Wedding Day Timeline Prep

Hi and thank you so much for trusting me to document your big day. I am so excited to start planning this life event with you! Below are a list of questions I need answered so that I can provide you with all the images you wish to have. I can’t capture a moment if I don’t know it’s happening. Sometimes I do get lucky, though!

Wedding Day Prep

I will arrive to your wedding location about a 30-45 minutes before I am expected to start shooting. This allows me to walk the property to get an idea of what I am working with. During this time I will also grab some detail shots of the venue, reception area (if any are ready), rings, etc.

I will start shooting getting ready shots at the scheduled time. The bride should be the final person to have her hair + make-up done, this way she looks the freshest when wedding time starts, but, also, your bridesmaids and mothers will be dress and ready when it comes time to grab photos of you during your getting ready. This goes for the men, too!

Prepping your Bridal Suite

  • Find a room with windows. Open all curtains and shades to let in all the natural light.

  • I would like to see clean walls, so remove anything that doesn’t seem to work for your photos.

  • Try to remove all garbage and keep chaos of items to a minimum: put things in closets, make sure clothing and hygiene products are all put in their original bags and stowed away nicely.

  • Having floor length mirror aids in a quality control checker when getting ready, and it makes for beautiful images. You might be able to request this item if you are getting ready in a hotel suite. Not a requirement, but nice to have.

What to do when being photographed while getting ready

Getting your photos done can feel like such and awkward thing. Just remember to have fun, enjoy the moment, and just laugh with your friends and family. I will give you prompts when I need something from you, but for the most part I will be documenting the day as it happens. Another thing to remember is to try and keep a nice long neck and to sit tall during the day, this will allow me to capture these moments in your best posture.

FAQ’s

  • How will I know it’s time for formal, B+G, getting ready, etc. photos? This is a BIG part of the planning process- hence all of the questions above. Once I have all the time details, I will create a timeline of events and plan when we should be doing portraits, getting ready, and couples shots. I set a timer 15 minutes prior to each event on the timeline to give ample time to prepare for them. This also helps keep us in check throughout the day. Also, about 1-2 weeks prior to wedding day, I will contact you for a final approval on your timeline.

  • How long will formal shots take? I try to get these done in about an hour, but it really depends on how many groupings you request. It could be longer or shorter.

  • When do we do Bride & Groom portraits done? B+G portraits can be done right after family photos, when you do your first look (if you are doing one), or we can sneak away during reception. These can happen whenever we have time. They don’t take up a lot of time, but they are the most FUN!

  • Do I need someone to gather family members for the formal photos? 100% YES! I don’t know all of these people, so it’s best to have someone who does. Please assign 1 or 2 people that will be able to gather family and friends for their formal shots. I will write-up a list of all the shots you requested along with the time we expect to start formal photos. If you can create copies of this and hand it out to everyone who will be a part of formal photos, this will help this process move along much more smoothly.

  • When will we get our photos back? 8-10 weeks.

  • Can I order prints through you? You can, but you will be getting the full resolution of each image so you will have the ability to print your own images. Should you choose to print through me, you will be paying more per print simply because it requires a lot of work and quality control on my end.

  • What happens if we are not exact with the timeline? There are a lot of moving parts planning and setting up for a wedding. There are things that will take longer than expected and vice versa. Expect delays. Expect chaos. Expect things to not be perfect, but once you hit that aisle, none of it matters. If your wedding was 100% dead on for timing, you’ve just created a new category for the Guinness Book of World Records. LOL!