Thanks for booking with us! Below is some important information and tips for your wedding day.
Be sure to print a copy of your contract now so you remember when each payment will be automatically debited out of your account. Late fees and reprocessing fees apply if your account does not have enough funds during the auto debit.
30 days befor the wedding, we will reach out to you for final timeline and itinerary prepreation. If you want us to help you with your timeline early, just email us or go to our website and click “timeline help” at the top.
Special Tip About Getting Ready: Not all brides want “getting ready photos”, but these photos are the only way the couple will be able to share with each other the moments they spent getting ready for the big day. We recommended starting your package when you think your makeup will be done. Also, remember to relax. Sometimes brides in the stress of getting ready and talking with others can have a “frown” or “angry” face. This will translate to your photos. We’ll remind you if we think a smile is due, but keep your expressions in mind when getting ready.
Special Tip About Family Photos: Some couples assume family photos can be done quickly, but please consider all that is required. The time needed for family photos can range depending on the size of your family. Families with immediate parents and siblings will take less time than family photos with divorced parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, spouses, children and extended family. Grandparents that use wheels chairs or canes by take additional time to come in and out of photos. Babies and children may need time to settle if crying. Plus, keep in mind the larger the family, the more time it may take to get everyone in one place. Also, keep in mind time for actual posing. If family pictures are scheduled for 4:00 pm, tell them to arrive at 3:30 pm to ensure everyone is on time and ready. Even if they are late, they’ll still be on time.
Also, consider writing down all the family photos you want to follow the date of the wedding.
Other Considerations:
First look vs Ceremony:
Pros:
- Ability to get couple photos and family photos taken care of before the ceremony so you do not miss your cocktail hour
- You get to spend more time with your spouse on your wedding day
- See each other for the first time in privacy, not surrounded by hundreds of people
- If your wedding ends up running severely behind, your photos won’t be rushed after the ceremony
- There are no distractions so we can move quickly (example: no trying to find people from a very crowded cocktail hour)
- We highly suggest it!
Con:
- Some brides don’t want to be seen before the aisle
- Some family members may not support the decision to see each other before the ceremony
End Time
Many brides opt to have their photographer/videographer leave after cake-cutting (normally around 9 pm, but ask your venue). This is because by the time you have cut your cake, we already have a couple hours of dancing captured. After cake, is just more dancing. Unless you want a TON of party photos, you can save time by ending your package right after cake.
Travel
Keep travel times in mind. If it takes 15 minute to get from your hotel to the church, double it in your timeline. Often times it may take you 10 minutes to get down the elevator to the car in the first place. Someone may forget something and need to run back into the room. Plus, you may hit traffic or every red light on the way there. We’ve even seen someone get car sick in the car and vomit on the bride (seriously!) Plan for the unexpected.
Receiving Line
Receiving lines after the ceremony are a great way to welcome everyone so you can fully enjoy the cocktail hour and reception. If you don’t do a receiving line, you will most likely spend your cocktail hour doing all of your greetings and it will be almost impossible to eat. Keep in mind though, if you plan to do all over your photos after the ceremony, a receiving line (which can take 30 minutes) will eat up the time available to take photos.
First Dances
Many couples are opting for shorter first dances (for example just the first chorus) but keep in mind this will limit the amount of first dance photos you will receive. We suggest a full first dance song, if possible.
Staying on Schedule
We suggest assigning one person to be the “time keeper”, for example a bridesmaid. This person should make sure timing is flowing appropriately. This person can also be the wedding coordinator, if you have one. For instance, if makeup was supposed to be completed by 1 pm, this person should warn the makeup artist to hurry if its running behind. Tip: Give them a laminated copy of your wedding timeline. Also, consider giving your entire bridal party a copy.