Top wedding planning tips from a photographer!

Before the wedding

1. Know what your timeline looks like for the day

2. If you are working with a wedding ordinator this is something they can help you with.

3. Make sure all of your vendors know when they need to be where and has a copy of your timeline.

4. Make a list of all your vendors for your photographer! Put down everyone on the list! DJ, Florist, Dress brand, and dress shop, catering crew, cake, wedding coordinator, Photo Booth!

Getting Dressed

5. Make sure the bride is not the last person to get hair and makeup done, especially if you are doing a first look!  We can always do a first look without a bridesmaid but never without a bride!

6. Have all your bridesmaids in their dress before the bride gets in hers!  This is always a great opportunity for photos, so make sure bridesmaids, and mother of the bride is dressed and ready for their close-ups!

7. Have your mom and maid of honor help you put your jewelry on after you get in your dress.

8. Have the bride get ready in a different room then where hair and makeup and bridesmaids are getting dressed.  This way the room isn’t cluttered with clothes purses, and other stuff!  Master bedrooms are great for this, pick a room with a large window!

9. Have your florist put a vase of flowers together for the bridal prep room! Your photographer can use some of these flowers as your detail photos!

10. Have all of your jewelry, dress, veil, perfume bottles, shoes, and other little details ready in a box for your photographer to photograph while you are getting your hair and makeup done.

11. Bring two sets of invitations and rsvp cards!

12. If you choose to have a first look, plan on it being just the bride and groom and photographer.  This is a special moment between you and your husband to be, don’t put more pressure on yourself with extra people watching.

Ceremony

13. Know what time the sun will set on your wedding day before you set the start time for your wedding ceremony.  Here in North Dakota, there is quite a difference in the sunset from June 25th at 9:56 pm and October 15th 7:01 pm. If you are planning on taking photos at sunset you will need to make sure that your ceremony is finished at least an hour before the sun sets. There are plenty of apps you can use to figure out the time the sun sets on your wedding day based on your location, this is one of my favorites. 

14. Have your photographer make a guest signature book using your engagement photos.  This is a beautiful way for your guests to see your engagement photos and a lovely way to document who attended your wedding!

15. If you are having your ceremony on a family farm, put someone responsible in charge of parking! Have them set some spaces aside close to the ceremony for elderly guests who have a hard time walking very far.

16. If you having an outdoor wedding, think about having your wedding programs printed on thick card stock and stapling popsicle sticks to them to create fans for your guests!

17. Offer bug spray to your guests if there is a possibility of mosquitos! – Be smitten no bitten!

18. Consider having your ceremony unplugged.  As you photographer, I promise to post sneak peeks on social media ASAP! Here is a great example what happens at each and every wedding when you don’t ask your guests to set down their phones and enjoy the moment! 

19. If you do a sand ceremony, or braid rope, or light a candle, let your photographer know, so they can give you tips on where to stand so that your photographer can get photos of it!

20. Let your photographer know if there are any family situations your photographer should know about (deaths, divorces, children from previous relationships) so that your photographer can address it in formal photographs.

Reception

21. If you have a large reception room take a look at uplighting!   It’s a great way to make a large impact on a large room!

22. Consider having your first dance right away after the grand entrance and before you eat.  This way you can have your guests all gathered around the dance floor, without empty plants and food on the table. Be sure to check with your DJ or Band to make sure they can be ready!

23. Make sure there are enough electrical outlets for your vendors! Vendors like DJ, catering crew, vendors may all need some type of electricity for things like sound systems, warming ovens, and flashes. This is definitely something to consider if you are having an outdoor wedding and reception.

24. Have your florist make an extra throw away bouquet for your bouquet toss.

25. Use a custom hashtag for your wedding!

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