MY BEST WEDDING ADVICE FOR YOU
1. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD — GET A WEDDING PLANNER
I know it seems expensive or unnecessary. I know you're confident in your party planning skills and think you can do it all on your own. I know you think a day-of-coordinator might be enough — but it's never a bad idea to ask for help. With so many moving parts surrounding contracts, payment deadlines, vendors schedules, family expectations, and guest involvement — I promise that a planner will make you feel so much calmer, cooler, and collected on your wedding day.
Enlisting the services of a wedding planner to keep things running smoothly is possibly the best investment you can make for yourself and for your big day. Planners are there to assist you in everything from sourcing inspiration, to communicating with vendors, to keeping guests informed, to lighting each table candle one-by-one, to coordinating the set up and tear down of the venue space so the responsibility doesn't fall on you, your family, or your wedding party. Hiring a planner will help keep you focused on what’s most important — and at the end of the day that's what matters.
Pro tip: If ultimately you choose to not hire a wedding planner – ask your venue if a day-of-coordinator is included as part of their wedding package.
2. CREATE A FLEXIBLE TIMELINE
On your wedding day, time is your most valuable asset. If you've sought advice from any one of your married friends — I bet they all affirm how quickly time passes by on a wedding day.
Weddings are complex celebrations, and despite careful planning, unforeseen circumstances can (and will) occur. If something doesn't go exactly according to plan, having a flexible schedule allows you to adapt and make necessary adjustments without feeling overwhelmed — while also providing a buffer time to ensure that you can stay on track without feeling rushed or compromising on important aspects of your day. It helps you stay present, enjoy the moment, and focus on what truly matters.
Overall, you deserve to savor each moment of your big day and soak up every experience. By creating a flexible timeline, you create more free time, and allow for more opportunities for candid moments happen organically — so not only will you get the best candid imagery, but you’ll also have ample time to settle into the celebration surrounded by your loved ones and fully participate in all of the festivities you've planned.
3. YOUR VENUE CHOICE MATTERS THE MOST
It's important that you love your venue choice — but for a reason you maybe haven't considered.
Your venue is the backdrop for everything else on your wedding day. When choosing which space you love best, make sure you love the tonality, the colors, textures, and the overall aesthetic because they will come through in your photos!
Venue and photo are so closely related —your wedding venue colors will become your photo colors, your venue textures will become your photo textures, the venue shadows your photo shadows, and your venue lighting becomes the lighting in your photographs. In other words, your venue will greatly impact other wedding decisions (the style of dress, the reception colors, spaces for photography) and the overall aesthetic of your wedding gallery - so it's important that it matches what you have envisioned. Consider that you'll be looking at the venue for the rest of your life... in photo form!
4. SAY YES TO AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION
I know it seems like just another thing to check off your list — but allowing the space for yourselves to do an engagement session is a very important part during the wedding planning process. I want to get to know you, study your body language, the meaning behind your relationship. I want to slow life down, capture what you love about each other, and have fun creating together.
It's an opportunity to practice being in front of the camera, understand how I give gentle guidance and follow patterns of light, and celebrate this season you're in. We're not aiming for perfection — our goal is to create a more intimate level of trust that allows you to be vulnerable so on the day of your wedding, when excitement and anxiety are at an all-time high, we have a foundation of comfortability and familiarity to fall back on. During this time, you'll know exactly what to expect from me, my shooting style and creative direction, and why you hired me.
Bonus: you'll walk away with some newfound confidence and a set of photographs that celebrates who you are during this season.
5. SERIOUSLY CONSIDER A FIRST LOOK
I often recommend doing a first look for couples looking to prioritize candid photos on their wedding day — this is also perfect for couples who want to spend as much time together as possible on the big day.
Doing a first look allows me ample time to front-load your formal wedding portraits and capture everything with your wedding party and family before your ceremony (rather than squeezing them in during an inflexible timeframe during cocktail hour, which you'll most likely have to miss).
Not only will you receive more photographs in your final gallery — but bonus! First looks help to ease your nerves and will make you feel more relaxed overall. The more relaxed you are – and the more time we have – the more space we’ll have to get creative and allow for more emotional moments between you and your partner to happen organically and artfully.
6. THINK ABOUT HOW TO INCORPORATE YOUR GUESTS
I know you love them all so much — so why not include elements into your day that allow your guests to participate and feel seen and appreciated. After all, they are there and want to celebrate you in every way possible!
Perhaps host a whiskey or wine tasting an hour before the ceremony to let your guests arrive early, visit with family and friends, and slow the schedule down as they soak up the serenity and beauty of the space you've created for them. Bonus tip: surprise everyone by partaking in the festivities as well. Most couples think a big reveal is traditional — but think about how wonderful it would be to visit and toast with your guests for an extra hour (and think about all of the natural moments that could be captured on film).
Incorporate a ring warming into your ceremony. The wedding bands are passed from guest to guest, allowing them to offer well wishes or infuse some positive vibes and love into your wedding bands before they are exchanged. It's a meaningful way for couples, who value the love and support of their family and friends, to have their guests connect with them in an intimate way.
Add a petal toss after your first kiss! It's such a fun and joyous way for your guests to celebrate your marriage as you recess back down the aisle as newlyweds. It also creates visually stunning candid moments — where I can document the excitement and enthusiasm of you and your guests as you celebrate together. It adds wonder and whimsy and vibrancy.
