Ask Anything :: How do you organize a wedding day?

“How do you organize a wedding day?” This is something we get asked a lot, usually during a consultation with a new couple. The discussion of basic timeline for a couple’s wedding day is always brought up during that first meeting, simply as a way to determine how much coverage they will need. Not all weddings require full day coverage (though most of our couples choose to go that route). And so as we start to talk about the day’s events and what the couple wants photographed, we get asked this question. When a couple asks us “how do you organize a wedding day?” they’re really saying “we have never done this before and have no idea when anything should be done, or how much time anything will take… please help!”

So we developed a method for organizing the way we document a wedding day, and we share this basic plan with them to help calm their fears.

This method of how WE like to shoot, is based on we’ve learned to be best for us and for our couples. It’s by no means the only way to organize the photography of a wedding day, but it’s a great place to start. In fact, this is really just a listing of photo opportunities throughout a wedding day. We don’t like to work with stark “shot lists” that limit and narrow our photography style, but we do understand there are elements to a wedding day that shouldn’t be missed. This basic “plan” or “organization of events” gives couples a starting point and gives us a plan. It gives them a guideline to help envision their own wedding day. From this plan they can change things up, bend and stretch it to fit their personal preferences and needs, all working to put the puzzles pieces together.

 

As a starting point, here’s how we like to organize a wedding day in terms of photography…

 

• Arrival to Bridal Suite, introduce ourselves to everyone in the room. Assess the lighting, find spaces to photograph within, clean the room where necessary to eliminate clutter within the backgrounds.

 

• Detail Photos – We’ll begin with all of the details to include the dress, veil, shoes, rings (all 3!!!!) stationary, garter, perfume, earrings, necklace, hankies, gifts, love letters, and anything other small item important to the couple. We do these early and have everything finished before the Bride could need them.

 

• Completely documentary getting ready moments are usually being photographed at this point as well, overlapping with the detail photo time. With two of us, this can happen 😉 We do not interrupt, speak up, or intrude during this time, usually while hair and make up are being done at a relaxed pace.

 

• Getting Ready moments – At a certain point, it’s time for the Bride to get into her dress and when this happens we do like to “help” the moments unfold. We will help to make sure all Bridesmaids are dressed before the Bride is ready to step into her gown. We’ll clear a space near the window light with a nice, clean background for photos and ask the Bride to stand there. We’ll suggest the order in which the Bride will put on different accessories, and we’ll ask her to sit or stand at different times as well. This sounds more “posed” than it really is. It all happens so quickly, and we are shooting rapidly to catch all the real live moments as they take place, but they’re happening in the best light possible, and our Bride is situated in a way that we know she looks at her photos.

 

• First Look – for the majority of couples we work with, a First Look is included in their timeline. Once the Bride is dressed, and the Groom has arrived to the First Look location we will begin with this private time for the couple.

 

• Classic Couple’s portraits – Once our couple has had all the time they need  following their first look, we’ll move into portraits. Since we’re typically working with harsh light this point in the day, we are focusing on shaded locations or locations that provide enough natural reflectors. We like to spend this time photographing couples in more classic positioning.

 

• Bridal Party portraits – The bridal party will join us once we’ve taken some couple’s portraits, and we’ll work through the bulk of those must have group photos. Girls together, Guys together, individuals, and the entire group in various line ups/poses.

 

• Ceremony – Once we’re finished with the bridal party, it’s time for the entire group (who is already assembled and ready to go by the way!) to jump into the limo/bus and make their way to the ceremony location. Or if we’re lucky… everyone gets to walk there 😉 There is some downtime here to allow the couple to go to their holding spaces, relax and refresh before the ceremony begins. And we take this time to re-load memory cards, assess lighting within the ceremony space and get set up ourselves. The ceremony takes place, they kiss and they’re married!!!

 

• Hug and Kiss time – This is a time we hope all couples can enjoy on their wedding day. Immediately following your ceremony you do NOT want to have to be rushed off for photos. Couples who have done a First Look will never have to be rushed anywhere at this point in their day, allowing them to spend time with their close relatives and bridal party in a private space, hugging, crying, and congratulating. If we haven’t done a First Look… then time is sparse and we must go immediately into formal photos.

 

• Family Formal Photos – Our assistant gathers up the family from the list provided by our couples, and we start working through the pre-developed list making sure to do our best to photograph everyone together who is requested (hopefully everyone is present!)

 

• Details of reception/decor – This is typically happening at the same time as family formals. Again, with there being two of us we can split up and your decor can be photographed before guests arrive and start touching everything 😉

 

• Reception – After a short break for the couple to spend some time together, and for the two of us to set up our reception lighting it’s time for the reception to begin!

– Entrance

– First Dance

– Toasts

– Dinner served

• Sunset Portraits – This is a HUGE part of what we do, and probably the only thing we insist couples take advantage of. Of course the timing of sunset will be drastically different depending on the time of year a wedding takes place, but we always like to sneak away with the couple for 15 extra minutes of gorgeous portraits that stray from the classic shots. This is when we like to “float the veil”, and incorporate some more unique shots.

 

• Party shots – The laughter, the dancing, the silly faces, the fun! We’re shooting all night long, and loving every minute of it  😉

 

• Send off! If there is one, if not we stay until our pre determined time.

 

So there you have it! The answer to “what do you typically take photos of and how do you organize the day?” question. We hope that helps!!