AHHHHH! Your wedding day is right around the corner and we cannot wait to celebrate with you! I just wanted to send over a few important things to remember as you’re planning the final details for your big day! We will be meeting soon to finalize the timeline, family photos, and other details of your wedding day! I’ve attached just a few things to think through and help you be prepared for our meeting!
DETAILS
When I arrive, I will get started with your bridal details! The bridal details set the stage for your entire wedding day! To not have to interrupt your hair & makeup, I recommend getting a box together before hand of all your important details!
These things include:
-All THREE wedding rings
-Your dress (& pretty hanger)
-Any jewelry you’re wearing (earrings, necklace, bracelet, etc.)
-Your wedding day shoes
-Veil or Hair Pieces
-Your full invitation suite (envelopes included!)
-Ask your florist to leave me a few extra blooms and greenery
-Your perfume bottle
-Something borrowed & something blue
-Bridal Bouquet
-Anything sentimental or meaningful
GETTING READY
By the day of your wedding, all the details are taken care of & your only job is to relax with your best friends & enjoy that mimosa! If there are little things to get done, remember that delegation is CRUCIAL to a stress-free wedding day! I know, it can be difficult to hand over some of those last minute things, but it really is important to relax the morning of your wedding! The rest of your day will be fast-paced & filled with emotions- so take advantage of this down time!
Most likely, I will have you step into your dress in a different location than where you got ready with hair & makeup. A room full of girls, drinks, and makeup can get cluttered quickly! I’ll find the perfect place for you to get dressed so you don’t have to worry about it!
You’ll put on your jewelry after you’re in your dress! I love capturing those final details when you’re in your gown! It takes a little longer than you typically expect to put on your wedding dress & details, so I always plan for at least 30 minutes to step into your dress!
Please let me know if your dress has intricate buttons or may need extra time to get on!
FAMILY PHOTOS
We all know family photos can be a stressful part of a wedding day, but it is my goal to not let that happen! I take a very intentional approach to planning and preparing for these, so we can knock these out in 20 minutes or less!
Please be sure to talk to your both sets of parents & your fiancé’ about expectations for this time. Creating a detailed list of the group photo combinations is super helpful. Just stating “aunt and uncle” sometimes isn’t clear enough, so please add in names, like “Aunt Sally and Uncle Mark”
I recommend emailing or texting the people you wrote down to let them know that you want a photo with them directly after the ceremony! You would be surprised how many times people don’t know they are needed for photos and run off to cocktail hour and we have to find them.
We’ll start the family photos IMMEDIATELY after the ceremony, even if there are still some guests hanging out. As soon as they see us getting started, they’ll go ahead and make their way over to the cocktail hour.
FYI- the best lighting for larger groups is not always the ceremony site. I’ll scope out the lighting situation before family photos and will have a plan for where to go for the very best photos!
EXAMPLE FAMILY LIST that most couples follow:
-Bride & Groom with Officiant
-Bride & Groom with Bride’s Grandparents
-Bride & Groom with Bride’s Parents
-Bride with Bride’s Parents
-Bride with Bride’s Mom
-Bride with Bride’s Dad
-Bride & Groom with Bride’s Immediate Family (parents, siblings, spouses, children)
-Bride with Bride’s Siblings
-Bride & Groom with Groom’s Grandparents
-Bride & Groom with Groom’s Parents
-Groom with Groom’s Parents
-Groom with Groom’s Mom
-Groom with Groom’s Dad
-Bride & Groom with Groom’s Immediate Family (parents, siblings, spouses, children)
-Bride with Groom’s Siblings
TIMELINE
We will work together to create a custom timeline for your wedding day! Here are a few things to think through and consider for when you’re creating your timeline:
-Think about if you want to share a ‘first-look’ with your Dad or anyone else that plays a huge part in your life? We will want to make sure there is time built into the timeline for this!
-Will you and your groom be exchanging gifts and/or letters? If so, who do you want to deliver them & please be sure your groom knows not to open anything with a photographer present!
-Is there anyone special that you want to be the one to zip you up into your dress? Do you want your bridesmaids in the room for this moment? It’s totally up to you!
-Do you want to do a first look or a no-peek moment before your ceremony?
-Most guests will arrive about 20-30 minutes before your invitation start time, maybe even earlier if you have a lot of guests from out of town. We will plan at least 30 minutes of “In Hiding Time” before your ceremony to make sure you stay hidden from guests!
-Do you have an extra large family portrait list? Or divorced/remarried family members? The more names on the list, the longer we will need to schedule family photos for! But, remember, we will also be at your reception, so feel free to grab us for some less formal family and friend photos there!
-Are you planning anything special during the ceremony or reception that will need extra time built in?
I can’t wait to have our planning meeting with you soon! Please, please let me know if you have any questions before then! I’m so excited to nail down these final details and help you get one step closer to being married!!
