We all want your wedding day to go as seamless and smooth as possible, so I've created a few tips and tricks on what I have learned throughout my years of photographing weddings. From getting ready tips to reception tips, I have you covered.
Getting Ready tips:
There is nothing worse than having to clean up a room when putting your dress on looking at the completed photos and seeing someone's bra or shoe on the ground in the background. Try and keep clutter on one side of the bridal suite when getting ready so people aren't having to run around cleaning up before you get your dress on.
Brides, try and not wear a bra or tight undergarments that would leave indents in your skin that is visible in your dress. Bra strap indents go away but take time and would be visible in photos that you're getting your dress on.
If you or anyone in your wedding party wears a Fitbit/Apple Watch/regular watch and has tan lines have them wear bracelets to cover the tan lines.
If Mom or Mother of the Groom is helping the bride get her dress on make sure to schedule their hair and makeup earlier in the day so we don't have to wait for them to finish getting ready to help you get your dress on. As a mom we always want to make sure everything is done and taken care of but in this case we need to take care of ourselves so you can be there to help your girl get her dress on for her big day.
Make sure someone in the wedding party knows how to put boutonnieres on correctly. Most times the florist isn't there to do it for you and the wedding planner is busy with other things so having someone that knows how to do it helps.
Keep detail items together (jewelry, garters, perfume, invitations, keepsakes, etc.) so we don't have to go searching for items to get the detail shots. Ask your florist to provide you with extra greenery to be used in detail shots as well. Most of the time they will provide these to you free of charge.
Ceremony Tips:
If your ceremony is outside view the ceremony site and see where the sun will be on your day. Is it in the shade? Perfect! Is it in sunlight? Make sure it is not direct sunlight and everyone is squinting. Is it half in the shade and half in the sun? You probably should find a different area.
I want to be able to see your eyes as you walk down the aisle so make sure everyone carries their bouquets low and look forward, not down.
At the time of the rehearsal make note of where you're standing. Are you centered with the arch? If not, put some tape on the ground on where to stand so you are centered. Also, you're getting married... make sure you're standing close to one another and not far apart. Make sure you can reach out to your partner and not have to move forward to get closer. Everyone wants to see the love between you. Standing far apart brings some disconnect to the moments.
FIRST KISS! As your officiant to step aside during the first kiss and move the microphone if there is one so they are standing directly behind you so you and your partner are the only things that are front and center.
As you're walking back down the aisle after you're announced stop and kiss again in the middle. Usually that kiss is better than the first kiss as it is less formal.
Family Photos:
Family photos tend to be stressful for most couples. Have someone who knows the family help round up groups during the family photos so everyone is ready. I try to stick with immediate family only right after the ceremony and then do extended family photos during the reception as there tends to be more time for that during the reception.
Reception:
I love when receptions flow and have little time in between the formalities as guests tend to get bored while waiting for things to happen. Discuss a timeline with your DJ or entertainment to make sure to keep the formalities flowing in a timely fashion to get to the part that everyone wants which is the open dancing.
Try and make it in the reception timeline to cut the cake before dinner so the cake is cut up during dinner and can be served as dessert.
Sparkler exits are always fun but hard to coordinate. Designate two people to coordinate the sparkler exit with handing out sparklers and lighters. Have people stand shoulder to shoulder and not spread out. It also looks great in photos to have the guests close the tunnel in the back by walking in bringing the sparkler light behind the couple. Stop and kiss halfway through the sparkler tunnel before proceeding all the way through.
Your wedding should be fun and not stressful. I'm here to help you through your planning process and through your day. If you have any questions regarding your day please don't hesitate to ask me questions. When I say I have seen it all happen at weddings, trust me, I have seen it all!
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