Preparing for a Wedding - A Vendors Point of View
So, as a wedding vendor, I get the inside look at weddings. I don't get to see the whole planning process, but I do chat with my couples and I do offer them some tips along the way. The thing that I stress the most, from meeting to the day of, is... "The only thing that really matter is that at the end of the day you two are married." I will always stand by that.
As a photographer I may be biased, and I might ad to the thought above that it would be nice to your memories recorded in a photo or video form. Because to be honest, no one else will remember what your flowers looked like, or what food you served. (Although, I remember food at weddings, but that is because I love good food).
So what are some things that you can do to help your wedding planning? Damn, I am glad you asked because I have just a couple of those things.
Engagement Photos!
Do get them, especially with the photographer that will shoot your wedding. You will get to learn how they shoot and it will make the wedding day go so much smoother. I love engagement photos. It can be a great time for us to connect and to get a feel for what we can create together. Engagement sessions are a time to capture your relationship and your story. The best part is that these can be super personal and you can use them for your save the dates and invitations. Think about what kind of fun things you would want to do. We can go out to a lake or a beach, we can hike up into the woods or we can hang out downtown.
Some Engagement Photo Tips
DO's
Coordinate your outfits.
Launder and iron your clothes, Photoshop won’t take out wrinkles or animal hair.
Bring props: something meaningful to you, your pet, an
instrument, a hobby, sport or whatever suits you the most.
Use it as an excuse to get professional hair and makeup or splurge on those fantastic new shoes you have been wanting.
Some other thoughts
Think about your body type as well; you know what suits you and what doesn’t.Dress for the season, especially if your engagement shoot is outdoors. The most important thing during your engagement shoot is to be yourself! The whole purpose of the shoot is to capture exactly who you are, and show your personalities. If you pick an outfit that just isn’t ‘you’, you’ll feel uncomfortable and that is never fun.
Speaking of the save the dates Paperless Post does some amazing work. You can order any of your save the dates here. I don't receive any compensation from them if you do, but their work is stellar.
BEFORE THE WEDDING
First I suggestfiguring out what the top three things most important things to you are, and plan your day according to those.
Remember that at the end of the day you have your marriage and your memories.
The days timeline:
There are a few people that should be involved in the planning of the timeline.
- The couple
- The wedding planner/coordinator (if you have one)
- And the Photographer.
FIRST LOOKS
Thinking about planning a first look? Great! But what’s so great about a first look? Wedding days move by so fast and seeing each other before the ceremony can really alleviate unnecessary stresses. It can calm your nerves, and give you a more relaxed day. It also provides for some amazing moments and more time for photos.
First offthings will go wrong. But those things will be the things that you will tell your grandkids. But here are a few tips from my seasons that can help the day go a little smoother and a little more stress free.
Stay hydrated, don’t drink too much alcohol before the reception. Drunk faces do not look good in photos, and staying hydrated can keep away head aches and cramps. If you are looking to have your wedding outside the best time is about 2 hours before sunset. This way you do not have harsh shadows and the light falls more evenly. Remember it is about being married, not just getting married. At the end of the day all that matters is that you have each other. Focus on each other.
There are so many things that I can talk about when it comes to weddings. As one of the only vendors that has the opportunity to spend the entire day with the couple, and even one of the few that stays in contact after (for delivery and such) I have the rare look into how many would have changed their day.
Take time to look at a florist. Vibe with them. Make sure that you like who they are and their work.
Find a DJ who is not cheesy and is involved. let them have fun and read the dance floor. No one but you will know if you have a pre-arranged list. Most weddings that make the DJ play a certain list struggle with the reception and people having fun on the dance floor.
There are so many great places online to order stuff from, Etsy is great and you are supporting artists. As I mentioned before a great company to order you wedding invitations from is Paperless Post.
Food is important, but not as important as you might thing. I have even had other caterers tell me this.
Remember that I travel all over the world for weddings. I would love to meet at chat with you no matter where you are located! Lets have fun and create some amazing images together.
