As some of you may have noticed, lately, I have been starting some new series on here and today I am adding a new series: Wedding Wednesdays! From the moment I saw Cinderella and watched Her and the Prince get married, I have been completely smitten with all things wedding! I don't know everything about weddings , but after 3 years of shooting weddings I have slowly figured out some things that you should and shouldn't do on your wedding day! I don't know about you...but I am all about doing something that will simplify my life and make it easier, read on below if you want to find out 10 Tips to make your wedding day run smoother!
1.) Stay hydrated....it sounds like a simple thing, but you would be amazed at how many brides forget to drink water and then go stand out in the hot sun at a Spring/Summer wedding and nearly pass out. Drinking water will not only help you stay hydrated, but it will also help your skin look fresher in photos.
2.) Allot more time for getting your hair and makeup done and pictures than you might think you would need too. Things always take longer than you think they will and it is better to allow some wiggle room than to plan you timeline so tightly that if one thing runs behind it messes up the timeline for the rest of the day. Also, consider doing a trial run before your wedding day with your hairstylist and makeup artist just to make sure that you are all on the same page and it will also help you to have a time estimate of how long it may take you on your big day to get ready.
3.) Try to keep the room where the photographer will be taking your getting ready photos as free of clutter as possible. A good way to do this is to pick a spot in the room that is out of the way where everyone can put their stuff. Doing this will ensure that when you get back those photos of your putting on your wedding dress there won't be purses, empty garment bags, etc... in the background.
4.) When it comes to picking out a room to get ready in, try to pick a room that has lots of natural light and at least several windows. The natural light will mean that your photographer can take some beautiful getting ready photos without having to turn on any yellow bulbed lamps or fluorescent lights and the windows will make a great place for the photographer to position you so that the natural light from the window can light your face and features without majorly blowing out the details of your dress.
5.) Consider doing "first look photos!" I know that in the South this typically goes against what is considered traditional, but doing first look photos will mean that after your wedding ceremony instead of having to do bridal party pictures, pictures of you and the groom with your families, and individual pictures of you and the groom as a couple....you will only have to do the latter two. Some brides ask me "what is a first look?" A first look is when prior to the wedding you find a private spot to take pictures of the bride and groom together where they will see each other for the first time. Typically what I will do is find a spot, position the bride so that her back will be facing the groom as he walks in, make the groom close his eyes and lead him to his bride and then once he is standing in front of her open his eyes! This private time between the bride and groom makes for some very magical, intimate moments! It is a great time for the two of you to relax prior to the ceremony and just have some private time away from prying eyes ;) Another benefit of doing first look photos is it ensures that you will be able to get to your reception and guests sooner rather than later. I could go on and on about the benefits of doing first look photos, but suffice it to say that if you do them your photographer will love you and your guests will love you too because they will get to see more of you at the reception!
6.) Actually take a few minutes at your reception to sit down and eat and enjoy just hanging out with your family/friends! When you get to your reception it is very likely that you will be busy talking to your guests, so talk to your maid of honor (or matron) or wedding coordinator about having plates of food set aside for you and the groom. You spent all that time taste testing and picking out the menu for your wedding, it is only right that you get to sample some of the fruits of your labor!
7.) Consider having a technology free wedding or at least technology free ceremony! Now before your ready to say "Off with her head," over this, hear me out: in our social media, technologically drenched world I know that this might be a foreign concept to some, but having a wedding where people aren't constantly worried about getting that next shot to post on instagram can be a breath of fresh air. As a photographer it is so hard for me when I am doing a wedding and during what should be special, intimate moments I am having to fight for a spot to take pictures with guests who are holding up camera's, cellphones, or all photographer's dreaded item....the IPAD duh duh duh! I totally understand that when guests go to a wedding they are all dressed up and excited about the event taking place, so taking a snapshot or few throughout the wedding is a given, but it would also be nice for them to just sit in the moment and enjoy the wedding as it is happening and leave the real picture taking and capturing of moments up to the photographer.
8.) Make a list prior to the wedding of family members that you want to make sure to get a photo with at your wedding! It is so incredible for me on a wedding day when I know beforehand which family members I need to prioritize getting a photo of the bride and groom with. Having this list will mean that the formal family photo time that might take around 45 mins. could be shortened down to 20-30 minutes just by being organized.
9.) Hire a makeup artist to do your makeup and possibly even your bridesmaids makeup! A professional makeup artist will know the best ways to bring out the your beautiful features and what makeup products will photograph the best!
10.) My last tip may seem like a no-brainer to some, but my last tip for your wedding day is to just relax and take it all in! Is it fun to have a beautiful wedding day full of diy decor and blog worthy moments?! sure.... but really at the end of the day what matters so much more than that is just enjoying the day where you are making a commitment to the person you love more than anyone else in the world!
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