Wedding Prep Guide

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO ASSURE YOUR BIG DAY GOES SMOOTHLY

detail Shots


Often the 'Getting Ready' starts with me taking details shots. It is important to put all of these things together in one place so that Cody and I can access them easily and arrange them for some lovely detail images.


WHAT TO BRING - LISTS FOR THE BRIDE AND THE GROOM

  • Dress
  • Bridesmaids Dresses
  • Veil
  • Shoes
  • Jewelry
  • Engagements & Wedding Rings
  • Your Wedding Scent
  • Invitation Suite & Save-the-Date ( invite, envelope, details card, RSVP, etc - if you do not have a Save-the-Date that is ok!)
  • Flowers
  • Vow Books
  • Tie / Bow Tie
  • Suspenders / Belt
  • Boutonnière
  • Shoes
  • Cuff Links
  • Watch
  • Sunglasses
  • His Wedding Scent
  • Decanter / Favorite Drink
  • Cigars

 

Getting Ready


BELOW ARE MY FAVORITE TIPS to the GETTING READY SHOTS OF BOTH the BRIDE and GROOM


BRIDE


  1. Make sure your hair and makeup stylists are ON TIME according to our timeline - it is important they do not run late as it can cut portrait time short.
  2. Bride goes LAST - this insures that I do not miss the moments that you are getting ready.
  3. Keeping your bridal suite tidy - Things can get messy with hair tools, half-eaten meals, and makeup containers lying around everywhere. Sometimes it makes sense to decide a certain corner or room where everyone can drop their belonging or perhaps you could ask a bridesmaid to do a quick cleaning session before I arrive. Keeping the space tidy will ensure that we don't constantly have to move distracting or straight up ugly elements before taking a shot.
  4. FIND THE LIGHT! Everything from hair and makeup to getting into your dress and right down photography all needs the light. Sit next to the biggest window in your suite.
  5. Surround yourself with your favorite people - Having all seven of your awesome girlfriends, two sisters, your aunt, and your mom join you in the morning may sound like a good idea at first, but please keep in mind that with too many people around it often gets very busy. Things take longer than anticipated and you will have a hard time relaxing and taking it all in. My advice would be to choose a handful of your favorite humans to share these precious hours of the day with and give the rest of your beloved friends a big hug as soon as you see them later in the day.
  6. Once I finish with the details portraits we go right into the bride shots with robe, bouquet and the dress then some bride and her bridesmaids then getting into the dress.
  7. I like to plan 60-90 minutes between the details and the bride getting ready.


GROOM


  1. It is just as important to have the same elements for the groom's suite as it is the bride. He will need good natural light and an open and tidy space.
  2. Most venues have a bridal and groom suite but if they don't check for some cool barber shops or other awesome venues that are close by.
  3. Depending on where and when the groom gets ready, I will need to leave for some time in the middle or at the end of the brides getting ready. Simply keep that in mind when we are making our final timeline.


 

WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?


It is no lie that out favorite sweats and tee's are going to be what we want to wear the morning of - cause let's face it... you're sleepy and you just want to be comfortable as you sit in a chair for the next few hours being pampered but keep in mind I will take quite a few photographs before you put on your wedding dress, so maybe you want to put a little bit of thought into what you wear beforehand. A morning gown, a rope, cute matching set will look beautiful in the photographs.

UNPLUGGED

 

I, more than anyone, understand that capturing important moments with a smartphone is second nature. However, asking your guests to refrain from using phones and tablets during the ceremony allows them to take everything in. It also gives me the opportunity to capture the raw emotions and reactions to what is happening. It's a shame to witness emotional moments unfolding while their faces are hidden behind small screens or seeing guests too engrossed in operating their camera phones to even realize what is going on around them.


It also ensures that no enthusiastic guests will limit the frames I am able to capture during important parts of the ceremony. It is sad to be unable to take a proper photo of the groom waiting for his bride at the end of the aisle because guests are in the way, trying to capture a grainy iPhone shot.

If you decide to have an unplugged wedding be sure to announce it in your invitations and even have your officiant give a gentle reminder before the ceremony begins - also let your guests know they will have access to your wedding photo gallery afterwards. That way they can relax, knowing they will receive beautiful memories of the day too.

LIGHT IS KEY


When choosing the perfect place for your ceremony, keep in mind that light is a key factor that will greatly influence the mood of the ceremony setting.


A time later in the day is ideal for outdoor ceremonies, when the sun is already a lot lower in the sky. This obviously changes throughout the months and even throughout the months and even through the weeks, so my advice would be to do a quick check on Google and keep in mind when the sun will start to set on your wedding day.


Feel free to always ask me too beforehand if you are not sure about how to set everything up.

 

Timeline


Within the last few weeks of planning, I will be communicating back and forth to set in stone all the final details. There will be a questionnaire sent out about 4 weeks prior to your big day and if you two wish we can have a final sit down at my home studio or a favorite coffee shop.


This will be the time you let me know about first looks or any other special event and have your family portrait list ready.


I like to create a timeline for my couple's as it gives them a peace of mind that everyone won't be running around like chickens. I do highly recommend you putting in charge one individual to help you with keeping on track as well as they will know your family and wedding party better than I.


Remember if you do a 'First Look' all portraits will be taken prior to ceremony if all of your family is present during the allotted time.


I also like to remind Brides to send a copy of the timeline to each bridesmaids, groom, groomsmen, hair and makeup team and venue. I can send them via email to the hair and makeup team and the venue if wanted.