Wedding Advice
Here is a few helpful tips and ideas
I have gathered over my 8+ years of experience, through trial & error, to help you plan the smoothest and most stress-free wedding day as possible.
Your wedding day timeline matters
Timelines are vital to ensure a smooth and stress-free wedding day! As the photographer, it's important to create your timeline around the ceremony, sunset and to have enough cushion time for any hiccups that may occur during your wedding day. I do my best to ensure that my couples have a timeline that reflects all of their priorities, as well as extra time to soak in the special moments of their day. I would rather have extra time on a wedding day for the bride (and groom) to relax and spend time with those they love, rather than rushing to catch up before the moment of the ceremony to get formals done. It’s always better to have more time than not enough!
Plan more than enough time for hair and make-up
This tends to take longer than you think, practice beforehand! Time after time, I have shot weddings that were rushed and ran late because of hair and makeup mishaps! When you or your bridesmaids are late getting ready it changes the timeline for the entire day. Sometimes things have to be cut out because there isn’t enough time. Take the estimated time your hair/makeup artists gives you and then add at least a half hour (or more) to it. It’s better to be ready too early than to be too late. It will also help save time if you’ve already had a trial run with your hair/makeup artists and they know what you want. We don’t need any hair or makeup disasters on your big day!
Communicate your desires to the wedding photographer before the wedding day
It’s important to let your photographer know what special people/things you must have photographed as well as any insecurities you may have about your formals being taken. Photographers are not mind readers and we want you to be in love with your images from your wedding day. We ask that you share your desires and concerns with us prior to your wedding day so that we can come up with a game plan for you!
Don't forget to eat
Take time to drink water, eat lunch, and make sure you are ready for the day ahead! Many brides and grooms choose to have snacks on hand and for lunch to be available to their bridal parties throughout the day. Even if you're too excited/nervous/jittery, it's important to eat and drink throughout the day to keep up your strength.
Designate a “go-to” person for questions on the day of the wedding if you don’t have a wedding planner/coordinator
Choose your maid of honor or someone other than mother of bride or mother of groom that knows all the details about your wedding day. Delegate as many tasks as possible on your big day so that you can sit back and relax! Let me know ahead of time who this person is, so that if I or my second shooter have any questions, we don't have to bother you (or the moms)!
Make sure at least TWO people know how to bustle your dress - the more the merrier
I’ve found that bustling a dress on wedding days can take several minutes to do. It’s much easier when more than one person knows how to do it. Have those people practice bustling your dress a few times so they know how to do it.
During bridal party/bride & groom formals
It’s best to minimize the amount of locations you use on the day of the wedding. It takes time to walk/drive from one location to the next, so keep that in mind as you're planning your wedding day timeline. It’s better to schedule more time than you think you need for formals & traveling from locations rather not having enough time and being rushed.
Accessories
Remind your groom, groomsmen and male family members to take their phones, keys and wallets out of their pockets, as well as their sunglasses, prior to wedding formals and leave them with someone. Items in pockets don't look flattering in photos. Also, I've see too many weddings where groomsmen have to leave these items laying on the ground where they could get stepped on during formals. To make it easier and safer for everyone, please remind them of this prior to the wedding day.
Make a list and inform each person when to be ready for formals prior to wedding day
Family formals after the ceremony are so important. For this reason, I have two pieces of advice for you: First, make sure you give me a list of family members' names at least a week before your wedding. The list should have first names, at least, of all the people you want in the formals. I will need to call out their names to ensure they are in the correct formals (for duplicate names - please include a last name. Second, inform them that you need them to remain at the ceremony site for family formals. Asking your officiant to make an announcement to remind them is very helpful. Sometimes family members forget or don’t realize they need to stay. It takes time to gather lost family members.
A first look is a greeeeat way to spend more time with your honey on your wedding day
I saved this subject for last because I know it’s a little controversial and isn’t for everyone. This decision is totally up to you as the bride and groom. Pros and Cons: First look vs Traditional.
In my experience, I’ve found that first looks are such an intimate, special time for just the two of you. You can hug, cry, kiss, share private vows, or just laugh together and talk about the day. Most couples spend more time apart on their wedding day than they would like to. Sharing a first look together allows couples more private time together before their ceremony (where all eyes are on them). Doing a first look prior to the ceremony also allows us to go ahead and take full bridal party formals before the ceremony. This means that after your ceremony is over, your bridal party can head on into the reception (instead of waiting) while you take your family formals and first formals as husband and wife. Doing a first look allows you to arrive to your own reception sooner as well! Many couples say that they don't want to do a first look because they are afraid it will take away from that special moment walking down the aisle. With all the couples I’ve seen do a first look, I haven’t talked to one that said it ruined their “walking down aisle moment” or that they regretted it. Talk to your friends and family who might have done a first look about their experiences to see if a first look is right for you or not. One last bit of advice… Breathe, relax, and stay focused on each other. You’re just beginning the rest of your lives together. Celebrating your love and commitment is what matters most, So do what is right for the TWO OF YOU; don't listen to what everyone else wants. Customize your wedding to your love story and what the two of you want; then you can sit back and admire all of the hard work that you (and your loving family & friends) have put into your special day. Soak it all in, because… The best is yet to come!