You’re planning your dream wedding, putting extensive thought and effort into every minor detail. Afterall, it’s going to be a day to remember for the rest of your life. But years from the wedding, all that remains are the moments, emotions and memories captured by your photo and video team.
timeline
Schedule Enough Time For Each Section Of The Day It is crucial that you create a timeline for your wedding day, something your wedding planner can assist you with organizing. There should be an estimated start and end time for hair, makeup, reception setup, etc. Within that timeline should include all your photo sessions such as the first look, bridal party photos, and couple’s session.
From a photography standpoint the best time for outdoors ceremonies is 1-2 hours before sunset.
Plan Enough Time for Hair & Make-up
Delays with hair and makeup can set the whole day behind. Plan to finish the process well ahead of schedule, too often do we see brides rushing because of unexpected delays. Many great hair and makeup artists will create a schedule to follow during wedding preparations.
Your creative team will typically ask for one hour in order to document final touch-ups, detail shots, and candid moments with your closest friends and family.
Include A Sneak Away Session
The Sneak Away session lasts no more than 20-30 minutes and is typically scheduled after the ceremony and before dinner. It can be somewhere close to the area where the photographer can make more relaxed photos with nice light and backdrop.
Keep The Moment Sacred
As a photographer, one of the things that breaks my heart is when I am shooting the bride during her triumphant walk down the aisle with her Dad, and I see a dozen bright screens of cell phones and an iPad or two leaning into the aisle to snap that personal photo for Instagram. These screens will not only be an ugly distraction in the peripheral of the photo and will make the photo look dated in the coming years, but most importantly, it takes away from the special moment of the bride walking towards her groom. If this is something that would bother you, ask the officiant to make an announcement right before the ceremony about the use of iPhones during the procession and recession (also mentioning that the bride and groom had hired a wedding photographer for a reason, and for them to just relax, enjoy, and take the experience in with their eyes, not their iPhones)
hi QUALITY VENDORS
Quality vendors can influence the flow of your day. This is why we emphasize the importance of selecting the right vendors. You wouldn’t want a makeup artist showing up 2 hours late or a photographer with no wedding experience, would you? We suggest quality vendors in order to avoid the stress that may carry over into your wedding photos. Hiring a wedding planner is a great way to make your planning process easier and allow you to enjoy your wedding day without any unnecessary distractions. Your wedding planner is there to handle any mishaps while you and your partner go unbothered.
As a photographer, one of the things that breaks my heart is when I am shooting the bride during her triumphant walk down the aisle with her Dad, and I see a dozen bright screens of cell phones and an iPad or two leaning into the aisle to snap that personal photo for Instagram. These screens will not only be an ugly distraction in the peripheral of the photo and will make the photo look dated in the coming years, but most importantly, it takes away from the special moment of the bride walking towards her groom. If this is something that would bother you, ask the officiant to make an announcement right before the ceremony about the use of iPhones during the procession and recession (also mentioning that the bride and groom had hired a wedding photographer for a reason, and for them to just relax, enjoy, and take the experience in with their eyes, not their iPhones)
Schedule The Couples Session During The Best Lighting
If you booked your venue because of the spectacular view of the ocean or the gorgeous vines in the winery, it’s essential to schedule your couple’s session 30-45 minutes before sunset. The romantic hues during Golden Hour makes it our favorite time of day to capture the new Mr. and Mrs.
Think about the Small Things!
1) When getting ready, have your bridesmaids put all their stuff in a condensed corner of the room—I call it a “crap corner” 😉 This way there aren’t neon bras and Mcdonalds wrappers in the background of your beautiful photos.
2) Bring a non-plastic hanger for your dress shot.
3) When you and your bridesmaids walk down the aisle, keep the bouquet around your belly button. I know it can be nerve-wracking to have all eyes on you, but don’t block your pretty faces with your bouquet 🙂
Share the timeline
Send your timeline to your photographer, videographer, coordinator, bridal party and immediate family. Make sure your friends and family know when to be ready for photos and the ceremony. MAKE A GROUP SHOT PHOTO LIST before hand to save time.