Hello Bride-to-be and Welcome!
This is such an exciting time for you! I’m sure your mind is racing with all that needs to be planned. It’s all very exciting, but it can also be somewhat overwhelming. You’re planning the day that you’ve been anticipating your whole life, and yet you only get one shot at it! By the time you get the hang of it, the planning is over!
My goal as a wedding photographer is to make this one aspect of the planning process simple. Photography is more than just images; it’s a real part of your day. Not only do you deserve beautiful images, you also deserve an amazing photographic experience.
The goal of this guide is to help you plan your wedding day in a way that will allow me to provide you with the BEST experience possible. Even if you're working with a wedding planner or you're planning a simple wedding, there are likely still a lot of moving pieces left leading up to your big day.
After booking, the next step is to plan your engagement session and then start chatting about wedding day details as we get closer to your date! We are beyond excited to be working with you and cannot wait to get to know you two better and hear more of your love story during your engagement session.
ENGAGEMENT SESSION
We’re big fans of engagement sessions for a few reasons. First, they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera. It takes time for most couples to warm up to being photographed and understand how we pose.
Timelines can be pretty tight on wedding days and 30 minutes might be all we have for portraits - which is why we’ve found that wedding day portraits turn out so much better when couples do engagement sessions ahead of time.
Second, you can showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you (and even include pets!). While they’re great for save-the-dates, we’ve taken engagement photos anywhere from 18 months in advance to a few days before the wedding.
A NOTE TO THE GUYS
We get it. Having your picture taken for 1-2 hours might not be in your top-10 favorite things to do during your downtime. At first you might feel sort of awkward being in front of the camera, but I think it will feel a lot easier by the end of the session, and you'd even have some fun together. I look forward to it because it’s a great opportunity for us all to hang out a bit before the wedding day.
IS THERE A "GOOD" TIME TO TAKE PHOTOS?
Engagement sessions can take place anywhere from immediately following a proposal to just a few days before the wedding. We’ve found that there isn’t a “good” or “bad” time to take your photos. We normally plan sessions based on a particular “look” a couple has in mind, spring flowers for example, or based on schedules.
Sessions typically last about an hour and a half and when we can—we love to begin sessions about two hours before sunset. We prefer to photograph when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright sun patches. The first two hours after sunrise is also an ideal time.
We schedule sessions during what we believe will be the best light of the day - which means that it’s super important to be on time. If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished taking photos; and if your session takes place in the morning, the sun gets more harsh as it rises.
WHICH SEASON FOR PHOTOS?
While we photograph most of our engagement sessions between October and late May, sessions can take place all year. Most of our couples choose a season based on the location where they want to visit.
A few things to keep in mind during each season:
WINTER - (cooler weather and cozy coats) If you’re planning to take your engagement photos during the winter, keep in mind that if your session takes place in the evening, we could begin as early as 3:00pm to catch the sunset. We recommend dressing in layers so that in between photos you can warm up. Make sure you bring a little extra makeup and tissues in case your nose begins running.
SPRING - (Fresh flowers and sunny days) Spring is one of my favorite seasons to photograph anything and everything outdoors. Dress to impress!!!
SUMMER - (The perfect time for destination engagements!) In spite of the heat, we do photograph a lot of summer sessions! Because of the later sunset, sessions sometimes begin as late as 6pm. If you’re taking your engagement photos during the summer, we recommend bringing extra makeup and a few towels to make sure you stay fresh throughout your session.
FALL - (Colorful leaves and snuggling close) Fall is perfect for engagement sessions and our schedules typically book up quickly! If you have your heart set on a fall engagement session, we recommend scheduling it as soon as you book!
SAVE-THE-DATE CARDS
If your wedding is local, save the dates should be sent between 6 and 8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out 8 to 10 months before the wedding.
If you’re hoping to use your engagement photos for your save the dates, we recommend scheduling your session at least two months before you plan to send out your save-the-dates. Between inclement weather, editing, designing your save-the-dates and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready.
WHERE TO GO?
We love when couples choose a location for their session that complements their wedding. For example, if you’re planning a chic, elegant wedding, it may be fitting to take your engagement portraits among the classic architecture at a local venue, while a local park or flower-filled fields may be more fitting for a couple planning a more rustic affair. The best locations are often meaningful places to the couple; however, we’re also happy to make recommendations.
Take us with you to a destination for amazing photos your family and friends will love! While we take most of our engagement sessions in the Houston area,
We would love to travel anywhere in the U.S. If you have a location in mind that is significant to the two of you, let us know because if our schedules align, we might be able to take your engagement photos outside of our normal area.
Travel fees may apply depending on the location and our availability.
BRING YOUR PET
Our dogs are a huge part of our family, which is why we love when couples choose to incorporate pets into their session. Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet friendly location.
We recommend planning for your pet to be at the first part of your session and then either dropping them off or having a friend take them home. We won’t use the pet in every single photo so it’s also nice to have a friend available to hold your pet in between shots.
If you’re going to bring a pet, we recommend exercising your pet before the session and bringing your pets favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them beforehand.
WHAT TO WEAR
Tips for looking your best
When picking outfits we recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” For example, if the groom-to-be is wearing a blue and pink pastel plaid shirt with a blazer, the bride-to-be may want to choose a long and flowy, soft blue dress. It can also be a great idea to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or jewel tones.
Generally couples pick two outfits for an engagement session: a more formal outfit and a casual outfit. We recommend saving your favorite outfit for later in the session, when couples usually feel more comfortable in front of the camera. And don’t forget to bring a few accessories! Statement necklaces, cute shoes and classic watches are great ways to add detail to outfits.
WARDROBE TIPS FOR THE LADIES
Heels lengthen legs, but if your heels aren’t comfortable for walking, bring an extra pair of shoes or flats to slip into in between shots. Be sure to bring hairspray and a touch up kit, you may need it throughout the session.
We love the way larger patterns photograph - just be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy than intended.
Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. We love bright, neon dresses, but we don’t love the neon reflection they add to your complexion.
ACCESSORIES
Statement jewelry is a great way to add color or pattern to a simple dress. Lace and tulle look amazing in photographs.
And dresses with lace sleeves are a great way to help slim arms. Depending on your location, you might want to consider a fit and flare or a flowy dress!
They look great in walking and photos with movement. Choose an outfit you feel comfortable in, but don’t be afraid to dress up!
Rent the Runway, Red Dress, Morning Lavender, J. Crew, Anthropologie, Free People, Francesca’s, Jessakae, ModCloth, Shop, Ruche, Hazel & Olive, Lulu's, H&M, Shabby Apple, Vici Dolls, Nordstrom, One Loved Babe, Filly Flair
HAIR & MAKEUP
Engagement sessions are the perfect time for a hair and makeup trial, professionally done hair & makeup last longer than typical hair & makeup. They also tend to hold up better for humidity and wind.
Hire a makeup artist that is flexible in case of inclement weather. You're investing in your images and that is why we are flexible with scheduling sessions and having backup dates, we also expect other professionals to offer you the same courtesy.
We think it’s so important that you look and feel your best for your engagement photos - and if you’re planning to do a hair & makeup trial anyways, the engagement session is a great time to test how your hair & makeup look on camera.
MANICURE
There will probably be times during your session when we’re including your hands holding or the engagement ring on your hand - which means it’s a good idea to clean up your nails before your session (this applies to the guys too!).
FOR THE GENTS
Avoid office attire (or church outfits) and be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy. Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. Cozy sweaters or a blazer layered over button ups are a great way to stay warm and stylish during the cooler months.
Online websites to visit:
ASOS, Suit Supply, J. Crew, Zara, Leather & Cotton, Jack Threads, Frank & Oak, Nordstrom
INCLEMENT WEATHER
What to do if it rains... We’ll check in the week of your engagement session to confirm the time and location we’re meeting and the weather. Let us know what works best for the two of you - but if the weather looks like it won’t be great, we typically try to make the call at least 12 hours in advance. If you cannot reschedule, we usually have umbrellas that we keep in the car in case.
RING CLEANING
When we can, we always try to take a photo of your rings while you're getting ready. If possible, try to have your engagement ring cleaned or clean it yourself. To clean at home, soak your ring in warm water with dishwashing soap for 20 to 40 minutes. Then gently brush the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse and repeat if needed.
PROPS
Champagne is always a good idea!
If you’re planning to bring props to your engagement session, we recommend including them only if they’re meaningful to you. Shots of drinking coffee at a local coffee shop would be cute if that’s where you met; however, trying to do something together when it’s never been a part of your relationship may come off as unrealistic.
"WHAT DO I DO WITH MY HANDS"?
When it comes to posing for your engagement session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! We’ll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If we tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because we know it’s going to make the two of you laugh - and that’s the photo we’re actually looking for.
Throughout your session, we’ll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. We want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together!
MAKE IT A DATE NIGHT
If you’re anything like us, you probably don’t get dressed up all that often. Which means that the day of your engagement session is the perfect occasion for a date night (or brunch if your session is in the morning!)
The engagement session is another part of celebrating your love and heading off to dinner is a great way to end the session!
BRIDAL PORTRAITS
There's a big difference between looking at yourself in the mirror at a hair and makeup trial and actually seeing how that hair holds up in the elements and how that makeup photographs. When it comes to being confident in your choices on your wedding day, having photos done beforehand is invaluable!
If you're considering a Bridal Portrait Session, we recommend a full trial run of hair, nails, makeup and your bouquet. We typically spend 1-2 hours at bridal sessions and it's nice to have something to hold to make your hands feel a little less awkward!
When it comes to choosing a location for your bridal portrait session, we recommend using locations that are well manicured, clean, and have great variety in indoor and outdoor locations.
Wedding venues are usually a wonderful place to start - especially historic homes and resorts that have well manicured areas. We want to keep your dress as clean as possible and still get a lot of amazing images inside and outside.
When it comes to selecting a date for your bridal portrait session, another great thing to keep in mind is the weather. In order to avoid being too hot during the summer months or too cold during the winter months, we highly recommend scheduling during Spring or Fall. However, we'll photograph anytime and anywhere with great light!
Many venues charge a fee for portrait sessions. Although inconvenient, the fee is often worth it in order to make use of their getting ready room and other venue services. We typically have to work with the venue's schedule, but we love to photograph bridal portraits in the afternoon as late as we possibly can to get a softer afternoon light. However, if your venue has strict hours, we are happy to work with their allotted times.
BEAUTY BOUDOIR
People often choose to do intimate portraits as a way to celebrate their body, boost self-confidence, embrace their femininity, and capture a moment of self-love and empowerment, going beyond just taking a sexy picture; it's about seeing and appreciating one's own beauty through a professional lens, often marking a significant life moment or personal milestone.
What is beauty boudoir? Formally, it might be defined as a genre of portraiture resulting in sultry photographs, typically wearing revealing clothing in a bedroom setting. However, we define it a bit differently:
Beauty boudoir is a MOVEMENT. A movement of women wanting validation that they're worthy. A movement of women choosing to love themselves. A movement of women healing generations of societal heartbreak. A movement of women truly seeing themselves. Beauty boudoir is so much more than beautiful photographs we carefully curate to each distinctive soul we see; it's our vessel for changing the world, by igniting a match of self love and appreciation.
Celebrate together as a couple
Couples often choose to do beauty boudoir photography to deepen their intimacy, celebrate their connection, boost confidence, and explore a playful side of themselves by taking sensual photos together in a romantic setting, often involving lingerie or suggestive poses; essentially creating a special memory that can be both visually captivating and emotionally meaningful.
Key reasons for doing a session together:
Intimacy, connection and acceptance:
Beauty boudoir can help individuals overcome body image issues by allowing them to see themselves in a positive light, embracing their unique features and imperfections. This encourages couples to be vulnerable and present with each other, fostering a deeper connection.
Confidence boost:
The experience of posing confidently in front of a camera can significantly improve self-esteem and feeling of attractiveness. Couples seeing each other in a sensual light can positively impact self-esteem for both partners.
Celebration of relationship:
It can be a fun way to mark your time as an engaged couple before getting married. Many women also choose to do a beauty boudoir shoot to mark special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or after a significant life change.
Creative expression:
Beauty boudoir photography provides a space to explore different looks and styles, expressing one's sensuality in a controlled environment.and allows couples to express their love and attraction for each other in a visually artistic way.
Exploring new dynamics:
Playing with different roles and poses can add excitement and spice to the relationship. This is a perfect opportunity for couples to create a unique surprise to gift each other on the wedding day while we capture all the reactions with our cameras.
Visit local stores like BHLDN, Top Drawer Lingerie, Nordstrom, Victoria’s Secret, or try shopping online at our favorite shops. Keep in mind there is a wide variety of quality price ranges from these shops but this list will give you a range of options to look through!
Online options:
BlueBella, Moxy Intimates, Fleur Dumal, For love and Lemons, Adore Me, Cosa Bella, La Perla, Only Hearts, Gooseberry Intimates, Honey Birdette, Journelle, Lounge underwear, Hello LA Girl
BRIDAL SESSION CHECKLIST
- Dress
- Veil
- Shoes
- Bouquet
- Rings
- Jewelry
- Outfit for beauty boudoir
Don't forget to bring your jewelry, veil and shoes to your bridal portrait session! For your intimate photoshoot, choose to wear a gorgeous chemise or fashionable slip dress with pretty details.
WHEN TO EXPECT YOUR IMAGES
As soon as possible after your session is complete, we’ll start editing your sneak peek images. It normally takes them about 2-7 business days to get your sneak peeks to you. Unless we have a holiday closure, you can expect to receive your full engagement or bridal gallery between 2 to 3 weeks after your session.
We know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prepare for your portrait session! However if there is something we missed, or you need more guidance or even a recommendation feel free to email me.
WEDDING DAY TIMELINE
Whether you choose to do a first look or the traditional "not seeing each other before the ceremony" we will work with you on making sure you have the best timeline and plan for amazing images.
If you're choosing to go traditional, you'll need two different sets of photo times: images taken before the ceremony and images taken after the ceremony.
You will need to plan for about one hour of pre-ceremony bridal photos (bridesmaids and bride's family) and about one hour of pre-ceremony groom photos (groomsmen and groom's family) at separate times.
You also need 15 minutes of combined bridal party portraits, 15 minutes of combined family portraits and at least 30 minutes of couple's portraits after the ceremony if you're not doing any portraits together until after the ceremony.
If you're doing a first look, all the photos can be done at one time, taking an average total of 2 hours pre-ceremony (although we also LOVE grabbing just the two of you for a few additional romantic photos at sunset!)
If you choose a traditional aisle reveal, all we ask is that you keep your ceremony time in mind when planning your wedding. Some church ceremonies can take longer than 90 minutes! It's never a bad idea to add extra time in between for photos and traveling.
If you're planning a sunset ceremony or an evening ceremony, it's best to do most photos before the wedding, as daylight is crucial to getting amazing portraits for your families, bridal party and your couples portraits. Making sure we have enough time while the sun is up is a great way to make the traditional ceremony work with your day.
WEDDING DAY DETAILS
We love capturing all the little details you've carefully chosen to be a part of your wedding day! Once we arrive at your wedding, we need about 45 minutes to style and capture details. We recommend choosing a getting ready location filled with natural light and, if possible, please keep the space free from trash and clutter.
It would be wonderful if you could put all of your rings, jewelry, shoes, veil purse, perfume, invitations and other keepsakes together in one place for us. Your items in one box and your groom's in another. If you are getting ready at separate locations, then please keep ALL rings with the bridal items, including the groom’s ring.
Please unwrap your dress and have it on a pretty hanger, if you didn’t buy one specifically for it, that’s okay! Any nice wooden hanger will do just fine. Don't worry about styling it - we'll hang it in a beautiful spot!
BRIDE'S DETAILS CHECKLIST
- Dress
- Hanger
- Rings (all bands)
- Shoes
- Veil
- Bouquet
- Ring
- Hairpieces
- Jewelry
- Vow BGooks
- Invitation Suite ( 2 full sets with envelopes + stamps)
- Any other paper stationary you may have like program cards
- Any other sentimental keepsakes you would like to include. We once had a bride bring her grandmother's hand mirror. This is completely optional - but if you have something sentimental you'd like styled with your details, we love including family heirlooms in our detail shots.
- Bonus: We'd love to have a few cuts of the florals you'll be using throughout your wedding day. If your florist will supply us a small bucket of extra pieces we can incorporate those in your detail shots.
GROOM'S DETAILS CHECKLIST
- His shoes
- Socks (if they're special)
- Cufflinks
- Watch
- Tie or Bow Tie
- Pocket Square
- Boutonnière
- Vows Book
- Rings
- Anything else he'll have that is special or sentimental
Once we're done photographing details of your items and your dress, we'll start taking candid photos of you and the girls! We typically don’t photograph anyone “Getting Ready” until they’re almost completely ready, cause let’s be honest, no one wants photos of themselves with their hair half curled and one eye of makeup half done!
BRIDAL MORNING
This is your wedding day and we're going to be taking photos of you getting made up, hanging with your girls, and then of course we will pull you aside for some bridal photos of you getting ready.
Consider wearing a gorgeous bridal lace robe/gown from Etsy, it is perfect for dreamy getting ready photos. Be sure to order several months in advance as robes are usually a custom product and can take weeks to arrive.
THE "GETTING READY" ROOM
Make sure to be intentional about your getting ready location. It literally defines the whole mood and feel of your photos, and can make or break your images. For example, if you decide to get ready in a stuffy hotel bathroom with bad lighting and no windows, you might feel stressed and claustrophobic.
Instead…consider getting ready in an open, clean room with soft natural light coming through the windows, a place that will make you feel more at peace and in touch with your emotions.
TIP 1: Choose a location with large windows.
Getting ready near a large window can bring in A LOT of natural light! It's also the secret to gorgeous, natural-looking photos. Since, artificial and incandescent overhead lighting creates a weird, un-natural yellow tone to the skin, that is hard to see with the naked-eye but is visible in photos.
Depending on the room, we will undoubtedly be turning off some of the artificial lighting in your room so you don’t get mixed colors in your photos (don’t worry, I’ll switch them off if you forget!).
TIP 2: Consider renting a stylish + cute looking home from AirBNB if necessary.
Well decorated homes and stylish AirBNBs are infinitely better than most hotel rooms. Since hotel rooms can be really stuffy, with questionable carpet and chair choices, non-smoking signs, and unflattering wallpaper. Airbnb's have a lot of character and create some gorgeous getting ready shots!!
Airbnb's can also be cheaper than hotels, too! But keep in mind your getting ready location should be relatively close (within 20 minutes driving distance) to your ceremony location.
HAVE A FIRST LOOK
That moment when the Bride and Groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day is magical. And this is true whether the couple chooses to wait until the bride walks down the aisle or chooses to do a “first look’ prior to the ceremony.
First looks (a private moment couples choose to spend together prior to the wedding ceremony) have become more popular over the last few years. About half of our couples this year have chosen to do a first look.
While we consider ourselves people who value tradition, there are definitely a few good reasons to consider a first look. Here are 3 reasons to consider a ‘first look’:
1. A FIRST LOOK CUTS THROUGH THE CHAOS OF THE DAY
Once the ceremony begins, the day takes off quickly. A ‘first look’ is an opportunity to enjoy some quiet time alone, enjoy each other’s company, and reflect on all this day means before your day takes off.
Wedding days can be a whirlwind and they tend to fly by. There’s much to do, and a lot of people to see and to catch up with. We always encourage our couples to take a few minutes every so often during their wedding to stop and soak in everything that’s happening.
2. IT MAKES MORE TIME FOR PICTURES WITHOUT SACRIFICING COCKTAIL HOUR
When there is no first look, the majority of the pictures have to be taken after the ceremony. Family pictures are generally done as soon as the ceremony ends because it’s the easiest time to round everyone up. Next is a full bridal party, and then bride and groom portraits. This generally runs into cocktail hour.
A first look opens up time prior to the ceremony for full bridal party pictures and, sometimes, for a few bride and groom portraits (although we prefer to do bride and groom portraits at sunset). This allows the couple to get the most out of cocktail hour, which makes the rest of the evening feel less rushed.
3. AVOID POSSIBLE BAD WEATHER AND/OR HAVE TIME TO FRESHEN-UP AFTER CRYING
If you’re expecting poor weather on your wedding day, it might be best to plan on a first look because it gives you more options for pictures. If it’s pouring rain after the ceremony, you’ll be thankful you had pictures done in advance.
And another reason is to let the emotions out. If you know the tears are going to fly the first time you see your other half the day of your wedding, a first look will give you time to freshen up before the ceremony.
First look or not, the first time you see each other on your wedding day will be special.
THE CEREMONY SPACE
Outdoor ceremonies are my absolute favorite! But try making sure your ceremony is not during mid-day. Noon is not only the hottest time of the day, but it will leave harsh shadows under the eyes, making you appear to have dark circles ('raccoon eyes'), and leave unflattering shadows under the nose ('shadow mustaches!' yes, it happens).
TIP 1: IDEAL TIME
Try to avoid the hours between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m for outdoor ceremonies. Choosing a time a bit later in the day when the sun is a little lower and not right over our heads, can create some beautiful landscape photos, and flattering skin tones. The ideal time would be about 2-3 hours before sunset.
TIP 2: SUN POSITION
When positioning your outdoor ceremony, think of this.. The sun should be setting behind the officiant. When the sun is behind the officiant, then the bride, groom and whole wedding party are not facing the sun. If the ceremony is facing the sun it will then cause everyone to have squinted eyes, and harsh face shadows, which can be really unflattering. Essentially, make sure the sun is setting behind you.
TIP 3: SKY CONDITION
If you're worrying about the weather being overcast on your wedding day. Please don't, believe it or not, but overcast days create such beautiful lighting. They also create a giant softbox, which means no harsh shadows, no raccoon eyes, or shadow mustaches lol. It makes everyone look great with soft, creamy skin tones!
Please note: That you don't have to incorporate all these tips into your wedding day to get great photos. Weddings are about the people you are with and the memories you will make. A great wedding photographer will know how to face any tricky lighting scenario and create a beautiful composition.
However, any consideration of these tips will usually be more beneficial than not.
CONSIDER UNPLUGGING
If you've been to a wedding recently, you may have seen a sign from the happy couple asking for their guests to remain "unplugged" during the ceremony.
And while it might seem like a strange request to ask guests to put down their phones, there's a pretty good reason for it! You made a big investment in photography and we're sure one of the last things you want on your wedding day is for our photos of your ceremony to be filled with obtrusive iPhones, iPads and relatives standing in the aisle with their own cameras.
So many times, our view is obstructive with cell-phones, iPads, and even their own flash-cameras. I highly recommend having an unplugged ceremony and letting your officiant announce to the guests that "the lovely couple have requested that guests please turn off their devices and be present in the moment." Because I promise you, my photos will look 100x better than a photo taken on an iPad. ;)
In order to help us do the best possible job capturing your wedding, we recommend asking guests to unplug during the ceremony.
Even though guests *think* they're being inconspicuous, they undoubtedly ALWAYS step in the aisle. Sometimes their flash will go off at the exact time I take the photo of your first kiss and then you end up with a weirdly lit photo. You're paying thousands of bucks for professional, high quality images. You don't need a million zoomed in and crooked iPhone shots.
A sign at the ceremony is also something some clients have put up and has been effective. Your wedding ceremony will be so much more beautiful when everyone is listening to your words, enjoying the moment and being true witnesses to your vows.
FAMILY FORMALS
For family portraits, we’ll place you in the center of a large group photo with all of your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, godparents, etc. And then we’ll remove the extended family so it’s just grandparents, parents and siblings.
We’ll keep removing family members and switch a few closer family members in and out so we get photos of you and your parents, you and your siblings, some with the groom and your family, etc. Then we’ll repeat the process with your spouse's family. The whole thing will go quicker and smoother if you let the family know how the portrait process will work ahead of time.
When we send out our pre-wedding questionnaire, we'll ask you for a list of specific groupings, special situations (such as divorces or handicapped family members & more), but if you want to start brainstorming photos in the meantime, you'll find our typical list below.
It's very important for both families to know that they need to stay for the group pictures, this will speed up the process.
FORMAL FAMILY GROUPS CHECKLIST:
Feel free to add/remove and please include actual names below
- Bride + Groom + Bride's Extended Family
- Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings + Bride's Grandparents
- Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings
- Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents
- Bride + Groom + Bride's Siblings
- Bride + Mom
- Bride + Dad
- Bride + Groom + Groom's Extended Family
- Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings + Groom's Grandparents
- Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings
- Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents
- Bride + Groom + Groom's Siblings
- Groom + Mom
- Groom + Dad
Please note that this list is just a starting point and that we're happy to take any requested family portraits as long as time allows!
RECEPTION
This is when I’ll be photographing the reception details.
THE GRAND ENTRANCE:
A great entrance features candid photos of you as a couple walking in the reception!
When it comes to lighting during the reception each venue is different, but I always suggest natural-looking, warm light. Having warm light creates such a beautiful and dreamy ambience in photos.
TIP 1: Whether it's an indoor or outdoor reception, adding lights is a beautiful way to add pretty bokeh (the blurry, sparkly orbs in the background of photos). Large chandeliers, lanterns with candles, accent spotlights, monogrammed lighting, and moody up-lights will help enhance the mood.
TIP 2: If you're considering up-lighting, note that the color you choose for up-lighting will set the color tone of your photos. For example, if your uplighting is pink, then anything that is white (hence your wedding dress) will have a pink hue on it.
Please communicate with your wedding planner or DJ that you only want colorful lighting during the party/dancing portion of the night and to turn off any colorful lighting for the first dance and special parent dances. If your DJ can use WHITE light during these moments that works well too!
Bright colorful lights, overpowering bluish spotlights, and flashing strobes can be very distracting and can take away from a beautiful moment such as the first dance. We just don't want you to look back and think "I wish I had turned off the blue/pink lighting during our first dance, cause now all I see are blue/pink on our faces.."
It's preferable to leave on the warm, ambient lighting (or single white spotlight), for the entrance, first dance, any special parent dances, and during cake cutting. Also, make sure your venue does not turn off all the accent lights completely, leaving them dim will help to get some light on the background.
But other than that! Go crazy with the lights for the dance/party portion of the night!! It creates fun looking photos and guests love it when they're dancing the night away!
DINNER:
Since no one wants photos of open mouths full of food, we will be eating at the same time as you (we will be starving for food by this time, we need the energy!). Please make sure to coordinate this with your caterer, they sometimes will put us in a back room far away from the dance floor, which is not ideal, since we won’t be able to see any important events happening.
GRAND EXITS
There are so many special exits!! Such as the sparkler exit, confetti exit, the last dance, and so many more. I can't wait to see what you choose to end the night with :)
SPARKLERS:
Make sure to see if your venue allows this.
If you decide to have a sparkler exit (my favorite ) I recommend purchasing sparklers that are long enough. If your sparklers are too short, they might burn out by the time all your guests light up their sparklers. Try getting 10-12 inch sparklers, they are more effective. Purchase enough sparklers to give to your guests, and make sure to have a couple of lighters that way people can get their sparklers lit quicker.
Choose a dark place to have the sparkler exit, since the sparkler will have enough light to illuminate you both :)
If you're doing a sparkler exit, it usually takes about 5 minutes. We will probably have you run up and down twice! Only because we want to get a variety of sparkler exit shots!
ALTERNATIVES:
If your venue does not allow sparklers, then consider playing a "last dance" song, or having a confetti-popper exit, or even making your final wishes with sky lanterns! Whatever you choose will be amazing because at the end of the day it will be with people you love and cherish!
IN THE MOMENT
The day of your wedding, I want you to feel the moments in your soul. The moment you are walking down the aisle towards your love, the moment you read each other's vows and promises to one another, and the moment you have your first dance as husband and wife. These are the moments that count, and these are the moments I will capture for you...that way they will be with you forever :)
These are only tips and suggestions to help guide you through the creation of your wedding day. But what really matters is the time you will share celebrating the connection between you and your love, with your family and friends by your side.
RAIN ADVICE
If the forecast is calling for rain, fear not because rainy days can still be beautiful! Plan to bring a few clear umbrellas if it might rain. It also might be good to re-evaluate portrait locations to make sure we can still photograph in natural light, even if it means heading offsite.
If you're not working with a planner, it might also be a good idea to check in with your entire vendor team to make sure they're aware of the weather. Hair and makeup may need to be tweaked to withstand humidity and if your wedding is outdoors, DJs and bands may need to take extra precaution to protect their gear. A quality rental team can also minimize the amount of mud at outdoor events.
While we can't guarantee that rain on your wedding day is good luck, we can put a plan in place to ensure a beautiful day and beautiful images.
Rainy day weddings may require a little more flexibility and creativity, but there isn't any reason why they can't be as beautiful and as joyful as sunny weddings!
ADDITIONAL TIPS
1. If you're getting married in the summer months, a "not-so-heavy" snack or lunch time before portraits is always a good idea for you and your bridal party to avoid hungry bellies.
2. If it's going to be hot, plan to have a cooler with ice cold water bottles to help keep a wedding party cool - especially if your groom and groomsmen are wearing multiple layers of clothing.
3. Make sure and have your bouquet delivered in time to make an appearance for the detailed shots and for your first look. Often they are delivered in water and need to be dried off before use. Dry paper towels can help.
4. If you're having a first look with your bridal party or a parent, they often feel more comfortable being fully dressed in their wedding attire.
5. If your reception is at a separate venue, add some "extra time" in your timeline so that we can run over to the venue to capture it while it's still "untouched" by guests.
6. We always recommend the bride go into hiding 45 minutes before the ceremony at the absolute latest. Guests typically arrive early to weddings.
7. To help make family portraits go smoother, it's best to have a detailed list of what groups you'd like and both sides of the family can have their input on a few portraits they'd like before the wedding. Supplying us with a list ahead of time to go over it and make sure we do things in an order will help to make sure we don't leave anyone out.
We'd love to help you plan your timeline. If you'd like our input, don't hesitate to email or call!
THANK YOU!
We can't wait to start planning with you and getting to know you! If you haven't scheduled your engagement session yet, let's get that in the books. Feel free to email us any time.
If you have any questions or would just like to chat, we're here for you. We hope this guide helps make the process of planning your wedding details much easier and less stressful. We can't wait to see you soon! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through our guide!
Credits:
Ivan Garcia Studio