Wedding Guide

THE PRE-WEDDING GUIDE
1

2

3

ENGAGEMENT
S E S S I O N
Now that you’ve picked your wedding date, a
photographer, and most likely your venue as
well, you can celebrate! The hardest decisions
made during your planning process are over!
Now for some fun stuff.. Like your Engagement
Session! I include Engagement Sessions in this
guide because I absolutely believe they are a part
of the entire process. During your engagement
session, you’ll have the chance to get to know me,
experience how I photograph and how I handle
posing and lighting! This makes a huge impact on
how your wedding day flows, and honestly makes
us 10x more comfortable with each other! In most
cases I’m going to be with you guys throughout
the entirety of your wedding day, so having us
comfortable with one another is huge! I’ll arrive
on your wedding day already knowing how the
pair of you interact, what your best poses are and
how to photograph you in a genuine way!
Your engagement session can be scheduled any
time before your wedding day, but I normally
suggest at least 3-6 months in advance to avoid
stress! Because my weekends are normally filled
with weddings, I schedule engagement sessions
normally on weekdays, from 5-7pm depending
on the light and the time of year! In the winter
months, 3-5pm is a normal time frame for an
engagement session!
As you start to plan for your engagement session,
you’ll need to brainstorm some location ideas!
I love it when a couple picks a location that is
special or sentimental to them in some way! I’ve
done shoots where the proposal happened, to in
the home of a beloved grandmother where they
always spend their weekends! If you can’t think
of any specific location you’d like to shoot, I’m
totally happy to brainstorm some locations with
you, based on what kind of feel you’d like! As
long as the light is great, I can make any location
look wonderful! Farms, hiking trails, a well lit
restaurant or coffee shop, on a brewery tour,
downtown or on the beach, your engagement
session can happy just anywhere, don’t shy away
from any unique or fun ideas!
It’s always a little bit intimidating to have
your photo taken... even if it’s just with an
iPhone! We still want to look nice, make
sure nothing is in our teeth and that our
hair is behaving! I realize prepping for your
engagement session can be overwhelming,
so please read ahead for some tips on
outfits and accessories to that will make
your engagement session prep a bit more
manageable!
4

TIPS
FOR YOUR SHOOT
Most couples like to have one casual
outfit, and one more dressy outfit.
This will give your shoot two totally
different looks! I normally recommend
beginning in the dressier outfit!
Most patterns are actually okay,
however graphics are not favorable for
portraits. If you’re wearing a pattern,
make sure it’s not overwhelming or
distracting!
Don’t try to match.. Try to pick outfits
and accessories that coordinate
instead. If you both wore the same
exact color, think of how boring and
monotone that would be!
Clean your ring! I love to get shots of it
while my couples change outfits!
5
Don’t be afraid to be bold! Accessorize
and make your outfits your own,
scarves, bold necklaces, and fun shoes
are always welcome, and can transform
an outfit from photo to photo!
Make sure you’re comfortable in what
you’re wearing!! I can’t stress this
enough! And ladies, if the top is super
low cut, this will limit the angles I can
shoot from!

6

7

EVERYONE’S TIMELINE WILL BE DIFFERENT, AND TENDS
TO FLUCTUATE, BUT HERE IS A GOOD STARTING POINT TO
CONSIDER THE MAJOR PARTS OF THE DAY!
2:00-2:30
After the details have been
photographed, it’s time for
the bride to get into her
dress! This is a big moment,
and will be one of the most
memorable parts of your
day. I usually request that
the mother of the bride
& the bridesmaids are all
dressed and ready so that
everyone looks their best in
the images! After the bride
is in her dress, she can put
on her jewelry, veil, shoes,
etc and I will capture some
additional Bridal portraits!
3:15
If you put time into the
details of your day, I want
to photograph them. I love
this part of the day, using
it to capture your dress,
shoes, veil, bouquet, rings,
other jewelry, invitations,
etc! These shots allow me to
get warmed up for the rest
of your big day, and also
to capture a few shots of
you and your bridesmaids
getting ready! I recommend
having me arrive after the
majority of your hair & make
up is done, since you want to
look your best for photos!
2:30-3:00
This is one of my favorite
parts of the wedding day! If
you have a perfect location
in mind let me know, and I
will go set up the groom so
the bride can walk to him
and capture the moment. Be
sure to use this moment to
breathe, and just enjoy.
This is also completely
optional, if you’d prefer not
to have a first look, we can
make timeline adjustments!
8

3:30-4:00
A little detail to make sure
of is that the groomsmen
get their boutonnieres
on before they arrive for
portraits! During the Bridal
Party Portraits we will
make sure to take some of
amazing shots of the guys
and the girls both separately
together, plus any additional
photographs! As soon as
these portraits are complete,
we can move right into the
Family Portraits!
4:20-4:40
portraits
After the bride and groom
have taken their time with
the First Look, I will begin
to take a few romantic
portraits of the two of you
while the initial excitement
lingers! A location full of
natural light is the most
ideal, and remember we will
be subjected to the situation
of the day! If it’s raining, we
might need to find a back
up plan! This is also a good
time for the Bridal Party to
head to where the Formals
will be taken!
4:00-4:20
bridal party
Family Formals normally
take place immediately
before the ceremony (or
directly after if there is no
first look). It’s best to tell
everyone exactly where
they need to be 10 minutes
early so that we don’t miss
any groupings. However if
anything isn’t done, we can
sneak it in post-ceremony
before folks sneak off to
the cocktail hour! The
questionnaire I send out
before your wedding will
make sure we get all your
must-have groupings!
9

4:40-5:00
If the reception is in
the same location as
the ceremony, I will
use this time to shoot
the reception decor
UNTOUCHED! If the
ceremony and reception
are in different locations,
I recommend having a
cocktail hour outside the
main reception area if
possible so that I can grab
some great shots of your
reception decor before
guests start putting down
their belongings/finding
their tables!
5:00-5:30
After the Family Formals
have been completed,
it’s time for the couple
and the wedding party
to hide away before the
ceremony begins! The big
moment is JUST around
the corner!
4:40-4:50
It’s time to get hitched!
On average, most
ceremonies don’t last
more than 30 minutes,
but if you are including
special traditions,
readings, etc and it’s
going to be more than 30
minutes, don’t fret! We
can adjust the timeline to
suit YOU! Cherish these
moments, your ceremony
will pass by so quickly!
10

6:00-6:30
7:45
This is when the Bridal
Party lines up for
introductions and the
party kicks off! By this
part of the day, your
timeline will be far more
fluid, and we’ll focus on
your reception events!
Around sunset (remember
from your engagement
photos!) is the BEST time
of day for portraits in the
late spring, summer and
early fall! I love having
even just a few extra
minutes with the bride &
groom to take a few “Just
Married” portraits right
after the ceremony!
6:30-?
Most of my weddings
are around 6 hours of
coverage, and that will
cover most reception
events & a good start
of the dancing before
the dance floor gets
too sloppy! If you’re
interested in having an
exit photographed, and
I’m leaving before the
party is done, we can
stage a faux exit very
easily! Or if you’d like
to add some additional
coverage, that’s an option
too!
11

This portion of the Wedding Experience really sets
the stage for the entire wedding day! The next few
pages will share tips and tricks that will ensure
a seamless morning of bridal preparation and
beautiful portraits!
12

GETTING READY
It’s the morning of your wedding!
Hopefully all of the little details are taken
care of and you’re relaxing with your best
friends while your hair is being done. If
certain items haven’t been checked off your
to-do list, it’s time to hand them over to
someone else!
Delegation is a KEY part of a stress-free
wedding day. I know it’s hard to hand over
decorating duties and all of the last minute
things, but it really is important to just relax
and enjoy! The rest of the day is going to be
such a blur and full of so many emotions,
take advantage of this downtime!
There are a few things to consider about
the “getting ready” portion of your day. Do
you want to share a “first look” with your
father or any other person who has played
a huge role in your life? Will you and your
groom be exchanging gifts during this time?
If so, who would you like to deliver them?
Are there special women in your life that
would appreciate seeing you get into your
gown? Some brides want only a select few
around for this moment, and some want
grandmothers and aunts present! It’s totally
up to you!
As you get ready to put your dress on, refrain
from putting on any of your jewelry or other
touches! I love photographing all those final
steps when you’re in your gown!
Keep reading for a few more “getting ready”
tips to help you prepare!
13

By having even just ONE
simple window in the bridal
prep area, I am able to create
beautiful portraits with soft
light. I prefer natural light,
so the more windows the
better!
14

When putting together your wedding day
timeline, the best advice I could ever give you
is to ADD CUSHION TIME! Sometimes the most
simple things can take an extra 20 minutes,
and then all of a sudden the whole morning is
thrown off! Sometimes even getting into your
gown could take extra time if the back of your
gown is a button up! It’s just a good idea to add
in an extra ten minutes here or there so that we
have wiggle room to work with, this way if your
day gets thrown off 20 minutes, I can help you
to compensate that time somewhere else during
your day!
There are so many different things to
think about when you’re planning a wedding day,
and so here are some tips for the pre-ceremony
timeline. I realize that every single wedding day
is different, and so not all of these tips will apply
to every wedding day schedule! Something else
to consider is that not EVERYTHING will go as
planned, and I promise you, that is completely
normal!
The most common detail missing when
I arrive are the rings! Most advice says
to give the rings to the best man before
the day begins, but hold onto them for
just a bit longer so I can photograph
them in the AM!
You will need your bouquet
and boutonnieres for your
detail photos! Have them
delivered to the room where
the bride is getting ready!
I encourage my brides to
at least have their makeup
done before I start! This
makes sure you look flawless
in ALL your photos, from
start to finish.
Be sure to think about travel
time and TRAFFIC to and
from your getting ready
location and your venue!
If you’ve booked a second
shooter they’ll head off with
the guys if they’re getting
ready in the same location
as the bride, or within 10-15
minutes!
15

Your whole day begins with your DETAILS! I’ll come in, give you a big
hug and get started on your initial details to get warmed up before the
rest of the day starts!
If possible, collect all of your details before I arrive so I can begin
quickly and have more time for some “getting ready” shots of you and
your girls!
Don’t forget the Bouquet! Have the florals delivered to the Bride’s
getting ready space before the first look so that you can have your
bouquet for portraits!
I’d absolutely love it if you could get into your dress close to a window,
and it would be fabulous to have your girls dressed and ready to go to
help you get into your gown!
Be sure to cushion a bit of time here, never know what might happen
when putting on your dress that might eat up an extra bit of time! I’ve
seen buttons take up 15 minutes all their own!
DRESS
VEIL / HAIR PIECES
RINGS (ALL 3!)
SHOES
JEWELRY
PERFUME
INVITATIONS
BOUQUET
BORROWED & BLUE
16

Your first look is an amazing part of your wedding
day! If you aren’t sure about this tradition, the
next page will explain why it would be a romantic
addition to your wedding day that not only adds to
the experience, but also reduces stress! Please know
that I would never want my couples to feel pressured
to go with this option, I just want to explain it & why
so many couples love it!
17

I have confessed my love for first looks several times, and will
probably continue to do so, and there is a reason for this: They’re
AWESOME! Most brides get caught up in the non-traditional
aspect and immediately write it off, but let me explain.
A lot of brides worry that this first look will diminish the initial moment of him seeing you walking down the aisle, and
let me tell you, it wont! Picture this: your groom will be fresh off the golf course or hanging out with his friends, and just
before the ceremony the gravity of it all will hit him. Nerves will hit, his palms will sweat, and he’ll stand at the altar in
front of all your friends and family staring right at him. Right at his face, because everyone expects the groom’s reaction!
It’s the furthest thing from a private, intimate moment, but yes it is SO powerful and SO wonderful, but if you shared a first
look he’s free to enjoy that moment without nerves! You’ve both spent the morning with your best friends and each other,
and now is the main event and you can both just ENJOY! I’ve seen countless grooms still moved to tears of joy seeing their
bride walk down the aisle, even with a first look, so don’t be concerned about it diminishing the emotion! Think of it as an
extension, an extra element of romance on your day!
40% MORE PORTRAITS
You’re investing a lot into your wedding photography! With
a first look, you’ll receive 40% MORE portraits of the two of
you.. and those are the images that will decorate your home
with!
ENJOY THE SURPRISE
You actually get to have intimate time on your wedding
day with one another. Most brides don’t realize that when
you come down the aisle and totally SHOCK him with your
gorgeous-ness... he can’t even tell you how amazing you
look! He can’t touch you, embrace you, or even speak to you!
You have to wait until 30 minutes later when the ceremony
is over for his reaction, and it wont be the same as the initial
18
first glance.
YOUR ONLY ALONE TIME
First looks allow you to be together and alone on your
wedding day, time that is hard to come by! Portraits after
family formals can feel a bit rushed, and it can be hard to get
back into that “loving mode” with family around! Some of
my sweetest portraits are captured right after the first look!
DIMINISHES NERVES
You get rid of your jitters! Even the most stoic groom can
get nervous on their wedding day, and I have had so many
of my couples tell me how a first look helped them to calm
down and enjoy the ceremony to the fullest!

CEREMONY
It’s finally time! The moment everyone has been waiting
for! In a world of Pinterest and bridal magazines, it’s easy
to be overwhelmed and consumed by the “prettiness” of the
event. While details do matter, it’s important to never lose
sight of the real purpose of this amazing day!
If you get married outdoors at 12pm, the lighting will be
harsh on you, your faces, and your guests, and most people
will end up squinting! I suggest planning an outdoor
ceremony 2 hours before sunset if you are planning on a
First Look, and 3 hours before if not, to make sure you have
plenty of light after for formal photographs! If planning an
indoor ceremony, it is always best to have EVEN lighting at
the altar. Two spotlights on the bride & groom means I can’t
expose properly for the bridal party. It is better to have soft,
even light across the whole altar
19
Hiring an event planner or just a day-of coordinator can
make your life so much easier! Without a coordinator,
responsibilities for timeline will fall on the mother of the
bride, the photographer, or worst yet the bride herself!
All of my most stressful weddings were caused by a lack
of coordination and organization! Even the most flawless
timelines can fall apart without someone to organize.

If we’re being honest, all of the wedding day images are important, but my real
favorites are almost always from my time with the Bride & Groom! These romantic
portraits of just the two of you will be the images you print and frame beside your bed,
over your mantle and they will also be the images that fill your album for generations
to enjoy!
These images are always my favorite not only because of their beauty, but because this
is such a sweet portion of the day. For this brief moment in time you will be alone with
your groom on your wedding day. You will have a chance to love on each other and
really connect! Romantic portraits are normally done before the ceremony (after the
First Look), and then I love shooting a few “just married” portraits after the ceremony
as well! If you’re not interested in a first look, we will make sure to include lots of time
after the ceremony for these portraits!
20

21

FAMILY FORMALS
I love meeting my couple’s families on the wedding day, and Family Formals
are sometimes one of my first interactions with everyone, so having a game
plan for this part of the day is crucial! A month before your wedding, I’ll send a
questionnaire asking you for any essential groupings that you want us to capture
during the Family Formals time! Below is the basic list I capture at every wedding,
so if any photos you dearly want aren’t on this list, please let me know!
Finding a nice, well lit space for these is a good thing to consider, especially if
your family groupings are large. We want to make sure that we’re not in direct
sunlight, and have a large enough area to maneuver in!
Something else very helpful is to give a copy of the family formals list to a
bridesmaid who can help me to wrangle the family members I might not know!
BRIDE’S FAMILY
BRIDE & GROOM + BRIDE’S PARENTS
BRIDE + HER MOTHER
BRIDE + HER FATHER
BRIDE + SIBLINGS
BRIDE + GRANDPARENTS
GROOM’S FAMILY
BRIDE & GROOM + GROOM’S PARENTS
GROOM + HIS MOTHER
GROOM + HIS FATHER
GROOM + SIBLINGS
GROOM + GRANDPARENTS
BRIDE & GROOM + BOTH SETS OF PARENTS
BRIDE & GROOM + SIBLINGS + PARENTS
WHOLE FAMILY
22

Just before your Family Formals is when we’ll
capture your bridal party shots! Of course if
your siblings are a part of your bridal party
they’ll be in the formals, but standardly I’ll
capture:
Bride + Bridesmaids Group
Bride + Each Bridesmaid
Groom + Groomsmen Group
Groom + Each Groomsman
If you’re not doing a First Look, the Bride &
Bridesmaids shots at least can be something we
can do before heading to the ceremony!
23

The party is finally here! It’s time to eat, drink and be merry, and celebrate the fact that your two
families have now joined as one! Most things get much more lax during this part of the day, but that
can only happen smoothly if your event is well thought out ahead of time! This is going to be a big role
of your DJ or Coordinator, making sure that every event of your reception moves along smoothly and
on time, coordinated with the catering so that everyone is eating at the same time!
You can make the reception completely your own, of course it’s your party and should happen how
you want it to, but here are some common events that happen during a large majority of receptions!
BRIDAL PARTY INTRODUCTIONS
FIRST DANCE
FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE
MOTHER-SON DANCE
ANNIVERSARY DANCE
TOASTS
CAKE CUTTING
BOUQUET TOSS
24

RECEPTION TIPS
GUEST CONSIDERATION: If you have a lot of elderly guests, consider them when planning out your
timeline! Many won’t stay until the very end of the reception, so consider planning sweet traditions
like cake-cutting and parent dances for earlier in the evening so they can be a part of them!
KEEP IT MOVING: Chat with your DJ or Coordinator about how you can plan your reception’s flow in
a way that will keep guests engaged and moving all night, until the open dance floor really kicks off!
MAKE IT YOUR OWN: If you want to have a special dance with your grandparents, do it! If you have
elderly relatives you want to honor with an anniversary dance, do it! Make your reception a reflection
of yourselves, and don’t feel like you have to keep to traditions! Also make sure to give your DJ or
Band a “Do Not Play” list if there are songs you really don’t want to hear during your reception! (Does
anyone really like the chicken dance?)
DON’T GET CAUGHT UP: In the details! You want to enjoy your reception to the fullest, not spend
it worrying about if your centerpieces look good. Sure details are pretty and fun to photograph, but
they can steal joy of the day if you get too caught up in them (speaking from experience!). Plan your
centerpieces, welcome table, etc. well before the wedding and teach your coordinator or a close friend
to set them up so you aren’t thinking about them day of! Delegation is key!
25

26