TIPS AND ADVICE FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY

Your Wedding is one of the most important events in your life.  Whether you’re planning a small, intimate ceremony or a gala event, remembering all the details can be overwhelming.  The following tips and suggestions are meant as a guideline to assist you in the planning of your special day, so that when it arrives, you can relax and enjoy yourselves without worrying about the details amidst the chaos.

PHOTOGRAPHY – Your Wedding Photographer will capture your day and provide you with memories that will last a lifetime.  Having a good relationship with your Photographer is so important!  Meet with your Photographer at least once prior to your wedding.  Get to know each other, and spend some time talking about what kind of coverage you want.  The more comfortable you are with your Wedding Photographer, the more natural your photos will be.

Think about what kind of coverage you want… are you looking for more traditional photos, or do you want a more candid, photojournalistic approach?  Perhaps you want a little of both.   Discuss what you want and what you don’t want with your Photographer and make sure their style matches what you’re looking for in your Wedding Day Photos.

As a Photographer, I cannot stress enough the importance of setting aside time on your Wedding Day for pictures!  So many couples think that if the photographer has a few minutes before the ceremony, and a few minutes after, that they’ll get all the shots you want.  But in truth, getting all of the most common posed shots of the Bride and Groom, their Family, and the Wedding Party can easily take two to three hours.  Each pose takes time to set up, especially groups of people.  Then, two or three shots are usually taken of each pose, because people blink, or look away from the camera, or get distracted by a friend or family member off to the side with their own camera.  Most couples do not think about these things (Why would they?  That's our job!) and in the end, do not plan enough time for photos on their wedding day.

·         Do you want photos of your preparations, such as the bride getting hair and makeup done, the two of you getting dressed, and the nervous anticipation before the ceremony?  If you do, be sure to have your Photographer arrive early enough to capture the details of your preparations.

·         Are the Bride and Groom going to see each other before the ceremony?  This decision will help you plan the rest of your photography into your timeline.

o   Many couples are now choosing to do a Bridal Presentation, a period of time before the Ceremony where the Groom sees his Bride in her gown for the first time, and they have time alone together.  This is an excellent time to plan for your Photographer to get photos of just the two of you, away from the chaos, without distractions or interruptions, for the two of you to just enjoy each other.

o   If you’re sticking with tradition, and you won’t see each other until the Ceremony, plan on getting dressed a little early.  Your Photographer can take some of the posed shots of you separately (the Groom with his parents, family, Best Man and Groomsmen, the Bride with her parents, family, Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids) before the Ceremony begins.  Getting some of the shots out of the way before the Ceremony means you’ll need less time after the Ceremony for photos, allowing you to get to your guests and your reception faster.

o   Consider having a Cocktail Hour between your Ceremony and your Reception.  This gives your guests a chance to relax and socialize while your Photographer gets the photos you want.  Once you’re done with photos, you can make your Grand Entrance and the reception can begin.

You hire a Photographer to take photos of all the things that take place on this important day, so be sure you allow them enough time to do the job you are paying them to do.  Work closely with your Photographer to ensure you have enough time planned for photos.  Keep them informed of your timeline so that they can use the time you set aside for portraits and get you the photos you want.

PLANNING –No matter what size wedding you’re planning, having a Wedding Planner or Coordinator to assist you and ensure all the little things are taken care of is paramount.    

Many venues (such as resorts and hotels) offer a Planner or Coordinator as part of their Wedding Services.  Should you decide to use an on-site Coordinator who is employed by your venue, or hire an outside Wedding Planner, the goal of this person should be first and foremost to take the weight of planning everything off of your shoulders.  Ask them if they are willing to meet with your other vendors prior to your wedding to go over your timeline and details of your Wedding Day.  Be sure they are flexible and willing to accommodate your specific needs.

If a Wedding Planner is not in your budget, turn to a well-organized friend or family member for help.  Have them work with your Maid of Honor and your Best Man to ensure everything is planned to perfection.

MUSIC – Whether you’re using a DJ, a band, or music from your iPod, the music you choose will set the tone for your Wedding Day.

·         For your ceremony, choose music that enhances the mood of the occasion.  We’ve seen brides walk down the aisle to the traditional “Here Comes the Bride” or Pachelbel’s Canon, and we’ve also seen more creative choices like Etta James’ “At Last.”  Your music should show your personality but still be appropriate for the occasion.

·         For your cocktail hour and dinner, choose music that fades into the background, such as jazz or classical. Guests will be happy if they can talk to one another without yelling.

·         The reception is the time for you to get really creative with the music!  Every generation has its own Wedding Reception Dance, from the Chicken Dance to the Macarena, the Electric Slide and the Cha-Cha Slide.  These songs encourage everyone to join in on the fun… don’t rule them out.  The most important thing to remember is to choose a variety of songs that appeal to the different age groups of your guests.  Older folks are more likely to dance to something they know the words to.

·         Remember to communicate with your DJ or Emcee any music you don’t want played as well, such as no country, no rap, no hard rock, etc.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY – Keep everyone in the loop!  Make sure your vendors (Photographer, DJ, Planner, etc.) know how to reach one another, and encourage them to coordinate your Wedding Day together.  Keeping everyone on the same page is very important.  Don’t ever feel like you are bothering your vendors by calling them or emailing them with questions.  You have hired them to give you a spectacular day, and it should be their top priority!!