7 Tips for Wedding Day Success

After capturing hundreds of weddings through our lenses, I've seen what helps (and hurts) couples truly enjoy their special day. The difference between a stress-filled celebration and seamless day often boils down to a few key things. In this guide, I'll share my top photographer-approved tips to help you navigate your wedding day with grace and peace of mind.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

1. Hire a Wedding Planner and/or Day-of Coordinator.
   Too often, we see people assuming these roles are the same, but in reality, they provide entirely different services. Think of this in relation to your planning process: The Planner helps you find the vendors, and the coordinator tells them what to do and where to be. The Planner will hire vendors, build your timeline, and work out logistics in the months leading up to your big day. Your coordinator is your right-hand man (or woman) on the day of your wedding, ensuring all vendors stay on scheduling. They make sure your needs are met and that everything runs smoothly on your big day.

2. Communicate with Your Family Members Prior to Wedding Day.
   In all the hustle and bustle, it can be easy to forget to spread the word to your closest friends and family. We commonly see two major parts of the day where family members are heavily involved: getting ready photos, first looks, and family formals. Be sure to let these key people know when and where they will be needed for photos.
   *Hot tip: Create a numbered family formals list and tell each family member which numbered group they are in. For example, if the first group on your formals list is with the bride’s parents, and the second is with the groom’s parents, let them know they are in family formal groups 1 + 2 respectively. This helps family shots run super smoothly so you can mingle with your guests at cocktail hour!

3. Restrict Family Formals to Immediate Family Only.
   We know you want photos with all your guests— and you will get them! That being said, "the “family formals” section of your timeline should be limited to immediate family and very close extended family (Grandparents, parents, siblings’, and siblings families). Great Aunt Sally will have to grab a photo-op during the reception. Here’s why: You should allot at least 3 minutes for each group, and our standard family formals shot list looks like this…
   -Newlyweds + Grandparents1
   -Newlyweds + Grandparents2
   -Newlyweds + Parents1 + Siblings1 + Sibling’s Family
   -Newlyweds + Parents1 + Siblings1
   -Newlyweds + Parents1
   -Newlyweds + Parents1 + Parents 2
   -Newlyweds + Parents 2
   -Newlyweds + Parents 2 + Siblings2
   -Newlyweds + Parents 2 + Siblings2 + Sibling’s Family

   That comes out to 25-30 minutes and that doesn’t include any step parents, step siblings, or special family members.
   Hot Tip: Schedule a section in your timeline for a photo with each table of guests during the reception.

4. Add Cushion to Your Timeline (You’ll Thank Us Later).
   Imagine it, one of our bridesmaids ran 10 min over on hair and make-up. You’ve rushed to finish getting ready, have your first looks and all of a sudden, you have 10 minutes until your ceremony. In the chaos, you have no time to just “be”. We recommend scheduling at least 15 min of downtime right before your ceremony. It’ll give you time to rest, take in the magic of the day, and all your guests can file into the ceremony space without seeing you before the big event.

5. Set Aside Your Details on Wedding Day Morning (Including Invitations).
   The first thing your photographer will do when they arrive on site to shoot your wedding is take photos of details. That includes shoes, tie, suit jacket, dress, jewelry, watch, any outfit changes, and yes, even your invitations. Having all this together in one place at the start of the day ensures stunning detail flatlays without sacrificing valuable time.

6. Don’t Go First (Or Last) for Hair + Make Up.
   This is especially important for those of you with large wedding parties. If you have more than 3-4 people having their hair and make-up done, choose to be somewhere in the middle. We know you don’t want to wake up earlier than needed on your wedding to be the first with a fresh face— nor do you want that fresh face to be hours old by the time we start shooting. You also don’t want to be stuck in a situation where your entire timeline runs late because hair + make-up took a bit longer than expected. Going somewhere in the middle offers you comfort during the morning and peace of mind that your timeline will stay on schedule. Your photographer will plan their start time around the time your HMUA will be done with you.

7. Use Your Engagement Session as a Practice Run.
   Many photographer’s offer a complimentary engagement session with your wedding package. We commonly hear the question, “What if we don’t need an engagement session?” and the answer is- you do. Not only can your engagement photos be a wonderful way to capture you and your fiancee in this moment, and be a great option for designing invitaitons, it also give you a chance to “practice” with your HMUA and your photographer. We highly suggest doing a trial run with your HMUA on the day of your engagement session, leaving you glammed up and looking fabulous for those photos. It also gives you the opportunity to meet your photographers, get to know them and get comfortable being in front of the camera. EVERYONE is awkward in front of the camera, especially when you don’t know the person taking the photo, so taking that time to familiarize yourselves with how your photographer work, can add so much ease and comfort to your wedding day.