Planning your Wedding: Creating an Effective Timeline

I'm so excited to start a new blogging series to help YOU in planning your own wedding.  As you can imagine, I've seen lots and lots of weddings- some have gone so effortlessly, and some have, well, not gone as smoothly. One of the many hats I wear on any wedding day is time-keeper! I help brides know when they need to step in their dress, when the groom needs to be downstairs for the first look, what time the reception starts and photos need to be done.  

In my opinion, one of the most important things you really have to nail down (after your photographer, of course! ha) is a solid time-line.  This is something I am so happy to build for each of my brides- in thorough detail based on their specific wedding day, and I'm excited to share with you how you can create a time-line to help keep everyone on schedule! 

I start out by discussing with my bride what their wedding day will look like! Pretty simple! 

Some of the questions we go over are: 

-What time will the ceremony be?

-Are you going to be doing a first look, a first-look no peek, a first-look with your Dad?

-How many family photos are you planning on needing (there's a blog post on this coming!) 

-What time does the reception start?

-Are you doing a send-off? 

With those questions, I can start building an outline and plugging in the main details: (below is an example for a beginning time-line WITH a first look): 

     5:00 Ceremony Begins

     5:30 Ceremony Ends / Cocktail Hour Begins

              Extended Family Photos

     6:00 Reception Begins

     10:00 Send-off

With these details, I start adding in our additional information. I know that I want my brides and grooms to be 'in hiding' at least 30 minutes before a ceremony so all of their guests that arrive early don't see them. This couple wants to do a first look, so we are able to do the Bride & Groom photos, the bridal party photos, and the immediate family photos before the Ceremony even begins!  

So just by getting those questions answered, I am able to fill out this 8 hour time-line of the wedding day! 

2:00 Photographers arrive- shoot detail photos, Bride & Groom getting ready/dressed

2:45 Bride & Groom First Look 

3:30 Bridal Party Photos- Girls/Guys/Combined

4:00 Immediate Family Photos

4:30 Bride & Groom in Hiding

5:00 Ceremony Begins

5:30 Extended Family Photos

6:00 Reception Begins

8:15 Bride & Groom Sunset Photos

10:00 Send-off 

I'll be back with the Planning Your Wedding Series to go over topics about the Reception Time-Line, creating quick & painless Family Formal Photos, Getting Ready, etc.  I would LOVE to hear your input if there's anything else you would like to see in this series! Planning a wedding can be SO overwhelming- but it doesn't have to be!  Keep in mind, when hiring me as your wedding day photographer, I help you with this process every step of the way! 

Sunset Beach, North Carolina Engagement Photos: Justin & Meghan

I cannot even begin to explain how excited I am to share these photos of Justin & Meghan's engagement session!! They really wanted photos on the beach, something that Lynchburg, VA just doesn't offer- so we planned a trip out to Virginia Beach for a day to get some photos around there- but a huge storm rolled through and we had to postpone, but I am oh so glad we did! Why am I so glad it got rained out? Because it worked out for us to do their engagement photos at Sunset Beach in North Carolina- one of my favorite places.  We were heading into town for our family vacation, and Justin & Meghan stayed in Myrtle for the long weekend and drove up to meet us.  You know it's a special couple when they will drive 10 hours round-trip for their engagement session! 

We started out at the West end of Sunset Beach- and got some awesome shots on those amazing walk-ways beach entrances, headed onto the beach for the cutest shots of them on her beach cruiser, and even got some romantic shots on them walking in the water, and on the dunes! 

Loose these shots with her adorable beach cruiser! 

We then headed down to the Sunset Beach Pier! I love these shots and the lines this awesome pier creates! Meghan had the cutest props and blankets- I can't wait for all the details she's going to have at her wedding in August!! 

We ended our session overlooking the Marsh area and watching the sunset! 

Thanks again Justin & Meghan for driving all the way out to Sunset Beach for your engagement photos! I had the best time and it really was such a dream to take photos at my favorite little beach!! 

Want to see more of Justin & Meghan? You can view their Proposal here, and their Save the Date session here! 

Ashley Eiban is a Wedding & Portrait Photographer on the East-Coast and is available for travel world-wide--- including sessions at Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Emerald Isle, Holden Beach, Calabash in North Carolina. In fact- it is a dream of mine to shoot weddings on these stunning beaches, so please contact me at ashley@ashleyeiban.com for more information! 

Our Anniversary!

Well, I'm a few days late in posting this- but I think I have a good excuse...right? haha! I had every intention of writing this while we were on vacation, but I just never seemed to have the urge to pull my computer out and start writing! Strange... huh?!  While I do really love unplugging for a while- and enjoying time with my family- relaxing on the beach (duh!!) I love blogging and connecting too! I am going to really be working on blogging more of our personal lives and stories with you. Heaven knows there's plenty of Emmie stories to go around! 

Anyways... back on topic here! This past Sunday, July 12th, Michael and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary! I know, I can't really believe it either! We really were such babies at the time!! It's crazy to see how much has changed since then, but then again, there's a lot that hasn't changed too! 

Planning our own wedding was when I really started to be passionate about weddings and wanted to start photographing them! I planned our own wedding on a super budget, and did so many things DIY- before it was really cool to have a DIY wedding!  I learned A LOT about wedding planning, and there's honestly not a lot I would change about our big day! I would say my biggest regret from my wedding day is not having a first look. I was SUPER nervous (all those people watching me all day! yikes!!) and I know that having a first look would have made me more excited instead! I walked down the aisle trying so hard not to cry that I ended up looking pissed off- and that is not very bridal! haha 

We got married in Virginia Beach, VA- where both of our parents live! I loooooved my wedding dress- and still do! And love the bright summery colors with our outdoor wedding.  And yes! I can't believe we got married outside... in July! But, I truthfully don't remember it being too hot- just a really fun day!! 

All wedding photos were taken by Scott Hayne Photography at Founders Inn and Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

Happy Anniversary Babe! I'm so glad to have you standing by my side. You are constantly encouraging, teaching, and strengthening me to be a better person.  You are the best Husband and Dad I could have ever imagined! Thank you for supporting me and my dreams! 

Kayla: Virginia Beach Senior Photographer

We are officially back from vacation, and diving right back into work! I have SO much to share and am so excited to blog about the awesome sessions I've had- and this one is pretty special to my heart- Kayla is my niece! Michael & I cannot believe she is going to be a senior this next year! We are so proud of her, and are excited for her as she is looking at colleges (including Liberty, here in Lynchburg!!) 

We headed out early on Sunday morning and went down to the First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.  This place is AMAZING! It is almost fairy-tale like, with all the greenery, and amazing views! We had a blast walking around the trails and snapping photos! 

We then drove to the Virginia Beach Ocean Front for some awesome beach shots as well! Love this beautiful flowy dress Kayla picked out as well! Such a beautiful girl- with the sweetest heart!! 

Ashley Eiban is a Portrait & Wedding Photographer, based in Central Virginia- but available for travel nationwide, including Sunset Beach, North Carolina,  Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Williamsburg, etc.  Contact us today at ashley@ashleyeiban.com for additional information! 

Sierra Vista Styled Shoot: Part 2. Lynchburg, Virginia Wedding Photographer

It's the moment you've been waiting for... part II of the Amazing Styled Shoot! ;) 

In all seriousness, I am so excited to share the sunset portion of the Styled Shoot that Megan Vaughan hosted earlier in the Spring! It was so awesome getting together with other photographers and learned and encouraging each other! Plus, our models and this amazing location were gooooooorgeous, which always makes it more fun! 

See the first part of the Styled Shoot in the woods here.  Then, we headed out into the open fields and tall grass while the sun was going down.  Such perfection!! 

Then we moved over to the open fields of Sierra Vista, and got some stunning sunset photos with those beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in the background! I love the views this amazing venue offers! It's the perfect backdrop for a romantic wedding! 

Once again, a huge thanks to Megan Vaughan for hosting this shoot, and to all of the vendors that made this happen! Each one of them did such an incredible job! 

Hosted by: Megan Vaughan Photography 

Venue: Sierra Vista VA 

Dress: Watters 

Veil, Belt & Earrings: Celebration Bridal 

Florals & Cake: Love is in the Air 

Decor & Styling: Vintage

Makeup: Makeup by Ashley

Hair: Brittany @ Body Works Day Spa & Salon

Signs & Invites: Laura Hooper Calligraphy 

Bride: Amy Loizou 

Groom: Greg Loizou