The Wedding Guide
let’s create the images of your dreams—
You’re getting married!! If you made it here, that means you must be trusting lil’ ole me with your photos! I can’t freaking wait. This guide is your one-stop shop to prepare for your wedding day...
Showing up at your venue is just not enough to create photos that you’re going to swoooon over! And I want you swooning!
So, grab your significant other, get comfy, and take 10 minutes to intentionally walk through this guide together! I promise you, it will be every bit worth it!
Timeline Tips
Timeline
A couple of months before your wedding, I'll send you a wedding day timeline questionnaire. This helps me create a timeline that fits your needs while making sure we have plenty of time for photos! If you’re working with a planner or day-of coordinator, please have them send me your timeline as well.
The key here is to build in some extra time. Try not to cram too much into a tight schedule—leave a little wiggle room. Trust me, things rarely go exactly as planned on a wedding day, so giving yourself some breathing room will make the day feel much smoother and more relaxed!
Getting Ready…
Okay!! So from the moment I arrive, please have the following things ready for me. These are going to be for the detail shots.
NOTE: Please have these items together in one place (For example, a shoebox). 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
Hers
Invitation suite, shoes, rings, ring box, bracelets, earrings, necklace, hair pieces, vow book, perfume, heirlooms, etc.
His
Shoes, ring, ring box, bowtie or tie, tie clip, pocket square, watch, cuff links, vow book, cologne, herlooms, etc...
If You Are Doing Gifts For Your Wedding Party, Please Let Me Know Ahead Of TIme So We Can Add To Timeline
Getting Ready…
In Addition:
1) If there are any textured/sentimental details that you love that you feel like would make great accent items for your detail shots, then feel free to throw those in there (lace, fur, miniature plants, pretty rocks, anything!!).
2) Please have your dress on a cute hanger. If you didn’t buy one specifically for it, that’s okay! Any nice wooden hanger will do just fine :)
3) I love to incorporate florals in my detail shots. If at all possible, I will grab the bride’s bouquet and incorporate it, If the bouquet can be arranged to be there along with the other bridal details, then awesome!
Once I’m done shooting details of your items and your dress! I’ll start taking candid photos of you and the girls! I typically don’t shoot 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! haha.
Morning Of Tips
-Make sure not to go last for hair and makeup
-Take all flowers out of water half an hour before the ceremony to avoid drip marks on silky fabrics
-Get a nice hanger for your dress/outfit
-Steam all your dresses/outfits the night before, don't leave them until the morning!
-Open sentimental gifts before your MUA leaves
-Have your space decluttered before the photographer arrives
Getting Ready…
Tip One
If possible, try to get ready near a large window! The natural light it brings in is perfect for creating beautiful, soft, and flattering photos. It's honestly the secret to that glowing, natural look. Artificial lighting—especially overhead lights—can cast a harsh yellowish tone on your skin that’s barely noticeable to the eye but shows up in photos. To avoid that, I’ll likely turn off any artificial lights in the room when we’re shooting.
Bonus: Your makeup artist and hairstylist will love the natural light too—it’s ideal for applying makeup and styling hair!are timeless…
Look for a something you won't regret wearing in 5 years. Maybe something that has already stood the test of time. Use what I call: "The 5 and 5 rule." 5 years ago you could have probably worn it, and in 5 years you could still wear it!
Tip Two
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.
Note
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.
The Getting Ready Space
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 crappy stuffy hotel bathroom with bad lighting and no windows, you might feel stressed and claustrophobic lol.
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.
Okay, and then there is “Good light”. I swear you will be a master at noticing light by the end of all this haha! Try and get ready near a window with natural light coming in, it is much prettier for details, and your skin will look more radiant…rather than yellow-ish overhead lighting. Like I mentioned before, keep indoor lights off during getting-ready photos so you don’t get mixed colors in your photos (don’t worry, I’ll switch them off if you forget!).
What To Wear
Even though we’d probably all love to just throw on a comfy t-shirt and pajama pants (I totally get it!), this is your wedding day—and it’s going to be amazing! I'll be capturing all those sweet moments of you walking around, hanging out with your bridesmaids, and of course, stealing you away for some intimate bridal portraits as you get ready.
For those moments, I highly recommend wearing a beautiful white lace robe or gown. These pieces create such dreamy, soft photos, just like the ones you see here. I suggest sticking with neutral tones like whites, creams, and earthy hues, as they complement the natural setting around us and create a timeless, serene vibe.
Avoid bright, bold, or overly saturated colors that can clash with the surroundings. Those types of tones tend to stand out in a way that doesn’t feel harmonious with the natural beauty of the day. That being said, a small pop of color can be stunning! If you do want to add a bit of vibrancy, choose one or two colors and keep the rest of your look neutral to maintain a balanced, effortless feel.
Outdoor ceremonies are my absolute favorite! But try making sure your ceremony is not during midday. Midday 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 One
Try to avoid the hours between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. for 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 Two
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 Three
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 soft box, which means no harsh shadows, no raccoon eyes, or shadow mustaches. It makes everyone look great with soft, creamy skin tones!
Ceremony…
Unplugged Ceremony
I can’t stress this enough—an unplugged ceremony is truly a game-changer. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to dodge phones, iPads, and even personal cameras blocking my shot. Trust me, an unplugged ceremony makes a huge difference for your photos.
I highly recommend having your officiant make a polite announcement asking guests to turn off their devices and simply be present in the moment. A well-timed, professional photo will always look better than anything taken on an iPad or phone. Even though guests might think they’re being discreet, they almost always end up stepping into the aisle, or worse, their flash will go off right as you share your first kiss, leaving you with a weirdly lit shot.
You’re investing a lot in high-quality, professional images—don’t let a sea of zoomed-in iPhone photos get in the way. I’ve got you covered!
Some couples even use a sign at the ceremony to help spread the message, and it’s been really effective. Your ceremony will feel so much more intimate and meaningful when everyone is focused on you, listening to your vows, and truly witnessing this special moment.
Portraits
Family Photos “ Formals”
Family formals come immediately after the ceremony, so making sure family members stay put after the ceremony ends is so important. Since usually I only have about 20 minutes to photograph the “family photo portion” of the day.
*PLEASE HAVE YOUR DETAILED FAMILY PHOTO LIST DONE IN YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING *
List the groupings of family photos you would like taken after the ceremony.
EX: BRIDE & GROOM WITH GROOM'S PARENTS (ACTUAL NAMES).
***This can be provided in a word document or email, or whatever is easiest for you! Having this helps make the family photos go much smoother and in a timely manner :)
Having a list will save so much time & make the process so simple! The reason I ask for names of family members is that it saves us from any family dynamic awkwardness! So instead of saying "bride with dad & step-mom," I can just say, "Sarah with Tom & Sally." It’s much more professional & family members are more likely to respond to hearing their actual name called. I always get so many compliments at the end of family photos for how easy, organized, & seamless it was!
Wedding Party Photos
Once we finish up with family photos, we will bring in the whole wedding party (Bridesmaids and Groomsmen) for group photos!! If you’re having a first look, full wedding party photos might happen before the ceremony to leave more time for couple portraits
Couples Portraits
Here’s where all the romance and feelings happen!
Where I’ll sneak the two of you away for sunset photos! And make you kiss right in front of me for a bunch of photos! haha
***I’ve normally set aside 40 minutes for couple portraits, but if you want to set aside more time and take a bunch of photos in your wedding dress, not stressing about time, please make sure to coordinate with your planner in advance so the timeline reflects
The Reception
The Grand Entrance
This is when I’ll be shooting candid photos of you and your bae walking in the reception!! ’ll also be shooting reception details.
Please communicate with your wedding planner or DJ to turn off any colorful lighting, strobe lighting, and any other distracting lighting. And to ONLY leave on the warm, ambient lighting for the entrance, first dance, any special parent dances, and during cake cutting.
I just don’t want you to look back on your photos and think “wow, I wish I had turned off the blue lighting, cause now I look like a smurf” Hahaha. yeahhhh we don’t want that! Also, if you're uplighting is blue, then anything white (hence your wedding dress) will have a blue hue on it.
The Reception
Dinner
Since no one wants photos of open mouths full of food lol. I’ll be eating at the same time as you. Also, make sure to coordinate this with your caterer; they sometimes will put me in a back room, which is not ideal, since I won’t be able to see any important events happening, so keep me in the party!
Party
WOOHOOO!!! LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!! I WILL sing along, and dance with you all night longgggg!! Plus, take all the dancing photos of your wedding party, family + friends! haha
When it comes to lighting for your reception, every venue is a bit different, but my top recommendation is always to go for natural-looking, warm light. Warm lighting creates such a dreamy, flattering ambiance in photos that really enhances the moment.
Tip One
For both indoor and outdoor receptions, consider adding Italian string lights. They’re a beautiful touch and create gorgeous bokeh (those soft, sparkly orbs in the background of your photos) that can make your images look even more magical.
Tip Two
If you’re thinking about using up-lighting, be mindful of the color you choose. The lighting color will influence the overall tone of your photos. For example, if you go with pink up-lighting, your white dress will have a pinkish hue, which may not be the effect you’re hoping for.
I highly recommend discussing with your DJ to ensure that colorful lighting is reserved for the dance party portion of the night. For special moments like the first dance or parent dances, it’s best to have the lighting be more neutral or soft. You don’t want to look back at those moments and think, “I wish we had turned off the blue or pink lights during our first dance—now all I can see are blue/pink tones on our faces!"
BE IN THE MOMENT
At the end of the day, what matters most is that you’re fully present in the moment. The tips I’ve shared are just here to help guide you as you plan your wedding day, but the real magic comes from the time you’ll spend celebrating your love, surrounded by family and friends. That’s what truly matters.
The Final Tip
On your wedding day, I want you to feel every moment in your heart and soul. The moment you walk down the aisle toward your love, the moment you exchange vows and promises, and the moment you share your first dance as husband and wife—these are the moments that truly count. And these are the moments I’ll be there to capture for you, so you’ll have them with you forever.