The Wedding Day Guide
First, congratulations!
Your wedding day is the beginning of a beautiful new chapter, and I'm so excited to be part of it!
After more than 20 years of photographing weddings, I've gathered a few favorite tips and thoughtful suggestions to help you prepare for your celebration, make the most of your photography, and enjoy every moment along the way. I hope this little guide makes the planning process a bit easier and helps you feel even more excited for the day ahead.
Happily,
Olivia
Getting Ready
The morning of your wedding is such a fun part of the day to photograph!
There's so much happening, from hair and makeup to spending time with your closest friends and family.
Here are a few things I've found helpful over the years.
Your Space
If you have a choice of where to get ready, look for a room with plenty of natural light and enough space for everyone. Large windows are always a plus!
Clutter
Hotel rooms can fill up quickly with bags, clothes, coffee cups, and everyone's belongings. Try to keep one area relatively clear for photographs. It makes a big difference!
Details
If you'd like photographs of your invitations, rings, jewelry, shoes, perfume, or family heirlooms, gather everything in one spot before I arrive. That way, we're not searching for things while everyone is getting ready.
Extra Time
Hair and makeup can sometimes run behind, so I always recommend building in a little cushion. It's nice to have time to get dressed, take a few portraits, and enjoy the morning without feeling rushed.
Timeline
A well-planned timeline makes such a difference in how your wedding day feels! I always want you to have plenty of time for beautiful photographs, but just as importantly, time to enjoy your celebration.
Leave enough time for portraits. Between wedding party photos, family portraits, and photographs of the two of you, we'll want to make sure we're not squeezing everything into a few minutes. We'll go over all of this during our planning call so you know exactly what to expect.
Consider travel time. If you're getting ready, having your ceremony, and celebrating at different locations, remember to account for travel, parking, and getting everyone where they need to be.
Think about the light. The time of day can make a big difference in your photographs, especially for outdoor ceremonies and portraits. If possible, I love setting aside a few minutes during golden hour when the light is softer.
Make time to enjoy yourselves! You don't need to spend your entire cocktail hour taking photographs. With a little planning, we can often take care of many portraits earlier in the day so you can spend more time with your guests.
We'll work through the photography timeline together before your wedding, and I'll help you figure out what makes the most sense for your day.
First Looks & Photography Options
One of the biggest decisions when planning your photography timeline is whether or not you'd like to see each other before the ceremony.
I typically suggest three different approaches, depending on your preferences and how you'd like to spend your cocktail hour.
Option 1: First Look
You'll see each other privately before the ceremony, and we'll photograph the two of you, your wedding party, and your family portraits ahead of time. This allows you to enjoy your cocktail hour with your guests without having to step away for formal photographs.
Option 2: A Hybrid
If you'd prefer to save that first moment for the ceremony, we can still get a head start on photographs! I'll photograph one partner with their wedding party and family while my second photographer works with the other. After the ceremony, we'll bring everyone together for the remaining group portraits and photographs of the two of you.
Option 3: Traditional
If you'd rather wait until after the ceremony for all your formal photographs, we can absolutely do that too! We'll plan to photograph your families, wedding party, and the two of you during cocktail hour. This option generally requires more time, so we'll want to plan accordingly. There's no right or wrong choice. We'll talk through the options together and figure out what works best for your wedding day!
Family &
Wedding Party
Family and wedding party photos are such an important part of the day, and a little planning ahead makes everything go much more smoothly!
Keep your family list simple. In the wedding questionnaire you received with your contract and first invoice, there's a section for listing your family photo groupings. I recommend focusing on immediate family, grandparents, and any other combinations that are especially meaningful to you.
Let everyone know ahead of time. If someone is needed for family photos, make sure they know when and where to meet us. It's much easier than trying to track down Uncle Ned at the bar!
Share any family dynamics. Divorces, sensitive family relationships, young children, or anyone with mobility issues are all helpful for me to know about ahead of time. You can include these details in your questionnaire so I can plan accordingly and make the process as comfortable and easy as possible for everyone.
Wedding party photos should be fun! We'll capture the classic group portraits, but I also love photographing the laughter, personalities, and friendships that make your group special.
The Little
Details
Some of my favorite photographs are of the little things you've spent so much time choosing! Your invitations, rings, jewelry, flowers, shoes, and any special family heirlooms all help tell the story of your day.
If there are details you'd love photographed, try to have them gathered together before I arrive. And if there's something especially meaningful to you, please let me know! I always love hearing the stories behind those personal touches.
Enjoying Your Wedding Day
Your wedding day goes by so quickly! After photographing hundreds of weddings, one of the biggest pieces of advice I can give you is to really enjoy it.
Spend time with your guests, sneak away for a few minutes together, dance, laugh, and take it all in. Don't worry about looking at the camera or making every moment picture-perfect. Some of my favorite photographs happen when you're simply enjoying yourselves and have forgotten I'm even there.
You've put so much thought into this celebration. Now it's time to enjoy it!