Wedding Day Tips & Planning

1. Hire a wedding planner. It is a great way to make your planning process easier and allow you to enjoy your wedding day. Having a wedding planner takes the stress off of you and your family. This is your day to soak it all in and not worry if your forgetting something.

2. Stay relaxed and focus on each other! The most genuine and beautiful images are easy when you're truly enjoying your special day. 

3. The bigger the bridal party, the longer it takes for hair & makeup. Your position in the queue is important. What I mean by that is, do not be last in line for hair & makeup, ideally you should be first or second in line if you have 1-2 bridesmaids. You being ready for your pictures is more important then your bridesmaids or flower girls.

4. Last but not least .... the details. Usually small in size but a major piece of your wedding day and wedding photography gallery. Because I start photographing details first thing, it’s important to have all of your details packed and organized in one spot so I can grab them to get started with when I arrive. They’re the sentimental things you hand-selected with care that many of your guests may not have the chance of seeing up close.

• Your wedding dress and its accessories.
• A nice hanger & ring box. If you don’t have a hanger or ring box, don’t stress! I usually travel with multiple neutral ones just in case you forget.
• Your veil. I will let you in a little secret – I LOVE VEILS. They are perfect for softening your detail shots, bringing the perfect level of romance and dreaminess to your photos. The pictures of your veil can add a little extra to your close up shots with you and your groom.
• Your shoes. Since you won’t be showing your shoes very much during your day this is really their time to shine! Even if you didn’t get beautiful Louis Vuitton's and opted for TOMS, they are very important to the overall look of your details and are still a part of your day!
• All the rings. Make sure someone packs all 3 rings together.
• Your bouquet. Ask your florist to deliver your bouquet and your bridesmaids’ bouquets to the bridal suite in time for detail pictures. Bonus tip: Ask your florist if they can provide some extra flowers or greenery to be used in detail shots as well! If your bouquet was made by you or your family make sure to save some extra flowers.
• The invitation set. This can include the announcement and the reply card. Bring the envelops with or without a stamp also.
• Heirlooms and keepsakes. Any thing that is special. 
• Your grooms details. Grooms shoes, watch, cufflinks, ties, and all other important details. Did you get a gift for the groom or the bride?
• A clean bridal suite or room. I can not stress this enough. No one wants a water bottle, the bridesmaid's gym bag or undies on the floor in their pictures. Keep the clutter to one side of the room or better yet in a different room.

In preparation for the wedding day, I send my bride and groom their wedding timeline of how the day will flow with their wedding pictures. They can make any changes needed. Don't stress about the timeline to much. Its just a great way to help create a map of getting the images you will want.

Overall just have fun, enjoy your day, and remember in the end, even if your a bouquet short, the groomsman forgets his shoes or the flower girl cries for her mom as she walks down the isle, its the result of being with the person you love and you starting your future that matters the most.