look stunning on your wedding day. If I was impressed with this product line enough to write a blog entry about it, then take it from a "dude" and check it out.

You can contact Amy at 937.469.0178 or visit her web site: abrewer1.myrandf.com

rodan and fields


Photo booth rental cost - Have you thought of it this way?

The cost of renting a Say Cheese Photo Booth: Think of it this way...

The picture above describes why you WANT a photo booth. People will have fun, laugh, and create one of a kind memories. One problem, right? Price. "How much does it cost?" That's the first question we get asked and it's a natural one. Unless you go with our "drop off" option, Say Cheese will NOT be your cheapest photo booth; just your best choice in terms of quality and service.

With photo booths, you will get what you pay for. So with that in mind, let's do a little math: If your photo booth were to cost, say $795 and you have 150 guests at your wedding, the cost per person is only  $5.30!

What you're getting here is a 2 for 1: Entertainment AND a great party favor at an economical price that guests won't simply eat or throw away. Our magnets allow wedding guests to take their pictures home and put them on the fridge, where they will stay for years to come!

Did you know you we offer convenient, Interest free financing through Bill me Later? Click here to learn more!