Wedding Day Planning Guide

I have done my best to create this guide to help you in some planning and decision making on your day. Most of what you will ready in this will be helpful for not only making your photos look better but in also making your big days a bit less stressful.

Details

When we start any wedding day, the first thing we like to do is details. This just makes sure that those items are off my list and I can focus on the happy couple the whole rest of the day. We do our best to position and place all of your accessories to look like they are straight out of a magazine. These photos should be for the most important keepsakes. Please feel free to bring anything that you think would help elevate your photos, such as ribbons, stamps, little dishes for jewelry, fabric, etc. If you're still confused on what you should include, we have a list below that explains what you should include!

Tip: It helps to plan ahead for what you want in your photos and have those set aside in either a bag or box so we are not interrupting the getting ready process when we show up.

Some ideas of items to include:

• Any and all rings
• Shoes
• Invites, save-the-dates, etc
• Necklaces
• Flowers
• Ties / Bow ties
• Cufflinks
• Watches
• Customized items
• Thank you gifts
• Something old, new, borrowed, blue

Getting Ready

Delegation is essential during this time. Ensure you’re not the only one making decisions. Your focus should be on relaxing and preparing for the biggest day of your life. Additionally, the more you plan ahead, the less stress you’ll experience, resulting in a smoother and more enjoyable celebration. When dressing, put on all accessories last to prevent snagging or tearing on your dresses or suit. Occasionally, we might recreate a shot—such as the best man adjusting a tie or multiple people helping with the dress—because the real moments aren’t always as photogenic as they feel.

When doing hair and makeup, consider what will be in your photos. Try to avoid clutter such as plastic water bottles or dirty tissues. Think about location as well. Your makeup artist may have their own lighting but close to a window or away from any overhead harsh lights will help you a ton. Also think about the space and how it may look. Try to avoid small areas or areas with too much clutter. Don’t stress too much about it though! We can always move you somewhere for the touch ups.

First Look

INTERESTED?

Here’s how it works: I will select a beautiful location and position the groom while the bride approaches quietly from behind. Once the bride is at a comfortable distance, they will then turn around to see each other for the first time. The photos captured in this moment are truly unparalleled—just the two of you, sharing an intimate, distraction-free moment. Emotions are genuine, reactions are heartfelt, and any pre-ceremony nerves are eased. Standing at the end of the aisle completely relaxed creates a more enjoyable and memorable ceremony experience. If you choose to include video, I highly recommend a first look. It adds incredible depth to your film and helps capture the pure emotions of that moment with greater vividness.

Doing a first look can also mean getting a lot of the photos done before the ceremony in some situations. This can often help reduce some stress for the bride and groom and in some situations, even allows the bride and groom to attend their own cocktail hour.

NOT INTERESTED?

If you decide against a first look before the ceremony, your first look will happen naturally down the aisle—an important and meaningful moment for many couples. This traditional moment is often cherished, as it captures the genuine emotions of both partners seeing each other for the first time on the wedding day shared with all loved ones in attendance. During the ceremony, I typically position myself at the end of the aisle to photograph the bride head-on as she walks down, while my second shooter captures the groom’s reaction from the back with a zoom lens.

Keep in mind, when you opt out of a first look, guests may try to take their own photos during this part of the ceremony. It’s a good idea to find a polite way to encourage them to keep their cameras and phones put away—whether through an announcement before the processional begins or a sign at the venue entrance. Ultimately, the choice of when and how to have your first look is entirely yours, and it will be a special, unforgettable moment no matter what you decide.

Ceremony

Well, it's time! Your guests are arriving, make up is done, music is playing. Let's say some I dos! One thing to remember is to be aware where you're looking. Don't watch your feet as you come down the isle so that we can see your face when you're walking! Make sure your vows are ready, and don't get caught up in the decor, this is the first day as husband and wife! If you have the opportunity, make sure to mention to your bridal party to look straight ahead and smile during the processional. For those who have long hair, if it gets blown away outside, fix it! I’d rather you take two seconds to fix it rather than getting all your photos with your hair in your face.

Make sure you hold the kiss for a while. At least 3 seconds! We have nearly missed the kiss shot before because couples just give a peck. Don't be embarrassed, people are here to see you two get married! What else do they expect?

Reception

It’s time to dance and celebrate your marriage! Enjoy every moment, and don’t be surprised if you catch some interesting dance moves from your relatives. We’ll typically be using a flash during the reception, so get ready for some flashes during the party. If you’d like a photo with your guests, just find us on the dance floor or among the crowd—we’ll be happy to capture that shot! We also stay flexible about guests using phones during the reception, we make sure not to interrupt your experience or get in their way.

TIP: Enjoy your first dance. Many couples use this moment to chat about everything—who they just met, the food, or what's happening around them. Instead, focus on each other and take in the experience. We'll be capturing every beautiful moment, and constant talking can interrupt getting the perfect shot!

Things To Remember

SPEECHES

Encourage your bridal party to print their speeches or write them out on paper. Reading from a cell phone can cause signal interference that disrupts the microphone and affects the audio quality in your video. Additionally, remind them to keep their remarks positive and heartfelt. While funny stories are welcome, the toast should primarily celebrate the bride and groom’s new journey together.

RECEPTION TIMELINE

Most couples typically have us leave partway through the reception due to timeline constraints, which often means we arrive earlier and depart earlier. If you feel like you’d like us to stay longer than initially planned, we offer hourly coverage that can be added on the day of the event. But we do recommend scheduling the formalities toward the beginning of the reception, leaving the latter part open for celebration and dancing.

RECEPTION PHOTOS

Nearly all DJs bring their own lighting setups, which can often interfere with photography. Although we use our own flashes, DJ lighting frequently results in undesirable color casts in photos. During the editing process, images affected by DJ lighting receive minimal adjustments because it can significantly distort skin tones, shadows, etc.. Additionally, some DJs use lasers that is tough to deal with when they are all over peoples faces. That said, all reception photos will get basic touch-ups and level corrections to improve overall quality.

Similarly, some photos you receive during the reception might be blurry or slightly out of focus. If this happens, it's because we felt the moment captured was too important to leave out—whether it's a meaningful family photo or an irreplaceable memory.

Planning for the seasons

Spring

One of the most beautiful seasons, especially as everything bursts into bloom. If you have allergies, be sure to come prepared. Otherwise, spring offers stunning natural light and vibrant colors, with perfectly mild temperatures—not too cold, and not too hot. Sunset generally between 6 and 7PM.

summer

This is the peak season for photography. The extended daylight hours and later sunsets create ideal lighting conditions, while everything in bloom making the perfect backdrop. Even on rainy days, we can capture really great photos. With sunset typically between 8 and 9 PM, the golden hour such a great way to end our day together.

autumn

Fall weather can be unpredictable, so it’s important to be prepared for the possibility of gray skies. While cloudy conditions may feel gloomy, they actually create beautifully diffused and even lighting that works well in nearly any location. Sunset is typically between 6 and 7 PM, making it sometimes tricky maneuvering golden hour around dinner time.

winter

Winter is undoubtedly one of the most challenging seasons, but it also offers the potential for truly magical images. With sunsets typically between 4 and 5 PM, it's important to schedule your ceremony earlier in the day to take full advantage of natural light. When snow blankets the ground, the lighting becomes wonderfully soft and even, creating ideal conditions for perfect, well-lit photos.

FAQs

As true professionals I adapt and flow with any event that may happen on the day, including bad weather. I do my best to research back up locations for indoors if necessary but also so carry multiple umbrellas if we would choose to utilize the rain! Wet weather can also be a blessing as we find that the rain really brings out the colours in the landscape and can provide some amazing reflections.
All Photo packages come with two photographers unless otherwise arranged through a custom package. All video packages come with one videographer unless otherwise arranged through a custom package. When having both photo and video at your wedding, You can plan on 2 photographers and one videographer, totaling 3 people.
One of the great things about using my service is I have a strong team with a deep talent. I will send my team that is available for the replacement. We're here to take the stress out of your wedding day and you really can rely on us 100%. This is covered much more in depth in my contract so please refer to that if you have an further concerns!
YES! My print release will cover any printing that you would like to do! There is no limit on sizing or quantity. Although, I would ask that you don't re-edit or edit over my photos so that you don't lose the quality.