Fruition Blog

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Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:17:53 +0100

Writing the perfect speech

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:21:35 +0100

Being asked to give a speech is daunting at the best of times, but even more nerve-wracking when the people you are speaking for are close friends and family. Writing your Best Man’s speech is probably one of the most gratifying and terrifying tasks you may ever have to perform, as you need to find a way of entertaining people as well as showing how much the groom means to you.

Many people struggle with writing the speech, as they are not sure where to start, and there are a number of rules to consider when pulling the words together. The following tips are designed to walk you through the speech writing process and create the perfect tribute to the groom, his new wife, and your relationship with both.

Keep it clean

You probably don’t need to be told this, but so many people deliver speeches at weddings which have the potential to offend or cause embarrassment that it needs to be stated again. Never include anything in your speech which would potentially upset anyone in the room. Weddings are events which bring people of all ages and backgrounds together to celebrate the new union, and you need to write your speech as if you were speaking to the mother-in-law at all times!

There is a fine line between humour and coarseness, and although it can be tempting to regale the audience with stories about how you and the groom got up to no good the last time you went out on an all-night drinking splurge, the finer details are much better left out of your speech.

Use humour

Most people sigh inwardly at the thought of sitting through an hour of speeches at any wedding,. And it’s likely that the one you are speaking at is no exception. Traditionally, UK weddings wait until the guests are happy, well-fed, a little bit tipsy and very sleepy to deliver the speeches, which means you have the most difficult audience imaginable to perform in front of.

Humour is a way of livening up your speech and making it interesting and engaging for your audience, increasing the chances of making a positive impact. Most people at weddings are predisposed to laugh as it is a lovely environment and people are already on your side, so slipping in a few jokes and funny anecdotes will keep your audience onside as you pay your tribute to the newly-married couple.

Thank the bridesmaids

One of your roles as Best Man is to acknowledge some of the people who have helped to make the wedding such a success. Traditionally, this will include the Bridesmaids. If the Bride is not intending to give a speech, then make sure you ask whether you need to factor a thank you in to your own to recognise the Bridesmaids for their role in creating the perfect day.

Consider getting outside help

If you are struggling to write the perfect speech, why not consider drafting in a professional to support you and pull it all together? There are a number of speech writing services out there which are both cheap and highly effective, removing all the pressure and leaving you free to enjoy the wedding.

www.stilusword.com

Getting over speech nerves

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:41:38 +0100

In human terms, a public speaking phobia is as natural as being afraid of spiders or snakes. Snakes can bite. Spiders can bite. Delivering a presentation to a room full of people can lead to loss of face, loss of business, or – worst case scenario – someone LAUGHING at you. There’s a phobia and a half!

The issue with public speaking is that it is rarely fun until you’ve mastered it, and the human brain tends to operate on a pessimistic basis. How many times have you heard that little voice in your head saying things like “They’ll hate me. They won’t understand. I’m going to freeze up. My legs will shake. I might stammer/lose my notes/cry/fluff my words/rush my words” etc? The list could go on.

Let’s face it, as cave men and women we were not called upon very often to sift through a PowerPoint presentation and comment upon it. We were too busy dealing with less threatening situations such as wrestling lions and struggling to stay alive. Our bodies, however, don’t distinguish between other, less important activities such as lion-wrestling, and the terror of PowerPoint. We make the same adrenaline for our public speaking now as we did when we hunted predators.

Think differently

These days, there are no rules when it comes to delivering your speech. Why not bring in props, or even consider doing a PowerPoint display with photographs and key memories, to walk the audience through the words? If you are not fond of public speaking, you don’t have to write the full speech. Instead, you can let your pictures do the hard work for you and you can relax knowing you have some great prompts to support your delivery.

Relax and enjoy the moment

Knowing that you have fully prepared for your presentation will offer you confidence on the day. If you still find it tough, try a small glass of wine to calm your nerves, or even a session of hypnotherapy before the big day. Another great resource for people who have to present on a regular basis is an online public speaking course.

It’s natural to get stressed before throwing yourself in to the limelight through public speaking, but there are some important things to learn:

It will never be as difficult as you are anticipating
People naturally empathise with people who speak in front of them, as we all understand how tough it can be
People don’t notice the small hesitations, the fact that your knees may be shaking or your fear
Remember – what is the worst that could happen? You hesitate. So? You shake a little. So? You have everything you need to get your audience on side.

With this in mind, get out there and conquer your presentation demons. Have faith in yourself!

Many thanks to the friends of Santa in Bingley

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:29:29 +0000

spreading christmas cheer with smiles ear to ear and joy year to year… okay, bit cheesy, but how can you resist when full swing in the christmas season.

Just wanted to thank all those who participated in Santa's visit to Bingley a little while back and share some of the photos of the staff involved. Even Jimmy Savile paid a visit to the venerable Father Christmas. Thanks again to those involved for putting on such a great event!

Fruition Finds Santa in Bingley Town Centre

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:28:02 +0000

oh the weather outside is frightful, and the snow is so delightful...

It was cold cold cold as we headed up to Bingley town centre. The first bit snow of the season had hit, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect for Santa's visit into this town. Fresh snow, blue skies, and excited children all around. Waiting -- anxious, nervous, scared, and cold -- for the big man to come.

We at fruition had a great time shooting photos of the children with Santa. Though some were shy and some wanted to cry, everybody there in great Christmas spirit. Let's hope all those children get their christmas wishes!

And don't forget that we're still running out Christmas special. It's the perfect gift for the season, and one that will bring great memories for years to come.

Finding the perfect Christmas gift for family and friends

Sat, 20 Nov 2010 09:25:31 +0000

We're on the Christmas countdown now, which means the usual annual flurry of panic when it comes to trying to source great gifts for people we care about. If, like us, you are the type of person who leaves your Christmas shopping until the last minute, you’ll understand that it can be tough to work out exactly what to buy people, and how to show them you care without resorting to the usual socks and wine strategy to see you through the festive period.

Luckily, there is a new product out there that will make the perfect present for people of any age, gender or personal taste – a Fruition gift certificate. Our fabulous voucher has been designed with harried shoppers in mind, as a way of giving someone a memorable and long-lasting gift which will bring pleasure for years to come.

An exceptional gift experience, at an unbelievable price

For only £25, the generous guys at Fruition are offering you a gift experience of a one-hour photo shoot, a preview and a 7X5 framed image to take away, which gives someone special the chance to capture a perfect moment that they can cherish forever. The experience usually retails with us for one hundred pounds, so you know that it’s well worth the money to give someone an unusual and unique gift this Christmas.

Photographs are the perfect way of taking special moments and capturing them on film, so that you can keep the memories of the day, or pass them on to someone close to you. We don’t just take pictures of people, either. If you know someone who has a much-loved pet, there are few better ways of raising a smile than offering them a gift voucher with us so that they can come along to the studio and spend some time capturing the perfect image. Whether you know a couple with a new baby, a family with children that would like a portrait, or even if you would like to pop along for some great shots for a portfolio or promotional event, we’ll be on hand to guide you through every step of the process.

Buying yourself some time to focus on what’s important this Christmas

The one thing which none of us have enough of these days is time, and our gift voucher experience gives you the chance to sort your Christmas list out quickly, leaving you more time and money to spend on important things like wine, chocolates and mince pies for the festive season!

This offer is only available for a limited period of time, so snap it up and show people you care, with this unusual, thoughtful and practical gift experience. Drop us an e-mail or give us a call to order your vouchers today.

New wedding images on the site

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:00:04 +0000

Another set of new wedding images up in our wedding gallery! Hope you enjoy!

And the weddings keep on coming!

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:36:45 +0000

And the good times keep on rolling. We've added even more images to that wedding gallery here. And guess what, we're not even done yet!! Still more to come in the near future.

More weddings more fun

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:07:53 +0000

As promised, here is the next installment in the update of our wedding's gallery! Enjoy the new images! Stay tuned a we roll out even more new images in the gallery over the next week.

Pick your wedding flowers carefully!

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:36:45 +0100

Today we have for you a very special guest blog post from our partners at Boquets of Saltaire.

Wedding photographs capture those special memories of your most important day so you want all the elements to be right. Most people will allocate a large part of their budget to the photographer and THE dress but your flowers are often an afterthought. Don’t forget they are also very prominent in your photos so scrimping on quality and style and opting for cheap flowers can ruin the whole look of your big day.

As with everything else, flower quality varies considerably. Would you consider a Reliant Robin to be equivalent to a Ferrari? Would you expect to pay the same for them? No, and the same applies to flowers. Flowers can be cheap, both in price and quality, not to mention the skill and time needed to produce the perfect bouquet.

Make sure your florist gets the freshest flowers possible. They may have been sitting around a wholesalers for several days when the florist goes to buy them so they are not fresh and can look limp and marked.
Check to see how your florist secures their bouquets. It is much quicker to use an oasis holder for shower bouquets but they are not the most secure and the flowers can fall out.
Be wary of florists that have a set price list as this sometimes means they have set designs and won't design pieces especially for your wedding.

So, when you are considering your budget, don’t forget good flowers will enhance your memories, bad flowers can ruin them.

At Bouquets, they buy all our flowers direct from Holland and they are delivered fresh to our door. For weddings the flowers are specifically ordered to ensure absolute quality is maintained. They wire all of their shower bouquets so they are very secure and they can get the best possible shape for the design you want. Finally, at Boquets they give you a quote based on what you want as every wedding has a different style and every bride is individual. Go and see them for your wedding flower needs to make sure your memories are the best kind.

www.bouquetsofsaltaire.co.uk
28 Bingley Rd, Saltaire, BD18 4RS
Tel 01274 594079

Wonderful Wiles Wedding

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:01:11 +0100

Here at Fruition we've got another wonderful set of images to share with you. This was an absolutely lovely wedding. Smiles all around, and something we were honored to be able to capture on film. Hope you enjoy looking at them as much as we loved shooting them :)

Below is just a sampling of some of the photos. You can view the entire online set HERE.

Tash from Bouquets of Saltaire

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:10:34 +0100

Some fun shots with flowers with Tash from Bouquets of Saltaire.

New images up in our wedding gallery

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:37:14 +0100

We've put up some new wedding photos in our wedding gallery for you all to enjoy. It's just a tiny sampling of some of the weddings shot over the past year, but there's more to come! Stay tuned all week as we roll out more to add to the wedding gallery!

Baby it's cold outside

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:20:02 +0100

okay, so maybe that picture is a bit of an exaggeration. It's not THAT cold outside, but it is pretty darn chilly. No snow on the ground yet, but my fragile california body is still having trouble coping with this frigid weather.

so to keep warm, I keep my jacket on and digits in fast-motion going through some of the fantastic weddings we've been shooting. Finding the keepers, prepping the images, and putting it all together for the couples to cherish the images from their very own special day. Nothing like seeing a smile to warm you up :) (awe ... would you like some wine with that cheese?)

It's been a busy office day. I've been editing some really great weddings today while Paul has been a monster going through some of the recent studio shoots. Like nice little automatons we sit at our desks, cranking out this great stuff ... enough messing around. time to get back to work.

Gomersal Park Wedding Fair

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 12:34:58 +0100

Fruition Photography is pleased to announce our presence at the Gomersal Park Wedding fair on Sunday October 17, 2010.

This Hotel is located in beautiful grounds that are tranquil yet close to all of the major road networks and is geographically at the very heart and centre of West Yorkshire. With a wonderful parkland setting the photographs are guaranteed to bring back the true joy of the day time after time.

The Gomersal Park Hotel is located at Moor Lane, Gomersal, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD19 4LJ. The event takes place on Sunday October 17, 2010, from 11:00 am to 3:30pm. Don't hesitate to call 01274 869386 for any information. Or as always, feel free to ring us directly at 01535 271718.

Chevin Lodge Wedding Fayre Sunday 31st October

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:17:37 +0100

Fruition Photography is proud to announce our attendance at the Chevin Country Park Hotel Wedding Fayre. As one of the leading wedding venues in Yorkshire set in stunning woodland, we're really looking forward to this one. Hope to see many of you bride-to-be's there at the event!

The Event is on Sunday October 31st, 2010 from 11am to 3:30pm. If you'd like any more information do not hesitate to contact Laura Spurgeon or Sue Bowers at 01943 467818 or email at events.chevin@crerarhotels.com. Or if you have a question for us specifically give us a ring at 01535 271718.

Ava Rose Hamilton Catwalk Show

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:26:07 +0100

Had a great time exhibiting and photographing the Ava Rose Hamilton Catwalk show on October 3rd. The dresses were gorgeous, the atmosphere was buzzing, and the models were rocking the catwalk. The Cavendish Pavilion was the perfect venue, providing the classic ambiance to accompany this fantastic show.

It was a pleasure to be exhibiting alongside Ava Rose Hamilton, Bouquets of Bingley & Saltaire, and the Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey, and it was simply lovely to meet all of you bride-to-be's. Plenty of great inquires, fantastic brides, and friendly faces.

In addition to displaying, we were also there to capture the show. We've put some of the photos up on flickr for people to see. Take a look at our photos, and let us know what you think!

Gearing up for Ava Rose Hamilton Catwalk Show!

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:30:02 +0100

We're gearing up for the Ava Rose Hamilton Exclusive catwalk show the show this sunday with much enthusiasm!! If you're in the wedding market, I hope you're heading out there as it promises to be a great time. Entry is free, but you need to contact Emma at Ava Rose Hamilton (01535 653331) in order to register your attendance. We're really looking forward to this one, so hopefully we'll see you there!

We'll be displaying along side Bouquets of Bingley & Saltaire and the Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey. This is a V.I.P event and entry is strictly by ticket only. But as menitoned, all you need to do is call in order to grab yourself a ticket. Below is a taste of what we're bringing to the show :)

Wildbride Wedding Fair

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 13:20:00 +0100

Should be a fantastic event, come and say hello to Jo who will show you our exciting new range of products

VIP Cat Walk

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:18:17 +0100

Fruition Photography is proud to be participating at the Ava Rose Hamilton exclusive bridal catwalk show at the beautiful Cavendish Pavillion. This is a V.I.P event and entry is strictly by ticket only.

Please call Emma at Ava Rose Hamilton for details and to register your interest in receiving a ticket. Show times are 5pm and 7:30pm and tickets are free!